BLOG TOUR STOP: REVIEW AND EXCERPT: RIP by Rachel Van Dyken

Blurb

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.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26165764-rip

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1jhHXnh 

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/570148

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rip-rachel-van-dyken/1122545790?ean=2940152101133

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rip/id1033691483?mt=11

TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/141860787?ref=fb-share

Review

The title of Nikolai and Maya’s book holds multiple meanings for both of them, and it also represents what could become of them if Nik doesn’t figure out a way to protect Maya from her monstrous father and his end game if Maya’s memories resurface.

Readers first met Nikolai in Elude, and we could tell from his first appearance that he was harboring a multitude of secrets and walking a fine line between what he’s supposed to do and what he wants to do. This idea is expounded on in Rip and the many layers of Nik’s personality are peeled away little by little with his interaction with Maya and his realization about what it will take to free himself and Maya from her father.

Nik may be a master manipulator and pride himself on his control and ability to keep people at a distance, but Maya’s a game changer for his purpose, his family’s legacy, and his identity; in fact, their first encounter when she was 16 solidified what she would come to mean to him, and there was really nothing he could do to prevent her from either destroying or redeeming him.

Maya’s in a precarious situation not of her own doing, and so as her conflicted feelings for Nikoali lead to rash actions and unlocked memories, she’s even more confused about Nik’s position with her father and if he’s truly a monster who means her harm or the only person who can save her from the danger that’s coming at her from multiple sides.

Like all of Rachel Van Dyken’s mafia books, Nikoali and Maya’s story is consumed with mysteries and unanswered questions, and they are slowly revealed and answered throughout the course of the text, keeping readers caught up in the manipulation, seduction, and destruction that threatens everything that’s building between Nik and Maya and everything Nik’s been working to tirelessly to protect.

I absolutely loved RIP; Van Dyken continues to dazzle me with her dark, dangerous, and deadly Mafia men – guys who will do anything to protect those they love and those who have their backs. The Russian/Italian connection in the book although tenuous leads me to believe that that alliance will come into play some time in the future in the Eagle Elite series, and I can’t wait to see how Van Dyken incorporates it.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Poison Apples

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.”