Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Rip by Rachel Van Dyken - Review and Excerpt




I am so excited about this book.  I have fallen head over heels for the Eagle Elite series by Rachel Van Dyken and this is just another fantastic addition to the group.  It is in fact close to one of my top favorites.  






Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date:  20 October, 2015
Publisher: Rachel Van Dyken Enterprises
Series:  Eagle Elite Spin Off, can be read as a standalone
Genre:  Dark Contemporary Romance, Mafia
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 5 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Pretty things aren't meant to be broken.
But I broke her, and now we both have to pay the price.
I'm her nightmare.
I'm her savior.
And now that I have her signature on an ironclad contract, I own her body and soul.
She doesn't remember me.
She will.
It's inevitable.
Because as much as I know I need to stay away, for fear of unlocking the memories I helped her father bury--I can't.
She was the apple in the Garden, dangled in front of me, her core so tempting and sweet. A voice whispered. Just. One. Bite.
I bit.
I tasted.
I fell.
Welcome to the world of the Russian mafia, where death, is your only future





My Review

Rachel Van Dyken does it for me again.  She has drawn be back into a world that I never thought I would love so much and she's firmly planted my feet there.  

Rip is a pretty quick read, approximately 300 pages, and it is jam packed with goodies.  All the sexy moments you expect out of one of her couples, all the twists and turns you expect from Rachel's wickedly devious mind, and all the good and bad you expect from this crazy mafia family.  

I am not going to say you can't see how it's all going to end, because I don't think Rachel necessarily hides who is and who isn't up to any good, but you will be captivated by all the intricate details that bind together to make this an amazing read.  

I loved the chemistry between Nikolai and Maya.  They are both broken and scarred, so tragically beautiful that you can't help but fall madly in love with them.  What happens when the girl whose mind you erased at the age of 16 becomes yours by contract?  Her father never wants her to remember what she saw that fateful night, her sixteenth birthday, you never want her to know what you did to her...what happens if she remembers?  What happens if she hates you?  What happens if she never remembers?  What happens if she falls in love with you?

You guys are going to want to get comfortable because this book, like many of Rachel's is a wild and intense ride all the way to the end.  Just when you know what is going on you realize you never had a clue.  Pieces are falling all around you and your brain will scramble to put them all together and then you turn that last page and *BOOM* What the Actual F*&^, your answers are all right there and they are so much worse and so much better than you ever imagined.  I would love to live inside Rachel's brain for one day....I doubt the normal person could handle much more than that with out loosing their own minds.  I imagine she must laugh maniacally at her thoughts all day long!  

Our Eagle Elite family makes apperances in Rip, my Tex is better and badder than ever!  I loved that we get glimpses back to see how every one is doing these days, particularly Phoenix and especially our beautiful sad 'boy' Sergio...I am ready to cry for him all over again.  Can I have him please Rachel, (since Tex is no longer available, damn you Mo Abandanato!) he needs an HEA as much as it hurts to say that.  One of my favorite things about this group of ruthless killers and sexy men and women is their bond with one another, their compassion, no matter how brutal they can be even to the ones they love...their compassion for their little ragtag family is always at the crux of every decision they make and I love them for it.  

And can we take a minute to talk about the cover of Rip, just one quick minute.  Rachel always has amazing covers, (for example Tex's cover...if I can ever find a poster of that one it will hang proudly in my office so I can look at it daily) but this cover...well, the cover model, yeah, him...that is Rachel's husband!  And that is all I am going to say about that!  *grins*

This is a fantastic addition to Rachel's mafia world.  It is a stand-alone, but has ties to Eagle Elite.  You do not have to have read Eagle Elite to read this, but 1. you know how I feel about books that play off other books...I think reading them all in order is the best way to go.  It gives you the full effect.  2. You don't want to spoil anything and even though they aren't huge spoilers there are some, just keep that in mind if you plan to go back and read Eagle Elite.  Finally 3.  Eagle Elite is so worth reading, so just do it! :-)  This is a fantastic book for any Crime, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, Dark Romance, Mafia, Contemporary Romance fan....it is just that good!


~ HAPPY READING ~






EXCERPT

“You are your father’s daughter.” His lips curved into a delicious smile, “You resemble each other, not in looks, but definitely in attitude.” His gaze was unapologetic as he tilted his head and started raking his eyes from my feet up my legs until finally settling on my face. I clenched my legs together tightly and forced a smile.

“If you don’t mind, Mr. Blazik, I’d really like to get on with the interview, I know your time is precious.”

As was mine, I wanted to stress, but didn’t, just barely restraining myself and clenching my teeth to keep from giving him a much-needed verbal lashing.

“I blocked out my entire day.”

Did he want applause? “Right, well, I assure you I can be fast.”

His dark laugh had me shivering and wanting to lean forward all at once. Men that good looking shouldn’t be blessed with chuckles like that—a freaking sirens call that’s what it was.

“Amazing… You truly don’t know why you’re here, do you?”

How many times did I need to repeat myself and why was I getting the sudden impression that the guy was on some seriously hard drugs? I looked closer; didn’t pinpoint pupils mean he was high or something?

“I assure you I’m not drunk, nor high, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He chuckled again and rubbed his hands together. “Though the idea does have merit, all things considering.” A muscle clenched in his jaw.

Oh good, so he was a doctor who liked drugs and had more money than God. That should go over well for addiction problems.

I scooted back against the leather and clicked my pen for, oh, I don’t know, the tenth time. “If you aren’t going to answer my questions, I should probably go.”

“You won’t be going anywhere,” he said in a quiet voice. “And for that I’m truly sorry.” His eyes met mine, and they seemed… apologetic.

“Pardon?” Was he threatening me? Warning bells went off in my head as adrenaline shot through my system.

“Your father…” He tilted his head. “He owes me a debt… of gratitude… I asked for something irreplaceable, something that’s been owed to me for a very long time.”

My stomach sank as my heart started hammering against my chest.

“What exactly did my father give you?” I choked out, hating that I probably knew the answer, because my father was ruthless, he was a business man after all, and he never backed out of a deal. It was business over family and our business was darkness itself, horrible, something I blocked out because it made me feel better when I woke up in the morning and fell asleep at night.

“Well…” Mr. Blazik stood. “I thought that would be obvious.” He turned his back to me and walked over to his desk then pressed a button causing blinds to creep down all the windows. When he turned, the room was already starting to blanket in darkness, making it so that his teeth practically glowed. “He gave me you.”







(Click the link for the series that started it all)








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, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!

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