Review: Chained Hands by T.L. Smith

December 26, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

CHAINED HANDS
Series: Chained Hearts Duet #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: TL Smith
Release Date: October 5, 2021

 

Sailor

My husband sold me.
Not only did he sell me, but he told me he loved me while doing the deal.
What lies he tells.
Only fools believe him.
Unfortunately, one of those fools was…
.. me.

Keir

Not in the habit of buying women.
I didn’t need to.
I was a king of my realm, the devil you whispered about in your sleep.
So when his debt fell due, he sold me his wife.
And I was happy because I wanted to play with her like any fool would.
And play with her, I did.
Pity, in the end, I would have to kill her.

 

AMAZON

 

Truth be told, I struggled with my rating on this one. On the one hand, this book is a hot mess. On the other hand, I read it in one sitting. I’m seriously bummed, because that blurb and cover were utterly delicious.

Let’s start with the good. I loved the plot. Our heroine is a previous bad girl who married and lost herself. She became a bit of a doormat to her philandering husband and struggles with this new Sailor. Her douche of a husband takes her to a party, only to sell her as a debt to a ruthless mafia leader who shoots first and asks questions later. Suddenly Sailor finds her lady balls and becomes the sassy, fiery, bad girl that she was.

This is also where the book goes wrong for me. First, there was the writing style. There was no character development and it was extremely repetitive. If I had to read about how Keir plans to kill Sailor and everyone else one more time… Descriptions were reused frequently. Aside from repeating ad nauseam how ruthless and trigger happy Keir is, there’s little to no development for him. The “romance” comes out of no where, much like Sailor’s sudden personality change. And the dialogue was incredibly juvenile. These were grown adults who spoke like teenagers.

There were also Gossip Girl-like choppy bits of gossip/blog articles on Keir, which were weird AF and felt so incredibly out of place in a dark romance of this nature. I also felt there was really no need for this to have been a duet, because there were chapters that did nothing for the story that felt like filler.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this, I didn’t. But clearly I’m in the minority, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I’m a picky ass, clearly. *shrugs* But this now being the third book I’ve tried for this author, I think I can safely say her writing style just doesn’t work for me. Bummer, but it is what it is.

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Review: A Thousand Cuts by Anne Malcom

November 25, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

A THOUSAND CUTS
Series: An Underworld Kings Series Standalone
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Anne Malcom
Release Date: November 25, 2021

I did not set out to be a mafia wife.
I came into this home, into this life as a hostage.
He was nothing more than my captor.
A murderer. A criminal. A monster.
Until he was more than that.
He took me as payment for a debt. Nothing more than a pawn in an intricate game of lies, manipulation and death.
He saw the darkness in me. It called to him. Just like his wretched soul called to me.
He was king of the underworld.
And he wanted me to be his queen.
But despite how much the most depraved parts of me wanted that crown, I knew I only had one option.
Take the Catalano family down.
Or die trying.

AMAZON

He terrified me. The emptiness in his eyes, the knowing that I had that he would kill me without a second thought. Yet I was attracted to him.

First of all, I have been sleeping on Anne Malcom, because if this book is anything to go by, I’ve seriously been missing out. This was everything, and I mean everything I love in a good mafia romance. And when I saw that this was the first mafia romance she’s written? I was absolutely blown away.

Second of all, this blurb doesn’t begin to do this book justice. Not even close, in my humble opinion. Because reading this blurb, it sounds fairly run of the mill type of mafia romance read, almost a cliche…and it was so much more than that.

Tell me no, Sienna,” he taunted. I opened my mouth to do just that. “I hate you,” I seethed, my voice scratchy.
“That doesn’t sound like no,” he replied. His fingers moved inside me. “Tell me no,” he repeated…
He knew I was sick, depraved and utterly defenseless against him… I shouldn’t want this. My mouth didn’t move. Didn’t form the words.

I love gritty and dark books. Stories with unconventional characters that isn’t afraid to go there. That takes the reader so far out of their comfort zone, they’re in the pitch black, and loving every second of the ride. And holy sh*t did this book take me there. It took me there hard. From the very first chapter I realized that this wasn’t going to be like a lot of other mafia romances I’ve read…and I’ve read a lot. I love that we’re given not just a morally black anti hero, but a heroine that matches him in both his depravity and darkness. And MAN was I here for that.

I’m not fucking done with you,” he growled in my ear, slamming me against the wall. “By the end of tonight, you’re not going to be able to walk. You won’t be able to speak. I’m going to spank you so fucking hard you won’t sit down for a week.”
“I-I hate you,” I stammered as he continued fucking me…
“Keep telling yourself that. Because I know I’m trying my hardest to hate you, and it’s fucking impossible. We are both damned.”

Sienna is beyond morally gray. She’s broken in every way, but she also owns every jagged piece of it. She knows who she is and what she is, and she’s not ashamed of it. When she sees a handsome stranger at a restaurant, she wants him the second they lock eyes. And when he silently approaches her and puts out his hand, she willingly takes it. She lets him do unholy things to her that she thoroughly enjoys, and she leaves at the end of the night without so much as asking for his name.

Now she may be a heroine that may make some readers uncomfortable. But this reader? I loved her gritty allure. She’s a true product of her environment, and she’s not a female that’s afraid of going after what she wants. What she doesn’t expect is that the stranger that she shared a night with, will now steal her away as payment for a debt. She’s to be his bride, his queen, but she’s not going down without a fight.

They were impressed by the quality of your captive?” I returned, venom in my voice. “Color me flattered.”
Cristian grinned wickedly, showing straight, white teeth. “I hope that your smart mouth remains throughout our marriage, no matter how often I try to fuck it out of you.”

Christian is a ruthless Don who came into the life not by family blood, but blood of a different kind. His humanity has been taken away through years of blood shed and violence. He’s feared and revered, but not by his new bride. She’s determined to challenge him at every turn.

Say it,” I demanded.
His eyes burned into mine, his muscles taut as I continued to ride him. “
You said it yourself,” I continued, my voice straining as my climax approached. “You own me. And you know I’m bad. So say it. I’m your bad girl.” My hands tightened around his neck, and his body tensed even more. He was seconds away from release, I knew that. We both were.
“You’re my bad girl,” he confessed through his teeth, eyes burning with fury.

I love how well these two fit each other’s broken pieces. These characters are far from perfect. They’re full of dark sin and depravity and I wouldn’t have them any other way. When I tell you that I devoured this book, I mean I DEVOURED this book. I loved the way that Sienna matched Christian’s energy fully. This is not a woman that shies away from blood shed or violence. She’s fierce and dangerous in her own right. Christian was utterly delicious. He practically oozes this dark electric current without so much as uttering a word. And that’s a feat, let me tell you.

It’s the furthest thing from your typical run of the mill mafia. It was gritty as f*ck. It was dark, at times uncomfortable, and addictive like nothing else. A fast paced, erotic thrill ride that I couldn’t put down for even a second. Anne Malcom is going straight to my auto buy list. And if you like dark, gritty, and steamy mafia reads, this one is a must read. Don’t expect a comfortable ride though. This one is full of twists and turns, and set in the very pits of depravity and darkness. And this reader? LOVED EVERY SINGLE PAGE OF IT.

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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

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Review: Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli

November 9, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

KINGDOM FALL
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: A Zavarelli
Release Date: November 9, 2021

Kingdom Fall is part of the Underworld Kings Universe. A multi-author series of standalone books filled with mafia families waging war, danger and violence, arranged and forced marriages, angst, love, and everything in-between.

Light or dark, twisted or sweet, the Underworld Kings has something for every reader.

I was a nanny in need of a job.

He was darkness personified.

I had little to call my own.

He was filthy rich, powerful, and dangerous.

The assignment was simple, and my goal was too.

Take care of his son. Keep my head down. When he least expects it, destroy him.

It should have been easy. I thought it would be until I looked into his stark blue eyes.

Kissing the enemy is a bad idea, but so is falling in love with him.

He doesn’t know my crumbling foundation is built on lies.

When he discovers the truth, I’ll find out if he’s as brutal as I believe.

I came here to steal his life.

I didn’t count on him stealing my heart.

AVAILABLE NOW!! FREE IN KU!!

AMAZON

I don’t know what the fuck she’s doing to me, but I know it’s going to be a problem.

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with everything that A Zavarelli writes. When I finished Resurrection of the Heart, I became completely obsessed with the IVI world. I kept hoping for more, and this book delivered.

Alessio and Natalia’s story is everything I want in a dark romance. It’s gritty, dark, twisted, and unpredictable.

They call Alessio a Debt Collector for good reason. Not only is he a member of The Society, but he’s a Sovereign Son. His position comes with power, and his ability to turn his humanity off makes him one hell of a debt collector. He’s a man with no emotion, married to his duty, and no desire for the messy complexities of anything beyond gratifying his baser urges. While his lack of emotion and ruthless nature make him a name that’s feared within the criminal underground, it doesn’t particularly endear him to his son. And with the loss of his last nanny, he’s interviewing for a new one.

Natalia is a woman on a mission. She arrives to interview for the nanny job, but you already see that her waters run deep. This is a woman harboring some dark secrets, and a nanny job is her in for something much darker. She’s looking for revenge and for answers, and Alessio holds the key to both.

I was immediately sucked into the story. The pacing was immaculate. The character development was intricate. And the romance? Deliciously dark. It’s an enemies to lovers with enough push and pull to have you desperate for them to give into the obvious chemistry between them. A woman harboring dark secrets and a man that doesn’t have entailments or emotions? Delicious! What kept me glued to the pages was the continuous twists and turns. This story caught me completely unaware. I never saw the twists coming and it kept me at the edge of my seat until the very last page. There are some secondary characters introduced who I’m desperately needing a book for. But as for this one? I couldn’t get enough!

It’s everything I’ve come to expect from this talented author and so much more. Alessio was dangerous and tortured. You get just enough of a glimpse into his light side to get you hooked on him and then he sucks you deep into his darkness. Natalia is a subtle sort of fierce. This is a woman who has been through hell and back and has come out swinging. She’s not an in your face sort of fierce. It’s subtle in a silent strength way, and I absolutely loved her.

If you like secret society, dark romance, bad men with good hearts, and fierce heroines, you need this book.

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli: 

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

Check out more information on the books and authors coming this fall HERE—> https://under-world-kings.com

Keep up-to-date with all things Underworld Kings in the Reader Group HERE—> https://bit.ly/3ArB5vx

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Review: Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

October 26, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

DANGEROUS TEMPTATION
Series: Dark Dream #1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date: October 26, 2021

He arrives all dressed in black.

 

Diamond cufflinks.

A watch on his tanned wrist that cost more than we would ever see in a lifetime of work.

He carries a single red rose for my mother.

Months later, Tiernan Morelli lays red roses on my mother’s grave.

That same day, he tells me that he is my new guardian.

I should have known from the very start that he had more in common with the thorns than the rose.

Now I know the truth: I’m a pawn in his dangerous game of revenge.

I was too young and naive.

Now it’s too late to save myself from his clutches.

 

Now I belong to him.

AMAZON

Poor little thing thought I was her salvation when all I intended to offer her was ruination.

Oh.
My.
GOD.

All of the ways that I loved this book. But I can summarize why in just two words. Ready? Tiernan Morelli. Need more words? OK, I got you.

I’m the kind of man that finds pleasure in pain. I’m the kind of man who makes a woman scream and cry because she doesn’t know how to take the intensity of the things I do to her body. I’m the kind of man that would make a woman crawl and beg for me before I deigned to put her out of her misery by setting her on my dick.”

This book was my trope crack for me. TROPE CRACK. Age gap. Mafia. Guardian/ward. Revenge. Enemies to lovers. ALL OF THE THINGS. And it was simply finger licking good.
Now I will say that any age gap has to have a strong heroine. If she’s too naive or too sheltered, there’s an ick factor in it for me. But Bianca was a heroine that I instantly connected with. She’s a young woman who was forced to grow up too quick because of her flighty mother who’s been hopping from one man to another since the loss of her father. But when her mother’s new man shows up at the door and spares no niceties, she’s not exactly thrilled. Tiernan is rude, crude, and seems to hate the sight of her. He’s also harboring a dark secret and a revenge plot years in the making.

Now at first I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a hero that dates the mom first. But those concerns were quickly wiped. It just worked here. Don’t ask me how or why. It just did.

When Bianca’s mother passes, they have no one. She has her sick younger brother to think about and she’s months shy of 18. So when Tiernan shows up and says he’s their new guardian, it’s the devil you know. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t defy him and doesn’t fight him at every turn. But Tiernan is not exactly nurturing himself. He has inserted himself into their life with a dark agenda and his secrets can cost Bianca everything. The chemistry between them is also downright incendiary.

This. This was what I wanted. Rough-edged, teeth-bitten love. A body against mine like a weapon, inside me like an invasion. I wanted to be filled up and used because he couldn’t get enough. Couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t be a gentleman. Now, I understood that love wasn’t soft and warm. It was fire and brimstone and if I wasn’t careful, it would burn me alive.

This story was pure book crack. I devoured it in one sitting. I couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. It was addicting AF and I couldn’t get enough. And the wait for book two? TORTUROUS.

Giana slayed me with this story and I cannot wait for the conclusion.

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Review: The Bratva’s Heir by Jane Henry & Sophie Lark

October 15, 2021 by ·

THE BRATVA’S HEIR
Genre: Mafia Romance
Series: Underworld Kings
Author: Jane Henry & Sophie Lark
Release Date: October 15, 2021


A stand-alone novel in the Underworld Kings series

Prison’s a dark, bleak place.

But Clare brings me light.

My sweet little bird will be my ticket to freedom.

The first time I saw her, I had to have her.

From her big, dark eyes, to the curves she can’t conceal…

The way she can only hold my gaze so long.

The way she shivers every time I move inside these chains.

And most of all, the way she’ll bend the rules when I order her to…

I know a natural submissive when I see one.

Her degrees and titles don’t change who she is: a woman who will bend to my will.

She doesn’t know it yet, but Clare is mine.

Mine to train.
Mine to protect.
And mine to control…

AMAZON

I know you better than you know yourself. You think you want a gentleman? A Prince Charming? Someone to buy you flowers and rub your feet?
…You want permission,” I say. “To be as bad as you want to be. You want to be told to get down on your knees, to open your mouth, to do as you’re told… so you don’t have to feel guilty. Because you’re just doing what Daddy said…”

Ummm excuse me?! THE AUDACITY. The sheer AUDACITY to write something this hot and not to put a warning that I shouldn’t read it in public? Jane and Sophie, I demand to speak to your manager!

I’ve always had certain proclivities. I don’t like kissing, I don’t like cuddling, I don’t like murmuring sweet endearments in the dark. What I like is total obedience. Total control. .

Some girls like dirty talking alphas. Some girls enjoy the morally corrupt anti heroes. This girl? I want it all. But my true crack of choice is convicts. That sounds worse when I read it out loud, but you know what I mean. There’s just something about a dangerous anti hero who’s locked up but you just know he won’t be for long that just makes my blood run hot. I live for it. And the second I read the blurb for this book, I knew I needed it. But nothing prepared me for the sensual punch that it brought. Because mama! Or should I say, Daddy? *Evil grin*

Now admittedly, the daddy kink thing isn’t my fave, but GOD it just worked for me here. Constantine is the kind of uber alpha I die for. He’s a ruthless Bratva enforcer with a penchant for control, in all facets of his life, including the bedroom. And when he first lays eyes on the demure and innocent looking prison psychologist, he can read her desires a mile away. If you like praise kink and the hate everyone but her vibes, this book has it in spades.

Tell me I’m your good girl…”
“You’re my princess, my queen. I’ll slaughter anyone who lays a finger on you. Only I touch you. Only I look at you. You’re mine and mine alone.”

While what you see is what you get with Constantine, Clare is a bit different. She starts off demure but then really grows into her own. Watching her evolution through discovering more about her sexuality was satisfying as all get out. I love how she’s equally terrified of and turned on by Constantine when she meets him. I also loved her evolution into someone a lot more fierce towards the end.

This book was pure crack. There was action, twists and turns, and ALL OF THE STEAM. Oh my GAWD. The steam! THE STEAM! I devoured this book and licked my fingers afterwards. Hell I felt like I needed a cigarette after. Was the ending a little OTT on Clare’s side, a little. But did I care? Not even a little. This was pure mafia romance crack. CRACK I tells ya!

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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 Don by Serena Akeroyd

August 29, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE DON
Series: The Valentini Family Book 1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Serena Akeroyd
Release Date: August 26, 2021

Blood stains my hands, my soul, my heart, yet I’ll shed more to keep her safe.

A chance meeting brings Jen MacNeill into my life—the woman born to reign at my side.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

How could my Lady be anything other than a silken promise taunting me with every breath she takes?

A new Don reigns over Manhattan.

But though I won the war, peace isn’t easily brokered.
Over a decade of avenging my father’s death, I made many enemies.
To each and every one, Jen’s a target.

But I’ll paint NYC red before I let them harm her.
I just never imagined I’d be in the line of fire first…

A heart broken by grief can feel no guilt or shame with the brutality in which vengeance is delivered.

This is the first part of ‘The Oath’ duet in The Valentini Family series.

AMAZON

She was a witch… A witch who’d enchanted me. Bedeviled me. Tormented me. I was more than okay with that, so long as I enslaved her in return.

So…real talk. When a book starts off with the butt stuff and still manages to deliver on the sexual tension, you know I’m all over it, right? Right.

But really, I’m a sucker for a good mafia romance. I got introduced to Serena’s writing with Storm and became an insta fan. The second I saw the promotion of this duet, I was itching to get my grabby little hands on it. I already knew the woman can deliver some grit and I needed my fix.

The Don is book one of The Valenti Family duet and interconnects with her Five Points series. Now I haven’t read that series yet, but had no problems understanding the nuances of the various relationships here. Jen is Aoife’s best friend from Filthy. This was a heroine I instantly connected with. And not just because she has the balls to barge into a Don’s office and demand butt stuff, but because the woman is simply kick ass. She’s a self professed gold digger and daughter of a whore, who has had to fight for everything she has. A chance meeting with Luciu inevitably changes the course of her life. She knows he’s mafia, she knows he’s dangerous but yet she can’t stay away from him.

Now I’m not usually a fan of insta anything. And there’s definitely some insta lust here that skates the edge of insta love, which isn’t usually my cuppa. And when I tell you that, I mean Luciu falls first which is my cuppa. So I’m invested here.

The majority of this book focuses on their budding relationship, which admittedly did feel a bit too lengthy for me. Don’t get me wrong, the sexy times were hot, but I wanted more meat to the bones of this story too, which only began to take place at the end. And then the cliffhanger hits you with all the subtlety of a ten by four and I’m dying for book 2. Did I enjoy this? Absolutely. Do I need book two? Desperately! Should you read it? Yes m’am. If you love a good mafia romance, check this out.

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Review: The Bastard’s Betrayal by Katee Robert

August 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE BASTARD’S BETRAYAL
Series: Scandalous Scions Book 1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 25, 2021

She thought it was love.

Rose Romanov is a mafia princess, and everything that entails. Violently over-protective parents. A giant extended family, all ready to kill anyone who looks at her wrong. Learning to run a business that isn’t exactly on the right side of the law. So, naturally, when she meets a nice guy who isn’t in the life, she falls hard… Right up until the she discovers her new boyfriend isn’t a civilian at all.

But he betrayed her.

When Dante Verducci was sent on an undercover mission to evaluate the Romanov family for weakness, he never expected to have an instant connection with their unlikely heir. There’s something fierce and feral about Rose that calls to him. They’re alike, even if they’re both lying to each other during the months they date. Before he could figure out a new plan, Rose finds out who he really is, dumps him, and immediately enters an engagement with the heir of a rival family. Yeah, no, that’s not going to work for Dante.

Now he’ll do anything to reclaim her. Even go to war.

AMAZON

His gaze flicked to the gun in her hands. “You really think you’re going to shoot me? You were coming around my cock twenty-four hours ago.”
Fury nearly made her black out. Maybe she wouldn’t regret this after all. He was so fucking sure of her, of this situation, as if the gun in her hand didn’t mean a single damn thing. She’d prove him wrong. Rose steadied her stance, reaching for the one thing she could that would hurt him a fraction of as much as he’d hurt her.
“I faked it.” She pulled the trigger.

When a book starts with that quote, you know you’re in for a good time. I love me some Katee Roberts, and when I saw she’s releasing a spin off from The O’Malleys series, I was all over it. I love a good mafia romance, and throw in a bit of betrayal and hate lust into the mix and I’m done. STICK A FORK IN ME. I love it.

I loved the first half of this story. Rose Romanov is a heroine that you instantly love. The woman is a badass. She’s a mafia princess and the daughter of Dmitri and Keira from The Bastard’s Bargain. If you haven’t read that book, don’t worry, you can easily pick things up with this one as it is the launch of a new series.

Rose can’t seem to do right by her family. She knows that having a relationship with a sexy bartender who she recently met isn’t meant to be because of her family responsibility. But when she finds out that the bartender isn’t who he says he was and he happens to have ties to a rival mafia? Suffice it to say she’s pissed.

Boy meets girl. Boy betrays girl. Girl get pissed and shoots boy. Boy is determined and kidnaps girl on her wedding day (of her arranged marriage) and will stop at nothing, including plying her with orgasms to make her his.
Having said that, I loved the first half of this book. The kidnapping, the push and pull, the hate lust, the second chance romance vibes. All of it just did it for me. But then the story lost a bit of steam for me. I wanted more mafia action, but most of it was a bit on the meh side. Outside of a few brief glimpses and instances, not much else happens. I began to grow bored and to skim. I also found myself wishing we got some glimpse of how these two got together. That all takes place off the pages, and I would have loved a bit more fleshing out of their original connection. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved their chemistry, I just also wished for at least a flashback or two.

And then there’s the set up for the next book? GIMME! It sounds utterly delicious.

If you’re looking for a super spicy mafia romance, definitely read this. It’s not the usual grittiness that I prefer in my mafia romance, but the spice made up for it and I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

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