Capture by Rachel Van Dyken
Synopsis
Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair. But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.
Dani lives anything but a normal life. Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2. And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn’t change the fact their parents are dead. Or that it’s her fault.
It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside. That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He’s gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable. But that doesn’t stop her from wondering…if things were different…would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?
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My Review
This is my first book by Rachel Van Dyken and I’m ready for more! Her characters are fun, witty, charming, interesting. The plot moves, although it is formulaic. But it’s really the characters that do it for me. Dani is a seventeen-year old mute, having lost her ability to speak after her parents’ death in a car accident that Dani was the only one to walk away from. Lincoln is a 22-year-old Hollywood heartthrob, playing opposite her sister in a movie her brother-in-law is directing.
When Lincoln needs a new personal assistant, Dani is thrown into the job. The only trouble is, she doesn’t speak, which makes for some totally fun text messages. The two have an instant attraction, which of course is forbidden due to Dani’s age and the fact that Lincoln is her boss. But this is romance, so, you know that’s not going to last!
Plot
The plot centers around the relationship between Dani and Lincoln, but Dani’s muteness is a big subplot that adds a deeper, more unique level to this story than a typical new adult romance. Set in a small seaside town on the Oregon coast, the characters manage to come across as average citizens instead of mega stars for a good portion of the story. This helps them come across as more relateable than they otherwise would.
Characters
The entire cast is fantastic, but Dani and Lincoln are particularly well developed. Dani’s muteness and Lincoln’s parental issues make them both intriguing. The supporting cast is equally interesting, and I suspect that earlier books were responsible for fleshing them out. Even though I haven’t read any other books in the series, I didn’t need to in order to fully engage with the story or the characters in Capture. The author may have told their stories earlier, but the way she presents them here are well-rounded and deep in their own rights.
The Writing
Rachel Van Dyken has a unique voice that is youthful, witty, and charming. She does an outstanding job of differentiating the two first-person points of view.
The Ending
I enjoyed the ending and thought the author wrapped up the plot points in a satisfying way, while giving us a glimpse into the world of the character we’ll get to know more about in the next book in the series.
Top Five Things I Enjoyed About Capture
1. Dani’s relationship with AD2. Her two best friends are rock stars, but their relationship is grounded and super sweet.
2. Dani’s wit. Her snarky texts are awesome and her personality shines through her written words.
3. Zane. He’s a fascinating character with so much potential. I can’t wait to read his story.
4. The setting. I love the Oregon coast and the locale is perfect for this story.
5. Forbidden romances. Because they offer up SO much opportunity for unresolved sexual tension and conflict.
Bottom Line
Capture is a sweet love story with an outstanding cast of characters and witty writing.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book
Title: Capture
Series: Seaside Series Standalone
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: August 20, 2015
Pages: 242
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
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Author Rachel Van Dyken
About the Author
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!
You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
Where to find Rachel Van Dyken
Goodreads | Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon
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