Carver's Book Cravings: Blog Tour and Giveaway: Ember by Rachel Van Dyken

~ Synopsis ~

I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.

I know only pain and survival.

That is until the Cappo's sister walked into my life.

And changed everything.

She's a light who makes my darkness darker, her smile makes my heart turn to ice, and I can't escape the fear her seductive looks instill--knowing it's only a matter of time before I fail--again, and take her for myself.

This is the story of my redemption.

But it's not pretty...I died, and now I'm alive, but not living, breathing but not surviving. I am Phoenix De Lange, son to a murdered mob boss, estranged brother, horrible friend, monster in the making, newest leader to one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra.

And I will have my vengeance.

Or die trying.

I am Phoenix De Lange.

Death is all I know.

Until she offers me a piece of life--I can't resist taking.

~ Buy Links ~

B&N: http://bit.ly/1yIZoRF

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1CIGWKE

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Lbpimm

~ Review ~

5 Stars by Heather

I loved this book. I was excited to read about Phoenix and how he would be redeemed. I loved all the stuff Bee did to him. Especially in front of the guys. She was a fun character to read!!

Bee just wants to fit in and be loved. She never got that love from her dad and she doesn't really know he brother Tex. She's grown attached to Phoenix since he is her guard. She wants him to see her as a woman and not just a job. Can she make him come out of his shell and live again?

Phoenix is just going through the motions of life. He doesn't believe he should have lived when Luca died. He wishes it was him instead. He is afraid of Bee. He doesn't want to ruin her like he does with everything else good he touches. He is determined to push her away no matter what the cost. But once she infiltrates his barriers it is harder to keep her out. Will he succeed in pushing her away? Or will he fall for the Cappo's sister?

This book was fun in places and heartbreaking in others. You really can't help but feel bad for Phoenix and everything he did. Though some won't agree with that. I'm happy he had Bee and she was willing to look past his past and see the man he was trying to be. This is another amazing read by Rachel Van Dyken!! Can't wait for the next book.

~ Review ~

5 Stars by Guest Reviewer Brittany

Rachel has done it again! The newest addition to the Eagle Elite series involves Phoenix and Bee. Phoenix is a dark man. He was a monster in the past because of the things his father forced him to do.

Bee is the girl who believes people can change. She thinks that Phoenix is a better person than he gives himself credit for. She pushes him to be better. But the question is, did he change? Or is history doomed to repeat itself?

I loved this story. I enjoyed Bee's quick wit and the banter between her and Phoenix. My heart was broken for the man Phoenix has become and it broke because it felt like no one believed in him, including those who said they were family. I laughed out loud in several places because Bee's mouth would start running. This is a perfect story and one of my favorite in the series. If you haven't read the Eagle Elite series, I would start at the beginning. There is much more to this book when you read from the beginning of the series.

~ Excerpt ~

Prologue

Phoenix

“Do it,” my father spat. “Or I will.”

I looked at the girl at my feet and back at my father. “No.”

He lifted his hand above my head; I knew what was coming, knew it would hurt like hell but had no way to fight back — he’d already starved me of my food for the past three days for arguing, for trying to save the girl and her cousin.

His fist hit my temple so hard that I fell to the ground with a cry. The click of his boots against the cement gave me the only warning I’d have as he reared back and kicked me in the ribs; over and over again he kicked. The girl screamed, but I stayed silent. Screaming didn’t help; nothing did.

I waited until he was done — I prayed that he would kill me this time. I prayed so hard that I was convinced God was finally going to hear me and take me away from my hell. Anything was better than living. Anything.

“You worthless—” Another kick to the head. “—piece of shit!” A kick to my gut. “You will never be boss, not if you cry every time you must do the hard thing!” Finally, blessed darkness enveloped my line of vision.

I woke up from the nightmare screaming, not even realizing that I was safe, in my own bed. With a curse I checked the clock.

Three a.m.

Well, at least I’d only had one nightmare — that I’d remembered. I’d been living with Sergio for the past week; his house was so big that I’d basically taken the east wing, and he’d taken the West, said he’d hated living alone anyway. I wasn’t stupid; I knew the guy wasn’t exactly a big fan, but it worked. I needed to stay in the States while I figured shit out.

And I wasn’t ready to leave. Not when I needed to learn all I could from Nixon. Not when I had responsibility.

And not when I had those black folders freaking burning a hole in my mind.

Luca hadn’t just left me an empire; he’d left me secrets. I wasn’t sure what was worse, knowing everything there was to know about those I was supposed to be protecting or knowing that at any minute one of them could turn on us.

“Hey!” Bee barged into my room.

“Damn it!” I pulled the blankets over my naked body, my heart picking up speed at her tousled hair and bedroom eyes. Tex’s sister, Tex’s sister. My body wasn’t accepting that — physically it wasn’t accepting any information other than she was beautiful.

And it was dark.

I looked away, scowling.

“I heard screaming.” Bee took a step forward, her perfume floating off her body like an aphrodisiac or drug, making me calm, making me want something I had no business wanting.

“Yeah, well…” I gave her a cold glance. “…clearly I’m fine, so you should go. Actually, why are you here? You know you live with Tex, right?”

She shrugged and sat on my bed. I clenched my fists around the blankets to keep from reaching out to her. It was getting harder and harder to ignore her warmth — when I lived in a constant state of near-death cold.

“He’s with Mo, and they need privacy. I’m not stupid. So I asked Sergio if I could move in for a while.”

“You did what?” I asked in a deadly tone, one I was sure would probably give her nightmares later.

She grinned. “I’m your new roomie!” Bee bounced on the bed and sent me a shy look from beneath her dark lashes. “Admit it, you miss our slumber parties.”

Forget the nightmare — I was looking at it.

~ About Rachel Van Dyken ~

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 and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com