USA Today and International Bestselling authors come together to deliver stories of dark decadence for a cause.
Watch A Serenade of Fireflies follow Sweet Caroline as she attempts to hide her Silent Deception from the Alpha. Only in Stolen Dreams will you learn the secrets of Our Tormented Love, that are kept under Locke & Key. Can you survive The Syndicate or will you run from the White Widow and fall prey to her Beautiful Mercy? Be careful not to swallow the sweet poison of Bloodlust and become one of the vanished.
With Stained Hearts, follow along with the Master Marionette as he captures his Twisted Little Bird whether she’s Ready or Not. Will the Writhe finally bid a long Goodbye to The Dark Knight as endures the sorrow of the night’s bitter song.
Try not to do a Double Take when the Message Received is MINE: Press Start to Continue, because the monsters that lurk in these woods Watch Me Losing Faith in The Kiss.
And when all is said and done, watch as Getting Her Back in her bloodstained Stiletto heels becomes a much easier task than originally assumed.
Kiss Me, Kill Me.
An Anthology for American Forests.
Book Review:
This is a short, sexy, dark and dangerous story
that will draw you in and leave you breathless. Ally says in her dedication at
the start that this book is for her beta readers who are constantly pushing her
to go darker and I think it is safe to say that this book manages to achieve
that goal. This is not one for the faint hearted and if you trigger easily,
particularly around violence or sexual abuse then this may not be the book for
you. However, if you do give this book a go, I am sure you will not regret it.
Ten years ago Amelia’s life changed forever when
Ryan took something from her that she could never get back. She was left broken
and irrevocably changed but has tried to move on with her life as best she can.
Then she met Adam, who with his own demons, matched her broken perfectly. He
manages to bring out the pain that Amelia craves through sex and he owns her
mind, body and soul. Through this she has finally found a way to cope with
life. But what happens when Ryan walks back into her life and doesn’t even
remember who she is. Will Amelia get the revenge that she craves?
Amelia is such a beautifully, broken soul. She is
desperate to erase the hurt from her past and has entered into a masochistic
sexual relationship with Adam to help her cope. She trusts him to push her mind
and body to the limit, even if that means she has to bleed for the pain. I
loved how strong Amelia was, even in her darkest time and it was fantastic to
watch as she struggles with her humanity and considers her revenge.
Adam was a big enigma in this book. He is a
dangerous, dominant and he loves to inflict pain. But it’s clear that he has
his own demons that are fuelling his rage and he needs Amelia to be an outlet
for his problems. I felt there was so much more going on with Adam and I would
love to find out more and to get into his mind!
Adam and Amelia’s relationship is such a strange
one because they find pleasure from hurting each other, yet they also have a
strong emotional connection that has developed based on trust. When Amelia is
in her darkest hour she calls on Adam for help and knows that he will come and
he doesn’t let her down. Their dark and dangerous sex is hot and sexy. I really
want more from this crazy duo.
Overall, I absolutely loved this incredible short story. It was dark, dangerous, a little crazy and a whole lot sexy. But beware this book is definitely not for the faint hearted. It is a romance book that certainly embraces its dark side and I loved it. I want so much more! I can’t wait to read the other books in the anthology.
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
Bors is hungry for revenge after one of his assignments spins out of control. Not only is he tortured by the man he was hired to murder, the president of a notorious and ruthless motorcycle club, but he’s also left in the care of the man’s deranged daughter, Ivy. And she knows exactly who is chained and at her mercy, the one she has wanted dead for three years.
During captivity, Bors witnesses what has become of Ivy’s life, and finds himself trapped between hatred and sorrow for his female tormentor.
“It only took one day for me to hate her more than my worst enemy. Only took two to start planning her death. And only three… to fall in love with her.”
Bors is an avenger. Especially Ivy’s.
*This book contains dark content, and triggers. Reader’s discretion is advised*
My Review:
This is the fifth instalment in the
Cavalieri Della Morte Series focusing on a group of assassins that are led by
their leader Arthur. As with the other instalments this book features a strong
and sexy man who loves to kill and finds his romantic match. But this book has
just that bit more grit and drama than the other books that I have reviewed in
the series and I love it.
This instalment features Bors who
lives a very solitary life. After growing up in lots of different foster homes
and never fitting in due to his scary height and looks, he was left feeling
lonely. Until one foster mother, a nun, took him in and gave him strength. She
knew he had the potential to have a family and to lead a normal life one day.
But Bors did not see it, which is why he joined the Cavalieri Della Morte. He
is a great assassin because that is all he has in his life. Arthur allows him
to own a home because he never had one growing up. But whenever Bors returns home
in between the jobs he is reminded of how something is missing from his life.
He thinks he doesn’t want a relationship or any commitment but deep down he no
longer wants to be alone. His next job tasks him with taking out the president
of the most deadly motorcycle gang in the area. Whilst doing the recon, his
target walks into the same bar Bors is in, along with his gang and daughter. So
imagine Bors surprise when the daughter turns out to be the crazy redhead he
had sex with three years before, who blew his mind. The only woman he can’t
stop thinking about.
Ivy has had a horrible upbringing.
Being brought up by her father, alone in a motorcycle gang, is not easy. Her
dad has been selling Ivy to his men and business associates for years. Allowing
her to be raped, used and abused, while he pockets the cash from it. She has
never dreamed of a better life because that would mean having hope and hers
died a long time ago. But her life changes dramatically when she meets Bors,
her priority switches but the dangers increase. That night with her mystery
man, her Champ, has stayed with her and so when he reappears back into her life
she is pleased. Until she discovers Bors deadly secret and it threatens to ruin
everything forever.
I loved Ivy as a character. She is
feisty, tough and extremely protective. But when you break through her walls
you can see that she is actually a scared, broken, little girl who has been
hurt in the worst way possible by the one person who was supposed to love and
protect her. I loved the fact that she was a little crazy and quirky. It made
her seem more relatable and I liked her so much more.
Bors was also such a great character.
He epitomises the tall, dark, grizzly brooding man persona. He is focused on
his work and is very task orientated. He lives for the kill and is constantly
planning and thinking of back up plans for if things go wrong. But when he
meets Ivy he finds a kindred soul. They are both a bit lost and a bit crazy,
which is why they work so well together. I loved Bors protective nature and the
way that he falls in love even though to him it means giving over his man card.
But if you weren’t in love with him before then seeing the love and adoration
that he has for Jade will make your ovaries explode.
I loved Ivy and Bors relationship. It
was very turbulent, with lots of fighting and anger, but all of that was just
their own weird version of foreplay. The chemistry between them sizzles and
literally sparked off the page. I loved watching Ivy learn to trust Bors and
then Bors learning to realise that letting women into his life and creating his
own family is exactly what he wants. The sex between them is hot and dirty, but
it also becomes slow and sensual when it needs to be for their bonding. They
are both willing to share control in the bedroom and I think that not only
showed mutual trust but a mutual love and respect too.
Overall, I loved this book so very much. It is a fantastic addition to the series and I know that this is a bold statement as we are only five books in, but this is probably my favourite so far. I liked Ivy’s strong will and the fact that she wasn’t a meek submissive. I loved Bors’ strong and beautifully caring personality. This book has lies, drama, deceit, murder, sex, love and a whole lot of knives. But I will say this book is not for the faint hearted. It features graphic discussion of child abuse and there are scenes of domestic violence and rape, which some readers may not enjoy. I would suggest that you read the disclaimer at the beginning of the book, which tells you which chapters to avoid so that you can still enjoy the book. I personally think that whilst the scene is very disturbing it did add a lot of context to the plot. This book adds so much to the series and it just shows that the series keeps getting better and better. As with all the books in the series that I have reviewed so far, I would definitely recommend Ivy’s Poison as it is a fantastic read that you will struggle to put down.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
Carmen never knew she had boundaries, but when the young prostitute is called to Salvatore, the infamous mob boss, she learns that even a whore can be violated: mind, body, and soul.
Lucas dreamt of a mobster’s life. He wanted the cool suit, the expensive car, and the respect. His dreams take a pounding when he picks up the badly bruised Carmen from Salvatore’s mansion. He starts visiting the injured woman, and despite the gruesome circumstances, the chemistry between them grows into something neither of them can resist.
Then Salvatore calls for her again.
How do you conquer the monsters under your bed? Especially when you’ve let them crawl up and share it?
This is a prequel to the Russo Saga but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Publisher’s Note: This is a dark, steamy Mafia romance that is not for the faint of heart! It may contain triggers for some readers. There are harsh scenes and elements of power exchange.
My Review:
Wow I cannot stress enough how
fantastic this book is. As most of you know when I was first introduced to the
Russo family world I was very unsure and not necessarily a fan. The bad boy
element of the story felt a little but too much like a pantomime villain. But
the more that I have read and discovered, the more that I love these stories
and the family. As plot lines go this has to be one of the best that I have
read in a very long time and I am not just talking about books by Nicolina
Martin but about all books.
Carmen doesn’t think that her life could get much lower. She lives in a whore house, selling herself to numerous different men each night. But Carmen doesn’t feel shame about her lifestyle as she just accepts that this is the life that she has been dealt. However all of that changes when she is paid an extraordinary amount of money to spend the evening with the main mob boss Luciano Salvatore. At first she thinks this is a great opportunity until she realises that all of the other workers are upset that she has been chosen and are saying their goodbyes. Apparently a night with Salvatore does not always guarantee a safe return home. As she is worried about facing certain doom Carmen gets into the car sent by Salvatore and meets the incredibly sexy, new, young driver Lucas.
Lucas is instantly turned on by the gorgeous,
feisty girl he is tasked with driving to party with the Boss and only top level
people get that invite. Lucas has been trying to make his way up in the
organisation as he is tired of being a low level worker. He knows that it is
the dirtiest messes that will get him more money and power and he plans to get
as messy as it takes. But his focus changes the night that he collects Carmen
from the party and gone is the beautiful feisty girl that he dropped off and
she has been replaced by pain, welts, bruises, bleeding and soulless eyes. When
Lucas decides to take care of her, something changes between Carmen and Lucas
that night and it is the start of a beautiful relationship that is filled with
love, healing and reading.
Lucas is such a complex character but he is still
lovable. On the surface he wants to move up in the crime family no matter how
dangerous that is and why still remains a mystery. But more importantly his
desire to love, care for and cherish Carmen is what takes over every day. The
way he puts Carmen first and always makes sure she is take care of and feels
loved makes him an absolute diamond that you most definitely would not want to
lose! You cannot help but love Carmen as a character. She has been through more
pain, humiliation and suffering than most people can ever imagine and yet she
still manages to not lose her banter and her sassy personality that shows how
strong she truly is.
This is a bit of a spoiler so look away now – I particularly
want to give a shout out to the birth scene in this book as it was incredibly well
written. I loved the way that Mother Nature was allowed to run the show and she
was constantly encouraged to listen to her body. But it held a very powerful message
to take away and that is that not every mother feels the overwhelming feeling
of love towards their baby that they are told they should. Women have been
through a lot, particularly in this scenario. She is scared, in pain, bleeding
and her senses are all over the place so when she is handed a baby she doesn’t
know what to do or how to feel. This for me made the scene incredibly
realistic. The decision to keep and embrace baby David was a brave and
beautiful decision.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I liked the premise of a bad boy driver falling in love with the broken whore. Everyone deserves a second chance when life is put into perspective and that is what we see in this book. It is the story of two tortured souls with broken pasts who are searching to belong in all the wrong places until they finally meet each other. This is not only a fantastic edition to Nicolina Martin’s series but I would argue it is the best so far. The writing is clever, the characters are realistic and the story is uniquely beautiful. I cannot recommend this book anymore!
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchase here:
An innocent coffee. A dazzling stranger. What can go wrong?
Anna Raymond focuses only on her work at a little custom printing company in LA. She’s become a recluse after a traumatic experience that tore her life apart. Her only close contact is with her father. And then Eric happens, barging into her life one morning at a Starbucks. When night falls, she has witnessed a murder, fought for her life, and revealed secrets she meant to stay buried forever.
Eric Reed is a hired killer, well aware of his effect on women and how to use it to his advantage. He’s in LA for one thing only: finish the contract he’s been assigned. Anna was nothing but a means to an end, but he finds himself reluctantly drawn to the enigmatic woman, a mistake that can cost him everything.
That long, cold night, trapped together, changed something fundamental between them. Anna must make a choice, but is it her path to happiness, or will the fervent Eric burn her to ashes?
My Review:
After reading the first book in the series I had my
reservations but as I predicted in my review of Heat (book one), Nicolina’a
writing style has improved immensely and the result is this fantastic book. It
really is a great read that will draw you in and captivate you until you are
living on the dark side. I never believed that I would be cheering for a girl
to fall I love with someone who is trying to murder her but that is exactly
what this book is about and that is what I felt!
Anna has had a nice life but it is nothing that
would be called overly fancy. She has a good job, nice house and some reliable
friends but that is it. She is close to her dad but has always put her law
career first. Then a year ago she suffered a horrific attack that changed her
whole outlook on life. She becomes withdrawn, shy and timid. She swapped her big
time job for a no pressure, easy-going financial law job rather than the fast
paced criminal law role she had before. She no longer goes out and prefers the
sanctuary her house, along with nightly phone calls with her dad, brings. She
most definitely is not looking for a man or even talking to the other sex. So
she cannot understand why a gorgeous, confident guy in the Starbucks queue
wants to talk to her about coffee but at the same time makes her feel alive for
the first time in over a year
Eric Reed is good at his job. He has worked for
malicious mob boss Luciano Salvatore for almost his whole life. He may not like
or trust Salvatore but Eric knows he wouldn’t be alive without him after his
difficult childhood. Eric is comfortable with who he is and is not ashamed that
he gets off on inflicting pain. This also extends to his love of women. He
likes to use, abuse and give them pleasure as long as they know it will only be
the once. He doesn’t believe that his lifestyle will align well with having a woman
in his life. So why, when a job goes horribly wrong one night and a witness
sees Eric, is he not able to kill her? Instead he feels drawn to her and an
overwhelming need to protect her.
Anna and Eric’s relationship is beautiful. The way
he helps her heal and knows exactly what she needs is so delicate and
breath-taking to see. I loved Eric so much. He is cocky, possessive and strong
on the outside but he is also kind, caring and insecure. He is just as broken
as Anna but in a very different way. Anna is such a lovely character. At her
lowest, having suffered in silence for a year, she finds inner strength that
she didn’t know she was capable of that helped her to heal. Eric gives her
space to realise her feelings but my word is the wait agonising.
This book has an epilogue that features all of the Russo
family and it is great. I love the catch up we get from Nathan and Sydney from
book one. We also get a lot of information in this book about a very unhappy
Christian and I am sure there is going to be a fantastic book that goes into
detail all about what happened. I think this series is only going to get
better.
Overall, I really loved this book. Nicolina Martin has made so many improvements since the first book and it really shows in this book. The characters are great and very realistic even in a mafia style environment. The plot is full of drama, suspense and intrigue with an extremely large amount of beautiful chemistry that leads to some hot and steamy sex. What is there not to love! I fully recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
I’ve been betrayed. A hit gone wrong. I’m hurt and hunted.
She helps me out of fear–an innocent snatched up in my bid to escape. I can’t let her live because she’s seen my face. No survivors. No witnesses. That’s a code I live by and one I’ve always upheld. Yet when it comes to my petal, she makes me hesitate.
I want to taste her and make her mine in the most primitive way. Ravage her. Devour her. Allowing my need for her to take hold.
Unsure of who to trust, I feel the enemy closing in. I should set her free, but I can’t. I’ll discover who has a price on my head and I’ll end them, meeting blood with blood, and bullet with bullet.
Would she still want me when she sees me kill? Or will it scare her off for good?
My Review:
When I first heard about a series
written by different authors that are all focused on twelve individual
assassins who work as part of the Cavalieri Della Morte run by Arthur, I knew
that I was very intrigued. All thirteen of the standalone books are loosely
connected and based around the idea of Arthur and his Knights of the Round
Table, which is a concept that I loved. But this book more than lived up to my
expectation, having read some great books in the series before. There was
blood, kidnapping, torture, angst, heartbreak and love which for me makes up
one hell of a story.
Kay has been a member of the Cavalieri
Della Morte for years but being an assassin is in his blood. As a child Kay
became an orphan with a past that is filled with bloodshed and heartbreak and he
knows nothing but death. Taken in and raised by Paulo Jilani, Don of the
Italian Mafia crime family he was always treated like an adopted son. He was
taught to fight, turn off his emotions and kill. Despite Paulo having a
legitimate heir in his son Mauro he has been grooming Kay for the role and to
take over when the time comes. But not everyone is happy with this plan,
including Kay himself. Kay has no intention of running the crime family and so
he leaves to work for Arthur and joins the Cavalieri Della Morte. But the past
has a habit of catching up with you.
Evelyn is a shy but feisty
veterinarian who has always loved a very quiet life in England. Loved by her
mum and step father she has never really travelled or experienced the rush of
life. So when she wins an all-expense paid trip to Italy she jumps at the
chance of having her first taste of freedom. But all of that changes before she
even has chance to check into her hotel room when a gorgeous, wounded man gets
into her car holding a gun and kidnaps her. Eve knows she should be terrified
throughout her whole kidnap ordeal with Kay but she can’t help but feel
something toward this dark, brooding man. He makes her feel safe, she is drawn
to him and he turns her on more than any man ever has done. But can Eve really
trust the man who kidnaps her and puts her in harm’s way.
I absolutely loved Kay and Evelyn’s relationship.
Kay is instantly protective over Eve and he cannot explain why. When he looks
at her he feels things that he didn’t know he was capable of. I loved Kay but
the heartbreak he experienced, that made him who he is now, was awful. But despite
being a tough, cocky killer he softens and shows Eve his sensitive side and
when he realises his feelings for her he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Evelyn was such a great character for
me. When we first meet her she comes off as being quite shy and meek, almost
submissive which I wasn’t sure I would like. But that is quickly put aside when
she sticks up for herself and fights with Kay at every turn. She doesn’t want
to be attracted to him but she can’t help be drawn to him. Watching her fall
for Kay and helping him to open up and learn to love when he thought he wasn’t
capable was stunning to watch and made their relationship so much more
believable.
In this book we are introduced to two
more members of the Cavalieri Della Morte when we meet Gerwain and Ber. I loved
both Gerwain and Ber and I was instantly intrigued by them and the relationship
that they seem to have with Kay. They have such great banter and a fantastic friendship
even when they are all apart. If the epilogue is anything to go by both Ber and
then Gerwain will be getting their own great story and I cannot wait. I only
hope that I get to see more of Kay because man is that cocky, broody man
gorgeous!
Overall, I loved this book. It had everything I was looking for in an assassin story. There is death, intrigue, back-stabbing, sarcasm, banter, love and some incredibly hot sex scenes. I loved the friendships and backstory behind Kay and Eve and the more we learnt the more it drew me in. I literally could not put this book down having read it all in one day. I would recommend it to anyone and cannot wait for the next books in the series!
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
Marshall ~ The day that Adrienne Hamilton crashed into my world, everything changed. I had always lived life my way. What I thought I’d never want – a wife, a family – was now the most important thing in the world to me. Then it was gone. Lochlan Finch took everything from me before leaving me for dead. He won’t get away with it. I will find him and once I do, I will destroy him. Just like he destroyed us.
Adrienne ~ Marshall Trent opened my eyes to a new world. A life that I never thought possible, was now ours. It’s amazing how one person, one moment, can change the entire course of your life. Marshall changed my life for the better. But the loss we suffered at the hands of Lochlan Finch would change us irrevocably.
Lochlan ~ No plans are flawless, but there weren’t supposed to be this many misses. Trent should have died and Lana should have woken up ready to be the devoted housewife that I was planning for. No matter. I will find Trent and get rid of him for good this time. As for Lana, she’s always had a very strong will, but everyone breaks eventually. I won’t stop until she shatters.
Lana ~ When I woke up everything was black. I don’t know who I am, aside from my name. I have no one to count on. No friends. No family. There is a man out there named Marshall Trent and he wants to kill me, but no one scares me more than Lochlan Finch. He calls himself my husband, but he’s no lover of mine. He’s my worst nightmare come to life.
My Review:
This book is very different to
anything that I have ever read before. It features two different storylines,
one set in the past and one in the present but they could not be more
different. It features four different points of view. They feature some
connecting characters but the themes could not be more different. This book is
a dark romance and is definitely not for the faint hearted as it features
themes that can be triggers for some people. This fast paced read is full of
lies, violence, deception and love. It will have you hooked right from the
beginning.
The past storyline tells the story of
Marshall Trent who meets a young girl called Adrienne and it details how they
fall in love. From the minute they meet their chemistry is instant but Adrienne
has had a rough life with a difficult past. Even though she feels for him
straight away she makes him work for it and their relationship develops
naturally. Marshall is a sexy CEO who has always had everything that he ever
wanted and when he sees Adrienne, he knows that he wants her and he is prepared
to fight for her. Their love is beautiful and they have such passion that they
do not think anything could come between them but they are wrong.
The present storyline features
Lochlan ‘Lock’ Finch and Lana. Their relationship is the complete opposite of
Marshall and Adrienne’s. They have a very unhappy marriage filled with abuse,
violence and trauma. Lana has no memories of her life other than the last three
years and all she knows is what Lock tells her. She is being kept prisoner by
him under the pretence that he needs to keep her safe from Marshall Trent who
is trying to kill them. He explains how Trent and Lock were business partners
until Trent stole the company from Lock and they had to get protection and go
into hiding. Lock uses drugs, rape and manipulation to control Lana but mostly
it is through fear. Lock is not afraid to destroy anyone who gets in his way.
Lana has been told for as long as she can remember to fear Trent, so why when
Trent finally gets close enough to talk to her and touch her does he not try to
hurt her. But more importantly why when she should feel nothing but fear does
she instead feel things that her body has not felt in the last three years. Why
does someone who she is supposed to fear make her feel so safe?
Lana is such a lovely character as
she spends most of her life scared but still has so much fight left in her. She
knows that there is something better out there than the life she has with Lock
and she craves it. She manages to stand up to Lock and fight whenever she gets
chance, even when it puts her in more danger. My heart literally breaks for the
things that she has to go through and you cannot help but hope for a better
future for Lana, one where she does not have to fight so much.
Lock is quite possibly one of the
worst book villains that I have ever come across. He is a crazy lunatic at best
and a vindictive psychopath at worst. There are hints that he has suffered a
traumatic event in his past and that is what has caused long term side effects
but nothing is expanded upon in this book. He is an extremely hurtful, evil
person with violent tendencies. He says that he loves Lana but it’s obvious
that his need is to possess and control her rather than any tender feelings. I’m
not even sure he is capable of love.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is full of danger, drama, twists and turns. Some of the plot twists are more obvious but they are all enjoyable none the less. I know that this is book one in a duet so there will obviously be issues that are unresolved but the ending is one of those big OMG moments. I mean we are talking a big cliff-hanger moment that will leave you desperate to get your hands on book two. This is a great book and I hope the next book lives up to the incredibly high standards that this book sets.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
The job was meant to be impossible, even for the Cavalieri Della Morte. Kill Adelmo Lange, the reclusive crime boss who murdered my brother.
Until her. Adelmo’s daughter.
Branwen has taken a vow of silence to atone for her sins, but I don’t need her to say a word. She’s the bait that’s going to draw my target out.
Now she’s going to swear another vow. A vow of obedience. To me.
Together, we’re going to take down her father. If she does exactly what I tell her, she may even escape with her life.
Do as daddy says.
VOW OF OBEDIENCE is a standalone novella of 30,000 words and part of the CAVALIERI DELLA MORTE SERIES.
My Review:
This book is unlike anything I have
ever read before and it is fantastic. It is a dark romance with some trigger
warnings and BDSM/Daddy kink. Whilst this may not sell the book all that much
there is so much more to it than just these labels. It is dark, dangerous and
very sexy. It will draw you in and keep you engaged right till the end. This is
a fast paced, short book that will thrill you.
Geraint is an assassin in the
Cavalieri Della Morte and follows the orders of group leader Arthur. Geraint’s
latest job sees him in San Antonio doing a hit and laughing at the irony of
killing a man next to a catholic church. As he is making his getaway a
terrified young girl literally runs straight into him. He should be fleeing but
instead feels an overwhelming urge to protect this girl and takes her into the
church but she does not say a word. Five months later Geraint finds out that
his brother Trefor has been murdered by Adelmo Lange, a mafia kingpin, whilst
he was undercover with them. After his brutal murder all they sent back was his
crucifix chain and a finger. Arthur gives permission to Geraint for him to take
his revenge but it will be a difficult task. All the family is heavily
protected except for Lange’s daughter who is missing and cannot be located.
When Geraint sees a photo of the missing girl he realises that the girl he
saved in the church all those month ago is exactly the person he needs to get
his revenge. So he heads back to San Antonio to get the girl and payback for
his brother’s murder.
Bronwen has been through so much at
the hands of her father. She has seen things that will haunt her for the rest
of her life. It is the horrors of her past that forced her to run away from her
family but they continue to torment her. She feels an overwhelming amount of
guilt, which is why she has taken a vow of silence until she feels her sins are
forgiven. She plan to stay at the church and live her life quietly as far away
from her old life as possible but that all changes when Geraint storms back
into her life and kidnaps her with plans to use her against her father. Bronwen
is terrified of facing her father and leaving the church but it is her feelings
towards her kidnapper that scare her the most. She knows she should be afraid
of him but she is not, instead she feels safe when with him and loved.
The relationship between Geraint and
Bronwen is quite a strange one as it develops without Bronwen ever saying a
word. Geraint helps her to heal in his own special way and gives her the pain
and punishment that she feels like she deserves. But more than that he shows
her the love that she has been starved of. This is a dark romance and it could
be said that this book blurs the lines of consent and there may be triggers for
some people. I think the way sex is used in this book was almost very clever as
it was exactly what both characters needed and it helped them to develop as
people and grow as a couple. Bronwen may have taken a vow of obedience to
Geraint in almost a BDSM style way but there are definitely more elements of
love and care in the relationship than kink.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love the concept of 13 books that are all wrote by different authors but focus around a central theme, the Cavalieri Della Morte. The idea is loosely based around the idea of Arthur and his 12 knights of the round table and the books feature the stories of 12 assassins and their boss Arthur as they do their jobs and find love. It is a very clever idea and this book lives up to it. This is the first book that I have read from Brianna Hale and it makes me want to read more. I hope the other books in the series can live up to the high standards set with this instalment. I would definitely recommend this fast paced, dark romance.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
He bought me, but not to touch or taste. He bought me to save me, and to atone for past sins.
Handsome and mysterious, he swoops in to offer me a new life, but this is no knight in shining armor. He’s cold, hardened by his past. But there’s an inferno underneath the ice, I can feel the heat each time he looks at me—each time he gives in to the desire between us.
No matter how much I push to unleash the fire in his eyes, he shoves back harder each time. He’s merciless with his cruel words, telling me how naive I am, how little I know of the world.
But I’m stronger than he thinks.
When we face down our demons from the past, I’ll prove which one of us was in need of saving, and which one of us is the savior.
My Review:
The tag line to this book is that ‘he
came to buy my virginity but took so much more’ and that was more than enough
to catch my attention and draw me in. But Saviour is so much better than you
would possibly expect just from that tag line alone. It is gritty, funny and oh
so very sexy. It will make your body cover a whole range of emotions and am
sure at least once you will become frustrated at your kindle. But ultimately you
will have no choice when you finish the book to feel happy and have a massive
smile on your face.
Alexandra is a shy, innocent yet
strong 19 year old girl. She lives in a trailer along with her older sister
Leah and Leah’s boyfriend Oscar. They are drug addicts who waste all the money
that comes into the house despite Alex working two jobs for it. Both girls come
from a hard background having lost both their parents and experiencing pain and
hardship. It has made Leah closed off from the world and she sells her body to
give Oscar and herself the drugs she needs. But Alex has never wanted that life
for herself. She has always wanted to stay strong and protect her sister but
having not eaten for several days and with no money to her name she realises
she is in a difficult situation with not a lot of options. She needs money fast
so she decides to sell the only thing that she has left worth any value – her virginity
for $10,000. When she puts the advert out there she worries she may have made
the biggest mistake of her life but little does she know it would be the best
decision she ever makes.
Eric owns his own successful IT
business along with his best friend Ian. He spends all his time working and
when he isn’t his reputation with the ladies has earned him his playboy title.
He never stays with them overnight, never gives a promise of more and is all
about just sex with them. Eric is not looking for a relationship and will do
anything to avoid getting into one, making sure to avoid women who give off the
impression of wanting more. But the pain and heartbreak in Eric’s past has left
him with a fear of abandonment and losing those he loves. So he limits the
amount of people that he cares for and then there is less people for him to
lose. Eric is so scarred by the past that it has led him to become a vigilante
hell bent on protecting women who are being sold as sex slaves.
When Eric gets the call from his IT
dark web hacker Jared that there is a woman selling her virginity he acts quickly.
Normally he pays an extraction team of experts to go in and save the girl
before helping her with the aftercare. But one look at the girl in the photo
has him going into the rescue alone, particularly when he finds out that she is
not being sold by other people but is selling herself.
When Eric and Alex meet there is
obvious chemistry. Eric can feel a pull to this girl and it is that which
caused him to feel anger that she would put herself into such a dangerous
situation. So when Eric rescues Alex he goes against his normal protocol and
takes her back to his house and offers her a future that she could never have
even dreamed of. But the path to true love never does run smoothly. Can Eric
get over his fear of commitment enough to stop pushing people away and let Alex
in? Can Alex let go of her past or will she keep giving the people who should
love her, the power to hurt her?
Eric is one of those characters that
it is impossible not to fall in love with. Despite the fact that for the first
half of the book he acts like an idiot and you want to shake him, all of that
seems to fade away when you see all the good he does. He seems to have two
sides to him; the dark, brooding, no-nonsense businessman who keeps everyone at
arm’s length. Then when he does let people in he becomes a kind, funny and
incredibly sweet guy who is impossible to dislike. As I said, for half of the
book he is incredibly exasperating and does all that he can to hide his
feelings for Alex, but I love the little slips that he has and his moments of
caveman style jealousy. The pain and heartbreak in his past are so much a part
of him and the guilt that he feels from it is heart-breaking to see. I hated
seeing him closed off from the world but when he does finally open up he is so
funny and sexy that it was lovely to see. Alex never truly stood a chance!
Alex has known more pain and
suffering in her life than most people could possibly deal with. Not many
people know how bad life has to get that you are willing to sell something as
precious as your virginity. But in spite of everything Alex remains hopeful and
the more time that she spends with Eric, the more that she comes out of her
shell. Watching her blossom into a beautiful, confident, smart girl with hopes
of a future, college and a job was so stunning to witness. I loved how caring
Alex was, as in the face of everything that she has experienced it would be
easier to become hardened to it all but she doesn’t and it made her a much more
likable character.
Alex and Eric have so many hurdles
standing in the way of their relationship and they most definitely do not get
off to the best start. Eric does not think he is good enough for Alex and
pushes her away but when they do finally get together it is a thing of beauty.
It brings out the best parts to both of their personalities and their love
makes each other whole. Their chemistry just increases as the book progresses
and my word does it burn off the page. I loved the dirty talker that Eric
became and the way the he took charge in the bedroom but always made sure to
put Alex first. The sex scenes are very steamy and were very needed to show how
their relationship progresses.
This book is part of the Voyeur world
and is the third in the series. They are standalones and you do not have to
have read the earlier books but it might help. I have not read the first book
Voyeur but I have read Lovers, which is book two. Characters from Lovers
featured in this book but you would not lose any of the plot or get confused if
you have not read it. I liked the nice glimpse of Jake and Jackson that we got
but it was Carina that featured the most in this book. She was such a great
character in Lovers and I was sad that she did not get her happily ever after.
However, the epilogue suggests that she may be about to in the next instalment and
I cannot wait. For this reason alone I suggest that you read the other books in
the series.
Overall, I loved this book so much. I loved the drama, the brooding, the humour and the sizzling chemistry. Eric and Alex are two fantastic characters that have a lot of adversity standing in their way but you cannot help but want them to fight through it to find each other. The book makes you think that Eric is Alex’s saviour but I think that there is a very good argument for her being his. This is a beautiful book to read and I completely devoured it. I could not put it down because I was so invested in the characters that I had to know what happens. This not only makes me very eager for the next book but it also makes it very easy for me to recommend this book to you. I am sure you will not regret it.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
I’m no angel, and he’s definitely no saint. We’ve crossed paths on the way to hell, and now he thinks we’re going to enjoy the rest of the ride together…
I said no. He said yes. I turned him down. He kicked in my door. He told me to stay. I ran as far as I could. I hate him. He adores me. I’m crazy. He’s worse. I want to leave. He won’t let me go. I’m a bitch. He loves me anyway. He’s a killer. I don’t really care. He says I’m strong, beautiful, talented. I say he’s lying. He’s doing everything he can to make me believe it. I’m doing everything I can to resist him. He fights and f*cks as hard as I do, and now…I think I might like him too.
The Last Call is a sensual mafia enemies-to-lovers romance with no cheating or cliffhanger and a guaranteed happy ending.
My Review:
This is the story of how two very
tortured souls fall in love in spite of everything in the world trying to pull
them apart. It is most definitely not like any kind of love story that I have ever
read and whilst it is labelled as a dark romance, I’m not sure even that covers
it. This book will take you on rollercoaster of emotions and will draw you in
until you are completely addicted. The Last Call is an emotionally charged book
that deals with some sensitive subject matters that may not be to everyone’s
taste or could contain trigger issues for some people.
Sydney is a beautiful, feisty,
independent woman who is running from her heart-breaking past. She has
experienced a trauma in her past that makes her want to be in control, which
leads to her becoming a high society escort. Her selling point is that she can
be whatever the man wants her to be, for the right price. But the entire time
she is hiding the real Sydney. No man has ever made her feel or set her on fire
and if they did she would not ever trust them because of her fear. But all of
that changes when she meets Julius, the crazy, possessive and dangerously
gorgeous mob boss who has decided that he wants Sydney after a chance encounter.
Julius has always got exactly what he
wants and his desire to have Sydney will be no different. He has worked hard to
instil fear into everyone so that they know they should never test him. I think
the only way I can possibly accurately describe Julius would be to say that he
is out of his mind, crazy. He does whatever he wants, gets his own way and
kills whoever tries to stop him. He is dark and dangerous but when he is with
Sydney he shows a different side, he is loving. But Julius also has heartbreak
in his past and that pain mean he is fiercely overprotective of the people he
loves and that now includes Sydney.
You cannot judge Sydney and Julius’s
relationship by any normal standards as theirs is far from any normal
situation. Instead of meeting a girl he likes and trying to woo her, Julius
doesn’t believe in that or romance and instead he kidnaps her. But weirdly that
appears to be exactly what Sydney needed to help her tear down her walls and
let someone else in which then helped her real confidence increase. Whilst
there is no denying that Julius is frustratingly possessive and angry a lot of
the time, he is also very sweet and caring in his own way. He knows how to make
Sydney feel loved and cherished and gives her everything that she could ever
want. In a really random way Sydney and Julius work, they are the Ying to each
other’s Yang and they bounce off each other perfectly. They create this little
angry vacuum of love that just works for them and actually the chemistry that
they create is incredibly hot.
Personally, I struggled to get on
board with Julius as a character. There is a fine line between dominating alpha
and domineering ass and he definitely was the latter for me. I just did not get
the whole love at first sight, kidnap until she falls in love with him, happily
ever after thing that all occurs over just a couple of weeks. I know the book is
set in a rather out there mafia style universe and the characters are normally
a bit over the top but I just did not fall for Julius the way that I wanted to.
However, I did like Sydney as a character and I loved her fight and need for
independence. The way she pushes against Julius was fantastic to see. I also
thought the way she felt about and dealt with her past was very believable and
made me like her even more. I can understand why she fell for Julius because
the love and adoration he had towards her was beautiful. But how she puts up
with his possessiveness I will never understand.
Overall, in spite of struggling to like Julius in the way that I normally fall for male leads, it did not hinder the way I felt about the book. It had me hooked from the beginning and I loved the drama of the book. I was eager to read what crazy, stupid thing Julius would do next and I could not put the book down. I think if you go into this book knowing that it is set in a rather abstract mafia world then the drama that ensues will be entertaining. This book is dangerous, sexy and very entertaining. It is the first book that I have read by Nikki Belaire but I am very sure that it will not be the last.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here;
Everyone has a past. A past you can’t escape…but that doesn’t mean we won’t try.
My escape? The club I co-own. Fantasy Hub is a place where identities are kept secret and fantasies are brought to life. It’s not until a headstrong, sassy woman walks into my club, her presence demanding my attention that lines start to blur.
It was only supposed to be one night. No strings attached. No complications. But when our paths cross outside the club walls, it’s impossible for me to stay away.
But Lila is kind, pure…innocent. She’s everything I’m not, and a man like me can easily ruin a woman like her. Corrupt her. Destroy her.
If I was a good man I would walk away. If I was a man who always did the right thing I wouldn’t pursue Lila with a desire to consume her.
But that’s the problem. I’m not.
My Review:
This book all centres around the idea that everyone
has a past and that is what defines your present. Wicked Dirty Games is a
romantic suspense story that features a BDSM element. It will draw you in and
make you eager to learn more about the characters and the experiences that have
led them to where they are now. Gemma Berlanti is an up-and-coming author and
this is her first book that I have read. This book is far from perfect but does
have so much potential which makes me excited for her future books.
Lila Montgomery is a young, innocent yet feisty
girl who is working at the University as an assistant to a Professor whilst
also focussing on her research into sexual behaviour. She is very inexperienced
and wants to gain more knowledge around dominant behaviour and so attends a sex
club recommended by her friend. Here she meets a mystery man who gives her an
amazing sexual experience, while she is blindfolded, showing her how sensual
submitting can be. Despite being enamoured by him, the club has a no-names
policy and so she has no idea who he really is and will never get to see him
again.
Whilst working at the university Lila is introduced
to a rich benefactor who is donating and working with the university. He is
devilishly handsome and looks at Lila like he wants to devour her. But all she
sees is a cocky, rich playboy who is used to getting what he wants and using
women just for sex, which is why she rejects his advances. What she doesn’t
realise is that Killean Knight is her mystery sex god and he wants more from
her than the little taste he had at the club.
Killean Knight is a gorgeous, playboy billionaire
with a very tortured past. To escape from his past he attends the club that he
co-owns, The Fantasy Hub which specialises in bringing fantasies to life. Here
Killean gets to play out his dominant personality without the need for a
relationship and the anonymity policy at the club adds to the appeal. But when
he meet a headstrong, vivacious woman who makes him throw his rule book out of
the window and chase her down to make
her his.
Killean and Lila have a very rocky and turbulent
relationship. There is a lot of push and pull, where they battle in a love-hate
relationship. Lila knows she is drawn to and feels physically attached to
Killean but she is scared that they have different expectations and that he is
not capable of settling down or being in a relationship. Killean wants Lila and
is prepared to take and devour her even if it means that he destroys her
innocence. He worries that he will corrupt and effect Lila but in reality she
has more of an effect on him.
Whilst I did enjoy reading this book there were
some negatives that I need to point out. Firstly, this book felt like it was
just a bit too long. Sometimes the timeline appeared to be very confused and it
exposed some plot lines that could have had big reveals, far too early.
Personally, I think this book could be amazing with a bit more editing and
attention to detail. It is obvious that Gemma Berlanti has a lot of great
potential as an author and this is her debut novel.
Overall, I found this book quite hard to review as I
really did enjoy the plot, characters and relationship and the potential for
this book is high but sadly the style of writing, timeline errors and lack of
concise editing forced my hand to give this book a 3 star rating. If this book
is edited, condensed and developed a bit further I am sure it could be a 5 star
book that I would most definitely recommend. I am excited for Gemma’s next book
because I know that with experience she will only get better, so I am looking
forward to reading the next book in the series.
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is available for Free on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased here:
Emma's Romantic Reviews 