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Blurb
The second installment in the best-selling Raleigh Rebels Series, by USA Today Bestselling Author Callie Hart.
SILVER
Kiss me.
Hold me.
Claim me.
Love me.
It’s hard to remember what life was like before the dark-haired, dark-eyed devil waltzed into Silver’s life and set fire to her soul.
The town of Raleigh is gradually returning to normal after the painful losses it suffered. Jacob Weaving and his football f#@k boys are nothing but tainted memories in Silver’s rear-view mirror. The halls of Raleigh High don’t even inspire the same terror that they used to…
But…
Falling in love so hard, so fast was always bound to blind a girl. Silver has been too wrapped up in her inked-up hero to notice any of the signs: all is not as it should be at Raleigh High. The Raleigh High elite haven’t forgotten the girl who dared defy them…
And now it’s time to make her pay.
Review
4.5 stars!
Wow, Callie Hart! What a thrilling and unexpected ride! The second book in the Raleigh Rebels series, this is the follow up to Alex and Silver’s story that so completely captivated me in The Rebel of Raleigh High. It’s a wild, raw and intense romance with drama, thrills, humour, heartache and dark and gritty themes, and I could not put it down.
Warning – this book features characters who are 17 years old, but this is not a YA romance. I wouldn’t even call it a mature YA romance. It’s an adult story with very adult themes and mature characters who are in very mature situations. There are some very dark and disturbing scenes with violence, physical and emotional abuse, and some surprisingly graphic sex scenes. Definitely not one for younger readers, and probably only for those who (like me) don’t mind some darkness in their romance.
The first book in the series introduced us to Silver, a high school senior who was dealing with the fallout from a devastating assault and subsequent hard-core bullying at her high school, and Alex, a foster kid from the wrong side of the tracks, full of rebellion and old beyond his years who is determined to graduate high school so that he can live the life that he is desperate for.
Alex and Silver easily and naturally ‘clicked’, and they fell in mad, wild love. They opened up to each other about everything and were there for each other through ups and downs, and the extreme twist that ended the last book. This book finds them still mad for each other, coming to terms with all that happened in the last book, and still looking to seek revenge on the people that hurt Silver so badly.
I loved being back with these two! For only being 17, they are both incredibly mature. They’ve dealt with so much in their short lives and have emerged stronger on the other side, and I love that they have found each other, and found something so special together.
Alex Moretti is the kind of guy who sweeps into your life like a wildfire, torching anything and everything you’ve ever cared about before he makes himself perfectly at home, rooting himself down so deep into your soul that it becomes impossible to differentiate where you end and he begins.
Honest, passionate and all-consuming, their love for each other shines through every single moment of this book, and I laughed, loved and swooned right along with them.
“You are the sun, Silver. You’re gravity. You’re the air in my fucking lungs. I’m a satellite, trapped in your orbit, and I’ll remain here until the end of time. My face and my dumb, wretched heart, will always be turned to you.”
I’m not a romantic person by nature. I don’t say these things to try and flatter her with pretty words. This is simply the confession of a helpless man resigned to a beautiful fate.
I mentioned that Alex and Silver have a mature relationship, and that includes physically. Their sexual relationship is explored in a bit of depth in this book, which makes it a really steamy read, and while it is relevant to the story, some of it is really intense, and maybe too grown up?
But regardless, it shows their connection and their understanding of each other, and it’s that deep love that drives Alex to pursue his plot of revenge, and claim retribution for his girl.
“When someone hurts you, I have to fucking bear it, too, because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything in my entire, miserable fucking life. You’re my fucking heart and my soul, and I will defend those two things with my own goddamn life.”
It’s a dark road, and there are twists and turns and some more surprises along the way. I cheered and celebrated with them, and then other parts of the story had me gripping my kindle in raw terror as I read with my heart pounding in my chest. I felt it all, and I was enthralled, desperate to know how it was all going to work out, and whether the evil bad guy would get what was coming to him.
Silver’s Dad remains absolutely fabulous, and the close relationship that he has with Silver is a true highlight of the book. And as Alex becomes a part of their family unit, the dynamic between the two guys is so entertaining! Funny and witty with lots of teasing, I loved seeing them together.
“I have the Google Translate app on my phone and I know how to use it, Moretti. If you’re planning on using a foreign language to secretly seduce my daughter, think again. I will know.”
Oh, fucking hell. Come on. Really? I screw my eyes closed, groaning as I turn my face to rest my head against the doorjamb. “Dad, just…no, okay? No.”
Alex stands, shoving his hands into his pockets. He’s the picture of composure as he faces my father and gravely says, “I wouldn’t worry. Your daughter doesn’t know a lick of Italian, either. I couldn’t seduce her with it if I tried.”
The introduction of Zander brought some funny moments, and with quite a complex backstory for him and threads for his story left undone, I wonder if the series will now move to a book for him? Alex and Silver’s story ends well, though I thought it was a bit abrupt, so I can only assume that we’ll be revisiting them in the future as well? Whatever Callie Hart delivers for us with this group of characters, I will be all over it.
“I want you. I want all of you. I want our life together, whatever that looks like, no matter where we end up.”
Dramatic, raw and emotional yet funny and witty with a beautiful and passionate love story, these books are dripping with intensity. This book is a great follow up to The Rebel of Raleigh High, and I loved it.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Raleigh Rebels
About the Author
Callie Hart is a USA Today bestselling author of dark romance novels. She is an obsessive romantic who loves throwing a dark twist into her stories. Her characters are imperfect, flawed individuals who dictate when she eats, sleeps and breathes. She loves to travel, and often pens her books when she’s on the road, drawing inspiration from her often unique and wild surroundings.
If she’s not writing, you’ll undoubtedly find her with her nose buried deep in a book, or binge watching Game of Thrones.
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