Dante's Girl: The Paradise Diaries, #1

By Courtney Cole

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 not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac. 
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish. 
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.  
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them. 

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference? 

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.  

My heart just might be crazy. 
  
*** 

Dante's Girl is the first in The Paradise Diaries. It is followed by Mia's Heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lakehouse Press, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9780615660691

Courtney Cole

Courtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.  She was born and raised in rural Kansas, lived most of her adult life near Lake Michigan, and has recently relocated to Florida where she writes beneath palm trees.  

Book preview

Dante’s Girl

By Courtney Cole

A Paradise Diaries Novel

(Book One)

Copyright © 2012 Courtney Cole

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this novel are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of author or publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the author or publisher. If you are reading this book and you did not purchase it or it was not given to you directly by the author/publisher, then this book is pirated.  Piracy is a crime.  Please delete it and support the author by purchasing it from an authorized distributor.

Dedication

To Gunner.

Because I want you to know that

anything is possible.

Always.

And I love you.

Always.

Chapter One

It is impossible to look hot in the dingy fluorescent light of an airport bathroom. Or as my best friend Becca would say, hawt.

At this particular moment, I’m not hot or hawt.  I make this revelation as I vigorously scrub at my arms and face and then use a wet paper towel under my pits. 

And what is it about peeing in an airport toilet ten times in a day that makes you feel so completely scummy?  I glance around at the crumpled tissues strewn about on the scuffed floor and the dirty toilets peeking from behind half-closed doors and cringe.  That answer is clearly ‘because of the germs’. Ack. 

Trying not to think about it, I clean up the best I can.  After running a brush through my hair, I stick a piece of gum in my mouth, apply a thin layer of lip gloss and call it good.  I glance into the mirror and cringe.  It isn’t good enough, but it will have to do.  Very soon, I’ll put this dreadful four hour layover in Amsterdam behind me and before I even know it, I’ll be in London.

With my father.

For the summer.

It will be torture.

Just shoot me now.

And it’s not because I don’t love him, because I do.  My reluctance doesn’t stem from lack of love.  It comes from the deep-seeded fact that Alexander Ellis doesn’t understand me.  He never has and he never will. It’s something that I’ve made my peace with and I’m not angry about it.

I’m his only child and he works his life away as some top-secret agent for the NSA.  His job is so secret that I don’t even know what he does. In my head, I imagine him jumping from helicopters and saving starving children in war torn areas.  But in reality, I know he probably sits behind a desk and analyzes information from a satellite stream or a taped telephone conversation. I’m pretty sure that’s what the NSA does, anyway.  They aren’t the cool kind of spies.

Also, he isn’t exactly sure what to do with a daughter.  I was supposed to have been a boy. Seventeen years ago, sonograms apparently weren’t as absolute as they are today, because the technician told my parents that she was 99.9% sure that I was a boy.  They painted my nursery blue and picked out my name and everything.  I can only imagine the shocked horror on my father’s face when I was born with lady parts.

Regardless, I know he loves me.  Even though he willingly gave my mother full custody when they divorced years ago, I know he only did it because he works overseas so much and he isn’t exactly sure how to raise a girl.  He does okay.  But then again, I do have some reason to believe that he still pretends that I’m a boy, just to make it easier on himself.  It’s fairly easy to do since I still have the boy name that they originally picked out. 

With my head down, I trudge back out into the congested halls of Schiphol airport.  Weary travelers bustle around me and I shift my bags so that I can pull the stubborn strap of my tank top back over my shoulder where it belongs.  As I do, I crash into someone with enough force that my bags go flying out of my hands and scatter onto the ground under people’s feet.

Son of a – I blurt before I even think.

Buck? a male voice offers helpfully. 

Looking up, I stare into the most unique and beautiful shade of blue that a pair of eyes has ever possessed. Of that I am certain.  Blue just shouldn’t be that multi-faceted and twinkling.  There should be a law or something. 

Or at least a warning label: 

Caution, these eyes may cause female knees to tremble.

Before I can help it, I scan the rest of him.  Sweet Mary.  This guy had lucked out in the gene department.  Tall, slender, beautiful.  Honey colored hair with natural highlights that can even catch the crappy airport light, broad shoulders, slim hips, long legs.  He is tan and golden with a bright, white smile. 

I am surely staring at Apollo, the god of the sun.  Probably with my mouth hanging open, which makes me realize that I must look like an idiot- the personification of what foreigners think Americans to be.  I snap my mouth closed.

I’m sorry, I say quickly, trying to still my racing heart.  Did I run into you?

Only a bit, Apollo says gentlemanly, with a shrug of his strong shoulders.  I can tell he is strong even through his shirt sleeves, which are snug across his toned biceps.  Sweet baby monkeys. 

How can someone run into someone else only by a bit? I ask with a nervous smile as I kneel to retrieve my stuff. 

Please don’t let him smell me right now, I silently pray to any god who cares to listen. I am sure that at this point in my travels, I probably smell like soiled hamster bedding. 

He bends next to me and picks up the contents of my spilled purse. He smells like sunshine.  And rain.  And everything beautiful that I can think of.  I try not to cringe as his fingers grasp a tampon and slide it back inside my bag.  He doesn’t even flinch, he just casually continues to pick up my things like he’s used to handling feminine hygiene products.

Oh, it’s fairly easy, really, he answers.  He has an exotic sounding accent that I can’t place.  At least, when you’re not looking where you’re going.  My head snaps up and he laughs. 

I’m kidding, he assures me as he extends an arm to me. Even his hand is graceful.  I gulp as his fingers curl around mine.  You can bump into me any time you’d like.

Thanks, I mumble.  I think.

I’m Dante, he tells me, his impossibly blue eyes still twinkling. 

I’m Reece, I answer with a sigh, already anticipating his reaction. Yes, I know it’s a boy’s name.

You’re not a boy, Dante observes.  Most definitely not a boy.

Is that a note of appreciation in his voice?  Surely not. I look like a bedraggled Shih Tzu. 

No, I’m not, I agree.  I just don’t know that my dad ever got that memo. 

I look past Dante and find that he is alone.  He seems to be about my age so that’s a little unusual in these circumstances.  My parents have flown me as an ‘unaccompanied minor’ across the ocean for years, but other people’s parents are usually a little squeamish about that. 

I’m sure that fact hasn’t escaped him, Dante tells me in amusement.  Why do his eyes have to sparkle so much?  I usually go for brown-eyed guys.  But this boy is most certainly making me re-think that stance.

That’s debatable, I sigh.  Realizing that we are impeding the busy pedestrian traffic like a dam in a rushing river, I smile.

Thank you very much for helping me pick up my things.  Safe travels!

I turn on my heel and pivot, walking quickly and what I hope is confidently in the other direction.  Hitching my heavy purse up on my shoulder, I fight the urge to turn and look at him.  Something about him is practically mesmerizing.

But I don’t look.  I keep walking, one foot in front of the other.  When I reach the moving walkway, I hop on and focus ahead of me, eyes straight forward.

Don’t look back.

Don’t look back.

Don’t look back.

Regardless of my silent chanting, when I step from the walkway I discreetly check behind me.  Apollo is nowhere to be seen.  With a sigh, I continue on to the British Airways terminal.  Only three short hours left until take-off.  Plugging my earbuds into my ears, I settle into a seat and close my eyes.

* * *

Excuse me, Reece?

Before I even open my eyes, I know the sexy accent is coming from Apollo.  I can feel his epic hotness emanating through my eyelids.  I only hope that I haven’t been drooling in my sleep.

Yes? I ask as nonchalantly as I can while my eyes pop open.  I try to discreetly smooth my hair down. In my head, I envision myself as Chewbacca from Star Wars and wince.

Dante hands me my phone, which must’ve fallen from my lap as I napped. 

Are you on the flight to London? he grins.  They’re boarding priority travelers now.  I just thought you should know.

Yikes. I had slept for three hours?  In a noisy airport?  I must have been super tired.

Thank you, I reply quickly, gathering my things in a rush. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.  I’m not a priority traveler, but I probably would have slept through general boarding.  Thank you for waking me.

I glance at him as I stand up and can’t help but do a double take.  It isn’t easy to get used to his particular brand of sexy.  He is laid-back, handsome and casual, which is a formula for utter female devastation.  The impossible thing is that he doesn’t seem to realize it. He’s effortlessly sophisticated and chic.

Well, you’re awake now and that’s the important thing. Have a nice trip, Reece, Dante grins once more before he joins a group of men who are apparently waiting for him.  I was wrong, I guess.  He isn’t alone after all.  The men close around him in a tight circle and they board the plane with the other passengers with first class tickets. 

He’s on my flight.

I gulp and find a place in line with the other travelers flying coach. 

As the richer, better-dressed passengers file past us, I feel a little like a bumpkin in rumpled clothing.  Even though I travel to London every summer to visit my dad, I live in rural America the rest of the year. And all of a sudden, I feel like I am wearing a blinking neon sign proclaiming that very fact.  The clothing that seemed sophisticated to travel in this morning now seems like it was hand-made in someone’s backwoods shed. 

And it so makes sense that Apollo is in first class.  He smells like a beautiful sunrise in a wooded meadow. Oh, my gosh.  What is wrong with me? Where did that come from?  I am totally being as corny as an erectile dysfunction commercial. 

I roll my eyes at my own absurdity and hand my ticket to the heavily made-up flight attendant who is waiting to take it.  She glances at it and then at me before she stamps my passport and hands it back.

Have a nice flight, Miss Ellis, she tells me before turning her attention to the passenger behind me.

Yeah, right. 

I like flying almost as much as I like having dental work.  Or having my fingernails pulled out one by one.  Or having paper cuts sliced onto my legs and then lemon juice poured onto them.  Just about that much.

Filing down the narrow aisle through first class, I can’t help but search out Apollo.  It doesn’t take long to find him.  He is situated by the window in a wide, leather first-class seat.  He’s already covered in a warm blanket and looks like he is settling in for the hour long flight.  As I move closer to him, his eyes pop open and meet mine, the electric blue of his almost causing me to gasp aloud. 

He smiles slightly as I pass and his gaze doesn’t waver from mine. 

I find myself wishing that I could sit next to him.  Not only because of the lavish first class seats, although those would be nice too. 

But rather, there is something in the air between Dante and me.  I can feel it, an instant connection.  I can practically reach out and touch it.  I’ve never experienced chemistry like this in my life. It’s the kind that seems corny when you read about it in books, but in real life, it is anything but. It is simply electrifying.  Ripping my eyes from his, I continue down the aisle and find my seat.

Taking a deep breath, I stash my carry-on in the overhead bin and slump into the window seat, trying not to hyperventilate as my fear of flying suddenly overwhelms me while the cramped airplane closes in around me.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Repeat.

I watch the flight crew below me loading the bags into the belly of the plane.  What if they dislodge the landing gear while they are messing around down there?  What if they don’t check the systems well enough and we die in a fiery crash?  What if the metal holding the plane together rips off in the air and peels away like tissue paper?

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Repeat.

I might die. 

Seriously.

I listen impatiently as the flight attendants give their safety spiel and motion toward the exits like they are NFL referees with dumb tiny scarves around their necks.  I just need for them to get on with it.  Just let us taxi out and take-off and then I will be perfectly fine once we are in the air.  My hands get clammy and my ears start to roar.  Why am I such a freak?

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Repeat.

You freaking flight attendants.

Hurry.

Up.

I’m just getting ready to shove my earbuds back in to distract myself when Dante appears next to me like a savior or an angel or something of equal beauty and importance.

Is this seat taken? he smiles and I notice a dimple in his right cheek that I hadn’t noticed before.  How had I missed a dimple?

Um, not that I know of, I answer weakly, trying not to die from heart palpations.  But the seat belt sign is on. You’re not supposed to be out of your seat. 

Fabulous. Now I sound like a hall monitor with a heart problem.

Dante shrugs without seeming worried. 

I think it will be okay, he answers.  We’re not even on the runway yet.

Good point.

Can I sit here?  I’m bored up front.

I nod, my palms instantly clammier.  I hope you brought your blanket.  You won’t get much back here except for a bag of peanuts.

And now I sound like a cheap hall monitor with a heart problem. I’m presenting myself better and better by the moment.

Dante smiles yet again and sits next to me.  He brings his charming accent with him and the scent of his amazing cologne.  I take a deep breath.  He smells far better than the stale airplane air.  Far better.  I fight the urge to jump into his lap and inhale his neck, a maneuver that just might make me appear slightly insane.

You look pretty pale, he observes as he buckles up. Are you afraid to fly?

Is it that obvious? I ask quietly.  As much as I’ve flown in my lifetime, I should be used to it.  But I’m afraid that’s never going to happen.  Once I’m in the air for awhile, I’ll be fine, but until then… well, I’m terrified. I admit it.

Don’t worry, Dante tells me quietly, his voice calm and reassuring.  There’s nothing to be afraid of.  You’re more likely to get into a--

Car crash rather than die in a plane crash, I interrupt.  Yes, I know. I’ve heard.  Where are you from? I ask curiously, half out of genuine curiosity and half out of the need to distract myself.  You have the most interesting accent.

He smiles, his teeth brilliantly white.  I decide on the spot that I could watch him smile all day long.

Caberra, he answers, reminding me that I had asked a question.  It’s an island near Greece.  And you?

Like you don’t know that I’m American, I chuckle.  I know it’s written all over me.  I’m sure you’re a fan, right?

Of Americans? he raises a golden eyebrow.  Of course. I love them.  I have no reason not to.  They bring a lot of tourist dollars to Caberra.

Well, we are a land of excess, I admit.  But that’s usually what foreigners seem to hate about us.

Dante stares at me for a moment and then smiles.  Well, I can’t speak for all foreigners, but I don’t hate Americans.  And you’re not in America right now, are you?

I shake my head.  No, I am most certainly not.

Well, then.  You’re the foreigner now.  He grins and I can’t help but smile back.  He has a point.

The pilot gets on the intercom and his nasally voice drones on and on, but I am able to tune it out as I engage in conversation with a boy who is surely a direct descendent of the gods.  There is no other plausible explanation for his good looks or charm. I barely even hear the words that come out of Dante’s mouth, because I am so mesmerized by the shape of his lips as he moves them.  Pathetic, I know, but true. 

One thing about me:  I don’t lie to myself.  I might stretch the truth for my parents from time to time when necessary, but never to myself. And I’m pathetically fascinated by this boy.

Finally, the aircraft shudders a bit and noses forward and I startle, gripping the arms of my seat. My fingers turn white and I am certain that I am leaving permanent indentions in the cracked vinyl arm-rests.

Don’t worry, Dante says quietly, unpeeling one of my hands and grasping it within his own.  It will be fine.

The feel of his hand distracts me.  Strong and warm, it cups my own carefully, like he is holding something very fragile.  I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling. I only have a couple of minutes to soak it in, however.

As the plane moves down the runway in preparation for take-off, something happens.  Something isn’t right. 

Our plane rocks a little, then quivers, like it is being moved by a strong gust of wind.  I feel it a brief moment before Dante tightens his grip on my hand, a split second before light explodes from outside of my eyelids.  I open them to discover fire tearing down the runway past my window.  Before I can react or even scream, all hell breaks loose.

Chapter Two

Things start happening more quickly than I can even register, all of them occurring in a huge colorful blur.

First, it is as if things are in slow motion as I struggle to make sense of what had happened. 

Flight attendants rush around the plane as fire continues to blaze around us.  The pilot speaks into the intercom again, but I can’t hear him now because of the din in the cabin.  Everyone is chattering nervously, wondering what had just happened as sirens immediately begin to wail in the distance.  And then, when the sirens start, a hush falls over the plane.  And even in the fog of my shock and confusion, I have to give the emergency workers credit for their quick response time.

I gather up my courage and look out the window.  From the edge of the runway, half in and half out of the grassy dirt, the skeletal remains of another airplane burn.  I can see the white shell of its tail melting away and revealing the metallic bones of the aircraft.  Black, toxic smoke billow from it into the heavens but perhaps the most troubling is the absence of one thing. 

The rescue slide doesn’t emerge from the side of the plane.  The carcass is still and silent, with only grotesque, loud popping noises coming from the flames.

Oh, my god!

A woman in the back of our plane breaks the eerie silence when she starts screaming.  She cries, pointing out of her window, her hand shaking.  The people on the burning aircraft are clearly dead.  We can’t see them, but we know.  There is a pall in the air, a shocked and unspoken sentiment that ripples through every passenger on our plane.

What happened? a little boy across the aisle asks his mother. 

His mother is ghostly white, all color leached from her face as she stares outside of her window. Shaking her head grimly, she slides her plastic window-shade closed.  Glancing my way, her eyes meet mine for a scant moment, before she lowers her head.  We just witnessed a tragedy. The problem is, I’m not sure exactly what kind.  I’m not sure of anything at all.

What happened? I ask Dante frantically.  What happened to them?  Were they taking off or landing?

He peers at the wreckage.  I don’t know, he admits.  I can’t tell.

The men in suits appear out of nowhere by Dante’s elbow. 

"Come, Dante. 

Reviews for Dante's Girl

[thebumblegirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 Coleand her next novels in The Paradise Diaries Series, Mia's Heartand the third one that is yet to be titled but will be released in 2013!

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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!

[hrose2931 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[alwaysyaatheart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[emmyson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Full review to come as part of the blog tour.

*My sincere thanks to Kismet Book Tours and Courtney Cole for providing a review copy of Dante's Girl*


Book Synopsis: 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 not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.

My heart just might be crazy.

Somehow, books come along right exactly when I need them. I was desperately wanting something light, but that would be satisfying. This sounded like it would be just the thing, and it was. Perfectly light and beautifully satisfying. I was certain that I'd enjoy it, but what surprised me was just how much I did.

I found Reece to be captivating and engaging. I liked her Midwestern charm and her down-to-earth personality. I liked that she tried to play it cool with everything, but totally had an inner fangirl going on most of the time. That is SO me.

I liked that she had to put some effort into things. Nothing was just handed to her. Okay, so maybe a plane ride with Mr. Hotness was a gift from Heaven, but the rest wasn't. She actually had to DO things. Also, she wasn't 'the plain girl who never had any friends and all of a sudden is the most beloved person on the entire planet and maybe Mars too'. I can't even tell you how much I liked that bit. She had her friends, she had her enemies, and she had pretty much everyone in-between. That is so much more like real life and since this is a contemp, I feel perfectly justified in expecting bits of reality to creep through far more often than in fantasy.

Dante makes me completely firm in my resolve that I need a foreign boyfriend. I'm telling you, the foreign guys pretty much have an unbreakable lead in how to treat the ladies. (also, for the record, I speak of this through personal experience and not just books) Dante was awesome. If I'd done my book boyfriend post from earlier after I'd finished this book, I'd have included him on it. He's totally there in spirit.

I really liked the story and absolutely ADORED the setting. An island paradise in the Mediterranean? Yes, please. I felt like I was walking the same perfect beaches as Reece and Dante. I seriously could SMELL the ocean breeze! As for the story, it was perfectly paced and beautifully written. It was the perfect combination of light and serious - just exactly what this reader wanted in a story right then.

I'd totally pick this one up again and I'm planning on picking up the finished book when my budget increases. It gets 4 Eiffel Towers!

[bookwhisperer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sweet Baby MonkeysDante’s Girl is the debuting novel for The Paradise Diaries series.This was such a sweet read. Reece is just your average everyday girl. Raise in Kansas on her Grandparents farm she nothing extraordinary. Although, this summer is going to be far from normal. This is not evident right away when she runs into a very attractive young man at the airport on her way to London, but when whisked away with him as per his evacuation protocol things begin to become quite evident. Dante is far from your typical everyday boy. The son of a prime minster he is anything from typical, and as the two spend more time together they appear to have something far from ordinary themselves. This was not a stop your heart romance, but it was a very sweet and heart melting romance. Dante has been forced into a life that does not leave many choices. While Reece is an American with every opportunity and choice at her finger tips. What these two characters learn from one another will open an eternity that never seemed possible. I really enjoyed this short and sweet love story. Unfortunately, I must comment about a couple frustrations with this story. As I said before Reece is a ordinary young girl, and with that I found myself irritated with the whiny girl syndrome that appears late into the story. I am not your typical girl girl, so that was something that I had to make myself over look. Overall, this was a right start, and I look forward to following the series as it comes.~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jo~

[jennrenae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dante’s Girl by Courtney ColeARC received from Lakehouse Press via NetgalleyAVAILABLE NOWReviewed by: Middle Sis JennThe Sisters Say: Deliriously delicious—I devoured it! I have recently been on a contemporary kick, which is strange for me because there was a time I didn’t like contemporaries. Now? I can’t get enough of them, so when I saw Dante’s Girl on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. And what a great choice it was!Dante’s Girl is the perfect summer read, or the perfect weekend read, or the perfect whenever read! It’s charming, fun, and captivating—and the sweet romance will leave you with a smile. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and fun read that will leave you wanting more.This book started out with a bang—quite literally, a plane crash followed by a volcanic eruption. Talk about putting a damper on travel plans. But, those disasters spurred the perfect getaway for Reece, who is swept away by the delectable Dante, son of the Prime Minister of the perfect little island off the coast of Greece. It’s the perfect setting for a whirlwind romance to sweep you off your feet. I never got bored with this book. There are so many books today that just go on and on and on with the details, and truthfully, I don’t care about the whether the grass was lime green or green-green. It’s grass! But Courtney Cole doesn’t make those mistakes. Her book is the perfect mix of up time and down time—romance and intrigue, humor and tears.And what about the characters?I really liked Reece. At times she was a bit whiney and got on my nerves, but I liked that she didn’t let things stand in her way. Once she realized what a baby she was being, she would stand up, brush herself off, and get back to her life. I also really liked that she was not all, “He loves me, He loves me not,” because, let’s face it, unless you’re Ariel, that game won’t work. She was down to earth and I enjoyed watching her in this new situation.And Dante…swoon worthy! His life is “complicated” which sucks, but still, there is hope for him yet. He’s caught between what he wants and what his dad wants, and its heartening to see him struggle with his future. But more importantly, he’s sauve and sophisticated and oh so sexy! I could just see the corners of his mouth turning up and his eyes twinkling as he looked at Reece. And I liked that he wasn’t this innocent guy—there was a sexual tension to him that made him even more attractive.The only part I had a problem with was the “bad guy.” I felt like his character didn’t have enough dimension to him and he needed to be explored more thoroughly.Overall, this was a great contemporary romance. I never found myself rushing through a dull moment, and I was constantly smiling at the relationship dynamics in the book. The minor characters were fun, too!Content Warning: There is a “fade to black” sex scene which is also mentioned later in the book. There is also teenage alcohol consumption because, well, it’s Europe.

[abouttoread_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dante’s Girl was a cute, fun summer read. Whenever you have a heroine traveling to another country, you know you’re in for love and adventure and Dante’s Girl was no exception. The circumstances of how Reece wound up in Caberra are odd at best, but it definitely made for a more interesting story line. Caberra was awesome, and since Dante is such a high profile person in the country, his glitzy world really added a unique element to the story and made it the perfect backdrop for a summer romance. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed watching Dante and Reece together, their relationship felt like a summer romance and I didn’t feel the progression to a loving, serious relationship.The most exciting part of Dante’s Girl was undoubtedly the ending. The plot twist was truly surprising, and while I knew something was going to happen, I really didn’t think it would be something of that magnitude.Dante’s Girl was dramatic, exciting, and heart-warming. Reece’s crazy summer adventure was a joy to read about. Everything from the romance to the action was well-done. Courntey Cole continues to impress me with her writing and I can’t wait to pick up her next novel.