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Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
FMC: Sienna - quirky sunshine, uses outward positivity to hide inner pain, writes romance novels
MMC: Drago - head of the Serbian crime organization, deaf hero, family over everything, possessive, look at her and die
Intimacy: On page; exhibitionism
Summary
Sienna is married off to Drago in order to repair a broken relationship between Cosa Nostra and the Serbians. Her job is to report back to her Don on anything she hears at Drago's home. Drago knows Sienna is more than likely spying on him, but he can't make himself punish her. Instead, they enter into a game of touch-and-go with neither being completely honest, but neither able to give up the other.
Thoughts
I love Sienna's character development. She's had a traumatic life and believes she's essentially cursed, marking anyone she loves for certain death. Over the years, though, she's learned to hide this pain behind colorful outfits and a bright personality. Reading as Drago sees through her front and gets to the heart of her is incredibly swoonworthy. Despite him not shying away from the gruesome and bloody tasks being a leader entails, he is softer for Sienna, not annoyed or trying to break her spirit. They are truly well-matched and it was lovely seeing them bring out the best of each other. It reminded me that those who love you will love every piece of you, not only the bright sparkly bits.
A few of my favorite quotes:
- "Feel free to take it off if you want," he says casually, then leans until our faces are at the same level. "But know one thing, mila moya. Any man who sets his eyes on you while you’re not wearing the wedding ring is going to die."
- "I thought you were having fun.” “I was. Not anymore.” “Why not?” Because you’re obviously in pain and I can’t have fun knowing you are hurting.
- And yes, I’m still angry as hell. But I’m not spending a night without her in my bed. Not a single night. I lower her onto the bed, then lie down behind her and wrap my arms around her sleeping form. She might be a sneaky, scheming little spy, but she’s my spy.
- Drago turns me around to face him, his green eyes staring me down. “If there’s an attack on the house, you can keep on sleeping, mila moya,” he bites out, “because I’ll make sure the bastards are dead well before they even think about getting close to you.”
- I was just kidding when I told him he needed to buy me presents, and he knows it very well. He bought them anyway.
- The mere idea of her not existing makes me want to set the whole fucking world on fire. There is no world without her in it. Not for me.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Both the main characters were loveable and I enjoyed their, individual and mutual, stories.
I do feel that Sienna should have explained clearly, why she acts so superficial sometimes, to Drago. Yes, they communicated but it's mainly Drago analysing Sienna's behavior with all the infos he knows about her life and guessing the issue. Then, Sienna talks because she has no other choice that to face what's she has running from all those years.
- Thus Sienna is not really developed!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt
I'm just imagining the unfortunate people in the club having a good time then being kicked out because the boss couldn't keep it in his pants and wait. 😭
Also, Drago is OTT possessive and jealous ... which is not my taste. I already knew this going into it so I wasn't expecting to love it.
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death
*Arranged marriage
*Age gap that wasn't icky
*Possessive mmc
*Family dynamics
*Trauma healing
*Sienna's quirky and infectious personality
*Omg the dogs and how protective they are of her
Disliked
*The smut scenes were too close together and frequent. I found myself uninterested after awhile
5⭐, 4🌶, 3🧪
Rating, Smut, Chemistry
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide attempt