Review: A.N.G.S.T. - Amazing, Nerve wrecking, Genius, Sexy, Thoughtful!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 4, 2014
My beloved couple is back and hopefully this time they can get their stuff together and finally reconcile. After meeting in Untamed and connecting in a deeper way than they ever had, Dare and Ree were torn apart by her family and Dare ran off to parts unknown. Then in Out Of Control, after three years apart they found each other in Paris and started rebuilding their wrecked lives together until yet another bullsh-- intervention by her family sent Dare running...again! The frustration is endless with these two, so going into Escaped Artist I didn't know what the heck to expect. Anything is possible with these very flawed characters and two authors who make it their mission to stress me out and I'm already one dang bag of doritos in the grave PEOPLE!I feel like I should have a movie clapboard in my hand yelling "ACT THREE, TAKE THREE!". Here we have another attempt for Dare and Ree to pull it together. Dare ran off yet AGAIN at the end of Out Of Control (I think Usain Bolt was the inspiration behind Dare's character). Sorry for the spoilers if you haven't read but these are serials so you gotta get on this train and ride it along with us or you'll get left behind. Staying with his brother Dash *purrs* and his band mates in a cramped loft in Amsterdam, Dare is working as a tattoo artist to make some money and try to get Ree out of his system. Yeah good luck with that buddy because she ends up wandering into the shop he's working at wanting to get the Phoenix he drew for her, inked on her body. Of course he's all grumbly and ticked off at the sight of her while simultaneously being ecstatic but won't outwardly show it. His dismissal stings her and once again she turns to her beloved pill bottle for relief. Ree is then befriended by Synner who turns out to be in the band and an awkward morning after when Dare wakes up to find Ree in his bed throws the story into chaos. (Fancy that!)Have you ever attempted to hammer a nail into a 2x4 with just your forehead? I almost did several times throughout this book and it's a freaking NOVELLA! How much drama can you stuff into a short story without driving me absolutely insane? Apparently Reese and Green are evil geniuses because they managed to walk that fine line of angst and forgiveness with their characters. Dare is one of my favorite book guys but he was really starting to tick me off with his ability to leap to conclusions in a single bound. "Super Douche". Dare may be the older one on the relationship but he's the most childish out of the two. Reagan has given up everything to chase after him and prove her loyalty and typically I lose respect for a woman who runs after a man but once again the authors walk a line.With everything they've been through, some her fault, some his, I was left on the ropes both wanting her to get a chance to explain and being upset that she had to work so hard to gain his trust. Dare does have a growing moment when he realizes he hasn't been the most understanding guy and running away from things isn't the way to handle life's issues so I was glad that happened. It was easier to understand his motivation because we get to experience his POV throughout the story also! #WINNING Once the two stopped, collaborated and listened to each other (FINALLY! UGH!) they started to communicate and actually work through their issues. Ree's pill addiction is addressed and she agrees to get treatment which I thought was brilliant to include and showcase. I love this girl and wanted her to start healing. Also I was glad I finally found out what happened to her when she was younger. There are still certain things she hasn't revealed about her past though. I have an idea what might have happened to her, but I hope we get the full story eventually.A delicious little treat with this episode was getting to meet Dare's brother Dash and his eclectic group of band members. You wouldn't think that the authors could pack so much story about them into this awesome little book but each character had a story set up within Dare and Ree's world and it excites me for what's to come with them. Dash is the main guy I am looking forward to because Holy Hades! There are TWO Dare's! Granted they have different mothers I would still be the meat in a Wilde brother sandwich! *Rawr*. One of the most intriguing aspects for me was the fact that the band has a female lead singer Indigo (Indie) Zane and there seems like some underlying juicy tid bits between her and the bands drummer Synner. I get totally excited by female rockers so I look forward to seeing more from her. The addition of Indie into the story made me happy because she ends up befriending Ree and that poor girl needed someone who wouldn't add drama to her already full plate. I love her friend Archer but his constant come ons and troublesome meddling in the last book made me glad she had a female to relate to.When you hear the word Cliffhanger, what comes to mind? Sylvester Stallone hanging from a rope while his love interest falls to her gory death? Or something along the lines of Chris Farley in Black Sheep holding onto a baby sapling as the ground shifts beneath him while he screams for the tree to stay strong and hold his weight? The endings can be painful and so far I haven't had to suffer too much with the first two books having been released but now I have to wait for the fourth and I want to cry. The only thing getting me through is knowing I don't have long to wait. If this was a traditional published situation where they make you wait a year for the book I would be leading the group in a chant of "Off With Their Heads!" in protest. *Sigh* Dare and Ree almost caught a break in this one but his family life turns everything upside down in the final moments so now I'm buying stock in Maalox. These books are the reason I love to read. With their angsty messed up characters and extremely steamy encounters, the Untamed series of novellas will hook you fast and keep you addicted and craving more.