Naughty Girls and Their Books: Book Review: Evelyn by Tracie Podger

Here is my review for 'Evelyn' by 'Tracie Podger'.

Title: Evelyn

Author: Tracie Podger

Release Date: July 28, 2014

Tour Hosted by: Passionate Promotions

~ The Background ~

Evelyn is a pivotal character in books 1 and 2 of the Fallen Angel Series. In books 1 and 2, readers learn a little of her background, how she met principal characters Robert Stone and his best friend Travis, and how she became such an integral part of their lives. But that is far from all there is to know about this wonderful character. She has her own story to tell, and it's a powerful one. If you've read the Fallen Angel series, you know that every character has secrets ~ sometimes bittersweet, sometimes utterly devastating, even tragic; and as their secrets unfold, the story deepens with a passionate intensity, weaving the characters' lives together with bonds that cannot be broken. In every character's life, choices must be made, and very often the past not only determines the choice, but produces its outcome, especially given the complexities of "family culture" explored in the Fallen Angel series. In this novella, Evelyn tells her story, ultimately connecting it to the sequence of events as they unfold in Fallen Angel 1 and Fallen Angel 2. As you read it, it is easy to imagine sitting across a table in a quiet cafe', sharing a bottle of chianti, listening as Evelyn tells her story, her way.

Contemporary romance for readers over the age 18. Although part of the 5* Fallen Angel Series, this novella can be read as a standalone.

~ The Synopsis ~

Evelyn was sixteen years old when she fell in love. She fell in love with a murderer. Rocco has been sent from Italy to live with the Morietti family in Washington, DC, for his safety, for his protection. He hadn’t banked on meeting the beautiful, but young, Evelyn, the daughter of the man who has given him refuge. He hadn’t banked on falling in love. How hard is it to love the daughter of the man who holds your fate in his hands? And once you fall, how hard is it to keep your love a secret? Which is the greater threat to them both, to keep their secret, or to admit and fight for each other? Evelyn and Rocco are forced to accept a life of secret meetings, lies, love and loss. Few relationships can survive it, and not every romance has a happy ending. But if there is a chance....... is it not worth a try? This is the story of young love, of dreams and hopes- for a future not possible.

This is the story of Evelyn.

~ A Teaser ~

“I need to get you home, Evelyn, it’s getting late,” he said, softly. “I don’t have a curfew, Rocco,” I protested. “No, but if we stay here any longer, I’m going to do something we both might regret.” He might as well have just stabbed me in the heart. I closed my eyes and let my forehead fall to his chest. Why would he regret this? I moved away from him, pulled my hand free of his and turned to walk back the way we came. He didn’t follow me immediately but it wasn’t long before I heard his footsteps. I arrived back at the car and waited for him to unlock the door, open it and I climbed in without looking at him. We drove the short distance home without speaking. As the car pulled to a stop I reached for the door handle. I felt his hand on my thigh and I stilled. “Wait, you misunderstand me,” he said. “What do I misunderstand, Rocco? You kiss me like you mean it. You tell me ‘soon’ and leave me for days on end. You play me like I have no feelings,” I replied, my voice rising in anger. “Oh, I mean it, Evelyn. Every second your mouth is mine don’t you think I want more, don’t you think I want to throw you down and take you there and then? I want your body, I want every inch of you. I want to taste you, to fuck you. I want to own you. I want to be your first.” “Then why don’t you?” I whispered. “Because your father would kill me.”

~ Reviewer Comments ~

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~ My Review ~

Evelyn Morietti is a young girl whose mother passed away and her father is in the mafia. She has a lot on her plate, stepping in taking care of her little brother and her sister has retreated into herself, since their mom died.

She's been in love with Rocco since she was sixteen. He is her father's second in command. Her mom has always known Evelyn was in love with Rocco, and she told Evelyn a few months before she passed, that she wanted more for Evelyn in life.

On Evelyn's eighteenth birthday, she went to bed and was woken up by noises. Rocco was bloody and Evelyn went to help him. Rocco made his move and kissed her. Upon realizing what he had done, Rocco knew he messed up.

Evelyn had gotten a letter her mother had left her, to open on her eighteenth birthday, and it said for her to ask her father for a housekeeper. Her mom wished for her to go out and do things, work, and live her life.

Evelyn told her father what was in the letter and what her mother has requested, so she found a job. One day, her father had to go away on business. Evelyn stopped by her father's office to tell Rocco she would need a car to take her to the movies. Rocco asked who was she going with. When Evelyn said that she was going alone, Rocco invited her out to dinner.

Over dinner, Rocco told the story of how his father and brother were murdered and how he came to America.

There was a bit of a misunderstanding at the end of the evening, but it brought Evelyn and her sister Maria, closer together.

The next day, Evelyn was at church and Rocco was waiting for her out on the steps. He took her back to his place, and Evelyn lost her virginity to Rocco.

I would like to make a side note, that this was the most "real" description I have ever read about someone losing their virginity. I hate reading where "the virgin" somehow knows what she is doing; doing tricks and miraculously has multiple orgasms. This was not the case at all. It was true-to-life; her reaction when she got out of bed was real and even her feelings about needing to pee was real-to-life as well. That was very important to me, whilst reading.

Over the course of the few days Evelyn's father was away, she and Rocco spent a lot of time together.

When her father came back, he had heard rumors of Rocco having a girlfriend. Rocco of course brushed it off, and it hurt Evelyn's feelings. Over the next few days, Evelyn's dad had kept Rocco away, so Rocco and Evelyn snuck away together. A few times actually.

I won't go any further and spoil the ending, but this was definitely a story I wasn't expecting. The last chapter threw me for a loop, Rocco's letter to Evelyn threw me for a loop, and Evelyn's letter blew my mind. It made me feel all the feels. Evelyn mentions an old saying in her letter. That is my motto! I use that saying for everything! It really connected with me.

I really enjoyed this novella and I give it 4-stars! Evelyn is out now, so grab it for yourself!

~ About Tracie Podger ~

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks. Tracie wishes to thank you for giving your time to read her books and hopes you enjoy them as much as she loves writing them. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact her, she would love to hear from you.

~ Connect with Tracie and Fallen Angel Fans on Social Media ~

Twitter (@Tracie Podger) Facebook (Tracie Podger, Author) FallenAngelsFanPage (Facebook Fallen Angel Series Fan Page) Website (www.TraciePodger.com)

~ Discover The Fallen Angel Series ~

Available in ebook and paperback.... Fallen Angel, Part I On the first day of her holiday to Washington, DC, Brooke Stiles meets Robert Stone. Dark eyed, damaged and dangerous - Stone has never had a normal relationship for fear of his past being exposed. Not knowing how to respect nor love, he struggles with his feelings for a woman who makes him question everything that he is. Brooke falls in love with him and as their relationship grows she learns who he really is. Her future is set. She is to heal her man and mend his broken soul. But can she do the one thing that he asks? This is a story of an ordinary woman who falls in love with an extraordinary man and has to discover whether she is strong enough to forgive him his past. Fallen Angel, Part II When Brooke Stiles had said, “It was in a small room in an office block in Washington, DC, that my life changed, forever,” she had no idea of the enormity of that statement. Just a few short months ago, Brooke, had lived a quiet suburban life in the UK. She now owns a closet of clothes she could only dream about and has been swept off her feet by trouble with a capital T. Once Robert Stone came to terms with the fact that he was in love with Brooke, he knew he could never let her go. Not letting her go means introducing her to his life, past and present. However, when Robert’s past and present collide, Brooke does the one thing that Robert begs her not to. Does it change her? Has that light that he sees in her eyes been extinguished? This is a story of an ordinary girl who finds the strength to become the extraordinary woman, and keeps her promise to the man she owes her existence to.

~ Buying Links ~

Evelyn