Perception is everything to sixteen-year-old Olivia Brown. With her freakishly hot boyfriend, volunteer work at the local animal shelter, successful beauty channel on YouTube, and well-earned spot on X Factor Cheer's elite level five Diamond Girl team, Livvie's the girl every other girl wants to be. At least, that's the illusion she's aiming for. But Livvie's seemingly perfect life is anything but. Lying about the bruises her boyfriend gives her, and cowering beneath his raging temper becomes a regular way of life until she unwittingly witnesses her drunken neighbor beating his step-son, the town bad boy, Reid Tate. For Reid, vulnerability is the enemy. Opening up, and letting people in gives them the power to disappoint. Growing up with a co-dependent mother and an abusive alcoholic father, Reid has endured all the disappointment he can stomach. But when his pretty, do-good neighbor witnesses his step-dad beat him to within an inch of his life, and not only call the cops, but keeps quiet at school about what she saw, Reid wonders if maybe, just maybe, he's found someone he can finally trust. Review by Charli Valentine |
The first book follows the story of Nev after she moves in with her aunt and cousin; UNBREAKABLE, book two, is about said cousin and her relationship with her abusive boyfriend, J.P.
Because we have already been introduced to the world and lives that the series is set in, book two gives us the opportunity to get to know the characters even better. I always hate reading a book where the main character is flawlessly beautiful and perfect, and I think that this is what makes me love this books characters so much. Yes, Livvie is beautiful and funny, and she is a top cheerleader, but she really is just an average girl. Falling for the wrong boys, scared of her first time and obsessed with YouTube.
And then there's Reid.
I don't know what it is but Dane always manages to make her leading males completely irresistible, first with Bodie and now with Reid. He's the bad boy, sure, but what's amazing is that there is genuinely so much more to him than being hot. He is protective and caring and funny, even before he and Livvie become friends. Dane's male characters seem to quickly be creeping into my top book boyfriends, that's for sure! It is so much more than just a YA romance. It's dramatic and angsty and real!
The Diamond Girls series is such a great read because you get everything you want in one book. Romance, action, thrills and chills as well as your laughs and highs. UNBREAKABLE covers deep topics that may only be suitable for mature readers but I think that this is what makes these books so unique. Although they have some heated romantic scenes, it has moments that will also leave you on the edge of your seats!
Elisa Dane definitely deserves a lot of praise! I give UNBREAKABLE our top raining of 3 out of 3 stars and I plead for you all to go pick up this first book in the series, EX FACTOR, now on Amazon for just £1.83 / $2.99 by clicking here.