Review ~ Envy (Eagle Elite) by Rachel Van Dyken

 

From New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, comes ENVY, a new novella in her Eagle Elite Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Eagle Elite series…

Every family has rules, the mafia just has more…. Do not speak to the bosses unless spoken to. Do not make eye contact unless you want to die. And above all else, do not fall in love. Renee Cassani’s future is set. Her betrothal is set. Her life, after nannying for the five families for the summer, is set Somebody should have told Vic Colezan that. He’s a man who doesn’t take no for an answer. And he only wants one thing. Her. Somebody should have told Renee that her bodyguard needed as much discipline as the kids she was nannying. Good thing Vic has a firm hand.

My Opinion

I love this world. I've said it before but I'll say it again, Rachel Van Dyken books are some of my favourites, and the Eagle Elite series is in my opinion the best mafia series out there. I have yet to read a series that beats this one in terms of story and the connections between the characters. Saying that, it'll come as no surprise that I couldn't wait to get my hands on this.

Envy lived up to all the previous books in this series. It had it's intense moments, familiar faces, dark sense of humour, and everything else I've come to expect. I felt the connection between Vic and Renee and thought things were paced and developed well considering the novella length. 

My only complaint is because it's part of the 1001 Dark Nights set it is a novella. There's nothing wrong with that, and Rachel did a great job of fitting everything into a satisfying package that felt complete, but I'm greedy. And since this is one of my favourite series I wanted more. I always want more from the Eagle Elite world no matter how long a book is.

Overall, this was an enjoyable addition to the series and I hope there will be another book soon!

5

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon Canada

Download the Free Kindle App

Review ~ Enrage (Eagle Elite, #8) by Rachel Van Dyken

ebook purchased by myself.

Release Date: July 31st 2017

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
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.

My Opinion

I think this is the first book I've ever stayed up and bought at midnight. I knew it was a mistake doing that seeing as I would get no sleep, yet I needed it. I haven't been able to read another book for the entire week because I've been waiting for this. Nothing else could pull me away from my intrigue over this story.

Now that I've read it, I'm so glad it lived up to my expectations and the other books in this series. Not that I really had any doubts on that. Eagle Elite is my favourite mafia series and Rachel is one of my favourite authors.

Enrage was a dark, emotional journey. I'm so pleased all of the original character featured more prominently in this book and were continued to be developed. I also liked Dante and El. The tension in their relationship was palpable and I couldn't stop reading.

I won't give away any of the story. But, if you're a fan of Eagle Elite this won't let you down. It was a great addition to the series and filled with everything I've come to love and expect of the characters and world.


I need the next book now! I can't wait until next year.

5

Blog Tour Review ~ Empire (Eagle Elite #7) by Rachel Van Dyken

eARC received via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: May 31st 2016

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
I have lost everything. 
My purpose. 
My love. 
My soul. 
Death knocks on my door, I want to answer, but every time I reach for the handle--the promise I made her, brings me back. 
So I breathe. 
I live. 
I hate. 
And I allow the anger to boil beneath the surface of a perfectly indifferent facade. 
I am broken, I dont want to be fixed. 
One last trip to New York, one last chance to redeem a lost part of the mafia family. The Empire is crumbling and it's my job to fix it, my job to mend the pieces that were scattered over thirty years ago. 
The only issue is, the only way to fix, is to do something I swore I'd never do again. 
An arranged marriage. 
Only this time. 
I won't fall. 
Or so help me God, I'll kill her myself. 
My name is Sergio Abandanoto, you think you know my pain, my suffering, my anger, my hate--you have no idea. 
I am the mafia. 
I am the darkness. 
Blood in. No out.

My Opinion

Oh my...

Seriously.

I don't have anything to say that's not a repeat of anything I've stated before when reviewing any of this authors books. Those of you who follow my reviews regularly will know I've read just about every one of RVD's books. She's one of my favourite authors around at the moment and her Eagle Elite series is one of my all time favourite mafia romances. What makes it even better is I get to meet her next month!!

Anyway, Empire is just as good as all of the other books in the series and I'm so glad Rachel decided to continue Sergio's story. It was brilliant. The characters were flawed but worked through everything, the chemistry was off the chart, there was the same dark sense of humour running throughout, and I just didn't want it to end. I'm so glad Andi's memory was kept alive and the struggles Serigo went through felt real. It was a touching book about moving on.

I'm not going to say anything else. If you're a fan of Eagle Elite this book is a must. If you're a fan of RVD, this series is a must. And if you haven't read anything by Rachel you're seriously missing out. Her writing is beautiful, engaging, funny, emotional, and everything I look for in a book.

5

BUY LINKS:

Review ~ Elude (Eagle Elite #6) by Rachel Van Dyken

ebook purchased by myself.

Release Date: July 9th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
The sixth book in the internationally bestselling Eagle Elite Series. 
*Interconnected Stand Alone*

Twenty-Four hours before we were to be married--I offered to shoot her. 
Ten hours before our wedding--I made a mockery of her dying wish. 
Five hours before we were going to say our vows--I promised I'd never love her. 
One hour before I said I do--I vowed I'd never shed a tear over her death. 
But the minute we were pronounced man and wife--I knew.
I'd only use my gun to protect her. 
I'd give my life for hers. 
I'd cry. 
And I would, most definitely, lose my heart, to a dying girl---a girl who by all accounts should have never been mine in the first place. 
I always believed the mafia would be my end game--where I'd lose my heart, while it claimed my soul. I could have never imagined. It would be my redemption. 
Or the beginning of something beautiful. 
The beginning of her. 
The end of us.

My Opinion

I love this series and I couldn't wait for Elude release. It wasn't my favourite of the series, but I still loved it, and it has been added to the small shelf of books that have made me cry.

Elude broke my heart. Since Ember we've known Andi was dying from leukaemia, but that doesn't make the story any less painful, especially because you want her to live so badly. Even dying she's full of life. She made me laugh, took no prisoners, and still strove for adventure even during the final days. Her attitude was endearing and I liked she could stand up to Sergio. She matched him in every way and I loved how their relationship developed even if it was short.

As for Sergio, he started off an ass. He was dead inside like Andi said, but his change was gradual and believable. I liked watching him slowly soften and open his heart to Andi and I fell in love with him too. It broke my heart to watch him suffer losing her when he'd only just found someone worth living for.

As for the story, it's one of those books where you know what's going to happen, you know it's going to break your heart, and you know it's going to hurt ... but you read it anyway. From the start I knew there wasn't going to be a HEA for Andi, even if I allowed myself to hope. Saying that though I thought the author dealt with the subject matter well and somehow made the ending satisfying. It felt complete and did end with a small up lifting twist.


Overall although it's not my favourite in the series, it's still a great read. Not many books make me cry so kudos to the author for that. I'd definitely recommend the entire series.

5