Dante's Girl

I absolutely adored this book! It was an amazing read to add to

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!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I really loved this story. It was very sweet and swoony and it r

I really loved this story. It was very sweet and swoony and it really made you feel something. I think Reece was a great character and I think she showed the best qualities of an American in her character. The mystery and surprise element on the novel was really well done and had me flipping pages to see what was going to happen at the end. I really enjoy it when I actually feel what the characters are feeling and I really felt it with this novel. I am definitely going to check out more by Courtney Cole =)

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Top of the list!

This is a very fun love story. Every girls dream come true! It's definitely one you want to put on your reading list!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Funny, refreshing and sweetly romantic!

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't even in the same atmosphere let alone the same "league". While Reece's future involves finishing her senior year and then heading to college, Dante's future has been planned for him since the moment he was born, right down to who he will marry one day. But a freak accident that forces them to spend time together will test the boundaries of love, life and old-world traditions. Reece and Dante will learn just how important it is to live the life YOU want because you only get one. They'll also discover whether or not love really is all that matters when your lives are worlds apart. This really was a FUN read! There's a "Cinderella" element but it's not over done. Reece is down to earth and funny. Her ability to laugh at herself is what makes her so likable and her internal conversations are HILARIOUS! I really liked Mia - she's straightforward and isn't afraid to be herself. Then there's Dante... *sighs* This "beautiful boy" not only has good looks but he has some beautiful manners and a great sense of humor too which is what made him so appealing for me. He certainly isn't perfect but he does his best to make the right choices concerning the people he cares about.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OhMyWord. I loved Dante's Girl! From the moment I met Reece, I

OhMyWord. I loved Dante's Girl!

From the moment I met Reece, I adored her, much like Dante. And really, what's not to love? Reece is as natural and realistic as they come. She was friendly, open, funny, and I honestly had no idea what she would say at any given moment. Her inner freak-outs were hysterical. Her honesty was refreshing. The girl is straight-up no BS. She'll do anything for boy she loves, but she will not play games or settle for less than what she deserves.

"He's either going to be true to me or we're not going to happen. I love him, but I deserve to be loved back." (ebook, 63%)
What a fantastic girl! I wishwe had more characters like Reece. She is truly a force to be reckoned with.


As for Dante, the object of Reece's affection. Dante isn't a Prince, but he's close enough. He's that dreamy boy we've all dreamed about (mine was Prince William), but sadly, 99.9% of us never find. He's courteous, generous, loyal. Did I mention that he's Adonis-style handsome?

" 'You're the handsomest person in the world,' I announce. 'I don't care if it's a word or not. You are it, one way or another.'" (ebook, 45%)
Dante's only flaw is trying to please those he loves, even when it makes him unhappy. I can think of worse things. Dante is determined to be with Reece. He'll go to whatever lengths it takes to make her happy.

How beautifully romantic is it to imagine being taken to a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean, amongst centuries-old architecture, olive groves, and the sea? Courtney Cole did a wonderful job of painting a gorgeous picture. The rolling hills, the winding roads, the sand... I almost felt as if I were there. It was like a mini-vacay for my brain.

Dante's Girl was such a fun, fast-paced read. It's actually the perfect story for a lazy summer afternoon. And the story, like I said, it appealed to the girl in me who always imagined being whisked a way by a Prince (or the son of a Prime Minister). But you know what else? It simply appealed to me as the lover of an awesome story. Dante's Girl was funny, it was romantic, and it was a true delight. I can't wait to read the next installment of The Paradise Diaries.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hot

Love it hottttttttt! YOLO!

good

I really loved the book. The pain and the struggle of old world customs to modern day but I think the ending could have been longer. Maybe there is another book. I hope so because this needs it. All in all the book was good I read it in one sitting.

Reece is not overly excited about the summer ahead of her.  She

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 they try to deal with the many complications that continue to develop. However, as a teen age girl Reece can only wonder if their love is enough.  




I really enjoyed reading Dante's Girl.  Thank you to Lakehouse Press and NetGalley for allowing me the read.

Dante's Girl has it all - drama, romance and amazing characters.

Dante's Girl has it all - drama, romance and amazing characters...

Reece is on her way to visit her father in England for the summer when she bumps into a tall dark and very handsome gent with, of course, the perfect smile and accent and knows that she will never see him again. That is until she discovers that he, Dante, is on her flight and they begin to chat before take-off... when a horrifying accident occurs and the airport begins to shut down, Dante is being taken away by men in dark suits and he asks Reece to go with him. Against her better judgement, but following her gut-instinct, she goes with Dante, not knowing at the time, that she will be off on the biggest adventure of her life: Dante is the Prime Minister of Caberra, Greece, son.

I adored Reece and her all-american ways, her sarcasm and wit. She was realistic with every situation that came her way and was quick to step-up when she needed to. But lets not forget, Reece is also a teen who thinks Dante is beautiful, and is swooning over him big time - add a little jealousy, insecurity and a few hysterics, and we have one very well rounded, likable and relatable girl.
And just like Reece, I instantly got caught up with the beauty of the island, the prime minister's castle and of course, Dante.
Dante is handsome and charming and so smitten with the lovely Reece, we can definitely see why Reece is so alluring to him - Reece is like no other person he has met before. It is so refreshing for him to be around someone who doesn't know exactly who he is, what he stands for, who he is suppose to be... Reece is someone that he can let his guard down and just be himself. He doesn't have to worry about her judging him or having any high expectations from him. But at the same time, Reece is making things difficult for him too. He is torn between doing what he thinks his father wants him to do and what he really wants to do.

Can Dante be who he really wants to be without disappointing his father? His country?
Can Reece let go of her fears and believe in the fairy-tale that she's been living in?
Is it possible that a farm-girl and a (kinda) prince be together???

There were other aspects to the story that I felt were drowned out by the romance. While other parts where so obvious. And the ending was quite predictable. It still made for a fun fast paced and light-hearted read that I know I would enjoy reading again.

I will definitely be keeping my eye on Courtney Cole and her next novels in The Paradise Diaries Series, Mia's Heart and the third one that is yet to be titled but will be released in 2013! 

WOW

Best book i have read all year!!!

Dante's Girl has a lot more than a sweet fairytale romance and d

Dante's Girl has a lot more than a sweet fairytale romance and dreams can come true for a country girl and a handsome prince. I don't read too many Chick-Lit, but this one grabbed my heart, and I couldn't put it down. I also keep hearing that song "Jesse’s Girl" in my head, except / mentally sing “Dante's Girl”. Courtney Cole has written a beautiful romance with a more intriguing MatureYA/New Adult story instead of the fluff I normally read in this type of genre. I fell in love with Reece's strong, witty personality and her country girl swear phrase: “Holy Sweet Baby Monkey”. Also loved the gorgeous Greek godlike, strong, and confident Dante. Dante's Girl is one Chick-Lit I would definitely read again and I'm so reading the sequel Mia's Heart in The Paradise Diaries series.

Reece is on her way home to Kansas when she runs, literally, into Prince Charming at the airport. But it's not till he sits down next to her on the plane, and then she is rushed off by his bodyguards, that she finds out Dante is the gorgeous son of a Mediterranean Prime Minister who’s just sweeps her off to his Greece paradise, Caberra to protect her. Reece finds out that things work a little differently in royal families than her American farming family. Like marriage, that are pre-arranged by parents. And there's also other things going on in this palace with one of Dante’s friends, and she’s got to find out what he’s up to before something bad happens to the prince that she’s falling in love with.

Dante's Girl is a unique different kind of fairytale with a modern day romance twist, where the Kansas girl saves the handsome prince, with a suspenseful mystery, drama and humor. Reece is trying to get her own happily ever after with her handsome prince. I recommend Dante's Girl as a fantastic read.

Love To Read

It was an okay read. Didn't bond with the characters. Felt the story was just a story and it didn't make me feel a part ofthis journey. This ebook would have beena great read at B&N for free.

Dante's Girl sounds like a cute contemporary with my favorite su

Dante's Girl sounds like a cute contemporary with my favorite sub-genre: foreign country setting. Reece is boarding a plane from Amsterdam to london, where she will spend the summer with her father. She bumps into this ultra hot guy, Dante, and she is smitten. Turns out he's on her plane and when a plane on the runway gets burnt Dante takes her with him and his security agents (huh?) to a small island. Apparently he is the island's prime minister's son. I personally found it so random that she would just go with him. Have you ever heard of thugs? mafia? kidnappers? human trafficking? How can she just up and go on an airplane to a whole different place without even letting her parents or anyone else know. Talk about being level headed and responsible eh?
I liked Dante, he was such a gentleman but their romance developed too fast. So when a childhood friend of Dante shows up and basically takes out her claws at Reece, I was happy. I thought we would get a bit of drama with this new addition but nothing much happens. They liked each other from the beginning and shows it to each other, so any other addition in the mix felt a bit too forced in my opinion. Also her suddenly ending up working at Dante's family's olive ranch was so out of the blue. This can not ever happen in real life, the circumstances felt a bit absurd and I rolled my eyes a ton and cracked up a lot. There was also a conspiracy being plotted thrown in the book and I felt that was really unnecessary. However I have to say, I really liked the ending of Dante's Girl, that is something that I can believe! also Courtney's writing was hilarious but Reece felt a bit childish at times. What 16 year old says Sweet Baby Monkeys instead of Oh my god? or *gasp*? I am saying all these things I've had issues with, and while they were a lot, I still ended up reading the book and enjoying it. While it is not a memorable contemporary, it was still a good read overall.

Love it

Love the book :)

I truly appreciate the fact that the author had great imaginatio

I truly appreciate the fact that the author had great imagination and
put a lot effort into creating an exotic setting where the story is set.
The Island of Caberra seemed believable but I was kept wondering why did
the author had to use Western names for her Caberran characters, except
for Elena? If Caberra is a part of the US or Australia or the UK, that
wouldn’t be a problem. I expected names like Paolo, Eduardo or Magdalena
but maybe I had expected too much. Still. I couldn’t connect with the
main character, Reece, despite how outgoing she is. And many times I
found her insecurity issues (in regards of her relationship with Dante)
was annoying to the point that I just wanted to shake her and tell her
not worry too much about Dante. And Dante, the handsome Dante. I still
couldn’t figure out the kind of male character he is because he seems
very much predictable. Nonetheless, I am all excited to find out what’s
becoming of the two of them in the second installment of the series. I
had serious issues with the narration style, the way Reece’s voice was
presented but nonetheless, the story line got me hooked up because I
simply loved cute contemporary teen romance. Despite some of the things
that didn’t work for me in this book, honestly speaking I didn’t regret
reading this book. AT. ALL. It’s was truly a delightful read that irk
and excite all at the same time. Recommended to all YA contemporary
romance fans.

Oh 'sweet baby monkeys'! This was a really good story! I liked r

Oh 'sweet baby monkeys'! This was a really good story! I liked reading and wondering what would it would be like/feel like to be in the fictional Mediterranean Island of Caberra. There were definitely good descriptions of this country, and I felt like I was with the characters in the various spots they were at, including a magnificent Palace. The story itself was pretty good. A Kansas girl meets or rather unexpectedly bumps into the son of the Prime Minister of Caberra. That guy's name is Dante, and he was really fun to read...really. Anyways, from that moment they meet, there is definitely this spark that electrifies the rest of the pages in the story, and I did not want to stop reading; it was really good, all the way to the end. There are occasional obstacles such as a girl named Elena, and a suspicious friend of Dante's, Nate, but other than that, this was a good summer read, that I definitely recommend!

Sweet and sassy, this book is awesome. I love a good heart-felt

Sweet and sassy, this book is awesome. I love a good heart-felt romantic. Ms. Cole knew exactly how to write it and how to capture my heart.

This book is fluffy but the good kind. It's starts off as two strangers in the middle of chaos being thrown together by fate. I like who easily these two fell in step with each other. The easily made each other laugh, smile and taught each other some great life lessons.

The plot itself is typical yet different. The plot flows nicely along with some great plot twist and turns. Like adding small cat fights as well as parent pressure. Choosing the one you love is not always the easy choice yet in the end, it is worth it. With all the choices the characters make, it easy to step into their shoes and become one with them.

Nevertheless, the romantic aspects of the book really got me. I loved the sustaining of the infusion of what you want and what others want you to do. Taking that next step, is brave and impressive. I admired this element of the book so much.

Dante's Girl is an great romantic book. The kind that fills you heart with love and joy. Ms. Courtney achieves a comfortable balance between all the emotions of love, confusion, and anger. Impressive and witty, Dante's Girl is awesome!

There are so many things I liked about this book. The primary re

There are so many things I liked about this book. The primary reason I liked it...it was just easy to read. I loved the humor, romance, and the characters.


Pretty much from the first sentence, I liked Reece. She's funny, smart, confident, but also sensitive. Overall, just a likable character. Another reason I liked her was that she wasn't overly impressed or intimidated by Dante's family or his social status. She really fell for him as a person.


Dante is a total sweetheart. I loved how he tried to comfort Reece on the plane at the beginning of the book. Obviously he was attracted to her, but it shows that he has good moral character as well. I felt like he really worked hard at making Reece feel comfortable in his world. Dante fell for Reece pretty hard. I loved watching them fall in love.


The supporting characters were all strong. I really liked Mia. There are plans to continue the series with some of the supporting characters and I really look forward to seeing what happens with each one of them.


The overall story was very sweet. There are some more serious situations, but they fit the story's overall theme. I appreciated the fact that even though this is a YA novel, there is a lot of truth in what happens in a teenage romance. It made their relationship much more believable and not so fairytale-like.


I would definitely recommend this book. It's appropriate for the 15 and older age group. If you are a fan of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series or a PG-13 version of The Princess Diaries, you would love this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the series develops from here.

Okay this was an adorably cute and incredibly frustrating novel

Okay this was an adorably cute and incredibly frustrating novel at the same time. But it worked! Reece is a girl who is sure of herself. Her inner dialogue is so much fun to read as she tries to talk herself through embarrassing or uncomfortable situations. And she really finds herself in those when she's stranded at an airport and then whisked away with Dante also known as Apollo in her head in a helicopter to his island nation off the coast of Greece. There, instead of spending a summer in dreary London with awkward conversations with her dad, she's invited to stay and intern at Dante's family's olive farm.

There were times when I wished she would have slugged Dante because he seemed to be acting totally opposite of what he was telling her. And then things would make sense. That was what was frustrating. But they are so cute together and things are really serious between the two as they develop over the summer. She might fall hard for him quickly, but it builds over the summer, so no insta love.

Dante, for all his frustrating signals, is actually a very nice guy. He is very chivalrous but he is also the Prime Minister's son, sort of like the Prince of the country. Certain behaviors are expected of him, certain things have already been planned for his life and just chucking those plans isn't an option. It's difficult for Dante and Reece to understand each other's cultures and reach a happy medium for the two of them. And then, there is the danger of terrorists attacks against the Prime Minister and anyone around him. The terrorist was a little transparent but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story at all.

The writing had a nice flow to it and Reece was easy to fall for. She was amazingly resilient being away from anyone she knew and without a friend to confide in when she was confused by Dante. She was kind of like a bulldog going after what she wanted. She would not be stopped no matter what her condition. I really liked that she didn't sit and whine when she was upset about Dante. She was really strong and stood up for herself even if she didn't expect it of herself. It would be really hard not to like Reece. She's a girl from Kansas stuck in the world of European royalty and winging it with the best of 'em!

If you love a great romance between two very different but well matched people, then this is the YA contemporary for you! You will absolutely love the country of Caberra and the people, or most of them.
And you will love Reece and Dante's story! Lots of fun! I highly recommend it!

This is for the older YA crowd as there are mature themes in it.

A fun teen romance

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 were very amusing. She seems very real. She's not perfect and has her dorky moments. I think that teen girls will be able to relate to her. She's a very likable character. Dante is very likable as well. He's sweet, charming, handsome – any teen girl's dream guy. Dante and Reese have great chemistry. Their relationship develops pretty slowly, but it's very sweet.

The writing is great, and the story flows smoothly. There's some adventure/suspenseful moments that add to the interest of the book. The setting was awesome – it's definitely a place that I would like to visit. It was interesting reading about the cultural differences.

I've read that the next book in this series won't center around Reece and Dante, but I hope they make an appearance. This is the first book I've read by Courtney Cole, but I'm sure it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to the next book in The Paradise Diaries series, and I will have to try her other books as well.