Review: In Fury Lies Mischief by Amo Jones

March 12, 2020 by · Leave a Comment
IN FURY LIES MISCHIEF
Series: Midnight Mayhem #2
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Amo Jones
Release Date: March 10, 2020

She was everything that I wanted.
He was everything that I despised.

Until she wasn’t.
Until he wasn’t.

Killian Cornelii was a walking calamity. He reached inside of me and touched every single inch of my ruined soul, but he didn’t just touch it. He caressed, petted, and captivated it. He tailored me to fit into the palm of his hands. The same hands that possess so much cruelty, were the very same that comforted me.
I thought I knew him.
He thought he knew me.
This isn’t a fairy tale, or some achingly beautiful story about two soul mates who instantly fall irrevocably in love with each other.
This is a story about a love so painful, so rich, that it destroys everything and everyone around it.
Including ourselves.

Midnight Mayhem is the platform to which Killian performs his tricks on, but the greatest trick wouldn’t come from him.
It would come from me.

Tricksters don’t have hearts.
They just pretend that they do.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Killian is the kind of wild you want to run away with, not cage. He’s an untamed animal, turbulent and vicious.

Holy hell! My brain right now! What. Just. Happened?!

I’ve come to the conclusion that when it comes to Amo Jones books, I need to completely suspend my disbelief, shut off my brain, grab a drink, brace myself, and enjoy the freaking ride. Because holy hell! I have no idea what I just read, but damn if I didn’t enjoy it.

The Midnight Mayhem world is still a bit of a blur to me as I try to wrap my mind around all of the craziness that surrounds it. But what I do know is that I can’t seem to get enough of it and the crazy characters that star in it. The Kiznitch is dark, mythical, and completely fucked up. And this reader just gobbles it up.

I’ve been itching to get my hands on Killian’s story. The trickster and his elusive fire bending beauty, Saskia, totally stole the show here. Admittedly, I’m not big on the dramatics when it came to Killian’s relationship with Maya and Callan, none of it seemed to deter from my enjoyment of this book.

Saskia and Kill were absolutely incendiary together. The two of them seemed to go from 0 to 60 in the span of a chapter, but I loved it. It felt almost weird at times because it seemed like part of their connection happened off the pages, but the more I read, the more things began to come together, and the more invested I was in the story.

There’s so much that happens here and at times it almost felt like my brain would explode. The final 30% of the story was a total and complete mind fuck. And surprise, surprise, but I loved that too.

The chemistry between Kill and Saskia was utterly delicious. I couldn’t get enough of their constant back and forth, push and pull. It should have almost been frustrating, but instead it just got me more sucked into their crazy madness.

Killian was every bit the maniac that King was, but with a bigger edge. I loved his menace that was hidden beneath the sexy smirks and snarky banter. The man was absolutely lethal. Saskia certainly wasn’t a wallflower herself. She gives as good as she gets, and boy did she make him work for it in parts. Did I mention how much I loved their push and pull dynamic of the I want you but I can’t have you? GAH.

I read this in one sitting and was left with my head reeling and desperate for my next fix. I’m completely obsessed with this series!

Amo Jones is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, totally winging this author thing (she’s probably doing it all wrong). She likes cake, loves wine, and her religion is magic (Slytherin). She’s a profound work-a-holic, but when she’s not writing, you can find her chilling with her kids & Husband at the nearest beach, with a cocktail in her hand.

New Zealand is not a state of Australia and rugby is the best sport ever played.

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

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Review: Kiss The Stars by AL Jackson

March 10, 2020 by · Leave a Comment
KISS THE STARS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: AL Jackson
Release Date: March 5, 2020

A Falling Stars STAND-ALONE NOVEL from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson…

A single mother.

An up-and-coming drummer with a sordid past.

Their paths never should have crossed.

But when a senseless crime rocks Mia West’s entire world, she agrees to spend the summer hiding out at her rock-star brother’s mansion in Savannah until the storm blows over.

What she never expected was the gorgeous, brooding drummer living in the guest house.

His darkness a lure.

His gaze a trap.

She knows better than to go after what will hurt her most.

Leif Godwin has two focuses in his life: his band, Carolina George, and seeking retribution for what was stolen from him.

Mia was never supposed to be a part of the equation.

Her eyes an appeal.

Her body a temptation.

Touching her is nothing but a sin.

But will loving her destroy them all . . .

You are the light I stopped believing existed.”

Whoa. I wasn’t expecting this book at all. It took me completely by surprise. In all honesty, rockstar romance isn’t really my thing any more. It’s just not the story I tend to gravitate towards. But being the huge fan of AL Jackson that I am, I decided to take a chance on this one, and I’m so glad I did. Because it wasn’t the typical rockstar romance at all. This story featured some of the characters from her other rockstar romance books which I haven’t had a chance to read yet, but fully intend to. Having said that, this is definitely easily enjoyed as a standalone and if you’re like me, you’ll have no problem being sucked right into this world.

There’s just something about a single mom meets reclusive rockstar that just sounds utterly delicious to me. And this certainly was that. Mainly because Leif is the furthest thing from the usual rockstar. He’s a talented drummer but he’s a recluse. He shies away from the limelight and all of the things that come with it. He’s hiding painful secrets from his past. But when Mia quite literally stumbles into his life, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

Mia is still reeling from the tragic and violent event in her past that has her in hiding on her famous rockstar brother’s estate. Leif is staying in the pool house as he’s working with her brother’s band. And even though he tells her that he’s bad at every turn, she can’t seem to stay away from him either.

There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye at first. It’s full of twists and turns and a suspense that had me eagerly turning the pages long into the night. My one quibble is that the usual lyrical writing style that I enjoy with AL Jackson’s books just didn’t fit the genre of this one for me. It felt repetitive and a touch too purple prose in parts. There was a dark and gritty feeling to this book and I LOVED it. But the descriptive nature of the writing took a piece away from that for me.

Having said that, I still devoured this in one sitting. It was emotional and unexpected and full of twists I never saw coming. I loved the suspense element and the slightly grittier feel of the story.

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Review: The Sinful King by Claire Contreras

March 9, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

THE SINFUL KING
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: March 5, 2020

If you had any ties to Marbella, it was impossible for you not to have heard the stories about Prince Elias and his debauchery.

Every summer he arrived with his security detail and friends in tow and rented out a row of cottages near the water.

Cottages that belonged to my family.

Each of those summers, my parents sent me away – summer camp and later, boarding school. Anything to keep me away from the royals and their partying.

I hadn’t been home in years, but when I finally come back for the summer, I see that not much has changed. Like all the summers I’d been gone, Prince Elias is back, but this time with an incognito security detail and no friends.

This time, there is no partying, no noise, no crowds. No reason at all to even think he was there.
I’m given strict orders not to talk to him, not to even look in his direction, but he makes this an impossible task.

I may be doing everything in my power to stay away from him, but there is no one in the world who can say no to the future King of France.

AMAZON

You don’t curtsy to me,” he said into my ear.
“Are you not my King?”
“Are you not my world?”

If you’re looking for an utterly romantic and swoony royal romance chock full of heart and brimming with passion, look no further. The Sinful King was all of those things. I greedily devoured it in one sitting. It was just one of those sweet, steamy and feel-good type of romances that’s easy on the angst but with plenty of feels.

Say it, Addie.”
“Say what?” I was already finding it hard to breathe and we hadn’t even started doing anything.
“You want to get f*cked by your king.

Adeline and Prince Elias’s story is full of surprises and passion. It’s basically a fairytale for the modern day woman, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Adeline has always lived on the skirts of the royal family. Her father is in the King’s cabinet but has always been vocal in his views on the monarchy and what they stand for. In one night for herself, Adeline meets a handsome stranger and shares a passionate night with him. Only to find out when she leaves that she just shared the night with the future king of France. Years later, she’s back, on the tail end of a personal scandal. The last thing she needs is more spotlight. She’s looking to get her party planning business more successful and stay out of the camera’s flashes. But that’s difficult to do when the prince of France has his eyes set on you.

Gosh this book was dreamy. I loved the two of them together. I loved Adeline’s sweet naivety and Eli’s quiet intensity. I loved their chemistry and the way they just set the pages on fire. This was just one of those wonderfully satisfying standalones that leaves you with a smile on your face.

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Review: Kiss of Vengeance by S. Young

March 3, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

KISS OF VENGEANCE
Series: True Immortality #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: S. Young
Release Date: March 3, 2020

A standalone adult paranormal romance from New York Times Bestselling author Samantha Young writing as S. Young.

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the deepest love… and the darkest revenge.

AMAZON

No one had ever kissed her like Fionn. Like she was air. Life. Food and water all in one.

I am completely obsessed with this vividly rich world that Young has created and my obsession only grows with each new book. I thought I loved the first book in this series, so I was completely unprepared just how much more this one would suck me in. WOW.

PNR was the genre that made me fall in love with romance. So suffice it to say I’m incredibly picky when it comes to it. There’s something so unique and authentic about this world and these characters, in a way that only Young can create, that I just can’t seem to get enough of.

He wanted to fuck the woman he planned to use in his vengeance. It was inconvenient to say the least.

While this is a standalone with a new couple, I highly recommend reading War of Hearts first as it really paves the foundation of the story. There’s an overarching story arc that continues with each book and I really feel like you’d miss out on the full experience of the story not having read the books in order.

Fionn was a character that grabbed me in the first book and he wasn’t even represented in real life. We just learn about him as the heroine read about him and he was THAT vivid. Now the full experience of Fionn? Holy moly! The man is intense. Fionn is desperate for vengeance against the queen of fae that took away everything from him. He’s been hunting for a way back to their world ever since he’s been awakened, and when he stumbles into Rose, he knows that not even his deep rooted desire for her will stop him from doing what he needs to do.

Rose Kelly doesn’t know who she is. She’s been a nomad for years. Never staying in one place long enough to form any connections. But when she looks into the arresting eyes of Fionn Mór when he walks into the bar she works at, she has a sense of something more. Little does she know her true role in his mission.

I devoured this book. The story is a bit of a slow burn but perfectly paced. There’s so many layers to this book that go beyond the romance. That’s not to say the romance didn’t take center stage, because man did it! I loved Story and Fionn together. What I love the most about this series is how incredibly strong and capable the heroines are. They aren’t damsels in distress waiting for a strong man to ride in and ave the day. They’re fierce. And Rose is certainly no exception. She may be young but she’s not naive. She’s strong and fiery with a sharp tongue and a quick wit.

I’m completely addicted to this series and salivating for the next book. If you’re a fan of PNR, this is an absolute must read. And if you’re not, this series may make a converter out of you.

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Review: Crowne of Lies by CD Reiss

February 28, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

CROWNE OF LIES
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: CD Reiss
Release Date: February 28, 2020

Logan Crowne needs one year from Ella.

Twelve months living in his house, holding his hand, wearing his ring on her finger, and in exchange, she’ll get her father’s company in the divorce settlement.

They have one year to convince his skeptical parents that they’re happily in love, and he’s settled enough to run Crowne Industries.

Ella wants the company badly enough to live with a man who will never love her. She’ll sleep in his room and kiss him for show.

Her heart may melt whenever he’s around, and his touch may ignite a fire inside her, but surrender will break her heart.

She’s sure she can last a year without giving him her body.

She’s wrong.

AMAZON

Naughty was the wrong word for Logan. He was a completely and wonderfully debauched demon.

You know what I love about CD Reiss? The woman can write one heck of a sinfully sexy hero. I’m talking the cream of the crop here, people. A dirty talking god of a man. Logan Crowne was all of the things!

What’s in your head?”
“Getting my hand under your dress and finding out if you’re wet.”
“Logan,” I scolded in a hiss. “We just said—”
“We said no feelings.” He took me by the chin. “If I took you right now, f*cked you raw, gave you a dozen orgasms and came deep inside you, it would mean nothing to me.”
My panties were soaked through. “Me neither.”

I’ll give you a moment to compose yourself. Need a tissue? Some ice? All of the above. I’m telling you!!! The man damn near ruined me.

If you’re a fan of the marriage of convenience trope, this book is going to be your crack of choice.

What I love even more that Reiss’s dirty talking alpha males are her strong and sharp witted heroines. And boy did Ella check those boxes. She’s the polar opposite of proper and tightly wound Logan. She’s a free spirit, an artist, a woman that stands on her own two feet and will never let a man define her. But she’s also desperate to sustain her beloved father’s fashion label after his passing. She made a promise to him that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep with her step mother heading up the company. All she wants is enough money to buy the company outright, and the answer comes in the shape of an equally desperate Logan Crowne.

All Logan has known for years is work. Running himself thin has never been a problem, until his father ultimately gives him an ultimatum. His brother will run the company while Logan goes out there and lives his life. And when he finds happiness and a woman to settle down with, he’ll give him back the reins. Unfortunately Logan has no interest in love and happily ever afters like his parents’ marriage. So what’s a man to do? Pay a woman ten million dollars to marry him for a year. Ella challenges him at every turn. She’s nothing like what he needs, but he soon finds that she becomes everything he craves.

I loved the fiery chemistry between these characters. There’s just something so hot about a tightly wound man with a wicked tongue and a free spirited artist with sass and a nose ring. They’re polar opposites, but when they get together…FIREWORKS.

I gobbled this up in one sitting. I’ve become completely obsessed with this series. And the set up for the next book? I DIE!!! I need it!

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Review: Unforgiven by Jay Crownover

February 25, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

UNFORGIVEN
Series: Loveless, Texas #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jay Crownover
Release Date: February 25, 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love–a woman in danger who insists she doesn’t need his protection.

Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn’t gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father’s mysterious death, and he’s forced back to the town–and the woman–he left behind.

When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton’s already battered heart. And now that he’s working on her father’s case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings–until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her…for good.

Includes the bonus novella Cowboy to the Rescue by A.J. Pine!

AMAZON

It was my unfortunate luck that fate was determined to have love, death, and Kody Lawton pulling my strings for an eternity.

There is nothing more delicious than the sweet, sweet angst of unrequited love. And when that love is for your brother’s widow? I am SO HERE FOR IT.

The second Hill made his first appearance at the end of Justified, sparks flew. I’ve been practically salivating in my wait for his and Kody’s book. So the second this landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say GIMME!

She always wanted space, and I was always running after her. It was like an adult game of tag, only I never managed to catch her.

Hill has been in love with Kody since they were teenagers. He was always the quiet reliable one to Kody’s fiery storm. Kody is the wild Lawton. She’s got sass for days and a wild streak that always keeps her on the skirt of trouble. Her entanglement with the local biker club and their prez is just one example. But Kody is also a broken soul. She lost the man she loved and she’s still trying to recover from all of it.

Loving him forced my icy heart to thaw. Losing him froze it right back up and shattered the brittle block of ice into a million pieces. I was certain I was never going to be warm.

And now the man that she least expects or wants to see is back to investigate her father’s murder and she’s forced to deal with all the feelings she thought she buried long ago.

I loved Hill’s quiet intensity and how he was this wall of reliability to Kody’s fire. He’s been in love with her since they were teens. But when she started dating his brother, he forced himself to back off. Kody knows that the blame she’s placed on Hill all these years is wrong, but she’s struggling. She’s struggling with her father’s death, even if he was a terrible father and a corrupt man. She’s struggling with her feelings for Hill. And she’s struggling with the threat against her family with the murderer still out there.

I fell so hard for Hill in this book. As much as I love me an alphahole, I love a good man, too. And Hill was as good as it gets. His love and protectiveness to Kody is incredible. My heart ached for him.

There’s so much that happened in this book that made for one page turner. There’s the suspense element with a couple of new characters that are introduced that I was immediately intrigued by. I’m slowly dying for Shot’s book and after the set up at the end of this book, I’m pretty sure I’ll die of anticipation. Hill and Kody’s romance was so incredibly satisfying. The mystery of Kody’s father murder continues while we get some of the puzzle pieces revealed and holy moly were those juicy! I can’t wait for the next book already!!

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Review: Not Your Shoe Size by Eve Dangerfield

February 19, 2020 by · 2 Comments

NOT YOUR SHOE SIZE
Series: Act Your Age #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Eve Dangerfield
Release Date: January 21, 2020

Kate McGrath knows the daddy situation has changed. For one thing her kink’s gone mainstream (what up, internet!) For another, her relationship with Ty, AKA Daddy, has growing pains. After years of protecting herself with faux-girliness, Kate finally feels like a woman. She wants Ty to treat her like a grown up (bedroom excluded, obviously), but emancipation is the first fantasy her daddy doesn’t seem able to fulfil…

Tyler Henderson is happy with things the way they are. And if they have to change, why can’t Kate marry him? That would be nice. And make him look like less of a dirty old man. He’ll fight to keep Middleton where she is, but he isn’t counting on a daddy rival, a man from Kate’s past who would be more than happy to take her off his hands…

Jealousy combines with mistaken identity to throw the status of one of Romancelandia’s top five D/LG couples (at least!) into turmoil. Ty and Kate need to find common ground, but love is a dangerous game, no matter what your age.

AMAZON

People weren’t nice, family wasn’t safe, home wasn’t a refuge, and love could twist until you felt like your partner was the biggest thing holding you back.

Confession time: I’m not a reader that gravitates towards books on additional books for a couple that’s already had a HEA. Why? Because I feel like every time I have, it always ruins the first book for me. Something happened that completely takes away from all the warm and fuzzies that I had with the first book and I end up hating myself a little in the end. So yeah. I don’t do it. Unless, Eve Dangerfield writes one. AND she writes it for one of my most beloved couples EVAH. Then I’m going to put on my big girl panties, suck it up, and take the plunge.

This was the perfect icing on the cake for this couple. It takes you through the struggles of their relationship and age gap after they’ve been together 5 years. It shows you the vulnerabilities that both Ty and Kate still continue to work through. It takes you into the true heart of them and I loved every second that I got to spend there. They’re still desperately in love and as kinky as ever, but they have broken pieces they’re trying to mend too. I don’t want to tell you too much so not to detract from the experience, but I will tell you that it was immensely satisfying and I especially loved the cheeky way it was all brought together. I see what you did there, Eve 🙂

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Review: A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

February 16, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

A Worthy Opponent
Series: Wicken Villains #3
Genre: Erotica, Erotic Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: February 1, 2020

Once upon a time I was a girl who believed in love and happily ever afters.

Now the only thing I believe in is revenge.

Unfortunately for me, there’s only one man willing to help me.

Hook.

I should have known it wouldn’t be out of the goodness of his heart.

He doesn’t have one.

No, Hook wants his ring on my finger and me on my knees before him—and he won’t take no for an answer.

 

I’m willing to pay any price in order to bring Pan down…even if it means I lose my soul in the bargain.

AMAZON

My soul hates Hook. My body hasn’t gotten the memo. But then, my desires always did get me into trouble.

This series has quickly become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. It’s deliciously wicked and sinfully hot. Katee Robert manages to merge together some sizzling hot erotica with an addicting story and characters that you can’t help but love. Think has been a character that I’ve been intrigued with since the beginning of the series. She’s feisty, sassy and has this live wire spark to her that shines bright even as a secondary character. Now we finally get her story and you come to find out that there’s some dark secrets behind that smart mouth of hers. And it’ll take a sexy villain to offer her a bargain with the devil in order to survive.

Here are the updated terms. I will not negotiate further. You marry me. I kill Peter. When you decide you’re tired of playing hard to get, you’ll crawl to me and beg for my cock. I’m all too happy to give it to you any way you like. Every way you like.”

Hook has wanted Think for years and he’s not above playing dirty to finally get her in his bed. He’ll protect her from a man she fears and in exchange she’ll give him the one thing he craves, her begging.

If you’re expecting a traditional MF here, you’ll be sorely disappointed. This book is sizzling hot and one of the things I love most about this series is the different kinks each one explores. Hook’s kink just so happens to be voyeurism and I’ll let you use your imagination on that. There’s some MMF and MFM and all of the hot f*ckery!!! I’m saying HOT here people! Now I’m desperate for Beast’s story because holy hell, that set up!!!

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Review: Conceal by Ava Harrison

January 25, 2020 by ·

CONCEAL
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Ava Harrison
Release Date: January 11, 2020

From USA Today bestselling author Ava Harrison comes a billionaire romance full of witty banter and a jaw-dropping twist!

I ran.
Escaped the man who wanted to hurt me.

I got in my car and drove.
No destination. No direction. No help.

I hid in the one place I would never be found.
Now in New York with no job, I didn’t know what to do.

Then I met him.
Jaxson Price.
The enigmatic devil who wasn’t only above the law, but played it like a puppet.

He might be the answer to all my problems.
Too bad he’s asking for something in return for his help….
My heart.

He tells me with no words, I’m his. That he owns me with every move of his hips. He tells me he will make sure I’m okay. I feel the truth in it. And I believe him.

This is the kind of story that sneaks up on you slowly. It’s not an in your face, slam bam sort of suspense and romance. It’s a slow burn, with plenty of layers, incredible character development, and a romance that’s as intense as it is satisfying.

I’ve been waiting for Jaxson’s book for what feels like ages. He was the light tempered, easy to laugh, and first to joke sort of man. But beyond the easy smiles and good-natured temperament, you just knew there’s another layer to this man. Conceal shows us those layers, and let me just tell you, they’re deep. There’s so much more to Jax than meets the eye. He’s desperate for his siblings approval. His older brother seems to think he’s more of a party boy that never took running the family business seriously. And while the Price empire isn’t his passion, he’s determined to prove to them he can do it.

But more than that. Max has a heart of gold. This is a man that’s always ready to help those in need, even if he gets nothing out of it. So when he stumbles into a beautiful woman that seems to be running from something. He’s determined to learn her secrets as much as he’s determined to get to her heart. What starts an unlikely friendship soon begins to turn into something so much more.

Willow is on the run, but you don’t know from who or from what. She keeps her secrets well hidden, but her fear is obvious. Admittedly, it took me a bit to get into this story. It’s definitely a slow burn sort of read. It has many different layers that take time to unravel. And while I wasn’t exactly bored, I also wasn’t riveted to the pages. Then when the puzzle pieces began to come together, I was completely sucked in.

This is my second Ava Harrison book and I’m definitely hooked on her brand of story telling.

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Review: Kingpin’s Property by Julia Sykes

January 22, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

KINGPIN’S PROPERTY
Series: Captive #4
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Julia Sykes
Release Date: January 21, 2020

Carmen Ronaldo is my enemy, an influential player in a rival cartel. She’s also been the object of my twisted obsession for years. Her wickedly sharp mind and fierce demeanor have fascinated me for over a decade, but it’s her carefully concealed, sweetly innocent nature that I’ve come to covet. The thorny contempt she displays for me is nothing more than armor, a means of protecting her gentler soul from the monsters that inhabit our cruel criminal underworld.

Monsters like me.

When I decimate her organization, I’m not merciful enough to spare her. For too long, my ruthless instinct to possess Carmen has been denied. I want her sweetness all for myself, and I will mercilessly employ the most deviant methods to earn her surrender.

She’s my trophy, my prize of war. I intend to cage her and tame her; a symbol of my absolute victory and dominion over my newly conquered territory.

Carmen is no longer my enemy. She’s my pet, my plaything.

She’s just mine.

Note: Kingpin’s Property can be read as a standalone dark romance novel.

AMAZON

I won’t stop, not even when you beg me to. You will weep for mercy, and you’ll find that I have none. I will shatter you.” 

This series has quickly become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. There’s just something so satisfying about Julia Sykes intensely possessive antiheroes. And I mean INTENSELY POSSESSIVE. Kingpin’s Property is the story of Carmen and Stefano’s story.

Now I will say that pretty much every antihero in the Captive series is almost borderline sociopath with their lack of empathy and violent streaks, there’s just something so charmingly enigmatic about Stefano. While the previous men in the series have been dark, broody, and utterly terrifying, Stefano is different. Well, he’s still dark, broody, and utterly terrifying. But he’s also charming, in a borderline sociopathic way. Does that even make sense here? Roll with me on this. What I mean is, the man knows how to layer on the charm, while still being the violent and menacing cartel boss that he is.

This story picks up immediately where Pretty Hostage ended, with the siege of the Ronaldo cartel. Carmen thought that in exchange for her help to get Sofia away from the clutches of her cruel brother, she’d make a deal with the devil. She promised Adrián to help his men access their territory, allow them to kill her brother so that she may take over as the head of the cartel. Unfortunately, Adrián’s got a deal of his own with Stefano. And Stefano? He wants Carmen. To take her. To have her. To own her. But Carmen will not go easy.

What I really loved about this book was how fierce Carmen was. Faced with impossible odds and having survived horrors that still haunt her, the woman is a fighter until the bitter end. She gives as good as she gets and she’s not afraid to goad and torture Stefano, even if she thinks it’s to her death. Stefano is a bit of an enigma. He lacks empathy allowing him to be the deadly cartel boss that he is, but his feelings for Carmen confound him.

This was a delicious game of cat and mouse. Reaching the push and pull between these two was incredibly entertaining. There’s also two new secondary characters that are introduced and I’m so excited to get their book next. But as for this one? Satisfying to the last page.

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