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Stark Ink #3
Faster
It's not how you start...
Ava wasn't born a Stark, but that hasn't slowed her down. Now that she's eighteen and has her own wheels, she's discovered the seedy underbelly of Rapid City, South Dakota and its underground motorcycle racing circuit. As things get worse at home, speeding toward the finish line (and away from real life) is the only time she feels truly free. There's even a hot racer who gets her engine revving.
It's how you finish.
Everything is running smoothly until her past finally catches up with her. Suddenly life is skidding out of control and she just might be headed for a crash. The curves are dangerous and her enemies are deadly, but there's no turning back now. Ava is convinced she can outrun her troubles and maybe herself. In fact, she's sure of it. She just has to be...
Faster.
Ava wasn't born a Stark, but that hasn't slowed her down. Now that she's eighteen and has her own wheels, she's discovered the seedy underbelly of Rapid City, South Dakota and its underground motorcycle racing circuit. As things get worse at home, speeding toward the finish line (and away from real life) is the only time she feels truly free. There's even a hot racer who gets her engine revving.
It's how you finish.
Everything is running smoothly until her past finally catches up with her. Suddenly life is skidding out of control and she just might be headed for a crash. The curves are dangerous and her enemies are deadly, but there's no turning back now. Ava is convinced she can outrun her troubles and maybe herself. In fact, she's sure of it. She just has to be...
Faster.
330 pages, Unknown Binding
First published June 26, 2015
30 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Dahlia West
24 books946 followersAmateur Writer. Professional Procrastinator. Voted Least Likely to Succeed in high school. Twice. Dean's list-Purdue University. Honorary Southerner. Future stand-up comedian. Gen X.
www.dahliawest.com
DahliaMWest@gmail.com
Follow me on IG: dahlia_west_13
www.dahliawest.com
DahliaMWest@gmail.com
Follow me on IG: dahlia_west_13
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 19, 2016
I really liked the first two books in this series and I even noted that the first one was not NA. Well, this one is NA. And with some of the worst aspects of NA as well.
The books in this series are about the four siblings in the Stark family and are told from the POV of whatever Stark is the focus of that particular book. It's not first person, but you only see the POV of the one character. It worked for the first two books, but Ava just didn't cut it as the main character for me. I ended up sympathizing with her a little, but being annoyed by her for the most part.
I was really excited to see that her love interest would be Emilio from the Burnout series. He was such a cute, funny character throughout and it's nice to see him all grown up and sexy. But Ava, at 18 and barely legal, is as teenagery as it gets. Ugh.
She's reckless and thoughtless and impulsive. And then does the whole, "poor me" routine. It's just a pain.
So, while I liked some parts of it, I didn't feel like I could connect with the characters and I ultimately felt that this was more of a HFN than an HEA. Just like so many NA stories.
And I really, really wish we could have read some of Emilio's POV. With Ava not cutting it depth-wise as a character, I felt the story could have been helped by sharing the load with his voice.
West is very good at timeline overlap, though, I'll definitely give her that. :)
The books in this series are about the four siblings in the Stark family and are told from the POV of whatever Stark is the focus of that particular book. It's not first person, but you only see the POV of the one character. It worked for the first two books, but Ava just didn't cut it as the main character for me. I ended up sympathizing with her a little, but being annoyed by her for the most part.
I was really excited to see that her love interest would be Emilio from the Burnout series. He was such a cute, funny character throughout and it's nice to see him all grown up and sexy. But Ava, at 18 and barely legal, is as teenagery as it gets. Ugh.
She's reckless and thoughtless and impulsive. And then does the whole, "poor me" routine. It's just a pain.
So, while I liked some parts of it, I didn't feel like I could connect with the characters and I ultimately felt that this was more of a HFN than an HEA. Just like so many NA stories.
And I really, really wish we could have read some of Emilio's POV. With Ava not cutting it depth-wise as a character, I felt the story could have been helped by sharing the load with his voice.
West is very good at timeline overlap, though, I'll definitely give her that. :)
June 29, 2016
First of all, I can't get over the awful translation of muñeca!! In the book Emilio (yeah, Burnout's Emilio!) start's calling her muñeca, when Ava asks what does it mean he says wrist, wrist!! I kept waiting for him to tell her it was a joke and correct it, but never did, so I guess that the author saw that endearment in another book and put the word in a translator and took the first word that appeared, because even if is true that muñeca can be translated as wrist, in that context the right translation would be DOLL! I can't believe that poor Ava would go through the book thinking Emilio is calling her wrist.
Well, after that I have to admit that it was a good book. Ava is strong, independent, even if a little naive about some things, and Emilio was just what she needed. I liked how they interacted together. She has some things going around in her head, some misconceptions that are holding her back, she has this idea of what she is supposed to be, and with all the things that happen to her in this book she finally finds herself. I liked it.
Well, after that I have to admit that it was a good book. Ava is strong, independent, even if a little naive about some things, and Emilio was just what she needed. I liked how they interacted together. She has some things going around in her head, some misconceptions that are holding her back, she has this idea of what she is supposed to be, and with all the things that happen to her in this book she finally finds herself. I liked it.
June 15, 2015
Best in the series so far. The Stark series focuses on more than the relationships between the H and h of each book. It is intertwined with family dynamics. Siblings, parents and where they believe (sometimes incorrectly)they fall within the family. In the 3rd book it's now Ava turn to come into her own. Ava is a bit of a wild child, who's trying so hard to "fit" into the family, while dealing with abandonment issues and self loathing. She's had to grow up fast and along the way has made some bad decisions. She's allowed others to believe what they will about her and tries to keep the wall she's built around her intact.
While struggling to find her place, in walks Emilio. We've met him before in the Burnout series and I love how we get to catch up and see the boys again. They make appearances throughout the series. Emilio is a cocky alpha and can see how special Ava is. Ava is in trouble and Emilio will do anything to help her. He pursues Ava without trying to bulldoze her. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next.
FYI: Ava is 18 but I would not classify this book as YA or NA. Ava has gradutaed from high school and both main characters read much older.
While struggling to find her place, in walks Emilio. We've met him before in the Burnout series and I love how we get to catch up and see the boys again. They make appearances throughout the series. Emilio is a cocky alpha and can see how special Ava is. Ava is in trouble and Emilio will do anything to help her. He pursues Ava without trying to bulldoze her. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next.
FYI: Ava is 18 but I would not classify this book as YA or NA. Ava has gradutaed from high school and both main characters read much older.
June 19, 2015
Some books you just know are going to be great before you ever get the chance to read them. Some are due to the author maybe you’ve read their work in the past and always loved them. Some are due to the blurb on the back, some due to the cover.
Faster is one such book. I have been waiting on the next book in the saga of the Stark family it seems like forever. I have been eager to read about the wild child of the clan and Ava’s story did not disappoint. From the first page to the last the action was fast, the characters well developed and their interaction with each other was fantastic.
Ava and Emilio’s story was one of the best so far. Maybe it’s because you can identify so easily with them. Maybe it’s because of the excellent storytelling. For whatever reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope the next one comes out even Faster.
Faster is one such book. I have been waiting on the next book in the saga of the Stark family it seems like forever. I have been eager to read about the wild child of the clan and Ava’s story did not disappoint. From the first page to the last the action was fast, the characters well developed and their interaction with each other was fantastic.
Ava and Emilio’s story was one of the best so far. Maybe it’s because you can identify so easily with them. Maybe it’s because of the excellent storytelling. For whatever reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope the next one comes out even Faster.
June 16, 2015
You know all these indie authors. Some can write, some have a good story to tell. Dahlia West can WRITE! In Faster she is telling a good story. This is the third in her Stark Ink series and the best yet. The hero is sexy, the heroine well developed. The sex scenes are hotttttttt. In this story the Burnout boys make a couple of appearances. You can read this book as a stand-alone, but the whole series is good. Heck anything Dahlia West writes is good. The quality of her writing is the same as the big publishing houses authors that I read. If you enjoy this make sure you check out Shooter and the Burnout series. I am looking forward to Stronger, and the day Preacher comes out I will be attached to my e-reader.
December 16, 2018
Ava is the only Stark daughter. She was adopted after Adam and Dalton had left home, and their parents wanted more children. She meets Emilio after an underground motorcycle race. We first met Emilio in Shooter. He was just a kid who Chris took under his wing and he works at Burnout. When Ava ends up in some serious trouble she doesn’t dare ask anyone for help, and she is afraid of what getting close to Emilio will cost him. Will Ava be able to find a way out of a situation that could turn deadly? Will she succeed in keeping everyone safe by keeping them at a distance or will it all come crashing in? I enjoyed this book, and it had more action than the first two in this series.
April 19, 2025
was entertaining but don't remember much of it
July 9, 2025
dnf at 30%
Had potential but Ava's teenage attitude just put me off.
Had potential but Ava's teenage attitude just put me off.
November 29, 2015
This book is NOT page after page of crazy Sex. So if that's what you think you are going to get its not. This isn't the Burnout series and baring that in mind will allow you to read this book and enjoy it more.
I am a huge and avid Dahlial West fan. Anything she writes I eat it up, she's incredibly talented and I am honored to have been given a chance to read Faster before it was released.
When I realized that this was going to be Emilio's story as well as Ava's I was pretty excited to see where the cocky young kid ended up. He is still cocky but being a member of the Burnout crew did him well. I enjoyed his character and what he brought to the story as well as the cameo from all the Burnout crew.
Now this is really and truly Ava's story about finding herself. Despite the fact that she is 18 and comes from a loving family, although a little bent and a little lost, Ave really has no idea who she is. She tries to be what each individual family member needs from her and in the process never really truly discovered herself. She has misgivings about whether her family really truly loves her or if she is just a replacement for what could have been. My heart broke a little once West let that cat out of the bag. Ava uses illegal racing for extra money on the side to help with household expenses but also as a way to get out of her head, and she is good at it, both getting out of her head(even if it doesn't last long) and racing. Racing is where she meets Emilio and gets into trouble. It's not a long road to the end of the story and she makes some really dumb choices that could have been avoided if she just talked to someone. But her love of her family stopped her.
In the end the only thing that threw me a little was Ava's age. But I knew about this before starting the book. West has kept the continuity of this series as true as she can without ruining the story line. So if you look past Ava and her age and really truly read the words on the page you are left with a beautiful coming of age and trying to find just a sliver of oneself in this crazy thing called life.
I am a huge and avid Dahlial West fan. Anything she writes I eat it up, she's incredibly talented and I am honored to have been given a chance to read Faster before it was released.
When I realized that this was going to be Emilio's story as well as Ava's I was pretty excited to see where the cocky young kid ended up. He is still cocky but being a member of the Burnout crew did him well. I enjoyed his character and what he brought to the story as well as the cameo from all the Burnout crew.
Now this is really and truly Ava's story about finding herself. Despite the fact that she is 18 and comes from a loving family, although a little bent and a little lost, Ave really has no idea who she is. She tries to be what each individual family member needs from her and in the process never really truly discovered herself. She has misgivings about whether her family really truly loves her or if she is just a replacement for what could have been. My heart broke a little once West let that cat out of the bag. Ava uses illegal racing for extra money on the side to help with household expenses but also as a way to get out of her head, and she is good at it, both getting out of her head(even if it doesn't last long) and racing. Racing is where she meets Emilio and gets into trouble. It's not a long road to the end of the story and she makes some really dumb choices that could have been avoided if she just talked to someone. But her love of her family stopped her.
In the end the only thing that threw me a little was Ava's age. But I knew about this before starting the book. West has kept the continuity of this series as true as she can without ruining the story line. So if you look past Ava and her age and really truly read the words on the page you are left with a beautiful coming of age and trying to find just a sliver of oneself in this crazy thing called life.
April 20, 2016
4.5 stars
Ava's story was a good one. I did not realize beforehand that it was Emilio in this story, and not sure I would have put two and two together if I only had the name. When he first came on the scene I hated him instantly. Then I realized who he was and that he wasn't a weasel and I was excitd to have him be part of the storyline. This family grabs at my heart strings. The situation with Ashley was all too familiar to me, having been born after my own sister was stillborn. I didn't have the same emotional upheaval and insecurities as Ava, but I have always wondered if I would be here if she had lived. I have always doubted I would be.
Ava definitely gets herself into a huge snafu.
I hope Haze makes it out ok. I kinda like him. I was kinda hoping he was undercover LEO of some kind.
additional note:Editing issues happen throughout all the books in this series. Missing words and extra words not edited out make some sentences difficult to read.
Ava's story was a good one. I did not realize beforehand that it was Emilio in this story, and not sure I would have put two and two together if I only had the name. When he first came on the scene I hated him instantly. Then I realized who he was and that he wasn't a weasel and I was excitd to have him be part of the storyline. This family grabs at my heart strings. The situation with Ashley was all too familiar to me, having been born after my own sister was stillborn. I didn't have the same emotional upheaval and insecurities as Ava, but I have always wondered if I would be here if she had lived. I have always doubted I would be.
Ava definitely gets herself into a huge snafu.
I hope Haze makes it out ok. I kinda like him. I was kinda hoping he was undercover LEO of some kind.
additional note:Editing issues happen throughout all the books in this series. Missing words and extra words not edited out make some sentences difficult to read.
June 19, 2015
Stark ink series getting better and better with Faster. 4 1/2 *. I have purchased this book (worth the outlay in my opinion) but was also privy to a pre release draft with no expectation of a review. For me great story, that flows well. POV of Ava's works and is believable. I found the action, bike scenes good additions to the story line. Well, what can I say, but Emilio (H) is good his motivation good too. The interactions and inter plays with other characters (from Stark ink series and Burnout series) and the scenes that they are in works well and fits. Really really like the big brother scenes, Jonah and Adam, and their inter play and with Ava and her thought processes regarding them LOL. Liked Jonah's (brother) comments regarding Emilio (H) and how they meet and size one another up, great scene. Enjoy!
June 19, 2015
In Faster we see this young woman face some major changes in her life,who in pain from her past, gets into a crazy, nasty mess. She meets and falls in love with a man who is an old friend of ours from the Burnout series. The two challenge one another, falling in love in the process. The two have to overcome some obstacles and that nasty mess, but they do find their HEA.
Faster was a good read. There were many times throughout this book that I wanted to smack this woman upside the head because she was making me so mad. I also laughed a few times reading this story as well. This story kept me engrossed until the end because I had to see how it all turned out for this woman and for this couple. I liked seeing her family members, as well as some old friends again in this story. I look forward to Jonah's book.
I am a Beta reader and received an ARC of this book from the author.
Faster was a good read. There were many times throughout this book that I wanted to smack this woman upside the head because she was making me so mad. I also laughed a few times reading this story as well. This story kept me engrossed until the end because I had to see how it all turned out for this woman and for this couple. I liked seeing her family members, as well as some old friends again in this story. I look forward to Jonah's book.
I am a Beta reader and received an ARC of this book from the author.
January 8, 2017
Book three of Starks series by Dahlia West. Ava is the youngest daughter and wild child of the Stark lot.
while out street racing she meets a handsome rider called Emilio and they start this heavy heated game of cat and mouse with each other.
this is incredibly hot and sexy but also at times very stressful because they dance around each other for a while but end results were satisfying.
this book link between the Burnout series and loved that all the old characters come in and out of the book.
this book does have a faster pace then previous book which means i finished it very quickly. great HEA
while out street racing she meets a handsome rider called Emilio and they start this heavy heated game of cat and mouse with each other.
this is incredibly hot and sexy but also at times very stressful because they dance around each other for a while but end results were satisfying.
this book link between the Burnout series and loved that all the old characters come in and out of the book.
this book does have a faster pace then previous book which means i finished it very quickly. great HEA
July 19, 2015
I loved this book the Stark family is just awesome and I am so looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out I really hope she makes him grovel and beg after making her wait for years for him to pull his head out of his ass and admit hes as in love with her as she is with him I also really want to know his full back story .... I loved this book it makes me want to go and buy a bike of my own ... lol
August 22, 2015
What makes me love this author and her books , beyond the story naturally, is the writing, that is always different but always good. Nothing is guaranteed, nothing's the same...nor the characters,nor the circumstances, so the plot. Ava is an eighteen old girl so the story, the lines portray a plight in realistic way, little romance and more true life. This don't take away intensity , drama, emotion at the story.
June 14, 2016
This was my favorite out of this series so far. Ava is a ball buster who takes no crap from anyone. She was adopted and is afraid of doing wrong and being taken away from her family. She hides what she is doing from everyone until one race she runs into Emilio.
Emilio was from the Burnout series and I loved him and Ava together. He knew how to handle her show her how he feels about her.
Great book and I really enjoyed it.
Emilio was from the Burnout series and I loved him and Ava together. He knew how to handle her show her how he feels about her.
Great book and I really enjoyed it.
June 23, 2015
I received a free ARC of this book to read and review. I loved Ava and her Stark attitude. I wasn't sure how she would be since she has 3 protective older brothers but she holds her own and then some. Emilio from the Burnout series understands her and can let her be herself and love her without trying to change her.
February 12, 2016
Ava
I don't know if it's because this book is about the only female Stark or I'm just feeling emotional but wow I she a lot of tears reading this one. It was so bad I had to give myself a pep talk. Even though I knew it would be okay in the end I was gutted. I so didn't see it coming that Emilio would be for Ava, it was a pleasant surprise. Great Read and quick too.
I don't know if it's because this book is about the only female Stark or I'm just feeling emotional but wow I she a lot of tears reading this one. It was so bad I had to give myself a pep talk. Even though I knew it would be okay in the end I was gutted. I so didn't see it coming that Emilio would be for Ava, it was a pleasant surprise. Great Read and quick too.
June 22, 2015
WOW!!!
I loved faster. It was well written. Dalaia West continues the series of the Starks. I loved how she combined characters from her burn out series with this one. It was great revisiting familiar characters I feel I know. West has another winner!!
I loved faster. It was well written. Dalaia West continues the series of the Starks. I loved how she combined characters from her burn out series with this one. It was great revisiting familiar characters I feel I know. West has another winner!!
October 8, 2015
OMG loved this one. Ava's story is heartbreaking, breath stealing, suspense filled drama that would not let me put this book down. I LOVE that we get to catch up with All my favorite Burnout characters!
October 7, 2015
I was so frustrated with Ava. But minute she is a wild child and doing all bike races. But the next minute she worried that she doesn't fit in with her family and letting her ex make her do some really crazy stuff.
Nice update with the family members so that was good. On to Jonah now
Nice update with the family members so that was good. On to Jonah now
July 2, 2015
*ARC review to Come *
Will post reviews when book goes LIVE.
Will post reviews when book goes LIVE.
July 8, 2015
Loved it!
June 5, 2016
I liked the 2nd book better but this was still good, wanted to kick Ava's ass a few times but worked out ok
October 15, 2015
Loved it, loved it loved it. Oh yes & loved Ava & Emilio too.
December 16, 2015
Good book
I did like this story but I didn't like that she kept so many secrets from her loved ones. I understood it but it was a good book.
I did like this story but I didn't like that she kept so many secrets from her loved ones. I understood it but it was a good book.
January 27, 2016
2.75*s Not my favorite, but it had to be done to get to Jonah!
August 2, 2016
Best one yet!
Ava finally meets her match with hunky Latino Emilio. Together these two light up the streets and the sheets.
Recommended to read the books in order.
Ava finally meets her match with hunky Latino Emilio. Together these two light up the streets and the sheets.
Recommended to read the books in order.
Read
August 19, 2017I've read the Burnout series and the Stark series very good books. Good writing kept my hooked the whole way though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews