Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Blog Tour and Review: Entice, by Rachel Van Dyken




Synopsis
From #1 New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes the third book in the bestselling Eagle Elite Series...
“As burns this saint, so burns my soul. I enter alive, and I will have to get out dead.”
Chase Winter let the love of his life slip through his fingers and into the hands of his best friend and mafia boss of the Abandanato family. Now that he's been given a second chance to right a wrong--he refuses to let his own selfishness stand in the way. The only problem? He's not fully in possession of his heart, so when Mil De Lange, the girl who's innocence he stole, and heir to the worst of the worst mafia families in the US, asks him for a favor. He actually says yes, not realizing that that one yes has the power to destroy them all.
Mil's been in love with Chase as long as she can remember, but as the years went by, the love turned to hate, and now that he's agreed to help her, she's wondering if she made a fatal error. Because Chase isn't a teenager anymore. He's a hot blooded male, bent on owning every part of her body and soul, and willing to kill anyone in his path who dares stand in the way.
It's time for secrets to finally be revealed...but make no mistake, it's going to take a lot of bloodshed for those truths to be discovered.

You've never read a New Adult Mafia story like this before...loyalties will be tested, lovers reunited, and friendships obliterated. Welcome to the Family. Blood in--No out. 


Excerpt
“Ten bucks says the only person not packing is Mils grandma by marriage.” Mo said once we’d all finished eating our dinner, which has basically been a painful process of chewing, swallowing,drinking unhealthy amounts of wine and trying to stare at my plate to keep from looking at Trace, while my wife sat next to me. Hell had officially risen to earth and I was smack dab in the middle of it trying my damndest to remember how to swallow without choking — without dying a little bit inside each time I saw him touch her face. And trying not to feel like an ass when Mil caught me staring — again. I’d resolved about an hour ago to actually be the man she needed me to be and I was already failing. Horribly. The second time I looked,Mo kicked me under the table but accidentally hit Tex instead causing everyone to look up, which was probably why Mo said what she did.
We all turned heads to look at the hundred year old woman. She was currently on her fourth glass of wine and looked to be about two seconds away from falling into her chicken cacciatore.
“Nope.” Nixon shook his head. “It’s always the ones you don’t expect. My money’s on Grandma.”
“I’ll take that bet.” Tex rose. “Seems like someone needs to fall on their own knife and all that. This has to be the most depressing wedding I’ve ever gone to and that includes the fake one Mo made for her kittens when she was four.”
“They lived happily ever after.” Mo tilted her head into the air and narrowed her eyes.
Tex leaned down and tapped Mo on the nose. “Yes if happily means they lived for five damn minutes before marching directly into oncoming traffic.”
“I think the wedding just hit its low point.” Mil muttered. “Save us, Tex. I beg you. Find the gun and I’ll give you a prize.”
“Prize?” Tex’s eyes lit up. “As in—”
“As in her new husband won’t punch you in the face. You’re welcome. Yay, prizes.” I did a fake punch into the air. “Now go create some excitement before Nixon starts picking people off with his semi-automatic.”
Nixon rolled his eyes. “Right, like I’d even bring—”
“It’s in the SUV.” Trace answered sounding bored. “Saw it when I took out my dress.”
“Damn.” He looked away.
Just then a very drunk looking cousin Vinnie got up and took the microphone from the band. “Look here! I have a toast to the bride and groom!” The feedback from the microphone mixed with his inability to stand up straight caused him to drop the stand and then fall flat on his ass.
“For the love of God save us all.” I pushed Tex towards Grandma.
We all sat at the table, the very depressing bridal party table, and watched as Tex slowly made his way towards the elderly woman.
“This won’t end well.” Trace said under her breath. “The man has the subtleness of a bomb.”
“Exactly.” Mo grinned from ear to ear.“I did say we needed entertainment, didn’t I?”
“Mo… ” Nixon warned.
“He cheated on me Nixon. Let me have my fun.” She said smoothly.
“He what?” Nixon roared jumping to his feet, curious stares pinned in our direction as Mo grabbed his hand and pulled him back to his seat.
“I’ve got this. You aren’t the only one who knows how to use their powers for evil, brother. Revenge is a bitch, isn’t that what they say, Trace?”
She looked guiltily down at her hands.Yeah, double meanings I could really get without. Hopefully Mo wasn’t going to get Tex shot at our wedding, not that I’d be against it. This was the first I heard of him cheating, granted, Mo hadn’t really been all that for sharing recently. She was as secretive as ever. Something told me it was for a reason,but I’d been too wrapped up in my own drama to even ask. How bad did I suck as a half brother? Bad, real bad. On a scale of one to ten in the suckiness department I’d be around an eleven.
Tex finally reached her chair and sat down next to her, his smile was wide, I couldn’t tell what he was saying but his hands were all over the place, and then he set one hand on Grandma.
“Oh this isn’t going to end well.” Mo chuckled. “She hates being touched.”
“It is Tex.” I pointed out. “She could do a lot worse.”
“Doubtful.” Mo snorted crossing her arms.
Holy shit what the hell? Had I been living under a rock for the past few months? What went down? And how didn’t I know about it.
I winced when Tex moved his other hand next to Grandma’s leg. Probably wouldn’t be a good time to tell him that she’d seen her fair share of murder. I almost closed my eyes when she looked down at his hand.
“Aw shit.” Nixon shook his head. “You had to challenge him, Mo.”
Mo’s face twisted into a murderous smile as she pointed and exclaimed. “Game. Set. Match.”
Grandma had Tex by the balls.

“Ouch!” This from Mil.


Review
4.5 out of 5 stars

RVD's writing style is always so perfect.  I never get tired of reading her books nor do I ever get really frustrated with where she takes her stories.  They flow well and she can hook me in a book usually in the first sentence and I'm happy to report Entice is no different.  The story picks up right where Elect left us, Chase has accepted Mil's proposal and is getting ready to walk down the aisle.  Obviously this rush into marriage seems crazy since he his still head over heels in love with Trace, but he figures he can suffer through anything for a year and is willing to do whatever he can to help protect Mil, especially considering their history.  

This time around we get to alternate between multiple POV’s, which to be honest I found myself really enjoying.  I felt it took the story to a whole new level, allowing us to dive even deeper into the mafia world.  In Entice we get the POV of Chase, Mil, Nixon and Tex (who is hysterically funny!).  Their individual perspectives and knowledge of the past were intriguing and allowed me to feel more connected to the group as a whole.  While Nixon is still my favorite and I loved getting to see plenty of him and Trace is this book, I have to admit , Chase gave him a run for his money in Entice.  And, after reading the epilogue I am pretty sure in the next book, Tex might give the both of them a run, who doesn't love a bad boy with a sense of humor!

So many fans of this series are team Chase and many of you probably wanted him to end up with Trace (although we didn’t!), but let me tell you, once you read Entice you will know without a doubt Trace and Chase were never meant to be.  It was always going to be Mil.  Mil truly brings out the best in Chase, they challenge one another and there's no denying their shared chemistry.  Chase didn't really understand love or what being in love really felt like until he finally opened himself up to the possibility of someone other than Trace.  I couldn't have been more sold on his feelings for Mil than when he discovers and admits that true love is not at all about him and what he wants.  I love that he is a fierce protector and that he is a take charge leader as well, but also knows when to take a back seat to others.  Entice really opened up a new side of Chase and I am without a doubt a bigger fan of him than I previously was.  I'm excited to see what we hear from him in the next book. 

Now on to his leading lady.  Mil is one strong character, she has gone through so much in her short life that it seems unfair she is thrown to the top of the De Lange mafia family.  But if anyone can take charge and make things happen it is her.  You won’t be disappointed in her character at all.  Through her POV I got a feel for not only her insecurities, but where they stemmed from.  I love how she always summoned just enough courage to get through every curve ball, how she tries to protect her heart from falling for an emotionally unavailable Chase, and loving watching the chips fall into place when all her walls finally crumble.  Getting to really know Mil was a treat.

I am a huge fan of the Eagle Elite series!  If you haven't already been sucked into this series, you're really missing out!  You're going to love all the guys, and who doesn't love an awesome mafia story?  Each installment gets better and better.  One-click all the books in this series today!


About Author Rachel Van Dyken
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken





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