Phantom by Greer Rivers

3 Stars

The man behind the mask won’t stop until she’s his.

Scarlett Day has been my obsession ever since I witnessed her dark side.

I was content with being her secret. Content with being her protector from afar… until a dangerous enemy sets his sights on her.

I will do anything to protect her. Even keep her against her will.

Now that she’s mine, I can’t let her go.

I’ve mastered the darkness. She tempts me with her light.

But when my mask is gone, will she fear the monster underneath?

It was fine. Sol doesn’t understand why Scarlett doesn’t trust him and messes everything up. The not trusting her continues throughout the story and nearly gets her killed because of this. Which is why the 3 stars.

Book 1 Tattered Curtain

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Caught Up by Navessa Allen

3.5 Stars

I wanted this woman, and I was a man who always got what he wanted.

Nico “Junior” Trocci knows Lauren Marchetti is off limits. She is sweetness and laughter, whereas Junior exists in a world of violence and depravity. Men like him don’t get to have women like her. It’s why he pushed her away back in high school and kept his distance ever since.

But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he discovers the shy, bookish girl he remembers is gone. In her place is a strikingly beautiful woman whose social media is filled with scantily clad pictures of herself and a connection to a nearby play club. Junior’s innocent curiosity quickly turns into a dark obsession. Watching Lauren from a distance isn’t enough; he needs to make her his.

He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.

Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man who keeps showing up at her club, who tempts her white-hot desires. But as their flirty online messages stir up a deeper form of connection, Lauren worries she’s developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their combined desire ratchets up to a breaking point, who will seduce who?

I took a minute to get into the story. Once I was into it I loved it. Listening to the book vs reading the book made it easier to fall into it. It was a darker book than book 1 which is why the struggle happened. I loved Nico and Lauren together. There were a lot more darker moments with them then book one characters. There were just as many new spicy scenes with some interesting locations. Definitely read the trigger warnings to make sure you are comfortable with this book.

Book 2 Into the Darkness

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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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Twisted Play By Poppy Jacobson

4 Stars

Cruel. Merciless. Wicked. If they find out the truth, I’ll lose everything—including my father’s life.

Surgery saved me, but left my family drowning in debt. The man we owe has one demand–destroy the hockey team from within.

Three obsessive, controlling men catch me spying and promise retribution for my sins. Cole is as cold as the ice beneath his skates, and he likes to hurt me. Tristan’s sweetness hides a terrifying possessiveness. And broody, frightening Coach Aleksandr? He hates me with a passion I don’t understand—but his hands tell a different story.

Their brutal touches and degrading commands break down my walls until I can’t tell where I end and they begin. With every cruel game, I fall deeper, tangled in a web of lies I can’t escape.

When you're in as deep as I am, walking away isn't an option. Surviving might not be, either.

OMG the cliffhanger ending killed me on this book. Here’s hoping she releases the next one early. I loved this very dark and twisted story. Eva is in a no win situation. She either loses her dad (which I am fine with) or she loses everything else. Since she wasn’t ok with losing her dad she gives up her freedom to get insider information on the college hockey team for the mafia. She doesn’t want to do it but doesn’t have a choice. Coach Aleksander blackmails with sexual favors to get her position on the team. She hooks up with Cole and figures it’s a one off until he catches her in a compromising position and blackmails her because he doesn’t want to walk away from her. Then sweet Tristan ends up roped in on the blackmail. The ending where the entire hockey team take issue with Tristan and Cole hurting Eva was amazing. I loved this book a lot and can’t wait for the next one.

Book 1 Cruel Games

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Scorned Vows by Victoria Page

2.5 Stars

He was the perfect husband until she got pregnant.

An arranged marriage was always in Natalya Conte’s future.

Luca Moretti is charming and considerate.

Handsome like the devil, he dotes on her and spoils her.

But when two pink lines should have brought them unbridled joy, her husband ices her out.

An arranged marriage gives Luca great power.

To cement that power, he needs an heir.

The quickest way to do it is to make Natalya fall madly in love with him.

He will have her loyalty without risking his heart because love to him means weakness.

Natalya needs Luca to love her.

Because she has secrets that will put them all in jeopardy.

Her heart shatters when Luca shows her exactly how little she means to him.

But it isn’t until she sees evidence of the unforgivable that she loses all hope for a happily ever after.

Oh Instagram adds gets me every time. I wanted to like this as the premise was interesting. However, the time leap because of amnesia was overdone. Not to mention it was as if all issues were just swept under the rug once Luca found Natalya. It just didn’t work for me.

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