Ripped (The REAL series) Paperback – December 9, 2014

"I know now, from life, that it take only a second to break you. But with time, with effort, it takes a little longer, but you can make it."Katy Evans and the REAL Series is one of my favorites. Who didn’t fall in love with the black-blue-eyed misunderstood fighter that is Remington Tate, whom found understanding from Brooke Dumas? Now we’re on book 5 and it’s time for Pandora’s story; to learn what has made her into the dark and closed off woman we have met in the books thus far.Pandora is the tuff best friend of Brooke and Melanie. She wears her anger on her sleeve in the form of attitude, dark clothes and black lipstick. She is a stark contrast from Brooke and Melanie and if you’re like me, I’m sure you have all been wondering what her story is. Now we get to find out. It is time to see if what’s really inside Pandora is evil, like Mythology tells us or if there is a lot more behind what’s inside.Let’s dive in…It’s kind of eerie when your reading something and you have a similar memory to the character or a feeling or a loss but that is what happened for me in Ripped right from the first paragraph. I lost my father as a teen and my strongest memory of him is always when I would come downstairs in the morning he would be sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper. When I was really little I used to crawl under the table to try and surprise him and poke the other side of his paper. So right from the first paragraph I was so curious how all the pieces would fit together."I’m the only person in my apartment building that still gets a newspaper. It sits on my doorstep this morning, and I love the way it smells. I love the crackling noise when I drop into my dining room chair and slap the sucker open. This sound, this smell… they remind me of lazy Saturday mornings reading the paper with my dad, his cologne scent engulfing me. By the time I was seventeen, he was gone. As was his morning rumple of my hair and his cologne-but not the smell of the paper. It’s been almost a decade and I still find an incomparable little joy in the smell of this freshly printed newspaper."I relate a lot to Pandora and her coping mechanisms. Sometimes in life all you have is your coping mechanisms to get you through the tuff bits and sometimes wearing an armor of “I’m tuff, you can’t hurt me” is what you feel you need to do to not get hurt again. This is Pandora. She has been hurt in the past by her family and by an ex and now she is determined to not be hurt again."Right after Dad died, I stopped trying to be anything other than what I really was. I stopped trying to fit in. Trying wore me out, and it only made me more aware that I didn’t belong."Mackenna Jones is a talented successful rock star in one of the largest bands of the generation. He is also the source of some of Pandora’s anger and hurt. When Pandora hears that he is in town she is extremely anxious and nervous. The decision of how she decides to greet him is AMAZING. I’ll let you read to see how she welcomes him home but I loved it and I am sure anyone of us woman would love to greet a man from our pasts the way Pandora did. She’s got balls.Circumstances unravel and Pandora finds herself in a position where she will be spending a lot more time with Mackenna and through her interactions with him and through his POV we see that despite the fame and fortune Mackenna is one of the good guys. He’s been dealt some bad cards and there may be more to the story behind Pandora’s heartbreak than she knows. Heck there may be more to the story than they both know and they won’t figure it out until they talk it through and through reading we get to see that process. The more time Pandora spends with Mackenna her icy outer layer begins to thaw, even if it’s terrifying for her. Through this we get to see another side of her, a gentler side."“I was not programmed to have feelings. It just wasn’t coded into my hard drive,” I lie, struggling to return to my grumpy, defensive self."This is a second-chance love story. Two teens forbidden to love each other were broken apart due to circumstance and now find their way back to each other in their 20’s. The two have great chemistry and Mackenna is one sexy rock star, good guy, wrapped in a bad boy package."Happiness and love curl like partners in my tummy. I could be seventeen right now. I’m chronologically older and outwardly bitter, but inside, I’m still his girl."Katy Evans is a phenomenal author who writes real and brave characters. She captures love, friendship, and passion in her writing that will leave you with the flutters in your tummy. Plus as the series continues we get more of Brooke, Remy, Melanie, and Greyson too. Who could complain about that?! Not me! Another great couple has been added to the series with Pandora and Mackenna and we finally see inside Pandora’s box – mythology was wrong!

Ripped...freaking WOW! Katy Evans continues to amaze me with the phenomenal Real series...three totally different, but hot and memorable alpha males...three unique and captivating ladies...characters all of whom I love and will miss dearly!I first fell in love with hot, protective, bi-polar and big-muscled boxer, Remy, and his sweet girl, Brooke, in Real, Mine, and Remy. Then dirty-talking pure alpha bad boy Greyson sucked me on page 1 with his sexy tongue in Rogue...and his girl who's blonde, bubbly, and BFF of Brooke...Melanie. And...finally... Ripped brought hot and sweet rocker Mackenna (Kenna) and his punkish and pretty spitfire of a girl, Pandora. This series rocked the emotions out of me and panties off of me that I can't even say what book or character of the Real series I like best...they are all that freaking ah-ma-zing!Keeping with the Real series, Ripped is raw, intense, sassy, hot, funny, and emotional. Like Rogue, Ripped alternates between points of views so you get inside the main characters' heads and really feel them...all romance/erotic books should be written this way! The chapter titles are spot-on and humorous.Pandora is the mysterious 'glass half empty' goth girl who almost hates men, in the BFF circle of Brooke (Real) and Melanie (Rogue). With her quick wit and mostly negative comments, it's as if she wears a mask to hide the pain of a broken heart as shown in the first few books of the series. Well her heart was broken forever ago by her childhood best friend and boyfriend. Oh this former boyfriend now happens to be one of the hottest rock stars on the planet, Mackenna Jones.Their teenage relationship was broken by a tragic family incident that caused MacKenna to leave."Once, her mother told me I wasn't good enough for her. I vowed to her that in a few years I was going to be good enough for any woman's daughter...especially hers."Six years later, fate, lost love, and revenge bring this couple together again at one of Mackenna's concerts...where Pandora goes there for revenge...to cause Mackenna pain for abandoning her when she needed him the most.Hot and humorous words like this sucked me in and I didn't want to leave this happy book bubble:"He leans over and whispers in my ear. 'Next time you give me a tomato bath, I'm going to make you give me a tongue bath and clean up your mess.' He strokes the pink in my hair. 'Fair warning.' "The love-hate relationship between this couple was downright amusing---from the childhood flashbacks to the hot quotes to the funny insults:"I grit my teeth, knowing that once there was a girl inside me who believed one day she'd marry him. But the only girl left now is an angry one, the one he hurt, and she grits out, 'You'll never have me again.''Your lips say one thing but the rest of you screams the opposite.''Who cares''You do,' he says. 'And I do.' He stands again, comes over and leans forward. 'You hate it, but right now--knowing how much you hate the way you want me--it's making me high.' "Their roller coaster of a relationship is put to the test when Pandora is offered a part as MacKenna's ex and possible love interest in a reality-type movie the band is filming.The book made me giggle with lines like these:"I gather my girl-balls and march toward the coach. He's going to complain about it all the time? Fine. I'm being paid to give them a couple of shots. Hell, maybe one of them can be of my boot in his nuts. He's right to be fearful."Ripped seriously ripped at my heart...made it pump with a mix of emotions...happiness, frustration, anger, laughter, and sadness.This series is one of my all-time favorites that will stay in my mind and heart forever. I am in tears that Real-Rogue-Ripped -- these ridiculously touching R books -- are over! I still want MORE, and will nurse a book hangover for some time.Please, Katy, give us a final novella...maybe an update up to five years so we can see marriage, family, and more. I'll beg if needed as I'm so not ready to let go of this fan-freaking-tastic series.5 soul-wrenching and sexy stars!

Young love torn apart by circumstances out of their control. I've always loved Rockstar Romances and this was no different. Pandora and Mackenna's story is full of angst and disappointment, self loathing and dark humour, sexy, funny and emotional. I loved their connection even if it took ages to get around to them talking properly instead of pussy footing around it. I gave this book 4 stars simply because it felt like it was a little rushed at the end and so many lose ends not tied up. I'm really hoping there's going to be more from Katy on these two characters. I want to read about their wedding, to know what this song is that they are suppose to write together, how does the bar do that they set up at the end? does Mackenna ever go back into the music business? do they find the daughter that was given up for adoption? Do they go on to have any more children? Etc etc

Ripped (Real, #5) by Katy Evans4 stars!!“Promises. Lies. Loss. Hatred.”It is no secret I am a huge Katy Evans fan and The Real series is up there with my all-time favourites. These characters have embedded themselves into my heart and head and any Katy Evans book is always eagerly anticipated and gratefully received. There is something about Katy Evans’s writing that resonates deep within my heart and soul. Every single character that she has created has wormed their way into my affections and I cannot help but devour every word. So it was with anticipation and bated breath that I dived into Ripped.Although Pandora has appeared in previous books she has always been quiet and lurking around in the background. It was only when trying to place her that I realised that we actually know hardly anything about her, only that she was very anti-men and seemed very introverted and all woe is me. It wasn’t until I started this story that I realised the reasoning behind her outward persona.“Not me. I choose hate. It makes me feel good. Protected and safe. Hating him is all that keeps me sane. Hating him means what he did to me doesn’t matter. I can still feel something. I am not yet dead, because I can feel this hate corroding me. He’s ruined me for other men. Stopped me from being the woman I could have been.”Pandora had had her heart broken when she was just seventeen, something that she had never, ever got over. Adamant that she was never going to be put in that position again, Pandora put up the walls that guarded her heart, a seemingly impenetrable fort that no one had ever been able to penetrate or infiltrate. Seemingly permanently scarred by her past she lived a day by day existence, never happy, forever despondent and melancholy. I felt so sorry for her and I wanted to know “the who” that had caused all this pain and anguish.When an opportunity to exact revenge on the man that had broken your heart materialises, most women would probably grab it with both hands and that is exactly what Pandora does. MacKenna Jones the lead singer of Crack Bikini (Katy, where on earth did this name come from?) is the man behind the despair that invades Pandora to the core. Six years’ worth of anger, pain and hate has manifested itself and is about to be unleashed to the unsuspecting MacKenna, but this can only lead to trouble.“I want to say something painful that will hurt him. But no. He wants to punish me because I ruined his concert? I’m going to ruin. His f**king. Life.”First and foremost this story is about second chance love and this is one of my favourite romances to read about. This story is also about misunderstandings and forgiveness and being the bigger and better person. Delving deep down within the recesses of your heart and mind to remember what was present before the hurt, remembering the old you and letting yourself be open to be that person again.“I was not programmed to have feelings. It just wasn’t coded into my hard drive.”It is a huge struggle for Pandora but I have to say MacKenna does not make it easy for her to stay in those deep dark recesses of her past. When MacKenna goes all out, he goes all out and this made him such an endearing character. His rock star persona is a far cry from the beautiful person on the inside and once he is aware of what has happened in the past and the reason behind their circumstances he makes it his mission to get back the girl that he has always loved. I loved the fight, I loved their journey, and I loved it all.“I had your heart once, Pink and it wasn’t enough. I have your body now, but it’s not enough…I want your mind, your dreams, your hopes, your f**king soul. I want it all.”Katy Evans has a way with words that manages to evoke all of my emotions and this was an emotional read. But it is not all angst and tears; Katy Evans has interwoven all of the above with some steaming hot scenes too along with a smattering of wit and humour. All in all a fantastically balanced book that has a bit of everything to whet everyone’s appetites.Katy Evans really put me through the mill with this one and it was an incredible journey to take and one that will stay with me for a long time but this was a great addition to a fantastic series and all of our favourite characters make an appearance at some point. Kudos to Katy Evans on another great read. I can’t wait to see what she pens next; I will be at the front of the queue.“The devil knows more from being old than it does from being a devil.”

The Real Series by Katy Evans keeps me sane, it is my constant companion, one of those sets of books that no matter what will never leave my kindle and always make me feel...no more than that I can just feel, even on a down day. And now I can say that I have a new addition to the family because Pandora and MacKenna’s story Ripped is my welcome addition to the fold.Pandora has never been the easiest character to get a handle on but in this she is eventually laid bare and we get to see all her secrets, painful as they are for her.She opens herself up a little at a time but the onslaught commences right off the bat, you barely have time to draw breathe before she is right up in your face with her attitude but be thankful that MacKenna is the focus for her vitriol because I know I wouldn’t want to be the one on the receiving end. But what has caused this, what happened between them and more to the point what the hell can she do to get over it.So I settled in to hold on tight and enjoy the ride, all the highs and the various lows that I knew were coming as they were not only thrust back together but also forced to unlock the secrets that they both had hidden so deep about what really happened all those years ago and why neither of them had been able to move on.Pandora had the youthful image of her happy ever after torn from her at the tender age of just 17 and it all but destroyed her, but she kept her secrets and locked them away refusing to be the shattered woman that others may have expected. She was stronger than that, she could move on, but what she couldn’t do was forgive or forget because MacKenna Jones took her heart with him the night he left and she has nothing left to give to anyone else, including herself.Pandora is a shadow, there is no normality in her, nothing she does is real, and it’s all just for show, all just to get by and all just to allow her to forget the one man that she has never been able to get out of her head – MacKenna.Hate is a powerful force but when it replaces your ability to love, the only power it holds is that of destruction. And Pandora’s hate is killing her slowly from the inside out.Six years later and the walls she has so carefully constructed start to crumble and all because MacKenna Jones is back in town and she has to see him!MacKenna is the front man with hugely successful “Crack Bikini” not the best name in the world but I am sure we are all aware of real bands that have names that we read and think – “Really??”Determined to exact her revenge, have her moment and finally lay the past to rest, Pandora ropes in her friend, lays the truth on the line and sets out to inflict ultimate humiliation on MacKenna at his homecoming concert, I mean who wouldn’t?She clearly was delusional if she ever thought she could get away with her plan and moreover if she ever thought that she would ever be over him.But when it all goes wrong, MacKenna is the one who can stop her butt ending up in jail and his management team are the ones that sense the perfect publicity opportunity. What is not to love about the ad men, finish the bands film, get the inside gossip on the muse for the bands biggest hit and who knows get some prime footage in the process.Ground work laid and contracts signed. Pandora is obliged to spend 3 weeks on the road with MacKenna, whether they both survive is debatable?There was no love lost between the two of them, there was almost every other emotion known to man but love... it was still there but it was buried so deep that it would take a mighty huge shift in emotion to let even a slither of it free again.They both had resentment and anger on the situation that they were both in but they were both masters in the art of denying just how much the events of that night 6 years ago had hurt them. Pandora’s mother had left MacKenna with little choice but to walk away but Pandora knew nothing of the guilt that MacKenna carried because of his actions but he had his reasons, ones that had the shoe been on the other foot she too would have taken.Fate is a bitch and in this case it was given a helping hand by extended families but fate also has the ability to give you a second bite at the cherry. The question was had too much time passed and were they even willing to try.I liked and empathised with Pandora, she was a strong woman who had a grudge that she felt entitled to bare but one that I felt weighed her down. She was just a mixed up kid looking to find the same love as her friend Brooke has found with Remy, she wanted to feel like she mattered and that she was important enough to have her man stop the world from spinning if that is what it took to make her happy. Someone that loved her more than his last breath and she saw that disappear when her reason for breathing, MacKenna left her when she needed him most.MacKenna was easy to fall for, I got that he had it all and was not afraid to share but he didn’t share the one thing that they all wanted; his heart because that belonged to Pandora and he knew it always would. When he had her back in his life, despite the circumstances, he knew he had the only opportunity he was ever going to get to rectify the biggest mistake of his life, so he goes balls out to get back the only girl that he has ever given his heart to and boy, he doesn’t hold back. He may have been an ass, with a crude foul mouth and was equally bad tempered at times but he made me sigh when I realised just what he was prepared to do to give Pandora what she wanted, him!The relationship between them is full on from start to finish and evolves completely from love to hate and back to love again but there is a secret that Pandora has locked away and that when it was unveiled I had my heart in my mouth because I honestly couldn’t see that there was a way back for either of them and definitely not together but they had been through worse and come out the other side, this was just a page in their history that they would have to continue to relive and to try and rewrite.I loved this book, I know it may not be to everyone taste but for me it was a superb composition and one that gave me hope in the fact that sometimes, just sometimes love is enough!

They f*** you up your mum and dad. It sums the book up for me.It's a line from a poem by a very talented, but lacking in good looks, UK poet Philip Larkin. Mackenna Jones is talented and good looking and a writer of lyrics, so he is a modern day poet. And oh boy his dad and Pandora's evil mother f*** up their young lives.I did wonder who made Pandora so cross with the world - her hatred of love is clear in Rogue. I had guessed she had been spectacularly dumped. Her mother has also managed to screw up her views on men, love and forgiveness.Ripped for me didn't have the wonder of Real but it still is a good read. It almost felt like Katy couldn't get into her groove until about 50% of the way in. The supporting characters didn't thrill me although I did fall for Kenna. Some of the hatred between him and Pan made me laugh."You look like a conquering Napoleon, don't you. You feel like you got it all right now, " I say, groaning tiredly. "Nah. Napoleon was a little guy. I, on the other hand am huge." "Your ego is huge." "Babe my dick is just as huge as my ego, and they both enjoy being petted by you."Pandora's hatred and pushing Kenna away maybe went on a bit too long, or is it just that I wanted her to be nice to him?Kenna made me swoon "I want your mind, your dreams, your hopes, your f*#%ing soul. I want it all." What's not to love about a rockstar who can dance?Series done, unless we get a Kyle book or Nora.

Loved Remy with a passion in Real and cried buckets in Mine, but sorry as much as I love Katy' s writing this just was not up there with the previous books. This was the story of Brooke' s friend angry goth Pandora and her long lost love Mackenna, except there really wasn't much story. The angst was well over the top and it was just unbelievable that the pair never actually talked about what happened in the past when to me surely it would be the first thing to get straight before jumping into bed, and sometimes it felt a bit silly as if padding was needed here and there. However not until the last 10% of the book did my interest spark, but then I felt the ending was kinda rushed and it left a bit of a cliffhanger. I know Real was a hard act to follow as it was such an original idea, but just maybe we have wrung all we can out of this group of friends and Katy just needs to move on. I would still read anything Katy Evans writes, but looking for something fresh.