Blog Tour & Giveaway : Toxic (Ruin, #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

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Toxic by Rachel Van Dyken

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Toxic

(Ruin, #2)

by 

Rachel Van Dyken

Published:
March 4th, 2014

Source:
Author

eArc received for review

Synopsis:

Everyone has a secret...

Gabe Hyde is on borrowed time. He's been hiding his identity for over four years-hidden from the world that used to adore him--obsess over him--driven to the edge of insanity by one poor choice. 

But that one choice, altered the course of his life forever. 

Pretending isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when pretending means hiding your real self from the people that care about you the most. But if anyone ever discovered the truth it wouldn't just be his life at risk--but hers. 

Saylor doesn't hate men. 

Just Gabe. 

Only Gabe. 

He's a reckless, happy-go-lucky, silver spoon fed pain in her ass. Everything about him makes her more and more confused. Unfortunately they both donate time at the same Group Home. If she wasn't afraid of flunking, she'd be long gone. She hates that she's attracted to him almost as much as he hates that he's attracted to her--and she can tell, especially since their first encounter ended up making her knees so weak she couldn't form coherent sentences for weeks afterwards. But the closer she gets to him, the more confused she becomes. He isn't who he says he is, and he's hiding something big. 

What happen when two worlds collide? Two worlds that never should have met in the first place? Some secrets are too big to be hidden forever--the only question? Will his destroy everyone he loves? Or finally bring about the redemption he's been craving for the past four years?

Everyone has a secret...What's yours?

Ruin Series

Ruin (Ruin, #1)

Goodreads | Amazon | B & N 

Toxic (Ruin, #2)

Goodreads | Amazon | B & N 

Fearless (Ruin, #2.5)

Goodreads | Pre-Order: Amazon | B & N

Shame (Ruin, #3)

Goodreads

My Reviews:

Ruin

Sweet Mother of God!!!! Can the title of this book be any more perfect?!?! It will absolutely RUIN you!!! I discovered Rachel Van Dyken a few months ago when I read her Eagle Elite Series. From the moment I finished reading Elite I knew that RVD would become one of my favorite authors. Everything about her books pull me in. Her writing style is perfection, her characters are addictive and unforgettable, and the range of emotions that she will make you feel while reading a book is out of this world! I still have to make it through one of her books without crying. I read this story seven days ago and it won't leave me! Wes and Kiersten will forever hold a place in my heart. Told in dual POV, this story will take you on a memorable journey.

It's hard to review this book without giving out major spoilers. So, I will do my best to describe how the story plays out. This is how it goes ... Girl runs into boy ... Boy lets girl touch his abs (lol!! Lucky girl!) Boy chases girl ... Girl falls hard for boy .... BAM!!!!!! My world comes crashing down :( Keep tissues near you at all times while reading RUIN, you are going to need them. I felt many different emotions while reading this book. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I paused my reading to think about life in general, I reached for my virtual dustpan to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. I was a complete mess!!!! I read 80% of the book with a ball of emotions stuck in my throat. Their love story is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking stories I have ever read. Wes is a sweet talker and a phenomenal human being. His heart beats in unison with Kiersten's. He cares, loves and protects her with his life. She's the Queen of his heart. Both these characters deal with a difficult past. Together they fight and they overcome every obstacle that life throws their way. 

What I also love about RVD is that she creates these characters that are lovable and that we can easily relate to. In Ruin we meet Wes and Kiersten, but we also get to know a few other characters that will capture your heart. Lisa, who is Kiersten's roommate and best friend will have you LOL a couple of times and you will love her for the support she gives to Kiersten when she goes through some difficult times. Then, we have Mr. Gabe Hyde ... Oh, boy!!! Get ready to meet your next two book boyfriends ladies! Wes and Gabe will have you swooning in a heartbeat! Swoon attack ALERT!!!! Emotional, intense, romantic, captivating these are few words that can describe RUIN. 

Books like RUIN are the reason I love reading. I loved every single minute of it ... Ugly cry included! I highly recommend this phenomenal book!

Favorite Quotes

''I can tell you have a good heart ... '' I sighed, opening the door to the outside. '' ... because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it.''

-Wes (Kindle Loc.1317)

''I'm going to make it so hard for you to forget this first kiss that you don't want anyone else kissing you ever again. When the guy you fall in love with kisses you-it better put this kiss to shame-if it doesn't, then he isn't the right guy. Because I'm going to do a damn good job, and I want the guy that  earns you, that takes that heart of yours and holds it in the palm of his hands .. I want that guy to be able to make you feel things I'll just be tapping into. Do you understand, Kiersten?''

-Wes (Kindle Loc.1374)

Toxic

Oh, my squeeeeee!!!! Gabe and Saylor's story completely left me speechless! I had high expectations for the second installment of the Ruin series. Once again, RVD delivers a fantastic story that is unputdownable!! From the moment I met Gabe in Ruin I knew that his story was going to hook me from the very beginning. 

Gabe has been hiding from his past. A past, which brings darkness into his everyday life. He can run from it, but he can't hide forever. One minute, one wrong decision and his life is turned upside down. Trying to move on from the tragic events that haunt him is easier said than done. When Saylor enters his life he pushes her away, teasers her and leaves her confused on how he feels about her. What he never expected was to fall for Saylor. After only a few days she got under his skin. Next to her he feels alive, safe and free. But before they can find their HEA, Gabe will have to face the demons from his past if he wants a future with Saylor. 

Toxic was intense, emotional and heartbreaking! Just like Ruin, it took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I have to admit that the Gabe that I got to know and love in Ruin was totally different in Toxic. Unlike his best friend Wes, Gabe made me want to virtually slap him a couple of times! I'm really happy that Wes was there to put him back at his place. He really got under my skin a couple of times, but I forgave him quickly when I knew why he was acting like that. Saylor was sweet, confident and intriguing. Her determination and patience helped her deal with everything that was going through Gabe's life. She helped, comforted and accepted him for the person that he was. Gabe was such a tortured hero. My heart broke for him. 

All the amazing characters from Ruin are back and I could not be happier! Wes, Kiersten and Lisa are key players in this story and without their support Gabe would have never seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Wes and Gabe share a strong and powerful friendship and you can really see that these two have each other's back for life. Make sure you have plenty of tissues before you start this book. Ugly crying is always playing peek-a-boo in Rachel's books. One minute you are laughing or fanning yourself, the next you are an emotional mess! I could not have asked for a better story for Gabe and Saylor. They are perfect for each other!

Make sure to add this series to your TBR list, you are one book away from discovering an amazing author and her books ;)

Favorite Quotes

''People rarely mean what they say. To me, sorry was just another word in the English language that people misused-like love. I love ice cream, I love pancakes, I love the color blue-bullshit. Because when I said love-I meant I bled for you. When the word love actually leaves my lips-I'm speaking it into existence. I'm empowering my soul-I'm joining with yours.''

-Gabe (eArc Loc.2)

''If I could take away his pain. If there was a way to transfer it from his soul onto mine. I would take it. Without hesitation i would take it all. maybe that's how you know you love someone. When you actually feel each other tear they cry as if they were your own. When you feel each cut, each bruise, each hit as if you're the one suffering. I bled for him. And in turn, he bled for her. Funny, how life comes full cirle.''

-Saylor (eArc Loc.2578)

Fearless

Fearless is the continuation of Wes and Kiersten's story, which we meet for the first time in Ruin. This novella is exactly what I needed to fix my book hangover that Ruin and Toxic left behind. Once again we are reunited with Wes, Kiersten, Gabe, Saylor and Lisa. Like all the other books in the Ruin series we get different POV's. I'm a big fan of different POV's. I find that we connect with the characters even more. In Fearless we get to read about Wes and Kiersten, but also about Lisa. I am a nervous wreck just thinking about her story (Shame, Ruin Series #3) that will be out later on this year. From the little glimpse that we got of her POV, her story will be another emotional roller coaster. My heart is already breaking for what she lost and what haunts her. I can't wait to read all about her story.

Wes and Kiersten's beautiful love story continues to warm our hearts and they are ready to start their forever together. Fearless is fast-paced, sweet, romantic, passionate and emotional. Another great addition to the Ruin Series!

Favorite Quotes

''I want you. I want you right now. I want you in every way a man could want a woman. I want you every second of every day. I want to give you my name. I want to live with you. I want to take care of you. I want to have kids with you. I want to massage your feet after a hard day. I want to hug you when you're sad. I want to hold your hand when you're sick. I want to hold you in my arms and never let go-even waking up in the morning with our bodies intertwined, won't be enough for me. Breathing your air destroys me because I can taste you in everything-even when your lips aren't anywhere near mine-damn, I can taste them, I taste you. I want you so deeply etched in my soul that I don't know where I end and you begin.''

-Wes (eArc Loc.35)

''He'd given me his heart a long time ago-and now I was giving it back, not because I didn't want it. But because I wanted to share it. With him. Forever.''

 - Kiersten (eArc Loc.147)

My Rating:

I give, Ruin/Toxic/Fearless, by Rachel Van Dyken 5 intense, phenomenal, emotional, heart-pumping, captivating, all-consuming stars! Add this series to your TBR, you won't be disappointed!!!! Get ready to be INTOXICATED!!!!

Rachel Van Dyken’s Bio:

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 and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers!

Website | Facebook  | Twitter  | Goodreads 

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