Envy by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was everything I can wish a mafia story to be: it was intriguing, sad and full of some hard learned life lessons, but it also had funny moments, love, devotion and above all the inexorable protective instincts the mafia bosses have for their families.

“The bosses always sat first. Always in a way to protect the innocents around them.”

This book follows Vic - Nixon’s cousin - who has taken a very daunting oath, and Renee , the “nanny” for the five families’ kids. But of course not everything is at it seems with Renee...

“A war began in that room. Between two hearts. Between a broken soul. And a lost one.”

This author never disappoints- she delivered yet another amazing and unique book that had my gripping the edge of my kindle and forgoing another restful night. This might be one of my favorite books of the series-it just made the bosses so very human. I loved the little glimpses emotion and compassion from Chase, Nixon and Phoenix.

I can’t wait for the next installment!!

Trailer below:



View all my reviews  

From New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, comes ENVY, a new novella in her Eagle Elite Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Eagle Elite series…

Every family has rules, the mafia just has more…. Do not speak to the bosses unless spoken to. Do not make eye contact unless you want to die. And above all else, do not fall in love. Renee Cassani’s future is set. Her betrothal is set. Her life, after nannying for the five families for the summer, is set Somebody should have told Vic Colezan that. He’s a man who doesn’t take no for an answer. And he only wants one thing. Her. Somebody should have told Renee that her bodyguard needed as much discipline as the kids she was nannying. Good thing Vic has a firm hand.

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon Canada

Download the Free Kindle App

  EXCERPT: I tried not to judge. It was hard. They were mafia bosses—I got it. Or at least I thought I understood it since I had grown up around it. But my upbringing wasn’t as severe. My dad was a Nicolasi and always kept things quiet around us. It wasn’t until I was twelve that I realized it wasn’t normal for us to make as much money as we did through two jewelry stores and five laundromats. I wrongly assumed that every business owner with a lot of cash drove a bulletproof Mercedes to protect their family. The older I got, the more horrified I became of the life my father lived, the life he forced us to live, and the complete unrest I felt every time I closed my eyes and prayed for him to come home. He was a made man. One of the best in the family, which meant Phoenix trusted him, which in turn meant he trusted me to watch his little boy. And every time Phoenix looked at his phone I wondered if it was my dad texting, if he was alive, if he was okay. He’d been gone for a month. We hadn’t heard from him except for a few “hey, I’m alive” texts. I hated this life. And I wanted out. “Renee.” Nixon leaned down and touched my shoulder. “Are you okay?” I stilled. Remembered not to look directly into his eyes and forced a smile. “I’m just tired, you know how it is.” “Kids do that to a person,” Phoenix piped in, finally sheathing the knives he’d apparently pulled out in the last few seconds that I’d been thinking about my dad. “We need to leave in five.” Nixon stood. I looked away. I had to. It made me sick to my stomach the blood these men had on their hands and the way they so casually talked about killing as if they were discussing the latest episode of This Is Us. I forced a smile at Serena and Junior just as the front door swung open, nearly coming off its hinges. There he stood. My nightmare. Vic Corazon Abandonato. In all his gory glory. Tight black pants. Tight black shirt. Enough guns strapped to him to win an all-out war. And no smile. The man never smiled. It wasn’t in his makeup to smile. The one time he smiled was at Chase, and I think it was just a happy accident because Chase looked as shocked as the rest of the group did. I glanced away, again making sure I wasn’t drawing attention to myself, and fed the kids. Vic was a silent killer. I imagined that people didn’t even know they were dying until they saw the blood running like a river from their chests. I shivered. That’s what assassins for the mafia did. They weren’t made men, they weren’t in line for boss. They did the dirty work-and they took the fall for it. They had one job. Protect the family at all costs.      

    About Rachel Van Dyken: Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter