Review: Kingdom Come by Aleatha Romig

November 16, 2021 by · Leave a Comment
KINGDOM COME
Series: An Underworld Kings Series Standalone
Author: Aleatha Romig
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: November 16, 2021

They say the price of freedom is learning that you have nothing left to lose.

There was a time when I had it all. Money. Power. Love. And in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Along the road to my new life, I have a chance meeting with Cecilia Abernathy. Born to greatness, this American princess is out of my league. That doesn’t mean I don’t see her for the woman she is behind the headlines. In a rare glimpse I see not only her outward beauty but her inner determination. I’m moved by her in ways I don’t allow myself to ponder.

Time passes and I’m moving forward, persevering beyond my loss, and making a new name for myself. And then I’m given an assignment.

One job.
One quest.

If I succeed, my kingdom will be at hand.
If I fail, there will be no more chances.

Men like me aren’t saviors, and that isn’t my assignment. My mission is to find the daughter of one of the most powerful men in New York, in the country, and maybe the world. Find her and deliver her to her family’s rival.

Cecilia Abernathy has been kidnapped. All I have to do is exchange her current hell for another. And then I can walk away and claim my reward.

Has my taste of freedom made me willing to sell my soul for a kingdom?

Find out the answer in KINGDOM COME, a dangerous forced-proximity stand-alone romance by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig.

AMAZON

My kingdom would never come. A man didn’t fuck two of the most dangerous families and get rewarded.

Now it’s been a hot minute since I last read an Aleatha book. Since Consequences actually. And you know what? I have no idea why. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that this author can write one hell of a romantic suspense thriller. And this book? Oh what an intricate web it was.

Tell me you’re sorry that you woke the monster within me, the one that died when I died. Tell me to back away, Cecilia.”
My breasts throbbed against his hard chest. “I’m not sorry, Greyson.”
Releasing my hair, he reached for my wrists and pulled them over my head. “Oh, you will be.”

This was a slow burn romance full of intricate plot twists, action and suspense. Greyson is a character that’s easy to fall for. This is a broken man with plenty of demons in his past. I will say I feel like I did myself a disservice by not reading Devil’s Deal first. There is definitely some carry over from that story, and I couldn’t help but feel I was missing details of Greyson that would have been covered there. But having said that, there are still plenty of details given here to make sure the reader understands.

Greyson is a man running from his past. He’s an interesting dynamic of unassuming alpha. There’s this quiet intensity to him which I really loved. Cecilia was easily my favorite character in this story. This is a woman that’s grown up in privilege and money, but there’s a strength to her that gets unveiled with every new chapter. The woman is kidnapped, abused, and held to be sold. When all hope seems lost by her, she’s rescued by a handsome stranger. Only she doesn’t quite realize he has an agenda of his own.

There’s a strong mystery, thriller element to this story, which I loved. I couldn’t wait to peel back the layers of this this intricate web of lies and betrayal. Greyson does his best to keep Cecilia at arm’s length, but there’s only only so much he can do to avoid the temptation of the brewing chemistry between them.

My only quibble with the story is I felt like I was missing a large chunk by not having read the Devil’s duet first, but that’s on me. While this did feel like a standalone, I still think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read that duet first. But nonetheless, this was a story I devoured and enjoyed the hell out of. I now need to rectify my mistake of waiting so long to read another Aleatha book and binge on her backlist.

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Connect with Aleatha Romig:

Newsletter | Website |  Facebook | Amazon Author Page |Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

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Review: Twisted Obsession by Dani Rene

November 11, 2021 by ·
TWISTED OBSESSION
Series: An Underworld Kings Series Standalone
Author: Dani René
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: November 11, 2021
Obsession.
It’s a sickness she brought upon me.

And I’m about to make her pay.

I shouldn’t bring her into my world. But it was my father’s wish, it was the ultimate revenge on our enemies.

A poised, pristine princess, too pure for this life. And me, I’m the dark prince forced to be a King too soon.

She dances gracefully, capturing my attention, before fighting me like a savage tigress. She’s fire, burning through my darkness, and I’m the ice that will bring her to her knees.
Right where I like her.

I will make her bow.

I will make her submit.
And when I do, she’ll be my Queen.

AMAZON

I’m nothing more than a contract. A twisted obsession for him to use to fulfill his ultimate goal—revenge for my father’s actions.

So, apparently I’ve been sleeping on Dani René. How is this the first book I read of hers? I have no idea but I need more. As we all know, I have a thing for mafia romance. And this being in the Underworld King series I’ve been devouring, I figured let’s take a chance on a new to me author. And now? I’m seriously kicking my own ass for not trying her sooner.

I know about the violence, the darkness, and the bullshit that comes with my contract. Your boss may be next in line, but I’m a princess within my Familia. I’ve been born and bred to rule, and if he can’t accept a queen by his side, then he should kill me now.”

Revenge. Arranged marriage. A dark and ruthless mafia boss. A fierce heroine. All of my very favorite things.

Enzo de Rossi is the Underboss, and the fixer of the family until his parents are brutally murdered and he becomes the boss. He’s a man set on revenge at all costs and obsessed with finding out who betrayed his family. Luna is the daughter of his enemy, promised to him in a contract with the hope of uniting the two feuding families. But when Enzo’s father is killed, he no longer cares about peace. Luna is simply a pawn in his world, and their marriage a means to an end.

She’s gotten to me. She’s burrowing under my skin. And I have no way of getting her out.

Luna may be young and with an air of innocence, but she’s not naive, and she’s not blind to the life she grew up in. She knows her future husband hates her and her family and there’s nothing to be done for it. She also can’t seem to fight her growing attraction and chemistry to the brutal man.

Now this being a dark mafia romance, there is definitely some pretty graphic violence. And truth be told, some of the scenes…I was uncomfy. Dani doesn’t spare any details. Enzo is oozing unleashed violence and when he does unleash it on his enemies, well, let’s just say it’s not pretty.

I loved the ying and yang between him and Luna. He’s determined to keep her at arm’s length and she’s determined to get under his skin. I loved how fierce this woman was. She doesn’t shy away from the violence and she isn’t afraid to stand up to this man whose mere name instill fear into men. I loved the slow burn. And when they finally give into the inevitable? GAH! I was in praise kink, dominant heaven.

If you’re looking for a super dark mafia romance with a ruthless anti hero and a fierce heroine, this one will definitely do it for you.

Dani is a USA Today Bestselling Author of dark and deviant romance with a seductive edge.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, she now lives in the UK with her better half who does all the cooking while she writes all the words.

When she’s not writing, she can be found binge-watching the latest TV series, or working on graphic design either for herself, or other indie authors.

She enjoys reading books about handsome villains and feisty heroines, mostly dark, always seductive, and sometimes depraved. She has a healthy addiction to tattoos, coffee, and ice cream.

You can find more information on her website, www.danirene.com, or find her on social media, Instagram and Facebook being her favorites. Along with her newsletter, which you can sign up for here – https://bit.ly/DaniVIPs

AUTHOR LINKS

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dani-rene
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniReneAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danireneauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14541877.Dani_Ren
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dani-René/e/B016JZ7NZO
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authordanirene

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde

November 10, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

DARK REIGN
Series: Trilogy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Amelia Wilde
Release Date: November 9, 2021

“Dark Reign is sinful, deliciously complex and naughty, with an anti-hero who’s hauntingly addicting.” – Marni Mann, USA Today bestselling author

Wealthy.
Reclusive.
Dangerous.

Emerson LeBlanc doesn’t enter society much.

He only ventures out in pursuit of new art for his collection.

It starts with a haunting painting.

Then he meets the artist…

Innocent Daphne Morelli is more exquisite than anything he’s ever seen. He becomes obsessed with her.

It doesn’t matter that she’s a living, breathing person with her own hopes and dreams.

She’ll be the perfect addition to his collection..

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

Stop me,” he mutters. “What?” He takes my face in his hand and tilts it up. Those blue-green eyes are all shadows now. “Stop me,” he says again.

Do I love toxic fictional men? Absolutely.
Do I love dangerous toxic fictional men? Hell yes, I do.
Do I love Amelia Wilde’s particular brand of toxic alphas? GOD YES.

Now the woman upped her level of dangerous to stalker level, and I am SO HERE FOR IT.

Emerson is an enigma. He’s known in the art world as The Collector. He’s a connoisseur of fine art. He’s obsessed with the acquisition of it almost as much as his ownership. But his current obsession is a female whose name he doesn’t yet known. He’s fixated on her, and on a scale of 1 to 10, he’s at You level.
So basically somewhere at 175.

Daphne is the younger Morelli sibling and the sister of Leo from Secret Beast. She’s highly protected, sheltered, but not entirely naive. SHe’s also an up and coming artist. And when Emerson discovers that the woman behind the art he’s been admiring is also the beautiful stranger that captivated him when he saw her on the street? Well, all bets are off. He will do anything to get her away from her overprotective brother and have her in every sense.

These two were such dynamic characters. Emerson with his secret demons and stalker ways, and Daphne with her sheltered ingenue vibes. Admittedly this is not the sort of heroine I gravitate towards. She’s a bit too innocent, but you see her rose colored glasses come off with time. And slowly but surely she began to grow on me.

In typical Amelia fashion she closes on a killer cliff that leaves you desperate for the next book and I cannot FREAKING wait.

Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY bestselling author of dangerous contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

Connect with Amelia

Website: https://awilderomance.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14671616.Amelia_Wilde

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Wilde/e/B01C38CNJ2

Facebook: facebook.com/awilderomance

Instagram: https://instagram.com/awilderomance

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliawildeauthoress?

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amelia-wilde

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Review: In Silence She Screams by Amo Jones

November 6, 2021 by · Leave a Comment
IN SILENCE SHE SCREAMS
Series: Midnight Mayhem #3
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Amo Jones
Release Date: November 4, 2021

 

Love will never die if it exists on the lips of death. I often thought about this while I was locked inside my Doll House in Patience. Groomed every second of every day, they made sure to cover all of the darkness lurking in my soul with the false guise of perfection. The soul is fickle.

Naked to the public eye and only visible to the owner, a soul bleeds every time it’s put through pain. But when that’s hidden, it spreads.

The trick is to protect it from reaching your brain.

It was too late for me.

Until I met them.

One was an Elite King.

One was a Brother of Kiznitch.

Both were liars.

I’m Lilith Patience, The Sorcerer of Death and daughter of one of the most feared organizations known to man. After being thrust into the notorious world of Midnight Mayhem, I found myself coiled around a past that I want to forget and a future that could destroy me.

I love two men, and they love me as much as they love each other, but when the demons of my past tighten their grip around my throat, will I finally let them strip away the layers of perfection to get to my rotten, withered soul? Maybe.

Or maybe they’ll die trying.

Our love wasn’t the kind of love that was written in the cards… It was the kind of love that burned them.

There are two things that are on my mind days after I finished this book…

1. I can’t stop thinking about it
2. I can’t settle on a rating to save my life.

What I do know is that this story f*cked with my mind and my heart. But that’s not exactly news when it comes to a book of Amo’s. I’m truly terrified of the things that go through this woman’s mind, but damn am I grateful for them.

Every time I finish a book in this series, I’m desperate for the next one. But my feelings after finishing this one are all over the place. But we’ll get to that in a second. First let’s talk about the story.

I’ve heard of how people talk about Kyrin Nero. His interest is always a zero, but his body count is high. He fucks hard enough to leave the taste of himself burned in the back of your throat for years, so crisp that you’ll be whispering his name every time you think you aren’t.

The second I saw that this would be an MMF book, I was desperate to get my hands on it. I was also desperately anticipating Lilith and Kyrin because they both bring their version of crazy, and I do so love me those crazy ones.

Now if you love a good cross over and you’ve read Amo’s Elite Kings series, you’ll definitely appreciate this story. I haven’t read that series yet and I plan on changing that immediately.

Lilith, Eli and Kyrin’s story was many things. It was f*cked up, erotic, crazy, infuriating, and mind blowing. There were so many twists, that I could barely keep up. Now understand that my mind is already struggling just keeping up with all the different K names, because, well, puny brain and all. But I digress. What I’m trying to say is this story, much like the rest of this series, was twisted AF. Though surprisingly, where it couldn’t have been seriously dark, it only grazed the surface. I’m not sure if I’m grateful and disappointed about this, oddly enough. Why? Well because Lilith’s history is seriously f*cking f*cked. Like CRAZY. And it was uncomfy enough reading the mentions of it, though I couldn’t help but also want the gritty dark details. But I’m seriously f*cked up when it comes to dark books, soooo yeah. There is that.

One quibble, and this may have very well have been entirely purposeful was the chaotic way it was written. The flashbacks, the scene suddenly cutting off. If I was watching it as a movie, it would have been great. But with the book, it felt a bit jumbled. At least to my puny brain it did. I also can’t help but feel that I would have loved more fleshing out of these characters. I wanted to keep peeling away their layers, but I never really felt we get to the core of them. But did this take away from my enjoyment? Nope! I was still glued to the pages.

What seriously f*cked with me was that ending. GOD THAT ENDING. WHAT THE F*CK EVEN WAS THAT? I have a lot of feelings dammit!

Now if you’re looking for a seriously f*cked up, gritty and dark poly romance, this is it friends. It’s delicious and it’s addictive. Prepare to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride. And oh what a ride it is!

Amo Jones is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author whose books have been translated in multiple countries.

She resides in the tropics of Australia with her family, though she’s a born and bred Kiwi who more often than not, misses New Zealand.

Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub 

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Review: Broken Playboy by Laura Lee

October 22, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BROKEN PLAYBOY
Series: Windsor Academy #4
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Laura Lee
Release Date: October 22, 2021

They call me a player.

A joker.

The guy always down for a good time.

But if they knew the secrets I’ve been keeping, they’d call me something else entirely.

For the last two years, I’ve been buried in shame, numbing the pain with various vices. Drowning in self-hatred and concealing it with a smile.

I had a system in place, a surety that no one would learn the truth. Then Sydney Carrington came waltzing back into my life.

She’s the new headmaster’s daughter.
The most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.
The one person on Earth who can expose what I’ve worked so tirelessly to hide:

That I’m the fucking villain in this story.

BROKEN PLAYBOY is the fourth book in the Windsor Academy world. While it may be read as a standalone, as it focuses on a new couple, your reading experience may be enhanced if you read the entire series in order.
Wicked Liars
Ruthless Kings
Fallen Heirs

AMAZON

Enter the release giveaway for Broken Playboy!
​​https://bit.ly/BROKENPLAYBOYRELEASEGIVEAWAY

There’s madness in our kiss. Complete chaos swirled with desperation.

Who read a series backasswards again and started with book 4?
Do I have regrets? Not. A. One.

Well, actually I do have one. And that’s the fact that I haven’t read this author sooner. Clearly I’ve been sleeping on Laura Lee, but I plan on changing this immediately.

But let’s talk about this book. What do we a have? Well, there’s a broody, tortured, and I mean SERIOUSLY tortured bad boy who drowns his demons in drugs, alcohol, and sex. Me? GIDDY. Give me more.

What else we have? A spitfire heroine who is sassy and tough, but not impeccable to our hero’s raw sexuality, no matter how much of an ass he’s being. Me? Slightly annoyed but really intrigued.

But in all seriousness, I actually really liked the dynamic. Bentley is a king of his high school. He’s the bad boy every guy wants to be, and every girl wants to be with. He’s also hiding secrets that are slowly eating away at him that not even his best friends know. I really loved the growth his character goes through. There’s so many layers to this guy. So many, that I didn’t even care that he used words like “dawg”. Sydney is the new girl on campus. She’s not the cliche poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, but she’s not exactly stupid rich like the rest of the school. When she runs into Bentley, he looks familiar and she doesn’t know why. And Bentley? Well he hates her on the spot for reasons unknown to her.

There’s definitely some delicious tension and the enemies to lovers vibes are strong here and I gobbled them right up. I liked how Sydney takes no sh*t, even if she does give in too easily when Bentley turns the charm on and lets him get away too easy for his crap. But did I care? Not even a little. I was to invested.

The story has quite a bit of depth, and I loved how the author peels back the layers there as well. She doesn’t graze over the addiction element, which I appreciated. There’s plenty of background given that I didn’t feel lost having read this without the first three books. There’s definitely some story arc cross over and I greedily grabbed the first three books to learn more.

If you’re looking for a steamy enemies to lovers romance set in high school, this one was a clear winner for me. No cap. Did I use that right? I had to ask my daughter about that phrase. God I’m old.

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Review: Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

October 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

WINDOW SHOPPING
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: October 19, 2021

A sizzling, standalone, feel-good holiday romance from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer.

Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin.

I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store, when a charming man named

Aiden asks my opinion of the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie.
He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye.
Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot.

Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.
But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past, I know an opportunity when I see one—and I have to make it last.

I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows.

I’ll work without stopping. And when we lose the battle with temptation, I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.

AMAZON

I’m not what one would refer to as approachable. In fact, I’m fluent in Fuck Off. Hopefully he speaks it, too. Or at least knows how to read body language.

This is the story I never knew I needed but now I have no idea how I lived without it.

A reverse sunshine/grump trope with a grumpy with an ex convict heroine and a sunshine, Christmas loving and bow tie wearing hero? I. Am. PUTTEH.

I really thought I had a read on this man. He’s a wholesome rule follower who believes the best in people. A man who has a few demons lurking but is innately good at his core. Now we’re throwing a dirty streak into the mix? Good grief.

Oh did I forget to mention that he still has Tessa’s signature dirty talking side? Because holy ovaries, batman! I’m obsessed!

This was one of the cutest holiday romances I’ve read and the perfect book to cuddle up on the couch with on a cold and snowy night. But we’re still in fall, and I made due with a nice cup of tea and a blanket that I enjoyed with a giant goofy grin on my face, because THIS BOOK.

Stella nods, letting her head tip back and hit the wall. “Yes. Anything. Yes.”
Anything.
Permission granted, I reach down and yank up her skirt.

Stella recently moved to NY after serving her sentence and stumbles upon an atrocious holiday window display. Naturally, she tells the bow tie wearing handsome stranger making idle small talk with her on the street how she feels. And naturally he invites her to interview for the window design job. Oh and he may have forgotten to mention that he happens to be the namesake and owner of the store. Whoopsy.

Aiden is the quintessential nice guy I never knew I wanted. I am not generally a reader that likes nice guys. Wow, that sounds bad. What I mean is I want a nice guy in real life, and I love them toxic in fiction. But Aiden? He was just impossible not to love. He’s a sweet man with a dirty streak who is already picking out china patterns in his head the minute he and Stella get together. It takes Stella a hot minute to come to terms of her feelings for her boss, but once she does, it’s all in.

This was one of those feel good type of romances that will put a smile on your face and keep it there. It wasn’t angsty. It wasn’t full of drama. It was opposites attract in the perfectly cute holiday romance with plenty of dirty talk thrown in and all of the warm and fuzzies. The warm blanket of romances that is cozy, comforting, and heart warming.

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Review: Mafia Queen by CD Reiss

October 13, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

MAFIA QUEEN
Series: The DiLustro Arrangement #3
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Author: CD Reiss
Release Date: October 12,  2021

What doesn’t kill you makes you a killer.

Santino DiLustro changed me.

You can’t spend time in bed with the devil without getting addicted to the heat.

Before him, I was a girl.

Innocent and weak.

Now, I’m a woman.

A fighter.

A killer.

I’ll burn the world down for him.

Shatter the sky.

But I will not break.

No.

I will rise up and destroy whoever dares to threaten what my king has built, because I am forever his queen.

AMAZON

Between us, he rules me with love, and my love for him rules my life.

Talk about ending a trilogy with a bang. What a twisty, action packed, high octane ride this book was. My head is still spinning.

Love rules without rules. You are outside expectations. Bigger than the law or tradition. A filthy sinner like me can never reign over a woman like you.”
“The only place I want to be reigned over is the bedroom…”
“This, I can do.”

Each book in this trilogy brought a little something different. And in this one, as the title already implies, is the full evolution of Violetta. She started out as a bit of a petulant child bride in book one. We saw her evolve a bit and come to some hard realizations in book two. But this one truly brought her in full force. We get to see this young woman grow into the queen that she is, and man was it satisfying.

Santino and his uber alpha qualities were always my favorite thing about this story. I loved his cold detachment almost as much as I loved his singleminded obsession with his wife. But what I appreciated was finally seeing his true devotion and feelings come out in this installment and seeing a different side of him. A softer side that did nothing to take away from his savage one.

There’s a lot that happens in this book, and at times it always felt a bit much with all the twists and turns. The pacing at times felt a little bit off for me as well. There’s so much happening, and some of it felt like it was happening all at once, that it was hard to wrap my mind around it. But that didn’t stop me from devouring this book. It was a bloody, violent bang of an end, and I was so here for it. What I loved the most was seeing Violetta’s savage and ruthless side come out. This is a mafia queen that doesn’t shy away from pulling the trigger when it comes to protecting those she loves. There’s twists you never see coming, and turns that leave your mind reeling. There’s also a hook for a new book with a secondary character that I’m practically salivating to get my hands on.

I’ve missed this side of CD’s writing and I lived for it with this trilogy. I’m even more thrilled to see we’ll be getting more in this world. If you’re looking for a sexy and gritty mafia romance with bite, look no further! Read this one!

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Review: Stolen- Dante’s Vow by Natasha Knight

September 30, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

STOLEN: DANTE’S VOW
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Author: Natasha Knight
Release Date: September 30, 2021

Five years.
That’s how long it took me to find her.

Five years after my world shattered, leaving me a scarred and broken man.

By then, the girl I knew was gone. In her place stood a woman. One who looked like an angel. An impossible, beautiful angel.

I killed for her. Soaked my hands in the blood of those who hurt her and rescued her from hell.

But hell has a way of following you. Becoming a part of you. Maybe the only part you recognize.

I had every intention of bringing her home. Setting her free.
I swear I did.

But the men who kidnapped her all those years ago weren’t done with her yet. They’d stop at nothing to get her back. And I’d kill any man who tried to take her from me.

She calls me her avenging angel.
But I know the truth.
I’m no angel.

Because even as I tell myself I’m protecting her I know one thing for sure.

I am a monster, too. No better than them.
Because just like them, I’ll never let her go .

Author’s note: Stolen is Dante Grigori’s story and although a standalone, would be better enjoyed after reading With This Ring and I Thee Take.

AMAZON 

 

I’m here now, Mara. And I may not be the boy you remember, but I am the man you’ll come to know. The man who will destroy your demons.”

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this story forever! The second that Dante appeared in With This Ring, I was intrigued. And when the revelations in I Thee Take happened, well, let’s just say I was damn near salivating for this story. When I saw Natasha post a teaser about writing Dante’s book, I was pretty much rabid in my need to get my hands on it. So is it any surprise that the second it landed on my kindle, I devoured it in one sitting? I think not.

I can’t have her. So much has been stolen from her already. I won’t steal a love I don’t deserve.

I highly recommend that you read the To Have and To Hold duet prior to this book. There’s a lot of overarching story arc that really sets the stage for this story. And while you can technically still enjoy this as a standalone, some of the big nuances may be missed on you if you do.

We met Dante’s brother in that duet and we learn quite a bit about the brother’s family and history. We get to know their years long vendetta for the gruesome death of their family. But at the end of the duet we learn that the woman that they thought died all those years along with their family, may not have. Stolen actually takes place five years after I Thee Take.

Dante has been tirelessly searching for Mara, who has been barely surviving her captivity to a monster all of these years. Sold into sexual slavery, she made a deal with her owner five years ago to save Dante’s brother’s woman. And it cost her. The book starts off pretty much right away with her rescue and the aftereffects of what she’s been through.

I loved Mara. She’s a fighter and a survivor, no matter the hell she’s been through the past 15 years. She may have grew up with Dante the boy, but she doesn’t recognize the man, and their connection takes a while to reestablish. I loved watching this ruthless killer handle this woman like she’s made of spun glass. He was her fiercest protector, even if that protection was against himself.

I’m not sure why I thought this was a duet when it’s a standalone. But a part of me kept thinking that I would have loved this to be a bit longer. I would have liked to get a bit more fleshing out with things at the end. But as it was, I still devoured it and loved every page. The connection between Mara and Dante was years long in the making. There’s a deliciously complex secondary character who gets introduced and I’m already hoping we get his story next, because DAMN.

But if you’re looking for a gritty mafia romance read, look no further. Knight delivers as always with packing a story full of emotion, darkness, and steam.

 

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over half a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://natasha-knight.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/natasha-knight
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kg2fRX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashaknightauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1752075498339742
Newsletter: http://natasha-knight.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknightromance

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Review: The Lawyer by Marni Mann

September 28, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE LAWYER
Series: The Dalton Brothers #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Marni Mann
Release Date: September 28, 2021

A sexy, new stand-alone in the Dalton Brothers Series from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …

 

I’m not the type of girl who picks up a man on a rooftop bar.

Not the kind of girl who lets a man’s hands roam my body, discovering I have no panties on.

Never the girl who has hours’ worth of o’s from a smoking-hot one-night stand.

 

But Dominick makes it so easy to say yes.

His body, his moves, and his oh-so-wicked tongue have me saying it over and over again.

Yes, please.

Yes, more.

Yes, right there.

 

He worships every inch of my body, and I’m still sore the next morning when I meet him again.

 

This time, he’s Mr. Dalton, my sister’s cutthroat entertainment lawyer.

And he has a proposition for me.

 

He wants to make me famous.

 

Of course, that means sharing a screen with my wildly jealous sister.

It means giving up my career.

It means the whole world will suddenly know everything about me.

 

Which presents one catastrophic problem—Dominick doesn’t date famous people.

 

So, do I take a chance at becoming a Hollywood star, or do I pass up the opportunity to be with the man who gave me a taste of forever?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO

Get over here.” My eyes narrowed as I took her in, deciding that if she didn’t move closer in the next few seconds, I was going to lift her myself.

Well, wasn’t this just the spicy little number. Ovary approved!

The Lawyer is an erotic romance in the brand new Dalton Brothers series, and after this book, I am so here for it!

She was soon going to be a client, and that was something I wouldn’t mess with. “Not going to happen, man.” I shook my head to emphasize the point. “Trust me.” He tapped his fist on the wood. “What do you want to put on it?” “Your plane.” He laughed again. “It’s a bet I’m not going to lose, so why don’t you tell me what I’ll get if I win?” “Name your prize—one of my cars, a trip to fucking Fiji, a hundred grand, whatever you want.” He stretched his hand in my direction. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Now generally, I don’t love when a book starts with an immediate bang, if you catch my drift. I like the burn. I want the anticipation of it. I want the feels. But damn it all if I minded for even a second that we get right to the good stuff here. The very second that Dominick appears on the pages with his dominant, alpha male energy that’s just oozing sexual appeal, I couldn’t care less what happens. And when the man lays his eyes on a beautiful stranger at a bar, he’s not shy going after her. But what both anticipate to be a one night stand turns out to be much more.

Kendall moved from home to work for her reality star sister, or as I like to call her, the wicked witch of blah. Because my GOD did I hate that woman. But I digress. Kendall never wanted the stardom like her sister does, but her beauty and charisma is exactly what Dominick is looking for in a new reality star. He can shut off their chemistry for a second and look at it as business only. HA!

This was one of those books that I didn’t really care about the plot but more about the romance, if that makes sense. The Hollywood thing in books isn’t my cuppa, but I didn’t mind it here. I did wish I got to see a bit more of Kendall’s backbone when it came to her selfish sister, but it didn’t fully come until the very end. I also loved seeing the ultimate playboy and self professed womanizer fall for the girl and become her biggest defender.

All in all it was a fun, fluffy but steamy romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.


USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts unique stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their yellow Lab. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.

Connect with Marni

Facebook: http://bit.ly/MarniMannFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1597153177180837/

Twitter: http://bit.ly/MarniMannTW

Instagram: http://bit.ly/MarniMannIG

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/MarniMannPin

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IsSRWC

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/MarniMannBB

Website: http://marnismann.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400988.Marni_Mann

Book+Main: https://bit.ly/2D45g2Z

Sign up for her newsletter: http://marnismann.com/newsletter/

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: ,

Review: Just Like Heaven by Trilina Pucci

September 21, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

JUST LIKE HEAVEN
Series: The St. Simeon Prep Series #1
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Trilina Pucci
Release Date: September 20, 2021

??’? ? ????????—?? ???????????.
??’?? ????? ?? ????? ???.
If only I could’ve convinced my heart.

We were gorgeously young and desperate for one another.

His lips whispered promises of all the stars in the sky. While I dreamt of a love that would last forever.

But we’re star-crossed.
Fate had decided our course.
Leaving us to cling to each other as we crumbled to ash.

His need became possession.
My innocence turned jaded.
Our families declared war.
All that remained was hate.

But Calder was raised by wolves. The rules didn’t apply. I was his until he said otherwise—for better or for worse.

Our love story’s bathed in crimson and drenched in bullets.
Because sometimes, Romeo comes with tattoos, guns, and a taste for blood.

AMAZON

Why are you here?”
His hand comes up, fingers brushing my hair from my eyes before he answers, making the world come back into focus. “I’m here because you are.”

A modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling that will tug at every heartstring you have and leave you reeling in your feels.

Calder isn’t an empty threat—he’s a promise.

Now look, I’m not generally a reader that enjoys insta anything; particularly of the insta love variety. But somehow, Trilina Pucci has made a liar out of me in this book. Maybe it was because there was enough tension to build everything up that the somewhat insta love really flowed into the story? Maybe it was the Romeo and Juliet vibes of star crossed lovers who are doomed from their first glance. Whatever the case, it just worked for me here.

Sutton and Calder couldn’t be more different. Sutton is the good girl, daughter of a senator. Calder is the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and son of a ruthless criminal. Their love is doomed from the start, but they’re drawn to each other like moths to a fire.

Seconds that feel like minutes tick by as Calder says nothing, eyes locked on mine, stealing all my rational thought. Because he has that same storm behind his eyes. And as strange as it sounds, it makes him beautiful, like an exquisitely broken soul at war with himself and everyone else around him.

A fated love. A chance meeting. A stolen glance. It all gets set in motion the second Sutton lays eyes on the new bad boy in town. Their fathers are mortal enemies. Sutton’s father being a ruthless and driven senator determined to eliminate crime in their town. And Calder’s father being a ruthless criminal with mafia ties who’s bringing the crime to it. Calder was born into a life of crime and knows he’ll die knowing nothing different.

The only reason I’m rating this a four is as much as it worked for me here, I still like a bit of tension between the MCs and Sutton’s fall for Calder was instant. Not that I blame her. The man oozes sexual chemistry the second he appears on the page. And I appreciate that while their connection is instant, them getting together wasn’t. There was tension, the odds stacked against them, and I lived for their stolen moments together.

The spice in this book was EVERYTHING. That confessional and holy water scene? Holy hell.

And then there was the cliff. I was prepared for a cliff, don’t get me wrong, it’s a duet after all. But I was NOT prepared for this one. It ripped my heart from my chest and left me with bated breath until the next installment.


Trilina is a former professional dancer (you may have even seen her on the MTV Music Awards) and a USA Today Bestselling author who loves cupcakes and bourbon.

When she isn’t writing steamy love stories, she can be found devouring Netflix with her husband, Anthony, and their three kiddos. Pucci’s journey into writing started impulsively. She wanted to check off a box on her bucket list, but what began as wish-fulfillment has become incredibly fulfilling. Now she can’t see her life without her characters, her readers, and this community.

She’s known for being a trope defier, writing outside of the box and creating fictional worlds her readers never want to leave.

AUTHOR LINKS

Newsletter | Website | Amazon Author | Facebook |  Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads |  BookBub | FB Readers Group | Pinterest | Book+Main | TikTok

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