Scan barcode
hellishlyawkward's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Loved Luis and Paolo, loved them working at the caff together. Dante was a properly awful bad guy. Nothing negative to say about this book, and was delighted to discover it’s the first in a series!
kayek_huhuh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
aboulle's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Pope and Paolo together and how easily they meshed their lives. Luis Pope's story was heart breaking but what an amazing man. I loved how he was trying to better himself and he really cared about everyone in his life, even when they did not deserve it. I did hate Luis's brother Dante but in the end I really think he loved Luis in his own messed up way and I can't wait until he gets his own redemption story as well.
jamie_w's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine. I wasn't particularly enthralled by this story. It felt more like a story about finding companionship rather than a romance or love story. Maybe it was the lack of spice and anything actually happening. It felt like it was all gearing up to something - almost like a cloud hanging over the story. So while there is this element you know will come later for the big conflict, very little happened in the meantime.
Both men were likeable enough. There wasn't much emotional connection in my opinion. Some of this had to do with Lius not being completely honest about the issues and worries concerning his brother, Dante. We got a lot of them working in the cafe though.
Overall, it was incredibly melancholy, even when Paolo and Luis were alone and safe. I didn't dislike it all but I felt a bit underwhelmed by the pacing, affection (or lack thereof) between the men and the conflict.
Both men were likeable enough. There wasn't much emotional connection in my opinion. Some of this had to do with Lius not being completely honest about the issues and worries concerning his brother, Dante. We got a lot of them working in the cafe though.
Overall, it was incredibly melancholy, even when Paolo and Luis were alone and safe. I didn't dislike it all but I felt a bit underwhelmed by the pacing, affection (or lack thereof) between the men and the conflict.
valerieullmerauthor's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first read from Garrett Leigh and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed getting to know Luis and I was worried for him after he left prison without a plan and the fear his brother would get his claws into him. But when he meet Paolo, who is as jaded and damaged as Luis is, the connection between the two men is both comforting and electric. As the story moves along and the two men get to know each other, I hoped they were able to move past the image each had of themselves and find some semblance of happiness together.
I encourage anyone to read this book. It's a realistic love story about moving on from your past and dealing with your present. The two men are scorching together. A must-read!!
I encourage anyone to read this book. It's a realistic love story about moving on from your past and dealing with your present. The two men are scorching together. A must-read!!
ofbooksandromance's review against another edition
4.0
4 “Redemption? Nah. He just wanted to live” stars
“Stop thinking you’re not worth it, because you are. You’re worth the fucking world to me, and it doesn’t matter what other people do or say, nothing about that is ever going to change.”
In the past, after reading another series by Garett Leigh, I thought that her and I just didn’t vibe very well and I wasn’t going to read more of her books for a while as they didn’t seem to be for me. But I just had to read this series for the third book in the series, i’m a sucker for redemption books where we see the evil character be evil in the previous books in the series so I absolutely need that book in my life. I’m happy to report that so far i’m really vibing with this series and I really enjoyed this book.
Side note, i’m happy to report that I already stromgly dislike Dante and that I couldn’t be more excited to read his book, I cannot wait to read the story of his redemption.
Brief summary
Luis just got out of prison and he was in a gang before that happened. He needs to find a job as he doesn’t have money. Pablo works in his family’s cafe and Luis goes there looking for a job. Pablo employs him and they fall in love, after they both go through a lost of angst.
First, please, dear Garett Leigh, can you give all of your characters a free certificate so they can attend a class on how to properly use their cellphones? These people always have their phones off at the most dire moments in a book. Which isn’t very good for communication, I suggest that they turn their phones on, we could skip so much miscommunication that way.
Second, I’m a sucker for books that most people would quality boring. Just following characters around while they go through their lives with copious amount of conflict included is my favourite part of any book. So I was pleased that most of this book was just that. I liked that most of the conflict in the book was related to the characters and their lives and introspection instead of coming from outside sources. This is kind of stuff I love reading about the most so I loved that part of the book.
Third, the vibe of most of this book is misery. Both main characters have had an hard life and nothing seemed to be easy for them. And I have said it before but those vibes are my absolute favourite vibes in books. I loved seeing the misery and then I loved seeing it slowly get better for the main characters.
Fourth, my favourite part of any book where one of the main character just got out of prison is seeing them ajust to the outside world. I love seeing them being scared of it and then slow getting used to things. The descriptions of Luis getting out of prison were so vivid and I loved how everything scared him and I loved how it took a long time for him to ajust to his surroundings. Also I liked how Luis wanted the silence when he was in prison but he didn’t enjoy the silence and being alone when he got out of prison, that felt like such a realistic thing for him to feel and I really enjoyed it.
Fifth, I really liked Pablo, he was very fiery and he always tried to be happy even if he’s had an hard life. And I really likes Luis who was suffering but tried his best to do better than he did in the past. I really enjoyed these characters and I enjoyed them together, they were such a good match for each other. I really loved these two together. I loved how Pablo would always cook for Luis, it was so sweet. I loved how they always cared about each other and took care of the other.
Sixth, I really liked how Pablo was wary of Luis at first, because he only know Luis for his involvement in a gang. And I like how he slowly got to know Luis and realized that he had nothing to be wary about. This was such a fascinating thing to read about to me.
Seventh, Luis has trouble hearing and I really liked when we were in his head and got the descriptions of what he could ear and what he couldn’t hear and how his earing impacted his actions, that was so fascinating to me.
Eight, I love pining in books so I loved how these two started pining for each other the second they met. There was so much pining in this book and I adored reading about it.
Ninth, I really enjoyed the sex scenes, there was a good amount of them for the story and I loved reading them all.
Tenth, There was a side plot of Luis brother, Dante, and him being completely evil and trying to recruit Luis to come back to the gang and basicaly not caring about Luid at all. I really enjoyed that side plot but I felt like it was a little too present at times and took over the main characters and their relationship. I just don’t really enjoy when some sections of a book aren’t about the main characters so sometimes the side plot got a little in the way for me and I wanted to go back to hearing about the main characters.
Eleventh, there was a little too much miscommunication for my taste. These guys were often hiding something from each other and it just was a little too much for me. I just wish that they talked to each other a bit more. I understood why they were hiding those things and they had good reasons to do it, miscommunication is just not my favourite thing in books so it got on my nerves a little, expecially since most of the drama in the book was caused by a miscommunication that could have been fixed in 2 sentences if only they talked to each other.
I really enjoyed this book and i’m so excited to read the next ones in the series.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
“Stop thinking you’re not worth it, because you are. You’re worth the fucking world to me, and it doesn’t matter what other people do or say, nothing about that is ever going to change.”
In the past, after reading another series by Garett Leigh, I thought that her and I just didn’t vibe very well and I wasn’t going to read more of her books for a while as they didn’t seem to be for me. But I just had to read this series for the third book in the series, i’m a sucker for redemption books where we see the evil character be evil in the previous books in the series so I absolutely need that book in my life. I’m happy to report that so far i’m really vibing with this series and I really enjoyed this book.
Side note, i’m happy to report that I already stromgly dislike Dante and that I couldn’t be more excited to read his book, I cannot wait to read the story of his redemption.
Brief summary
Luis just got out of prison and he was in a gang before that happened. He needs to find a job as he doesn’t have money. Pablo works in his family’s cafe and Luis goes there looking for a job. Pablo employs him and they fall in love, after they both go through a lost of angst.
First, please, dear Garett Leigh, can you give all of your characters a free certificate so they can attend a class on how to properly use their cellphones? These people always have their phones off at the most dire moments in a book. Which isn’t very good for communication, I suggest that they turn their phones on, we could skip so much miscommunication that way.
Second, I’m a sucker for books that most people would quality boring. Just following characters around while they go through their lives with copious amount of conflict included is my favourite part of any book. So I was pleased that most of this book was just that. I liked that most of the conflict in the book was related to the characters and their lives and introspection instead of coming from outside sources. This is kind of stuff I love reading about the most so I loved that part of the book.
Third, the vibe of most of this book is misery. Both main characters have had an hard life and nothing seemed to be easy for them. And I have said it before but those vibes are my absolute favourite vibes in books. I loved seeing the misery and then I loved seeing it slowly get better for the main characters.
Fourth, my favourite part of any book where one of the main character just got out of prison is seeing them ajust to the outside world. I love seeing them being scared of it and then slow getting used to things. The descriptions of Luis getting out of prison were so vivid and I loved how everything scared him and I loved how it took a long time for him to ajust to his surroundings. Also I liked how Luis wanted the silence when he was in prison but he didn’t enjoy the silence and being alone when he got out of prison, that felt like such a realistic thing for him to feel and I really enjoyed it.
Fifth, I really liked Pablo, he was very fiery and he always tried to be happy even if he’s had an hard life. And I really likes Luis who was suffering but tried his best to do better than he did in the past. I really enjoyed these characters and I enjoyed them together, they were such a good match for each other. I really loved these two together. I loved how Pablo would always cook for Luis, it was so sweet. I loved how they always cared about each other and took care of the other.
Sixth, I really liked how Pablo was wary of Luis at first, because he only know Luis for his involvement in a gang. And I like how he slowly got to know Luis and realized that he had nothing to be wary about. This was such a fascinating thing to read about to me.
Seventh, Luis has trouble hearing and I really liked when we were in his head and got the descriptions of what he could ear and what he couldn’t hear and how his earing impacted his actions, that was so fascinating to me.
Eight, I love pining in books so I loved how these two started pining for each other the second they met. There was so much pining in this book and I adored reading about it.
Ninth, I really enjoyed the sex scenes, there was a good amount of them for the story and I loved reading them all.
Tenth, There was a side plot of Luis brother, Dante, and him being completely evil and trying to recruit Luis to come back to the gang and basicaly not caring about Luid at all. I really enjoyed that side plot but I felt like it was a little too present at times and took over the main characters and their relationship. I just don’t really enjoy when some sections of a book aren’t about the main characters so sometimes the side plot got a little in the way for me and I wanted to go back to hearing about the main characters.
Eleventh, there was a little too much miscommunication for my taste. These guys were often hiding something from each other and it just was a little too much for me. I just wish that they talked to each other a bit more. I understood why they were hiding those things and they had good reasons to do it, miscommunication is just not my favourite thing in books so it got on my nerves a little, expecially since most of the drama in the book was caused by a miscommunication that could have been fixed in 2 sentences if only they talked to each other.
I really enjoyed this book and i’m so excited to read the next ones in the series.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
lalauren04's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent read from Garrett Leigh! Her stories never disappoint and I’m already itching to read this one again. Great characters, the angst was as usual bloody marvellous, and all in all a wonderful romance!
maferg01's review against another edition
5.0
I love an angsty romance, and the Darkest Skies series delivers all the angst, plus some danger, and tops it off with hot MM action. I made the mistake of starting Deliverance at night and couldn’t put it down. I was deep in my feels for the struggles Luis faces on the outside and trying to build a life away from his brother and his London street gang. He has so many struggles to overcome that I was immediately in my happy place feeling all the things.
Luis is a gentle giant who just wants to make a fresh start after being released from prison. He wants to stay as far away from his brother and the London street gang he heads. He barely has his footing and everything in the neighborhood has changed, but one. A diner he knew that had the best tea is still there. He walks in and comes face to face with Paolo, a fiery and opinionated Italian who is running the greasy spoon all by himself. Paolo remembers Luis and is drowning while trying to keep the diner afloat as a one man show. Luis asks him for a job which he refuses to give. But fate keeps putting these men in each other’s path which eventually leads Paolo to give Luis a chance. From here, they become friends and then so much more. Will Luis be able to keep away from his past?
I loved this story from cover to cover. Luis and Paolo are the perfect compliment to each other, one quiet and fierce and the other all spit and fire. I loved the selflessness each had for the other and their protectiveness. It seemed like fate would never go in their favor, that once their quiet bubble popped that would be the end. I loved the twist at the end that comes out of left field. I am always thrilled when an author manages to surprise me. This angsty MM romance is a delicious read that will have you in your feels, rooting for the HEA, and silently cursing those that stand in their way. I loved how the guys didn’t have an easy road to their HEA, but clung to each other even when they were apart. This one will have you sighing and swooning.
Luis is a gentle giant who just wants to make a fresh start after being released from prison. He wants to stay as far away from his brother and the London street gang he heads. He barely has his footing and everything in the neighborhood has changed, but one. A diner he knew that had the best tea is still there. He walks in and comes face to face with Paolo, a fiery and opinionated Italian who is running the greasy spoon all by himself. Paolo remembers Luis and is drowning while trying to keep the diner afloat as a one man show. Luis asks him for a job which he refuses to give. But fate keeps putting these men in each other’s path which eventually leads Paolo to give Luis a chance. From here, they become friends and then so much more. Will Luis be able to keep away from his past?
I loved this story from cover to cover. Luis and Paolo are the perfect compliment to each other, one quiet and fierce and the other all spit and fire. I loved the selflessness each had for the other and their protectiveness. It seemed like fate would never go in their favor, that once their quiet bubble popped that would be the end. I loved the twist at the end that comes out of left field. I am always thrilled when an author manages to surprise me. This angsty MM romance is a delicious read that will have you in your feels, rooting for the HEA, and silently cursing those that stand in their way. I loved how the guys didn’t have an easy road to their HEA, but clung to each other even when they were apart. This one will have you sighing and swooning.
wandereaderr's review against another edition
4.0
SO good!
It’s been hard for me to read ~darker novels lately. I’ve been really into the fluff and the smiles and the happiness. EW can you believe.
Anyway, this was incredible. I absolutely love how Paolo and Luis stumbled upon each other and next thing they knew, they were falling in love.
Add in a bunch of drama, lots of Italians swearing, and some very sexy steam and BAM: you’ve got REDEMPTION. Stoked for the rest of the series!
It’s been hard for me to read ~darker novels lately. I’ve been really into the fluff and the smiles and the happiness. EW can you believe.
Anyway, this was incredible. I absolutely love how Paolo and Luis stumbled upon each other and next thing they knew, they were falling in love.
Add in a bunch of drama, lots of Italians swearing, and some very sexy steam and BAM: you’ve got REDEMPTION. Stoked for the rest of the series!
abronstein's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5