The Replacement by Rachael Wade
Older New Adult with plenty of sex. Standalone (for now).
“I’m Elise Duchamp, and I destroy relationships. I destroy people. Wives, girlfriends, good people. People like you. I fuck their husbands, their boyfriends, eat their food, sleep in their beds.”
The Replacement by Rachael Wade is everything I normally don’t like in a book. I usually need to like my heroine to enjoy the book, and cheating and lying are two of my biggest turn-offs. Yet I loved The Replacement. I rooted for Elise. I needed to see her change. To get past who she thought she was, and become who she was meant to be. But first, she had to be her own something.
“I didn’t always sleep around. That didn’t start until college. My mom might not have needed me anymore, and dad might not have wanted me, but that was easily remedied. The world was full of needy people.”
Elise got a certain high off of being so desperately needed by these guys. She knows she is fulfilling a need they have to cheat, and she doesn’t think she is worth any more than that. She grew up learning that beauty is all you have, the only way to make people want you, to need you. Her disgusting father accused her of causing her mother’s cancer, making her ugly, then he left, never to be seen again. Just drove away, leaving his daughter to care for her dying mother. Her best friend left too. She had nobody.
She finds solace in being needed for the high of cheating. She has self-respect, to a point. But her self-respect is that she doesn’t hide what she is. She won’t bullshit you. She knows exactly what she is doing, and isn’t ashamed to admit it. Maybe for me, that was her saving grace. She wasn’t a sneaky liar about it. She owned who she was and made no apologies.
“That’s all you are, you slut —a replacement. Sloppy seconds and an in-between quickie for every guy in this town who’s looking to fill a hole. All you’re good for is that hot little body.”
Elise doesn’t care, she’s used to that. It’s what she grew up with. But she’s a ‘Franceophile’, and her entire goal is to save enough to follow her dream and learn French and go to France. She does have dreams and goals hiding in the self-destructive exterior. She has successfully pushed all friendships and relationships away for years. So when sweet, bubbly Natalie begins work at the diner with her, Elise does her very best to push her away as well.
Then Ryder, the new building handyman, shows up to fix her garbage disposal. Gorgeous, sexy, and different from everyone else, Ryder sees something more in Elise. He knows her reputation and doesn’t care.
“All I want to say to you is that you’re too goddamn beautiful, too goddamn smart, and too goddamn good for a life like that, you hear me?”
Despite her doing everything to push him away, Ryder won’t give up on her.
“You’re a little piece of heaven, baby,” he pants against my mouth, “even if your halo’s broken.”
She’s intent on destroying the budding friendship Natalie had with her and Ryder couldn’t help but get singed in the process. But still…
“I’ll never just drive away, Elise Duchamp.”
When she finally starts making progress, letting people in, and beginning two fledgling relationships, her past destruction haunts her.
“All of my hopes for being someone’s something follow Natalie out, reminding me of my true identity. I am a substitute. A misfit. A liar, a their, and a whore. I exist to be used, not to belong.”
But can the love of a good man change things? Can a life or death experience? What will change Elise Duchamp?
“Just because the world breaks you doesn’t mean it has to win, hon. You remember that.” -Jay
Likes:
- Despite my hating her “other woman” status, I rooted for Elise! It’s crazy!
- I gobbled it up as quickly as I could, needing more.
- Christian was pretty swoony, I’d like a story about him…but then again, he is a cheater.
- Ryder. I loved Ryder. I love how he wouldn’t give up on her.
- Natalie was so willing to overlook everything she heard about Elise and be her friend anyway.
- The tattoos.
- Lots of hot sex.
- Jay. I loved that guy.
- The underlying message in the book was very strong.
- One of my favorite book quotes ever “Be Your Something”
Dislikes:
- I felt there wasn’t enough time for the feelings between Ryder and Elise to develop. I needed to see more of them together.
- I wish she went to see her friend Tee at some point.
Rating: 4.5-4.75 stars, 4.5 heat
This was a unique story with a truly beautiful underlying message. Elise grew up with conditions…the only thing anyone would ever love about her is her beauty, if she didn’t have that, she’d have nothing. This story is about loving without conditions, but even more so, learning to love yourself. Elise’s journey was a tough one, yet there was hope throughout the entire book. Rachael did an amazing job with this story. It is not often an author can take a character we should all hate and make her someone to root for, but Rachael did just that, and taught us all a lesson at the same time.
“You go be your something, baby. When you get back you can be mine.”
Purchase The Replacement by Rachael Wade
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | BN.com
Meet Rachael at Wicked Book Weekend Ft. Lauderdale March 7-9 2014 and Feb 6-8 2015
Joanne Christenson says
Love Rachael Wade. …can’t wait to read this book and see here at Wicked Book Weekend
Rachel Brown says
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Dorothy says
I really would love to win this! Thanks for the giveaway!
Maria Malaveci says
Thanks so much for the giveaway……!
Pam says
Great review. Can’t wait to read this!
Scheva says
I’m reading this book right now!
Ricki says
I loved this book!!!! Elise just blew me away and my heart broke for her
Lisa Omek says
Just finished this book on my Kindle and LOVED IT !!!!
Kendall McCubbin says
EEK! I love Rachael Wade! Thank you so much for the awesome giveaway!
ajw says
Looks so good!
Rachael Sauve says
<3 I want to read this one so bad!! Thanks for the giveaway!
Julie says
Love this giveaway
Nancy M says
Thanks for the chance to win.
Jennifer M says
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!!
Michelle Lee says
Thank you for this amazing giveaway! 🙂
Holly Wilderman says
Reading this now! Thanks for giveaway !!
Feifei Le says
This looks really good, thanks for the giveaway! 😀
Kat P. says
Thank you for an awesome giveaway. I one clicked this when u first mentioned it via facebook
Alexandra A says
Thank you for the giveaway! Can`t wait to read the book! <3
adrienne samson says
thanks for giveaway,looks so good!!!
Carolyn J says
Thanks for the giveaway
Gina H says
It sounds very intriguing even though I also am not a fan of cheating. Thanks for the giveaway!
Robin the Book Nerd says
4.5 for heat factor is pretty good.
Kerry Brown says
Thank you for the giveaway and chance.
lori moore says
Great giveaway !!
Karen G. says
Thanks for the post and review. I wasn’t sure about this storyline at first but you have convinced me to give it a try. 🙂
Jodi says
Great review, adding it to my TBR list!
kp says
Thanks for the giveaway!
Betul E. says
Great giveaway thanks!
jessie says
Awesome giveaway I can’t wait to read this!
KellyMae says
Thank you for the opportunity to win these gifts!
Nikki Jones says
Can’t wait to read this. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Cassie says
I want to read this one 🙂
jodi marinich says
love the review
Donna Reynolds says
Sounds like a great book Thank you for the giveaway.
Carrie Stevens says
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Suzanne says
Great review!
Kaylee Lovering says
Thanks for the chance!
Kim says
Cannot wait to reading. Thank you for the giveaway.
Tina Hammond says
I haven’t read any of Wade’s books, but this one looks intriguing… one for the TBR.
Rachelle says
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Angelina Ocampo says
Thank you!!
Maria Theresa Santos says
Thanks for the giveaway
DJ Sakata says
looks spicy
Mick Murphy says
This book sounds SO good! Thanks for the giveaway!
LesleyG says
I’m reading this now…it’s great! I would love a signed copy!
Erika says
Thank you! Love the new cover!
Emily M says
Great giveaway! Thanks!
Natasha says
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!!
Tina V. says
Thanks for this giveaway! Can’t wait to read this one!
Janice U. says
Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds interesting!
Denice says
This sounds good. Thank you for the review and giveaway!
Tammy Choate says
wow books sounds hot!!!!
Nasha L says
thanks for the giveaway! :))
Jennifer Jones says
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy Jo says
Thanks for the giveaway!! I sooo want to read this and missed the .99 deal darn it 🙁 GL everyone!!
Diana Doan says
Thank you for the review and the giveaway!
Julie K says
Another amazing giveaway!!
Traci says
Looks like could be very interesting!
Jeannette says
Great review! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jenn Oldaker says
Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂