Review: The Calm Before The Storm!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 13, 2014
(SPOILER ALERT!!!!)"Where is he Dahlia? Where?!""New York," she said. "And Ree? Hurry. PLEASE. They don't..."Her voice quivered as she choked on the words."...They don't know if he'll make it."Yeah... so, that is how the last book Escaped Artist ended and Wild At Heart begins. Dare and Ree finally seem to have their stuff together. They've fallen in love. They've let outside sources keep them apart and they managed to find their way back to each other time and time again. This time we'll see them have their "Happily Ever After" and the birds will sing, the sun will shine and the two lovers will ride off into the sunset. That my friends is yet to be determined as Wild At Heart finds Dare knocking on death's doorstep after going toe to toe with his vicious criminal father who has been let out of prison early. It's like Christmas in July thanks to Ree's father, the mayor, who threatened to release him if she didn't leave Dare previously. She listened to that advice pretty darn well hence the reason for her mad dash to the hospital.There's no rest for the weary because Dare is in ICU recovering from the beating of a lifetime with Ree making it back to the states from Amsterdam to be by his side. It's a worry and wait game while he's in a coma and thankfully everyone is supporting him and cheering his swift recovery. All except Ree's father who is still trying his hardest to get her back on Team McKinley. Well what about Dare? Is he OK? I won't keep you in suspense because that's mean and I'm not Victoria or Jinsey so... Dare is fine. For now. Once awake and starting to remember he recalls every detail of his beating and being witness to that, even in his memory was utterly painful for me. I love this guy so much and seeing him in pain did something to me. He's got a long road to getting better and his plan for vengeance against his father becomes his sole focus to the point of pushing Ree away. Again. Will the two be able to put aside their stubbornness and work together? Or will Dare pushing Ree away to keep her safe split them up for good? Will Ree just stand by and let Dare tell her what to do?Looking back on all these serials it's insane to think that the story has come so far in just a short time. From their first meeting these characters have had me hooked by their love story and the angst filled drama they've endured has given me no shortage of heart failures. It's amazing to me how much both characters have grown since they were first introduced. Ree was a broken and vulnerable girl using alcohol, pills and cheap sex to get through life and now she's tough, fierce and determined to live her life the way she wants. Fighting for the people she loves and discovering her backbone Ree is a force to be reckoned with now and proves how far she's come several time even looking into the face of the man who wronged her in the past. Dare was a stoic and reserved painter not letting anyone get too close due to his previous family issues but he's grown into a man who trusts, who loves and who knows asking for help doesn't mean you're weak. Dare has become a take charge powerful man willing to sacrifice himself for those he loves whatever the personal cost to him. Watching them grow not only individually but as a couple has been so amazing to watch. Both of them have learned how to rely on themselves and each other to get through the rough spots in life and now that the most dangerous obstacle of all is staring them down I have the utmost confidence that they can handle anything. Regardless of how nerve wrecking the cliffhanger in this book is. Now if this had happened in the beginning I would have said the Catholics version of the "Last Rites" and found another couple to obsess over because these two weren't ready for all this. Everything they've been through has brought them to this moment in time and I'm hoping the authors go out with a serious bang if the next book is the final chapter. I hate saying goodbye to characters I love but S.O.B these two deserve a year long trip to Aruba to sunbathe and sip Mai-Tais and make babies all day.Wild At Heart is the calm before the storm as Dare and Ree stop at nothing to their loved ones as the series winds down. The drama, action and intensity will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last moment with no reprieve until the next book. With two super evil authors who get off on torturing their readers and characters what could possibly keep me on the hook for so long? Love. My adoration and respect for the women who penned one of my favorite couples has grown with every installment and I look forward to more from them in the future. Because hey, We still get to experience all of Dare's brother Dash's band members when Dare and Ree sail away to happier shores! BONUS! I can't wait to get the story behind the Wren tattoo and the lonesome drummer-boy band slut! The Untamed series are perfect short reads for people who love a good couple and lots of drama constantly driving the plot. Not to mention sexy moments that leave you breathless the Untamed saga is a must read!