Diamond in the Dark by Poppy Jacobson

3 Stars

I sold myself to three ruthless Irish gangsters, giving up my hard-won freedom to save my mafia family.

Rian is a cold mastermind who thrives on my tears, degrading me and praising me in equal measure.

Cormac is a sadist who revels in pushing me past my limits, until I can’t tell the difference between pain and pleasure.

Liam, the psychopath, craves my blood along with our bliss. His worship terrifies me as much as it reassures me.

Our dark bargain binds us together, but in my years away from the mafia, I’ve learned to be more than a fragile pawn. I’ve fought harder battles than these men could ever imagine, and I’ll continue to fight, even as they threaten everything I’ve built.

Giving into their violent devotion means giving up my freedom—and I was meant to be free.

I don’t usually read mafia books but Poppy Jacobson has converted me to reading them. I loved this book so much. I loved Ginevra and how no nonsense she was. Even though Rian, Cormac, and Liam were strong willed characters and they were gone over for Ginevra. Ginevra gives up her life to be with them and they work so well together. Definitely reading the rest of the books.

Book 1 Savage Jewels

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Gods of Vengeance by Michelle Heard

4 Stars

I was born into the Cosa Nostra, so I've always known an arranged marriage loomed in my future.

When the Capo dei Capi of the Cosa Nostra comes to Sicily to give his approval for his cousin, Stefano, to take me as his bride, I know my fate is all but sealed. Marrying Stefano is the last thing I want, but being a woman, I don't have a say in the matter.

Damiano Falco is merciless and rules the Cosa Nostra with an iron fist. Everyone fears him and won't dare go against him.

I'm still trying to accept that I'll have no choice but to marry Stefano when Damiano utters the last word anyone expects to hear.

"No."

He doesn't give his approval, nor does he offer any explanation.

But if I think his refusal will set me free, I have another thing coming. Instead, my bags are packed, and within hours, I find myself sitting on a private jet with the head of the Costa Nostra.

The ruthless man doesn't tell me anything, and I have no idea what my future holds.

To say I'm terrified is the understatement of the century.

This was a very dark and twisty story. I loved how Damiano basically kidnaps Gabriella with certain plans for that all blow up in his face. She doesn’t mind the kidnapping or being held by him. I loved watching him come to grips with not being able to give her away to another mafia person and deciding to keep her. I loved how things play out with the bad guys though they got off way to easy.

Book 5 Kings of Mafia

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Cruel Devotion by JP Sina

3 Stars

A woman forced into an engagement...

Ripped from my bed, my loved ones in pieces,

I'm dragged through the forest, bound in chains.

Soon, I'll find where the lines of sanity blur.

But I won't go down without a fight.

 

A monster, undeserving of love...

I'd once been a man, but now lived as a beast.

Scouring the lands for virgins, I rarely make it home without a bite.

Distracted by a sweet scent, I find someone unworthy.

I'm keeping her.

 

A man, more monstrous than his brother...

I was the real wolf in sheep's clothing.

And I loved and lived for no one but him.

When he brings home a bunny, I can't help but have a taste.

Mine.

This is a dark romance with dubious consent. There isn’t a lot to it between world and character development. If you are looking for a quick and dirty dark romance this is the book for you. I enjoyed it for what it was and will read other books by this author.

Book 1 Monsters of Darkness

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Chasing the Wild by Elliott Rose

4 Stars

I’ve always done what was expected of me. Layla Birch, the good girl.

Forced to grow up too fast. To take care of everything myself. I had a plan. Only, I didn’t count on him. Colton Wilder. The cowboy nearly twice my age. He’s my dream man. One who takes care of me, gives me a job, and makes my pulse thud harder every time he comes near.

My ex-boyfriend’s father.

The nights are long and cold on top of this mountain. As the snow grows thicker and the tension builds between us, we’re both inching closer to a line we shouldn’t cross. Each day, it grows harder to resist the man who looks at me with longing in his eyes. It’s tempting to forget about being the good girl for once. No one would find out. Would they?

Super spicy romance with a younger/older relationship. I loved how it played out and how MMC waited for her to finish school before claiming her. He knew how important her education was and even though it killed him to wait for her it was so sweet how he did.

Book 1 Crimson Ridge

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Wrong Witch to Hex With by Molly Harper

3 Stars

As the youngest of three sea witch sisters, Linney Seaworth lives a secluded existence in her family’s secret cottage on Moonshadow Cove, the far side of Starfall Point. Together, the Seaworths wield magic derived from the surrounding waters to keep the human population safe from paranormal threats. But Linney has always longed for a more adventurous life ... which is exactly what she gets when handsome newcomer Gray Brockhurst shows up on the Island.

Gray just inherited one of Starfall’s oldest ghost tour companies. Even though he’s never believed in ghosts, he’s continuing the family business to honor his late grandfather, who relished in sharing the island’s lore. But Gray is thrown for a loop when a lovely local interrupts his tour and changes his entire world view. Apparently, ghosts are all too real, and he’s been offending them with inaccurate stories during his “performances.”

But soon the Seaworths face a bigger problem: A deadly enemy has been unleashed, and it’s unlike anything they’ve ever encountered. As Linney and Gray work together to stop it, the attraction brewing between them just might be the most powerful magic of all.

This book was just ok. It built on Starfall Point series so there isn’t a lot of world building. My issue with the book was it felt rushed and there wasn’t a lot of character development. Yes it built on Starfall but these characters are new. I did enjoy it just wanted more. I am hoping the next two books will give more.

Book 1 Moonshadow Cove

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Here for the Cake by Jennifer Milliken

4 Stars

A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college.

And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table.

Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves.

Such a light, fast and easy read. I loved Klein and Paisley. They made such a cute couple. I also enjoyed how things played out between all of the couples. People definitely got what they had coming once everything played out.

Book Here for the Cake

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Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

4 Stars

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

I love the age gap drama in this book. Conor is so firm on not being with her because she is too young but she is all in. Even though he was all no we can’t be together he also didn’t want her to be with anyone else either. It brought for a drama filled book that kept me entertained.

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