5 Star Review: Rip by Rachel Van Dyken

Thursday 27 August 2015 No comments
RipRip by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


RIP is another amazing book in Rachel Van Dyken's arsenal of outstanding storylines. No-one quite writes Mafia like her and in this stand-alone book we are treated to Nikolai and Maya, two Russians who set about to save each other's souls, with the help of some Italian favourites along the way!

I was initially torn about this book. It didn’t start in the same vein as other Rachel Van Dyken books but instead had a slow and deliberate feel to it. Despite that, it did keep my attention, albeit tentatively, until I realised that this was going to be a side-story to the Eagle Elite series and once that happened *BANG* the story picked up and pulled me in at an alarming rate. Irrespective of how the story initially started though, I loved the characters right from the beginning. Nikolai was a dream of man with his mysterious, dark and Jekyll/Hyde ways which were complemented beautifully by Maya’s innocence and locked away secrets.

Review: Out of Plans

Tuesday 25 August 2015 No comments
Out of Plans Out of Plans by Stylo Fantome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I simply love this author and everything she writes but the Mercenaries duo is just perfection. From explosions and fights, and that’s just between Marc and Lily, readers are treated to Stylo’s special form of entertainment thanks to an immaculately developed and executed storyline.
“I’m a bad man, Lily. I’ve done awful things. But you, you are the best thing I’ve ever done.”
We meet up once again with Lily and Kingsley Law (oosh, that man needs his own story, stat) as Lily prepares herself, without Marc, for her ultimate showdown with Anatoly Stankovski, the man who killed her sister. After training under Kingsley’s tutelage for 6 months, Lily is now a sleek and skilled killing machine and ready to exact revenge for her sister’s death. As expected though, her plans once again overlap with Marc’s and it’s not long before the two are at war, with each other.
They were something better. Something unified. Something unbreakable.
Despite her best intentions, Lily can’t hide her feelings from Marc and it’s not long before they can’t resist their interminable attraction to each other and together, with their faithful sidekick, Kingsley, they set their sights on tracking down Stankovski. But will the three of them succeed in their “plan” or will one or all of them die trying to get to Stankovski.
“The next time we take a job,” she said her words slowly, “we’ll make sure it’s something easy. Like hamster theft.”
I love the banter between these three amazing characters. From Kingsley’s cool wit to Lily’s sass and Marc’s stubbornness, they are a match made in heaven. I didn’t expect to fall in love with yet another character in this series but Damiano Ledo wasn’t what I expected, at all. Despite initially capturing Marc and Lily, and inflicting as much pain as possible on Lily, she is still able to draw out the best in him and it’s not long before Damiano has also fallen for her charms.
“You, Lily, are by far the best thing I’ve ever stolen.”
Lily’s character has certainly developed from her innocent yet beguiling self in book one. In this story she is an out and out mercenary with no qualms about taking even the strongest men down but can she kill when necessary? Lily is a match for any man as she leads Marc and Kingsley into and out of numerous dangerous situations. Even injured, she has the strength and determination to succeed and can push through unimaginable pain to protect those she loves.

If you enjoy stories that pack a punch then you will definitely love this serial. Don’t forget to follow the author’s Facebook page for even more insight into her stories, characters and plotlines and even her character's preferred weapons. There is certainly a lot more to Stylo’s writing than what appears in her books!

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Review: On the Run

Monday 10 August 2015 No comments
On the Run On the Run by Jade C. Jamison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh to be starting out on the journey of life again at the tender age of 16. All that anticipation, promise, hope, determination and of course….. sex! Welcome to the life of Kyle Summers as she tells the story of her life leading up to the formation of The Vagabonds, an all girl band set to turn the world upside down.

I knew when Jade C Jamison said this story was going to be about an all girl band that I needed to read this book and I wasn’t disappointed. The story sets out at a steady pace and book one simply sets the scene for the rest of the series as The Vagabonds head out for their first tour. My only difficulty with reading this story where the numerous music references; I definitely need to do some homework before reading on!

We meet Kyle Summers, and her parents, as she tells us about her nomadic lifestyle before she finally settles in one place and starts to experience the highs and lows of high school. One definitely high in her school life is Decker. Interest piqued by Kyle when he sees her fielding her guitar at a school talent show, the duo soon become romantically involved as they seek an outlet for their raging teenage hormones.

Much of this first instalment was about Kyle and her relationship with her parents and her sexual awakening with Decker but as the story progresses, and she is offered a position with a new all girl group later to become known as The Vagabonds, we get to witness her musical journey. With the coming together of teenage girls there is some angst but the group soon become friends, perhaps with the exception of the diva-like lead singer, Barbie. We have Liz, the starting point of the group and song-writer extraordinaire who lives a wealthy lifestyle but definitely with a story to tell. Then we meet Kelly, on bass, Vicki, a talented drummer, and the group is complete. They soon become close friends and excited to be thrust into a lifestyle they had only previously dreamt about. From laying down tracks in a recording studio, to filming videos, the girls enter into a maelstrom of life changing experiences.

One such life changing experience for Kyle comes in the form of CJ Slavin, a musician who is brought in to assist in the studio. It’s soon apparent that CJ and Kyle have a connection but as she is only just 17 to his 21 years they have to fight their feelings for one another, but reading between the lines we look set for some explosive encounters in future instalments.

Told very much from the first person, and almost as a narration of the story of her life to date, Kyle sets the scene for the next stage of The Vagabond experience. You can bet there will be drama, sexiness and heartbreak along the way, all in the name of rock ‘n’ roll!

Copy provided by the author in return for an honest review.



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Review: Best Laid Plans

Sunday 9 August 2015 No comments
Best Laid Plans Best Laid Plans by Stylo Fantome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a story! This has to be one of the best books I’ve read this year. I’ll admit it, Stylo Fantome cannot write a bad book in my eyes and Best Laid Plans is close to being her best story yet. This book is fast-paced, explosive, and extremely sexy as it tells a story about a ruthless and fierce mercenary and an outwardly innocent looking but dangerous smuggler as they fight their way across North Africa and in and out of each other’s arms.

This story literally takes us on a tour of North Africa and its barren but ruthless beauty. Right from the outset, this book packs a punch as we get to meet Marc De Sant and Lily Brewster. Brought together by a job; Marc to steal rare and valuable diamonds and for Lily to smuggle them out of Africa and into Russia, we quickly get to witness their anything but conventional lives. Having spent some days around each other and now about to head in separate directions, as Lily prepares to smuggle the diamonds across Africa, they suddenly become aware of an attraction to each other which proves to be as rough as their lifestyle. Despite their connection and explosive night together, Marc assumes he has been double-crossed by Lily and heads of after her in order to reclaim the diamonds from himself and to clear his name.

Once chased and captured, Lily become a prisoner of Marc’s until she can convince him of her innocence and as the story unfolds, we’re treated to an amazing tale as they try to reach an agreement over the future of the diamonds. Lily has a score to settle and needs the diamonds to do this but then again, Marc wants to turn the cards on the man who employed him and who set him up.

At this point, the story becomes explosive, literally, as Lily and Marc try to outrun the men sent to kill them and to steal back the diamonds. From town to town, using remote routes and trying to remain inconspicuous, they fight their way across Africa in order to reach Tangier and for Lily to complete the next stage of her job. As they fight, so do their emotions and despite their tempers telling them otherwise, they start to develop a strong, protective bond.

As their journey continues and the dangers unfold one by one, they meet up with another interesting character who is also a mercenary but one that is smooth to Marc’s rough. Kingsley Law is his name and despite Lily initially having to fight him off, in more ways than one, he soon becomes an ally that Marc and Lily come to rely upon. I can’t wait for the conclusion of this story if we’re treated to more time with Law!

I really can’t praise this story highly enough. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want it to end and now I’m left wishing it was December and time for the story’s conclusion to be read. There is violence in this story and some consensual rough sexual scenes but they blend in with the characters and the storyline and do not feel forced or out of place. Stylo has created a dream trio in this book and with their different personalities, they complement each other perfectly to add to the strength of the story.

If you like your books light and fluffy though this isn’t the story for you. It’s sweaty, dirty and downright delicious and to the right audience, a rare diamond to behold!

Copy provided by the author in return for an honest review.

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