Blurb:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a playboy wants a one-night stand… No strings attached. 

Gabriel Hill dates someone new every night. Glamorous parties and smoke-filled clubs. He has no interest in the prim little baker. Until he finds out she’s connected to his family’s downfall.

He wants information. Revenge. And worst of all, he wants Elise Bettencourt in his bed. Again and again and again.

There’s no future between them.

A woman who’s fought to build a new life for herself.

And the man who will bring it all down

My 4* Review:

Power Play is a new trilogy from Amelia Wilde. It is the story of Gabriel Hill and Elise Battencourt and his revenge for the murder of his parents. We first met them in the Wealth trilogy which is about his brother Mason and Charlotte. Gabriel is the mysterious sibling of the Hill family and Elise is Charlotte’s best friend. Over those three books it became clear that he hadn’t coped with his parents deaths as well as the rest of his siblings. In Binding Contract #3 we were given teasers about this couple. An enemies to lovers, slow burn and sometimes heartbreaking romance.

Gabriel is rich and charming. He has a reputation with both the ladies and the men. He has a knack for getting secrets and information out of people with his flirty and persuasive personality. He hates Elise because he is positive she has information about her father and the consortium who were responsible for the murder of his parents. He is set on revenge and knows the only way to get it is to become a member of the consortium even if it is a suicidal plan. He realises the best way to succeed is to use Elise to get what he wants.

Elise runs a very successful bakery after managing to escape her parents. She is very intelligent but her father used it to his advantage while she grew up and left her ridden with guilt and worn down by the secrets she’s kept hidden. As much as she has always liked Gabriel, her feelings for him are caught up with a sense of owing him for what happened when she was younger. 

She lost everything when she left home and abandoned that world but Gabriel is convinced she knows the answers he is searching for. He wants her help with her father so he can join the consortium and bring about their demise. He wants them all to pay for what they did and is determined to persuade her to help him. What he doesn’t plan for or expect is how he starts to care for her and how much he actually wants her.

It turns out they are both hiding secrets and are battling the demons of their past. Gabriel is cross she is distracting him and annoyed he wants her when he should continue to hate her. Elise realises there is more to him than he lets anyone see. As they gets to know each other, secrets become revealed and emotions become involved. She is worried revenge won’t make him happy especially after all he has gone through. They both cleverly deflect in conversations so the truth never discovered. 

A series of events occur that really uncovers what this couple have gone through but will it make a difference? Will Elise help him. Will Gabriel see the dangerous path he is taking and reconsider his plans. When he finally admits his true feelings, will Elise believe him or is he still using her? 

Negotiations take place and decisions are made, and we are left will a startling cliffhanger. I loved how strong Elise was and felt sorry for her having to fight the loyalty to her sisters while trying to be independent. Gabriel produced a range of feelings and I often disliked him but then he would show his broken and vulnerable side. If this couple can put their tragic past behind them and get rid of the guilt burdening them both, I feel they could do so much good if they combined their skills. Can’t wait to see what the author has in store for them next. Hopefully some forgiveness and understanding !!