Review: Ember – Rachel Van Dyken

Candace’s Thoughts

Ember is Book 5 in the Eagle Elite Series and you must read them in order.  This happens to be one of my favorite series out there and through each and every book I wondered how I would like the next one because I swore the character of the current book was my favorite.  Clearly, Rachel Van Dyken has a way of making you love each and every character in the Eagle Elite Series.

Ember is Phoenix DeLange’s story and if you have read the other books, you know Phoenix is in desperate need of redemption.  I absolutely hated him in the first few books.  It seemed Rachel had written a character that would leave a bad taste in your mouth every time you read his name.  His past is filled with horrible violent acts against women.  He doesn’t think he is capable of good or being happy.  It is what he has been taught by his father over and over again.

However, in Book 4, Phoenix was given a second chance by his friends and family.  Part of that second chance includes Bianka (Bee) Campisi (Tex’s little sister). They are both extremely lonely and damaged individuals but together they find away to chase away both of their demons.  Phoenix doesn’t want to hurt Bee but he can’t stay away from her because she removes the numbness he constantly feels.

“I don’t do warm fuzzies….I do scorching blazes…That sear you alive.”

For someone with her past, Bee is extremely warm, snarky and truly see the good in people.  She wants friends and normal and most importantly, she wants Phoenix.  She feels safe with him.  She sees the good in him.  Phoenix wants her to have everything and he thinks he can’t give it to her.  He struggles with believing that he deserves happiness but Bee pushes him to the edge.  She tries to bring light to his dark.

By the end of the book, I was rooting hard for Phoenix.  He deserved a happy ending too.  Ember not only redeemed Phoenix but it had its normal bloodshed, comedy between the guys and girls, suspense and drama.  I love how Rachel develops the next book in the background of the main storyline. I can’t wait to hear Sergio’s story.  The best part of this series is the characters: Nixon and Trace, Chase and Mil, Tex and Mo, and the other family members Frank and Sergio. You root for them, love them, hate them…and the story gets better and better each time.  You really can’t ask for more in a series.  Good job Rachel….you took a character that no one liked and you had all of us rooting for him in the end.  Bravo.