**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
A kickass book fit for a kickass heroine. Broken or not, LianaMy Rating: 4-4.5 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
A kickass book fit for a kickass heroine. Broken or not, Liana Volkov is a force to be reckoned with. Giovanni Agosti added fuel to the fire, and together, they were an unbelievable pair!
This book is constantly progressing, but the storytelling felt well-paced. You’re thrown into the deep end right from the get-go, and immediately get bombarded with emotional highs and lows.
Although this book goes back and forth from past to present through flashbacks, if you haven’t already, I recommend reading Reign of a Billionaire (from the Billionaire Kings series) first, to get a fuller insight into Liana’s backstory, and how she came to be in the present time.
Liana has a truly gut-wrenching past that follows her well into the present day that’s tough to witness, but something you couldn’t tear your eyes away from either. I was wholly invested in Liana and Giovanni. I was invested in seeing her anger, her desperation to keep her fierce façade, and her determination to mete out vengeance. Her emotions leaped off the pages, and you couldn’t help but sympathise. I was invested in Giovanni striving to break through her defences, and connect with her on a deeper level.
Giovanni Agosti could not have been more of a swoon-worthy MMC, and a perfect match for Liana. Powerful, protective, patient, and loving. The list could go on. He brings in a lot of the lightness to an otherwise heavily dark and brutal narrative. He provided stability and security, when all hell felt like it was breaking loose. Some of the most memorable and favourite parts of this book for me were moments Giovanni had fulfilled.
It’s a mixture of sugar and spice. For the romantics, there are plenty of sweet, affectionate parts in the book. For spice lovers, there is plenty of heated passion throughout and a good amount of build-up to those moments.
Be prepared for a barrage of feels. This one can be a bit of a tearjerker.
It broaches on dark themes and sensitive subject matters than some readers may find triggering. It contains graphic violence, kidnapping, torture, captivity, human trafficking, sexual assault, loss of a child— all resulting in PTSD. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
Their story is of pain that one goes through, but also one of healing. Giovanni is nothing but a pillar of strength and support for Liana at a time where she felt more alone than ever. I loved seeing the gradual development of trust and ease within their relationship. The gentleness, understanding, and the pacing in which Giovanni wooed Liana was truly genuine, especially with the brutality Liana had been subjected to in her past. The trauma she exhibited was dealt with respectfully, and with thought and care.
The secondary characters were equally intriguing, with a handful of them already catching my eye from the moment they appeared. Whilst I did find the more significant plot twists predictable, seeing them coming a mile away, Winners still managed to take me by surprise in the end, which is a testament of her complex, yet addictive writing.
Dark and mafia romance readers should add this one to their TBR. It’s a gripping story that you’ll be hard-pressed to put down once you start it. It’s also a beautiful addition to the series, and to the interconnected criminal underworld Winners has created through her characters. Told from dual POVs, it’s high-intensity, character-driven, and will take you on an angsty roller-coaster ride. The ending left me sighing in contentment. It has one of my favourite HEAs Winners has ever written, and I can only hope we get to see more of Giovanni, Liana, and the mass of secondary characters that made their presence known in this book.
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Oooh. I loved the change of pace this book offered from the reMy Rating: 4-4.5 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Oooh. I loved the change of pace this book offered from the rest of the series. It was MC-lite but I hadn’t even minded in the slightest as my attention was wholly focused on Kyle and Sutton, and their fun, flirty chemistry.
This book combined a mixture of elements I can never pass up:
Kyle and Sutton’s complex relationship was very much the focal point of this book. After reading the premise, I was anxious to say the least going into this story and seeing how the love triangle between Kyle, Sutton, and Rafe would play out. What I ended up getting was a genuine, heart-warming friendship blossoming amid a fun, entertaining adventure. The backdrops were vivid and exciting, and elevated each scene between the MCs. It also set the tone of the book’s overall atmosphere. I was immediately invested.
There were very little spicy scenes in this one, yet it made a lot of sense as to why that was. I appreciated how the narrative was written. It may have started out as an instant attraction and a secret little crush, but it organically evolved into a real and relatable friendship, and an understanding of the circumstance they found themselves in. There’s no cheating involved. If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, this one will have you smiling!
I was amazed at how opposite Kyle is to Wolf. I’m a big Wolf fan, but I kinda dig the fact that he’s gotten is act together a lot sooner than when his dad was about his age. He knows what he wants, but he’s also willing to put in the hard yards to get it. But it’s also good to see he’s got some of his dad’s charm, which just about put the cherry on top of his already “book boyfriend material” personality. And who wouldn’t fall head over heels for a man who can cook?!
And Sutton? First off, she has such cool name. I haven’t come across another Sutton ever. She’s adorable, sweet, and just effortlessly lovable. She’s half the reason why this was such a light-hearted read. Her positivity is infectious and I couldn’t get enough of her interactions with Kyle. I lost count of how many times I fangirled over their scenes.
I wish this book was longer. Truly. Whilst I enjoyed the friendship and intense sexual attraction between the two, I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more romance. This book came across more so a beginning of a new chapter for these characters rather than a story ending on a definitive HEA, which I’m all for as I always enjoy seeing character crossovers in future books, but yeah, it was definitely romance-deficient.
Dark themes and sensitive matters are included— either off-page/ mentioned in passing, or a small on-page scene in the book, that some readers may still find disturbing or triggering. It contains a murder plot, drug trafficking, graphic violence, and attempted SA. Intended for readers 18+ only.
Having said that, this book sets it apart from the rest of the series. It’s more easy-going, less suspenseful. There’s still an ongoing storyline concerning the MC, but it’s secondary. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this book up again whenever I need a mood-booster.
The usual brotherhood, hilarious banter, and overall tight-knit familial dynamics are still very much present, and seeing both old and new characters together added comfort and another layer of satisfaction to my reading experience. I will say though—never in a million years would’ve guessed that Green would have a more prominent role and evolve into this fun uncle-type character who moonlights as a dating guru/matchmaker. LOL. He’s made some memorable appearances in this second-gen series, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.
For me, James is an auto-read author. Her writing is always so gripping, and her characters are equally appealing. Certain parts of this story could have been more in-depth, but all in all, Kyle is a fantastic addition to the series. You can read it as a standalone, but for a fuller experience of EDMC’s second generation, I highly recommend you read the previous books in the series, if you haven’t already.
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Hot-blooded. Intense. Unhinged.
What a gripping conclusion to the TMy Rating: 4 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Hot-blooded. Intense. Unhinged.
What a gripping conclusion to the Team Zulu duet, and final book in the series! Hope and Vaughn’s relationship has grown leaps and bounds since their very first encounter. Honestly, I wasn’t completely sold at first with the abrupt shift in intimacy, considering Vaughn’s weighty triggers. But as the story progressed, it was evident that Hope was a genuine balm to his trauma. They are the epitome of two halves making a whole.
Besides the romance side of things, there was an air of desperation and urgency that constantly shrouded Hope and Vaughn in this book. The suspense leaps off the pages, pulls you in, and plops you smack dab in the middle of their deadly undertaking.
The storytelling is faster-paced in this second half, which only drove the sense of risk and danger home even more. You get to witness not only how Vaughn and his team band together for a mission, but also their contrasting team dynamics. There’s a solid sense of brotherhood and all that it entails; banter, bickering, and all-out protectiveness. If this story is your introduction to the Team Zulu series, the secondary characters will certainly have you curious. (I know I’m partial to Vaughn’s brother). ...more
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Ooh. Snap, crackle, and pop! All good things come to those whMy Rating: 4-4.5 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Ooh. Snap, crackle, and pop! All good things come to those who wait! Prepare yourself for high intensity banter and sexual chemistry in this calculated slow-burn romance story. Jenshak has certainly left this cracking duo last for a good reason.
Although you can technically read this book on its own, I highly suggest you at least read the first two books of the Wildcat Hockey series before diving into this one just so you can familiarise yourself with the cast of hockey players in this series, and read Everly’s introduction to their world.
Each book in the series is a relatively quick read. I binge-read them pretty easily, and I’m glad I did because I don’t think the Wildcat Hockey world would have been as in-depth if I had only read this book, and Jack and Everly’s relationship and evolving dynamics definitely would not have felt as momentous without knowing their backstory in detail beforehand.
Everly has always been a spitfire of a character, but seeing her come into her own as a FMC with undeniable character growth, you cannot hate her. She’s fun, caring, and completely added lightness to this story.
Since the very first book in this series, Jack has always piqued my interest, being the standoffish, broody guy, with a protective older brother persona amongst the friends. He draws attention without even trying, and finally seeing him as the leading hero was well-worth the fifth book wait! ...more
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh-wee. Lots to unpack here because this book was hella jam-pacMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh-wee. Lots to unpack here because this book was hella jam-packed with characters and different narratives— all in a complex, expansive interconnected criminal underworld.
Although this can be read as a standalone, I’m going to be real honest and say, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series or the Thorns of Omertà series, then there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself a little lost when it comes to some of the character crossovers and the connections they have with the MCs. There are so many familial links and ever-growing allies that it can be pretty overwhelming if you’re not up-to-scratch with Winners’ dark mafia multiverse.
Christian (aka Priest) and Ivy are both likable characters. I had gravitated towards Priest as a character from the very beginning of this series just because of the mystery and darkness that surrounded him. Ivy was somewhat similar. She was never quite the centre of attention, always just lingering in the background… that is, until this book.
There are two sides to every coin, and same can be said for Priest. I knew there was constant darkness lurking around him, but after learning the full extent of his backstory, I have an even deeper love and admiration for him. He might just be my favourite Kingpin. (Sorry Basilio. Sorry Dante). Priest is an overly complex character and his brutal and disturbing upbringing is the result of his volatile mental stability. He knows it. The people closest to him know on some level too. But what I found myself marvelling at is his determination to change, when most of his life he has moulded himself in armour. Winner written a mafia romance and included raw, real-life issues that many could connect and relate with.
This story is not for the fainthearted. I, myself who normally doesn’t have triggers found this one to have an effect on me. Please err on the side of caution. It contains dark themes that some readers may find triggering such as child abandonment, child abuse, sexual assault, blackmail, kidnapping, exploitation, graphic violence and torture— which are all by-products of severe mental, physical, and emotional trauma. Priest’s backstory also broaches on his religious upbringing, and is one of the key reasons behind his actions and demeanour. This book is intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s character-driven. It’s emotionally-charged, and with the past coming back to haunt not only the MCs but the secondary cast of characters as well, it’s packed with action and suspense.
The complexity of this story stems from the totally twisted, totally dysfunctional familial relations present. The dynamics you see between Priest’s family, as well as Ivy’s equally intricate one, will have you questioning whether or not you’ve walked into a telenovela or soap opera. Everyone seems to be linked to someone one way or another, and anyone that was deemed done and dusted, may very well be alive and kicking. Like I said, it’s a damn soap opera! LOL. It’s equally entertaining, as it is overwhelming.
It’s well-paced storytelling, told from multiple POVs. The story has a very sombre, heartbreaking atmosphere, but there are bouts of lightness and banter throughout that keeps it from going overly dark. Ivy injects a lot of sweetness, calmness, and loyalty into Priest’s life, and seeing him trying to navigate through it all is probably one of my favourite things from this book, along with his overall character growth.
Priest and Ivy’s story is one that felt full-circle. It started out with loneliness, pain, and uncertainty, and ending with stability, love and family.
This story also hints at various other storylines, which I’m excited for. There are a handful of characters that have intrigued me for a while now, and this book only reiterated my anticipation to read their stories next.
If you like big chunks of spice, this one has it. I’m all for spice if it heightens the story and the characters’ developing relationship. But in this case, there was a bit too much of it (I know, shocking) for my liking, to the point where the story occasionally dragged. There were also instances where I found the storytelling jumped from one subplot to the next, and back again, and with big portions of the book being sexual content, the writing felt choppy and didn’t flow as well as the other books. Whilst certain subplots were understandably introduced and left open for future books, there were others that I thought developed and concluded rather abruptly. There were particular developments that I also thought deserved a shit-ton of grovelling for and deserved major grudge-holding, but alas, it just felt short of my torturous liking. Oh well.
I still enjoyed it regardless. I think it’s a beautiful addition to the series, and Priest is a refreshing change of pace from the previous broken heroes of the Kingpins of the Syndicate. Ivy is the softness to Priest’s hard-heartedness, and the balance between them is just warming to witness. Theirs is a journey of highs and lows, and it’s evident their relationship is a work-in-progress as they work through insecurities and open up about their emotions. I love the relatability of their relationship, their willingness to repair damaged relationships with friends and family, and how realistic they went about with their overall healing process. The fleshed-out scenes that were added and the genuine developments amongst the characters in my opinion, were the absolute factors that made this book a weighty little gem.
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Athena and Manuel are THE go-to couple for romance readers who arMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Athena and Manuel are THE go-to couple for romance readers who are “here for the smut and not the plot”. This is the perfect naughty little book for when you’re in-between reads. It’s relatively fast-paced but it’s undoubtedly smut-a-plenty! ...more
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh this world has plenty of potential. The premise was what My Rating: 3.75 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh this world has plenty of potential. The premise was what initially had me curious to read this book, and now that I have, all I can say is it has kept me intrigued throughout.
Although this was marketed as Mafia Romance, I don’t think the mafia elements were as dominant as it could’ve been. Whilst there is some introduction to the world-building, it’s character-driven with the romance aspect very much on the foreground.
The writing style did however hook me in from the very first chapter, along with the characters themselves. Anastasia is a bubbly heroine and her personality leapt off the pages instantaneously. Damon may be part of the underworld, but he doesn’t necessarily ooze it. He’s somewhat of a closed-off character and the secrecy surrounding his backstory for most of the story made for an interesting hero in him.
If you enjoy reading romances with BDSM elements, then you might take an interest in this one. The level is mild but there are some kinky elements included. It is however heavy on the intimacy as a good portion of the book consists of sexual content. It’s definitely intended for readers 18+ only.
I would’ve loved if the story was more in-depth with substantial developments. I felt the relationship between Anastasia and Damon progressed too abruptly especially considering the storytelling is steady-paced. I wasn’t completely convinced that their feelings for one another had evolved into anything deeper as the relationship was lust-fueled.
Myers is a new-to-me author and I was introduced to her work through this book. It’s a standalone romance, as is the other books in the series, but after having read this one, I do have to echo the author’s recommendation in starting the series from the beginning. The world-building is still in its early developments and has potential to expand and become multi-layered. But the details leading up to the cast of characters’ current situation within the underworld is vague. Reading the first book would explain their circumstances.
As an avid fan of mafia romance books, I do think it is mafia-lite, but it does still contained some action and suspense. If you like the enemies-to-lovers romance trope, this does however have a cute, secret romance between these two of opposing mob families.
I thought it was an decent read finding some parts more enjoyable than others. It’s told from dual POVs and I liked seeing their contrasting characters through their perspectives. The dynamic between the MCs was an entertaining highlight. Their banter was absolutely smile-inducing. There were also certain secondary characters that caught my eye and will keep a lookout to see if they do end up with books of their own.
But all in all, Blood and Bourbon is a promising series. It’s one to watch out for as more characters are introduced and the world develops further.
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Deviously dirty. Check.
Highly erotic. Double check.
IntoxicatinglMy Rating: 4.5 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Deviously dirty. Check.
Highly erotic. Double check.
Intoxicatingly unputdownable. Triple check.
Oakmount Elite’s next damaged MMC will keep you on the edge of your seat and tightly wound. There is so much mystery right from the very beginning that it’ll instantly have you intrigued. The ominous atmosphere is set early on and it only builds further suspense from there.
I loved the thrills and spills this book elicited. Beck’s storytelling is very much for the avid dark romance reader who love unhinged characters and twisted storylines. And, I tell you Sebastian and Elyse will have you enveloped in their dicey little world in no time.
After having read The Wallflower and The Wildflower duet, and discovering that this third book in the series included another pair of MCs from “opposite sides of the tracks”, I knew it was a story not to be missed. It has a giddy-inducing employer/housemaid dynamic between Sebastian and Elyse that I could not get enough of. It not only brought about zingy interactions all throughout, but it made for a more anxious slow-burn romance, and an overall highly-entertaining reading experience.
There are a lot of layers to this story with a handful of secondary storylines developing simultaneously with the main narrative. It’s steady-paced, gradually providing more and more of Sebastian’s and Elyse’s backstories, giving insight into the reasons behind their fractured lives and the circumstances they find themselves in in the present day.
This book is the first half of a duet, and concludes on a doozy of a cliffhanger. I was practically foaming at the mouth and cursing the book gods that it ended the way it did. You can bet I’ll be counting the days, weeks, and months until the next book because with all the action and suspense, secrecy and manipulation, there is no way I will be missing out on the conclusion of Sebastian and Elyse’s story.
Fair warning, this book is dark romance, with adult themes and sensitive subject matters that some readers may find triggering or disturbing. It contains graphic violence, kidnapping, domestic and child abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking— all resulting in mental, physical, and emotional trauma/PTSD. It’s not for the fainthearted, and/or for romance readers who are not familiar with Beck’s style of writing. If dark romance is not in your usual wheelhouse, I would proceed with caution and read through the author’s detailed list of TWs (which you can find at the beginning of the book) before starting it.
I’m not going to lie, there were some elements in this story that even had me clutching at my imaginary pearls. But I’m glad I rolled with the punches because I ended up really enjoying the hell out of this book to the point that there are certain parts I’ve gone back and reread way too many times now.
Sebastian lives up to his broody, alpha-hole hype from when he was first introduced in the The Wallflower. I couldn’t get enough of seeing him navigate through is chaotic emotions and fighting his ever-growing fascination of Elyse.
Elyse is a spitfire and seeing her struggle with keeping her composure around Sebastian was just one of the light-hearted highlights of this book. I think this half of the story only scratches the surface of her character, and I hope with the next book, we’ll get to see her at her full potential.
The premise will have you curious, and the story itself will have you turning the pages. You’ll find a range of personalities amongst Sebastian’s close-knit group of friends, and with complex familial dynamics present, they lend the much-needed support system for not only Sebastian but Elyse as well.
It’s easy to follow and told from first person, dual POVs. If you’ve read and enjoyed the first duet from the series, then this newest spicy addition is not to be missed. Add it to your TBR if you're a fan of bully romance reads.
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
I’m calling it— Brayden is my favourite MMC from the Evil DeMy Rating: 4–4.5 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
I’m calling it— Brayden is my favourite MMC from the Evil Dead MC second generation! He went from someone who, I’m embarrassed to admit wasn’t even on my radar, to someone who ended up having my undivided attention.
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Do you like rollercoasters? Ones full of dark tunnels and loop-deMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Do you like rollercoasters? Ones full of dark tunnels and loop-de-loops? Either way that’s what you’ll be getting onto the second you step into Camorra territory. I suggest leaving every thought or idea you had of Nevio Falcone and Aurora Scuderi at the door, and just let them take you on a crazed ride!
I have to say, Cora outdid herself with the humour in this one. I could not stop giggling to myself. The one-liners, double entendres, and inside jokes made this book more entertaining than what was probably intended. Or maybe it was, and if that’s the case, it’s cleverly written.
Don’t mistaken Nevio and Rory’s book (and this spin-off series) to be exactly like the Camorra Chronicles. Similarities, yes. But carbon copies, definitely not.
There were obvious signs going as far back as when he was a child that Nevio would take lunacy to a whole new level. He’s immature, erratic, and totally takes things to the extreme. His character is definitely not for everyone, but I appreciated the fact that he stood out as an individual from the massive cast of characters from this world.
Greta and Amo are still my favourite couple from this series, but Nevio and Rory are definitely up there. Although, that maybe subject to change. After some of the developments the occurred in this book with certain secondary characters, I’m perking up with excitement for the next books to come.
It’s not a picture-perfect story. There are plenty of questionable developments, actions taken, or lack thereof from the characters, not just the MCs. Although I loved how easy the writing was to follow, it had the tendency to be wordy and pacing was on the slower side. Things left unanswered and certain issues were repetitive, always coming back around yet never completely getting resolved, which at times as a reader felt frustrating to sit through. But it did eventually pick up momentum and had a strong “third act” of family, friendship, love, and redemption.
Looking at the bigger picture, I liked that these characters have their own personalities. I’m always rooting for the morally grey and even the villainous characters. Nevio is undeniably flawed, broken, very unhinged like so many dark antiheroes before him, yet he’s also a character I can differentiate from others because he has an off-kilter mentality. You just never know which path he’ll take and the reasoning behind it. Majority of the time you won’t agree with him, but from my perspective, I understood his outlook and thought process. To me, he’s very much a product of his upbringing. I wasn’t surprised by his psychological state. It’s evident that he’s not the warm and fuzzy type, and doesn’t care all that much about consequences. He has a “shoot now, MAYBE ask questions later” mindset. But you do see gradual changes in him, albeit slight, but they are there. He is redeemable, and it’s evident by the time the book ends. It’s one of the reasons why I was absorbed in it.
Rory is probably one of the more down to earth heroines from this series. There’s a relatability with her that immediately drew me to her character. She’s young, still in the doe-eyed, young love phase of her life, and it’s what makes her emotions genuine. She’s your stereotypical adolescent. For the most part she’s responsible, thoughtful, big-hearted, somewhat sheltered, but at the same time was faced with situations that were way too adult to take on. Both of them had.
It’s definitely not a sweet romance story. At least not in the conventional sense. It’s not even your typical friends-to-lovers narrative. It’s angsty, soul-crushing, and unrequited, set in a twisted mafia backdrop. If it hadn’t included any comic-relief, it would’ve been a more sombre story.
I enjoyed seeing the character crossovers from both the Born in Blood and Camorra Chronicles. And even better knowing my favourite mafiosos haven’t lost their touch, or appeal.
I can’t fault Fabiano. He’s underrated but has always been my favourite from the Camorra Chronicles. He seems to be the only one in the Camorra with his head on straight, and I love that about him. He is the moral compass. The character that mirrored and voiced all of my emotions, questions, and my first initial thoughts whilst reading this book. He’s also the perfect example of present-parenting, with a no-nonsense mentality. Geez, I tell ya, the immediate sense of relief and raising of my fist in solidarity.
This book expanded the world-building further. It also provided more teasers for future relationships, which I just about drooled over. Not every reader is going to like it, and as I mentioned earlier, Nevio is an acquired taste. If you’re hoping or expecting a MMC like Nino, and wanting a similar premise to his and Kiara’s pairing, wait for Massimo.
Merged review:
My Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Do you like rollercoasters? Ones full of dark tunnels and loop-de-loops? Either way that’s what you’ll be getting onto the second you step into Camorra territory. I suggest leaving every thought or idea you had of Nevio Falcone and Aurora Scuderi at the door, and just let them take you on a crazed ride!
I have to say, Cora outdid herself with the humour in this one. I could not stop giggling to myself. The one-liners, double entendres, and inside jokes made this book more entertaining than what was probably intended. Or maybe it was, and if that’s the case, it’s cleverly written.
Don’t mistaken Nevio and Rory’s book (and this spin-off series) to be exactly like the Camorra Chronicles. Similarities, yes. But carbon copies, definitely not.
There were obvious signs going as far back as when he was a child that Nevio would take lunacy to a whole new level. He’s immature, erratic, and totally takes things to the extreme. His character is definitely not for everyone, but I appreciated the fact that he stood out as an individual from the massive cast of characters from this world.
Greta and Amo are still my favourite couple from this series, but Nevio and Rory are definitely up there. Although, that maybe subject to change. After some of the developments the occurred in this book with certain secondary characters, I’m perking up with excitement for the next books to come.
It’s not a picture-perfect story. There are plenty of questionable developments, actions taken, or lack thereof from the characters, not just the MCs. Although I loved how easy the writing was to follow, it had the tendency to be wordy and pacing was on the slower side. Things left unanswered and certain issues were repetitive, always coming back around yet never completely getting resolved, which at times as a reader felt frustrating to sit through. But it did eventually pick up momentum and had a strong “third act” of family, friendship, love, and redemption.
Looking at the bigger picture, I liked that these characters have their own personalities. I’m always rooting for the morally grey and even the villainous characters. Nevio is undeniably flawed, broken, very unhinged like so many dark antiheroes before him, yet he’s also a character I can differentiate from others because he has an off-kilter mentality. You just never know which path he’ll take and the reasoning behind it. Majority of the time you won’t agree with him, but from my perspective, I understood his outlook and thought process. To me, he’s very much a product of his upbringing. I wasn’t surprised by his psychological state. It’s evident that he’s not the warm and fuzzy type, and doesn’t care all that much about consequences. He has a “shoot now, MAYBE ask questions later” mindset. But you do see gradual changes in him, albeit slight, but they are there. He is redeemable, and it’s evident by the time the book ends. It’s one of the reasons why I was absorbed in it.
Rory is probably one of the more down to earth heroines from this series. There’s a relatability with her that immediately drew me to her character. She’s young, still in the doe-eyed, young love phase of her life, and it’s what makes her emotions genuine. She’s your stereotypical adolescent. For the most part she’s responsible, thoughtful, big-hearted, somewhat sheltered, but at the same time was faced with situations that were way too adult to take on. Both of them had.
It’s definitely not a sweet romance story. At least not in the conventional sense. It’s not even your typical friends-to-lovers narrative. It’s angsty, soul-crushing, and unrequited, set in a twisted mafia backdrop. If it hadn’t included any comic-relief, it would’ve been a more sombre story.
I enjoyed seeing the character crossovers from both the Born in Blood and Camorra Chronicles. And even better knowing my favourite mafiosos haven’t lost their touch, or appeal.
I can’t fault Fabiano. He’s underrated but has always been my favourite from the Camorra Chronicles. He seems to be the only one in the Camorra with his head on straight, and I love that about him. He is the moral compass. The character that mirrored and voiced all of my emotions, questions, and my first initial thoughts whilst reading this book. He’s also the perfect example of present-parenting, with a no-nonsense mentality. Geez, I tell ya, the immediate sense of relief and raising of my fist in solidarity.
This book expanded the world-building further. It also provided more teasers for future relationships, which I just about drooled over. Not every reader is going to like it, and as I mentioned earlier, Nevio is an acquired taste. If you’re hoping or expecting a MMC like Nino, and wanting a similar premise to his and Kiara’s pairing, wait for Massimo.
Merged review:
My Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Do you like rollercoasters? Ones full of dark tunnels and loop-de-loops? Either way that’s what you’ll be getting onto the second you step into Camorra territory. I suggest leaving every thought or idea you had of Nevio Falcone and Aurora Scuderi at the door, and just let them take you on a crazed ride!
I have to say, Cora outdid herself with the humour in this one. I could not stop giggling to myself. The one-liners, double entendres, and inside jokes made this book more entertaining than what was probably intended. Or maybe it was, and if that’s the case, it’s cleverly written.
Don’t mistaken Nevio and Rory’s book (and this spin-off series) to be exactly like the Camorra Chronicles. Similarities, yes. But carbon copies, definitely not.
There were obvious signs going as far back as when he was a child that Nevio would take lunacy to a whole new level. He’s immature, erratic, and totally takes things to the extreme. His character is definitely not for everyone, but I appreciated the fact that he stood out as an individual from the massive cast of characters from this world.
Greta and Amo are still my favourite couple from this series, but Nevio and Rory are definitely up there. Although, that maybe subject to change. After some of the developments the occurred in this book with certain secondary characters, I’m perking up with excitement for the next books to come.
It’s not a picture-perfect story. There are plenty of questionable developments, actions taken, or lack thereof from the characters, not just the MCs. Although I loved how easy the writing was to follow, it had the tendency to be wordy and pacing was on the slower side. Things left unanswered and certain issues were repetitive, always coming back around yet never completely getting resolved, which at times as a reader felt frustrating to sit through. But it did eventually pick up momentum and had a strong “third act” of family, friendship, love, and redemption.
Looking at the bigger picture, I liked that these characters have their own personalities. I’m always rooting for the morally grey and even the villainous characters. Nevio is undeniably flawed, broken, very unhinged like so many dark antiheroes before him, yet he’s also a character I can differentiate from others because he has an off-kilter mentality. You just never know which path he’ll take and the reasoning behind it. Majority of the time you won’t agree with him, but from my perspective, I understood his outlook and thought process. To me, he’s very much a product of his upbringing. I wasn’t surprised by his psychological state. It’s evident that he’s not the warm and fuzzy type, and doesn’t care all that much about consequences. He has a “shoot now, MAYBE ask questions later” mindset. But you do see gradual changes in him, albeit slight, but they are there. He is redeemable, and it’s evident by the time the book ends. It’s one of the reasons why I was absorbed in it.
Rory is probably one of the more down to earth heroines from this series. There’s a relatability with her that immediately drew me to her character. She’s young, still in the doe-eyed, young love phase of her life, and it’s what makes her emotions genuine. She’s your stereotypical adolescent. For the most part she’s responsible, thoughtful, big-hearted, somewhat sheltered, but at the same time was faced with situations that were way too adult to take on. Both of them had.
It’s definitely not a sweet romance story. At least not in the conventional sense. It’s not even your typical friends-to-lovers narrative. It’s angsty, soul-crushing, and unrequited, set in a twisted mafia backdrop. If it hadn’t included any comic-relief, it would’ve been a more sombre story.
I enjoyed seeing the character crossovers from both the Born in Blood and Camorra Chronicles. And even better knowing my favourite mafiosos haven’t lost their touch, or appeal.
I can’t fault Fabiano. He’s underrated but has always been my favourite from the Camorra Chronicles. He seems to be the only one in the Camorra with his head on straight, and I love that about him. He is the moral compass. The character that mirrored and voiced all of my emotions, questions, and my first initial thoughts whilst reading this book. He’s also the perfect example of present-parenting, with a no-nonsense mentality. Geez, I tell ya, the immediate sense of relief and raising of my fist in solidarity.
This book expanded the world-building further. It also provided more teasers for future relationships, which I just about drooled over. Not every reader is going to like it, and as I mentioned earlier, Nevio is an acquired taste. If you’re hoping or expecting a MMC like Nino, and wanting a similar premise to his and Kiara’s pairing, wait for Massimo....more
Rina | booksofthemuggleborn
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Books:
advance-review-copy
(247)
