Twists, turns, drama, betrayal, deceit, angst and so much more. Stealing Her sucked me in and I enjoyed every single minute of this story.
I loved Bridge. I felt for him and his mom. You could feel the love he had for her and that he was willing to do anything for her, even if that means pretending to be his twin brother and being close to his father. Isobel was hard to connect with throughout a majority of the story. I wanted her to stick up for herself, I wanted her to fight for herself. Really, I was just yelling at my kindle a lot. I am glad she kind of came out of her shell a little bit towards the end of the story. Julian, well its hard to talk about him. He comes across as the bad guy in this story, but also not. There were reasons behind why he did what he did. A part of me likes Julian and wants to root for him, because he does deserve more, but a part of me also wants to hate him.
Bridge and Isobel had chemistry. He gave her the freedom to be herself, to not have to fall in line with the picture-perfect life Tennyson woman should live. He mended her once broken heart and gave her the happiness she thought she lost.
Stealing Her is an enjoyable, drama filled romance full of lies, deceit and betrayal.

I was hooked from the start! The story captivated my attention as I wondered what would happen next.
Isobel or Izzy was at the center of all this. The tangled love story was told in such a beautiful way. Though it was a little messy it ended with Izzy and the right guy for her.
Julian and his brother's dad was an awful man. He did things only for the purpose of making money and publicity stunts. I was elated to see him get what he fully deserved.

This book was EVERYTHING. It was the kind of story that I remember Rachel putting out when I first became a fan of hers. But FAIR WARNING, this book can also be a bit triggering to people who have been where Izzy is.

Isobel has been in love with Julian since college, or maybe it was high school, I can't quite remember. Most of her "Good" memories of him are from college so we'll just with that as it really doesn't make a difference either way. When they first got together, he was everything. They had hopes and dreams of their own, they were building a life together. And then his father stepped in, forced him to fall in line, and then suddenly the love of her life became a lying, manipulating man who was emotionally abusive towards his fiance. He made her call and schedule an appointment for his time during business hours for crying out loud. And when she finally makes the choice to leave? He is nearly killed in a car accident.

Bridge has been the forgotten son. The outcast. Ever since his parents divorced and he was sent to live with his mother, he has held onto nothing but hatred and loathing for his father and twin. He's had to work two, sometimes three jobs not only to make ends meet, but to care for his mother's medical bills. So when his father shows up, promising more money than he could ever hope to make if he could just convince the world that he's really his twin brother, how could he resist?

So okay, yes you do have to be prepared to suspend reality for a bit here when it comes to people (especially people like Isobel) being so easily fooled by the "brother switch". You also have to be prepared to watch as instead of sticking to her guns and leaving him (and thereby forcing him to come to her), she stays and helps him. And honestly? While I know its going to piss people off, I can understand her reasoning completely. I can also understand how she KNEW there was something wrong, something off, even before she knew the truth, but how she was so willing to pretend that it was really her fiance come back to the man he used to be.

I think the hardest, and most enjoyable part of this book was watching these two as they got closer. Bridge knew he couldn't keep her, but did his best to fix the damage his brother had done anyway. He did what he could to restore her self-worth, to build her back up, to make her feel beautiful. And he asked for nothing in return. I kept wondering how this was going to play out. Would she ever confront him about the truth? Would Julian wake up from his coma? And just what was their father's end game in all of this?

It was easy to get caught up hating Edward (the father) just as much as his son did. I could say there was enough intrigue once Bridge starting putting pieces together that it made this story hard to put down. But what really did that for me? Was the fact that I could relate to Isobel on a deeper level than I am comfortable admitting.

At one point Isobel is talking about when she went to the hospital after the accident that put her fiance in a coma and she says, "I felt so damn relieved that it was over. That I was done walking on eggshells, done being hurt by a man who said he loved me".

To which after some time, Bridge replies with "Your heart was bruised, you were in pain. All you wanted was relief".

And I felt that. I think others will too. The fact that they were twins notwithstanding. The fact that at first she was being deceived taken out of the equation, it takes a strong woman to be as beautifully broken as she was, to allow someone to tear down the walls she has built around herself.

This book was more than a story. It was a journey. And I can't wait to see what happens next.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Loved this first entry in the Covet series. Can't wait to read more!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have to start off by saying this book was a roller coaster of emotions. My heart was being split into two different directions. Wanting it all to work out one way but hurting for the other. It’s hard to explain without ruining the book. I was speechless when I first finished and that is why I’m coming back a few days later to finish my review. I love Rachel as a person and as an author. I’ve read a lot of her book, and like I told her this book just made my top 3 from her books. I need book 2 like right now! Hahahaha

Bridge is amazing! He is definitely someone I want by my side. He is strong, sweet and would do anything for his family. Bride has a twin brother name Julian. They were best friends. They grew up in one of the wealthiest families, but his father treated his mother like shit and she could not take it anymore, so she left him. His dad was not a good person, so what the divorce papers stated was that his mom would get one twin and his dad would get the other twin, with no communication. It destroyed them. So his dad pick Julian because he would do anything to make his dad proud of him, when Bridge was always pushing back and protecting his brother. After that his life was a struggle he worked hard and now as an adults works multiple jobs to keep a roof over his and his mom’s heads. He would do anything for her. Anything! Even pretending to be his twin brother that he hasn’t seen in many years. Pretend to be him while he recovers from an accident, how hard can it be? A few months of this, so he can get his mom the care she needs, but what he did not expect was to meet Isobel.

Isobel growing up was a funny, spontaneous person that went to school to be a nurse. It was always her dream. In collage she met Julian and they fell in love. She promised him they would always be together and she would stand by his side no matter where their lives would take them. But, he was turning more and more like his father after they graduated and he started working for him. Julian was not the person she knew and fell for. So one day she went to his office and broke off their engagement, that same day he got in an accident. They wouldn’t let her see him in the hospital, so she went home, the next day he came back to home but different. She knew deep down that he wasn’t the Julian she knew. There was something different, from things he did to the way he acted. He kept blaming it on the accident. But deep down she knew. She started falling for the person she had in her life now. She fell in love with him deeper than she has ever fallen for the Julian she knew before.

Bridge was struggling to keep this secret, especially from the one person he started falling in love with, Isobel. She was his first love, the first person he felt himself with. She was everything to him, but she didn’t belong to him and she did not know the truth, that he wasn’t Julian but Bridge. He felt like a horrible person for falling for her while his brother was in the hospital recovering, but his dad didn’t stop pushing. He pushed and pushed and pushed until one day the twins would snap.

Like I said this story is a roller coaster. Can Bridge come out of this with the one person he never expected to meet and love? When Izzy finds out the truth, will she pick Bridge or will she stay with Julian? It’s a lot of back and forth but this book is worth it. I was sent this ARC for my honest review and opinion. Recommend it for sure.

Reviewed for A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile.

Stealing her really plays with your moral compass, there is a serious emotional roller coaster that you are put through as you read this book.
I feel like I've never read a book by Rachel Van Dyken that has left me this torn at the end, if this is what she was trying to accomplish with her readers than she succeeded.
Having this book be about brothers and having them both be in love with the same girl is going to throw you for a loop because it will make you believe that one deserves her more than the other.

I love Rachel's writing because she really creates these complex characters and story lines, Julian and Bridge both love Isobel and you would hope that things would have played out differently with their love story. Reading the Epilouge left me a little crazy because i now need to read Julian's story because my heart honestly broke for him, I want him to have a happy ending and mend his relationship with his brother.

I loved Rachel's latest release and it is a must read recommendation from me.

I've read all of the book from this author and I think that Stealing Her will definitely be in the top ten of my all time favorites by her. It had all of her usual wit and charm but the story felt like the author was evolving as a writer. There was more depth to the drama and to her characters. It wasn't just fun, it was intense and completely captivating. I loved it.

Bridge is a good guy. Loyal to a fault even to those who do not deserve his allegiance. His character was not only temptingly hot but he was also respectable and charming. I wanted to order a version of him for myself, and all of my friends. I was completely enchanted by him and his personal growth throughout the book.

Isobel was .... a complex character and her life with Julian was hard to understand. She's be the girlfriend you're constantly asking, why do you stay? But I loved her chemistry with Bridge. The two jump off the page and I quickly found myself wanting a happily ever after for them both.

It's quite the journey - filled with lots of twists and turns. (I read the book in one setting) Some left my jaw on the ground and other made me swoon. It was a great read. Grab a copy now.

A good read with lots of angst, romance, family conflict, and finally love and acceptance. The story will grab you from the beginning and carry you all the way through the heights of emotion and conflict clear to the end when it all comes together to give the reader the happy ever after they want the main characters to have.

Emotional abuse whether from a parent or a significant other can be devastating. But love can be redeeming, as in the case of Bridge, Izzy and Jules. Bridge and Jules are twin brothers, separated by their parents divorce. The first 13 years of their lives, Jules and Bridge lived in the lap of luxury. But once separated, Jules remains with his father and Bridge is sent with his mom, who has no money and becomes ill. It wasn't until a devastating event that brings Bridge's Father back into his life. Bridge makes a deal with the devil to help his mom. Izzy is the girl Jules fell in love with but once he becomes part of his Father's company, he starts to act like his Father. I'm not going to give any spoilers. But this story had be in tears because I could relate to friends who were in emotionally abusive relationships. Rachel Van Dyken writes about the heartache and devastation that happens to these three characters but how love can heal and bring about change. Loved this book.

**Received an ARC for an honest review** I'm not going to lie, the title of this book made me a little nervous. But wow, this book, I couldn't put it down. From the very first chapter when we meet Bridge and his twin Julian, to meeting Isobel, and the tragic events that unfold that bring them all crashing together, and the end that I wasn't quite expecting. I really shouldn't haven been worried. It was an intense, emotional read but an amazing yet unconventional love story. Another stunning story by Rachel Van Dyken that has me eagerly awaiting the next book in this new series.

Deliciously intriguing and captivating. Bridge and Julian are best friends and twins living with a father that makes life unbearable. When their mother finally makes the decision to divorce Emerson, the boys are split apart leaving Julian with their dad and Bridge no longer being able to protect him. As Julian is on the verge of becoming CEO of their dad's company, the unthinkable happens and he ends up in a coma. Emerson, aka Dad, suddenly needs Bridge, the son he hasn't spoken to in years, to step in a pretend to be Julian to protect the success of the company. Bridge hates his father but needs to take care of his mother whose health is failing. Being the protector that he is, Bridge makes a deal with the devil. What he never expects is to be completely enthralled with Julian's fiancé, Isobel. Isobel finds herself in the Tennyson prison but has finally had enough. When she met Julian in college, their connection was electric. Now, Julian is a workaholic that is cheating on her. After the accident, she is shocked to experience the Julian she first met in college and loves the direction their relationship is now going. I love Bridge and how hard he tries to find the balance in this crazy situation. His devotion to his mom is his driving force but he finds himself in situations he never anticipated. Is there any way he can avoid falling for Isobel? What if Julian wakes up, what happens then? This story grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until the end. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

“... outward beauty doesn’t keep a family together, doesn’t keep all the cracks and breaks at bay.”

This book had my feelings all over the board. One minute I was cheering them on and the next planning their funeral. I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to turn out. I was kept at the edge of my seat until the end. So many emotions sprinkled throughout... greed, pride, selfishness, jealousy, secrets, love and revenge.

“It was strange watching someone you love slowly lose pieces of himself until there’s nothing left.”

If you’ve ever been in a toxic relationship wondering why someone acts the way they do you can relate to many aspects of this book. If you haven’t you may sit back and say “I’d never allow someone to treat me that way..or I’d leave if they ever…” Until you’ve walked the walk you don’t really know what you’d do.

“The first time I walked through those doors years ago it felt like I held the keys to a new kingdom. I didn’t realize then that the kingdom was actually a dungeon and some things are covered in gold to distract from what’s underneath.”

Stealing Her is an amazing book written by Rachel Van Dyken. From the beginning to the end, the book was full of so many different emotions that at times you feel as if you've gotten whiplash.

Bridge and Julian are twins who were separated when their parents divorced. After years of estrangement, their dad shows up with a proposal for Bridge. If he will pretend to be Julian, then he will have enough money to pay for his mother's hospital bills.

Isobel is Julian's fiancee and has no idea what is going on and why Julian seems to be so different. I love all of her internal monologues and the fact the she is now a happy woman thinking that the Julian she fell in love with is back.

Full of the angst that we've come to love from a Rachel Van Dyken novel, I can admit that I'm anxiously awaiting Julian 's book.

Really enjoyed this book. It’s a story I actually haven’t read before because I thought it would be weird but RVD really does it right. I enjoy her writing so much.

I was screaming half way through “tell her” and getting frustrated that she wouldn’t connect the dots. It made for some definite angst. Great story of you enjoy this troupe.

Bridge and Izzy are dynamic. I guess they would be since Izzy is engaged to Julian, Bridge's twin brother.
Bridge and Julian were separated when their parents divorced and each got a child. After years of not being together, each brother thrived in a different world. Julian in the rich and famous world and Bridge in the not so rich and famous world. An unfortunate accident has their father asking for Bridges help. In the process, Bridge starts to fall in love with Izzy while Izzy thinks she's falling back in love with Julian. Secrets are exposed and truths told, but in the end its Izzy and Bridge who make it. Can't wait to read Julian's story.

To be brief, Stealing Her is the story of the prodigal son coming in to help the father who abandoned him. Bridge and Julian were twins who were separated from one another after their parents get divorced. Such an event changed the course of their lives forever. Years later, we see Julian trying to become CEO and Bridge working 2-3 jobs to pay for his mothers medical expenses. After a car accident leaves Julian in critical condition, their father manipulates Bridge into acting like Julian in order to go ahead with the merger and to stop the stocks from declining. Isobel, Julian's fiancé's, gets caught up in the middle of all of this. Julian and Isobel were not on good terms prior to his accident. But with Bridge posing as Julian, she starts falling in love with him all over again.

I had my reservations about this book after reading some reactions on the internet and I'm glad that I gave this book a chance. Rachel Van Dyken did a really great job crafting a story as twisted and original as Stealing Her. I didn't know how I would feel about Bridge lying to Isobel about who he really is but the author handled it really well. Isobel and Bridge connected instantly. She knew something wasn't right but she was finally being treated right so she didn't think anything of it. I had a hard time understanding why Isobel would be okay with being treated awfully by Julian. He controlled every aspect of her life and was unfaithful to her on at least one occasion.

I do wish that the author didn't cram everything into the final act of the book. It felt a bit overwhelming considering the speed of everything. Nevertheless, the book was great and one of the better books in 2019.

Rachel Van Dyken is one of my absolute faves! I was so excited to get a copy of Stealing Her. Stealing Her is about Bridge, his estranged brother, Julian and Julian's fiancé, Isobel. Years after tearing their family apart, Bridge's father comes to him with an offer he can't refuse. Pretend to be his twin brother and he gets money and care for his dying mother. It doesn't take long for Bridge to begin to feel very strongly for his "fiancé" and to become very good at his brother's job as CEO. Lines are crossed and lies are compounded.


Oh man, I really loved this book. Izzy and Bridge have such a strong attraction towards each other and I was really pulling for them to be together. They had many obstacles and lies in their way, but they overcame them all! This book was addicting and fast paced, I couldn't put it down once I got into it! I can't wait to read the next book in this series about Julian.

Thanks to Skyscrape and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Incredible 5+ star read! The first time I ever read this author's work, I thought she had a unique and different approach and she certainly delivers those sentiments in this latest book! Wow, I couldn't put it down--the whole premise is heart-stopping, heart-breaking and heart-warming all rolled into one. The dynamic among the characters in this family will have you wanting to throw your kindle across the room, while also cheering for Bridge, Izzy and Julian -- what wonderfully, well-developed characters. I don't want to ruin the plot by giving too much away so I'm going to strongly suggest read it without any preconceived notions -- read it now! Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved the story line, and I thought the author did a fabulous job of writing it. I appreciated having the book written with a dual POV as I felt it enhanced the story by allowing me access to the thoughts and feelings of both Bridge and Isobel.

I absolutely fell in love with Bridge from the very first chapter. He has the most wonderful personality and my heart broke for him when his life was turned upside down. He has always put others before himself so when he was put in a position that he couldn't say no to, my heart broke for him again.... if that is even possible.

I can understand why Isobel acts like she does in the book. I don't think that initially she has much choice or control as to where her life was leading.... not if she didn't want to be totally on her own. I know that it isn't always easy to make the right decisions, especially when more powerful characters exert lots of influence. All I wanted was for her to be happy and there were times when I wasn't sure if this was going to happen.

I couldn't put my kindle down once I started reading Stealing Her. I needed to know where the story was going, even though I did suspect what was going to happen in the end. My emotions were all over the place and I was torn between seeing the characters have their HEAs and wanting them to walk away from something that felt so wrong.

I'm really looking forward to the next book which I understand will be Julian's story. I can't wait to discover what happens next.

"Feelings all over the place"

I laughed, I cried, I sighed with adoration, I was furious and angry … all these feelings were a constant mixture while reading this great start into a new series by Rachel Van Dyken.

It is a strange feeling to root for a couple when you know right from the beginning the main male character, Bridge, is stealing the fiancé, Isobel, from his twin brother, Julian.

You would think this is a total no-no and there is no way a story like this can be romantic, suspenseful and really more than exciting.

But once you get into this book and you discover what is the driving force behind everyone’s actions as well as some totally unexpected plot turns, you just want to applause to Rachel for making a seemingly un-writable story so overwhelming and, seriously, addictive.

Now I really can’t wait to get my hands on the 2nd book in this more than promising series!