RIP by Rachel Van Dyken: Book Tour & Review

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.

PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON / SMASHWORDS / B&N / iBOOKS

MICHELLE’S REVIEW

RIP is a new standalone book from Rachel Van Dyken. And I LOVED IT.

Now, if you have read the EAGLE ELITE series, you will see a cast of familiar characters. Like all of them. But if you haven’t read all of them or even any of them, you’ll be fine. You might not get the significance of the appearance of these folks but you’ll understand some of the back story of Italian vs. Russian mafia.

RIP is about Nikolai- a doctor who is stuck working for the Russian Mafia, led by Petrov. When he’s brought in to take care of a situation regarding Petrov’s daughter, Maya, he is immediately smitten with her. But he has a job to do also. And a large part of his research and success as a doctor relies on his relationship with Petrov. So it’s a tricky situation.

Everything he does, every step of the way is to protect her. But you have to stick it through til the end to really see that. Nikolai is a dark hero, through and through. Some of the things he does make it hard to like him but by the end you truly understand him. And in my case- I’m totally on his team.

Maya is an interesting character. She’s strong in a way that’s surprising, even with her upbringing. She’s constantly being thrown new and seemingly insane information but handles it with grace. Kind of like:

Maybe the fact that most of what she thinks of her life is a lie, makes it easier for her to put her trust in Nikolai. Where I would normally be thinking she is a bit of a limp noodle- I found myself really rooting for her and appreciating her emotions.

As I mentioned, you will see Nixon, Tex, Phoenix- the whole gang. Sergio has a particularly important role and I really liked the way the Eagle Elite crew was woven into the story.

What was interesting to me was the character Jac aka Jaclyn. I wasn’t sure about her the whole way through and to be honest- I’m not even sure how I felt about her in the end. What I will say is it’s an interesting twist and character plot.

Overall this is a great read, especially if you like Mafia romances. Oh and that cover model- Rachel’s husband. Lucky, lucky girl.

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.”

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.