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Seaside Pictures #1
Capture
Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair.
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.
Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn't change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it's her fault.
It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He's gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different...would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.
Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn't change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it's her fault.
It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He's gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different...would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2015
719 people are currently reading
5520 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Van Dyken
172 books18.4k followersRachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances.
Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...
Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 736 reviews
August 18, 2015
4 STARS
Such a sweet,romantic and funny story!I haven't read a lot of books of this author but so far it's my favorite of her!
Dani has experienced a tragedy, her parents are dead from a car accident.She blames herself for this and she shuts down the ability to speak.Lucky has her sister and some friends who care,support and love her!But this isn't exactly what she wants!Lincoln is a hot Hollywood star and her new boss.Can he gives her what she needs?
“My body screamed for her. And my heart well… it kept reminding me that I needed to keep hers intact, and if I had any hope of doing that, I needed to go slow.”
The characters are so adorable!Dani is sweet,funny and sassy!I love her and there were moments I wanted to hug her!And Lincoln is so charming,I couldn't stop myself from falling in love with him!!He is smart,cocky,sweet and so hot!But sometimes he is vulnerable and this is what makes him more real!Also the fact that he supports and accepts Dani made me swoon for him!!I loved all their dialogues,they are smart,flirty and funny!Her secondary characters play just as big of a role as her first and this made the story even better!
ARC provided for an honest review
Such a sweet,romantic and funny story!I haven't read a lot of books of this author but so far it's my favorite of her!
Dani has experienced a tragedy, her parents are dead from a car accident.She blames herself for this and she shuts down the ability to speak.Lucky has her sister and some friends who care,support and love her!But this isn't exactly what she wants!Lincoln is a hot Hollywood star and her new boss.Can he gives her what she needs?
“My body screamed for her. And my heart well… it kept reminding me that I needed to keep hers intact, and if I had any hope of doing that, I needed to go slow.”
The characters are so adorable!Dani is sweet,funny and sassy!I love her and there were moments I wanted to hug her!And Lincoln is so charming,I couldn't stop myself from falling in love with him!!He is smart,cocky,sweet and so hot!But sometimes he is vulnerable and this is what makes him more real!Also the fact that he supports and accepts Dani made me swoon for him!!I loved all their dialogues,they are smart,flirty and funny!Her secondary characters play just as big of a role as her first and this made the story even better!
ARC provided for an honest review
November 5, 2016
3.5 Stars. It's interesting that even in books, powerful events affect different characters to a degree that is only determined by their personalities, histories, etc. After a traumatic event, Dani lost her voice. On her own, she came across as sassy and sarcastic, even when only through text. Lincoln is a Hollywood heartthrob and friend to Dani's brother in law. He was sexy and funny. Sweet and protective. I liked how they were together despite Lincoln's understandable apprehension to her age. I know some folks don't like underage heroines but she's 17, weeks away from 18. He's 22. I didn't see an issue with it. Hell, I've been married to my hubby since exactly that age. Poor Linc tries to stay away but the force is strong with this one, young Padawan. The story was funny, as I expected. The plot was so so for me. There was just something about Dani's trauma that didn't sell me. I definitely liked book two better, which I read before this one. Still, the execution is pretty solid. Safety: heroine gets kissed by another man, who she kisses back and likes it, even when she admits there are no feelings behind it. Hero has an annoying woman around who his publicist wants him to date. Their interactions are not romantic in the least and I don't believe they do anything sexual but the woman is possessive and rude... so slight OW drama. No rape or abuse.
November 15, 2017
♬Listened to Audio 11/15/17♬
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
3.5 Lovey Dovey Stars
Dani's parents died in an accident that she thinks is her fault and ever since then she hasn't been the same. She became depressed, stopped leaving the house, stopped eating, and eventually stopped speaking. Being mute at seventeen, the time she's supposed to be living her life to the fullest, isn't fair or easy. Her life is going nowhere, until Lincoln Greene shows up and hires her as his assistant.
Lincoln is instantly drawn to the girl in ripped jeans and too clean converse and wants to see her happy. He makes it his mission to get her living again but he has to keep reminding himself she is only seventeen, too young for him. But when competition shows up and starts to steal Dani's attention away from him, he'll have to reevaluate his plan.
This story was a really emotional one, about two people healing each other with friendship and love. Lincoln and Dani were perfect for each other and I loved the connection they had. Lincoln was an idiot at times and there were some parts that I wanted to just strangle him for being so stupid, but he made up for it. A lot of second chances were given in this book and it added a little angst to the story but wasn't overly done in a way that was annoying.
Dani was an amazing character and I admired the strength it took her to still go out in the world. People didn't understand her being mute and would tell her to just stop trying to get attention, but she didn't let their judgments break her. I did want a little more of her personal story, though. The journey to her finding her voice seemed a little rushed in the middle and it almost seemed like it came out of nowhere.
I did enjoy the overall story but there were still a few things that bothered me, and it lowered my rating. So much of the issues between Lincoln and Dani were a result of him freaking out over the fact that she was seventeen. It got really annoying after her age was brought up over and over again. Honestly the age difference wasn't that big and she was less than a year away from being eighteen. I personally just didn't see the big deal about her age, so it was getting a little frustrating to hear about it constantly.
I'm not completely against New Adult books, I've read plenty and loved them but I'm also very picky about them. I need heat in my books and sometimes New Adult doesn't have it. This was one of those. Lincoln and Dani were sweet and cute and oh so adorable *eye roll* but I wanted the passion and the chemistry and I was disappointed without it. They wanted each other but couldn't have one another, so I was expecting the sexual energy to jump off the pages, but it fell flat.
Overall, Capture is an amazing love story that any fan of a tortured heroine and New Adult romances will love. This is a start of a new series that is a spin off of the Seaside series but can be read as a Standalone. I haven't read the other series but I wasn't lost at all when those characters popped up. I did have my issues but they didn't stop my heart from melting over this story
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
3.5 Lovey Dovey Stars
Dani's parents died in an accident that she thinks is her fault and ever since then she hasn't been the same. She became depressed, stopped leaving the house, stopped eating, and eventually stopped speaking. Being mute at seventeen, the time she's supposed to be living her life to the fullest, isn't fair or easy. Her life is going nowhere, until Lincoln Greene shows up and hires her as his assistant.
Lincoln is instantly drawn to the girl in ripped jeans and too clean converse and wants to see her happy. He makes it his mission to get her living again but he has to keep reminding himself she is only seventeen, too young for him. But when competition shows up and starts to steal Dani's attention away from him, he'll have to reevaluate his plan.
This story was a really emotional one, about two people healing each other with friendship and love. Lincoln and Dani were perfect for each other and I loved the connection they had. Lincoln was an idiot at times and there were some parts that I wanted to just strangle him for being so stupid, but he made up for it. A lot of second chances were given in this book and it added a little angst to the story but wasn't overly done in a way that was annoying.
Dani was an amazing character and I admired the strength it took her to still go out in the world. People didn't understand her being mute and would tell her to just stop trying to get attention, but she didn't let their judgments break her. I did want a little more of her personal story, though. The journey to her finding her voice seemed a little rushed in the middle and it almost seemed like it came out of nowhere.
I did enjoy the overall story but there were still a few things that bothered me, and it lowered my rating. So much of the issues between Lincoln and Dani were a result of him freaking out over the fact that she was seventeen. It got really annoying after her age was brought up over and over again. Honestly the age difference wasn't that big and she was less than a year away from being eighteen. I personally just didn't see the big deal about her age, so it was getting a little frustrating to hear about it constantly.
I'm not completely against New Adult books, I've read plenty and loved them but I'm also very picky about them. I need heat in my books and sometimes New Adult doesn't have it. This was one of those. Lincoln and Dani were sweet and cute and oh so adorable *eye roll* but I wanted the passion and the chemistry and I was disappointed without it. They wanted each other but couldn't have one another, so I was expecting the sexual energy to jump off the pages, but it fell flat.
Overall, Capture is an amazing love story that any fan of a tortured heroine and New Adult romances will love. This is a start of a new series that is a spin off of the Seaside series but can be read as a Standalone. I haven't read the other series but I wasn't lost at all when those characters popped up. I did have my issues but they didn't stop my heart from melting over this story
May 23, 2017
Currently (05/23/2017) free -> http://amzn.to/1JqybIU
It's sweet, funny and sexy. A lighthearted and touching new adult romance I didn’t want to end and cemented my Rachel Van Dyken fan girl status.
PTSD is not exclusive to military combat and Dani could tell you all about it, if she could talk. The trauma of losing her parents and surviving has changed her in more ways than one. It left her full of hurt, regret, shame, and feeling disconnected especially without the ability to speak. And even with all the love her sister and her extended and very famous family give her is not enough to break through, until the stunningly attractive and charismatic Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant, gives her acceptance and treats her without kid gloves. But will it be enough to last longer than her summer job?
Hollywood’s hottest heartthrob Lincoln Greene was born and raised privileged. Amidst fame he grew up with everything money could buy. But money can’t buy good parents and his could never give much less buy him love. And it’s left him with an emptiness he’s never shown anyone, until his latest underage, very forbidden assistant has him intrigued and tied up in knots, filling that void and making him want to spend time with her, want to make her smile and in general making him want. Can two damaged souls make one whole?
Rachel Van Dyken knows how to write an awesome book. I wanted to devour it whole as the pages flew by and time seized to exist for me. Her wit and sass shine through in the playful, cute, touching and steamy scenes between the hero and heroine and lovable secondary characters that make this a wonderfully enjoyable read. I was hooked right from the blurb to the very end which has me completely intrigued about Zane and in desperate need to find time to read about every manly, overprotective man in the Seaside series.
Even though Dani didn’t talk, she certainly communicated via texts. She’s quick, snarky and lively. I felt so much for her struggle, not just the guilt and grief, but for her lack of direction and self-worth.
I could’ve been easily seduced by Lincoln’s innate magnetism but what made me completely swoon and fall hard for him was his vulnerability. On the surface, Lincoln fit the Hollywood heartbreaker stereotype to a T. He was charming and cocky but he hid the susceptible inside of a man that grew up in a loveless and even abusive home, who like to read, preferred a Game of Thrones episode to a party and packed a toy pig everywhere he went.
I loved how he understood, accepted and supported her; the way he was thoughtful and put her before him.
I thoroughly enjoyed their witty dialogue and flirty exchanges that made me smile, laugh and melt into sweet goo. There are so many awesome lines I highlighted it’s hard to choose which to share.
Capture is book #1 in the Seaside Pictures series (a spin-off of the Seaside series) by Rachel Van Dyken. It is a full-length, New Adult, contemporary romance about acceptance, healing and love, full of quirky characters and the perfect mix of sass, hilarity, spice and emotion. Told from both points of view.
Sorry, I couldn’t choose, these are other quotes I loved:
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via InkSlinger PR. The excerpts are from that copy. *
Amazon US -> http://amzn.to/1JqybIU
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
It's sweet, funny and sexy. A lighthearted and touching new adult romance I didn’t want to end and cemented my Rachel Van Dyken fan girl status.
PTSD is not exclusive to military combat and Dani could tell you all about it, if she could talk. The trauma of losing her parents and surviving has changed her in more ways than one. It left her full of hurt, regret, shame, and feeling disconnected especially without the ability to speak. And even with all the love her sister and her extended and very famous family give her is not enough to break through, until the stunningly attractive and charismatic Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant, gives her acceptance and treats her without kid gloves. But will it be enough to last longer than her summer job?
“We do this, you leave me, I will chase you,” I growled against her mouth. “And I mean that in the most threatening way possible. I’m not letting you go.”
Hollywood’s hottest heartthrob Lincoln Greene was born and raised privileged. Amidst fame he grew up with everything money could buy. But money can’t buy good parents and his could never give much less buy him love. And it’s left him with an emptiness he’s never shown anyone, until his latest underage, very forbidden assistant has him intrigued and tied up in knots, filling that void and making him want to spend time with her, want to make her smile and in general making him want. Can two damaged souls make one whole?
“She was pretty when she was happy. And maybe that was the saddest part of all – she seemed so tight all the time, like being happy was a chore, but being sad? Just the way life was.”
Rachel Van Dyken knows how to write an awesome book. I wanted to devour it whole as the pages flew by and time seized to exist for me. Her wit and sass shine through in the playful, cute, touching and steamy scenes between the hero and heroine and lovable secondary characters that make this a wonderfully enjoyable read. I was hooked right from the blurb to the very end which has me completely intrigued about Zane and in desperate need to find time to read about every manly, overprotective man in the Seaside series.
“Something wasn’t quite right about Zane, but he was also really… real, and kind of… entertaining in a pet-puppy type of way.” ~ Dani
Even though Dani didn’t talk, she certainly communicated via texts. She’s quick, snarky and lively. I felt so much for her struggle, not just the guilt and grief, but for her lack of direction and self-worth.
“You lived for a reason. So what you do right now – even if it’s as simple as getting out of bed every day – it matters.”
I could’ve been easily seduced by Lincoln’s innate magnetism but what made me completely swoon and fall hard for him was his vulnerability. On the surface, Lincoln fit the Hollywood heartbreaker stereotype to a T. He was charming and cocky but he hid the susceptible inside of a man that grew up in a loveless and even abusive home, who like to read, preferred a Game of Thrones episode to a party and packed a toy pig everywhere he went.
“I care, I worry. I’m like a girl, only in the body of a really hot guy.”
I loved how he understood, accepted and supported her; the way he was thoughtful and put her before him.
“My body screamed for her. And my heart well… it kept reminding me that I needed to keep hers intact, and if I had any hope of doing that, I needed to go slow.”
I thoroughly enjoyed their witty dialogue and flirty exchanges that made me smile, laugh and melt into sweet goo. There are so many awesome lines I highlighted it’s hard to choose which to share.
“I miss my texts. Promise me that just because you can talk now, you won’t stop texting me.”
_________________________
“Life is scary as hell, but I’d rather believe you were spared for a reason, maybe so that on your eighteenth birthday you could make a stupid, spoiled, Hollywood actor give up his heart and fall in love.”
Capture is book #1 in the Seaside Pictures series (a spin-off of the Seaside series) by Rachel Van Dyken. It is a full-length, New Adult, contemporary romance about acceptance, healing and love, full of quirky characters and the perfect mix of sass, hilarity, spice and emotion. Told from both points of view.
Sorry, I couldn’t choose, these are other quotes I loved:
“Had to pee in his pants for a role, and when they tried to attach the pouch to him so that it would look real, and he could hit it when it was time, he shouted, ‘No, I do all my own stunts. I got this.’”
“Leave your window open tonight, Rapunzel. I'm climbing in.”
“Kissing you regardless of if it’s the second, third, fourth time. Even if it’s during a scene, and I’m acting. It always feels like the most real thing in my existence.”
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via InkSlinger PR. The excerpts are from that copy. *
Amazon US -> http://amzn.to/1JqybIU
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
August 20, 2017
"Regardless of whether it's the second, third, or fourth time, kissing you, even if it's during a scene, and I'm acting. It feels like the most real thing in my existence."
Lincoln Greene. Was. Gorgeous. It's that simple. He has a magic way about him. Maybe call it celebrity magic, I don't know. I liked him. I enjoyed him. And I loved watching him fall in love.
Dani's been through a whirlwind of hurt in her past. Some seriously traumatic events causing her to have some issues preventing her from doing things. No worries though, Hollywood magic is here to cure all that, right?!?!?
I did enjoy this fast pace, fall in love over night, story. It was a little fast but this author makes it believable. It was amazing to see a slew of her characters come back and make appearances. So awesome. I just really really wish we would have gotten more to Dani & Lincoln's future and how things go, at the end. I know we have more to come in the series, I just felt it was rushed at the end.... but I do love hollywood❤️
Lincoln Greene. Was. Gorgeous. It's that simple. He has a magic way about him. Maybe call it celebrity magic, I don't know. I liked him. I enjoyed him. And I loved watching him fall in love.
Dani's been through a whirlwind of hurt in her past. Some seriously traumatic events causing her to have some issues preventing her from doing things. No worries though, Hollywood magic is here to cure all that, right?!?!?
I did enjoy this fast pace, fall in love over night, story. It was a little fast but this author makes it believable. It was amazing to see a slew of her characters come back and make appearances. So awesome. I just really really wish we would have gotten more to Dani & Lincoln's future and how things go, at the end. I know we have more to come in the series, I just felt it was rushed at the end.... but I do love hollywood❤️
January 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Dani is a seventeen year old girl who has dealt with her fair share of trauma. She is mute due to some things that have happened in her past. Her sister and brother in law are in a film and one of the biggest stars, Lincoln Greene, is also in the film and in need of a new assistant. Dani takes the job.
These two have a connection, but Lincoln is put off by Dani’s age. She’s almost 18 and he is 22. It was such a big plot point which isn’t always my favorite thing, but overall I enjoyed this one a lot. I especially liked some of the secondary characters and I’m excited to see Zane’s book is next. I’ll definitely carry on with the next book!
Dani is a seventeen year old girl who has dealt with her fair share of trauma. She is mute due to some things that have happened in her past. Her sister and brother in law are in a film and one of the biggest stars, Lincoln Greene, is also in the film and in need of a new assistant. Dani takes the job.
These two have a connection, but Lincoln is put off by Dani’s age. She’s almost 18 and he is 22. It was such a big plot point which isn’t always my favorite thing, but overall I enjoyed this one a lot. I especially liked some of the secondary characters and I’m excited to see Zane’s book is next. I’ll definitely carry on with the next book!
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Peter Coleman & Brittany Pressley
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 7h 43m
October 28, 2016
3,5 STARS
I read this book second and read Keep me first, so I kinda knew the ending of this book but I still wanted to know Dani and Lincoln's story. I admit, it wasn't as good as Zane's story but still quite enjoyable.
Big name actor meets small-town teen girl, what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, let's just say a lot! Given the tragic history of how Dani came to be mute and what role Lincoln played in all that was just so sad to watch it all unfold the way it did. Dani can't seem to move on from her past and her remaining family is trying to do everything they can to make her want to live a happy life again. And that's where Lincoln comes in, since he needs an assistant at the set of his new movie. They both seem to kinda like each other but:
- one, she's not the legal age;
- two, he's a big name actor/manwhole, who's in town only for the duration of the movie making;
- and three, she's got a lot of insanely protective guys looking out for her and they do not take it kindly to her dating other men.
Yeah, their story is complicated... But also fun and interesting. At times I felt like they took one step closer and five steps back, so that was a tiny bit frustrating. They sure have some ups and downs but in the end their journey is so worth it all. I loved Zane, hadn't read his book first, I'd still end up loving him and his strangeness. All the other characters were super great, too and I'm happy I gave this book a chance!
Safety:
I read this book second and read Keep me first, so I kinda knew the ending of this book but I still wanted to know Dani and Lincoln's story. I admit, it wasn't as good as Zane's story but still quite enjoyable.
Big name actor meets small-town teen girl, what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, let's just say a lot! Given the tragic history of how Dani came to be mute and what role Lincoln played in all that was just so sad to watch it all unfold the way it did. Dani can't seem to move on from her past and her remaining family is trying to do everything they can to make her want to live a happy life again. And that's where Lincoln comes in, since he needs an assistant at the set of his new movie. They both seem to kinda like each other but:
- one, she's not the legal age;
- two, he's a big name actor/manwhole, who's in town only for the duration of the movie making;
- and three, she's got a lot of insanely protective guys looking out for her and they do not take it kindly to her dating other men.
Yeah, their story is complicated... But also fun and interesting. At times I felt like they took one step closer and five steps back, so that was a tiny bit frustrating. They sure have some ups and downs but in the end their journey is so worth it all. I loved Zane, hadn't read his book first, I'd still end up loving him and his strangeness. All the other characters were super great, too and I'm happy I gave this book a chance!
Safety:
September 12, 2015
Are you a Seaside series fan?
If the answer is...
...then you've probably already read this novel or you are about to read it so I'm not going to waste my breath for you (or better said my fingers :P)
But if your answer is...
...then you probably haven't read the series and have no idea what I'm talking about.
That's ok because I haven't read them either :P It's been on my TBR list for a while but I just haven't gotten around to reading it (maybe because it's YA and sounds like a love triangle it's going on in the first book :P).
So this is where my journey begins because this book gave me a taste of the hot and famous studs from Seaside and now I just have to have more...
But enough about those series. Capture brings back some of the character from the previous series but focuses mainly on the journey of some characters that where more secondary.
Dani is a selective mute. What does that mean? Basically she can speak but the brain will not let her because of the psychological trauma she has suffered after her parents death. So the words just can't come out of her mouth.
Lincoln is a Hollywood hottie and Dani's new boss. And did I mention he's hot? God I feel like a pedophile because he's only 22 but ohhh mennnnn....
On paper this two don't really match but somehow when they come together they really fit...even if everybody else doesn't seem to see that...
If the answer is...
...then you've probably already read this novel or you are about to read it so I'm not going to waste my breath for you (or better said my fingers :P)
But if your answer is...
...then you probably haven't read the series and have no idea what I'm talking about.
That's ok because I haven't read them either :P It's been on my TBR list for a while but I just haven't gotten around to reading it (maybe because it's YA and sounds like a love triangle it's going on in the first book :P).
So this is where my journey begins because this book gave me a taste of the hot and famous studs from Seaside and now I just have to have more...
But enough about those series. Capture brings back some of the character from the previous series but focuses mainly on the journey of some characters that where more secondary.
Dani is a selective mute. What does that mean? Basically she can speak but the brain will not let her because of the psychological trauma she has suffered after her parents death. So the words just can't come out of her mouth.
Lincoln is a Hollywood hottie and Dani's new boss. And did I mention he's hot? God I feel like a pedophile because he's only 22 but ohhh mennnnn....
On paper this two don't really match but somehow when they come together they really fit...even if everybody else doesn't seem to see that...
May 28, 2021
”You lived for a reason. So what you do right now — even if it's as simple as getting out of bed every day — it matters.”
“Life is scary as hell, but I'd rather believe you were spared for a reason, maybe so that on your eighteenth birthday you could make a stupid, spoiled, Hollywood actor give up his heart and fall in love. Selfishly, I'd like to think, that maybe, just maybe, there's a bright side, and that's us.”
**Synopsis:**
A year ago Dani was in a car accident in which she was the only survivor (both parents perished in the accident). Over the course of the last year, her trauma created a disorder called selective mutism (anxiety disorder which causes an inability to speak under certain circumstances).
- ”Speaking meant attention, attention meant people would ask me about my feelings, ask why I didn't smile, or why I looked tired all the time. Speaking had officially turned into one of those things that terrified me.”
Dani communicates with her tight circle of family/friends via text messages only and in an effort to pull her back into the real world, her brother in law gets her a job as Lincoln Greene’s assistant.
Lincoln is Hollywood’s newest star and is in Portland filming a movie (which just happens to include Dani’s sister Pris (actress) and Dani’s brother in law Jaymeson (Director)).
There is a definite attraction between Lincoln and Dani, but with Dani being only 17 (she’s just a few weeks shy of 18), Lincoln knows he needs to keep his hands off.
But, you know what they say about best laid plans......😉
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * if you have read the Seaside series you will probably love this book as those characters are a major part of this story (Pris, Jaymeson, Demetri, Alec and Zane)
* * Lincoln’s parents...ugh. It’s a miracle he turned out so great with such a mean mother.
* * I do feel like Dani’s family enabled her a bit.
* * I enjoyed the conversations between most of the characters. Each one had a bit of snarky / sarcastic humor
* * Zane.....OMG!!!! ❤ I can’t wait to read his book
* * Although the heroine is 17, I wouldn’t classify this as YA because none of the characters are in high school and there is definitely none of that type of drama 👍
* * I loved the relationships between the characters. They had a really good support system and were there for each other.
* * I’m rather embarrassed to say this is my first RVD book. She’s been on my radar and I certainly knew the name, so I was actually surprised to find out I hadn’t read anything by her before. Thought I had, but guess I was wrong. Well, I will definitely read her again
**Overview:**
- Trigger warning: loss of parents (off page)
- Setting: Portland, Oregon
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: technically no. This is the first book in what I’m assuming is a spinoff of the Seaside series (which I haven’t read). However, there are lots of characters from that other series and I think it would be helpful to have that history to layer into this new spinoff .
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: famous actor
- Who is the Hero? Lincoln Greene (age: 22). Hollywood actor
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: a talker, doesn’t like silence, never complains, loves red skittles
* H likable? Yes.
~ “I care, I worry. I'm like a girl, only in the body of a really hot guy.”
- Who is the Heroine? Dannae Garcia (aka Dani) (age: 17....almost 18).
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: a bit paranoid, awkward, sad, good sense of humor, snarky
* h likable? Yes.
~ ”Sometimes I felt like I was an eighty-year-old woman, hiding out in her house, waiting for the rest of the world to pass by. Waiting to die.”
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 32%
- First time they sleep together: 84%
- First time they say I Love You Dani 84% Lincoln 97%
- steamy? It was a slow burn, so not overly steamy. A descriptive bedroom scene toward the end of the book
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Not really a secret, but there was a little twist around 95% that took everyone by surprise
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I smirked quite a bit. The humor wasn’t LOL funny, but there were tons of great one-liners that made the story really enjoyable
- Did I swoon🥰? oh yes....the charm bracelet. Be still my heart 😍
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? HFN
- Epilogue? 3 months later, from Zane’s POV
- Recommend? yes. I really liked all the characters. I’ll continue on with the next book and may also read the Seaside series
~ ”Life, I was starting to figure out, was never going to be easy. There would be hard days, and there would be great days, but the most important thing to remember was that I was given those days.”
**Quotes**
“The last time I'd obsessed about a girl this much was in the fourth grade when I'd pulled Mary Bailey's pigtails and asked if she wanted my Cool Ranch Doritos.”
“Once people discovered I was mute, they stopped noticing me, almost like I didn't deserve the attention because I couldn't properly contribute to the conversation.”
"I didn't expect you to be funny."
"And I didn't expect you to be afraid of fish, yet here we are."
“Ask me to talk to the milkman, I'd probably shriek and run in the other direction."
Linc winked. "Probably because they don't exist anymore, and seeing one out in the wild would be like a whale walking on land."
"It happens you know, whale walking," I teased. "Right up there with milk delivery and VHS tapes making a comeback."
"Ignore the fear. Embrace the triumph."
“Choose to look at the mountains rather than trying to concentrate on the valleys. It's easier to glance behind you and see the peaks, but it takes actual effort to look down into the darkness of where you've been."
“Life is scary as hell, but I'd rather believe you were spared for a reason, maybe so that on your eighteenth birthday you could make a stupid, spoiled, Hollywood actor give up his heart and fall in love. Selfishly, I'd like to think, that maybe, just maybe, there's a bright side, and that's us.”
**Synopsis:**
A year ago Dani was in a car accident in which she was the only survivor (both parents perished in the accident). Over the course of the last year, her trauma created a disorder called selective mutism (anxiety disorder which causes an inability to speak under certain circumstances).
- ”Speaking meant attention, attention meant people would ask me about my feelings, ask why I didn't smile, or why I looked tired all the time. Speaking had officially turned into one of those things that terrified me.”
Dani communicates with her tight circle of family/friends via text messages only and in an effort to pull her back into the real world, her brother in law gets her a job as Lincoln Greene’s assistant.
Lincoln is Hollywood’s newest star and is in Portland filming a movie (which just happens to include Dani’s sister Pris (actress) and Dani’s brother in law Jaymeson (Director)).
There is a definite attraction between Lincoln and Dani, but with Dani being only 17 (she’s just a few weeks shy of 18), Lincoln knows he needs to keep his hands off.
But, you know what they say about best laid plans......😉
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * if you have read the Seaside series you will probably love this book as those characters are a major part of this story (Pris, Jaymeson, Demetri, Alec and Zane)
* * Lincoln’s parents...ugh. It’s a miracle he turned out so great with such a mean mother.
* * I do feel like Dani’s family enabled her a bit.
* * I enjoyed the conversations between most of the characters. Each one had a bit of snarky / sarcastic humor
* * Zane.....OMG!!!! ❤ I can’t wait to read his book
* * Although the heroine is 17, I wouldn’t classify this as YA because none of the characters are in high school and there is definitely none of that type of drama 👍
* * I loved the relationships between the characters. They had a really good support system and were there for each other.
* * I’m rather embarrassed to say this is my first RVD book. She’s been on my radar and I certainly knew the name, so I was actually surprised to find out I hadn’t read anything by her before. Thought I had, but guess I was wrong. Well, I will definitely read her again
**Overview:**
- Trigger warning: loss of parents (off page)
- Setting: Portland, Oregon
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: technically no. This is the first book in what I’m assuming is a spinoff of the Seaside series (which I haven’t read). However, there are lots of characters from that other series and I think it would be helpful to have that history to layer into this new spinoff .
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: famous actor
- Who is the Hero? Lincoln Greene (age: 22). Hollywood actor
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: a talker, doesn’t like silence, never complains, loves red skittles
* H likable? Yes.
~ “I care, I worry. I'm like a girl, only in the body of a really hot guy.”
- Who is the Heroine? Dannae Garcia (aka Dani) (age: 17....almost 18).
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: a bit paranoid, awkward, sad, good sense of humor, snarky
* h likable? Yes.
~ ”Sometimes I felt like I was an eighty-year-old woman, hiding out in her house, waiting for the rest of the world to pass by. Waiting to die.”
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 32%
- First time they sleep together: 84%
- First time they say I Love You Dani 84% Lincoln 97%
- steamy? It was a slow burn, so not overly steamy. A descriptive bedroom scene toward the end of the book
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Not really a secret, but there was a little twist around 95% that took everyone by surprise
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I smirked quite a bit. The humor wasn’t LOL funny, but there were tons of great one-liners that made the story really enjoyable
- Did I swoon🥰? oh yes....the charm bracelet. Be still my heart 😍
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? HFN
- Epilogue? 3 months later, from Zane’s POV
- Recommend? yes. I really liked all the characters. I’ll continue on with the next book and may also read the Seaside series
~ ”Life, I was starting to figure out, was never going to be easy. There would be hard days, and there would be great days, but the most important thing to remember was that I was given those days.”
**Quotes**
“The last time I'd obsessed about a girl this much was in the fourth grade when I'd pulled Mary Bailey's pigtails and asked if she wanted my Cool Ranch Doritos.”
“Once people discovered I was mute, they stopped noticing me, almost like I didn't deserve the attention because I couldn't properly contribute to the conversation.”
"I didn't expect you to be funny."
"And I didn't expect you to be afraid of fish, yet here we are."
“Ask me to talk to the milkman, I'd probably shriek and run in the other direction."
Linc winked. "Probably because they don't exist anymore, and seeing one out in the wild would be like a whale walking on land."
"It happens you know, whale walking," I teased. "Right up there with milk delivery and VHS tapes making a comeback."
"Ignore the fear. Embrace the triumph."
“Choose to look at the mountains rather than trying to concentrate on the valleys. It's easier to glance behind you and see the peaks, but it takes actual effort to look down into the darkness of where you've been."
April 28, 2016
This was an enjoyable, easy read! Although this can be read as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the other novels in the "Seaside" series to get a real feel for the background characters. Each character has a very unique sense of humor, so it made this book all the more entertaining. Looking forward to Zane's story!
January 13, 2017
I can't do it, DNF at 85%. So, so bad.
Fragile Flower is an overprotected selective mute. Her bro-in-law is producing a movie and gets her a job as Mr Movie Star's assistant. Mr MS is fascinated by Fragile Flower and we get to hear his angsty inner monologue. MUST RESIST. FF IS ONLY 17. Oh, btw, she'll be 18 in a few weeks.
Insta-luv causes FF to regain her voice. She speaks! We're treated to her bratty, angry behavior every time Mr. MS rejects her. She gets stomping mad when he mentions that she's 17.
Back & forth. He's tempted, almost rips her clothes off, then dramatically pushes her away. She's angry and hurt. The worst part? Listening to them wax cheesy over one another in their minds. Awful, melodramatic professions of love. Ugh! Their thoughts are making me want to barf! I don't think I could handle the cheese becoming real when she turns 18 and they jump each other.
Fragile Flower is an overprotected selective mute. Her bro-in-law is producing a movie and gets her a job as Mr Movie Star's assistant. Mr MS is fascinated by Fragile Flower and we get to hear his angsty inner monologue. MUST RESIST. FF IS ONLY 17. Oh, btw, she'll be 18 in a few weeks.
Insta-luv causes FF to regain her voice. She speaks! We're treated to her bratty, angry behavior every time Mr. MS rejects her. She gets stomping mad when he mentions that she's 17.
Back & forth. He's tempted, almost rips her clothes off, then dramatically pushes her away. She's angry and hurt. The worst part? Listening to them wax cheesy over one another in their minds. Awful, melodramatic professions of love. Ugh! Their thoughts are making me want to barf! I don't think I could handle the cheese becoming real when she turns 18 and they jump each other.
January 19, 2016
I can always depend on Van D for an A+ rom-com.
Free w/ KU.
So, this is a spinoff from a different series, which I haven't yet read and that aren't available on KU. But, I gather that the supporting cast here were all featured in their own books.
I love the supporting cast... Hilariously fun makeshift family of rockers and actors. I need a Zane and a bag of marshmallows ASAP!
FMC is a month from 18 & MMC is 22-years-old.
The female MC has tragedy and a lifestyle that makes her 'old for her age' , but she still has those little teenager moments to add authenticity to her age without making her too immature for the story.
^Given the h's age, this isn't a steamer with hot and heavily detailed sex scenes. <<< the lack of steam usually is not my cup'a, but Van D always pulls off the funny, sweet, and endearing to where I don't miss the steam that much.
The MC story is a HEAFN ending... Satisfying, but no distant future epilogue with white picket fence and 2.2 kids.
My only compliant was that the mute break wasn't more significant. It needed a more powerful scene IMHO.
It's perfect for readers looking for sweet romance, lovable characters, and are in the mood for more sass and humor than erotica.
NOTE TO THE AUTHOR : you and the hubby smoked the cover! Gorgeous! #liftmyownweight #girlpower ;;)
Free w/ KU.
So, this is a spinoff from a different series, which I haven't yet read and that aren't available on KU. But, I gather that the supporting cast here were all featured in their own books.
I love the supporting cast... Hilariously fun makeshift family of rockers and actors. I need a Zane and a bag of marshmallows ASAP!
FMC is a month from 18 & MMC is 22-years-old.
The female MC has tragedy and a lifestyle that makes her 'old for her age' , but she still has those little teenager moments to add authenticity to her age without making her too immature for the story.
^Given the h's age, this isn't a steamer with hot and heavily detailed sex scenes. <<< the lack of steam usually is not my cup'a, but Van D always pulls off the funny, sweet, and endearing to where I don't miss the steam that much.
The MC story is a HEAFN ending... Satisfying, but no distant future epilogue with white picket fence and 2.2 kids.
My only compliant was that the mute break wasn't more significant. It needed a more powerful scene IMHO.
It's perfect for readers looking for sweet romance, lovable characters, and are in the mood for more sass and humor than erotica.
NOTE TO THE AUTHOR : you and the hubby smoked the cover! Gorgeous! #liftmyownweight #girlpower ;;)
August 27, 2015
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was cute and sweet NA romance by Rachel Van Dyken, although it felt more of a YA to me.
Dannae ‘Dani’ Garcia , seventeen years old (17) hasn’t spoken a word since 8 months. She lost her voice, or more accurately the ability to talk after an horrific experience.
She lost her parents in a car crash and has been living with her sister and brother-in-law, both famous movie stars.
Preparing for a new movie, her sister and brother in-law bargain with her to accept a job for the summer : to be the Personal Assistant to the newest Hollywood heart-throb, Lincoln Greene.
The blurb sounded promising and entertaining and I sincerely enjoyed myself for a while, the story reuniting a few of every girl’s fantasies : gorgeous men everywhere, Hollywood movie star, Cinderella complex.
I truly loved the banter between Lincoln and Dani, the text-messaging conversations and the building tension between them. The text message conversations really put a huge smile on my face, as it’s a favorite trope of mine in romance books.
The story line definitely followed a slow pace, an instant-love and easy going romance. They’re both going the dance around each other for a while, Lincoln trying to keep the intriguing mute girl at bay because his conscience tells him she’s too young… While on her side Dani is decided to go after what she wants this time.
This push and pull as well as a intrusive obnoxious group of friend resulting in a welcomed angst, until a breaking point.
I said it before, I’m not a huge YA/NA reader. I enjoy and even love NA when the characters are mature enough, and one of my concerns with this book was the perpetual discussion about the heroine age.
Lincoln, acting like he was over 40 years old maybe, was constantly bringing Dani’s age into the equation. She was too young. She could not understand. She was only seventeen.
I mean, okay, I understand this could be a problem because he was famous and of legal age, but what was the big deal about him being 21 and her being 17?
He kept pushing her away only to come and get her the next minute.
It was literally stretched and brought as an excuse throughout the whole book. Annoying.
Something else that was rather a miss for me, the chemistry and steam. Sure, Dani and Lincoln were cute together, the banter was playful and I could feel the tension building, but I definitely missed some sort of release.
I’m not ashamed to say I like romance, but I like sexy romance, and although Capture has some sexy moments, it was all very tame… I’m not saying I needed raunchy moments, lol, but I didn’t feel any chemistry between the main characters in the bedroom.
In conclusion, Capture was a really sweet and cute romance, delivering flirtatious banter and lovable secondary characters.
On this note, I’m very intrigued and interested in Zane’ story—which should be up next— a 21 years old virgin with a man-slut reputation . What is it about the marshmallows?
Arc offered in exchange for an honest review
More reviews and book talk at :
This was cute and sweet NA romance by Rachel Van Dyken, although it felt more of a YA to me.
Dannae ‘Dani’ Garcia , seventeen years old (17) hasn’t spoken a word since 8 months. She lost her voice, or more accurately the ability to talk after an horrific experience.
She lost her parents in a car crash and has been living with her sister and brother-in-law, both famous movie stars.
Preparing for a new movie, her sister and brother in-law bargain with her to accept a job for the summer : to be the Personal Assistant to the newest Hollywood heart-throb, Lincoln Greene.
The blurb sounded promising and entertaining and I sincerely enjoyed myself for a while, the story reuniting a few of every girl’s fantasies : gorgeous men everywhere, Hollywood movie star, Cinderella complex.
I truly loved the banter between Lincoln and Dani, the text-messaging conversations and the building tension between them. The text message conversations really put a huge smile on my face, as it’s a favorite trope of mine in romance books.
The story line definitely followed a slow pace, an instant-love and easy going romance. They’re both going the dance around each other for a while, Lincoln trying to keep the intriguing mute girl at bay because his conscience tells him she’s too young… While on her side Dani is decided to go after what she wants this time.
This push and pull as well as a intrusive obnoxious group of friend resulting in a welcomed angst, until a breaking point.
I said it before, I’m not a huge YA/NA reader. I enjoy and even love NA when the characters are mature enough, and one of my concerns with this book was the perpetual discussion about the heroine age.
Lincoln, acting like he was over 40 years old maybe, was constantly bringing Dani’s age into the equation. She was too young. She could not understand. She was only seventeen.
I mean, okay, I understand this could be a problem because he was famous and of legal age, but what was the big deal about him being 21 and her being 17?
He kept pushing her away only to come and get her the next minute.
It was literally stretched and brought as an excuse throughout the whole book. Annoying.
Something else that was rather a miss for me, the chemistry and steam. Sure, Dani and Lincoln were cute together, the banter was playful and I could feel the tension building, but I definitely missed some sort of release.
I’m not ashamed to say I like romance, but I like sexy romance, and although Capture has some sexy moments, it was all very tame… I’m not saying I needed raunchy moments, lol, but I didn’t feel any chemistry between the main characters in the bedroom.
In conclusion, Capture was a really sweet and cute romance, delivering flirtatious banter and lovable secondary characters.
On this note, I’m very intrigued and interested in Zane’ story—which should be up next— a 21 years old virgin with a man-slut reputation . What is it about the marshmallows?
Arc offered in exchange for an honest review
More reviews and book talk at :
August 20, 2015
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
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***Confession time... I haven't read Rachel Van Dyken's Seaside Series so I really wasn't familiar with the secondary cast of characters from that series as they made their reappearance in Capture. But what I loved about Capture is that it can be read as a standalone and Rachel Van Dyken introduces all the characters so readers don't feel left out for not reading the Seaside Series.***
Capture by Rachel Van Dyken perfectly captured the emotions of love, healing, second chances and friendship. I adored this sweet, charming, touching and beautiful read!! Right off the opening pages, I was hooked and didn't want to put this book down. Capture is one of those reads that you could easily get lost in and feel the pain, sadness, and emotional vulnerabilities of a young woman struggling with the loss of her parents. What drew me into this story was the emotional and physical journey of Dani Garcia as she tries to cope with the guilt of losing her parents in a car accident. Their death was a burden that triggered Dani to be reclusive and mute. Dani would communicate with her family and best friends via text messages. But when Dani gets hired to be a personal assistant to an upcoming Hollywood Star, Lincoln Greene, Dani is forced out of her shell. Soon she finds herself opening up to Lincoln and the next thing she knew she found herself speaking. As Dani discovers her voice, will Lincoln break her heart when he tries to distance himself from her when he learns that she is only 17 years old? So when it comes down to it, does age really matter when you are in love?
Capture was a touching read that truly captured raw emotions. I loved this sweet yet beautiful book. My heart immediately went out to Dani as she struggled with the emotional loss of losing her parents. People experienced and deal with trauma in different ways and I loved that Rachel Van Dyken allowed readers to feel the pain, the hurt, and the sadness that Dani goes through. And as for Lincoln, I instantly fell in loved with his character as he tried to make Dani happy and smile. There is nothing like a story to get lost in and Capture is the perfect book to get lost in and get caught up in a new love story in Seaside.
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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Rachel Van Dyken
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***Confession time... I haven't read Rachel Van Dyken's Seaside Series so I really wasn't familiar with the secondary cast of characters from that series as they made their reappearance in Capture. But what I loved about Capture is that it can be read as a standalone and Rachel Van Dyken introduces all the characters so readers don't feel left out for not reading the Seaside Series.***
Capture by Rachel Van Dyken perfectly captured the emotions of love, healing, second chances and friendship. I adored this sweet, charming, touching and beautiful read!! Right off the opening pages, I was hooked and didn't want to put this book down. Capture is one of those reads that you could easily get lost in and feel the pain, sadness, and emotional vulnerabilities of a young woman struggling with the loss of her parents. What drew me into this story was the emotional and physical journey of Dani Garcia as she tries to cope with the guilt of losing her parents in a car accident. Their death was a burden that triggered Dani to be reclusive and mute. Dani would communicate with her family and best friends via text messages. But when Dani gets hired to be a personal assistant to an upcoming Hollywood Star, Lincoln Greene, Dani is forced out of her shell. Soon she finds herself opening up to Lincoln and the next thing she knew she found herself speaking. As Dani discovers her voice, will Lincoln break her heart when he tries to distance himself from her when he learns that she is only 17 years old? So when it comes down to it, does age really matter when you are in love?
Capture was a touching read that truly captured raw emotions. I loved this sweet yet beautiful book. My heart immediately went out to Dani as she struggled with the emotional loss of losing her parents. People experienced and deal with trauma in different ways and I loved that Rachel Van Dyken allowed readers to feel the pain, the hurt, and the sadness that Dani goes through. And as for Lincoln, I instantly fell in loved with his character as he tried to make Dani happy and smile. There is nothing like a story to get lost in and Capture is the perfect book to get lost in and get caught up in a new love story in Seaside.
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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Rachel Van Dyken
Want to read
May 22, 2015TBR ALERT!! A new standalone from Rachel Van Dyken is coming our way on 20 August! This new story sounds awesome and the cover is GORGEOUS!! :D
Blurb:
Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair.
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.
Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn't change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it's her fault.
It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He's gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different...would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?
Blurb:
Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair.
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.
Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn't change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it's her fault.
It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He's gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different...would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?
September 6, 2019
I know I'm late to the party with this series but I'm finally here...and I flat out loved it. I always enjoy Rachel Van Dyken's books so I expected no less but it was still exciting to enter a new world she'd created. However, silly me, I didn't realize there was an entire series before this one...so guess what I'll have to go back and read...yep, the "Seaside" series!
Dani's story was quite literally... heartbreaking. The trauma that she had experienced was difficult to comprehend and it was understandable that her body was trying to find a way to deal with it. I guess that is why the muteness surfaced. The relationship that develops between her and Lincoln is unbelievably sweet. He's been through his own type of trauma. It's not as pronounced as hers obviously but he really feels no attachment to his parents whatsoever.
Even though it was an emotionally charged topic. Ms. Van Dyken writes characters that are witty and throws in a good amount of humor. I enjoyed this book a great deal and look forward to continuing the series.
“...choose to look at the mountains rather than trying to concentrate on the valleys. It's easier to glance behind you and see the peaks, but it takes actual effort to look down into the darkness of where you've been.”
Dani's story was quite literally... heartbreaking. The trauma that she had experienced was difficult to comprehend and it was understandable that her body was trying to find a way to deal with it. I guess that is why the muteness surfaced. The relationship that develops between her and Lincoln is unbelievably sweet. He's been through his own type of trauma. It's not as pronounced as hers obviously but he really feels no attachment to his parents whatsoever.
Even though it was an emotionally charged topic. Ms. Van Dyken writes characters that are witty and throws in a good amount of humor. I enjoyed this book a great deal and look forward to continuing the series.
“...choose to look at the mountains rather than trying to concentrate on the valleys. It's easier to glance behind you and see the peaks, but it takes actual effort to look down into the darkness of where you've been.”
July 10, 2017
** 4.5 "I want to chase you, Dani." stars **
"Life, I was starting to figure out, was never going to be easy. There would be hard days, and there would be great days, but the most important thing to remember was that I was given those days."
"Life, I was starting to figure out, was never going to be easy. There would be hard days, and there would be great days, but the most important thing to remember was that I was given those days."
August 21, 2015
3.5 stars
Rachel Van Dyken is a hit or miss author for me. I LOVE her Ruin series but couldn't get into the Consequence series. After reading the blurb of Capture, I wanted to read more. A tortured mute girl and a Hollywood heartthrob? I couldn't wait to see how these two find a happily ever after.
Going into the book, I did not know it was a spin off from the Seaside series - I have not yet read this series. I don't know if reading this series before reading Capture would have helped, but I had a feeling that it would have filled in a lot of background on how the other main characters got together.
Dani. Dani is 17 years old. She isn't able to muster up the nerve to speak due to anxiety and trauma in dealing with her parents' death in a car accident. She acts a bit immature for my liking - especially when she tries so hard to convince everyone that she feels like she is older than 17.
Her sister's husband gets Dani a job as a personal assistant to an actor on his latest project. Enter Lincoln, the sexy Hollywood Heartthrob.
Lincoln is my favorite character in this book. He is hilarious, gorgeous and there is more to him than meets the eye.
This was an enjoyable read but I did find it a bit...lacking.
Zane is a new character that is introduced in this book and I have a feeling he will be the mc in the next book and I am excited to read his story.
Rachel Van Dyken is a hit or miss author for me. I LOVE her Ruin series but couldn't get into the Consequence series. After reading the blurb of Capture, I wanted to read more. A tortured mute girl and a Hollywood heartthrob? I couldn't wait to see how these two find a happily ever after.
Going into the book, I did not know it was a spin off from the Seaside series - I have not yet read this series. I don't know if reading this series before reading Capture would have helped, but I had a feeling that it would have filled in a lot of background on how the other main characters got together.
Dani. Dani is 17 years old. She isn't able to muster up the nerve to speak due to anxiety and trauma in dealing with her parents' death in a car accident. She acts a bit immature for my liking - especially when she tries so hard to convince everyone that she feels like she is older than 17.
Her sister's husband gets Dani a job as a personal assistant to an actor on his latest project. Enter Lincoln, the sexy Hollywood Heartthrob.
Lincoln is my favorite character in this book. He is hilarious, gorgeous and there is more to him than meets the eye.
This was an enjoyable read but I did find it a bit...lacking.
Zane is a new character that is introduced in this book and I have a feeling he will be the mc in the next book and I am excited to read his story.
August 12, 2015
I would like to start by thanking the author for an advanced copy of this lovely book.
I was first taken in by blurb. The book is called CAPTURE, however, it was the beautiful writing that definitely "captured " me and kept my attention today that I had to sit and read this in one sitting.
Its so beautifully written, you can actually feel the pain, trauma and emotions coming through from the pages.
Dani's life is really crappy, what with everything that has happened to her I could only feel her strength of survival.
Lincoln Greene, huge Hollywood star but without the ego.
Dani becomes his PA, and you can imagine what happens.
I truly thought they had a wonderful relationship, he not only put up with he down sides, he also brought out the best in her. Patience. That was the key.
This is an emotional read, but it also has its complete moments of laughs, and ahs and ohs in it which I see is one of this authors 'trade marks'. I have read another book by this author and notice that no matter what the subject matter, its not all doom and gloom.
A powerful subject matter to undertake and well written.
Its a generous 4 stars from me.
August 20, 2015
My first Rachel Van Dyken experience was with the gang from Seaside, I read the entire box set in one weekend. I fell in love with not only the characters but RVD herself. This book, like everything else of hers, did not disappoint. I loved coming back where it all started for me, it felt like a homecoming of sorts. This is the story Dani and Lincoln and the chemistry between these two is wonderful! I found myself laughing, sighing, crying and a couple of OMG's may have been thrown in there as well. You get a little look into the lives of the rest of the Seaside gang and there may have been a mention of a certain mafia family member in there as well. I am excited to see where RVD takes us with this series!!!
****I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.****
****I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.****
July 16, 2023
Dani is not in a good place. Her parents died in a car wreck, she blame herself, and if that weren't enough, in her grief and trauma, her own subconscious is working against her by shutting off her ability to speak.
On the plus side, she's surrounded by an amazing group of family and friends who love her and do their best to support her, but much like any teenager, outside help isn't really what Dani wants. Don't want to be told, don't want to be helped, don't want to be fixed.
Enter Lincoln Green, her new boss and Hollywood heartthrob. Can he give Dani the one thing she craves? Acceptance without expectation.
In Capture Rachel Van Dyken has given us a beautiful story of love and healing, acceptance and renewal. Filled with familiar faces from many of Rachel's other works, and a few new, but very memorable characters, Capture is intriguing, engaging, uplifting and in places, just plain funny. On top of that, its only the second book this year with a twist at the end that I completely didn't see coming.
Bravo.
***ARC provided in exchange for my HONEST review.***
On the plus side, she's surrounded by an amazing group of family and friends who love her and do their best to support her, but much like any teenager, outside help isn't really what Dani wants. Don't want to be told, don't want to be helped, don't want to be fixed.
Enter Lincoln Green, her new boss and Hollywood heartthrob. Can he give Dani the one thing she craves? Acceptance without expectation.
In Capture Rachel Van Dyken has given us a beautiful story of love and healing, acceptance and renewal. Filled with familiar faces from many of Rachel's other works, and a few new, but very memorable characters, Capture is intriguing, engaging, uplifting and in places, just plain funny. On top of that, its only the second book this year with a twist at the end that I completely didn't see coming.
Bravo.
***ARC provided in exchange for my HONEST review.***
August 2, 2015
What's not to love if it's written by Rachel Van Dyken
Capture is a fantastic addition of the Seaside series loved it
This book had me grinning from start to finish
I love the humour in this series,
with a touch of trauma thrown in this makes for a great read
THANK YOU
Capture is a fantastic addition of the Seaside series loved it
This book had me grinning from start to finish
I love the humour in this series,
with a touch of trauma thrown in this makes for a great read
THANK YOU
March 23, 2020
2.5/3 stars
Honestly, I was just bored throug most of this. This had great potential but the excision was just way off. Maybe if I had read the original series first, my opinion would be different, but honestly RVD should still be able to pull this off flawlessly. The best part of this book? The Epilogue, because I'm very intrigued with Zane's story.
Honestly, I was just bored throug most of this. This had great potential but the excision was just way off. Maybe if I had read the original series first, my opinion would be different, but honestly RVD should still be able to pull this off flawlessly. The best part of this book? The Epilogue, because I'm very intrigued with Zane's story.
March 22, 2017
Sweet, easy love story.
August 20, 2015
Review: Surj
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Rachel Van Dyken's "Capture" was a book I absolutely loved the sound of. The story line sounded completely original and and with Hollywood's newest heart throb involved, I could't wait to get stuck in. Unfortunately, very early on, I started to feel out of sorts with what I was reading. Part of this was my fault. I had no idea this was a companion novel to the "Seaside Series" so I almost felt like a bit of an outsider as various characters were introduced to me. Their stories had been told and so it was like I was late to a party that was in full swing. Maybe I should have done my research a bit better but I guess the cover did say it was book #1 and the synopsis on Goodreads didn't mention anything about another series. Could this be read as a standalone? Not for me. I wanted to know more about the other characters and their stories... how they had got to the point they were at. I guess curiosity got the better of me and it just would not go away so I this did spoil my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
In terms of the actual story line itself, there were bits I loved, bits I enjoyed but equally bits that left me skimming the pages. This was a slow burner of a read with the relationship between Lincoln and Dani progressing at snail's pace. I needed a little bit more than a look here and there. I know there were other factors that hindered the relationship that of course I needed to consider but I wanted more... needed it even.
The cat and mouse game between Dani and Lincoln was definitely entertaining at times and the banter they shared whether verbally or through text messages absolutely put a smile on my face. It was after the half way mark that things started heating up and the story really got some meat behind it... just what I wanted.
Lincoln's character was one I loved. His inner struggle with his feelings was clearly evident and I could really sense that he wanted to try and do the right thing, even if that seemed to land him in trouble with the other characters. He was one of the guys who had a heart of gold and I for one was a huge fan. Dani's characters however left me frustrated. I struggled with her lack of talking. I understood the reason why she was mute but unfortunately I just didn't feel her despair, anger, hurt, confusion etc. It was like it had become the norm and she happily wrote notes to people telling them she was mute. Her wit, sarcasm and humour definitely kept me entertained at times but overall, she just didn't win me over.
So overall, "Capture" was an OK read. I wish I'd read the previous series but alas it just wasn't meant to be. I rated this book ❤️❤️❤️
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHopelessR...
TSU: http://www.tsu.co/HopelessRomantics
Blog: http://thehopelessromanticsbookblog.b...
Rachel Van Dyken's "Capture" was a book I absolutely loved the sound of. The story line sounded completely original and and with Hollywood's newest heart throb involved, I could't wait to get stuck in. Unfortunately, very early on, I started to feel out of sorts with what I was reading. Part of this was my fault. I had no idea this was a companion novel to the "Seaside Series" so I almost felt like a bit of an outsider as various characters were introduced to me. Their stories had been told and so it was like I was late to a party that was in full swing. Maybe I should have done my research a bit better but I guess the cover did say it was book #1 and the synopsis on Goodreads didn't mention anything about another series. Could this be read as a standalone? Not for me. I wanted to know more about the other characters and their stories... how they had got to the point they were at. I guess curiosity got the better of me and it just would not go away so I this did spoil my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
In terms of the actual story line itself, there were bits I loved, bits I enjoyed but equally bits that left me skimming the pages. This was a slow burner of a read with the relationship between Lincoln and Dani progressing at snail's pace. I needed a little bit more than a look here and there. I know there were other factors that hindered the relationship that of course I needed to consider but I wanted more... needed it even.
The cat and mouse game between Dani and Lincoln was definitely entertaining at times and the banter they shared whether verbally or through text messages absolutely put a smile on my face. It was after the half way mark that things started heating up and the story really got some meat behind it... just what I wanted.
Lincoln's character was one I loved. His inner struggle with his feelings was clearly evident and I could really sense that he wanted to try and do the right thing, even if that seemed to land him in trouble with the other characters. He was one of the guys who had a heart of gold and I for one was a huge fan. Dani's characters however left me frustrated. I struggled with her lack of talking. I understood the reason why she was mute but unfortunately I just didn't feel her despair, anger, hurt, confusion etc. It was like it had become the norm and she happily wrote notes to people telling them she was mute. Her wit, sarcasm and humour definitely kept me entertained at times but overall, she just didn't win me over.
So overall, "Capture" was an OK read. I wish I'd read the previous series but alas it just wasn't meant to be. I rated this book ❤️❤️❤️
November 26, 2015
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
“I’ve always been bad with small talk, especially since the accident when words were so much more than things you tossed into the cosmos just to hear yourself talk. Words held meaning; they held power.”
I have to admit something. I have not read the Seaside Series. Yes, that’s right. I haven’t. It’s been sitting on my kindle and on my tbr list for way too long. Let me tell you, after reading this book and falling completely in love with it, I am kicking myself for not reading this series a whole lot sooner. That being said, if you are like me and haven’t read the series yet, it’s ok. You can read this book as a stand-alone. Yes, there will be spoilers for all the previous books, but you will not be lost.
Capture reminded me exactly why I love reading Rachel Van Dyken books. It pulled me in from the very first page. I was completely captivated by Dani. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know why she stopped talking. I admired her strength and determination to live and make the best out of a traumatic experience. I was so intrigued by her. And Lincoln. He was the biggest surprise. I was expecting him to be this hot shot, playboy actor, and he was anything but. He had his own demons that haunted him. I loved that he took the time to get to know Dani and appreciated the amazing person that she was.
Capture is well written and flawless. This story showed the power of trauma and how one event can change the course of someones life. It filled me with so much love and hope. One of the things I loved about this book was Rachel’s ability to make me laugh. Even though this book had some very serious tones, she made me laugh. She made me smile. She made me fall completely in love.
Honestly, I loved everything about this story from start to finish. I devoured it in one sitting. This is a story about strength, survival, and falling in love. The characters were fun and entertaining. The guys were just overall awesome. I loved the way that they supported Dani and the strength that they gave her. They were so protective of her and you could tell the love they all felt for her was true and genuine. This book gave me everything I needed, from angst to romance and even a great twist thrown in between. I loved it all! And now I can’t wait to go back and read the Seaside series from the start, so I can see what I’ve been missing.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via InkSlinger PR, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: http://onceuponabookblog.com/2015/08/...
“I’ve always been bad with small talk, especially since the accident when words were so much more than things you tossed into the cosmos just to hear yourself talk. Words held meaning; they held power.”
I have to admit something. I have not read the Seaside Series. Yes, that’s right. I haven’t. It’s been sitting on my kindle and on my tbr list for way too long. Let me tell you, after reading this book and falling completely in love with it, I am kicking myself for not reading this series a whole lot sooner. That being said, if you are like me and haven’t read the series yet, it’s ok. You can read this book as a stand-alone. Yes, there will be spoilers for all the previous books, but you will not be lost.
Capture reminded me exactly why I love reading Rachel Van Dyken books. It pulled me in from the very first page. I was completely captivated by Dani. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know why she stopped talking. I admired her strength and determination to live and make the best out of a traumatic experience. I was so intrigued by her. And Lincoln. He was the biggest surprise. I was expecting him to be this hot shot, playboy actor, and he was anything but. He had his own demons that haunted him. I loved that he took the time to get to know Dani and appreciated the amazing person that she was.
Capture is well written and flawless. This story showed the power of trauma and how one event can change the course of someones life. It filled me with so much love and hope. One of the things I loved about this book was Rachel’s ability to make me laugh. Even though this book had some very serious tones, she made me laugh. She made me smile. She made me fall completely in love.
Honestly, I loved everything about this story from start to finish. I devoured it in one sitting. This is a story about strength, survival, and falling in love. The characters were fun and entertaining. The guys were just overall awesome. I loved the way that they supported Dani and the strength that they gave her. They were so protective of her and you could tell the love they all felt for her was true and genuine. This book gave me everything I needed, from angst to romance and even a great twist thrown in between. I loved it all! And now I can’t wait to go back and read the Seaside series from the start, so I can see what I’ve been missing.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via InkSlinger PR, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: http://onceuponabookblog.com/2015/08/...
August 20, 2015
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Oh how I loved this! It was so sweet and funny. It’s so easy to distinguish Rachel Van Dyken’s writing style. It’s funny without being corny, romantic without being cheesy, and deep and intense without being pretentious.
Dani can’t speak. It’s not that she chooses not to, she just can’t. She’s just been through a lot. Her family and friends are so worried about her, so her brother-in-law decided that she needed a job to distract her. Her job? Being an assistant to Lincoln Greene, Hollywood’s Newest Heartthrob.
Lincoln Greene has it all, looks, fame, and money. He’s nice too, but there’s something missing. His parents were jerks. He tried so hard to make them love him, it didn’t work, so he just stopped trying. He may seem to have it all, but he’s lonely.
Lincoln and Dani were friends at first, but it eventually turned into something more. It really was inevitable. They just fit. Dani’s sarcastic, witty, and genuine. Everything that Lincoln needs to fill whatever’s missing in his life. Lincoln was extremely sweet, patient, and loyal. Everything that Dani needs to heal and finally move on from the past.
Dani’s family was awesome. They proved to everyone that being family doesn’t mean you have to be blood related. They were all so supportive, protective, and loving. Another amazing read from Rachel Van Dyken! I deserved this after what she put me through in Elude.
I can’t wait for Zane’s story!
Oh how I loved this! It was so sweet and funny. It’s so easy to distinguish Rachel Van Dyken’s writing style. It’s funny without being corny, romantic without being cheesy, and deep and intense without being pretentious.
Dani can’t speak. It’s not that she chooses not to, she just can’t. She’s just been through a lot. Her family and friends are so worried about her, so her brother-in-law decided that she needed a job to distract her. Her job? Being an assistant to Lincoln Greene, Hollywood’s Newest Heartthrob.
Lincoln Greene has it all, looks, fame, and money. He’s nice too, but there’s something missing. His parents were jerks. He tried so hard to make them love him, it didn’t work, so he just stopped trying. He may seem to have it all, but he’s lonely.
Lincoln and Dani were friends at first, but it eventually turned into something more. It really was inevitable. They just fit. Dani’s sarcastic, witty, and genuine. Everything that Lincoln needs to fill whatever’s missing in his life. Lincoln was extremely sweet, patient, and loyal. Everything that Dani needs to heal and finally move on from the past.
Dani’s family was awesome. They proved to everyone that being family doesn’t mean you have to be blood related. They were all so supportive, protective, and loving. Another amazing read from Rachel Van Dyken! I deserved this after what she put me through in Elude.
I can’t wait for Zane’s story!
August 21, 2015
Oh My!!! Rachel Van Dyken has done it again. Seriously is there nothing she can't do. In this lovely book we have Dani who has experienced tragedy and we have Lincoln who has his own tragedy and they are both drawn to each other. Together they find what each other is looking for when they weren't looking for it.
Such a sweet love story and we get to see some of our favorite characters from previous books make an appearance. Love it so much I can't wait to read it again!!!
Such a sweet love story and we get to see some of our favorite characters from previous books make an appearance. Love it so much I can't wait to read it again!!!
September 5, 2017
Another book I had bought and not read.
I was surprised positively and very curious about the secondary characters.
I liked the story that was without much drama or other women or men involved.
I was craving to eat marshmallow on the end of the reading.
I was surprised positively and very curious about the secondary characters.
I liked the story that was without much drama or other women or men involved.
I was craving to eat marshmallow on the end of the reading.
September 10, 2015
Enjoyed! Kind of unique in someways. Can't wait for Zane's story!!!
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