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ljade's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this one! The tension was between Bastian & Ariana was hot & I adored her relationship with Tessie.
casideea's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
arushofemotions's review
5.0
Top read material!
Fate. Soulmates. God, this book will undoubtedly be on my top reads list for this year. Bastiano is such an jerk, but the best kind. He's strong, strict, and ruthless, but when it comes to those he loves he's passionate and devoted. Ariana was the perfect counterpart for his powerful character. When he pushed, she pushed back. When he bit, she enticed him for more. As an undercover FBI agent, her role is written so perfectly. I love how this author made her equal parts tough, determined, and compassionate.
"A mafia prince. The undercover agent sent to ruin him."
You just know from that description that it's going to rip you into pieces! And it does! The back stories of Bastiano and Ariana were so uniquely written, and this author cleverly threw in plot twists that kept me on my toes throughout. It's spell-binding, intriguing, angsty, and sexy. So. Damn. Sexy.
This book is intriguing right from the start, and kept me hooked to the very end! It's the perfect, yummy story. I don't want to leave this book world!
Fate. Soulmates. God, this book will undoubtedly be on my top reads list for this year. Bastiano is such an jerk, but the best kind. He's strong, strict, and ruthless, but when it comes to those he loves he's passionate and devoted. Ariana was the perfect counterpart for his powerful character. When he pushed, she pushed back. When he bit, she enticed him for more. As an undercover FBI agent, her role is written so perfectly. I love how this author made her equal parts tough, determined, and compassionate.
"A mafia prince. The undercover agent sent to ruin him."
You just know from that description that it's going to rip you into pieces! And it does! The back stories of Bastiano and Ariana were so uniquely written, and this author cleverly threw in plot twists that kept me on my toes throughout. It's spell-binding, intriguing, angsty, and sexy. So. Damn. Sexy.
This book is intriguing right from the start, and kept me hooked to the very end! It's the perfect, yummy story. I don't want to leave this book world!
meganfanclub's review
4.0
sorry, but one star reduction for the sheer amount of times the characters refer to Bastian's dick as "Prince Albert"
This is the first book I've read of the Five Syndicates series and although I'm not entirely blown away, I was pretty entertained throughout. I enjoyed Bastian and Ari's relationship and love a good sexual tension fueled by a love-hate relationship.
If I'm being honest, the writing wasn't amazing. I wasn't very convinced by Ariana's "identity crisis" backstory (tbh, most of the characters fell a bit flat imo) and Bastian and Ari's whole relationship being compared to Jupiter and Ganymede in the last 30% of the book seemed a bit random/contrived. There were a lot of different issues that were brought up, but not thoroughly explored. For one, I thought there would be more conflict regarding Ari being an illegitimate mafia princess but that really wasn't talked about at all.
There was a similar issue with characters lacking depth because their motives just weren't really explained in the book, which I guess could be difficult since this is told in first person narrative but I guess I still wish it was done better. And yet, I'm still rating this book ~3.5 stars.
This is the first book I've read of the Five Syndicates series and although I'm not entirely blown away, I was pretty entertained throughout. I enjoyed Bastian and Ari's relationship and love a good sexual tension fueled by a love-hate relationship.
If I'm being honest, the writing wasn't amazing. I wasn't very convinced by Ariana's "identity crisis" backstory (tbh, most of the characters fell a bit flat imo) and Bastian and Ari's whole relationship being compared to Jupiter and Ganymede in the last 30% of the book seemed a bit random/contrived. There were a lot of different issues that were brought up, but not thoroughly explored. For one, I thought there would be more conflict regarding Ari being an illegitimate mafia princess but that really wasn't talked about at all.
Spoiler
Also, Vince setting up this whole relationship since before Ari was even born(?????? this one still has me confused)There was a similar issue with characters lacking depth because their motives just weren't really explained in the book, which I guess could be difficult since this is told in first person narrative but I guess I still wish it was done better.
Spoiler
I was mad confused when things were all fine and dandy between Ari and her best friend and then the next time they meet, her friend is cold and Ari's not sure if she could trust her anymore. It just seemed like a lazy way for the author to let us know that Ari has nobody in her life and align herself with Bastian. Also, I really do not understand why Elsa would pull all the shit she did throughout the book. Why go through all the trouble to get pregnant with your high school sweetheart, pretend that it's Bastian's baby and then tell him that it's not his baby five years later? It kept saying Elsa graduated top of her class and that she was super smart, but she's literally using the money that Bastian gives her every month not for herself, but to pay off the actual father of her child. If that was the case, why didn't she just get an anonymous sperm donor so she wouldn't have to give someone hush money???? Obviously I didn't understand anything Elsa did and why she went through all that trouble when she was already given a five million dollar checkatrevi1211's review
5.0
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC... Holy smoke and a pancake!!! I don't want to do any spoilers because I hate that as a reader but I seriously can't believe how much I love this A-hole of a guy (he has his reasons). Parker creates characters the you seriously will love to hate. One min you can't believe Bastian is such a D*&% and then you are kinda like.. you know what Ari is lying she deserves it. I read this book in less than 24 hours. I couldn't stay asleep because I NEEDED to know what happened. If you haven't read any of Parker's books before this one will be a good one to start with.
hanimjy's review
4.0
i did not expect to enjoy this book as much as i did. my girl contessa let me give you a hug you sweet sweet child