Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Dirty Wild Series is a spin-off of the Dirty Duet
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Author
Series: Dirty Wild, Dirty Universe
This is a spinoff of the Dirty Duet Series.
Author: Laurelin Paige
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Single (#1); Alternating (#2-3)
Publication Date: March 2021 – September 2021
Source & Format: Kobo—eBook (Own-#1); KoboPlus (#2-#3)
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
It’s a given at this point, I love anything Laurelin Paige writes. The Dirty Universe books have been cohesive yet original for each series. They’ve all got a darker edge to them but the plots differ as they explore different tropes with unique characters.
I’d been looking forward to Cade’s book because he was such an enigma in the other books in this universe. So I patiently waited for all these books to be released so I could binge them in one go!
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Darker Edge–
If you’ve read the synopsis I think it’s obvious that this book has a darker tone as our heroine, Jolie, recruits our hero, Cade, to kill her father. That plot-point brings an edge of danger and action to this series that wasn’t there in the previous books. It also introduces a bit of a mystery about why Jolie has returned after staying away for so long.
–Relationship Starts at Zero–
Both Cade and Jolie are characters we don’t know too much about. Honestly, I’m not even sure if Jolie is mentioned in the other books–or if she is, I totally forgot about it! Cade plays a small role in the other books, but he is only briefly mentioned so I didn’t know much about him either. So their shared past is a completely unknown to me and therefore, I wasn’t sure what to expect of their relationship.
Whereas, the other books that are in this universe, allude to things a little more with the next set of leads thanks to plotlines that interweave a little more.
–Interweaves With Other Series–
I always enjoy when these books overlap with the previous novels in the Dirty Universe. It helps give you as the reader a 365-degree view of what was happening and how other characters felt about it. Like I said above, it doesn’t overlap a lot but enough that you can see where it fits in the grand scheme of the universe.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Slow Start for Wild Rebel–
I thoughts things moved a little too slowly in Book #1, Wild Rebel. We did a lot of dancing around issues for the first half of the book. Things picked up by the end though and once we get on that track, the plot and romance picks up rapidly in the subsequent books.
Series Rating: 4/5
Wild Rebel 3/5 | Wild War 4/5 | Wild Heart 5/5
This was a series that slowly built as you put the puzzle pieces together to see the entire picture. It’s a great series to binge for that reason!
Read if You Like: second chance romances, suspenseful romances
Avoid if You: dislike dark stories, stories involving abuse
- Deeper by Robin York (Caroline & West Series #1)
- Bad Romance by Jen McLaughlin
- Arrogant Bastard by Winter Renshaw (Arrogant Series #1)
Synopsis for Wild Rebel (from Goodreads):
We were supposed to run away after graduation.
When she didn’t show at our meeting place, I got brave and went after her.
It was a mistake.
I left bloodied and bruised.
I had no choice but to walk away.Years passed.
I traveled, settled halfway around the world,
made enough money that I didn’t have to look back.
But I never got over her.Then, out of the blue, she calls.
And, what she asks for, the favor that she wants?
I never thought I’d be willing to take a life.
But the truth is, and always has been: I’d do anything for her.
