Katy Evans

The fifth book in the New York Times new adult series that began with Real. When an angry, heartbroken girl is forced to be near her rocker ex-boyfriend, only time will tell if the fire between them will consume them both. Pandora, the gothic friend of Brooke (Real, Mine, Remy) and Melanie (Rogue), thought that getting her heart broken by her bad boy rocker ex could only happen once. But now, he’s back in town with the biggest concert of the year. Pandora hates him so much that she gets Melanie to come with her and play a prank on him at his gig. But when they’re caught by security, and her ex himself is summoned, Pandora is not prepared for the feelings that seeing him again—beautiful and in the flesh—awaken in her. She’s also wholly unprepared for the conditions his manager sets in order for her and Melanie to be released; especially since these conditions only allow Melanie to return home, while at the same time, they put Pandora in perilously close contact with her ex again. The torturous physical closeness between them reignites the passion they once shared, and soon no matter how much she wants to hate him, it’s clear she’s still hung up on him. And worse: he knows it too.

Ripped

Lover of Romance 

Ripped is the fifth book in the Real series and I have been meaning to get to this book in like forever, ever since I first discovered this power packed series. Now I will say that this book is my least favorite of the series, not to say that I regret reading it because I don’t but the angst in this story was so NOT for me. I don’t mind some good angst in a romance, but the first half of the book it was so hateful at times and I had a hard time with it. So much that I became angry and yes hid in my room because I didn’t want to take my anger out on anyone. Rarely does a story ever effect me like that. You can see both sides though, and the real problem between these two is their lack of honest communication.

This is a second chance romance. They met in high school and became a real thing, but then a third factor meddled and caused the seperation but neither the hero or heroine realize it until later when they begin talking honestly. And then this is where the story really gets so good. Once they both get over their anger and distrust, they begin to feel the true love they once felt for each other and begin to trust in one another. This story does pack an emotional punch though and I was over the moon in love with them by the end, so Katy Evans definitely worked her magic in weaving a story that I hated at first which turned into love and admiration.

I will say that I wasn’t a big fan of the ending because we are left with a teaser there that I would have liked resolved.

I found Ripped to be a rock star romance to rock your world in ways you can’t imagine. Its unpredictable, angsty feisty love that is worth fighting for!! A KEEPER!

Lynn Braden

Like the other books in this series, this book has lots of excitement both in and out of the bedroom. Emotions are high and the characters are very conflicted. However, it doesn't reach the level of the first book.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

4.5 STARS

Katy Evans has done it again! Ripped is another spell-binding, addicting novel in the Real series. Ever since reading Rogue, I simply HAD to read Pandora’s story. Ripped was one of my top highly anticipated reads. I NEEDED to know who was the man to turn Pandora into such a hateful, pessimistic woman. And when I got to read her story, I was blown away! Every second of this book is riveting, intense, and oh so sexy. I loved it!

So the man who broke Pandora’s heart? His name is Mackenna Jones, and he is a rock star. No matter how much Pandora wishes to never see Mackenna again, she can’t avoid seeing his face because of his rock star fame. We slowly discover the truth to Pandora and Kenna’s story, about how they once fell in love when they were teenagers, and how they were ripped apart when Kenna left Pandora without a word.

As far as I was concerned, he was it for me, and I for him.
He was my best friend too.
My world broke when I heard he left Seattle.
He didn’t even say goodbye.
The last thing he’d said to me was that he loved me.
Now. I. Hate. Love.

Pandora is filled with bitterness and hatred. Kenna was Pandora’s first everything, and he ruined their love when he left. But Pandora can’t pass up the chance to see him when he comes back to town during his tour. Why does she want to see Kenna when she hates him? So she can throw food at him onstage. And it’s great and all – until she and her friend Melanie get taken by security and she comes face to face with Kenna for the first time in almost six years.

I absolutely loooove second chance romances, and as far as Ripped goes, it’s nearly perfect. There was the perfect amount of angst between Pandora and Kenna that I was hoping and looking for. They still want each other after all these years, but while Kenna wants to start something again, Pandora is adamant about staying away from him. Too bad that because of what happened with Melanie, Pandora is forced to go on tour along with Kenna. And being in such close proximity with him makes him that much harder to resist.

I loved that we also get Kenna’s POV in Ripped. You can easily tell how much Kenna still loves Pandora, even though he doesn’t want to. She was the one girl he had ever loved and now that she’s here, he wants her back for good.

So what if I had to tell myself she didn’t exist? For six years, it worked. But now she’s here. Like some demon–some poltergeist–reminding me of what I wanted as a teen and could never have. Reminding me what I lost. What I’d do to get it back.
Pandora.
My nightmare, my dreams, my walking, talking fantasy.
Here.

There’s an incredibly intense chemistry between Kenna and Pandora, so this book is HOT! Kenna and Pandora fall into bed with each other, but while Pandora just wants to use Kenna, Kenna wants Pandora back in his life forever. So he’ll take what he can get for the moment, but he’ll win her and her love back if it’s the last thing he does.

“I had your heart once, Pink, and it wasn’t enough. I have your body now, but it’s not enough.” He holds my face in order to force my eyes to stay on his as he demands, “I want your mind, your dreams, your hopes, your fucking soul. I want it all.”

I honestly love Katy Evan’s unique writing – it’s what makes these books so utterly riveting and enjoyable. I fell for Pandora and Kenna, these two broken characters. Their story is raw and not without pain, but just like they were meant for each other when they were younger, they’re meant for each other now. I loved that in Ripped, we get the sweet moments and funny moments to go along with the heartache. Reading Ripped had me in a roller coaster of emotions, and I loved it!

If you’re a fan of the Real series, you don’t want to miss Pandora’s story. It’s another fantastic, heartbreaking, heartwarming story from Katy Evans!

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1nDcpsD
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1yvPArR



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