Review : Sacaran Nights (Book one in the masque duology) by Rachel Emma Shaw

There are a few books, which just by reading the synopsis, you know that you are going to love every bit of it. Scaran Nights was one such book for me, and below is my review on it.

"Sacara is decaying. The dead walk the streets, fungi light the night, and Dagner must fight to keep the rot at bay."

Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.

Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.

Review

Sacaran Nights is sort of a mix between Avatar the movie (with respect to the kind of aesthetics of Sacara) and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (but told through a male perspective). Sacara is such an immersive and beautiful world. I love how apart from the story, this book has a pictorial representation of all the different kinds of fungi that grow in Sacara and their uses. By fungi I don't mean the icky kind, these are beautiful, and one of my personal favorites was the fallen stars. They are so pretty.

This story is super creative and captivating. The storyline is one that I have never really read ever before. It is unique in every aspect, be it the world or even the elements of the story. It is fast-paced and well-written. Sacaran nights has a dark YA fantasy feel to it. 

The characters in this story are well developed and have a very interesting arc. It was easy to connect with these characters, especially with the protagonist, Dagner. He goes from something considered spare to somebody who I really respect a lot. Apart from Dagner, I also enjoyed the character Merany. She is a strong-willed lady, who always has her friends back. I thoroughly enjoyed their friendship.

Coming to the world-building in this story. It's a little complex world, but since it has been written in a clear and concise manner, as a reader I found it very easy to imagine and fall in love with. Sacara is very nuanced and is immersed in very different cultures. These cultures are at times a little infuriating, and somewhere you can very easily connect them to the reality around you.  

With Sacaran nights, you sort of hit the ground running. Initially, it is a little confusing, but after almost the first 10% of the novel is done, you understand each aspect of the story. I am super excited to read the second installment in this duology. And would highly recommend it to other readers of dark YA fantasy.

I would rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

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Follow the author

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56774788-sacaran-nights

Author's website - https://www.rachelemmashaw.wordpress.com

Instagram -  @rachel_emma_shaw

Twitter - @RachelEmma_Shaw

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review): By Sin I Rise by Cora Reilly

“Cora Reilly is a master at forbidden and dangerous love... Maddox and Marcella are a fierce force together and part two can't come fast enough”! – Sophie Lark, bestselling author

By Sin I Rise: Part 1, an all-new action-packed dark romance from USA Today bestselling author Cora Reilly is available now!

Maddox – Mad Dog – White hates everything the name Vitiello stands for, after he witnessed his father and his men getting butchered by the Capo of the Italian mob in their territory. Raised by his uncle, the president of the Tartarus MC, Maddox is destined to follow in his footsteps. Now their chapter is on the rise again, but for their ultimate triumph they need to destroy the Vitiello empire. And what better way to do it than to steal the spoilt Vitiello princess and break her piece by piece until her father begs for mercy.

Known as the spoilt princess of New York, Marcella Vitiello grew up in a golden cage. If your father is the most feared man in New York, people gift you with reverence.

Destined to marry the boyfriend approved by her father, Marcella is sick of being treated like an untouchable porcelain doll.

She resents the life forced upon her by her family until everything she took for granted is ripped from her. Where she’s now, her name doesn’t bring awe, only pain and humiliation.

If you’ve grown up in a high castle, the fall is all the deeper.

Sins of the fathers have a way of catching up…who’s going to bleed for them?

Review

Before we get into the review, By Sin I Rise is a dark romance and has some scenes that might be triggering. 

This book has been subject to a lot of mixed reviews. And somewhere, while reading the book, I had the same kind of feeling. I didn't exactly know whether I liked it or not. But let me tell you the way this story ends (on a cliffhanger), changed my opinion for the better. 

Let me start by telling you what exactly I liked about this book. The setting of the entire story is truly dark. It is a proper dark romance and will make you feel a little uncomfortable at times, due to the scenes in it. It is full of violence. You will understand the level of violence from the manner in which this book starts off. This was the first time when a story for me was more than its characters. It was actually the plot and how well mafia along with the motorcycle (MC) club world has been handled. Nowhere does the story derail from its plot. It is an intense story, where the two protagonists, have a lustful relationship rather than romance. By sin I rise, starts off slow, and only picks up after 18% of the book is done. But after 18%, I bet, if you are into the dark romance genre and don't have any kind of triggers, it would be hard to let go. 

Coming to the characters, in By sin I rise, we follow, Maddox and Marcella. Marcella initially comes across as this spoilt brat, who is only concerned about shopping and her studies. She is someone who lives in a very suffocating world. Suffocating in the sense that, her life entirely is dominated by her father. She will marry who her father chooses for her. She can't work or be financially independent. Maddox, on the other hand, is a part of an MC. He has had a very messed up past and will stop at nothing to exact his revenge. He is not an alpha male. But dangerous all the same.

Few things that I felt made the reading experience a little slow for me, was the manner in which the story starts. It is a little irritating. I instantly disliked Marcella because of it. I don't know whether that was the intention of the author or not. But Marcella is such a frustrating character. However, I loved how Marcella's character evolves over the entire story. She became exactly what she should have been. Apart from this, there were some scenes in this story that were cringe-worthy. I don't generally get uncomfortable with violence in books, but these scenes were upsetting. 

In conclusion, I am excitedly looking forward to reading the next installment in this series and becoming a little more uncomfortable. Because this book is worth becoming uncomfortable for. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

 

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Pre-order By Sin I Rise: Part 2

Releasing December 15th

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Excerpt

Prologue
Maddox

From the very first moment I spotted Snow White, she’d burned herself into my brain. Every fucking night, the image of her naked body tortured me in maddening detail.
Sometimes I woke with the remnants of her taste in my mouth, half convinced I’d actually buried my tongue in her undoubtedly pretty pussy. Fuck, I hadn’t seen an inch of that legendary body yet, much less touched her. Oh, but I would, even if it took a poisoned apple.
A guy like me would never be allowed near Snow White. I wasn’t a fuckin’loser, far from it. I was going to become the president of the Tartarus MC, following in my uncle’s footsteps, the current prez. Of course, that made me the lowest scum on earth if you asked Snow White and her fuckin’father, Luca Vitiello, the Capo of the Italian mob on the East Coast. I was a little boy, barely five years old, when the life I knew was ripped from me. As the son of the president of the New Jersey chapter of the Tartarus motorcycle club, I had watched many disturbing things at my young age. Club brothers getting it on with whores in the middle of the clubhouse in broad daylight, brutal fights, shootings…but nothing had left quite a mark like the night the Capo of the Famiglia brutally killed my father and his men.
The murderous bastard had slaughtered an entire chapter of our club—alone.
Strike that.
Not alone—with a fuckin’ax and a skinning knife. The screams of my dying club family still haunted my nights, an echo of a memory I couldn’t shake unless I drank enough booze to kill an elephant. Those images were the fuel for my hunger for revenge.
And revenge I would finally get, with the help of the spoiled princess of New York: Marcella Vitiello.

About Cora

Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.
Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn't spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.
Despite her law degree, Cora prefers to talk books to laws any day.

Connect with Cora

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3qw1eUh

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Website: https://corareilly.com

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Blog Tour (Review) : The Lady by Serena Akeryod

 Is a happily-ever-after on the cards when the ‘after’ isn’t even promised?

The Lady, the stunning conclusion to the must-read The Oath Duet from Serena Akeroyd, is available now!

I’ve spent a lifetime avoiding the various factions of the mafia in NYC, yet somehow I’m in it up to my eyeballs.
I should be scared.
I should want to run.
Yet the city quivers in fear with every designer-clad footstep I take, because the Valentinis have ascended, and I’m the Don’s Lady.
It’s intoxicating.
However Luciu comes with vendettas and a craving for vengeance that could get him killed.
With my allegiance tied to the Irish, can I say yes when he wants me to take an oath to the Sicilians?
Is a happily-ever-after on the cards when the ‘after’ isn’t even promised?

This is the second part of ‘The Oath’ duet in The Valentini Family series.
THE DON must be read first. 

Review

What an amazing finish to the oath duet. After loving the first book, The Don, I was eagerly waiting to dive right into the second book. The cliffhanger kept me guessing. So as soon as the lady was delivered to my kindle, I knew I had to stop all the other distractions and focus on this amazing mafia romance. 

Firstly, the mafia world, or the Sicilian mafia world, is just soo detailed and seems true. Secondly one of the main things about this story is that the author tries to put forth the emotional aspect of the characters rather than just violence or smut. Luciu is a very different mafia don, he is emotionally mature, knows how to treat his women and love her, super dangerous when it comes to his work and when he says Cara mia, it's just epic. Jen is a smart, compassionate yet knows how to give it back, lady who is still trying to understand herself. Both the characters are very beautifully written and are a treat to read about. 

Coming to the plot, there are several subplots in the story, multiple twists, and turns that will surely keep you on the edge. There is humor too. I loved the inclusion of Sicilian words. 

However, while reading the lady there were times when I felt the story dragged a little. This at times makes the reading a bit cumbersome. Hence, I would rate a 4 out of 5 stars.

My review on the first book in the Oath duet, The Don, can be accessed here.

Download your copy today!

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Start the duet with The Don, Book 1

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

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Excerpt from The Don, Book 1:

I stared out onto the city, well aware that even if it were daylight, no one would be able to see in here. It made me feel our isolation more, and I loved it.
Wanted it.
Craved more.
Needed like I’d never needed before.
Then, everything changed.
It was quite accidental.
A sharp turn around a bend had us jostling into each other. Nothing crazy. But our hands slipped, and the edge of mine brushed against his crotch.
He had a hard-on.
He had a hard-on, yet he wasn’t pawing at me. Wasn’t treating me like I was a whore. Was holding me as if I were the opposite, in fact.
His control was lust-inducing.
His arousal was inspiring.
And I wanted both.
I wanted his control ruptured.
His arousal burned off.
On me.
I turned my face to the side, letting my lips press against his throat. His pulse bobbed as a result and as I let my tongue dart out to play, he groaned, and I felt the soft vibrations. Encouraged, I sucked down, nipping and teasing as I made my way up, soft kisses dancing against the line of his jaw where I could feel the slight bumps of stubble that would begin to grow soon.
Finally, I found his mouth. Reaching up with my free hand, I encouraged him to tilt his head downward so our lips could meet.
A whimper escaped me when they did.
It felt as if I’d been waiting a lifetime for this moment, for the meeting of our mouths, for this kiss. Time stopped still, everything in me freezing as my body processed the rightness of the connection between us.

About Serena
I’m a romance bookaholic and I won’t touch a book unless I know there’s a happy ending. This addiction is what made me craft stories that suit my voracious need for raunchy romance. I love twists and unexpected turns, and my novels all contain sexy guys, dark humor, and hot AF love scenes.

I write MF, Menage, and Reverse Harem (also known as Why Choose romance,) in both contemporary and paranormal. Some of my stories are darker than others, but I can promise you one thing, you will always get the happy ending your heart needs!

Connect with Serena

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3l2SaUO

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2TWLNGG

Amazon: https://amzn.to/38a13bq

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Website: http://www.serenaakeroyd.com

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review) : Taste of an Enemy by Holly Renee

Rich. Vicious. Vengeful. Forbidden. The Boys of Clermont Bay had always been untouchable.

The Taste of an Enemy, the first angst-filled new adult romance in The Taste of an Enemy Duet from Holly Renee is available now!

Rich. Vicious. Vengeful. Forbidden. The Boys of Clermont Bay had always been untouchable.
And Carson Hale was the worst of them all.
He was pretentious and a player, and he had hated me for so long I forgot that we were ever anything more than enemies.
Brutally beautiful and savagely heartless, his only plan was to ruin everything I loved.
But dares were made, and even though I had no business saying yes, I found myself in trouble and forced to work with my rival to get us out of it.
He had always been cruel, but something changed.
The lure of him was too much. The way I craved his touch was unbearable.
Just as I fell for him, he proved himself to be exactly who he had been all along.

Review:

After reading the first two books in the Boys of Clermont Bay series, I was eagerly looking forward to Taste of an enemy. Throughout the first two books, you can feel a tension between Carson and Allie, and I was soo curious to know the reason for the tension. So the day this ARC landed in my Kindle, I was super excited to dive in.  

Taste of an enemy was such a tumultuous ride, which is full of drama and swoon-worthy romance. It will pull at your heartstrings. At one point I was laughing and loving the feelings that Carson and Allie had for each other, on the other hand, I was so frustrated with Carson. Carson is beautiful, handsome, a jerk most of the time, caring, frustrating and challenging. Allie on the other hand, is soft, strong, beautiful, a person with the utmost amounts of patience, and an amazing human. 

This is not an easy book to let go of. The writing in this book is so amazing. Even though the entire story is told from a dual perspective, the manner in which it is written, makes the reader feels as if they are witnessing the entire story firsthand. 

I loved the variety of characters in this series. With each subsequent book, the series just gets better. My only complaint about this book was that it ended way too early. I wasn't ready to let go of the book so soon. 

All in all, the taste of an enemy is an amazing story where Holly Renee has done a complete justification to the enemies to lovers trope. Will surely recommend it.

My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.

This book can be read as a standalone. But I would highly recommend you to read the first two books in the series. You can read my thoughts on the first book - The touch of a villain, here, and my thoughts on the second book - The fall of a god, are available here.

 

Grab your copy today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

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Pre-order the stunning conclusion, Deceit of a Devil!

Releasing September 23rd

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Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/deceitdevil

Excerpt

I walked into Wings and Things and spotted Eli as soon as I made it through the door. He smiled before standing and coming to meet me. I couldn’t tell if anyone else was already at the table, and I tried to remind myself that I shouldn’t care. Tonight was about having fun and getting to know Eli.
Carson didn’t matter for either of those things. I would just drown him out and pretend he wasn’t there. That was what I was used to doing. That was what the two of us had been doing for years.
Even though I was already a little but irritated that Eli hadn’t offered to pick me up. My dad was irritated by that fact too.
“You look beautiful.” Eli grinned before pulling me into a hug.
“Thank you.” I breathed in the scent of his warm cologne, the smell familiar and calming. “You look nice as well.”
I looked up at him as he let me go. He was much taller than me, although shorter than Carson, and he had a smile that made me feel comfortable.
He grabbed my hand in his and led the way back to the table. I fixed my hair while I was still blocked from view, and I planted the best smile I could manage on my face as he pulled out the chair for me that was directly across from Carson.
“Thank you.” I settled into my seat and tried to avoid making eye contact with Carson.
“Allie, this is Kimberly. Kimberly, Allie. I think you all might know each other.”
I looked across the table at Kimberly, and of course I knew her. We had gone to school together since grade school, and I had hated her almost as long. She was popular, conceited, and a perfect fit for Carson.
“Of course.” I nodded and pulled out my menu. “How are you, Kim?”
“I’m perfect.” She giggled and looked over at Carson. His hand disappeared under the table, and even though I couldn’t see it, I knew that his hand probably rested on her thigh.
I wanted to rip it off.
“Awesome,” I mumbled and tried to focus on the menu.
Carson laughed under his breath, but I ignored him.
“What are you getting?” I looked to my right where Eli sat. “Do you want to share some wings?”
“Oh.” He looked up from his menu. “I was thinking about getting the burger.”
“A burger at a wing place.” Carson scoffed and tossed his menu down on the table. “I’ll share an order with you, Allie. Kim’s getting a salad.”
He didn’t give me time to answer. As soon as the waitress came to our table, Carson opened his mouth. “My girl Allie and I are going to share a large order of wings, extra ranch for both of us. No carrots. She hates those.”
I looked at him like he had lost his mind because I was pretty sure that he had.
“What can I get you to drink?” The waitress was now looking at me.
“Um, just a Coke, please.”
Everyone else ordered their food, and I fidgeted with my hands under the table.
“So, Allie, how is school going for you?” I looked up at Eli. I had almost forgotten he was there.
“It’s all right. I’m so ready for fall break, though.”
“Me too.” He nodded. “Are you going anywhere? My family is taking a trip to Europe.”
“No.” I almost choked on the word. Sometimes I forgot just how far apart my family was from those who went to Prep. They were made of money, old money to be exact, and guys like Eli had never had to think about working or how he’d pay for college. “We typically stay home and do a Thanksgiving meal at our house. It’s real low-key.”
And my dad would still be working every day except for Thanksgiving, and my small house would be busting with people. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. We were always together on holidays, and I loved it.
It may not have been Europe, but it was ours.
“That’s cool.” He nodded and turned his chair to where he faced me better. “We’ve been going to Europe for years now. My parents love it, and they take us about every other year. Have you ever been?”
“To Europe?” I shook my head, and suddenly I felt ridiculous. “No. The farthest I’ve been is Disney World.” I didn’t mention that had been almost ten years ago.
I could hear Carson and Kimberly talking across from us, and I hoped he was too enthralled with her and her perfect face to even consider listening to our conversation.
Eli laughed like I had just told a joke, but I hadn’t. “That’s too bad. I bet you would really like Europe.”
“What makes you think that, Eli?” Carson was leaned back in his chair with his arm resting on the back of Kimberly’s.
Eli laughed nervously and looked between me and Carson. “It’s Europe.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“But you don’t know anything about Allie specifically that would make her love Europe, correct?”
Eli opened his mouth, but Carson continued.
“Like you have no clue that she’s been dreaming of going to Paris forever, and she has this little Eiffel Tower key chain that she’s had on her set of keys since she’s had them. Or that she thinks she’s part Irish because she has a little bit of green in her eyes.”
“I didn’t realize you knew so much about her.” Eli was no longer aloof. He was sizing Carson up, and I wasn’t here for a pissing contest.
“Well, now you do.” Carson stared back at him with the same unrelenting gaze, and I felt like I was going insane.
Carson hadn’t given a shit about me since that night he needed me and I wasn’t there. If he wasn’t ignoring me altogether, he was making me wish he was, and now all of the sudden, he wanted to share wings and spew facts about me like he was my best friend.
“Stop,” I hissed. “You’re being an ass. Aren’t you supposed to be on your own date?” I looked over at Kimberly, and she looked uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame her. I felt uncomfortable too.
The waitress arrived back at our table with food in hand, and we were spared from whatever Carson was going to say next. He looked down at the food, and his bright eyes looked so hollow. He scrunched his brow, something he always did when he was upset, and his jaw stiffened. I didn’t know if he was angry with me or with himself.
But I didn’t want to find out. I quickly grabbed a wing from our plate and took a huge bite. Sauce dripped down my chin, but I didn’t stop. The food was a distraction. If we were eating, then we weren’t talking, and I couldn’t stand to hear anything more from Carson right now.
Not after everything he just said. Not with the way he had brought up memories of me like it wouldn’t mess with my head.
“This is good.” I wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Do you want a bite?” I looked over to Eli, and he shook his head as he looked at my half-bitten wing.
“Nah. I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.” I shrugged as I looked down at his measly-looking burger.
“I’ll take one.” Carson reached forward, his fingers wrapping around my wrist, and he stood in his seat enough to bring my hand to his lips. I stared at him, shocked by what he was doing, but there wasn’t an ounce of shame in his gaze.
He didn’t look away from me for a second as he bit down into the wing I was still holding, and I couldn’t stop myself from holding my breath as his lips met my fingers. Carson Hale wasn’t just taking a bite of my chicken. He was causing a scene, and part of me wondered how he had gotten so damn good at it.
He ran his tongue over the edge of my thumb, licking up the sauce that had dripped there, and I felt like he had just used his tongue on parts of my body that no one else ever had. I pressed my thighs together as I watched his mouth, and I couldn’t bring myself to care that Eli was watching me as Carson finally let go of my hand and settled back into his seat.
“You’re right, Allie. That’s absolutely delicious.” He licked his lip before picking up a wing of his own, then began eating like that display hadn’t just happened.
I picked up my napkin, quickly dropping my gaze to my lap as I wiped my hands, but I couldn’t get the feel of him off. And I didn’t know if I wanted to.

About Holly

I’m Holly Renee, a small-town east Tennessee girl who is obsessed with all things romance. I love bringing flawed, sassy, and real characters to life in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been best friends with them for years. No two Holly Renee books are the same, but if you love real, relatable, fun female characters and swoon-worthy heroes, I’m your girl.
When I’m not writing or reading, you can find me momming so hard, being disgustingly in love with my husband, or chilling in the middle of a lake with my sunglasses and a float. #lakelife
I have a 2-year-old adorable little man who is as wild and sweet as they come and a baby girl on the way.

Connect with Holly

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Cfk6xt

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Website: https://www.authorhollyrenee.com

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review): The Don by Serena Akeryod

 

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

The Oath Duet, an all-new must-read wicked and dark mafia romance from Serena Akeroyd, is now available!

The Don

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

She just doesn’t know it yet. 

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

A new Don reigns over Manhattan.

But though I won the war, peace isn’t easily brokered. 

Over a decade of avenging my father’s death, I made many enemies. 

To each and every one, Jen’s a target. 

But I’ll paint NYC red before I let them harm her.

I just never imagined I’d be in the line of fire first…  

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

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

Review 

Luciu is a dream. Dangerous and filthy rich mafia don who can kill for his women. Jennifer is someone with a dark past, who has learned not to trust anyone, but she is one strong lady. Both of these characters come from a past that is darker than black, which has shaped them into the people they are. This is their story. 

This book is super smutty and will surely make you swoon. However, before getting into the book, you should be well aware of the fact that it is a mafia novel which means there is violence and some triggers. The thing that sets this book apart is the detailed mafia world that Serena Akeryod has been able to build. The history of the mafia is super detailed and helps the reader delve deeper into the story. It keeps you gripped till the end. 

Another thing that I found was super commendable about this novel was the way the author has handled the characters. The protagonists are so layered, complex, and well written, that by the end of the story you will connect to both at a very deep level. 

However, I was a little confused at how exactly the characters met at first. But then as the story developed it didn’t really matter. 

Would love to recommend this book to all the mafia romance lovers. My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.

Grab your copy today! 

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TAfh0p

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/thedonv

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3eRligI

Pre-order The Lady, Book 2

Releasing September 2nd 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iM6ktp

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/theladyv

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3iJtP6h

Watch the trailer for THE DON here→ https://bit.ly/3zDH9QH

Excerpt

I stared out onto the city, well aware that even if it were daylight, no one would be able to see in here. It made me feel our isolation more, and I loved it. 

Wanted it. 

Craved more. 

Needed like I’d never needed before. 

Then, everything changed. 

It was quite accidental. 

A sharp turn around a bend had us jostling into each other. Nothing crazy. But our hands slipped, and the edge of mine brushed against his crotch. 

He had a hard-on. 

He had a hard-on, yet he wasn’t pawing at me. Wasn’t treating me like I was a whore. Was holding me as if I were the opposite, in fact. 

His control was lust-inducing. 

His arousal was inspiring. 

And I wanted both. 

I wanted his control ruptured. 

His arousal burned off.

On me. 

I turned my face to the side, letting my lips press against his throat. His pulse bobbed as a result and as I let my tongue dart out to play, he groaned, and I felt the soft vibrations. Encouraged, I sucked down, nipping and teasing as I made my way up, soft kisses dancing against the line of his jaw where I could feel the slight bumps of stubble that would begin to grow soon. 

Finally, I found his mouth. Reaching up with my free hand, I encouraged him to tilt his head downward so our lips could meet. 

A whimper escaped me when they did. 

It felt as if I’d been waiting a lifetime for this moment, for the meeting of our mouths, for this kiss. Time stopped still, everything in me freezing as my body processed the rightness of the connection between us.

About Serena

I’m a romance bookaholic and I won’t touch a book unless I know there’s a happy ending. This addiction is what made me craft stories that suit my voracious need for raunchy romance.  I love twists and unexpected turns, and my novels all contain sexy guys, dark humor, and hot AF love scenes.

I write MF, Menage, and Reverse Harem (also known as Why Choose romance,) in both contemporary and paranormal. Some of my stories are darker than others, but I can promise you one thing, you will always get the happy ending your heart needs!

Connect with Serena

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review) : Cross (Dark Kings series #3) by Shantel Tessier

 

“Shantel takes us back to the gritty, addictive world of the Dark Kings and it’s as steamy, twisted, and captivating as the first two books in this amazing series.”--Siobhan Davis. USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author

Cross, an all-new dark standalone romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Shantel Tessier, is available now!

CROSS

Have you ever stood next to a fire and felt the heat of it on your skin? Stared into the flames and thought how amazing it would be to be that free? It changes directions with the wind, destroying everything in its wake.

That's what she felt like.

Alexa was a wildfire that torched everything she touched, and I couldn't wait to be consumed by her.

She was off-limits. Even though I promised to stay away, I couldn't resist. She was the spark I had been missing in my life. The fire I craved.

I knew from an early age I was destined to burn in hell, but she was born to walk through fire.

ALEXA

I was single-minded, focused, and independent. Just how my mother raised me. I didn't have time for anything other than myself and work.

Funny how everything can change in an instant when you least expect it.

A King entered my life. What was supposed to be one night ended up being too many to count.

He was afraid that I'd see his darkness, but I couldn't get enough of him.

After all, a fire burns the brightest in the dark of night. And it only takes one match to cause total devastation.

Cross is the third standalone in The Dark Kings Series. You are introduced to the Kings in Code of Silence: A Dark Mafia Romance.

Review

An intense plot with intense characters and an amazing dark romance. Shantel Tessier is an amazing writer and has literally become one of my favorites when it comes to dark romance. She has the ability to write complex characters and then carry them off well.

With this book, I met the most twisted, complex, and dark character I have ever read about. Cross is not for the faint of heart, he is brutal, fierce, and messed up. What he is today is a result of his past and he is unapologetic about who he is and what he does. He doesn't care about what people would think or how to please others. He is someone that you would love and fear at the same time.

Alexa on the other hand, is somewhat a very mild character. She is strong, independent, and has been in very messed up relationships. She sort of is a milder version of Cross and way too naive sometimes. But she is lovable.

Coming to the story, some things that I loved about it was the cast of characters and how complex they are. Secondly the romance between Cross and Alexa. Thirdly, the manner in which the entire story unfolds. Something that I found a little odd was, one that every character seems to have green eyes (just an observation, this doesn't affect my rating), the other thing was the manner in which the suspense was handled in the story. For me, the ending wasn't satisfactory. It sort of felt too rushed and somehow everything unfolded in a very haphazard manner.

However, I read the entire book in a day, which just shows how good everything in this book is. I loved the book and would love to recommend it to all the dark romance lovers out there.

My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kbkB3k

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/crossst

Add CROSS to Goodreads→ https://bit.ly/3tWsJI4

Excerpt

She slides in, and I make my way to the driver’s side. Starting it up, I look over at her. “Where to?” I meant it more as a “where do you live?” but what I wanted to say and the words that actually came out were two very different things. 

She looks over at me. “Wherever you want to go.”

That’s an open invitation if I’ve ever heard one. Obviously, she doesn’t want me at her house, or she would have suggested that. “Kingdom?”I question, unable to keep my eyes from dropping to her legs as she runs her hands over her jeans. Her nails are kept short and painted black. She wears a silver banded ring on her right hand. It’s plain yet dainty at the same time. 

“I don’t gamble,” she states. 

My eyes meet hers. “Neither do I.”

What I have planned for her is much more intimate. I mean, if she’s into a crowd watching, then that’s fine too. I’m not shy. 

She laughs, leaning her head back against the headrest, and smiles softly at me. Her green eyes drop to my jeans, and I refrain from groaning at the thoughts that run through my mind. My hand in her hair while she’s bent over the center console with her lips wrapped around my cock …“Kingdom it is.” Not wanting to waste another second, I take off, getting the hell out of here. 

We don’t say much during the twenty-minute drive back to the Strip. I keep checking on her to make sure she hasn’t passed out, and every time, she’s looking out the window. 

I pull up around the back of tower one, where the Kings and I have a private entrance. Parking the car, I help her out and up the fifteen stairs that lead to a set of black doors. 

Her drunk eyes take in the white marble floor and black circle with the gold K in the middle when we enter the building. Lifting her head, she notices the mirrored ceiling and chandelier hanging in the entrance. 

Nigel stands behind his black marble desk in the corner. Nigel is our right-hand man. He’s more of a father to us than our actual fathers ever were. Guess it didn’t take him and Titan very long to bury Kenneth. He looks up and smiles at us. “Good evening, Cross. Alexa. It’s good to see you again.” I’m not sure how he knows her other than maybe he met her at Titan’s wedding. 

“You too, Nigel,” she tells him as I scan my key card for our private elevator. Only a King has access to it. Other than him, of course. It opens immediately, and we step inside. I have to refrain from ripping her clothes off right here and now. Just a few more minutes and she’s all mine. 

It comes to a stop on the Royal level to the suite that the Kings share. But no one will be here tonight. Titan hasn’t stayed one night here since he married Emilee. Grave stays at his house with April, and Bones rarely sleeps. I’m sure he’s at Glass—one of the many businesses he owns that we all pretend we don’t know about. 

Stepping into our suite, I turn to face her. “Would you like a drink?”

She places her hands on my chest, gripping my shirt. “I think I’ve had enough.”

My hands go to her hips, and I yank her to me. The thought crosses my mind that this is a mistake. That she’s off-limits to me. I try to think of my best friend and how it would affect him. “I made a promise not to touch you,” I rush out, hoping she pushes me away. 

She surprises me by smiling, and it’s anything but innocent. Her pretty green eyes drop to my lips before returning to mine. “I can keep a secret.” Then her lips are on mine.

Connect with Shantel

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review) : Vicious Prince by Sienna Snow

I'm not a good man.

I'm the darkness, the danger, the enforcer behind the empire.

No one sees me unless I want them to.

Vicious Prince, an all-new dark standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Sienna Snow, is available now!

I'm not a good man.
I'm the darkness, the danger, the enforcer behind the empire.
No one sees me unless I want them to.

Then one day, she found me, showing me a life beyond the shadows of the streets. Until one wrong turn and our fairytale shattered, leaving me back in darkness. In a place I can only reach her by destroying her world.

So, I wait.

But waiting isn't something she is willing to do. She's forging a new life without me, in the path of our enemies.

Now the monster in me is forced out of the shadows, ready to fight for what belongs to me.

She will learn that protecting her is my mission and a life without me isn't an option.

Review

This is my first book where the protagonists are of Indian origin. This was a surprise and man I loved it. Vicious prince takes us through a tumultuous ride, that is, Kiran and Jayna's relationship. External forces want to pull them apart but they will fight to get back to each other. The intensity between the two characters was amazing and beautiful.

One of the most commendable things about this book was the character, Jayna. She is one strong lady. Fighting her way to get her footing in the misogynistic world, she wants to set her own empire up. The manner in which she fights soo many delusions that people have about women, one of them being that women are weak, is handled commendably.

Another thing that I appreciated about the story was the fact that the author gave time to the protagonists to build their relationship. Things were true to reality and how fragile relationships can be. I loved how the relationship was more about being equal partners.

The romance was hot and intense. The story kept me hooked till the end. And the writing in this book is amazing. It's simple and easy to follow.

All in all, I would recommend this book to all romance lovers. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fCssEX

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3fAQAYv

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Excerpt

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror along a wall of the home gym. One half of my body was nothing like it had been. I was no longer the pretty boy with the baby face my brothers loved to rag on me about until I punched them.

Now I was a reconstructed puzzle of skin, pins, and bone.
A work of modern medicine.
I touched the not-quite-normal left ear reconstructed from pieces of rib, cartilage, and skin. Then, I traced along the jagged scars that ran from my temple, over my eye, my cheek, and down my jaw. The physical changes only gave a glimpse of what I’d become after the accident.
I’d lived in my head for so long. In the chaos of the crash and the aftermath. In the pain.
God, there had been so much pain. I’d been on the verge of madness. First, just surviving and then trying to learn basic things like eating without looking like a fucking toddler. After that had come the rehab when I’d begged for my brothers just to kill me and finish the job the wreck hadn’t done. But the hardest part had been the mental toll. I’d become a shell of the man I’d been.
I’d lost my way.
When an enforcer had no strength, he had nothing. He was worthless. To his brothers and especially his wife. Locking myself up with my painkillers had been the only solution. Or so I’d convinced myself. I’d turned into a raging addict and the worst version of myself.
“I’m going to tell her that I was fucked up in the head after the accident, that I was worthless to her and everyone, that I believed it was better she thought I was dead than for her to live with what I had become, that it was my shortcoming, not hers, for the decisions I made. That I was a coward and afraid she wouldn’t be able to look at the monster I’d become.”
“It’s good to hear you sounding like the old Kir again. No bullshit. Owns his part and is willing to accept the consequences.”
“Yeah, I’m finally doing what everyone wanted me to do. I’m getting my head out of my ass.”
“She’s going to give you hell.”
“I expect nothing less.”
“When are you going to do it?”
“Tonight. Jayna is heading to her mom’s after work, according to the itinerary she gave her security. I thought I’d go over there. That way, if she freaks out, her mom can handle it.”
“Monica is going to kick your ass too.”
My mother-in-law was one of the kindest people I knew, and she’d endured hell with her ex-husband. Now that she’d created a new life, she’d found her voice and had no problem using it, just like her daughter.
“I know.”
“And what will you do if Jayna can’t accept your apology?”
“I’ll work my ass off to win her back.”
“Does this also mean you’re coming back and finally doing your job like you’re supposed to?”
“I have been doing my job, asshole.”
“Yeah, behind a desk. Like a pussy. We need you out and about. Fewer idiots to deal with if they know you’ll come to collect. You’re the boogeyman of the King brothers. They don’t call you the vicious prince for nothing.”

About Sienna

Inspired by her years working in corporate America, Sienna loves to serve up stories woven around confident and successful women who know what they want and how to get it, both in – and out – of the bedroom.
Her heroines are fresh, well-educated, and often find love and romance through atypical circumstances. Sienna treats her readers to enticing slices of hot romance infused with empowerment and indulgent satisfaction.
Sienna loves the life of travel and adventure. She plans to visit even the farthest corners of the world and delight in experiencing the variety of cultures along the way. When she isn’t writing or traveling, Sienna is working on her “happily ever after” with her husband and children.

Connect with Sienna

Amazon: https://amzn.to/35iFUZf

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Website: https://siennasnow.com

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + Review) : Fallen Angel (Book 2 in the Sinners and angels duet) by Tessa James

 

I barely made it out alive, and even then, I lost the life I knew.

Fallen Angel, the highly-anticipated conclusion to the Sinners and Angels Duet, an all-new dark romance duet from Tessa James, is available now!

I was sure my plan would work. That I’d be able to disappear without a trace and leave the past behind me. But when a note appears and reminds me that I cannot run from this kind of evil, I’m forced to figure out how to end this once and for all.

Dragging Claire into this mess with me was never part of the plan, but she’s proven herself time and time again. I’m not sure I can do this without her. I’m not sure I even want to try.

Darkness lingers in both of us and threatens to take hold. I just have to stop it before it drags us down with it—her most of all.

Review

Fallen Angels is the second book in the Sinners and Angels duet. You can read my thoughts about the first book in this duet here.

I have mixed feelings about the second book in the series.  Even though it is a dark romance novel, a huge part of it is suspense. I felt that the story sort of lacked consistency and an element of suspense. I expected the novel to be heavy on the 'who dun it' sort of vibe and keep me guessing throughout. I wanted to have a feeling where situations in the story would make me want to predict the next situation. But nothing happened. 

Coming to the romance part. I didn't really connect with the romance in the book. It was not exactly swoon-worthy or something that would pull at your heartstrings. The book was heavy on smut but not romance. Feelings between the two protagonists were missing. Their relationship hardly evolved throughout the book. This was true even for the characters. They too hardly evolved throughout the span of the second book.

However, there were few things that I loved about fallen angels. To start with, fight scenes were commendably written. Writing as a whole, was super easy to follow and one thing that kept me engaged. The story flowed smoothly from the first book to the second.

All in all, it was an okay read for me. I felt the first book was better than the second. Hence my rating for this book is 3 out of 5 stars. 

Download your copy today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
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Start the duet with Tortured Sinner!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
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Excerpt from Tortured Sinner, Book 1

Something visceral convinced my legs to move, to go after this girl who I don’t know. It wasn’t a creepy stalker kind of thing. But more of a she just got here and might get lost thing. A strange rush of protectiveness washed over me when I saw her leave the building and venture out into the world. I already got her to hate me, and that alone might be all the protection she needs, but what if something else happens? Why is my brain telling me it’s my responsibility? 

If I just confirm she makes it to wherever she’s going, maybe that will be enough. 

I keep a natural pace while maintaining some distance between us, completely walking in the direction away from where I really should be going. I glance down at my watch, verifying that my little detour won’t set me back too much.

The girl's chocolate brown hair falls down her mid-back, gently swaying with each step she takes. Her arms are crossed over her chest like she might be cold. Or that she's using it as some kind of barrier from the outside world.

That train of thought makes my protective urges rise even more. I don’t know her name, and yet I have an innate need to shield her from any danger. 

What the fuck is wrong with me?

About Tessa
Tessa James is the author of dark contemporary romance. She adores writing broken characters you won’t help but fall for on their journey to find themselves and fight for what they love. Her stories are for the hopelessly romantic who enjoy grit, angst, and passion.

When she’s not writing, you’ll find her consuming way too much coffee, making endless to-do lists, and spending time with her daughter and cats in small-town Ohio.

Connect with Tessa
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