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tomeannelida's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the plot of the story but the lead female character Mariana just got on my nerves too many times for me to give this 4 stars, but it wasn't so bad that I don't want to continue the series. I still want to see what happens
bibliophile90's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been waiting on my CLIFFHANGER shelf for a while now because I don't like cliffhangers or series where the book focuses on the same couple. BUT I was in a book funk and wasn't interested in any of the stand-alone books on my shelf. I am getting better and better in reading books that end in cliffhangers (where the sequel/series isn't released yet). I am glad I didn't wait and decided to dive into this book. I am an huge fan of the Gypsy Brothers series, and couldnt wait to read about Mariana, Dornan and John. I know how it will end and that scares me a lot but I just want to know the story.
Dornan is evil, but he isn't evil as we saw him in the Gypsy Brothers series. It is easy to see he is developing feelings for Ana, but I am not sure if Ana's feelings are genuine or she is just falling for him because he "saved" her. I can't wait to see more of John and how the whole relationship will develop. I wish the whole series was released already!!
violetsbookjar's review against another edition
4.0
The Gypsy Brothers series gave me life when I first started reading them. Lili St. Awesome gives me life with her work. Fair to say that I have been a fan since the beginning. I could just totally see what she was trying to do when she started Seven Sons.
Same goes for Cartel.
Even though you don't have to, I would recommend reading the Gypsy Brothers series first. :) I hated Dornan with a passion and to have a book of his own and get to be inside his head... he's grown on me. And the character backgrounds just come together so well with what little we know from the Gypsy series.
Happy reading! :)
Same goes for Cartel.
Even though you don't have to, I would recommend reading the Gypsy Brothers series first. :) I hated Dornan with a passion and to have a book of his own and get to be inside his head... he's grown on me. And the character backgrounds just come together so well with what little we know from the Gypsy series.
Happy reading! :)
kylieeason's review against another edition
This book is a very docile dark read. There wasn't a lot of horror or violence.
This story felt more like a romance with some twists, than a true Cartel based novel. (For something really good and incredibly graphic look into Karina Halle's Dirty Angels series).
I'm struggling with reviewing this book, because it is good, and has potential but something is missing. I don't know.
I need more time to think on this before giving it stars.
This story felt more like a romance with some twists, than a true Cartel based novel. (For something really good and incredibly graphic look into Karina Halle's Dirty Angels series).
I'm struggling with reviewing this book, because it is good, and has potential but something is missing. I don't know.
I need more time to think on this before giving it stars.
skuip8's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
foesandlovers's review
4.0
4 "I Fell For A Monster" Stars
I will just start this review by saying that this book is what I call Dark Romance. In other words, if you are fragile at heart, and do NOT enjoy reading what we call "Taboo reads", this book is therefore absolutely not for you. This book portrays some harsh content, please don't read it if you're not interested in this kind of stuff.
In summary, this story is about a nineteen years old girl named Mariana that upon her return home from school is faced with three horrible truth: her innocent boyfriend was killed in front of her for absolutely no reasons, her father owes a lot of money to the Il Sangue mafia clan after losing a drug shipment to the government, and she is now trapped in the tight grip of the boss of this clan, who happens to be called Emilio but could very well be Satan himself.
In the Il Sangue organization, there's only one way to pay off a debt, and that is with blood. Or, when an unexpected option offers itself, with family. What does that mean? Mariana is faced with two choices: it's either she willingly becomes Emilio's propriety or all her family, including herself, dies at the hand of this ruthless man for a mistake that was ONLY her father's. To Mariana the choice is simple, she can't let her mother and siblings die for a mistake that wasn't theirs, and therefore is hit with the realization that she doesn't own herself anymore. Because of the close connection between Il Sangue and The Gipsy Brothers, Mariana stumbles, per association, into the hands of Dornan. Cartel is the story of what happens when one falls in love with the man she should despise the most. Her captor.
I'll just begin by saying that this book was dark, very dark and cruel. However, the "sexual" elements of it weren't what was dark, it was more the elements surrounding the story that were what I consider "dark". That is why I wouldn’t call it “Dark Erotica” but more “Dark Romance”.
I have to say, I loooooove a good Dark Romance book, and mix it with a Mafia/biker club one and you have me VERY happy! And truth be told, this story sure did not disappoint me. At all. I did found myself, at certain points of the story, feeling like it was "too much". But that is exactly the beauty of Dark stories. It's hard to read, it touches some very uncomfortable subjects, but you keep reading because you simply HAVE to know what will happen next. Cartel was written in a way that you didn't feel the emotions that the characters were experiencing, you felt FOR them. Pity, Sadness, Resignation, etc.
Cartel, to me, was great in all its aspects. There is absolutely nothing I would have changed. This was my first Lili St-Germain's book, and it sure won't be my last. I can't wait to read what happens next with Dornan and Mariana! I need the second book NOW!
Lastly, I recommend this book to anyone who loves Dark Romance or is interested in anything that is taboo.
I will just start this review by saying that this book is what I call Dark Romance. In other words, if you are fragile at heart, and do NOT enjoy reading what we call "Taboo reads", this book is therefore absolutely not for you. This book portrays some harsh content, please don't read it if you're not interested in this kind of stuff.
In summary, this story is about a nineteen years old girl named Mariana that upon her return home from school is faced with three horrible truth: her innocent boyfriend was killed in front of her for absolutely no reasons, her father owes a lot of money to the Il Sangue mafia clan after losing a drug shipment to the government, and she is now trapped in the tight grip of the boss of this clan, who happens to be called Emilio but could very well be Satan himself.
In the Il Sangue organization, there's only one way to pay off a debt, and that is with blood. Or, when an unexpected option offers itself, with family. What does that mean? Mariana is faced with two choices: it's either she willingly becomes Emilio's propriety or all her family, including herself, dies at the hand of this ruthless man for a mistake that was ONLY her father's. To Mariana the choice is simple, she can't let her mother and siblings die for a mistake that wasn't theirs, and therefore is hit with the realization that she doesn't own herself anymore. Because of the close connection between Il Sangue and The Gipsy Brothers, Mariana stumbles, per association, into the hands of Dornan. Cartel is the story of what happens when one falls in love with the man she should despise the most. Her captor.
I'll just begin by saying that this book was dark, very dark and cruel. However, the "sexual" elements of it weren't what was dark, it was more the elements surrounding the story that were what I consider "dark". That is why I wouldn’t call it “Dark Erotica” but more “Dark Romance”.
I have to say, I loooooove a good Dark Romance book, and mix it with a Mafia/biker club one and you have me VERY happy! And truth be told, this story sure did not disappoint me. At all. I did found myself, at certain points of the story, feeling like it was "too much". But that is exactly the beauty of Dark stories. It's hard to read, it touches some very uncomfortable subjects, but you keep reading because you simply HAVE to know what will happen next. Cartel was written in a way that you didn't feel the emotions that the characters were experiencing, you felt FOR them. Pity, Sadness, Resignation, etc.
Cartel, to me, was great in all its aspects. There is absolutely nothing I would have changed. This was my first Lili St-Germain's book, and it sure won't be my last. I can't wait to read what happens next with Dornan and Mariana! I need the second book NOW!
Lastly, I recommend this book to anyone who loves Dark Romance or is interested in anything that is taboo.
lovehollyxx's review
5.0
He was nothing. He was everything. He was the only thing I had. ‘You hate me?’ he asked, his voice strained, his pace unrelenting. ‘Yes!’ I cried. ‘I fucking hate you!’ He grinned. ‘One day, you’ll love me. I promise.’ I was afraid that he was right.
Whether you've read the Gypsy Brothers serial or not, Cartel by Lili Saint Germain is a book that you need to read if you like your romance dark and twisted. Having enjoyed the mini-series myself - rating each book between 3 and 4.5 stars - I couldn't wait to get my hands on a younger Dornan Ross, and I could not be happier with what I read.
If you already know of Dornan and his sons, then you know he is most definitely not a good man. He's the worst. But what's important to remember with this novel, is that it's set before all the events we have previously read about. The Dornan in Cartel, isn't the Dornan you knew in Gypsy Brothers. Well, not completely anyway.
I've been describing him as "the man before the monster," and I have to say, though he is twisted, I do have a real thing to him! I know it's crazy, but when you read it yourself, you just might understand. He was sexy, and caring (yes that's right, he once had a heart!!), but still dangerous, and I just loved getting to see how he was back then.
The writing was just fantastic!! I don't know whether it was the help from the publisher, or the fact that the author got to write a full length novel instead instead of instalments, but this book was far better written than her previous works, which as I've already stated, I really enjoyed! I could honestly find no fault at all.
I was drawn in from the beginning, and hooked the entire way through. This is Lili Saint Germain at her absolute strongest. The release of the second book in this series cannot come fast enough; I'm definitely ready for more!!
He was a bad man, the worst there was. But my heart, that treacherous thing inside my chest that sped up whenever he was around? It wanted to betray me. I was falling in love with a monster.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Whether you've read the Gypsy Brothers serial or not, Cartel by Lili Saint Germain is a book that you need to read if you like your romance dark and twisted. Having enjoyed the mini-series myself - rating each book between 3 and 4.5 stars - I couldn't wait to get my hands on a younger Dornan Ross, and I could not be happier with what I read.
If you already know of Dornan and his sons, then you know he is most definitely not a good man. He's the worst. But what's important to remember with this novel, is that it's set before all the events we have previously read about. The Dornan in Cartel, isn't the Dornan you knew in Gypsy Brothers. Well, not completely anyway.
I've been describing him as "the man before the monster," and I have to say, though he is twisted, I do have a real thing to him! I know it's crazy, but when you read it yourself, you just might understand. He was sexy, and caring (yes that's right, he once had a heart!!), but still dangerous, and I just loved getting to see how he was back then.
The writing was just fantastic!! I don't know whether it was the help from the publisher, or the fact that the author got to write a full length novel instead instead of instalments, but this book was far better written than her previous works, which as I've already stated, I really enjoyed! I could honestly find no fault at all.
I was drawn in from the beginning, and hooked the entire way through. This is Lili Saint Germain at her absolute strongest. The release of the second book in this series cannot come fast enough; I'm definitely ready for more!!
He was a bad man, the worst there was. But my heart, that treacherous thing inside my chest that sped up whenever he was around? It wanted to betray me. I was falling in love with a monster.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*