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Hail Raisers #6
Hail Mary
Mary Persephone Hail
Mary - well-wished - for child.
Persephone - destruction.
Hail - well that speaks for itself.
Her name is painful to think about. Mary, his newfound daughter, isn't a wished-for child. Persephone, though? Yeah, destruction is a fitting description. And Hail? Yeah, that's just the final f-you.
The moment that her mother drops her off on his doorstep, Dante's hell becomes complete. Or so he thinks. What can make life worse after losing one's wife and kids, you ask? Here's being given a baby that depends on him for her survival. Finding out that the baby's mother is dying of brain cancer and has a husband that he never knew about. A husband that Dante knows in the marrow of his bones is trying to kill her just as surely as the cancer eating her brain.
Dante's a bad person. He's done some not so nice things, and now he's being punished for his misdeeds. Karma is finally catching up to him. This child that he's been stuck with is of his flesh and bone. This child is his salvation. This child is the final nail in the coffin of his wife and daughters' too short lives. He doesn't want this child. But this child will save him whether he wants her to or not.
With the help of a friend- yes, a woman friend - Dante finds his way back to life. But what he finds when he gets back isn't the same life that he left behind. Turns out, he has to start living a new one. One where he's suddenly having feelings for a friend that helped him get through some tough times, and loving a daughter who won't let him quit.
Contains mature themes.
Mary - well-wished - for child.
Persephone - destruction.
Hail - well that speaks for itself.
Her name is painful to think about. Mary, his newfound daughter, isn't a wished-for child. Persephone, though? Yeah, destruction is a fitting description. And Hail? Yeah, that's just the final f-you.
The moment that her mother drops her off on his doorstep, Dante's hell becomes complete. Or so he thinks. What can make life worse after losing one's wife and kids, you ask? Here's being given a baby that depends on him for her survival. Finding out that the baby's mother is dying of brain cancer and has a husband that he never knew about. A husband that Dante knows in the marrow of his bones is trying to kill her just as surely as the cancer eating her brain.
Dante's a bad person. He's done some not so nice things, and now he's being punished for his misdeeds. Karma is finally catching up to him. This child that he's been stuck with is of his flesh and bone. This child is his salvation. This child is the final nail in the coffin of his wife and daughters' too short lives. He doesn't want this child. But this child will save him whether he wants her to or not.
With the help of a friend- yes, a woman friend - Dante finds his way back to life. But what he finds when he gets back isn't the same life that he left behind. Turns out, he has to start living a new one. One where he's suddenly having feelings for a friend that helped him get through some tough times, and loving a daughter who won't let him quit.
Contains mature themes.
Unknown Binding
Published February 9, 2018
317 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
Lani Lynn Vale
163 books7,275 followersLani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
July 9, 2020
Hail Mary is book 6 in the Hail Raisers Series. It can be a stand alone but I highly recommend that you read the books in order as you'll get a better appreciation as a whole for the series.
Dante is barely existing after that devastating loss of his family. Everyone is worried about him. In drops Mary, a daughter he didn't know existed until her mother, who is dying of brain cancer shows up on his doorstep. Much to his reluctance Mary is bringing him back into the land of living. She is such a sweet little girl. That had me at times saying 'aaahhh' as I read along in the story.
Also showing up in his life is Colbie, Mary's mother's best friend. Life hasn't been kind to Colbie either. When she's faced with some difficult news of her own Dante doesn't let her face them alone.
Dante and Colbie's attraction to each other is something that Dante fights against due to the tragedy of his past.
There is another party doing his best to keep them from having a HEA.
This book is very well written. I was absolutely gutted by Dane's loss of his family. His up and down emotions of moving on with his life were so realistic and pulled me that much more into the story. The characters are well developed and have great dialogue. I love the twist of intrigue and suspense, too. My favorite type of story to read.
I love that we got to know Rafe a little more. Just enough that it has me craving for more.
Dante is barely existing after that devastating loss of his family. Everyone is worried about him. In drops Mary, a daughter he didn't know existed until her mother, who is dying of brain cancer shows up on his doorstep. Much to his reluctance Mary is bringing him back into the land of living. She is such a sweet little girl. That had me at times saying 'aaahhh' as I read along in the story.
Also showing up in his life is Colbie, Mary's mother's best friend. Life hasn't been kind to Colbie either. When she's faced with some difficult news of her own Dante doesn't let her face them alone.
Dante and Colbie's attraction to each other is something that Dante fights against due to the tragedy of his past.
There is another party doing his best to keep them from having a HEA.
This book is very well written. I was absolutely gutted by Dane's loss of his family. His up and down emotions of moving on with his life were so realistic and pulled me that much more into the story. The characters are well developed and have great dialogue. I love the twist of intrigue and suspense, too. My favorite type of story to read.
I love that we got to know Rafe a little more. Just enough that it has me craving for more.
May 30, 2020
I went into this book reluctantly. I had to read it to finish the series I have just binged but I was sure it was going to wreck me. Dante's story is one that has been woven through everyone's book because his tragedy touched them all. Along with his complete departure from his family to deal with his grief adding to their loss. And I was expecting to be dragged into that grief and reliving his loss with him.
So I was really happy that although we did see Dante struggling with his losses we didn't get his story until his beautiful baby Mary had started to bring him back to life. And I am really grateful that while we did get a lot of acknowledgment of how huge his loss was it wasn't anywhere near the focus of the story.
And although there was a lot of action and drama this book was about second chances and living life without regrets. Codie was a character I immediately liked. She was such a survivor. I loved that she had so much respect for Dante's journey. She didn't take it personally when he freaked out she just quietly left him to deal how he needed to and quietly tried to make it easier for him. And it just made me love her more.
The book was a great end to the series. Although I am going to have to hunt down Rafe's book as soon as I have the time to binge the next series.
So I was really happy that although we did see Dante struggling with his losses we didn't get his story until his beautiful baby Mary had started to bring him back to life. And I am really grateful that while we did get a lot of acknowledgment of how huge his loss was it wasn't anywhere near the focus of the story.
And although there was a lot of action and drama this book was about second chances and living life without regrets. Codie was a character I immediately liked. She was such a survivor. I loved that she had so much respect for Dante's journey. She didn't take it personally when he freaked out she just quietly left him to deal how he needed to and quietly tried to make it easier for him. And it just made me love her more.
The book was a great end to the series. Although I am going to have to hunt down Rafe's book as soon as I have the time to binge the next series.
February 9, 2018
4 ‘Saving Hail’ Stars
Hail Mary, indeed!!!!
The most broken of Hail’s, Dante, finally gets his salvation, in the shape of an adorable little girl, and a woman, Cobie, that felt just as broken as himself. A beautiful story of friendship, support and understanding in the hardest times, and above all, HOPE. That’s the biggest lesson, as long as Hope can arise, a light can bloom even in the darkest and lowest of our lives.
She’d been my saving grace. My hail Mary.
Dante has been living in hell, constant pain and despair since his wife and little girls were robbed of their lives. His bleak life only starts having a bit more of meaning when little Mary – his daughter, fruit of one drunken night when he was drown in grief – is brought to his life. Mary becomes his sole reason to live.
There, on the couch, with Mary sleeping next to my thigh, her tiny feet touching my hip and Cobie in my arms, her tears slowing… I found peace for the first time in years.
That is, until he fulfills his promise to Mary’s mother, on her deathbed, of him protecting and taking care of not only that adorable little girl, but also her friend, Cobie. Cobie, a cancer survivor, finds out that the disease has caught her again. She has no one to hold on to, and as broken as she feels herself, she is tired of fighting. But one talk with Dante is enough for him to plant the seed, that maybe giving up isn’t the correct choice.
And I’d survived a lot of stuff on my own. I could do this, too.
Was there anything sexier than seeing a man, holding a sick baby who had an ear infection, shirtless?
No. I didn’t think there was, either.
I may be under the weather, but my body wasn’t dead.
And the things I was feeling for the man that was clearly only ever going to be my friend was quite scary.
They become friends, and I adored their slow development of feelings, meanwhile being each others support, and help. How Dante so selflessly helped her throughout her recovering, with no agenda, and was just there for her. A true friend, when she needed it the most.
Only, I wasn’t left alone at my own house. I was left alone at Dante’s house.
Dante’s house that was covered with another woman’s life.
There were signs of his family everywhere.
I was becoming too dependent on him. That, and I was afraid that I was falling in love with him.
In love with a man that I knew was about as emotionally distant as a vacuum cleaner.
The problem with this proximity, was that they couldn’t help but develop deeper feelings for one another beyond friendship. And that wasn’t an easy situation, on either side. Cobie was already half in love with the man and his little girl, but she was also fully aware of the impenetrable walls Dante had built around his heart, after his family’s death. She knew, and could see how much he was hung up on Lilly’s memory…
What I didn’t want to do was admit that I’d gone and fallen in love with the man. Why? Because the man wasn’t ever going to fall in love with me back. His heart was already promised to another, and that would just be plain dumb for me to go and do.
And this is where I normally have a bit of an issue when it comes to this trope. Dead spouses are a very testy subject when we could can clearly see how much the H loved his wife and is attached to her memory. And my heart was hurting for Cobie, when she was fighting her feelings, because of his situation. But there was no hiding how much she loved them.
I hadn’t needed anything else—or so I thought.
But I did need something else.
I needed someone to take care of. Someone to love me. Someone to love my Mary.
And Cobie did… she loved us.
That is where Lani Lynn Vale excelled giving us his perspective, where we could see his internal conflict, and the struggle he was having with his feelings for Cobie, and guilt in regards of his deceased wife. Those of us you have read the whole series – and have been anxiously awaiting his story – , knew fully well the scale of his pain, and how hard it would be for him to open himself to love again. But with Mary already having cracked part of those barriers, he just needed a little friendly push (aka advised) from the amazing secondary character, specially Ruthie, Lilly’s bff.
You have Mary, and she pulled you out of the darkness, but you have to do the rest. You have to want to live, and you can’t do that while you still cling to your dead wife. She doesn’t want you to live like this. Nobody wants you to live like this.”
Even so, it was still hard for him to come to terms with what Cobie was making him, and that was one particular scene I just wanted to kick his ass so bad – even though I understood and knew why he was reacting the way he did – with what he said to Cobie, and oh man, he made me cry even me, my heart only immediately appeased with his self loathing and regret. Instant realization and I adored that LLV, didn’t make us wait for it, and for light to shine on his feelings.
There were feelings running through me that I hadn’t even felt with my wife—which had been the real kicker in the guilt department. I wasn’t supposed to love anyone else more than I loved my wife—but I did. I loved Cobie. I loved her with my whole heart and soul… and distance wouldn’t change that.
The only anticlimactic fact was that the major grovelling he was intending to do, and I was hoping for, got cut back due to other events. Cobie deserved all that. Bit I’m so glad we got to see all the depth of his feelings for her and his regret, plus his intentions, that showed me how much he truly loved her with all his heart.
I didn’t recognize that what we have is that rare, once-in-a-lifetime, forever kind of love until you left.
But you… I can’t live without you. I don’t want to live without you.”
“I never once doubted your love for me, Dante,”
“If you hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have realized what I was missing. Without you, I wouldn’t have realized just how sad and bleak my life had become.”
OMG, it really was a beautiful story. Lani Lynn Vale’s gave us an extraordinary version of a friends to lovers, emotional and so hopeful, that I have no doubt will touch your heart, shed some tears and leave with a happy smile on your faces with Dante, Conie and their little family. A true second chance at life! <3 <3 <3 <3
Then I kissed her. I kissed her long and sweet and thorough. She tasted like second chances, salvation and starting over. I never wanted to let her go. Not ever again.
We were our second chance at life and happiness, and we weren’t wasting it.
What I don’t want to be doing is living in the past. The past is just that—the past. I’ll always be thankful for it, but it’s time for me to take a step into the future.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Inkslinger PR for an honest review
For full Review with Release Blitz check out my Blog Post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...
Hail Mary, indeed!!!!
The most broken of Hail’s, Dante, finally gets his salvation, in the shape of an adorable little girl, and a woman, Cobie, that felt just as broken as himself. A beautiful story of friendship, support and understanding in the hardest times, and above all, HOPE. That’s the biggest lesson, as long as Hope can arise, a light can bloom even in the darkest and lowest of our lives.
She’d been my saving grace. My hail Mary.
Dante has been living in hell, constant pain and despair since his wife and little girls were robbed of their lives. His bleak life only starts having a bit more of meaning when little Mary – his daughter, fruit of one drunken night when he was drown in grief – is brought to his life. Mary becomes his sole reason to live.
There, on the couch, with Mary sleeping next to my thigh, her tiny feet touching my hip and Cobie in my arms, her tears slowing… I found peace for the first time in years.
That is, until he fulfills his promise to Mary’s mother, on her deathbed, of him protecting and taking care of not only that adorable little girl, but also her friend, Cobie. Cobie, a cancer survivor, finds out that the disease has caught her again. She has no one to hold on to, and as broken as she feels herself, she is tired of fighting. But one talk with Dante is enough for him to plant the seed, that maybe giving up isn’t the correct choice.
And I’d survived a lot of stuff on my own. I could do this, too.
Was there anything sexier than seeing a man, holding a sick baby who had an ear infection, shirtless?
No. I didn’t think there was, either.
I may be under the weather, but my body wasn’t dead.
And the things I was feeling for the man that was clearly only ever going to be my friend was quite scary.
They become friends, and I adored their slow development of feelings, meanwhile being each others support, and help. How Dante so selflessly helped her throughout her recovering, with no agenda, and was just there for her. A true friend, when she needed it the most.
Only, I wasn’t left alone at my own house. I was left alone at Dante’s house.
Dante’s house that was covered with another woman’s life.
There were signs of his family everywhere.
I was becoming too dependent on him. That, and I was afraid that I was falling in love with him.
In love with a man that I knew was about as emotionally distant as a vacuum cleaner.
The problem with this proximity, was that they couldn’t help but develop deeper feelings for one another beyond friendship. And that wasn’t an easy situation, on either side. Cobie was already half in love with the man and his little girl, but she was also fully aware of the impenetrable walls Dante had built around his heart, after his family’s death. She knew, and could see how much he was hung up on Lilly’s memory…
What I didn’t want to do was admit that I’d gone and fallen in love with the man. Why? Because the man wasn’t ever going to fall in love with me back. His heart was already promised to another, and that would just be plain dumb for me to go and do.
And this is where I normally have a bit of an issue when it comes to this trope. Dead spouses are a very testy subject when we could can clearly see how much the H loved his wife and is attached to her memory. And my heart was hurting for Cobie, when she was fighting her feelings, because of his situation. But there was no hiding how much she loved them.
I hadn’t needed anything else—or so I thought.
But I did need something else.
I needed someone to take care of. Someone to love me. Someone to love my Mary.
And Cobie did… she loved us.
That is where Lani Lynn Vale excelled giving us his perspective, where we could see his internal conflict, and the struggle he was having with his feelings for Cobie, and guilt in regards of his deceased wife. Those of us you have read the whole series – and have been anxiously awaiting his story – , knew fully well the scale of his pain, and how hard it would be for him to open himself to love again. But with Mary already having cracked part of those barriers, he just needed a little friendly push (aka advised) from the amazing secondary character, specially Ruthie, Lilly’s bff.
You have Mary, and she pulled you out of the darkness, but you have to do the rest. You have to want to live, and you can’t do that while you still cling to your dead wife. She doesn’t want you to live like this. Nobody wants you to live like this.”
Even so, it was still hard for him to come to terms with what Cobie was making him, and that was one particular scene I just wanted to kick his ass so bad – even though I understood and knew why he was reacting the way he did – with what he said to Cobie, and oh man, he made me cry even me, my heart only immediately appeased with his self loathing and regret. Instant realization and I adored that LLV, didn’t make us wait for it, and for light to shine on his feelings.
There were feelings running through me that I hadn’t even felt with my wife—which had been the real kicker in the guilt department. I wasn’t supposed to love anyone else more than I loved my wife—but I did. I loved Cobie. I loved her with my whole heart and soul… and distance wouldn’t change that.
The only anticlimactic fact was that the major grovelling he was intending to do, and I was hoping for, got cut back due to other events. Cobie deserved all that. Bit I’m so glad we got to see all the depth of his feelings for her and his regret, plus his intentions, that showed me how much he truly loved her with all his heart.
I didn’t recognize that what we have is that rare, once-in-a-lifetime, forever kind of love until you left.
But you… I can’t live without you. I don’t want to live without you.”
“I never once doubted your love for me, Dante,”
“If you hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have realized what I was missing. Without you, I wouldn’t have realized just how sad and bleak my life had become.”
OMG, it really was a beautiful story. Lani Lynn Vale’s gave us an extraordinary version of a friends to lovers, emotional and so hopeful, that I have no doubt will touch your heart, shed some tears and leave with a happy smile on your faces with Dante, Conie and their little family. A true second chance at life! <3 <3 <3 <3
Then I kissed her. I kissed her long and sweet and thorough. She tasted like second chances, salvation and starting over. I never wanted to let her go. Not ever again.
We were our second chance at life and happiness, and we weren’t wasting it.
What I don’t want to be doing is living in the past. The past is just that—the past. I’ll always be thankful for it, but it’s time for me to take a step into the future.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Inkslinger PR for an honest review
For full Review with Release Blitz check out my Blog Post,
http://gisspotreviews.com/index.php/2...
December 15, 2017
I'm going to mark this as "NOPE NOT READING". Dante's pain has been a shadow over all the Hail books, and now, as if his hell wasn't bad enough, his story gives him a beautiful (yet quite unwanted) Down Syndrome baby daughter and her abused Freebird mommy who is not only running from an abusive ex but is also dying from brain cancer. If this doesn't prove that Dante is LLV's favorite punching bag, I don't know what does.
I'm sure it will have a happy ending, but my heart (and my head) isn't really willing to go through all that shitty stuff.
I'm sure it will have a happy ending, but my heart (and my head) isn't really willing to go through all that shitty stuff.
February 9, 2018
Dante! My heart has been broken for Dante for quite a long time and I just didn’t know if there was ever going to be a way for him to smile or live again after his world was violently ripped away from him by an accident caused by his very own sister. Dante has so much capacity to love but he shut it all off due to the death of his wife and first two daughters. For years he’s lived a solitary life, his pain dulled by alcohol and rarely any interaction with anyone else, including his brothers. One drunken night he seeks human contact unbeknownst to him that night will result in a beautiful baby girl that will process of him loving and living again. Upon receiving Mary from her mother who is dying, Dante promises the mother that he will take care of Mary, his heart starts to open up to Mary but the pain of his losses is still there and he is still struggling to find a balance to be the father Mary needs and deal with his grief.
Cobie, Mary’s mother’s best friend. Cobie has had her own tough road in life, she’s fought and survived cancer once, only to get it again. Cobie has decided she doesn’t think she wants to fight it again and she is just going to let the cancer take it’s course. Cobie is a woman who is strong, loving and the kind of person everyone loves.
Through their connection to Mary, Dante and Cobie become friends. When Dante learns Cobie isn’t going to fight her cancer he convinces her to by uttering some of the sweetest words ever written in a book "The world would be a lesser place without you in it." I melted instantly! Dante and Cobie navigate the way from friends to lovers in a way that makes you fall in love with them and their love. Mary is absolutely adorable and brings love and joy to everyone who meets her.
Lani Lynn Vale took Hail Mary to a whole ‘nother level. The emotions and healing is this book are stronger and deeper than in any of her previous books. The romance was sweet and very rewarding. Throw in a twist that I never, ever saw coming and Hail Mary goes on my list of 2018 Favorite Reads!
April 1, 2018
I waited so long for Dante's story it felt like eternity. And now that I've read it, I feel that there's something missing. It felt flat. A little boring even.
I loved Mary and how everyone fell in love with her. I love Dante and Colbie together. I loved their happy ending, which they both deserve.
The story felt a bit rushed. There were huge events that we weren't privy to. Like their marriage. Or the birth of their children. Colbie's time at a safe house, her discovery at being pregnant. Dante's friends and family when he was held hostage for 3.5 months. No mention, what they did, if they searched for him or if they even realized that he went missing unwillingly.
The villain in this story was something else. How is it even possible that one man could do all these things all these years and never gets caught? Why did the villain's wife return to him after fleeing with the FreeBirds.
And then there's the cancer story. Again. This book is so full of such much drama, it's extreme.
I'm glad that I finally got to read this book. It isn't my favorite from LLV's books. But not the worst either. So I give 3 Dante stars.
I loved Mary and how everyone fell in love with her. I love Dante and Colbie together. I loved their happy ending, which they both deserve.
The story felt a bit rushed. There were huge events that we weren't privy to. Like their marriage. Or the birth of their children. Colbie's time at a safe house, her discovery at being pregnant. Dante's friends and family when he was held hostage for 3.5 months. No mention, what they did, if they searched for him or if they even realized that he went missing unwillingly.
The villain in this story was something else. How is it even possible that one man could do all these things all these years and never gets caught? Why did the villain's wife return to him after fleeing with the FreeBirds.
And then there's the cancer story. Again. This book is so full of such much drama, it's extreme.
I'm glad that I finally got to read this book. It isn't my favorite from LLV's books. But not the worst either. So I give 3 Dante stars.
April 3, 2019
What an interesting and different story from Lani Lynn but ok maybe not. I know that she likes to do things unexpected and I love, love, that Dante falls for her the way she is.
This book really had me sucked in I couldn’t press pause I didn’t want to. The narration as always is amazing but the story is so unique and sweet and sexy that I just didn’t want it to end. Seriously I want more. I love Mary she sounds adorable. She steals the show for sure as all kiddos should.
This book really had me sucked in I couldn’t press pause I didn’t want to. The narration as always is amazing but the story is so unique and sweet and sexy that I just didn’t want it to end. Seriously I want more. I love Mary she sounds adorable. She steals the show for sure as all kiddos should.
February 17, 2018
Be still my beating heart! I mourned the loss of this book the second I finished the last page.
Mary sweet Mary, that sweet baby girl brought so much light to a dark grief stricken story I can't even. I loved her before this story now I just want to snuggle her up, she got my ovaries going into overdrive.
I think everyone just assumed that Dante's story was going to rip us readers a new one. It was pretty obvious from how his path was set out in the previous stories that his was going to hurt. I underestimated how much. From the sneaks Lani posted on social media about it not being what we'd expect I knew there would be light in the darkness but even then it still hurt. The heartache almost to much to bear but the healing process for me was the worst. Knowing that all that emotion would come to a head at some point and leave a path of destruction was nothing compared to the reality. This story hits close to home because loss is something we all experience it makes it so much more raw.
Cobie is everything I never imagined but so fucking perfect for Dante. She's the kind of strong that we rarely find in a lifetime. The silent kind that takes everything and still keeps going even when you feel there's nothing left to give. She wasn't overly loud but she stood up for herself. Sweet kind and so understanding. Not many women could face what she's faced and deal with what she dealt with and still be standing at the end. I loved her hard and she's now one of my favourite Lani characters ever.
Their journey is so bittersweet! It's a battle, the toughest kind. I cried more in this book than I thought I could at a book. I cried for the loss, cried for the hurt, cried from the anger... fucking hell I even cried at the happy. I was a blubbering mess of hormones by the end of this book because my God that was a fucking journey. It's a slow burn but it's fits them. The story grips you from the start taking you through every possible emotion there is. I wanted more which with this author isn't unusual for me but I really could have easily of read another book or two on them. Fucking phenomenal, this story defied any expectations I had.
Give me Rafe and Janies book yesterday please!!!! I know big papa is first but I need theirs now.
Mary sweet Mary, that sweet baby girl brought so much light to a dark grief stricken story I can't even. I loved her before this story now I just want to snuggle her up, she got my ovaries going into overdrive.
I think everyone just assumed that Dante's story was going to rip us readers a new one. It was pretty obvious from how his path was set out in the previous stories that his was going to hurt. I underestimated how much. From the sneaks Lani posted on social media about it not being what we'd expect I knew there would be light in the darkness but even then it still hurt. The heartache almost to much to bear but the healing process for me was the worst. Knowing that all that emotion would come to a head at some point and leave a path of destruction was nothing compared to the reality. This story hits close to home because loss is something we all experience it makes it so much more raw.
Cobie is everything I never imagined but so fucking perfect for Dante. She's the kind of strong that we rarely find in a lifetime. The silent kind that takes everything and still keeps going even when you feel there's nothing left to give. She wasn't overly loud but she stood up for herself. Sweet kind and so understanding. Not many women could face what she's faced and deal with what she dealt with and still be standing at the end. I loved her hard and she's now one of my favourite Lani characters ever.
Their journey is so bittersweet! It's a battle, the toughest kind. I cried more in this book than I thought I could at a book. I cried for the loss, cried for the hurt, cried from the anger... fucking hell I even cried at the happy. I was a blubbering mess of hormones by the end of this book because my God that was a fucking journey. It's a slow burn but it's fits them. The story grips you from the start taking you through every possible emotion there is. I wanted more which with this author isn't unusual for me but I really could have easily of read another book or two on them. Fucking phenomenal, this story defied any expectations I had.
Give me Rafe and Janies book yesterday please!!!! I know big papa is first but I need theirs now.
February 8, 2018
Hail Mary grabs your attention from the first page and refuses to let you go. Its an emotional journey, Dante and Colbie don't have it easy, at all.
Dante is still recovering from past pain, and Colbie is a fighter who has lost her spark. The two come together when they need each other the most. They help guide each other and keep one another afloat.
Their story wasn't easy, to experience or to read. Ms. Vale kept my attention, even when I wanted to take a break, I couldn't I was so enthralled with finding out what was going to happen. Hail Mary is a standalone within a series. Some parts may be confusing to a new reader, but overall, the story can be read as an introduction to Ms. Vale's work. I would reccomend to the reader looking for a hero and heroine who are broken, and ready to be fixed, even if they don't realize it.
Dante is still recovering from past pain, and Colbie is a fighter who has lost her spark. The two come together when they need each other the most. They help guide each other and keep one another afloat.
Their story wasn't easy, to experience or to read. Ms. Vale kept my attention, even when I wanted to take a break, I couldn't I was so enthralled with finding out what was going to happen. Hail Mary is a standalone within a series. Some parts may be confusing to a new reader, but overall, the story can be read as an introduction to Ms. Vale's work. I would reccomend to the reader looking for a hero and heroine who are broken, and ready to be fixed, even if they don't realize it.
January 27, 2018
I know I say it every time but Lani Lynn Vale has done it once again just WOW Hail Mary has got to be one of my favorites and that it some pretty tough competition I do admit being a bit hesitant with this one but I'm so happy I read it was hooked from the first page . Hail Mary can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend that you read Hail Raisers in order and possibly first start with Right to my wrong book eight in The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens . We also get more of the men in Freebirds which is my favorite series plus add in a grown up kiddo with a crush on a man of mystery and I must say I'm so excited to start the free series just YAY . Going into Hail Mary I knew my emotions were going to be all over the place but WOW some of the things I didn't see coming . If two people who have had there share of loss and run ins with unfortunate luck it would be Dante and Cobie these two just couldn't catch a break until they are brought together lets just say things start to change . Dante is such an amazing father the way he is with Mary had me swooning while also breaking my heart when he remembers certain things , he's fiercely protective , blunt , and had me wanting to jump his bones a time or two . I don't want to give to much away about Cobie but I will tell you she is so brave , funny , sweet , beautiful , and strong just what the hero needs plus her relationship with Mary is adorable . OH MY GOSH when I got to THE END I was so sad because I need more LLV , her next book will be Law and Beard and I'm so excited to read Steels story book Eight in The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC . If Lani lynn Vale is new to you I Highly recommend one clicking every one of her books like now (wink ) .
copy provided for honest review
****************************************
hero= 10 heroine= 10 secondary characters= 10 Chemistry= 10 steam= 6
romance= 6 humor= 5 darkness level=6 action=5 mystery= 4
enjoyment= 10 angst=3 story line= 10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing= 10
cover= 10 stars= 5
would I recommend this book= yes
would I re read this book= yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
copy provided for honest review
****************************************
hero= 10 heroine= 10 secondary characters= 10 Chemistry= 10 steam= 6
romance= 6 humor= 5 darkness level=6 action=5 mystery= 4
enjoyment= 10 angst=3 story line= 10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing= 10
cover= 10 stars= 5
would I recommend this book= yes
would I re read this book= yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
February 10, 2018
I really liked this final installment to the Hail series. I'd been very curious about Dante from the first time he appeared and I was especially wondering how LLV was going to give him his hea with what he'd been through. I'm pleased to say that she pulled it off with flying colors. I really loved Cobie and her story is one that really touched me and had me crying. Tbh, I was more happy she got her hea lol but Dante definitely deserved his as well. There were quite a few things LLV did a little different in this book that I really liked. Not going to say much though because I don't want to spoil it. I'm happy that things worked out as well as they did and I'm sad to see this series end, but I'm really excited about Rafe's book and the new series that comes with!
did-not-finish
April 2, 2023DNF at one percent. The start to this book is incredibly confusing.
February 14, 2018
I didn't read the book description so I was really surprised who the heroine was and I wasn't sure how I would feel about that but I liked this book a lot. Gina I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book when I found out who the heroine actually was and how she was connected to this book but the author made it work. I will say reading books with a deceased spouse is always iffy for me. I need the hero and heroine to be number one for the other. I don't care if they loved the previous spouse and they were great and then they died.
The current characters need to be it for the other main character. I wasn't sure if that would be the case with this book. We see the hero struggle in the previous books so I wasn't sure how this would all work out. And while I didn't like how much time the hero spend thinking of her deceased spouse he does say the heroine is it for him and he struggles with he fact that he feels things for her that he didn't with her previous wife. However I do wish we had gotten a little less of the previous spouse(int he heres head0 and more of how the hero felt for the heroine.
The current characters need to be it for the other main character. I wasn't sure if that would be the case with this book. We see the hero struggle in the previous books so I wasn't sure how this would all work out. And while I didn't like how much time the hero spend thinking of her deceased spouse he does say the heroine is it for him and he struggles with he fact that he feels things for her that he didn't with her previous wife. However I do wish we had gotten a little less of the previous spouse(int he heres head0 and more of how the hero felt for the heroine.
February 13, 2018
I was so looking forward to read Dante's story I couldn't rein in my excitement when I picked it up.
It was a beautiful story about loss, about trying your hardest to move on with your life and fighting every obstacle in your way with everything you got.
Lani Lynn Vale teased us about Dante the whole series and then she delivered! I read it one sitting, forgot about the whole world around me and simply enjoyed it from beginning till the end.
P.S. Don't tell anyone but I almost peed my pants when LLV gave Rafe a voice for the first time ever in her books! Yelling, "Finally!" would be an understatement. *wink, wink*
It was a beautiful story about loss, about trying your hardest to move on with your life and fighting every obstacle in your way with everything you got.
Lani Lynn Vale teased us about Dante the whole series and then she delivered! I read it one sitting, forgot about the whole world around me and simply enjoyed it from beginning till the end.
P.S. Don't tell anyone but I almost peed my pants when LLV gave Rafe a voice for the first time ever in her books! Yelling, "Finally!" would be an understatement. *wink, wink*
Stupid people are like glow sticks. I want to bend them in half until they break, and then shake the shit out of them until their light turns on.
—Cobie's secret thoughts
February 8, 2018
This book almost broke me. Ever since i started Lani Lynn Vale's books, especially when it comes to her MC genre, there's always been Dante's story in the background - about the man who's sister killed his family because of one decision. To have watched him throughout those stories was heartbreaking. He was haunted. Broken. Damaged. And seemed so guilty of just being allowed to live. I had so much troubles watching him interact with his family that i wanted to be the one to bring him back to the light *yeah, yeah, i know.... it's a very hard dream to have, but dammit, let me have that at least!!!!*
Sadly, i personally know the effects of cancer has on a person and their family members. How it can give you the biggest kick in the nuts when you've beaten it, only to find out that everything you've done has to be fought for once again. I also know how sometimes you just want the suffering to end because it hurts so much. That, this author has done a fantastic job in bringing to life through Colbie. That woman is pure strength. She fights and hard, finding the small things to give her something to live for and i respect her for it.
My heart was invested in this book. In the characters. And in the journey they all made. I loved how i got to see characters from some of my favourite series and even some that i know their stories exist and that i'll have to track them down so i can read their history as well. This was the story that made you want to find redemption in a person, for them to find happiness after everything they've been through, and mostly, it's the story that makes you want to hear all about the Hail's and their family so you can feel what family/true love actually is.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
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February 10, 2018
4.5 stars
Dante’s story broke my heart the amount of pain he faced no one should. I loved that he got his HEA. I loved that she was sweet and loving and strong. She stayed strong for herself but also for him.
A personal favorite was Mary I’m biased because I have my own living little cutie with an extra chromosome. I loved that Lani made it a point to show that our kiddos are different but the same. What makes them different shouldn’t be a reason to treat the differently. I loved that! So thank you Lani for being awareness!
Dante’s story broke my heart the amount of pain he faced no one should. I loved that he got his HEA. I loved that she was sweet and loving and strong. She stayed strong for herself but also for him.
A personal favorite was Mary I’m biased because I have my own living little cutie with an extra chromosome. I loved that Lani made it a point to show that our kiddos are different but the same. What makes them different shouldn’t be a reason to treat the differently. I loved that! So thank you Lani for being awareness!
February 10, 2018
Where to start.... this book has been highly anticapted throught this series.... in my personal opinion this book was great. I couldnt wait to see how Dante would overcome his past and be able to find beauty in life again. His journey through this book and throughtout the series tragic and beautiful and i was so pleased to have read this story. An amazing ending to this series
July 14, 2018
My favorite of the series!❤️
So glad that Dante got his HEA.
So glad that Dante got his HEA.
February 7, 2018
** 3.5 Hail Mary Stars **
Dante is a character with so many layers and it's no doubt that I feel a strong pull towards him among all Hail brothers because I've always loved tortured heroes with broken souls. After the tragedy that struck his family, Dante succumbed to the pain and became a social recluse, refusing any signs of happiness because he didn't feel deserving.
Until a one night stand turned into something more.
And he was left with a daughter that depended on him and a promise that Dante needed to fulfill.
To find and protect Cobie.
But there's more to Cobie that meets the eye. He gave meaning to life when Cobie needed it the most. He saved her from herself when all she felt was hopeless and alone. When danger strikes, will Dante take another leap at love? Or let his guilt perish them all?
Hail Mary wasn't an easy ride and just what I expected from Dante's story. It was emotionally angsty and intense and made me teary at some parts (well I cry easily, so...). I loved the dynamic of Dante & Cobie's relationship, although at times Dante may come across as an a**hole and I wanted to sock him for behaving like a jerk, Cobie and Dante definitely has an amazing chemistry.
The only thing that I wasn't quite satisfied with the story was the timeline, I thought that time passes by too quickly in the book and it came across slightly farfetched. The transition between some chapters was also too fast that I hoped to have the time to savor one plot before devouring another.
Nevertheless, I am so happy for Dante for having the HEA he deserves.
Ooh! Ms. Vale cracked me up with the chapter headings! Some of my personal favorites:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book generously provided by InkSlinger PR and the author. Thank you for the reviewing opportunity!
Dante is a character with so many layers and it's no doubt that I feel a strong pull towards him among all Hail brothers because I've always loved tortured heroes with broken souls. After the tragedy that struck his family, Dante succumbed to the pain and became a social recluse, refusing any signs of happiness because he didn't feel deserving.
Until a one night stand turned into something more.
And he was left with a daughter that depended on him and a promise that Dante needed to fulfill.
To find and protect Cobie.
But there's more to Cobie that meets the eye. He gave meaning to life when Cobie needed it the most. He saved her from herself when all she felt was hopeless and alone. When danger strikes, will Dante take another leap at love? Or let his guilt perish them all?
Hail Mary wasn't an easy ride and just what I expected from Dante's story. It was emotionally angsty and intense and made me teary at some parts (well I cry easily, so...). I loved the dynamic of Dante & Cobie's relationship, although at times Dante may come across as an a**hole and I wanted to sock him for behaving like a jerk, Cobie and Dante definitely has an amazing chemistry.
The only thing that I wasn't quite satisfied with the story was the timeline, I thought that time passes by too quickly in the book and it came across slightly farfetched. The transition between some chapters was also too fast that I hoped to have the time to savor one plot before devouring another.
Nevertheless, I am so happy for Dante for having the HEA he deserves.
Ooh! Ms. Vale cracked me up with the chapter headings! Some of my personal favorites:
" Maybe eating a donut wasn't cheating on my diet. Maybe going on a diet was cheating on my donuts. "
" I may look like a potato now, but one day I'll be that tasty basket of fries and you'll want me then. "
" If you're woman isn't the most annoying person on the planet, she's not the woman for you. "
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book generously provided by InkSlinger PR and the author. Thank you for the reviewing opportunity!
February 9, 2018
Lani Lynn Vale’s Hail brothers have the ability to bring readers to their knees, overwhelmed by all that these alpha males have endured and hopeful that each one of them will find the woman he can’t live without…the woman who will open him up to all that life offers and give him everything he needs to move forward instead of dwelling on the past.
Out of all of the Hail men, Dante Hail is the one who has been completely lost to the darkness ever since he lost his wife and girls due to a set of heartbreaking incidences. Through his brothers’ stories, readers have witnessed Dante’s downward spiral; he’s a ghost of the man he used to be and for years, he has shut out his family…shut out the world, resolving to simply exist with the festering wound of loss, afraid to start living again because any attempt to go forward seems like a betrayal to Lily, Jade, and Toni.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I started Dante’s story. I knew that it would be emotional…I knew that it would be a harrowing task for Dante to pull himself away from his grief, anger, and heartbreak, and I was prepared for him to resist any attempts on his family’s part to help him move on. But what I wasn’t prepared for was how broken the heroine of his story would be…shattered in a different way that Dante but still carrying the same shadows behind her eyes and the overwhelming feelings of devastation and loss that are difficult to rally against.
Dante and Cobie’s story actually plays out for a few years - it begins with their individual struggles and then once they connect, it illustrates just how much they start to depend on one another and even though both of them find it difficult to start living again after everything that they’ve endured on their own, their connection is not something they can deny and while Dante pushes Cobie away a handful of times because he feels like he’s betraying his deceased wife, he grows to accept what is happening…the feelings that he’s developing for someone who is not Lily, and even though that realization damages him in significant ways, it also sets him free and helps him to reflect on his good memories with his family instead of dwelling on everything that he lost.
It wouldn’t be a Lani Lynn Vale story without elements of suspense and drama, so as Dante and Cobie work through their personal issues and pull themselves out of the hellish existence they’ve been living, they also must deal with a mutual enemy - one that has caused more damage than either of them could have ever imagined and as this person wreaks havoc behind the scenes, when the story’s climax is reached, it’s way more life altering than they or readers would have thought possible.
The character who stole my heart was Dante’s daughter Mary. She absolutely saves him from himself…from the pain…from the grief because she is a ray of blinding sunshine in his darkness. She may be a child with down syndrome, but she’s more so a little girl who loves life and who radiates adoration for her father and for all those in her life who understand just how special she is.
Lani Lynn Vale continues to write intriguing story lines with complex characters who readers watch transform, in both positive and negative ways, as their stories are told. And all I can say is be prepared to endure a wide range of emotions as Dante and Cobie’s story plays out on the pages of Hail Mary.
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
Out of all of the Hail men, Dante Hail is the one who has been completely lost to the darkness ever since he lost his wife and girls due to a set of heartbreaking incidences. Through his brothers’ stories, readers have witnessed Dante’s downward spiral; he’s a ghost of the man he used to be and for years, he has shut out his family…shut out the world, resolving to simply exist with the festering wound of loss, afraid to start living again because any attempt to go forward seems like a betrayal to Lily, Jade, and Toni.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I started Dante’s story. I knew that it would be emotional…I knew that it would be a harrowing task for Dante to pull himself away from his grief, anger, and heartbreak, and I was prepared for him to resist any attempts on his family’s part to help him move on. But what I wasn’t prepared for was how broken the heroine of his story would be…shattered in a different way that Dante but still carrying the same shadows behind her eyes and the overwhelming feelings of devastation and loss that are difficult to rally against.
Dante and Cobie’s story actually plays out for a few years - it begins with their individual struggles and then once they connect, it illustrates just how much they start to depend on one another and even though both of them find it difficult to start living again after everything that they’ve endured on their own, their connection is not something they can deny and while Dante pushes Cobie away a handful of times because he feels like he’s betraying his deceased wife, he grows to accept what is happening…the feelings that he’s developing for someone who is not Lily, and even though that realization damages him in significant ways, it also sets him free and helps him to reflect on his good memories with his family instead of dwelling on everything that he lost.
It wouldn’t be a Lani Lynn Vale story without elements of suspense and drama, so as Dante and Cobie work through their personal issues and pull themselves out of the hellish existence they’ve been living, they also must deal with a mutual enemy - one that has caused more damage than either of them could have ever imagined and as this person wreaks havoc behind the scenes, when the story’s climax is reached, it’s way more life altering than they or readers would have thought possible.
The character who stole my heart was Dante’s daughter Mary. She absolutely saves him from himself…from the pain…from the grief because she is a ray of blinding sunshine in his darkness. She may be a child with down syndrome, but she’s more so a little girl who loves life and who radiates adoration for her father and for all those in her life who understand just how special she is.
Lani Lynn Vale continues to write intriguing story lines with complex characters who readers watch transform, in both positive and negative ways, as their stories are told. And all I can say is be prepared to endure a wide range of emotions as Dante and Cobie’s story plays out on the pages of Hail Mary.
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
May 5, 2019
I'm honestly not sure what to rate this book. I was looking forward to hearing Dante's story and his reemergence from isolation following the tragic death of his wife and kids. But the book wasn't exactly what I was expecting and I can't say I loved it.
So I'll start with the good of the book first. I loved how dedicated Dante was to his daughter, Mary, who has down syndrome. He was fiercely protective of the lovable little girl and I had to admire him for loving her as she was and not liking it when others gave the little girl funny looks. Speaking of Mary, she was absolutely adorable and stole everyone's heart. I liked that he took care of Cobie and urged her to fight and not give up on life (even if she wanted to die at first and then wanted to recover all on her own). I liked that he loved Cobie despite having undergone a double mastectomy - he loved her despite her looks. Of course, that love didn't come right away, but he still didn't judge her after the procedure, even though it was a surprise to him. I liked that Rafe was part of this story, once again (but hated that ending for him). I liked the ending of the book, it was cute.
So what went wrong? It honestly seemed as though the author was simply trying too hard with this book. It's like she took every possible bad thing or type of drama that you could include in a book and put it in this one: losing a wife, losing kids, cancer, a disability, a secret baby with another woman, an unplanned pregnancy, espionage, torture, kidnapping, a villain, murder, a dark secret (that one involving Drake at the end was just too much), dangerous situation and trying to save lives, etc. It honestly just became too much and too overwhelming and I think that's why I can't rate this one much higher than I did.
Another thing I disliked was that the Hero and the villain had similar names. I was listening to the audio book and I found myself thinking several times when they were in the same scene, 'wait is Drake or Dante the Hero?' It just became hard to keep up at times.
The synopsis of this also didn't make much sense: "Dante’s a bad person. He’s done some not so nice things, and now he’s being punished for his misdeeds." I didn't hear a single 'bad thing' he did during his years away from the family. So I'm baffled as to why the author portrayed him as such a bad guy when I didn't see any hint of that badness, other than maybe wanting to get in a fight. I also didn't hear it mentioned at all that Dante knew his baby's mama was dying of brain cancer or that her husband was trying to kill her. The only time he mentioned knowing about her cancer was when he showed up at the hospital and he only knew about Drake being a bad guy after Cobie noted some things about her best friend's treatment.
Then there's the big jerk moment Dante has and I just hated him at that point. Yes, he realizes right away that he screwed up (and then one of those many 'bad things' happen above), but he was incredibly harsh, much worse than a Hero usually is and I think that took it too far once again. I was heartbroken that he could become that type of person after all the progress he was making to moving on.
They get their HEA and I'm happy for Dante and Cobie, I just wish that HEA didn't come with a big dose of unnecessary drama.
So I'll start with the good of the book first. I loved how dedicated Dante was to his daughter, Mary, who has down syndrome. He was fiercely protective of the lovable little girl and I had to admire him for loving her as she was and not liking it when others gave the little girl funny looks. Speaking of Mary, she was absolutely adorable and stole everyone's heart. I liked that he took care of Cobie and urged her to fight and not give up on life (even if she wanted to die at first and then wanted to recover all on her own). I liked that he loved Cobie despite having undergone a double mastectomy - he loved her despite her looks. Of course, that love didn't come right away, but he still didn't judge her after the procedure, even though it was a surprise to him. I liked that Rafe was part of this story, once again (but hated that ending for him). I liked the ending of the book, it was cute.
So what went wrong? It honestly seemed as though the author was simply trying too hard with this book. It's like she took every possible bad thing or type of drama that you could include in a book and put it in this one: losing a wife, losing kids, cancer, a disability, a secret baby with another woman, an unplanned pregnancy, espionage, torture, kidnapping, a villain, murder, a dark secret (that one involving Drake at the end was just too much), dangerous situation and trying to save lives, etc. It honestly just became too much and too overwhelming and I think that's why I can't rate this one much higher than I did.
Another thing I disliked was that the Hero and the villain had similar names. I was listening to the audio book and I found myself thinking several times when they were in the same scene, 'wait is Drake or Dante the Hero?' It just became hard to keep up at times.
The synopsis of this also didn't make much sense: "Dante’s a bad person. He’s done some not so nice things, and now he’s being punished for his misdeeds." I didn't hear a single 'bad thing' he did during his years away from the family. So I'm baffled as to why the author portrayed him as such a bad guy when I didn't see any hint of that badness, other than maybe wanting to get in a fight. I also didn't hear it mentioned at all that Dante knew his baby's mama was dying of brain cancer or that her husband was trying to kill her. The only time he mentioned knowing about her cancer was when he showed up at the hospital and he only knew about Drake being a bad guy after Cobie noted some things about her best friend's treatment.
Then there's the big jerk moment Dante has and I just hated him at that point. Yes, he realizes right away that he screwed up (and then one of those many 'bad things' happen above), but he was incredibly harsh, much worse than a Hero usually is and I think that took it too far once again. I was heartbroken that he could become that type of person after all the progress he was making to moving on.
They get their HEA and I'm happy for Dante and Cobie, I just wish that HEA didn't come with a big dose of unnecessary drama.
February 11, 2018
Before I start I need to state that I had my doubts and reservations regarding this story. I mean if I base it upon the Dante, who was the dark, depressing, looming shadow all thorough the series then you can see where I coming from. Still there was no way that I’m not going to read it. First because I love Lani Lynn Vale style and her books became kinda a permanent monthly feature in my life. Secondly, it’s not the first time that she peppers the books in a series with clues and snippets about the main character/s of the last book in that particular series and I usually don’t like the characters based on that snippet, however usually I end up loving the actual book.
And it happened once again, because I absolutely adored this story. It has such a beautiful message all over. I don’t think that I spoiling anything if I say that Dante doesn’t end up with his baby mama because it’s stated in the synopsis. I actually was glad about this development because those two just had too much bad between them.
The storyline is amazing, it’ not her best but I greatly enjoyed it. It has a flowing, mostly sedate pace and thing progress in a timely manner. There are a lot of shocking moments and out of the blue surprises that shake up the dynamic of the book. There was a part around the end of the book that was a bit rushed and not fully exploited, which could have given a touch more drama to the plot but overall it’s an exciting, emotional and sweet story.
Dante has a lot of demons and due to that he makes a lot of mistakes even during this book. He had quite a few a**hole moves where I could have drown him in a spoonful of water, but I gave his character some leeway because of his past. However he is phenomenal with Mary and even with Cobie. When a couple of girls show up in his life, whom need his help he starts to heal and man up. His story is kind of heartbreaking and his way of handling his grief doesn’t show the strongest personality but he slowly redeems himself.
I liked Cobie, she is not the usual big mouthed, pushy woman that the author creates most of the time, although if I think about it the Hail raisers series was rather full of quiet, lonely and silently suffering girls. Anyway she is alone; she doesn’t have family or friend and her health is famously bad. She is ready to give up but when she meets Dante and Mary something changes and she starts to build something new for herself. She is strong, supportive and really understanding. I loved how she handled her and Dante first meeting, with the eternally calm, slightly sarcastic manner. It was funny.
This book had quite a different atmosphere to the other books in the series. I think, overall it had a more serene feel to it and while my favorite among the Hail Raisers series is probably Baylor story, I think this one would get second place. Great job Lani Lynn Vale, keep it up.
P.S. I found it strange that Finley, the last Hail brother didn’t get his own book. Does anyone know if he is going to get one??
And it happened once again, because I absolutely adored this story. It has such a beautiful message all over. I don’t think that I spoiling anything if I say that Dante doesn’t end up with his baby mama because it’s stated in the synopsis. I actually was glad about this development because those two just had too much bad between them.
The storyline is amazing, it’ not her best but I greatly enjoyed it. It has a flowing, mostly sedate pace and thing progress in a timely manner. There are a lot of shocking moments and out of the blue surprises that shake up the dynamic of the book. There was a part around the end of the book that was a bit rushed and not fully exploited, which could have given a touch more drama to the plot but overall it’s an exciting, emotional and sweet story.
Dante has a lot of demons and due to that he makes a lot of mistakes even during this book. He had quite a few a**hole moves where I could have drown him in a spoonful of water, but I gave his character some leeway because of his past. However he is phenomenal with Mary and even with Cobie. When a couple of girls show up in his life, whom need his help he starts to heal and man up. His story is kind of heartbreaking and his way of handling his grief doesn’t show the strongest personality but he slowly redeems himself.
I liked Cobie, she is not the usual big mouthed, pushy woman that the author creates most of the time, although if I think about it the Hail raisers series was rather full of quiet, lonely and silently suffering girls. Anyway she is alone; she doesn’t have family or friend and her health is famously bad. She is ready to give up but when she meets Dante and Mary something changes and she starts to build something new for herself. She is strong, supportive and really understanding. I loved how she handled her and Dante first meeting, with the eternally calm, slightly sarcastic manner. It was funny.
This book had quite a different atmosphere to the other books in the series. I think, overall it had a more serene feel to it and while my favorite among the Hail Raisers series is probably Baylor story, I think this one would get second place. Great job Lani Lynn Vale, keep it up.
P.S. I found it strange that Finley, the last Hail brother didn’t get his own book. Does anyone know if he is going to get one??
April 30, 2022
French & English reviews
LE tome que j'attendais avec tellement d'impatience ! Et je n'ai pas été déçu !!
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- les personnages principaux que j'ai adoré, Dante avec tout ce qu'il a suvi (j'avoue j'étais hyper curieuse de savoir comment il allait s'en sortir !) et Colbie qui doit se battre contre le cancer (et j'ai trouvé tout son combat très réaliste, ce n'est pas romancé pour le livre et j'ai beaucoup apprécié !) et qui est tellement gentille !!
- tout l'angst autour du passé de Dante mais aussi du présent de Colbie (sa solitude m'a brisée le cœur ><)
- la romance tout en douceur qui passe d'une belle amitié à de l'amour !
Un seul reproche, j'aurais aimé un livre plus long et développé et la fin était un peu rapide (j'ai trouvé qu'on n'avait pas assez d'explications et l'enlèvement de sortait un peu de nulle part ...)
Bref, un tome qui conclue une série qui n'est pas ma préférée de cette auteure mais que j'ai quand même lu avec beaucoup de plaisir pour des romances avec beaucoup de dramas et de personnages attachants =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE book I was so looking forward to ! And I was not disappointed !!
What I particularly liked :
- the main characters that I adored, Dante with everything he suffered (I must admit I was very curious to know how he was going to get out of his anger !) and Colbie who has to fight against cancer (and I found all her fight very realistic, it's not fictionalized for the book and I enjoyed it a lot !) and who is so nice !!
- all the angst around Dante's past but also Colbie's present (her loneliness broke my heart ><)
- the sweet romance that goes from a beautiful friendship to love !
Only one complaint, I would have liked a longer and more developed book and the end was a little fast (I found that there were not enough explanations and the abduction of came out of nowhere ...)
In short, a book that concludes a series that is not my favorite by this author but that I still read with great pleasure for romances with many dramas and endearing characters =)
LE tome que j'attendais avec tellement d'impatience ! Et je n'ai pas été déçu !!
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- les personnages principaux que j'ai adoré, Dante avec tout ce qu'il a suvi (j'avoue j'étais hyper curieuse de savoir comment il allait s'en sortir !) et Colbie qui doit se battre contre le cancer (et j'ai trouvé tout son combat très réaliste, ce n'est pas romancé pour le livre et j'ai beaucoup apprécié !) et qui est tellement gentille !!
- tout l'angst autour du passé de Dante mais aussi du présent de Colbie (sa solitude m'a brisée le cœur ><)
- la romance tout en douceur qui passe d'une belle amitié à de l'amour !
Un seul reproche, j'aurais aimé un livre plus long et développé et la fin était un peu rapide (j'ai trouvé qu'on n'avait pas assez d'explications et l'enlèvement de sortait un peu de nulle part ...)
Bref, un tome qui conclue une série qui n'est pas ma préférée de cette auteure mais que j'ai quand même lu avec beaucoup de plaisir pour des romances avec beaucoup de dramas et de personnages attachants =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE book I was so looking forward to ! And I was not disappointed !!
What I particularly liked :
- the main characters that I adored, Dante with everything he suffered (I must admit I was very curious to know how he was going to get out of his anger !) and Colbie who has to fight against cancer (and I found all her fight very realistic, it's not fictionalized for the book and I enjoyed it a lot !) and who is so nice !!
- all the angst around Dante's past but also Colbie's present (her loneliness broke my heart ><)
- the sweet romance that goes from a beautiful friendship to love !
Only one complaint, I would have liked a longer and more developed book and the end was a little fast (I found that there were not enough explanations and the abduction of came out of nowhere ...)
In short, a book that concludes a series that is not my favorite by this author but that I still read with great pleasure for romances with many dramas and endearing characters =)
February 9, 2018
I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book
Oh my word
I think this was my favorite story. From the first book I have wanted Dante's story. And man it is a freaking sad heartbreaking crying story.
After losing his family in an accident that was his own sister's fault, Dante sort of just took off and cut himself off from the world. But then he got drunk one night and slept with someone and now she has just dropped off a baby on his door step. Marianne's life wasn't easy, and things are not what it seems in her life. But then she died and now he has a little girl that has literally brought him back from the edge. Marianne has asked him to do one two things for him, look after their daughter and look after her friend Cobie.
Cobie met Marianne when she was in the hospital. Cobie was a cancer survivor but now its seems after losing her best friend, the cancer is back and it looks like her best friends husband wants to start courting her. And then she meets Dante and something about him attracts her. Something about his pain and what he's gone through. Will these two people who have suffered so much in their life be able to find happiness. Will Dante be able to move on from his tragedy or will his ghosts haunt him forever. And in between all this, there is another evil one out there who wants something from Cobie.
I loved loved loved this story. Cobie was funny and sweet and so heartbreaking and I think she was exactly what Dante needed in his life. And this author told his story perfectly. He was the perfect broken hero that you will fall in love with and all you would want to do is just hug him and make his pain go away.
Awesome series and awesome story, I hope that Rafe gets his own story...
Oh my word
I think this was my favorite story. From the first book I have wanted Dante's story. And man it is a freaking sad heartbreaking crying story.
After losing his family in an accident that was his own sister's fault, Dante sort of just took off and cut himself off from the world. But then he got drunk one night and slept with someone and now she has just dropped off a baby on his door step. Marianne's life wasn't easy, and things are not what it seems in her life. But then she died and now he has a little girl that has literally brought him back from the edge. Marianne has asked him to do one two things for him, look after their daughter and look after her friend Cobie.
Cobie met Marianne when she was in the hospital. Cobie was a cancer survivor but now its seems after losing her best friend, the cancer is back and it looks like her best friends husband wants to start courting her. And then she meets Dante and something about him attracts her. Something about his pain and what he's gone through. Will these two people who have suffered so much in their life be able to find happiness. Will Dante be able to move on from his tragedy or will his ghosts haunt him forever. And in between all this, there is another evil one out there who wants something from Cobie.
I loved loved loved this story. Cobie was funny and sweet and so heartbreaking and I think she was exactly what Dante needed in his life. And this author told his story perfectly. He was the perfect broken hero that you will fall in love with and all you would want to do is just hug him and make his pain go away.
Awesome series and awesome story, I hope that Rafe gets his own story...
February 9, 2018
An emotional roller coaster to savour…
Dante and Cobie… And Mary…
A love triangle like no other, in a roller coaster ride of a story only this author could tell. There is a fine line between gut-wrenching drama and over the top soap opera and Lani Lynn Vale knows just how to straddle it and make it her own…
Dante is tortured by all that he has lost and is not looking for any new claims on his heart. He is stoic. He is aloof. He can be kind of jerky. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel or still grieve, it simply means he is going to be brutal in his determination to deny love in any form. He is hurting and it is painful to watch… Of course, who can resist a beautiful child? Or a woman who has no time to claim love for herself?
“I am so horny that I’m legitimately worried about your safety tonight.”
Cobie was a part of his past that Dante wasn’t able to brush aside. She was beautiful and caring, a bright light that he couldn’t resist. He tried – oh he tried – so bumpy is an understated word for the ups and downs grief and anger were going to cause… There was physical attraction, an emotional connection and a bond that neither was going to acknowledge – or let go of – anytime soon…
“It was my kind of perfect.”
And what would an LLV title be without chapter headings that made me snort-laugh:
“Maybe eating a donut wasn’t cheating on my diet. Maybe going on a diet was cheating on my donuts.”
“How soon into a friendship can you start calling them a m**********?”
“The struggle bus should have a loyalty program.”
I got lost in this emotionally overloaded story that pulled at my heart, made me laugh and left me with a book hangover I just wanted to revel in… Glorious!
February 9, 2018
***This and other reviews can be found at www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com ***
Before I even started Hail Mary I knew it was going to be a book that had the potential to absolutely destroy me and it did. I cried more than once for Dante, Mary and Cobie, I cried for them separately, I cried for all Dante has lost, I cried for Mary for not knowing her mother, and I cried for all that Cobie goes through, and then I just cried for all of them at once. This is a beautiful emotional heart breaking and healing story.
Now normally for a book from Ms. Vale I will write a pretty long review, but this time I am not going to do that. There is too much that I can accidentally give away or spoil and that is the last thing I want to do. I have tried to find the absolute perfect words to express how much I loved Hail Mary but everything I have tried to write just hasn’t been good enough in my opinion. Therefore, I am just going to say this. From the very start of the series I have wanted to read Dante’s story, we never really got to see who he was until now. The buildup and wait was worth it because it made me love his character even more. If you are worried about reading this one please don’t be. Yes it is emotional, yes at times there is pain, but there is also a beautiful little girl named Mary that every time you see her name you can’t help but smile, there is healing, there is love and there is proof that sometimes the pain does get better.
Hail Mary is one of Lani Lynn Vale’s best books to date. I can’t say it enough how much I loved this book and this series and this is one I can easily recommend to be on your TBR lists.
Before I even started Hail Mary I knew it was going to be a book that had the potential to absolutely destroy me and it did. I cried more than once for Dante, Mary and Cobie, I cried for them separately, I cried for all Dante has lost, I cried for Mary for not knowing her mother, and I cried for all that Cobie goes through, and then I just cried for all of them at once. This is a beautiful emotional heart breaking and healing story.
Now normally for a book from Ms. Vale I will write a pretty long review, but this time I am not going to do that. There is too much that I can accidentally give away or spoil and that is the last thing I want to do. I have tried to find the absolute perfect words to express how much I loved Hail Mary but everything I have tried to write just hasn’t been good enough in my opinion. Therefore, I am just going to say this. From the very start of the series I have wanted to read Dante’s story, we never really got to see who he was until now. The buildup and wait was worth it because it made me love his character even more. If you are worried about reading this one please don’t be. Yes it is emotional, yes at times there is pain, but there is also a beautiful little girl named Mary that every time you see her name you can’t help but smile, there is healing, there is love and there is proof that sometimes the pain does get better.
Hail Mary is one of Lani Lynn Vale’s best books to date. I can’t say it enough how much I loved this book and this series and this is one I can easily recommend to be on your TBR lists.
February 9, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of the book.
I have such mixed feelings about this series and Hail Mary is a perfect example of why. I truly enjoyed reading it, I couldn't put it down once I started (as has been the case with the previous 5 books in the series), but reading it also made me feel like I'm a glutton for punishment. There is always something so unjust, or sinister, or unfair going on in the main characters' lives or history that makes it borderline painful to read. But then all of that pain makes the inevitable happily ever after that much more sweet, so I suppose the payoff is worth it. I knew Dante's story would be absolutely heart-wrenching and I guess it makes sense that the female lead in his story (Cobie) would have an equally traumatizing past as well. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be more evil heaped upon the couple, something else would happen. And yet I just couldn't stop reading. Not only that, I'm pretty sure that one of the secondary characters that has been featured in a few of the Hail Raisers books is getting his own book in Lani Lynn Vale's upcoming Simple Man series and I CAN NOT WAIT to read Rafe's story even though I know that it's probably going to shred my heart and make me question my sanity. So, if you couldn't tell, I'm at a loss as to how I really feel about Hail Mary. For now, I think I can settle on 3.75 out of 5 wine glasses.
I have such mixed feelings about this series and Hail Mary is a perfect example of why. I truly enjoyed reading it, I couldn't put it down once I started (as has been the case with the previous 5 books in the series), but reading it also made me feel like I'm a glutton for punishment. There is always something so unjust, or sinister, or unfair going on in the main characters' lives or history that makes it borderline painful to read. But then all of that pain makes the inevitable happily ever after that much more sweet, so I suppose the payoff is worth it. I knew Dante's story would be absolutely heart-wrenching and I guess it makes sense that the female lead in his story (Cobie) would have an equally traumatizing past as well. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be more evil heaped upon the couple, something else would happen. And yet I just couldn't stop reading. Not only that, I'm pretty sure that one of the secondary characters that has been featured in a few of the Hail Raisers books is getting his own book in Lani Lynn Vale's upcoming Simple Man series and I CAN NOT WAIT to read Rafe's story even though I know that it's probably going to shred my heart and make me question my sanity. So, if you couldn't tell, I'm at a loss as to how I really feel about Hail Mary. For now, I think I can settle on 3.75 out of 5 wine glasses.
February 9, 2018
This is going to be short and sweet because I don’t want to give away spoilers … but holy hell was this book freaking amazing!
I knew …. KNEW …. that Dante’s story was going to be heartbreaking and heart wrenching. I WAS RIGHT! What Dante suffered and the strength that he his character had to pull himself out was amazing to read. His love for his daughter was a beautiful thing that had me smiling and crying at the same time. By the time I was done I had cried so much during this story that my eyes were swelling, but it was worth it!
And Cobie!! OMG was she amazing! She is everything that I think of when it comes to strong female characters. Yes, she has her own damaged parts, but she is a fighter! Her strength is bone deep. She is passionate and determined, but also caring a loving. She is the perfect woman to contrast with Dante.
There is danger in this story (it is a LLV book!), but this story to me was about overcoming grief and finding oneself. And both Cobie and Dante did that in spades. The danger just added flavor to the story :). All in all, FREAKING AMAZING! LLV knocked this story out of the park! She brought emotion in spade and gave a roller coaster ride of feelings and forgiveness.
eARC through Enticing Journey Book Promotions
I knew …. KNEW …. that Dante’s story was going to be heartbreaking and heart wrenching. I WAS RIGHT! What Dante suffered and the strength that he his character had to pull himself out was amazing to read. His love for his daughter was a beautiful thing that had me smiling and crying at the same time. By the time I was done I had cried so much during this story that my eyes were swelling, but it was worth it!
And Cobie!! OMG was she amazing! She is everything that I think of when it comes to strong female characters. Yes, she has her own damaged parts, but she is a fighter! Her strength is bone deep. She is passionate and determined, but also caring a loving. She is the perfect woman to contrast with Dante.
There is danger in this story (it is a LLV book!), but this story to me was about overcoming grief and finding oneself. And both Cobie and Dante did that in spades. The danger just added flavor to the story :). All in all, FREAKING AMAZING! LLV knocked this story out of the park! She brought emotion in spade and gave a roller coaster ride of feelings and forgiveness.
eARC through Enticing Journey Book Promotions
February 24, 2021
Dante Hail has been through hell and still has not come back when a drunken moment leaves him the father to Mary Persephone Hail. Mary's mother hands off Mary to Dante asking him to do right by his daughter because it is her last hope, Dante gets second chance at finding meaning in his life. What he doesn't plan on is befriending Cobie who was friends with Mary's mother.
Cobie is at crossroads in her life and is ready to throw in the towel, a moment with Dante though talking about her decisions though have her rethinking her plan. Cobie makes a life changing decision and believes she is on her own but when Dante finds out he is swift to fold her into his care. A friendship ensues until the day that a mutual attraction gets acted upon, but Dante erupts and Colbie flees. Can Dante fix what he broke and what happens when an old threat resurfaces?
This was quite a bit different then what I thought it would be. Definitely a tear jerker and had moments where you feel utter despair for Dante and Colbie. Dante had been hardened or awhile and the other books in the series lead the way until you get Dante front and center. I enjoyed this story but it is a heartbreaker.
Cobie is at crossroads in her life and is ready to throw in the towel, a moment with Dante though talking about her decisions though have her rethinking her plan. Cobie makes a life changing decision and believes she is on her own but when Dante finds out he is swift to fold her into his care. A friendship ensues until the day that a mutual attraction gets acted upon, but Dante erupts and Colbie flees. Can Dante fix what he broke and what happens when an old threat resurfaces?
This was quite a bit different then what I thought it would be. Definitely a tear jerker and had moments where you feel utter despair for Dante and Colbie. Dante had been hardened or awhile and the other books in the series lead the way until you get Dante front and center. I enjoyed this story but it is a heartbreaker.
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