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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny. 4 stars just because it made me laugh.
If you love mafia, spicy romance books this is for you!
I loved some of the quirky humor this book had in it. I really enjoyed the amount of the development and focus of relationship vs the mafia side. It was just for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved some of the quirky humor this book had in it. I really enjoyed the amount of the development and focus of relationship vs the mafia side. It was just for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't remember how I ended up reading this book in the slightest, but here we are.
This book was INFURIATING and it had so many five stars!! Surely there had to be a reason, right?! Yes, there is. But you have to read the ENTIRE duet to get there. I promise, it's worth it.
What's Inside ↴
✨ Mafia boss pushes FMC into marriage and surrogacy for his own gain
✨ Mafia boss ignores the desires of everyone around him to do what he wants
✨ Mafia boss then pushes too far and loses his wife
✨ Have to read book two (a book that is an ENTIRE NOVEL OF GROVEL) to resolve it
Usually I do a "pro/con" list for books, but I am skipping that because all of the "cons" are for a reason and most resolve in book two.
✨ TRIGGER WARNING SPOILER: I loved how this was treated. So many mafia books rub that shit in the reader's face to make the MMC seem "tough and experienced" and I love that it isn't in this duet.
✨ The FMC is a straight up doormat until book two. Like constantly being manipulated and controlled. She never pushes back in a meaningful way, she never tries to truly connect to Arsen, etc. This drove me wild until I got to Scarred Queen, hang in there.
✨ Arsen is so emotionally stunted and you do not get to know him at all in this book. It is infuriating. You get this resolved in book two.
✨ Polina is great. I could read 1000 scenes with her. Same with Marie.
✨ As someone who has been 8+ months pregnant (twice), I would not have been as nice as Laila was when Arsen demanded she go out, put make up on, even have sex!, etc. I would have straight up slapped him. He's an idiot, she is a doormat (we established this). I actually almost DNF'ed because she got pregnant immediately (without even tracking her cycles! One thing to do it when trying, another to randomly have it work out like that.) and it just felt so unrealistic. I am glad I stuck it out.... Book two made up for literally everything.
I love when books take you on a ride. This is definitely one and I devoured it.
This book was INFURIATING and it had so many five stars!! Surely there had to be a reason, right?! Yes, there is. But you have to read the ENTIRE duet to get there. I promise, it's worth it.
What's Inside ↴
✨ Mafia boss pushes FMC into marriage and surrogacy for his own gain
✨ Mafia boss ignores the desires of everyone around him to do what he wants
✨ Mafia boss then pushes too far and loses his wife
✨ Have to read book two (a book that is an ENTIRE NOVEL OF GROVEL) to resolve it
Usually I do a "pro/con" list for books, but I am skipping that because all of the "cons" are for a reason and most resolve in book two.
✨ TRIGGER WARNING SPOILER:
Spoiler
There IS cheating BUT the wife gives zero fucks and there is no discussion of what Arsen does outside of his marriage outside of what we see with the FMC.Spoiler
I don't care what he was doing outside of his marriage, I don't need to read about how he is cruising strip clubs or whatever. Leave the past in the past. I love just seeing his relationship with the FMC instead, without even a mention of the past.✨ The FMC is a straight up doormat until book two. Like constantly being manipulated and controlled. She never pushes back in a meaningful way, she never tries to truly connect to Arsen, etc. This drove me wild until I got to Scarred Queen, hang in there.
✨ Arsen is so emotionally stunted and you do not get to know him at all in this book. It is infuriating. You get this resolved in book two.
✨ Polina is great. I could read 1000 scenes with her. Same with Marie.
✨ As someone who has been 8+ months pregnant (twice), I would not have been as nice as Laila was when Arsen demanded she go out, put make up on, even have sex!, etc. I would have straight up slapped him. He's an idiot, she is a doormat (we established this). I actually almost DNF'ed because she got pregnant immediately (without even tracking her cycles! One thing to do it when trying, another to randomly have it work out like that.) and it just felt so unrealistic. I am glad I stuck it out.... Book two made up for literally everything.
I love when books take you on a ride. This is definitely one and I devoured it.
I liked this story a lot and holy cliffhanger!! The chemistry between Arsen and Laila is great but they are both so stubborn! Especially Arsen! I would have given this 5 stars but felt he was too hot and cold Also I felt things rushed in the beginning and at the end. Can't wait to see how it ends in the next book!
This marriage and love story is my worst nightmare. Having a husband that LEAVES YOU LIES TO YOU AND THEN LEAVES AGAIN AND AGAIN
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was fine. Definitely not my favorite book I’ve ever read. Thought I was going to read the second one but after waiting a day, honestly I’m not attached enough to bother with reading the second, if that’s any indication of this first one.