Review: Enrage by Rachel Van Dyken

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Part of a world I loathe.

Part of a family who hates me more than I hate myself.

Living with a girl who reminds me of my darkness.

I'm. In. Hell.

Also known as the Cosa Nostra.

My life was over the minute I stepped off that plane.

Son to a murdered mob boss.

Heir to a throne of murder and lies.

My name is Dante Nicolasi.

And there will be blood.

Review

4.5 out of 5 stars

Blood in, no out.  It is a simple concept.  Family first, always.  But when it comes to the mafia, is anything really easy or black and white?  I don't think so.  Everyone knows that we love the Italian mafia men in Eagle Elite and I knew going into Enrage that it was going to be filled with emotion.  I had it on my kindle for 2 weeks before I had the guts to open it.  I was so scared to read it because I knew that something big would be going down in this book.  You could feel it from page one, so I worked up the nerve, made a big pan of lasagna in honor of my favorite fictional characters and dove the rest of the way into Enrage.

Dante Nicolasi is so angry.  While he didn't ask to be a part of the mafia he also wasn't really ever given the choice not to.  His twin sister Val is now married to Sergio Abandonato, so there's definitely no way to escape the world, thereofore it's imperative Dante find a way to embrace his role in a world he cannot control.  When you can't control your own destiny, you learn to fight and completely turn off your conscience.  Dante is a very intriguing character, I really was not sure how well I was going to connect to him, but I love where Rachel went with him.

El was abused and should be dead.  If it were up to the Russians she would be 6 feet under right now.  But for some reason, Frank Alfero saved her and saw how much she was abused by her former (dead!) husband.  But living with the Italian mob is not much better.  She constantly is waiting for someone to mistreat her.  She is terrified of everything.  Dante and El could not be more opposite of each other.  Good thing opposites attract!

Honestly, it is difficult to write a review for a book that you loved that is spoiler free.  Did this book make me cry? Hell yes. But, it also created a turning point for the characters.  I know this is the 8th book in the series, but I will never get tired of these characters.  I love each and every one of them and feel like I am part of their world when I read their stories.  I know that Rachel really wants to create a way for people to be able to start the series from the next book and you can certainly do that if you want, however, I personally think you will be missing out.  The mafia is complicated and their plots and stories weave a tangled web.  If you don't read all the books, I just don't see how you would be as emotionally connected to the characters and that is why I enjoy reading this particular series.  Honestly, if I don't have a connection with the characters then I almost always don't enjoy it.  

Enrage was an amazing read and you should most definitely one click it now.  But be prepared for twists, turns, new revelations and some anger.  Cause I am still pissed at a character and I finished the book hours ago.  Job well done, Rachel!

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Review: The Society by Jillian Dodd

 

THE SOCIETY 
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Spy Girl Series Book 3 Can one girl save the world? From USA Today bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the second book in a sizzling series filled with action and adventure. Fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games will discover a heart-pounding thrill ride of espionage and suspense set in glittering high society.

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Click HERE to purchase an ebook from your favorite vendor.
Click HERE to order a signed paperback.

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Sent to London for their next mission, Huntley and Ari are guests at Malcolm Prescott’s home, where Ari is asked to join a secret group called The Society, and Huntley learns more about her “father” Ares Von Allister. Spy Girl was trained not to have emotional entanglements, but Huntley is learning that it’s hard to survive in the real world without them. As she uncovers hidden truths about her past, the knowledge leaves her reeling and questioning everything. She’s going to have to trust someone, and it’s not going to be Black X. So she goes against her training and forms relationships—caring, trusting, and, maybe, even loving. But relationships are dangerous for a spy. Particularly one who will be facing her most challenging mission to date. Tasked with getting close to the illusive Money Man, she will be forced to delve into a seedy underworld that will threaten her very existence.

Praise for the Spy Girl series:

“With a kickass heroine and intrigue, this page turner will have you spellbound and drooling over your new book boyfriend.” - H.M Ward, New York Times Bestselling Author

 “The Spy Girl series is an intrigue filled, exciting ride through a world you’ll wish you were part of and want to know more about!” - J. Sterling, New York Times Bestselling Author

 “This series will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout, never knowing what new twist or secret will be revealed. It’s the type of book that pulls you in, has you becoming heavily involved in the story and characters, trying to figure out the clues of what has happened or what may happen, and leaves you with wanting and needing more.” - Author Groupies

 “This is a fast paced, exciting series, full of suspense and riddled with clues that I am trying to figure out as I go.” - Reading is my Bliss

 “Every book I get in this series I end up reading in one sitting because I can't put it down.” - The Smutbrarians

 “I can feel myself getting more and more addicted the further in the series I go. Jillian Dodd really has a knack for creating these crazy worlds full of characters who you cannot help but love, but what makes this series unique is the mystery surrounding Agent X, better known as Huntley.” - Romance Rewind

 Watch the Spy Girl Series Book Trailer: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaUVtJyj28I&feature=youtu.be

Jillian Dodd is a USA TODAY bestselling author who lives in a small Florida beach town, is married to her college sweetheart, has two grown children and two Labrador Retrievers. She loves to travel, shop, and paint.

Jillian's Website: http://jilliandodd.net Jillian's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillianDodd1 Jillian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandodd

Review

4.25 out of 5 stars

Starting where we left off in the Eagle the pace of this book is spot on and while the mood has been somewhat light in previous books The Society digs into some much darker issues.  Not to mention our beloved heroine Huntley is in a bit of an emotional crisis - mainly because she has all these emotions and reactions to situations and she was trained not to be emotional, not to make emotional connections and now that they've started the floodgates are wide open.  Plus add in the development of her and Ari realizing they're actually twins!  To say Huntley's world has been turned upside down would be a little bit of an understatement.

Now let's talk love interest...Huntley and Lorenzo's relationship continues to deepen.  While she is adamant things don't go to a physical level for fear of being to emotionally attached to Lorenzo what Huntley doesn't have a grasp on is that she is already in love with this man, unconsciously she has already attached herself to the prince emotionally.  And I'll let you in on a little secret - I LOVE these two characters together.  They balance one another really well - I really hope she figures out a way to let him in and give this thing between the two of them a real chance.

Huntley's mission this time around puts her in a crossroads - forced into a really dark situation she comes face to face with a real life monster and the whole situation impacts her in such a meaningful way.  Jillian's writing of this particular scene and the aftermath is incredible.  She paints such a rich picture giving readers a truly vivid image of a very real danger.  I am excited to see how this mission impacts Huntley in the books to come - one thing's for sure you cannot go through something like that and it not affect you going forward.

As always when the last page was turned my mouth was left hanging wide open - I am desperate to find out what happens in the very last scene and I really hope we don't have to wait very long.  This is such a great series, with each installment the story takes you deeper and the twists keep coming.  The only thing I'd request if I could would be a brief couple of paragraphs at the beginning of each book just to "refresh" your mind as to all that's happened.  Well done Jillian Dodd!

  

Review: The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

http://amzn.to/2umXJ6X

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up. 

Review:  4.5 of 5 Stars

In life, happiness can turn up where you least expect it.  You day may start out terribly but end great because of someone you see, a surprise phone call or a number of things.  The Fall Up proves that theory completely.

Levee Williams is a super star pop princess.  She has money, fame and a great best friend, Henry, also a star.  But what all those things don’t bring?  Happiness!  Levee begins going to a bridge every night and meets a tall, tattooed, smoking hot stranger.  Even though she is in a disguise she is still hesitant to talk much to him.  After meeting several nights in a row, the stranger is worried but a little obsessed with the mystery girl that seems to be contemplating jumping.

Sam, the stranger, offers Levee a reprieve.  He doesn't care that she is a celebrity.  He tells her what she needs to hear, not what she wants to hear.  He sees her for the flawed person she is and still wants her.  When he pushes her to get the treatment she needs. she obliges.  But will their feelings be strong enough to last?  Especially when she finds out all of Sam's past and the heartbreak he has already endured?

The Fall Up had me hooked from page one.  I love Aly Martinez writing style and her ability to weave such story and create characters I love so deeply is fantastic.  I highly recommend that you one click this one and enjoy!  

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Review: Steal by Rachel Van Dyken

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Steal, the follow-up standalone rockstar romance to the #1 New York Times Bestseller Keep…

It's easy to lose yourself in someone you love.

Easier to lose yourself in someone you hate…

I didn't think it could get any worse than having to babysit a bunch of spoiled musicians on set ― keeping them out of trouble is a cakewalk compared to seeing my ex every day.

Seaside, Oregon isn't big enough for the both of us.

She hates me.

I loathe her.

The plan was simple ― stay the hell away and make sure she gets to set on time.
What I didn't expect was to be faced with our past in front of an audience ― and be forced to face it again.

It's torture.

The way she looks at me.

The way I try to look through her.

Words left unsaid.

The lingering aftermath still as powerful as ever.
I feed the chasm between us, for fear that she'll make me feel again ― and steal the last shred of heart I have left.

We have everything but each other.

It's not enough.

Not when you've lost love.

And replaced it with the only thing left ― hate.

Review 
4 of 5 Stars

The Seaside Pictures series by Rachel Van Dyken is a spinoff of the Seaside series. If you haven't read them from the beginning, I highly recommend you do! I know this is a standalone but honestly, I feel like you miss out on connecting with the secondary characters so much if you start with this book and they all have such wonderful stories why not start with the originals?!?! 

We met Angelica Greene in Tear (Seaside #1) and to say I couldn't stand her would be an understatement. She was rich, famous, entitled and a straight up bitch. I was really unsure I would ever sympathize with her or want to read her story. But, I should never underestimate Rachel Van Dyken! The Angelica in Steal is broken. She is post drug rehab and finally wants to make amends for her mistakes. As a last ditch effort to save her career, Jay gives her a part in his movie filming in Seaside. 

The only manager willing to take on Angelica as a client? Will Sutherland, former lead singer  of Adrenaline and ex-boyfriend/love of her life. Will is extremely bitter of Angelica and can't seem to forgive her for her role in destroying their relationship and completely shredding his heart.  Honestly, he's never been the same post Angelica and as much as he wants to hate everything about her, he can't deny the attraction he still has for her either. How long will they be able to avoid the demons chasing them from their past?

I definitely enjoyed this installment and as always I love how Rachel weaves characters from the other books into her new releases and how important of a role those characters play with each new release.  It's like the best part of a "family reunion."  Without a doubt watching their meddling was probably my most favorite part of Steal. At certain points of the book felt connected to Angelica and Will, but I also had a hard time feeling their passion at times and the pace of this story felt a little rushed.  Regardless, this is still a really fun read and fans of this series definitely don't want to pass on this story.  Take it from me you're definitely going to want to know what makes Angelica tick, how the past has shaped her, what the driving force behind her struggles and cry for attention is, and in the end you will find yourself rooting for this "villain" to get her very own happily ever after!  

Review: Until It Fades, by K.A. Tucker

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Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season.

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works.

For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades? 

Review
4.5 out of 5 stars

There is a Miranda Lambert song that says “everybody dies famous in a small town.”  Catherine Wright knows the truth of those words all too well.   When she was 17 she fell in love with her high school art teacher.  As you can imagine things spun totally out of control.  The teacher and adults who should have protected her didn't and instead she was ostracized from everyone except a couple of true friends; Lou, the owner of Diamonds, the truck stop where she waits tables is wonderful.  I also love Keith, her best friend who is also totally in love with Cath - he loves her so much he selflessly encourages Catherine to follow her heart even though the path probably won't lead her back to him.  (Side Note:  I need to see him get a happy ending so please, please write a book for him!)  And Misty, a fellow waitress who has stuck with Cath through everything and who always manages to bring exciting drama to any circumstance!

One evening, 5-6 years post teacher scandal, following a horrible blind date, Catherine comes upon a terrible car crash and does the unthinkable.  She single-handedly pulls the passenger out of a burning car and saves his life.  Little does she know the life she saved is none other than the rich, famous and hot, Brett Madden, NHL player extraordinaire.  Catherine knows once news reporters break this story keeping her anonymity is going to be difficult, but terrified to be in the spotlight again, to be on the receiving end of judgmental eyes she vows to do whatever it takes to keep her identity unknown. I cannot say I blame her for wanting to stay out of the limelight, her first experience left her all alone with absolutely no self-esteem - all undeserved especially considering she was the victim!  Nevertheless, at her core Catherine is a genuinely honest, hard-working woman who wants nothing more than to get through her life standing on her own two feet.  This girl is in no way looking for a hand-out nor does she expect life to be easy or sadly even for her own dreams to come true. So, it's really no surprise she would run from any attention or money saving a star's life would surely bring.

When Brett eventually learns his hero's name and finally gets to show his appreciation in person and these two meet, the sparks are undeniable for them both.  As a reader, I loved Brett's character - talk about the ultimate "book boyfriend"!  He is famous but doesn’t act like it.  He's the guy next door only so much better.  He may have fame and fortune but at the end of the day he just wants someone to share his life with and for that life to be as "normal" as possible.  His heart is HUGE, and I promise you I'm not embellishing how wonderful this man is.  But, will Catherine ever allow her heart to love again?  She uses absolutely every excuse imaginable to push him away.  And I understand the reasons behind it, but I was desperate for her to have the courage to at least let herself try!  At her core is the worry Brett will only be around until his feelings fade.  The question is can she trust herself?  Can she trust Brett?  Is she willing to risk it all for a chance at love and true happiness?

The feels in this book are off the chart!  I opened my kindle one night because I couldn't find anything I wanted to watch on TV and didn't turn my kindle off until 3 am because I couldn't even think about sleeping without seeing how the story ended.  It's been two weeks since I read the ARC and I'm still swooning!  I love a good fairy-tale, perfect happily ever-after and this book gave me all that and more wrapped up in a beautifully well written, heart-melting story.  

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Review: Girl Off The Grid by Jillian Dodd and Kenzie Harp

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From USA Today bestselling author, Jillian Dodd, and her daughter, Kenzie Harp, comes a travel romance that will take you on the adventure of a lifetime.

NYC fashion blogger, Camille Caldwell, gets offered a dream job by her favorite magazine. They’re going to send her on an all-expenses paid eco-trip to Costa Rica. She doesn’t know what that means, but she assumes she’ll wear fabulous clothes, sip Piña Coladas on the beach, and have her photo taken “out in nature.” Really, the hardest part of the assignment will be giving up social media while she’s gone.

Going off social media is no big deal for London-based wildlife photographer, Adam Lloyd. The only reason he even has an account is to share his photos with the world. He’s thrilled when an international publication wants to hire him, until he finds out it’s a fashion magazine. He decides to take the job anyway—after all, it will be great for his portfolio. But the minute he sees Camille, he knows it was a mistake. She has too much luggage, is too high maintenance, and way too pretty.

When they meet, their feelings are mutual—they hate each other. Can these two stop fighting long enough to complete their assignment? Will Camille give up and go home when she discovers there’s nowhere to plug in her hair straightener?

Or will they both realize that sometimes you have to go off the grid to find yourself? 

Review

4 out of 5 stars  

Sometimes I think we are all too absorbed with social media, our phones and having an online presence.  I blog so I kind of have to be online pretty frequently, but occasionally I find myself just needing to detox.  Girl Off The Grid does a really great job highlighting the need for all of us to just get outside, push our boundaries and really experience life outside the realms of technology. 

Camille  Caldwell is a relatively famous You-Tube fashion blogger who is offered a "dream job" of contributing on an article with a very popular fashion magazine.  Her assignment -  travelling on an Eco-Trip to Costa Rica and writing an article on her experiences upon her return.  It probably would have been helpful if Camille had done a little research on what an eco-trip is because then she would have known it entailed more third world conditions than luxury.  To say Camille is out of her comfort zone is putting it mildly!    

Adam Lloyd, is a photographer trying to make his way in the world. Adam did not have a typical childhood and spent a lot of time traveling the world with his parents, so living off the land and roughing it is pretty standard for him.  While Camille loves all things trendy, fashionable and luxury, Adam turns his nose up at consumerism in general.  

Camille and Adam are polar opposites and have a hard time connecting at first - well other than the initial physical attraction neither really understands. Camille can be a bit of a diva at times and Adam can be a little judgmental as well.  However, when we let our guards down and take off our judgmental glasses we oftentimes find we have more in common than initially thought.  This sentiment rings true with Adam and Camille and before long they realize their differences lead to a lot of ways they can work together to promote the things they both believe in such as the environment.  

I did enjoy this book, it had less drama and more environmental awareness than I anticipated, but it is YA, and a major force behind it's publication is for the book to be used as a tool to bring awareness to causes and concerns near and dear to the authors hearts.  I definitely feel like I know way more information on Costa Rica and it's environment now than I did before I read the book.  There is a lot of good info weaved into this story.  I truly enjoyed the romance element of this book but for me the ending felt a little rushed and too quickly wrapped up.  In conclusion, Camille and Adam's story is very sweet and endearing and if you like fun, lighthearted reads, give Girl off the Grid a try - not to mention a portion of every sale is being donated to the Sea Turtle Conservatory, and what's better than reading for a cause!