Review Tour: Fashion Jungle: Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken
From Iconic Supermodel, now Global Business Mogul, Kathy Ireland and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken, comes a cautionary tale of the dark side of the fashion industry where secrets are your currency--and nobody is irreplaceable.
Fashion Jungle
by Kathy Ireland and Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publishing date: January 28, 2020
Cover Designer: Jena Brignola
Four women… Four very different paths. One incredibly cutthroat world.
Welcome to the Jungle.
As America’s sweetheart, Brittany is perceived as the "good girl." The sort to bring her Bible to a photoshoot... only to garner the attention of a most unlikely suitor. Until one mistake irrevocably changes both of their lives forever. Fortunately, both now and then, Brittany has wonderful support systems, including her tribe.
The leader of the tribe and a model who’s fought every battle and obstacle in the industry, Zoe, knows her worth. Until a sex tape scandal rocks her world. She sees no choice but to put her trust in the one man she shouldn’t, to make it all go away and help her succeed. Unfortunately, not only is he mired in New York’s underbelly, he wants repayment... with interest. Namely, her hand in marriage.
Despite her seemingly perfect life, Everlee has problems of her own. Not only has her world-renowned photographer husband been cheating, but it’s actually much worse than that. The things surrounding what he’s done are so dark and dangerous, Everlee’s life may actually be in jeopardy.
And then there's Danica, cold, dead in the ground Danica. Some secrets stay hidden while others are just waiting to be discovered- hers has the power to alter the industry forever.
In the world of the Fashion Jungle, it’s easily eat or be eaten… but, if you make it out alive, you just might have a story to tell - though it will likely be one of secrets, lies, deceit, and loss.
Strap on your stilettos, it's about to get wild.
Based on true stories.
I was honestly not sure how I was going to like this going into it since I am not big into fashion and it is a bit of a genre switch, but Rachel is one of my favorite authors and Kathy Ireland is an icon so I gave it a try. There is a lot to get acclimated with in the first part with all the characters and their histories, but I found myself becoming fascinated by it all.
This is about four young models who began their careers together and twenty years later there are only three left. There are also the men and others that surround them. It is full of secrets, lies, betrayals, manipulations, and hidden agendas. Each woman has been affected by their personal past and their modeling career and are still struggling in some way. They are as close as family but still there are some secrets that they have not shared with each other. Their lives may look perfect, but the facades are only hiding their broken pieces and best kept secrets.
But Dane, the devil-they-know, seems to really know everything. His sister was the girl that was lost. He is in love with one of them. And he has done and will do anything to protect the other girls. But sometimes it comes with a price. It is hard to tell if Dane is their Guardian Angel or has sinister motives. But I was a fan of the dark and protective Dane throughout.
It is told in multiple points of view giving us snapshots into their lives and issues. Their stories and the drama gradually build towards the end where secrets are revealed and the characters are finally ready to face their new reality. The world described is fascinating and corrupt. The glitz and glamour put up smokescreens hiding the ugly truth. Some people need to be taken down and some hope to find redemption. Their personal stories are intertwined, challenging, painful, and dramatic, but there is also hope, friendship, and love. There is some romance in it, along with the mystery and emotional turmoil. And overall, despite adversity and pain, these women are strong. And there are a few great men that are protective, supportive, and willing to jump in when needed for these women.
I figured out some of the secrets and twists from the clues, but it was still interesting and had many layers and connections. I just can't stop thinking about who the people are that these real stories were based on!
The fashion world is a jungle - eat or be eaten. Three friends who got their modeling start together are now 20 years older and wiser than when we met. They are also grieving the loss of the 4th member of their band of friends. Brittany is the good girl, with her Bible ever at her side, hiding a secret from long ago that haunts her to this day. Zoe is the natural leader, but is trying to avoid paying back a debt with a vow of marriage. Everlee has the picture perfect marriage, with cracks hiding below the surface. And Danica is the one they lost, ever the life of the party, her secret might just be the biggest of them all.
I liked these women from the very start, even though I struggled to find the story they were telling together. These women each have their own struggles and secrets weighing them down. As their stories unfolded I found myself pulled into their world, pulled into the mystery of what was really going on in each of their lives.
That ending though! I struggled to connect with the characters and the jungle that is the fashion world, but that ending! As Dane come closer to solving the mystery I found myself guessing what was coming next. Even though he was doing so much to help the women, I sometimes wondered if his secrets made him a character I could trust, which kept me constantly questioning everyone.
This was a bit of a genre shift for Rachel, and though I wasn’t sure it was going to be truly for me, since I am not into fashion or the industry, but once I settled into the characters, it had everything I look for in a good book: compelling backstories, interesting plot twists (with a little bit of suspense), and characters that make me root for them.
I liked these women from the very start, even though I struggled to find the story they were telling together. These women each have their own struggles and secrets weighing them down. As their stories unfolded I found myself pulled into their world, pulled into the mystery of what was really going on in each of their lives.
That ending though! I struggled to connect with the characters and the jungle that is the fashion world, but that ending! As Dane come closer to solving the mystery I found myself guessing what was coming next. Even though he was doing so much to help the women, I sometimes wondered if his secrets made him a character I could trust, which kept me constantly questioning everyone.
This was a bit of a genre shift for Rachel, and though I wasn’t sure it was going to be truly for me, since I am not into fashion or the industry, but once I settled into the characters, it had everything I look for in a good book: compelling backstories, interesting plot twists (with a little bit of suspense), and characters that make me root for them.
“I think I may come here every night.”
“Be my guest,” Dane said, looking away as if he were bored; when in reality, his heart was racing.
Frederick would crack. His shirt was open now, his eyes closed. The habit would continue as it always did. Wouldn’t it?
He would self-destruct.
All men eventually did when it came to Dane.
The ones who didn’t, well… they weren’t alive to say otherwise, now, were they?
“Have fun.” Dane stood, patted Frederick on the back, and shared a knowing look with the woman currently straddling the man’s lap. “Make it worth his while but remember our rules.”
Dane shoved the guilt aside as he walked off.
The guilt of what this would do to Everlee.
Then again, Everlee didn’t know what he did.
She didn’t know the secrets Frederick kept.
That he wasn’t who she thought he was.
Then again, nobody really did.
Only Dane.
Because he’d collected everything he could on Frederick for a year and was less than impressed by the sort of man he was.
“Interesting club,” Ronan said once Dane reached the bar. He was flanked by two bodyguards.
“They aren’t necessary,” Dane said in an unemotional voice, pointing to the security. “No weapons allowed, no fighting, only pleasure.”
“And yet, here you are, talking to me.” Ronan leveled him with a glare. “What do you want, Dane?”
“Is that how you speak to an old friend?”
Ronan let out a snort. “We’ve never been friends. We’ve only tolerated each other because of the girls.”
The girls.
It was how they all referred to Brittany, Everlee, Zoe and Danica. Pain sliced through Dane’s heart, he couldn’t even say her name in his head without feeling it everywhere, all the way down to the marrow.
Shake it off.
They were women now.
Women with secrets.
Insecurities.
Girls who’d grown up too fast.
Females who were still fighting their way through the jungle of New York, barefoot and bleeding with fake smiles and deadly secrets.
“I need you to keep him in jail,” Dane said under his breath. “They say he’s getting out on good behavior.”
Ronan muttered a curse. “Let me guess, you want me to go have a golf game with the DA?”
“If you think that would help.” Dane tilted his head and narrowed his eyes on the politician, the man he used to trust as much as everyone else before Dane’s world came crumbling down around him by way of his sister’s death. “Then, yes.”
“Fine. This makes us even.” Ronan tried to walk off, but Dane grabbed him by the elbow and held him there, whispering in a low voice, “I will never be done with you… tell the former first lady hello. I loved what she was wearing while shopping on Fifth Avenue yesterday, the white made her look so innocent.”
Ronan let out a filthy curse and walked off.
And Dane?
Dane stared out across the club as a feeling of calmness washed over him. Chess pieces had been moved.
Now.
Now, he would wait.
About Kathy:
Kathy Ireland, Chair of kathy ireland® Worldwide (kiWW®), is a fashion and home industry icon, whose unprecedented, American entrepreneurial success, inspired the term, model-preneur. kiWW® is owned solely by Kathy’s family trusts. Kathy’s first novel, Fashion Jungle, is co-authored with #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Rachel Van Dyken. Kathy entered the “jungle” as a teenager, sheltered by loving parents, John and Barbara, of Santa Barbara, California. Covers of Vogue, Teen, and Cosmopolitan, led to a record 13 issues and all-time bestselling cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Kathy is the supermodel turned supermogul, hailed by Harper’s Bazaar as the most successful “model in the world.” kiWW® launched a single pair of socks, during Kathy’s first pregnancy. While selling over one hundred million pairs, retail expanded. kiWW® develops for home, office, fashion, luxury jewels, vacation destinations, weddings, lighting, flooring, furniture, personal care, media and more. After billions of dollars in sales, kiWW®, a private company, was reported on by Forbes. Kathy’s story continues in global media, including three Forbes covers (two USA, one Asia), Inc., Wall Street Journal, Cheddar, Success Magazine, television, and online. Kathy’s speaking events occur in America, the Middle East, Asia and beyond. Kathy Ireland and Greg Olsen, are parents to Lily, Chloe, Erik and his wife Bethany, their daughter-in-love. Kathy’s philanthropy includes: women and children’s health, HIV/AIDS, Education, human freedom, life, wars against religious persecution and violence. Kathy is a Board Member of the NFLPA, WNBPA, and an Ambassador and donor for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Kathy’s survival in the jungle is because of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His inerrant Word, and The Gospel, which is the Good News of Christ, crucified for all sins. Kathy believes everyone is loved by Jesus Christ, without any exceptions. Please experience Kathy’s journey of Faith, at kathyireland.com/fashionjungle/faith.
Connect with Kathy:
About Rachel:
Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times Bestselling, Wall Street Journal, And USA Today bestselling author of over 80 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable son, naked cat, and two dogs. For more information about her books and upcoming events, visit www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com.
Connect with Rachel:
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