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Dante's Girl (The Paradise Diaries #1)

by Courtney Cole (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 1,715 ratings · 272 reviews

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re...more

ebook, 356 pages

Published June 24th 2012 by Lakehouse Press (first published June 22nd 2012)

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Aug 21, 2012 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this book! It was an amazing read to add to my summer list! I fell in love with it from the very beginning and I just had to finish it in a few short hours. It swept me away into the world of Dante and Reece and I want to stay on that little island off of Greece forever. This book will have readers swooning within the first few pages when they get a hold of Dante’s wit and Reece’s spitfire attitude!
Cover:
It is so cute! It is a collage of pictures that all make you smile a big...more I absolutely adored this book! It was an amazing read to add to my summer list! I fell in love with it from the very beginning and I just had to finish it in a few short hours. It swept me away into the world of Dante and Reece and I want to stay on that little island off of Greece forever. This book will have readers swooning within the first few pages when they get a hold of Dante’s wit and Reece’s spitfire attitude!
Cover:
It is so cute! It is a collage of pictures that all make you smile a big, teeth showing smile! First off, they have him in a suit and her in cut offs and a cowboy hat which fits perfectly! Secondly, they have a map of the world and my favorite quote of Reece’s on the cover. Lastly, they have the passport, which I find a very nice touch!
Plot/Writing:
I really enjoyed Dante’s Girl’s plot. It was unexpected at times, and predictable at others, which makes for a great story. I did find some typos, but those were just formatting errors that might’ve been just on my Nook because they were minimal and few and far between. She did a great job writing out the characters and making everything have a sense of believability.
Characters:
Reece was a spitfire. She was a little frightened at the beginning with the plane and all, but want to know what cures that fear? A hot guy named Dante whisking you off! ;) She didn’t lose her personality at all though. She was still head strong and determined to do what she wanted to do, but her motivations were a little skewed toward a handsome 6’3 Caberra prince! I loved Reece and I can’t wait to see a cameo of her, maybe, in the next book!
Okay, how can I describe Dante? Other than the perfect man, I can’t. Sure he could be annoying at moments when he would say his life was ‘complicated.’ Other than that, he had the charm, the looks, the sweetness, the everything that a girl could ever want all rolled into one delicious man. Dante was amazing and I love him so very much!
All in All:
Okay, I got a little creepy there, but I do love Dante’s Girl and I can’t wait to see what is in store for us in the next Paradise Diaries book! Now, does anyone else want Gelato? I sure do!
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5 likes · like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 KM added it

Shelves: globe-trekkers, girly-wonderfulness, kindle-books

More like 2 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. :)

Sometimes, you just need something light and fluffy. Like cotton candy in book form. And that's what this book is - frothy, funny fluff. Now, this type of book just happens to be one of my favorites, so I've read quite a few. And because of that, I couldn't help comparing this to other (traditionally published) books that I liked better.

I should also say that I don't read many indie books. And if I do, it's unusual that I enjoy them. There are the few...more More like 2 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. :)

Sometimes, you just need something light and fluffy. Like cotton candy in book form. And that's what this book is - frothy, funny fluff. Now, this type of book just happens to be one of my favorites, so I've read quite a few. And because of that, I couldn't help comparing this to other (traditionally published) books that I liked better.

I should also say that I don't read many indie books. And if I do, it's unusual that I enjoy them. There are the few exceptions like books published by Entangled or Strange Chemistry, but self-published or small press publications tend to get low ratings from me.

One of the tip-offs that this was an indie was the egregious amount of typos. The book is supposed to be in present tense, but there were a LOT of shifting into past tense that weren't supposed to be there. At first, I skimmed over them, but then they sort of got on my nerves a little bit. It made the book seem unprofessional.

Now, Dante's Girl was definitely cute. I liked the voice of the MC - she was funny and adorable, and I felt like I could definitely "hear" her in the narration. I think that was probably my favorite part of the book because she really felt like a teen girl.

I also loved that the book was set in a foreign (albeit made-up) country. It all felt very Princess Diaries-esque, her meeting this guy that's practically royalty and going to some tiny European country and getting to experience the high life.

I was also a little disappointed with the romance. It was cute, but I didn't feel sparks between the hero and heroine like when I read a Stephanie Perkins book. And I guess Dante just isn't my flavor of YA book boy, but he didn't do anything for me. I liked that he was nice, but he was too perfect. He needed some nerdy thrown in for good measure. :)

Overall, this was quick and very readable. It was just what I was looking for at the time: something fun and easy. I think I'll probably read the second one when it's released since the ebook prices are so cheap, but I'm not sure I'd pay full price for a hardcover version.(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Marian rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review can also be viewed on my blog: WheneverLifeGetsTough

Alrighty. I think I might have to keep this review short.
But only because I'm too happy. You know the drill. Smiling like an idiot and staring into space and sighing a happy sigh.
This book makes you do that (well, it did for me) and a lot of other things.

Dante's Girl is a super light read that tells the story of a certain Kansan away from home.

This is one of those books that make you feel butterflies in the stomach. I don't know why...more

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Sep 16, 2012 CD Keith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, first-kiss, romance, teen, virgin, young-love, netgalley

Reece is not overly excited about the summer ahead of her. She has many of the same issues and struggles of many teenagers. Her life makes a great change when she bumps into Dante in the middle of the airport. She had no idea how great these changes would be. Things progress quickly putting her on a Greek island with a boy that looks like a Greek God. Before she knows it she is completely in love with Dante and worrying he won't return the feelings because of his father's expectations, Together...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-reading-challenge-2012, ebook-challenge-2012, read-in-2012, ya-contemporary-challenge-2012, ya-reading-challenge-2012, reviewed

I don't think I've ever read a more perfect summer romance than Dante's Girl. Courtney Cole did an amazing job of capturing teens at their best and worst in this novel. She hit on the perfect mixture of teen angst without over doing it and making the characters annoying or overly mature for kids about to be high school seniors.

The Characters:
The characters made this book for me. I loved how Courtney Cole wrote each and every one of them. Reece our main character had so many layers and like a re...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Esther rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book from amazon because of the price and the premise. This book is definitely YA, which I find puzzling why the 17 year old female lead makes so many references comparing herself to old dead movie stars that current 17 year olds probably have no clue who they are. Also, perhaps it's my age, but I found myself increasingly annoyed by her repetitive phrases. Surely. OHMYGOSH. Sweet baby monkeys. She got on my nerves at times.
The male lead seems too good to be true. His character...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Radiant rated it 4 of 5 stars

If anyone would say to Reece that her summer would be spent in a mansion of prime minister of caberra with his son..she wouldn't believe it for anything..but that's exactly what happens.

Recce is on her way to spend boring summer with her father..but things gets interesting when she bumps into airport with - Dante ,The Apollo incarnate *winks*- and she dreams of him to be her..and her luck just gets to it when he lands in her next seat in flight.He's too perfect to be true..smart,sexy, handsome a...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Lyn Ching rated it 4 of 5 stars

**For more reviews, please check out www.readingtsinoy.blogspot.com

Heroines with a good sense of humor are always sure to keep me interested in a book and that’s exactly what I got here with Reece. She is funny as she is sweet with a bit of innocence about her looks and insecurity with her social status, specifically because of Dante Giliberti.
They literally bump into each other at the airport waiting for a flight to London and luckily are on the same flight when airports all over Europe are shu...more **For more reviews, please check out www.readingtsinoy.blogspot.com

Heroines with a good sense of humor are always sure to keep me interested in a book and that’s exactly what I got here with Reece. She is funny as she is sweet with a bit of innocence about her looks and insecurity with her social status, specifically because of Dante Giliberti.
They literally bump into each other at the airport waiting for a flight to London and luckily are on the same flight when airports all over Europe are shut down due to a nearby volcanic eruption. Dante, along with his bodyguards, was allowed to leave the plane being the VIP that he is and took Reece along with him back to his home in Greece, a tiny place called Caberra, where his father is not only a multi Billionare but is also the Prime Minister.
To the citizens of Caberra, Dante is a celebrity and a prince and as such, all eyes are on him, which means he has to be on his best behavior at all times. Much is expected from the only son of a very important father. So falling in love with someone who is not of their status is not exactly welcome.
But fall in love they do, despite Dante trying (not very hard mind you) to control himself around Reece, and despite Reece knowing that someone else claims Dante as hers. That someone else is beautiful Elena, Dante’s childhood friend, sometimes girlfriend, fellow billionaire and the daughter of his father’s political ally.
To say theirs is a complicated relationship would be an understatement. Can happily ever after be achieved by two very different people whose paths lead in two different directions?
I can’t tell you the answer to that, however I can tell you that reading this book was fun. It is a lighthearted read that would tickle your imagination. Many of us have had fantasies about meeting someone like Prince Harry who would sweep us off our feet and that he would have and be everything: gorgeous, kind, loving, sweet, generous…in other words, Perfect. That is what Dante Giliberti is.
He makes girls swoon, but his love is only for one. Reece is also a lovable sweetheart, a girl’s girl whom you want to root for. So in terms of characters, this book is a winner.
Though this book is geared towards teens, older women would still appreciate the good read this will provide. Courtney Cole’s writing is smooth and the plot is good. I also like the romantic, albeit, dramatic ending.
Overall, this is a good book. I recommend this to those who want to end the day with a smile… because that’s exactly what you’ll have by the last page of Dante’s Girl.
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Sep 03, 2012 The Library Mouse rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up Dante's Girl with the desire to read something easy going, simple and sweet. You could say that I partially got my wish.

Dante's Girl set the scene for a nice light hearted and old fashioned summer read of girl meets boy situation, or more accurately girl runs into boy and tells him it's his fault.

Despite the sonographer's 99.9% certainty of the male gender of the baby and the consequently selected name: Reece is in actual fact a rather girly girl. She was simple, honest, kind and war...more I picked up Dante's Girl with the desire to read something easy going, simple and sweet. You could say that I partially got my wish.

Dante's Girl set the scene for a nice light hearted and old fashioned summer read of girl meets boy situation, or more accurately girl runs into boy and tells him it's his fault.

Despite the sonographer's 99.9% certainty of the male gender of the baby and the consequently selected name: Reece is in actual fact a rather girly girl. She was simple, honest, kind and warm hearted; and with a heavy dose of sarcasm I couldn't help but fall in love with her immediately. Reece had me laughing out loud at her and with her the whole time, and regularly face-palming myself as she did and said things that I would never dare to! She has a fare few one liner moments that are rather funny, and I have never met a character that has wished herself dead so many times in 224 pages! Embarrassment is quite the killer!

This said do not be deceived as I was. Although I would certainly recommend this book as a lovely summer read it, wasn't quite as light as I had initially thought, and hid a deeper side to it than expected.

Reece started innocent and carefree on her way to spend her summer holiday with her father in the UK. But with a few explosions, a little bit of arm twisting and a pinch of abuse of her phobia of flying and voila! She was in the handsome hands of Dante Giliberti and staying in one of his many houses for the next few weeks. As she explored the greek island with him she also began to fall helplessly, and rather incoherently at times, head over heals.

Being introduced to Dante's world that was not only geographically miles away, but also socially, Reece was forced to mature. Their lives were so similar and yet their realities were so very different, and his hid many dangers she was oblivious to. Until they hit her physically and emotionally with such a force, that catapulted her young mind into a reality that she hadn't quite appreciated, when she initially stepped into it.

Reece's thoughts and opinions matured, rising to face what lied ahead of her; but whilst doing so Courtney Cole ensured that she maintained those lovely and comical traits that made her unique and so loveable, and that made me like her so much. Her girlieness and trusting soul never faltered, and (my personal favourite) she never lost her honest mouth. The very same one that wasn't always connected to her brain when it opened, but that had a direct line to her big and kind heart.

Courtney Cole created two very sweet characters for this novel. She made them meet and discover themselves in this lovely and well written romantic tale. I very much enjoyed strolling along the greek beaches with Dante and Reece, whilst watching them learn from each other. I look forward to joining Courtney Cole again in her next book!(less)

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Aug 23, 2012 FicTalk Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Reviewed by Meg

Thank you to the Kismet Book Tour for the ARC of Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole. The following review is my own personal opinions, and is in no way influenced by the author or publishing house.

Dante’s Girl is by one of my favorite authors, and I’ve been waiting for the release of this book ever since I read about it on Cole’s blog. When I finally received it, I couldn’t wait! I knew it would be completely different from anything she’d published before. Dante’s Girl is told from the...more Reviewed by Meg

Thank you to the Kismet Book Tour for the ARC of Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole. The following review is my own personal opinions, and is in no way influenced by the author or publishing house.

Dante’s Girl is by one of my favorite authors, and I’ve been waiting for the release of this book ever since I read about it on Cole’s blog. When I finally received it, I couldn’t wait! I knew it would be completely different from anything she’d published before. Dante’s Girl is told from the point of view of Reece, a country girl who spends her summers with her dad overseas, as she encounters some roadblocks in her travel plans at the airport after quite the scary ordeal and finds herself detoured with a handsome fella she literally ran into in the airport. Dante, the son of the Prime Minister of Caberra, takes Reece under his wings when disaster strikes the airport as they’re about to take off.

Without giving the plot away, lets just say that Reece develops a bit of a crush on Dante, and well…he does the same and the story that follows is so light hearted and full of fun that it is truly hard not to love every single minute of it. Reece, who’s invited to stay the summer and work at the olive fields and stay as a guest of the prime minister, is in many ways a fish out of water. But she’s adorable the entire time. The friends she makes along the way are fun, diverse and actually the type of people I would want to be friends with (rare in recent novels I’ve read.)

Dante’s Girl isn’t with out it’s drama though. As Dante and Reece are developing their friendship and getting to know one another, quite innocently, I might add, we meet Elena, who is in a way, betrothed to Dante. Of course, she’s hot stuff and Reece can’t help but feel a little not-so-hot compared to her, but that’s okay. Because Elena is essentially, a hot bag of air, and she definitely comes across as such. I personally can’t imagine Dante and Elena even being friends, and as the story progresses, we learn a bit more about the basics of their relationship, which in the end really seems to help Reece adjust to her feelings for Dante, even though she would probably disagree.

Plot wise, I find Dante’s girl to be just the perfect combination of ups and downs to suit a fun, light hearted read. There was enough drama to keep it from being over the top happy, but not so much that the characters and story line got bogged down with negativity and angst. I found Reece to be absolutely adorable and I’ve already found a few ways to utilize the phrase “sweet baby monkeys” in every day life. Dante…Dante was wonderful. Can I just say how unbelievably ecstatic that in a YA novel that does deal with quite a few YA issues, Dante is a breath of fresh air. He is actually a decent human being. He’s not trying to control Reece, he’s not demanding things of her, he’s not sneaking into her bedroom to watch her sleep or stalking her when she goes shopping, he’s actually concerned for her welfare, but not in a way that makes him into an overbearing ass. He’s actually a good guy. I would totally approve him if I had a daughter who brought him home one day.

As I’ve mentioned, I find the characters to be wonderful. The drama that ensues with the character fits their personalities, it isn’t so heavy that you find yourself wanting to punch everyone in the face and tell them to grow up and it isn’t so cliched that you roll your eyes at everything they say. Combine the plot, the characters, and of course, Cole’s enchanting writing style, and it’s a perfect summer read, in my humble opinion! I can’t wait for the next installment from this series and to see where other characters are taken on an adventure too! (less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Sophia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow seriously this was a really fun read. Something I didn't expect at all. I totally fell in love with Reece right away. Who couldn't? Whatever she was dealing with I was totally there with her or have been there. And to be swept away by a Greek Prince? (well sorta) I mean dream come true!!! I highlighted a whole bunch of quotes probably 1 every 4 pages because I just literally couldn't keep the smile off my face. I loved how there was a side mystery plot to follow. And Dante OMG Dante Sweet Ba...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a lighthearted, funny story with a swoon worthy romance that takes place in a breathtaking setting, then this is the book for you!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and haven't laughed so much since reading "My Life Next Door." Reece is a small town girl from Kansas who literally bumps into the adventure of her life when she meets Dante Giliberti, the beautiful boy from the beautiful island. The only problem? Dante's the son of the Prime Minister which means he and Reece aren'...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Anna Fhaumnuaypol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance, ebooks, summer-read, nearly-amazing, cute, read-2012, need-to-get

This book is incredibly adorable and perfect for the summer! A teenage love story is never boring or out of style especially Cole's 'Dante's Girl'.

Reece, a cowgirl from Kansas visits her father who lives in London every summer. However, things are a little different this time. She runs into a devastatingly beautiful guy in the airport and again on the plane to London. But things go wrong during takeoff and she is forced to go along with the man she just met, Dante, who appears to be a very impo...more This book is incredibly adorable and perfect for the summer! A teenage love story is never boring or out of style especially Cole's 'Dante's Girl'.

Reece, a cowgirl from Kansas visits her father who lives in London every summer. However, things are a little different this time. She runs into a devastatingly beautiful guy in the airport and again on the plane to London. But things go wrong during takeoff and she is forced to go along with the man she just met, Dante, who appears to be a very important person. Everything happens so quickly and all of the sudden she is already in the beautiful island of Caberra, with the gorgeous Dante, in an ancient Old Palace that serves as an official residence of the Prime Minister. Yes, the Prime Minister. Dante is the only son of Dimitri Giliberti, the multimillionaire who is the world-leading exporter of olive products and a leader of a country. It is completely surreal. Reece will be staying in the Old Palace with Dante until the airport reopens. During a course of one summer, she makes new friends, gets into a fight with her best friend Becca who is half-a-world away from her, goes through many dangerous events and finally fall in love..

I love the whole concept of the story, the cute young summer love that turns out to be more than just a fling. Dante is the dashing prince in the shinning armor that every girl including me wishes upon the stars to meet and fall in love with. He is a sensitive and affectionate guy who surprisingly not a rich jerk, and even if he is caged by his father's expectation, he is willing to take the chances and fight for who he loves (which is so romantic!). Reece, on the other hand, is a funny and down-to-earth girl next door who drop pennies into the right wishing well. Somehow, I thought I was not going to like her character at first but it changed somewhere when she had a fight with her best friend and didn't let it fully affect her summer, this makes her character not only independent in some sense but strong. When she sees Elena kisses Dante, she fearlessly confronts him and clears the air, instead of crying herself to sleep and act all mad and annoying without an explanation like a baby. There is this one part that I really feel for her, when she can't seem to hold it in anymore. When she realized that she's all alone in a foreign country heartbroken by the Prime Minister's son who is not brave enough to stand up for her and himself. She cried. In the rain. I just felt so into it. There was no one she can turn to, not her friends not her family. She cried, raindrops stream down her face and mascara dried her cheeks. But another spoilers, this book did have an amazing happy ending, and I am a BIG FAN of happy endings, so yes this book is a great great read for those hopeless romantic girls out there who is not only bored but need some book to help cheer up the mood from a disappointing summer. (less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Tishia (Paranormal Opinion) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dante's girl is the first book in The Paradise Diaries series by Courtney Cole. It's a young adult book that is a GREAT read. I normally read paranormal stuff, so this was a bit different but I really enjoyed it. Reece is a 17 year old girl from Kansas and falls for the son of a Prime Minister of a Greek island. They meet under interesting circumstances, and she ends up staying at his father's palace in Caberra.

It's a fun, humorous book. It's told from Reece's point of view, and her thoughts we...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, ebook, for-review, read-july-2012

Dante's Girl is a delightful, fun, cute and yet still serious in a way book. I read this on my recent vacation and it was the perfect feel-good book to while away the afternoon in the hammock. It took me away to a different country, to a different life and reminded me of that first love as a teenager.

Reece is a very endearing main character. I think almost any girl can relate to her. She's off to her father's for the summer, somewhere she really doesn't want to be when the crazy volcanic ash thi...more Dante's Girl is a delightful, fun, cute and yet still serious in a way book. I read this on my recent vacation and it was the perfect feel-good book to while away the afternoon in the hammock. It took me away to a different country, to a different life and reminded me of that first love as a teenager.

Reece is a very endearing main character. I think almost any girl can relate to her. She's off to her father's for the summer, somewhere she really doesn't want to be when the crazy volcanic ash thing happens and so does Dante and her whole summer changes. Her life also goes crazy back home. But she copes, she's strong and even though she hasn't really been in love before, I really admired the way she handled the relationship. She is very typical teenage girl, but I think she also shows girls a strength they can have also. I like that. She's spunky, she's fun, and she's not too in-your-face I can do it all. She has weaknesses and needs help too. Reece is just a great character who grows through the book. And Dante. Dante is amazing as well. At times I found him a little wishy-washy, but I realize he needed to be that way to have growth in his character. But what I really love about him was the romance he had in him. And before everyone jumps and says no teenage boy is that romantic, my husband who was my boyfriend at the end of high school was romantic, so teenagers can be romantic. In fact take away the money and royalty and Dante reminded me a bit of my husband back then. So that made this read even more fun on a vacation away with my husband of almost 15 years (and we have been together 20). But back to Dante, he's handsome, sweet, and he grows up a lot in this book.

The plot is driven mainly by the characters then by romance and finally by a small suspense plot. Added all together and it makes this a very quick and enjoyable read. I found it to be well put-together, and enjoyed everything that made up the book as a whole. The romance was my favorite of course, but Ms. Cole does everything well. I was very impressed by this novel and how situations are handled in it.

Dante's Girl is a great summer or anytime read for teens 14+ (some sexual situations/discussions, fade to black but they are there, handled very nicely I thought, age recommendation is just my opinion). It has a great storyline, wonderful characters, a heartfelt romance and an ending that ends just right, but leaves you ready for the next book in the series. Ms. Cole has captured first romance brilliantly in Dante's Girl. She had me remembering those days with happy thoughts as I read along with Reece and Dante's story. And she kept a smile on my face through the entire story (except for a few intense moments, but hey it's a romance, you have to have those). Dante's Girl is just one of those great feel-good reads that you need to read!(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours, favorites, a-z-reading-challenge-2012

I absolutely adored this book. It has been one of the most fun and entertaining books I have read this summer. Reece is 17 years old, is flying to London to spend the summer with her father, and ends up running into the most beautiful boy she has ever seen, literally. His name is Dante Giliberti, and Reece dubs him as the equivalent of the Greek God Apollo. They end up on the same flight. Dante is in first class and Reece is in coach, then Dante ends up sitting beside her. Before they even take...more I absolutely adored this book. It has been one of the most fun and entertaining books I have read this summer. Reece is 17 years old, is flying to London to spend the summer with her father, and ends up running into the most beautiful boy she has ever seen, literally. His name is Dante Giliberti, and Reece dubs him as the equivalent of the Greek God Apollo. They end up on the same flight. Dante is in first class and Reece is in coach, then Dante ends up sitting beside her. Before they even take off there is an explosion, a fire, Dante's security guards are whisking him off the plane, and he tells Reece he is taking her with him. That is how Reece, a country girl from the heart of Kansas, ends up on the beautiful Greek Island of Caberra, with the son of the Prime Minister, who not only is gorgeous, but is also a billionaire. With nothing more than an overnight bag and one outfit Reece finds herself in a palace that seems more like a museum, with this Greek God of a guy, who also happens to be one of the nicest people she has ever met. One thing leads to another and Reece is invited to spend the whole summer on the Island as the guest of the Giliberti's and intern at their olive business. She and Dante both find that this is a summer that will change their lives forever. Reece finds out that the term "it's complicated," takes on a whole new meaning. The question is, can love overcome these complications?

I really loved Reece. She is absolutely hilarious. The things she says are funny, but the inner dialogue she has going on with herself will leave you holding your side in laughter. She is sweet, she is really pretty, even though she doesn't see it, and she is real. Dante is super hot, he's nice, and he's not caught up in the prestige of who he is. His only fault is that he tries so hard to do everything that is "expected" of him in order to please his father. The chemistry between Dante and Reece is undeniable, and despite threats from the evil Elena, who thinks she has a claim on Dante, they can't stay away from each other. Dante is quite the gentleman and never pushes Reece in anyway, but must decide if he is going to be true to his heart, or true to what's expected of him. I loved the story line. Dante's Girl has the feel of a modern day young adult fairy tale with conspiracy, espionage, romance, with a whole lot of humor and love in the mix. This is a enchanting contemporary romance and the perfect summer read. Enjoy it? Yes, I most certainly did. (less)

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Jul 21, 2012 Tanya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cute book. I laughed out loud quite a bit. Maybe a little corny for me. I thought at first it I was dealing with summer before college characters and then later realized they were still in high school - ehh - made it a little less realistic/enjoyable for me. I tend to like more mature YA romances. If the characters are younger, I prefer the romance to be secondary to a bigger plot item. But that's just my preference as I'm older and probably not the target audience. I loved the MC, Reece, but I...more

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Jul 06, 2012 BookHookup rated it 4 of 5 stars

You know that awesome moment when you pick up a book by an author you love and then you just devour it? Yeah, me too! I started Dante’s Girl on a flight home and found that I couldn’t put it down…even as I waited for my luggage, sat in the cab on the way home or put my key in the lock (which made actually opening the door quite difficult).

Sweet baby monkeys…this is a fun read! It’s a romantic story you can fall in love with pure and simple. An exotic location, a super swoon-worthy boy, a spunky...more You know that awesome moment when you pick up a book by an author you love and then you just devour it? Yeah, me too! I started Dante’s Girl on a flight home and found that I couldn’t put it down…even as I waited for my luggage, sat in the cab on the way home or put my key in the lock (which made actually opening the door quite difficult).

Sweet baby monkeys…this is a fun read! It’s a romantic story you can fall in love with pure and simple. An exotic location, a super swoon-worthy boy, a spunky girl and a little adventure…what’s not to love?

We know Courtney for books that are filled with mythology and this is quite a departure. I’m not sure why she chose to venture in this direction but I’m awfully glad she did. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because it was a light contemporary read amongst all the paranormal and dystopian books that have been filling my TBR lately. But, more likely, I enjoyed it because I fell in love with the characters and it put a smile on my face.

Reece is so real. She’s witty and smart and sassy. She has a wonderful inner voice that, my like most of us, keeps reminding her that some of her thoughts are ridiculously crazy. Dante is just that perfect dream boyfriend. He’s good-looking, sweet, sensitive and “complicated”. “Complicated how?” you ask? Well, he’s the son of a prime minister, has security following him at all times, friends who can be overwhelming and his life has already been planned out for him. The expectations of him are high and his commitment to his family is strong. Enter a girl who changes his outlook and you’ve got the makings of an interesting situation. In truth, the secondary characters were really just that. They were there to help move the story along. But, there’s a very interesting twist with these characters…one that sets up what will be a great second book!

Now, I know some of you will say that it’s a typical girl meets boy love story. And, in some ways that’s true. But, as usual, Courtney’s writing flows effortlessly and lures you into the book, making you feel like part of the story. She speaks to the girl in all of us who longs for her dreams to come true but can’t quite believe it when they do.

If you can open up your heart, remember what it’s like to fall in love for the first time and embrace a story that just makes you feel good, then go ahead and pick up this book. Trust me, you won’t be sorry!(less)

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Jun 25, 2012 Melissa Maxwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was very good and I am waiting for the sequel even thought the book was just published. Reese meets Dante at the airport by accidentally bumping into him. On their flight something happens and she is whisked to an island in the Mediterranean. Dante is infatuated with her from the start but family obligations stop him from pursuing it at first. She is convinced to stay the summer and intern at his family olive farm. Their relationship grows into love but it is no rainbow and puppy dogs...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Allyson Rida rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bought

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Review also on my blog: http://chillinwithbooks.blogspot.com/

Plot:

Dante's Girl is officially the chick-lit-liest YA book I've ever read.

This story is mostly about how Dante and Reece's relationship grow as they fall in love. I'm not a super big fan of romance, but I do enjoy it, a little. However, I do feel bored at times, because Reece keeps telling me how blue Dante's eyes are, how much she loves Dante, and after you've read about 300 pages of that, it gets annoying....more

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Jul 28, 2012 Christina Madison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, 2011-2012

Full review here: http://zodiacbookreviews.blogspot.com...

Reece Ellis is on her way to board the airplane that will take her to London for the summer when she literally bumps into Dante Giliberti. Turns out they're both on the same flight, but as they are preparing to take off, another plane explodes! Thinking it might have been a terrorist attack, Dante and his security team exit the plane taking Reece with them. That's when she finds out who Dante really is: the son of the Prime Minister is Ca...more Full review here: http://zodiacbookreviews.blogspot.com...

Reece Ellis is on her way to board the airplane that will take her to London for the summer when she literally bumps into Dante Giliberti. Turns out they're both on the same flight, but as they are preparing to take off, another plane explodes! Thinking it might have been a terrorist attack, Dante and his security team exit the plane taking Reece with them. That's when she finds out who Dante really is: the son of the Prime Minister is Caberra and heir to the Giliberti Olives billionaire family.

When you're (happily) stranded in a paradise country with a gorgeous guy and his "epic hotness," is love enough when everything is working to keep you apart? Will Reece be strong enough to protect her heart?

OhMyGosh, I loved Dante's Girl! There is something about airport meetings that I find irresistible. I love the anticipation of finding out what will happen to the couple. And then there is the chance meeting that is just so romantic.

Reece is a down-to-earth Kansas girl. There is nothing I didn't like about her. What I loved most about Reece is that once she gives her heart to someone she doesn't accept anything less than what she deserves. She will not stay with someone who does not love her back. Reece has a great sense of humor, too. Her internal ranting and hysterics were so hilarious--I was laughing throughout almost the entire book.

Every girl at some point in their life wishes to be whisked away by Prince Charming. For Reece, that prince happens to be Dante Giliberti. Dante has princely charm and good looks, a great sense of humor, and he's even chivalrous. At one point, Dante defends Reece after learning that one of his friends bruised her arm. But like many princes, Dante's only real flaw is that he feels the need to please his father in everything, even if it makes him unhappy. This flaw in Dante causes Reece quite a bit of heartache, but she also can't deny the truth in his words when he tells her that he loves her.

While the romance is sweet and heart-wrenching, there's also a bit of mystery and suspense. When Dante's friend, Nate, is sen talking to a boy named Vincent from the farmlands of Caberra, Reece knows right away that something isn't right. Whatever the plan is, Reece is caught in the cross hairs and in the aftermath is evacuated and taken back to her parents. The question of what happened to Dante and if she'll ever see him again you'll just have to read Dante's Girl to find out!(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, ya

GENRE: YA Contemporary
THEME: Romance / Drama
RECEIVED: Received for Kismet Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Dante’s Girl brought out the sappy and emotional girly side out of me and I absolutely adored this book. This story is like a modern day fairy tale, girl meets boy, boy gets girl out of a bad situation and they fall in love. But there is always something that is keeping them apart. I love these kinds of stories and can read this book over and over again.

Dante’s Girl fol...more GENRE: YA Contemporary
THEME: Romance / Drama
RECEIVED: Received for Kismet Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Dante’s Girl brought out the sappy and emotional girly side out of me and I absolutely adored this book. This story is like a modern day fairy tale, girl meets boy, boy gets girl out of a bad situation and they fall in love. But there is always something that is keeping them apart. I love these kinds of stories and can read this book over and over again.

Dante’s Girl follow Kansas native Reese as she is boarding a flight to visit her very secretive and workaholic dad in London. She runs straight into the beautiful and god like boy Dante, who later on gets her out of a scary situation. Thus he randomly whisks her away to his home in Caberra where she discovers not only is he charming but he’s the son of the Prime Minister of Caberra. Reese begins to fall for this boy but there are many things that stand in the way of getting closer to him.

Reese is definitely Cinderella, she comes from an average family and is brought into Dante’s bow tie wearing world. I love how she is so down to earth and really just is amazed with her new surroundings. She isn’t perfect and makes some mistakes but in the end she’s just like any girl who is reading this book. I liked how she didn’t become uptight being brought into Dante’s world, she befriends a girl who like her is sweet and adventurous.

Dante is the prince charming and looks like a Greek god, as described in the book. I found him very kind and really accepted everyone, unfortunately he was blind to the fact that people around him were not what they seemed and he couldn’t see the bad in anyone. I loved his connection to Reese, how he felt that she was his new path and wanted to break free from what has been planned for him. The romance between the two was sweet, innocent and felt real.

The best part of the story besides the romance was there is an interesting mystery plot and conspiracy that’s an important side story. The readers go along with Reese as she slowly figures out what is going on and who is behind it.

Overall I really enjoyed this love story, it had romance, mystery and some really great scene between the main characters. My only issue was that at some points I felt Dante really needed to grow up and he also at some points where he was a major snob, but I guess you could say that how he was raised. In the end I felt this was a fun summer read and anyone and everyone would enjoy this. Plus the descriptions about Caberra are absolutely beautiful and it makes you want to visit! I highly recommend this fun romantic young adult novel.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with romance and mystery, fans of Stephanie Perkins Anna and the Fench Kiss and Jennifer Echols Such a Rush will love Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole.
(less)

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Oct 06, 2012 Anesha †Curious & Obsessive Bookworm† rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: opposite-attracts, summer-romance

Sigh. My only regret is that this book is over. Took me a couple hours and the ride felt like a lifetime of enjoyment yet all in on e breath too short go be an enjoyment.

Dante is such a likable person. And his personality is even more likable. You can tell that he is a really dependable person and protects those that he cares for without hesitation even if it means putting his own feelings aside (in relation to his dad). The decisions he makes aggravates you at time but given his situation you c...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Alexandra george rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: incredible-books

This might just be my new favourite book in the ya contemporary genre.
It is not so superficially written as the synopsis above would have you believe.
It is a sweet, fluffy love story about a girl who falls in love with a modern prince. It has the best from the clean romance section and the best of contemporary fiction.

Bothe Reece and Dante are characters that grow on the reader. They are perfectly likeable, realistic teens to begin with, but they also change a lot during the course of the stor...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pub-date-2012, read-in-2012

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: This book is not what I expected, but I liked it well enough. From reading the description, I thought Dante and Reece would be on their own, trying to make it home when all normal modes of transportation are shut down by a catastophic volcano. I thought they would face the elements, hunger, and chaos with only each other to rely on and trust. Rereading the Goodreads description, I can see how I thought that would be the story.

Okay, so this wasn't that nov...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Kayla (Ramblings of a Book Junkie) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-author-or-publisher, arc

Coming into Dante's Girl I expected a fun and light summer read. What I did not expect was an amazing read that had me wanting more. This book seemed to play with my emotions-in a good way and had surprises peaking up on every corner. Dante's girl is all about growing, becoming who you are, and realizing love is all that matters.

The characters in this story are fresh and sweet with problems-like any other human. Reece seemed like your typical girl, besides the fact she fell in love with the son...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Sarah (Catching Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a really cute summer read! I was surfing through Amazon last week and I saw this book..so I decided to check it out and buy it. I am really glad that I did..definitely a nice summer contemporary book!

I'm a huge fan of books with international boys (especially because of the accents!) and the setting of this book was gorgeous! The plot of this book was too sweet and really was a roller coaster ride of emotions. I was definitely cheering for Dante and Reece the moment they met at the airport...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Jenna Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Witty and romantic! I really enjoyed reading this novel. i had lots of gushing and butterflies in my stomach. At the same time, I also experience a few heart aches. This novel is not to be missed.

Reece was supposed to take a summer vacation in London with his father, then an unexpected accident happen and next thing she knows, she's going to a country called CAberra. I know! The first thought I had when 'Caberra' was mentioned was, where is that?! Of course, it could be fiction or it is a real p...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Farrah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Wow, wow, wow!!!
That was so good, I'm speechless. Dante's Girl was incredibly, amazingly brilliant! I went into this expecting an average contemporary romance, but it was so much better than that.

First, I LOVED the setting. The descriptions were rich and detailed. I really felt like I could see this lush paradise, that I was truly there in Caberra. It was brilliantly done and I have to applaud to author for drawing ou...more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Wow, wow, wow!!!
That was so good, I'm speechless. Dante's Girl was incredibly, amazingly brilliant! I went into this expecting an average contemporary romance, but it was so much better than that.

First, I LOVED the setting. The descriptions were rich and detailed. I really felt like I could see this lush paradise, that I was truly there in Caberra. It was brilliantly done and I have to applaud to author for drawing out such a gorgeous setting.

The characters were all fun, each and every one.
Reece was hilarious. She tended to be accident prone and therefore embarrassed herself a few times. I actually liked that, it made her seem much more real. She constantly dropped sarcastic comments that had me laughing out loud-literally. But she was also smart and kind and caring. She was very likable, a truly lovely character.

Dante was so freaking hot, I don't even know what to do with myself. I so wish he were real, just so that I could have the assurance that guys like him exist. Because not only did he have godly beauty, but he was also kind, smart, caring, and sweeter than sugar. Girls, he will steal your heart within the first 20 pages and have you wrapped around his fingers withing 50. His one fatal flaw is his inability to stand up to people's expectations of him. But he tries for Reece's sake. Seriously, he was so ridiculously perfect that just thinking about him makes me speechless. As you can obviously tell, I ADORED Dante. And it definitely didn't hurt that I already thought Dante was a hot name :)

The other characters were just as great. Mia and Gavin were hilarious. Both were fun characters. Becca, Reece's friend, was less likable. But a solid character nonetheless. Even the antagonists were interesting and well drawn out.

The story was so cute. It was sweet and adorable and just puts a smile on your face. The plot moves swiftly, never dragging. There's a surprise towards the end, when you find out who was behind the various accidents that occur throughout the story. I definitely didn't expect that particular twist. The ending was perfect, just perfect.

As you can see, I loved Dante's Girl. It is officially my favorite contemporary romance. I loved every part of it.

5/5

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Lexie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Prelim Review: This is very much like the teen romances I read back in the day. Which isn't a negative thing at all, but refreshing. There's a slightly deeper mystery, that's easy to puzzle out once the player(s) are revealed, but this was just a fun, relaxing read perfect for the beach.

I wasn't always a fan of Dante or Reece honestly. Dante was just too polished one moment and too angst-ridden the next. Reece spent what seems like a good chunk of book convinced she is far too inferior to even L...more

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About Courtney Cole

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could.

She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds.

Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds).

Courtney lives in quiet subu...more

More about Courtney Cole...

Books by Courtney Cole

Confessions of an Alli Cat (The Cougar Chronicles, #1)

Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga, #1)

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy, #1)

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Quotes from Dante's Girl

“Life is full of kinks. And the great thing about kinks? They eventually work themselves out.” — 27 people liked it

“I squint my eyes and glare at him.
“I don’t have a crush on Quinn anymore.”
He raises a golden eyebrow.
“No?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Why is that?”
I stare at him long and hard, trying to decide what to say. Should I be downright, painfully honest? I’ve always found that the best way to be, so I nod.
“Two words.”
He waits.
“Dante. Giliberti.”
I hear him suck in his breath and I smile. Sometimes, honesty is refreshing and so very worth it.
“Me?” He sounds so surprised, as though he doesn’t know that he is practically a living breathing Adonis. I nod.
“You.”
He studies me again and I fight the need to fidget as I wait for his reaction.
After a minute of nerve-wracking silence, he finally answers.
“So, will you keep the bracelet?”
I nod.
“Can I kiss you again?”
I nod.
So he does.” — 25 people liked it

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