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Unbroken Heroes #2
Dare You to Run
Dawn Ryder returns with Dare You To Run, the second rapid-fire romance in her Unbroken Heroes series―featuring the tough, sexy men who serve in a top-secret Special Ops unit.
SERVE AND PROTECT
For Vitus Hale, only one mission has ever gone wrong. All he had to do was rescue a beautiful woman from her kidnappers. But falling hard into bed―and into love―with the stunning innocent was not part of the game plan, and when she leaves him in the dust, Vitus has nothing but a blemished record and a hardened heart. Now, after three long years, his beauty has finally come back into his life―and this time, failure is not an option…
SEDUCE AND DESTROY
Damascus Ryland knew from their first steamy embrace that stoic warrior Vitus Hale is the only man for her, but when her power-hungry Congressman father offered her an ultimatum―sever ties with Vitus, or he dies―Damascus knew she had to walk away to save the man she loved. But now, three years later, a new threat is closing in on her―and tossing Vitus right back into her life. Damascus needs to keep her love for him locked in her heart if she is to keep him safe, but the old flame that burned between them is still as vibrant and hot as ever. Now, Damascus and Vitus must risk it all to find their freedom…and embrace their love…
SERVE AND PROTECT
For Vitus Hale, only one mission has ever gone wrong. All he had to do was rescue a beautiful woman from her kidnappers. But falling hard into bed―and into love―with the stunning innocent was not part of the game plan, and when she leaves him in the dust, Vitus has nothing but a blemished record and a hardened heart. Now, after three long years, his beauty has finally come back into his life―and this time, failure is not an option…
SEDUCE AND DESTROY
Damascus Ryland knew from their first steamy embrace that stoic warrior Vitus Hale is the only man for her, but when her power-hungry Congressman father offered her an ultimatum―sever ties with Vitus, or he dies―Damascus knew she had to walk away to save the man she loved. But now, three years later, a new threat is closing in on her―and tossing Vitus right back into her life. Damascus needs to keep her love for him locked in her heart if she is to keep him safe, but the old flame that burned between them is still as vibrant and hot as ever. Now, Damascus and Vitus must risk it all to find their freedom…and embrace their love…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2016
11 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Ryder
26 books272 followersDawn Ryder has not been abducted by gypsies. She stepped through a time tunnel and has been busy writing about Scots in kilts and English Knights for Kensington’s Brava line. but she will return, very soon to her special operations guys and the other characters that are demanding their turn to tell their story. please check back for updates and click on over to MaryWine.com to discover what she’s got releasing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 25, 2017
4 Mine, Princess Stars
Dare You To Run is the 2nd book in the Unbroken Heroes Series. It can be read as a standalone just fine but it does have a continuing story line from book 1 which did make a few things get a little fuzzy. But only about the bad guy Tyler Martin, not the main couple. This is my first time reading anything by Dawn Ryder and I really enjoyed her writing. I will say that I didn't care for the main couples names Vitus and Damascus. All I could think was how weird it would be to be calling out those names in the heat of passion. Their names were the only thing I didn't like about them. Vitus was sexy, alpha and could be really sweet. Damascus was brave, smart and there was something very charming about her. I felt they had a ton of heat and passion. Maybe a bit too much. There was a ton of sex in this book and I am good with sex in books. Love me some good sex in books but there was just so much in this book that I started skimming the sex scenes. The ending was very sweet and I really liked how the plot is going to carry on to the next book. I liked Saxon(Vitus's brother) I know his book is next and I can't wait to get my hands on it. The little peek of his book at the end of this one just makes me want it more!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Dare You To Run is the 2nd book in the Unbroken Heroes Series. It can be read as a standalone just fine but it does have a continuing story line from book 1 which did make a few things get a little fuzzy. But only about the bad guy Tyler Martin, not the main couple. This is my first time reading anything by Dawn Ryder and I really enjoyed her writing. I will say that I didn't care for the main couples names Vitus and Damascus. All I could think was how weird it would be to be calling out those names in the heat of passion. Their names were the only thing I didn't like about them. Vitus was sexy, alpha and could be really sweet. Damascus was brave, smart and there was something very charming about her. I felt they had a ton of heat and passion. Maybe a bit too much. There was a ton of sex in this book and I am good with sex in books. Love me some good sex in books but there was just so much in this book that I started skimming the sex scenes. The ending was very sweet and I really liked how the plot is going to carry on to the next book. I liked Saxon(Vitus's brother) I know his book is next and I can't wait to get my hands on it. The little peek of his book at the end of this one just makes me want it more!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
August 3, 2016
The MCs have quite the names: Vitus and Damascus. Try saying that 10 times real fast lol These two meet when Vitus rescues Damascus and fall hard and fast enough to start making plans. Plans that don't sit well with her dear old dad, an aspiring politician. At a threat to Vitus' life, they go their separate ways. Three years pass and they meet again. Lucky for us they can't resist each other. The plot is interesting with action that is paced well. It is, however, quite involved so you have to pay attention to the details to avoid getting lost. Supporting characters are outlined well with distinct traits and personalities. In this case it felt like there were a lot of them to keep track of which took away from enjoying our MCs some more. The growth was stronger in Vitus. While the sacrifice Damascus made for Vitus was noble to some degree, I would have attributed her as more developed had she acted differently once he re-entered her life. The romance and erotic aspects of the story were definite wins with both sweet and sexy moments a plenty. All in all an enjoyable read if you're wanting a little action and intrigue with your love. I'm pretty sure I know exactly who The Raven is. I'll definitely be tuning in for more: Safety: No OM/OW/Sharing. They wait for one another during separation (safety gangers everywhere rejoice lol) No rape. There is emotional and physical abuse.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2016
4 - "I'm coming for you..." Stars!
Vitus Hale, played a small but important part in the previous book to Dare You to Run in that he was Saxon Hale’s Brother.
Although not massively involved in Dangerous to Know from the offset, it becomes apparent in the latter stages of the book that his previous association with Damascus Ryland, has more than a little to do with the situation the his brother and the rest of his Special Ops Team find themselves currently in.
I would say that this book can be read as a standalone, that-said though having read the previous book, I think as a reader you miss out on a lot of the background if you do dip into Dare You to Run prior to reading Dangerous to Know because there is a bigger story-line running alongside each of the characters getting their women/men.
That was what he was to her, freedom, in its purest form.
The book starts three years previously when Vitus, Saxon and their team are tasked with rescuing kidnapped Senators Daughter; Damascus Ryland, the retrieval goes to planned, but in the interim, Vitus and Damascus fall in love, a proposal is made and accepted, but as soon as they are back on US soil, Damascus suddenly changes her mind and all communication lines are abruptly cut between them.
"You wanted my attention?"
Three years on Vitus is a man of the shadows now, but is pulled back into the light when summonsed to the White House to receive a medal in relation to his part in Damascus’ rescue, a medal presented to him by the lady herself, and feelings they both thought were long buried, rise to the surface again and quickly, which is not good news for certain people that are connected to them both, but for very different reasons.
"I’m a bastard for it. you’ve been through hell and all I can think about is how much it works in my favor because it’s driving us back together…"
Their reconnection, sets off a chain of events that neither of them could have initially foreseen, especially when it comes to lights that Damascus’ rejection of him three years previously had more to it, than her just changing her mind.
"I want to get inside you, drive everything out of your mind except the feel of me."
Tyler Martin and Jeb Ryland’s involvement behind the scenes takes an even darker turn, especially when the elusive Raven and his men are bought into play, and a new player is added into the mix with Presidential hopeful, Carl Davis taking an active part in trying to bring down the Hale Brothers as well.
There is a huge amount going on in this book, which wasn’t a surprise as the first book was set out pretty much the same way, you are given a large number of POVs to contend with as well as the fact that there is more than one story playing out as the book progresses, and although Vitus and Damascus get their resolution in Dare You to Run the rest of the story between Saxon, his team, Raven etc is still very much unresolved.
"I can’t think… when you’re this close."
Deep into Trouble is due for release in March 2017, and from the sneak peak in the back of this book it look like it may well be Saxon’s time to have his story told. I hope this is the case, because as with his brother, the author has managed to keep the details of his past pretty blurred so far, and I am interested in seeing how the story-line progresses as a whole as well.
The author has a really interesting style of delivering a story, it works though because with so much going on, all the differing POVs add depth to each and every aspect of it, on occasion multiple POVs can cause confusion, but the author really has skill in this area, because I never once lost the thread of what was going on, and from whose head I was in.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Vitus Hale, played a small but important part in the previous book to Dare You to Run in that he was Saxon Hale’s Brother.
Although not massively involved in Dangerous to Know from the offset, it becomes apparent in the latter stages of the book that his previous association with Damascus Ryland, has more than a little to do with the situation the his brother and the rest of his Special Ops Team find themselves currently in.
I would say that this book can be read as a standalone, that-said though having read the previous book, I think as a reader you miss out on a lot of the background if you do dip into Dare You to Run prior to reading Dangerous to Know because there is a bigger story-line running alongside each of the characters getting their women/men.
That was what he was to her, freedom, in its purest form.
The book starts three years previously when Vitus, Saxon and their team are tasked with rescuing kidnapped Senators Daughter; Damascus Ryland, the retrieval goes to planned, but in the interim, Vitus and Damascus fall in love, a proposal is made and accepted, but as soon as they are back on US soil, Damascus suddenly changes her mind and all communication lines are abruptly cut between them.
"You wanted my attention?"
Three years on Vitus is a man of the shadows now, but is pulled back into the light when summonsed to the White House to receive a medal in relation to his part in Damascus’ rescue, a medal presented to him by the lady herself, and feelings they both thought were long buried, rise to the surface again and quickly, which is not good news for certain people that are connected to them both, but for very different reasons.
"I’m a bastard for it. you’ve been through hell and all I can think about is how much it works in my favor because it’s driving us back together…"
Their reconnection, sets off a chain of events that neither of them could have initially foreseen, especially when it comes to lights that Damascus’ rejection of him three years previously had more to it, than her just changing her mind.
"I want to get inside you, drive everything out of your mind except the feel of me."
Tyler Martin and Jeb Ryland’s involvement behind the scenes takes an even darker turn, especially when the elusive Raven and his men are bought into play, and a new player is added into the mix with Presidential hopeful, Carl Davis taking an active part in trying to bring down the Hale Brothers as well.
There is a huge amount going on in this book, which wasn’t a surprise as the first book was set out pretty much the same way, you are given a large number of POVs to contend with as well as the fact that there is more than one story playing out as the book progresses, and although Vitus and Damascus get their resolution in Dare You to Run the rest of the story between Saxon, his team, Raven etc is still very much unresolved.
"I can’t think… when you’re this close."
Deep into Trouble is due for release in March 2017, and from the sneak peak in the back of this book it look like it may well be Saxon’s time to have his story told. I hope this is the case, because as with his brother, the author has managed to keep the details of his past pretty blurred so far, and I am interested in seeing how the story-line progresses as a whole as well.
The author has a really interesting style of delivering a story, it works though because with so much going on, all the differing POVs add depth to each and every aspect of it, on occasion multiple POVs can cause confusion, but the author really has skill in this area, because I never once lost the thread of what was going on, and from whose head I was in.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
June 30, 2016
Netgalley for honest review. Rating 3.75
This story was a good read, not great, but good. I see a lot of potential for this author (first time reading one of her books).
First chapter drops us right into the middle of a scene, which I found somewhat confusing. Damascus the heroine has been kidnaped and is in a hole of some sort and tied up. We have the hero, Vitus a navy seal who is in the process of rescuing Damascus. We shift to them then running and help arriving to whisk them away.The decision is made to try and catch the kidnapers so Damascus and Vitus are together for two weeks during this process. During this time the two MC are reflecting on their attraction for each other and the next thing we know is they are acting on it. Vitus and Damascus declare their love and decide to marry. This is written in a way that was hard to understand time wise and the shift from one scene to the other was scattered and confusing.
The heroine is the daughter of a powerful politician who is a control freak, evil, and power hungry. In fact Damascus calls him sire, she refuses to even label him her father. Vitus works for a special group in the goverment that is top secret.
Damascus has lived under the thumb of her fathers control all her life, but after the kidnapping she decides to live her own life and will marry Vitus. She knows that confronting her father will be a major task but is determined to make it happen. Vitus at first thought Damascus was daddy's little rich girl but realized that he judged her wrongly and fell in love with the real Damascus.
Damascus's meeting with her Father does not go as planned. Her Father threatend that Vitus would not survive his next mission if she married him. Damascus knew she had no choice but to let Vitus know that she can't marry him, but she never revealed the true reason why to protect him. And of course Vitus is heartbroken and they each go their separate ways.
This all takes place in the first half of chapter one and from there it proceeds to lay the ground work for the plot. When Vitus was a navy seal his team was double crossed by an individual who tried to kill them. The team and it's leader decide to go after this person and uncover why they were targeted. We learn (still in the first chapter) that Damascus has been busy working on a plan to finially get out from under her fathers thumb without his knowledge. It's revealed at this time that Damascus is highly intelligent and is secretly working with someone to eventually join a top secret think tank in the government. We have another evil politician who wants to marry Damascus and is in cahoots with her father. We have Damascus and Vitus reunite at a political party three years later. They each have a secret mission they are undertaking and their first meeting involves a lot of hurt and anger.
I have to say that there was a lot to take in the first few chapters of this book. I thought too much was going on and the layout of the plot was done in a manner that was difficult to track with and many times I found it very confusing. Also, some lines and situations between the MC were somewhat cheesy and fair warning to some this was very much was a insta love/lust. But I was surprised and I have to say about half way through the book things shifted and started to flow in a smoother manner and was more coherent. Damascus and Vitus relationship became more believable and their character evolved and had more depth. The mystery and suspense picked up to the point I didn't want to put down the book (first half I was not as engaged). I liked the ending and also the few surprises that transpired at the end.
I found this somewhat hard to rate. The first half I would rate 2.5 - 3. But the second half I would have given a 4 or 4.5.
This story was a good read, not great, but good. I see a lot of potential for this author (first time reading one of her books).
First chapter drops us right into the middle of a scene, which I found somewhat confusing. Damascus the heroine has been kidnaped and is in a hole of some sort and tied up. We have the hero, Vitus a navy seal who is in the process of rescuing Damascus. We shift to them then running and help arriving to whisk them away.The decision is made to try and catch the kidnapers so Damascus and Vitus are together for two weeks during this process. During this time the two MC are reflecting on their attraction for each other and the next thing we know is they are acting on it. Vitus and Damascus declare their love and decide to marry. This is written in a way that was hard to understand time wise and the shift from one scene to the other was scattered and confusing.
The heroine is the daughter of a powerful politician who is a control freak, evil, and power hungry. In fact Damascus calls him sire, she refuses to even label him her father. Vitus works for a special group in the goverment that is top secret.
Damascus has lived under the thumb of her fathers control all her life, but after the kidnapping she decides to live her own life and will marry Vitus. She knows that confronting her father will be a major task but is determined to make it happen. Vitus at first thought Damascus was daddy's little rich girl but realized that he judged her wrongly and fell in love with the real Damascus.
Damascus's meeting with her Father does not go as planned. Her Father threatend that Vitus would not survive his next mission if she married him. Damascus knew she had no choice but to let Vitus know that she can't marry him, but she never revealed the true reason why to protect him. And of course Vitus is heartbroken and they each go their separate ways.
This all takes place in the first half of chapter one and from there it proceeds to lay the ground work for the plot. When Vitus was a navy seal his team was double crossed by an individual who tried to kill them. The team and it's leader decide to go after this person and uncover why they were targeted. We learn (still in the first chapter) that Damascus has been busy working on a plan to finially get out from under her fathers thumb without his knowledge. It's revealed at this time that Damascus is highly intelligent and is secretly working with someone to eventually join a top secret think tank in the government. We have another evil politician who wants to marry Damascus and is in cahoots with her father. We have Damascus and Vitus reunite at a political party three years later. They each have a secret mission they are undertaking and their first meeting involves a lot of hurt and anger.
I have to say that there was a lot to take in the first few chapters of this book. I thought too much was going on and the layout of the plot was done in a manner that was difficult to track with and many times I found it very confusing. Also, some lines and situations between the MC were somewhat cheesy and fair warning to some this was very much was a insta love/lust. But I was surprised and I have to say about half way through the book things shifted and started to flow in a smoother manner and was more coherent. Damascus and Vitus relationship became more believable and their character evolved and had more depth. The mystery and suspense picked up to the point I didn't want to put down the book (first half I was not as engaged). I liked the ending and also the few surprises that transpired at the end.
I found this somewhat hard to rate. The first half I would rate 2.5 - 3. But the second half I would have given a 4 or 4.5.
August 21, 2016
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***
This is a review that has taken me a while to write, as I needed some time to process exactly why this didn't really work for me. The writing was good, it was strong. The pacing was actually fairly good, although I thought some of the time seemed a bit uneven...2 days passed in the same space as 2 hours, IMO.
Now that it has been a couple of days, I think the issue I had with this book is that I was told rather than shown. Their first kiss, it was mentioned, but you were not there for it. Most of their relationship was presented in this manner, and as a result, I felt detached from Vitus and Damascus. All of the elements were here for me to enjoy it, but the lack of connection with the characters kept this from being a great read for me.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
This is a review that has taken me a while to write, as I needed some time to process exactly why this didn't really work for me. The writing was good, it was strong. The pacing was actually fairly good, although I thought some of the time seemed a bit uneven...2 days passed in the same space as 2 hours, IMO.
Now that it has been a couple of days, I think the issue I had with this book is that I was told rather than shown. Their first kiss, it was mentioned, but you were not there for it. Most of their relationship was presented in this manner, and as a result, I felt detached from Vitus and Damascus. All of the elements were here for me to enjoy it, but the lack of connection with the characters kept this from being a great read for me.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
September 23, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cpFFhL
Things did not go well with me and Dare You to Run. I DNF-d at 33%. I usually try to make it to at least 50% but nothing had me engaged or even remotely enjoying it--characters, plot, sex scenes, etc. Basic gist is Vitus rescued Damascus and they got hit with a case of insta-lust/love but then are separated for years before coming back into each others lives... just as she's about to escape her father's clutches.
Alright so what didn't work.
>>>Their names drove me crazy and felt awkward. Damascus (heroine) and Vitas (hero) are their actual first names and they were used...frequently and pulled me out of the story every dang time.
>>>The writing never flowed right for me and felt like when you see someone running around waving their arms in a frenzy... just on paper. It was rush rush rush jump from one thought to the next.
>>>Chapters were also endless. There are only 9 chapters in a 300+ page book. I know that may sound like a stupid thing to hang me up but I guess I need more breaks in my reading.
>>>There were also parts that just left me going...yeah right. She's trapped in a cement tube for a week with no sanitation. Freezing cold, clothes ripped, stench like you wouldn't believe and when he rescues her he's like hubba hubba and how under the horrid stench she smells so good. Um. No, sorry. Also, at 23 she's also never touched herself. If a historical or religious thing I could see but not in a regular contemporary.
>>>There were some political jabs that felt unnecessary
>>>I finally called it quits because at 33% in the heroine still refused to tell him why he had to stay away even though she was in love with him. Just vague... you have to. He's a trained SEAL who could actually help and she opted to be stubborn and refuse to explain which just made him determined to find out because he knew something was wrong. Ah! I hate when people are like that and just won't explain themselves.
There's apparently some big twist with this one in the end but I just didn't care even a little to find out what. It had some great potential at the very start with the daring rescue and action- it had me excited for a bit-- but I was really disappointed with this one. Others are loving it but in no way was it for me.
September 14, 2017
A lot of tell, no show. Insta-lust/attraction between our leads, with a first kiss off-screen. The time jumping was a bit off and made it kind of a stop and go feel. It's like the author knew where she wanted the story to go but didn't take the time to connect the dots. The second half became just a sex-fest between leads.
Pretty interesting suspense arc (continued from book 1) with shady, powerful, and working towards the greater good people.
Heroine was ok with wanting to control, and taking steps to, her own life but she was put into kidnapping situation after kidnapping situation so felt like just a token to show off hero's soldier skills.
Hero was bit of a blank slate just growling with intimidating stares that also had burning eyes.
The editing and lack of fluid story connection made this pretty shallow and surface. Gives you the military hero and needs rescuing heroine tropes but no depth to them.
Pretty interesting suspense arc (continued from book 1) with shady, powerful, and working towards the greater good people.
Heroine was ok with wanting to control, and taking steps to, her own life but she was put into kidnapping situation after kidnapping situation so felt like just a token to show off hero's soldier skills.
Hero was bit of a blank slate just growling with intimidating stares that also had burning eyes.
The editing and lack of fluid story connection made this pretty shallow and surface. Gives you the military hero and needs rescuing heroine tropes but no depth to them.
August 7, 2016
ARC received for review
We met Vitus in the previous book, and now we find out what went wrong with him and Damascus. Her dad is all kinds of messed up, and so is her future fiancee. Damascus was really annoying me with how she keep trying to protect Vitus. A former Navy SEAL doesn't need a princess to keep doing that especially not with his bad ass team there to help. I get that she was trying to be strong and prove she can protect herself, but come on let the man do his job. Those two really knew how to use a bed.
Who is the Raven curious minds want to know.
Up next is Saxon, Vitus' brother. There is a teaser chapter with him and Ginger, I wonder if she has red hair too.
We met Vitus in the previous book, and now we find out what went wrong with him and Damascus. Her dad is all kinds of messed up, and so is her future fiancee. Damascus was really annoying me with how she keep trying to protect Vitus. A former Navy SEAL doesn't need a princess to keep doing that especially not with his bad ass team there to help. I get that she was trying to be strong and prove she can protect herself, but come on let the man do his job. Those two really knew how to use a bed.
Who is the Raven curious minds want to know.
Up next is Saxon, Vitus' brother. There is a teaser chapter with him and Ginger, I wonder if she has red hair too.
June 29, 2017
Vitus is all about the mission, being with a top-secret Special Ops unit, but when he falls hard for the woman he rescues things start to go wrong or right.
Damascus is stuck under the ugly thumb of her father, all she wants is out and she commits to a secret job to do so, but little does she know all the secrets that are intertwined in the end
I had a real hard time reading this book, it was like it went fast and hard from the get go, the damsel was rescued and they were in love before the 2nd chapter, but it felt like you missed some of the story. About half way through I felt I was finally getting the story and the end is not what you would predict. Would have like the story to be laid out a little better, flowing. This was the second book in the series, maybe reading the first book would have made this flow better.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 28, 2016
Vitus has his own way of showing his caring side, “I think you should share that sense of victory, Princess.” He was watching her, looking up her prone body with a smug curve on his lips. “Since you’ve made sure I can focus now, I don’t plan on wasting the opportunity to induct you into the mile-high club.” I was quite fond of the playful side of Vitus, “no, Princess, my brother’s right. We could use some privacy.” He ripped his shirt off and tossed it aside. “Now, I can chase you down the hallway…” I liked this book Vitus could be a total caveman at times.
June 24, 2017
2nd book in this r/s series,good not great read,but enjoyable none the less.This was Vitus and Damascus's story,next up is Saxon.
3.5stars.
3.5stars.
August 23, 2016
I really liked how this book started. I love it when a suspense book begins with an exciting opening rescue scene…
…And then the hero and heroine were immediately in love, and things went strange!
Dare You to Run was a book of contradictions. Good suspense set-ups with characters who made no sense. A first kiss that happened totally out of the blue – and OFF THE PAGE! – followed by insta-love that was impossible to believe in.
Beginning with a rescue, where the heroine had been kept in a dark concrete hole in the ground for days, we have our two leads lusting after each other from the first moment they meet face to face. Remember: she has been prisoner in a hole in the ground for days!
Our hero thinks this in one paragraph:
And this two paragraphs later:
But no matter what he thinks, in the next chapter he is professing his love for her to anyone he sees, in language more suited to historical romance than the US Special Forces.
Add to that the fact the hero is called Vitus, has a heroine from a staunch conservative background who is improbably called Damascus, and has a brother named Saxon… I come from a family of “ethnic” (to Anglo/English-speaking people) names, so I don’t expect everyone to be called Jack and Jane, but this was too much.
In the end, I was very disappointed with what started out as a promising book.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
…And then the hero and heroine were immediately in love, and things went strange!
Dare You to Run was a book of contradictions. Good suspense set-ups with characters who made no sense. A first kiss that happened totally out of the blue – and OFF THE PAGE! – followed by insta-love that was impossible to believe in.
Beginning with a rescue, where the heroine had been kept in a dark concrete hole in the ground for days, we have our two leads lusting after each other from the first moment they meet face to face. Remember: she has been prisoner in a hole in the ground for days!
Our hero thinks this in one paragraph:
He could smell the blood on her, and the stench of being kept in that concrete tomb for the last week.
And this two paragraphs later:
There was no way not to notice how good she smelled.
But no matter what he thinks, in the next chapter he is professing his love for her to anyone he sees, in language more suited to historical romance than the US Special Forces.
Add to that the fact the hero is called Vitus, has a heroine from a staunch conservative background who is improbably called Damascus, and has a brother named Saxon… I come from a family of “ethnic” (to Anglo/English-speaking people) names, so I don’t expect everyone to be called Jack and Jane, but this was too much.
In the end, I was very disappointed with what started out as a promising book.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
June 8, 2016
Dawn Ryder has done it again. She has managed to write yet another masterpiece of a novel that sucks you in, puts you on an emotional roller coaster, and gives you the ride of a life time.
This story starts off with Damascus's first kidnapping and the results of said kidnapping. She never realized just how vindictive her father, congressman Jeb was until he gives her an ultimatum that she never really had a choice in. So by her giving up her happiness and dancing to the tune that her "sire" has set she loses so much more than the love of her life. She is slowly losing herself until she decides to take her life in her hands and find a way out of a horrible predicament.
Vitus was a navy seal, and he knew that he should never fall for the ones that he saves. He also knows he should definitely not get involved, sexually or emotionally with the senators daughter. So when he inevitably falls for her, and gets her taken away from him he decided not to trust her or anyone else again. Especially since her father seems to have put a bulls eye on his back.
When another mission pushes them together they both have their own secrets to keep. Damascus has to keep the bargain she made with her "sire" a secret. And Vitus has to keep his feelings for her a secret. Either way this story only has one possible outcome. And with Jeb, Carl (another congressman and a hopeful fiance for Damascus) and Tyler (basically a gun for hire) fights to keep Damascus as their pawn does happily ever after even stand a chance?
This story has a lot of twists and turns, some kick-ass main characters, and a bad ass "heroine". This is yet another masterful story by Ms. Ryder that any romance or suspense readers will not want to miss out on.
~ A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
This story starts off with Damascus's first kidnapping and the results of said kidnapping. She never realized just how vindictive her father, congressman Jeb was until he gives her an ultimatum that she never really had a choice in. So by her giving up her happiness and dancing to the tune that her "sire" has set she loses so much more than the love of her life. She is slowly losing herself until she decides to take her life in her hands and find a way out of a horrible predicament.
Vitus was a navy seal, and he knew that he should never fall for the ones that he saves. He also knows he should definitely not get involved, sexually or emotionally with the senators daughter. So when he inevitably falls for her, and gets her taken away from him he decided not to trust her or anyone else again. Especially since her father seems to have put a bulls eye on his back.
When another mission pushes them together they both have their own secrets to keep. Damascus has to keep the bargain she made with her "sire" a secret. And Vitus has to keep his feelings for her a secret. Either way this story only has one possible outcome. And with Jeb, Carl (another congressman and a hopeful fiance for Damascus) and Tyler (basically a gun for hire) fights to keep Damascus as their pawn does happily ever after even stand a chance?
This story has a lot of twists and turns, some kick-ass main characters, and a bad ass "heroine". This is yet another masterful story by Ms. Ryder that any romance or suspense readers will not want to miss out on.
~ A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
August 2, 2016
*3.5 stars*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and St Martin's Press*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and St Martin's Press*
August 27, 2016
4.25 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 30, 2016
Serve and protect
For Vitus Hale, only one mission has ever gone wrong. All he had to do was rescue a beautiful woman from her kidnappers. But falling hard into bed—and into love—with the stunning innocent was not part of the game plan, and when she leaves him in the dust, Vitus has nothing but a blemished record and a hardened heart. Now, after three long years, his beauty has finally come back into his life—and this time, failure is not an option…
Seduce and destroy
Damascus Ryland knew from their first steamy embrace that stoic warrior Vitus Hale is the only man for her, but when her power-hungry Congressman father offered her an ultimatum—sever ties with Vitus, or he dies—Damascus knew she had to walk away to save the man she loved. But now, three years later, a new threat is closing in on her—and tossing Vitus right back into her life. Damascus needs to keep her love for him locked in her heart if she is to keep him safe, but the old flame that burned between them is still as vibrant and hot as ever. Now, Damascus and Vitus must risk it all to find their freedom…and embrace their love
••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars---DARE YOU TO RUN is the second installment in Dawn Ryder’s contemporary, adult UNBROKEN HEROES erotic, military romantic suspense series focusing on an elite Special Ops team. This is Navy SEAL Vitus Hale, and infectious disease researcher Damascus Ryland’s story line. DARE YOU TO RUN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory, and the introduction of future story line characters.
Told from several third person points of view DARE YOU TO RUN looks at the rekindling of the relationship between Navy SEAL Vitus Hale, and Damascus Ryland. Three years earlier our heroine fell in love with the man who rescued her from uncertain danger; a politician’s daughter who had been targeted for abduction on one too many occasions finds our heroine bound and trapped with no means of escape. Enter Vitus Hale and his Elite Special Ops team, and the man with whom Damascus would fall in love. But her father’s powerful affiliations and political aspirations and threaten the only man she would ever love forcing Damascus to walk away breaking the heart of Vitus Hale. Fast forward three years, and our heroine is once again a target of the political elite but this time Vitus has promised not to lose his soul to the woman who has already destroyed his heart.
DARE YOU TO RUN is a story of political intrigue and corruption; a tale about the power and control of those attempting to run for political office. DARE YOU TO RUN focuses on dysfunction family dynamics, and the lengths some people will go to to ensure winning at all costs-family and friendships become collateral damage in the process. There are some scenes of violence and physical abuse that may be triggers for some sensitive readers.
The relationship between Damascus and Vitus begins as a case of insta-lust and love but heartbreak and betrayal find our hero angry and in pain from a perceived betrayal by the woman that he loves. Three years would pass and Vitus has never forgotten what could have been. Damascus has never stopped loving Vitus Hale, and she is determined to protect that only man that she loves even if she has to walk away-once again. Damascus is a strong heroine who is mistaken for daddy’s little princess but in this she is a force to be reckoned. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters that play intricate roles throughout the story. We are introduced to Vitus’s brother Saxon Hale, and several members of their Elite Ops team. Damascus’s long-suffering mother will finally grow a backbone where her daughter is concerned; and Jeb Ryland learns the truth about a woman scorned. The requisite evil comes in many faces and politically connected people-all of whom believe that the White House is the ultimate prize- the character building is strong within the supporting cast of characters. And there are still those whose role is shadowed by the choices that have to be made.
DARE YOU TO RUN is an intriguing story line; an engaging and enthralling tale of corruption, power and greed; a romance between two people whose lives were torn apart by political aspirations and ultimate betrayals. The premise is captivating and compelling; the characters are inspiring and sensational; the romance is emotional and dramatic. DARE YOU TO RUN is a passionate and impressive addition to Dawn Ryder’s UNBROKEN HEROES; a must-read for fans of romantic suspense and military heroes.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 30, 2016
Serve and protect
For Vitus Hale, only one mission has ever gone wrong. All he had to do was rescue a beautiful woman from her kidnappers. But falling hard into bed—and into love—with the stunning innocent was not part of the game plan, and when she leaves him in the dust, Vitus has nothing but a blemished record and a hardened heart. Now, after three long years, his beauty has finally come back into his life—and this time, failure is not an option…
Seduce and destroy
Damascus Ryland knew from their first steamy embrace that stoic warrior Vitus Hale is the only man for her, but when her power-hungry Congressman father offered her an ultimatum—sever ties with Vitus, or he dies—Damascus knew she had to walk away to save the man she loved. But now, three years later, a new threat is closing in on her—and tossing Vitus right back into her life. Damascus needs to keep her love for him locked in her heart if she is to keep him safe, but the old flame that burned between them is still as vibrant and hot as ever. Now, Damascus and Vitus must risk it all to find their freedom…and embrace their love
••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars---DARE YOU TO RUN is the second installment in Dawn Ryder’s contemporary, adult UNBROKEN HEROES erotic, military romantic suspense series focusing on an elite Special Ops team. This is Navy SEAL Vitus Hale, and infectious disease researcher Damascus Ryland’s story line. DARE YOU TO RUN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory, and the introduction of future story line characters.
Told from several third person points of view DARE YOU TO RUN looks at the rekindling of the relationship between Navy SEAL Vitus Hale, and Damascus Ryland. Three years earlier our heroine fell in love with the man who rescued her from uncertain danger; a politician’s daughter who had been targeted for abduction on one too many occasions finds our heroine bound and trapped with no means of escape. Enter Vitus Hale and his Elite Special Ops team, and the man with whom Damascus would fall in love. But her father’s powerful affiliations and political aspirations and threaten the only man she would ever love forcing Damascus to walk away breaking the heart of Vitus Hale. Fast forward three years, and our heroine is once again a target of the political elite but this time Vitus has promised not to lose his soul to the woman who has already destroyed his heart.
DARE YOU TO RUN is a story of political intrigue and corruption; a tale about the power and control of those attempting to run for political office. DARE YOU TO RUN focuses on dysfunction family dynamics, and the lengths some people will go to to ensure winning at all costs-family and friendships become collateral damage in the process. There are some scenes of violence and physical abuse that may be triggers for some sensitive readers.
The relationship between Damascus and Vitus begins as a case of insta-lust and love but heartbreak and betrayal find our hero angry and in pain from a perceived betrayal by the woman that he loves. Three years would pass and Vitus has never forgotten what could have been. Damascus has never stopped loving Vitus Hale, and she is determined to protect that only man that she loves even if she has to walk away-once again. Damascus is a strong heroine who is mistaken for daddy’s little princess but in this she is a force to be reckoned. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters that play intricate roles throughout the story. We are introduced to Vitus’s brother Saxon Hale, and several members of their Elite Ops team. Damascus’s long-suffering mother will finally grow a backbone where her daughter is concerned; and Jeb Ryland learns the truth about a woman scorned. The requisite evil comes in many faces and politically connected people-all of whom believe that the White House is the ultimate prize- the character building is strong within the supporting cast of characters. And there are still those whose role is shadowed by the choices that have to be made.
DARE YOU TO RUN is an intriguing story line; an engaging and enthralling tale of corruption, power and greed; a romance between two people whose lives were torn apart by political aspirations and ultimate betrayals. The premise is captivating and compelling; the characters are inspiring and sensational; the romance is emotional and dramatic. DARE YOU TO RUN is a passionate and impressive addition to Dawn Ryder’s UNBROKEN HEROES; a must-read for fans of romantic suspense and military heroes.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
August 29, 2016
2.75*
I'm really not sure where to start with this review. The story line was good and full of potential. I really liked the beginning, it drew me right in and it flowed well until about 1/4 of the way into the story. Then I felt it got choppy and a little unorganized. The main characters and secondary characters I really liked and I want to know their HEA's. Vitus and Damascus where both such strong characters agent if it made Damascus a bit bull headed I still liked her. She and Vitus bumped heads with how alpha he was. Damascus earned the respect of Vitus and his team even if it came at a cost. There was some great sexy times and some really good suspense and a decent twist but also way to much run on of the story that did not hold my attention. The first story in this series started out disorganized and turned out pretty good in the end. I had high hopes for this one in the beginning.
Saxon's story is next and I am looking forward to it. Hopefully the third times the charm.
*Book Obsessed Chicks Review team
I'm really not sure where to start with this review. The story line was good and full of potential. I really liked the beginning, it drew me right in and it flowed well until about 1/4 of the way into the story. Then I felt it got choppy and a little unorganized. The main characters and secondary characters I really liked and I want to know their HEA's. Vitus and Damascus where both such strong characters agent if it made Damascus a bit bull headed I still liked her. She and Vitus bumped heads with how alpha he was. Damascus earned the respect of Vitus and his team even if it came at a cost. There was some great sexy times and some really good suspense and a decent twist but also way to much run on of the story that did not hold my attention. The first story in this series started out disorganized and turned out pretty good in the end. I had high hopes for this one in the beginning.
Saxon's story is next and I am looking forward to it. Hopefully the third times the charm.
*Book Obsessed Chicks Review team
Read
May 15, 2017The premise of the Unbroken Heroes series is irresistible: spec ops SEALs who kick ass and claim hearts while defending the nation from external and internal threats. Yum.
What kept distracting me was the weirdness in grammar and punctuation. Some examples:
pg.13 "Go on princess, stroke me." He's directly addressing her so there should also be a comma before princess. This pattern persists throughout. (pp.62, 97 and elsewhere) Missing open quotes in one passage. (Page number slipped my mind, but it's during a conversation between Chief Mangus, Damascus, Vitus and others.)
Many incorrect/correct word usage oversights: pg.72 It was trained personal/personnel only inside the lab, pg.112 She's got four men dodging/dogging her footsteps, pg.155 reading what was happing/happening right off her face
Started to read Deep Into Trouble, but a similar pattern of proofing oversights continues. Will probably skim it to see how the hunt for the baddies develops along with the featured romantic pairing. (Yes, for me reading one title in a military romance series with an interesting premise is like eating potato chips; I can't read just one.)
What kept distracting me was the weirdness in grammar and punctuation. Some examples:
pg.13 "Go on princess, stroke me." He's directly addressing her so there should also be a comma before princess. This pattern persists throughout. (pp.62, 97 and elsewhere) Missing open quotes in one passage. (Page number slipped my mind, but it's during a conversation between Chief Mangus, Damascus, Vitus and others.)
Many incorrect/correct word usage oversights: pg.72 It was trained personal/personnel only inside the lab, pg.112 She's got four men dodging/dogging her footsteps, pg.155 reading what was happing/happening right off her face
Started to read Deep Into Trouble, but a similar pattern of proofing oversights continues. Will probably skim it to see how the hunt for the baddies develops along with the featured romantic pairing. (Yes, for me reading one title in a military romance series with an interesting premise is like eating potato chips; I can't read just one.)
October 7, 2017
DNF Worse than the first book. Noo just no.
August 28, 2016
I wanted to like this book, I really did. After reading the first book, I had high hopes for this one.
Sadly it fell very short.
I felt that the basic story line was in place however there was too much packed into the first part of the book that it would be difficult to filter that much information at once. The man was a SEAL. She's the daughter of a politician. We all get the basic gist of the book. Daddy says no, or I'll take your boy out, so daughter leaves man standing holding his parts, meanwhile he's sent off on a mission which is likely a trap and that much he knows or suspects. Plot line in place- check. Too much trivial nonsense. Too much time spent in meaningless areas. Not enough engagement between the characters. The repetition of their given names in full was annoying. While I enjoy interesting and ethnic names.. these were neither and called to mind nothing that spoke of their character.
I'm not sure if the basic lack in this story was just poor editing or the author or both. After reading book one and liking that book and it reads well, this one took me totally off guard. It was a struggle to finish. In all honesty I should have stopped reading it, but was hanging onto a thread of hope the book would level off, and it didn't. I'm sorry I can't give it a better rating. 3 is a generous stretch. I'd like to see this go back to the author and editors and clean up and then... I fully believe she'd have a book as well done as book one. I know the woman can write a good story.
**arc from NetGalley and publisher ** in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly it fell very short.
I felt that the basic story line was in place however there was too much packed into the first part of the book that it would be difficult to filter that much information at once. The man was a SEAL. She's the daughter of a politician. We all get the basic gist of the book. Daddy says no, or I'll take your boy out, so daughter leaves man standing holding his parts, meanwhile he's sent off on a mission which is likely a trap and that much he knows or suspects. Plot line in place- check. Too much trivial nonsense. Too much time spent in meaningless areas. Not enough engagement between the characters. The repetition of their given names in full was annoying. While I enjoy interesting and ethnic names.. these were neither and called to mind nothing that spoke of their character.
I'm not sure if the basic lack in this story was just poor editing or the author or both. After reading book one and liking that book and it reads well, this one took me totally off guard. It was a struggle to finish. In all honesty I should have stopped reading it, but was hanging onto a thread of hope the book would level off, and it didn't. I'm sorry I can't give it a better rating. 3 is a generous stretch. I'd like to see this go back to the author and editors and clean up and then... I fully believe she'd have a book as well done as book one. I know the woman can write a good story.
**arc from NetGalley and publisher ** in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
A hot mess! In a great way. Add a political family, bad guys, a couple of kidnappings, handsome heroes and hot sex along with a massive curve ball and you get this five star book.
Damascus Ryland is the daughter of a congressman looking to become VP. She is kidnapped and then rescued by a team of SEALS, one of which she falls in love with and agrees to marry. When she returns home to her family to let her father know she is going to be married she sees him for who he really is, a monster. It is then he tells her to break it off or he will have him killed. So she does because she loves him enough to make sure Vitus stays safe. But it doesn't end there.
Three years later, after her father has cost him his career and has tried to kill both he and his brother, Vitus is called to the white house to accept a medal of Valor. She has to present it to him, a fact she only found out a few minutes before.
Her father is trying to set her up with the man he hopes to run with for the white house but little does he know that Damascus has a plan of her own. She just has to make it another two weeks. Two weeks might as well be an eternity.
Vitus and his brother are pulling surveillance when they see something is not right with Damascus but by the time they figure it out she has been kidnapped again. There is someone else pulling these strings though and they are closer to home.
This book gets more and more interesting and it is so very much worth the read. I loved it. Cannot wait to read book 3.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Damascus Ryland is the daughter of a congressman looking to become VP. She is kidnapped and then rescued by a team of SEALS, one of which she falls in love with and agrees to marry. When she returns home to her family to let her father know she is going to be married she sees him for who he really is, a monster. It is then he tells her to break it off or he will have him killed. So she does because she loves him enough to make sure Vitus stays safe. But it doesn't end there.
Three years later, after her father has cost him his career and has tried to kill both he and his brother, Vitus is called to the white house to accept a medal of Valor. She has to present it to him, a fact she only found out a few minutes before.
Her father is trying to set her up with the man he hopes to run with for the white house but little does he know that Damascus has a plan of her own. She just has to make it another two weeks. Two weeks might as well be an eternity.
Vitus and his brother are pulling surveillance when they see something is not right with Damascus but by the time they figure it out she has been kidnapped again. There is someone else pulling these strings though and they are closer to home.
This book gets more and more interesting and it is so very much worth the read. I loved it. Cannot wait to read book 3.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2016
Having read the first book in this series, it hadn't occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to finish this book. Unfortunately, about 10 minutes into the book I closed it and will not be picking it up again. The premise of the book was a good one however it was very poorly executed.
The first chapter opens with Damascus (don't get me started on the names in this book!) being rescued by Vitus from a kidnapping. He gives her two choices: he can return her to her daddy (a powerful congressman) or keep her for a few days and try to catch the people who kidnapped her. She chooses option two.
This is where the story lost me. The book fast forwards to a week later when Damascus and Vitus are making out...um....when did that happen? Until that point we are aware that each thinks the other is good looking but nothing is taken beyond that. I felt there was no connection between the characters which is suppose to be the basis for the rest of the story. They barely spoke to each other before this point in the book!!!
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
The first chapter opens with Damascus (don't get me started on the names in this book!) being rescued by Vitus from a kidnapping. He gives her two choices: he can return her to her daddy (a powerful congressman) or keep her for a few days and try to catch the people who kidnapped her. She chooses option two.
This is where the story lost me. The book fast forwards to a week later when Damascus and Vitus are making out...um....when did that happen? Until that point we are aware that each thinks the other is good looking but nothing is taken beyond that. I felt there was no connection between the characters which is suppose to be the basis for the rest of the story. They barely spoke to each other before this point in the book!!!
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
June 14, 2016
I will start off by saying I did like this story. I thought the plot was good as was most of the dialog.\
Girl gets kidnapped, hero saves her. Relationship begins. Secrets unfold. Plot thickens.. dun, dun, dun.... I enjoyed the strong will of the heroine and her resolve to save herself and the fact that she didn't bow down to all the men. The Alpha male played his part, and the plot thickened with the introductions of more and more characters that you don't know which team they're really on.
Overall, It was good.
......What I didn't like was the continued use of the main character's full names. You can only read Damascus Ryland, Vitus Hale, and Saxon Hale so many times before it starts to take away from the story.
BOC review
Girl gets kidnapped, hero saves her. Relationship begins. Secrets unfold. Plot thickens.. dun, dun, dun.... I enjoyed the strong will of the heroine and her resolve to save herself and the fact that she didn't bow down to all the men. The Alpha male played his part, and the plot thickened with the introductions of more and more characters that you don't know which team they're really on.
Overall, It was good.
......What I didn't like was the continued use of the main character's full names. You can only read Damascus Ryland, Vitus Hale, and Saxon Hale so many times before it starts to take away from the story.
BOC review
February 13, 2017
Dare You To Run in the second novel in the Unbroken Heroes series, and I was looking forward to reading it since I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, Dangerous to Know, but I found myself hard-pressed to give this novel more than 3 stars.
Since I read Dangerous to Know more than 11 months ago, it was jarring to be dropped into the end of a scene at the very beginning of this novel, as Vitus Hale, backed up by his brother and fellow Navy SEAL, Saxon, rescues debutante Damascus Ryland, daughter of Congressman Jeb Ryland, who has been captured by kidnappers and held captive in a concrete cylinder for a week. Really? Damascus and Vitus? While I don't usually comment on the names of the main characters, accepting those two names was quite a stretch. Accepting the insta-love that followed was also quite a stretch, as was Vitus asking Damascus to marry him after knowing her for only two weeks. Expecting that her powerful father would accept this union was an even bigger stretch.
When, as expected, Damascus tells her father about her upcoming nuptials, as expected, he blackmails her into returning the engagement ring and cutting off all contact. She's not happy and neither is Vitus, who did see this coming.
Fast forward to three years later, and Vitus is about to be awarded the Medal of Honor, and who better to present it than Damascus, the woman he rescued. Still thinking that she believes he's not good enough for her, when he finds out that's not the case, the chemistry is still there and they are hot and heavy again, yet he still doesn't fully trust her and all it does in enrage her father.
What Vitus doesn't know, is that 3 years earlier, Damascus sacrificed her own happiness to keep him safe, and she will keep on doing that throughout the novel, as it unfolds, and it unfolds with a very large cast of characters, some good, some bad, and so many schemes, plots and subplots, double-crosses and triple-crosses that it's difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys and keep them all straight. None of this is helped by the fact that a Presidential hopeful, Carl Davis, wants Damascus as his trophy wife and bargains with her father that if he makes it happen, Jeb will be his choice for Vice-President. As if things weren't bad enough, Jeb Ryland also wants to see the Hale brothers dead, and Damascus will risk herself and her future happiness to keep him safe. What is clearly evident in this novel is that the author is well aware of the secrets, conspiracies and backroom deals made by the powers that be in our nation's capital.
What I found lacking, however, was any sort of relationship-building between the main characters. There's sex, and plenty of it, much of it rather repetitive and unimaginative, but it seems to be the only way Damascus and Vitus communicate. While I enjoyed watching Damascus grow a backbone as the novel progressed, it was too little to late for this reader, especially since the the action and suspense aspects of this novel overshadowed any type of actual romance between the two lovers, and the overly long episodes of chases, escapes, and deals did more to slow the story down rather than enhance it.
All in all, it was an okay read, and I'll be interested to see how the author deals with Saxon Hale in the next novel in this series.
Since I read Dangerous to Know more than 11 months ago, it was jarring to be dropped into the end of a scene at the very beginning of this novel, as Vitus Hale, backed up by his brother and fellow Navy SEAL, Saxon, rescues debutante Damascus Ryland, daughter of Congressman Jeb Ryland, who has been captured by kidnappers and held captive in a concrete cylinder for a week. Really? Damascus and Vitus? While I don't usually comment on the names of the main characters, accepting those two names was quite a stretch. Accepting the insta-love that followed was also quite a stretch, as was Vitus asking Damascus to marry him after knowing her for only two weeks. Expecting that her powerful father would accept this union was an even bigger stretch.
When, as expected, Damascus tells her father about her upcoming nuptials, as expected, he blackmails her into returning the engagement ring and cutting off all contact. She's not happy and neither is Vitus, who did see this coming.
Fast forward to three years later, and Vitus is about to be awarded the Medal of Honor, and who better to present it than Damascus, the woman he rescued. Still thinking that she believes he's not good enough for her, when he finds out that's not the case, the chemistry is still there and they are hot and heavy again, yet he still doesn't fully trust her and all it does in enrage her father.
What Vitus doesn't know, is that 3 years earlier, Damascus sacrificed her own happiness to keep him safe, and she will keep on doing that throughout the novel, as it unfolds, and it unfolds with a very large cast of characters, some good, some bad, and so many schemes, plots and subplots, double-crosses and triple-crosses that it's difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys and keep them all straight. None of this is helped by the fact that a Presidential hopeful, Carl Davis, wants Damascus as his trophy wife and bargains with her father that if he makes it happen, Jeb will be his choice for Vice-President. As if things weren't bad enough, Jeb Ryland also wants to see the Hale brothers dead, and Damascus will risk herself and her future happiness to keep him safe. What is clearly evident in this novel is that the author is well aware of the secrets, conspiracies and backroom deals made by the powers that be in our nation's capital.
What I found lacking, however, was any sort of relationship-building between the main characters. There's sex, and plenty of it, much of it rather repetitive and unimaginative, but it seems to be the only way Damascus and Vitus communicate. While I enjoyed watching Damascus grow a backbone as the novel progressed, it was too little to late for this reader, especially since the the action and suspense aspects of this novel overshadowed any type of actual romance between the two lovers, and the overly long episodes of chases, escapes, and deals did more to slow the story down rather than enhance it.
All in all, it was an okay read, and I'll be interested to see how the author deals with Saxon Hale in the next novel in this series.
August 2, 2018
SEAL Vitus has precise on his mission and he never failed a mission. This time he has only one goal, rescue Congressman’s daughter Damascus. When rescue mission goes well he offers her two choices, go back to her dad or stay until kidnappers are caught. He never felt pull against any rescuers before. When Damascus decides to stay with him. It was weird to know she decides to stay with stranger but it explains bit later.
Two weeks they spent together was best for both. When Vitus proposes and she accepts right before she was heading back home. What both didn’t know is Damascus dad was not a typical dad nor politician. When she arrives at home, there is no warm welcome for her and when she reveals her engagement, he gives her an ultimatum that she couldn’t refuse. She wanted to protect him this time and she severed her engagement.
Three years later, they face each other when Vitus was receiving a medal at the Whitehouse. Damascus had all planed her life without her father, but her father had a different idea for his only daughter. He would do anything to further his career and his ultimate goal was to head to White House. Now she faces Vitus after three agonizing years apart from him and she wants to run to him but he is forbidden fruit she can’t touch or he will be danger again.
Vitus not thrill to see Damascus at his medal ceremony. But he couldn’t keep his hands off her when she saw her with shrew congressman Davis. When she faced Vitus, she couldn’t keep her head straight.
Damascus is trying to hide her plans from everyone but her father has different ideas for her and he couldn’t wait until she is off school. When she finds out Vitus was in danger from her father, she risks and makes a visit.
There are more eyes all around her. Vitus and Damascus are in danger once again.
Hero and heroine must have most strangest names ever. In the beginning storyline seems a bit chaotic and difficult to get into. There are so many characters to remember and multiple view points. But it picked up and it really kept the suspense up until the end. It seems some of the characters will continue on to the next book and it seems like it will be about his brother.
I would give 3 1/2 ⭐️...
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin for my ARC in exchange for honest review.
Two weeks they spent together was best for both. When Vitus proposes and she accepts right before she was heading back home. What both didn’t know is Damascus dad was not a typical dad nor politician. When she arrives at home, there is no warm welcome for her and when she reveals her engagement, he gives her an ultimatum that she couldn’t refuse. She wanted to protect him this time and she severed her engagement.
Three years later, they face each other when Vitus was receiving a medal at the Whitehouse. Damascus had all planed her life without her father, but her father had a different idea for his only daughter. He would do anything to further his career and his ultimate goal was to head to White House. Now she faces Vitus after three agonizing years apart from him and she wants to run to him but he is forbidden fruit she can’t touch or he will be danger again.
Vitus not thrill to see Damascus at his medal ceremony. But he couldn’t keep his hands off her when she saw her with shrew congressman Davis. When she faced Vitus, she couldn’t keep her head straight.
Damascus is trying to hide her plans from everyone but her father has different ideas for her and he couldn’t wait until she is off school. When she finds out Vitus was in danger from her father, she risks and makes a visit.
There are more eyes all around her. Vitus and Damascus are in danger once again.
Hero and heroine must have most strangest names ever. In the beginning storyline seems a bit chaotic and difficult to get into. There are so many characters to remember and multiple view points. But it picked up and it really kept the suspense up until the end. It seems some of the characters will continue on to the next book and it seems like it will be about his brother.
I would give 3 1/2 ⭐️...
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin for my ARC in exchange for honest review.
August 23, 2017
This book is about an elite special ops team and this ops is being led by Vitus Hale. He is to rescue Damascus Ryland daughter of a congressman. After the rescue she agrees to his plan of staying longer in order to catch more people coming to where she was being held. Of course during this time they fall for each other and by the time he takes her home and wants to marry her. Her father says he is not right for her and tells her to give back the ring or he will make some calls and his missions will be ones that he will make sure he will not return from. She gives back the ring and for the next three years they do not see each other until she is forced to go to an event at the White House and yes he is there, but so is the man her father who he wants her to marry to inline the two families for a run at the White House. She is not in agreement for many reasons. One she is still in love with Vitus and though she can’t be with him she won’t be with anyone else. It is a few days later when she is kidnapped again this time taken to New Orleans and though it takes her a little while she does escape. When she does Vitus and his team are there. This starts a whole other change of events of running and hiding and when you get to the end the book is full of surprises as to who it ends. Not a bad story. Very fast paced. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
July 13, 2018
I love action romances, and this is a good one. I liked that there's an actual story with the romance aspect. There is a bit too much filler, but overall, the story drew me in. Vitus is a Navy SEAL, who rescued Damascus from being held captive. Damascus' father is a power hungry politician with designs on the white house, and Damascus gets put in danger because of it. Vitus and Damascus fall in love, but her father won't have it. He threatens Vitus' life, so Damascus does what she thinks is best and breaks up with Vitus. Fast forward 3 years, and things are coming to a head. Damascus is in danger again, and Vitus becomes involved. There's lots of bad characters in this story, lots of secrets, and lots of sexy times. Loved the chemistry between Vitus and Damascus. I don't really get why Damascus felt she needed to completely let go of Vitus and keep him in the dark, but overall, I liked her and Vitus is terrific. I also loved the little bit of action in the story, and I always love a romance involving the military. I'd like to see how the other characters turn out, so I'm looking forward to the next book! Fun, entertaining story!
February 15, 2017
This is the second book of the Unbroken Heroes, and man, if Romeo and Juliette were to plotted in modern times, this is one good setting.
The intensity of the story was too much, that I find myself crying several times. I love the the way the lines of both main and secondary characters were said. Those rare funny moments between sibling and team mates. The way the action was written, the thought of the antagonist, they were so good.
Cannot wait to read Saxon's book. I would love to see him eat his own words. I wonder, what will Kagan, Thais, Vitus, and Bram will say once the mighty have fallen...
Unbroken Heroes features a black ops team that operates between black and white. For them there is only a shade of gray. However, when this group of people fall, they will stay and hell be damned.
The intensity of the story was too much, that I find myself crying several times. I love the the way the lines of both main and secondary characters were said. Those rare funny moments between sibling and team mates. The way the action was written, the thought of the antagonist, they were so good.
Cannot wait to read Saxon's book. I would love to see him eat his own words. I wonder, what will Kagan, Thais, Vitus, and Bram will say once the mighty have fallen...
Unbroken Heroes features a black ops team that operates between black and white. For them there is only a shade of gray. However, when this group of people fall, they will stay and hell be damned.
December 14, 2016
This is the second book in the Unbroken Heroes series by Dawn Ryder. I haven't read the first book in the series, Dangerous to Know, but this book can be read as a standalone without any problems.
Vitus Hale cannot forget the only mission that went wrong. It was when he had to rescue that stunning and innocent woman from her kidnappers. But falling in love with her was his worst mistake. Now, three years later, Damascus Ryland comes back into his life with a new threat over her life.
This book is full of action, romance and suspense.
The main characters are well written and the chemistry between them is very strong.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Vitus Hale cannot forget the only mission that went wrong. It was when he had to rescue that stunning and innocent woman from her kidnappers. But falling in love with her was his worst mistake. Now, three years later, Damascus Ryland comes back into his life with a new threat over her life.
This book is full of action, romance and suspense.
The main characters are well written and the chemistry between them is very strong.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
September 26, 2017
I'm really enjoying this series. Loved Vitus Hale and Damascus Ryland's love story (again, don't get me started on the names in this series). It was great to see them get their HEA, especially after three years apart and everything else they went through. The author could really use a good editor. So many typos, and a few continuity problems. Seal should be all caps: SEAL. Col. Magnus is a colonel, not a colonial. Etc.
December 30, 2018
I didn't expect to like this book, just because of the issues I had with the last one, but I couldn't help but love Damascus. She was such a kickass character with a never-back-down attitude that I love seeing in female characters.
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