Obsession by Steve Genis

711-uS+CroL._SL1500_Title: Obsession
Author: Steve Genis
Genre: Erotica
Length: Novel (256 pages)
Publisher: Steve Genis (May 21st, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Reviewer: Tina
Blurb: Rick Santini is an 18-year-old Year 11 student at a local High School in Melbourne, Australia. Struggling with the demands of his over controlling father, and trying to keep a low profile at school, Rick hides a secret, that will tear his family apart.

Rick has a High School crush, but there’s just one problem, his crush is on his French PE teacher. His PE teacher happens to be married to Rick’s English teacher who is also the school principal.

Unaware of Rick’s obsession, his mother and father pressure Rick to succeed and do well in school during his VCE and urge him to improve his grades.

At school, Rick’s classmates start to get suspicious about his behaviour around their teacher.

After living in London, England for a year with his parents, Rick has a blast from the past that comes back to haunt him and he becomes so obsessed with his teacher that his urges begin to take control.

Rick starts to distance himself from his friends and family and he starts lying to them to cover his obsession.

In a surprising twist, Rick’s life is changed forever.

Will Rick do the unthinkable to get what he wants?

Obsession is told through the eyes of an 18-year-old High School student.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Obsession-The-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00KHU2IHQ

Review: I’m having a hard time rating this book – I typically like an HEA even if I have to go through some pain and angst to get there. This book is very dark and I suppose it could possibly be considered a pseudo happy ending although I didn’t really like the ending.

After reading the synopsis of book 2, that seems like the more logical place to start this series.

Mr. Genis’ writing and story-telling ability are very good. I would guess this was a hard story to tell and he did a good job of telling it.

Rick is obsessed with his PE teacher, Jacques Devereaux – like scary obsessed. He believes himself to be in love with him and fantasizes about them being together. He is angry jealous of Jacques wife which makes his obsession even scarier. Finding out that Rick’s previous relationship is with an older man – 37 to his 18, it seems that Rick has daddy issues that manifest into what he thinks is love because he feels he never had his father’s love.

What I didn’t like about this story was the sudden switch of Jacques from turning down Rick’s advances to suddenly agreeing to have sex with him to being in love. I don’t know if it was because we only saw him through Rick’s eyes and never really got inside his head but it was too quick a turnaround for my liking.

There is a story within the story revolving around Rick and his one-night stand from London, Jared (whom is featured in book 2). This sub-plot is almost as scary, as the story between Jacques and Rick. As you read it, you understand that it is the highest of ironies but it was unsettling at best.

The ending really left me feeling unfulfilled.