Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
No words just Luca - Aria on my mind. This book was INFINITELY better than bound by honor and I'll die on that hill.
I loved this. Quite literally the book that made me realise that I have fallen in love with the Cora reily universe <3
I loved this. Quite literally the book that made me realise that I have fallen in love with the Cora reily universe <3
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
The first half of this book was basically a collection of stories about aria betraying luca's trust and him forgiving her. But i liked the second part. And my heart aches for fabiano. He suffered a lot.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one was a lot of damage damn it hurt.
I don't really know if I like Luce he is pretty selfish. But the other characters are great
I don't really know if I like Luce he is pretty selfish. But the other characters are great
5 G's: Good god girl get a grip.
Que manera de cagarla que tenía Aria bld, pero me encantó el final a esta saga (No creo que lea el último, así que la doy por terminada)
Que manera de cagarla que tenía Aria bld, pero me encantó el final a esta saga (No creo que lea el último, así que la doy por terminada)
“I stared at her, my chest tight with emotions that scared the shit out of me. Scared me, even though nothing really scared me anymore. I’d survived torture and excruciating pain, had tortured and inflicted pain myself, had seen so many die, had killed many of them, and here I was scared of my own emotions. “But I don’t care, because loving you is the only pure thing in my life.”
I waited so, so long for this book. The Born in blood, mafia chronicles series has a special place in my heart; Cora Reilly, with her dark, captivating and intense stories, is the one who introduced me to the dark romance genre. I stumbled upon her books by complete and utter chance almost two years ago and, my God how incredibly obsessed I became with this series. Bound by Honor (book 1) was my favorite-probably because I have a thing for firsts- and when I learned that Cora was releasing a novella-Bound by Love-following Luca and Aria’s story, I was deliriously happy. But I waited and waited and waited and no further news ever came about it. Until Cora resurfaced and announced that Bound by Love was going to be a full-length novel written in dual POV (with a surprise POV that you won’t know about unless you read the book).
“Fear settled in the pit of my stomach. Fear of what he’d do. But even worse: fear that I was losing him. That I’d lost the trust of a man who’d never before allowed himself to trust someone as much as me. “
I received my ARC copy yesterday and was so excited that I didn’t even put the book down to eat. If you think I’m kidding, you should’ve seen me in my kitchen struggling to prepare breakfast with one hand because the other one was holding my phone.
What you need to know if you’ve never read the series is that what’s new and amazing in this book is that we get to see a big part of the story through Luca’s eyes-thing that was missing in the first book. That made it so frustrating and a bit hard to understand the whole dynamic of the couple.
Luca’s character isn’t easy to figure out; I spent half of the book wanting to punch him and the other half wanting to hug him. Yes, he is that confusing.
“I paused because I realized it was the truth. No one had ever held power over me, not like Aria did, and it was the scariest thing in this world because no one could ever find out.”
I won’t reveal anything about the timeline in Bound by Love as I want to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. I’d truly hate to ruin such a great and captivating story for you. However, what I can tell you, if you haven’t read the other books in the series, is that you won’t understand anything about this book if you don’t read them first.
“I curled my fingers over his neck and pulled him to me, my lips brushing his. “I love you, Luca.” His gray eyes softened, and that sight always got me. That look, that side of him, nobody got to see it but me. Perhaps Luca had been the first and only man to claim my body, but I was the first and only person who had that part of him, his soft side, his gentle side. That was all mine.”
Now, my fellow mafia obsessed readers, I know you’re impatient for this book to be released after such a long wait. And I can assure you, my dear friends, that you won’t regret it. This book couldn’t have come at a better time. Because, as much as I loved Bound by Honor and cried at the end, I still felt like something was missing. I wanted more. Perhaps because I felt like Luca’s character wasn’t as developed as I had wanted. But whatever the reason, it made me appreciate this second book even more. No, not appreciate. I absolutely loved it.
I enjoyed seeing all the characters again, diving into their world another time. But most importantly, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of another side of Luca’s personality. The development in his relationship with Aria was amazing. This story is about love. But it isn’t a romance. This love is dark, raw, intense, and despite all the blood, death and horror that surrounds it, it’s pure. Luca and Aria’s love is the purest thing in this story. And it’s heartbreakingly beautiful.
While reading Bound by Love, there were moments when I smiled and others when I couldn’t help the snort that escaped my mouth. There were moments when I wanted to scream in anger and frustration and others when I had to fight back tears. Do you know that feeling when you start a book and without realizing it you’re already halfway through it ? Well, that’s what happened to me with Bound by Love. I have so much on my plate lately that I was scared I wouldn’t be able to read and review the book in time. But the second I read the first words, I dropped everything I had to do and I didn’t stop-couldn’t stop before reading the last ones.
That’s how incredibly well-written this book is. I almost forgot I was reading and only felt like I was watching the story unravel before me.
And for that very reason, I can say that it will be a success, because as far as I’m concerned, it already is.
I waited so, so long for this book. The Born in blood, mafia chronicles series has a special place in my heart; Cora Reilly, with her dark, captivating and intense stories, is the one who introduced me to the dark romance genre. I stumbled upon her books by complete and utter chance almost two years ago and, my God how incredibly obsessed I became with this series. Bound by Honor (book 1) was my favorite-probably because I have a thing for firsts- and when I learned that Cora was releasing a novella-Bound by Love-following Luca and Aria’s story, I was deliriously happy. But I waited and waited and waited and no further news ever came about it. Until Cora resurfaced and announced that Bound by Love was going to be a full-length novel written in dual POV (with a surprise POV that you won’t know about unless you read the book).
“Fear settled in the pit of my stomach. Fear of what he’d do. But even worse: fear that I was losing him. That I’d lost the trust of a man who’d never before allowed himself to trust someone as much as me. “
I received my ARC copy yesterday and was so excited that I didn’t even put the book down to eat. If you think I’m kidding, you should’ve seen me in my kitchen struggling to prepare breakfast with one hand because the other one was holding my phone.
What you need to know if you’ve never read the series is that what’s new and amazing in this book is that we get to see a big part of the story through Luca’s eyes-thing that was missing in the first book. That made it so frustrating and a bit hard to understand the whole dynamic of the couple.
Luca’s character isn’t easy to figure out; I spent half of the book wanting to punch him and the other half wanting to hug him. Yes, he is that confusing.
“I paused because I realized it was the truth. No one had ever held power over me, not like Aria did, and it was the scariest thing in this world because no one could ever find out.”
I won’t reveal anything about the timeline in Bound by Love as I want to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. I’d truly hate to ruin such a great and captivating story for you. However, what I can tell you, if you haven’t read the other books in the series, is that you won’t understand anything about this book if you don’t read them first.
“I curled my fingers over his neck and pulled him to me, my lips brushing his. “I love you, Luca.” His gray eyes softened, and that sight always got me. That look, that side of him, nobody got to see it but me. Perhaps Luca had been the first and only man to claim my body, but I was the first and only person who had that part of him, his soft side, his gentle side. That was all mine.”
Now, my fellow mafia obsessed readers, I know you’re impatient for this book to be released after such a long wait. And I can assure you, my dear friends, that you won’t regret it. This book couldn’t have come at a better time. Because, as much as I loved Bound by Honor and cried at the end, I still felt like something was missing. I wanted more. Perhaps because I felt like Luca’s character wasn’t as developed as I had wanted. But whatever the reason, it made me appreciate this second book even more. No, not appreciate. I absolutely loved it.
I enjoyed seeing all the characters again, diving into their world another time. But most importantly, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of another side of Luca’s personality. The development in his relationship with Aria was amazing. This story is about love. But it isn’t a romance. This love is dark, raw, intense, and despite all the blood, death and horror that surrounds it, it’s pure. Luca and Aria’s love is the purest thing in this story. And it’s heartbreakingly beautiful.
While reading Bound by Love, there were moments when I smiled and others when I couldn’t help the snort that escaped my mouth. There were moments when I wanted to scream in anger and frustration and others when I had to fight back tears. Do you know that feeling when you start a book and without realizing it you’re already halfway through it ? Well, that’s what happened to me with Bound by Love. I have so much on my plate lately that I was scared I wouldn’t be able to read and review the book in time. But the second I read the first words, I dropped everything I had to do and I didn’t stop-couldn’t stop before reading the last ones.
That’s how incredibly well-written this book is. I almost forgot I was reading and only felt like I was watching the story unravel before me.
And for that very reason, I can say that it will be a success, because as far as I’m concerned, it already is.
If Aria and Luca aren’t your favorite couple, you got some issues. They kind of are a complicated couple, their issues are more mental ones than anything else (not in a bad way, like for example Aria likes to think that she knows what she’s doing and Luca likes to think that he will destroy anything he touches just by pressing the tip of his finger), but their love story is just so good!!
This book is for sure one that you grab woke snacks, a cozy blanket, read away and ignore your responsibilities in life because now you’re part of the Famiglia and you gotta put the Famiglia first.
So many emotions, so many twists, the spice is top-notch, the banter is amazing, and the plot just gets better and better.
It was amazing to read Aria and Luca growing up together, developing not only as a couple but as individuals, and forming their love-filled family.
We’re also reminded how men react to shit worse than women - imagine if they had period cramps and hormones switching up their emotions? Yeah, it would mean war.
Fabiano also just got more interesting and I can’t wait to read about his problems, because that boy has had it rough since birth…
Now I just want to continue reading about their lives as parents because that’s the cutest and most wholesome shit on the planet. Also the realization that love is not a weakness but a strength needs celebrating since it took Luca several years to realize that.
This book was good and basically called me single and forever alone in several different languages.
- Some of my favorite scenes -
“Luca cupped my cheeks, his body shielding is from Romero’s gaze. I searched his eyes for reassurance but he shit me out. Fear clawed at my chest, and tears sprang into my eyes. Perhaps he tried to shield me from the realities of mob life, but I was the daughter of the Outfit’s Consigliere. The mafia was in my blood. I knew it’s rules, it’s people. A new Capo meant a shift in power.
Luca shook his head. ‘No,’ he growled. ‘No tears.’
I blinked and sucked in a deep breath. ‘You will return to me.’ It was more question than statement.
Dark determination filled Luca’s face. ‘Always. Even if I have to slaughter a thousand men to do it.’
Good Gos. I believed him. He gave me another kiss then tried to step back, but I tightened my hold around his waist.”
“A rose-gold bar bracelet say on a gray cushion. Nineteen diamonds were embedded in the smooth rose-gold surface.
‘Turn it around,’ Luca said quietly.
I did and found words engraved into the inside of the bracelet.
In the darkest hour you are my light.
Swallowing, I looked up into Luca’s warm eyes. He grabbed his shirt, pulled it over his head and turned around. I froze when I saw the new tattoo on his shoulder blade, mirroring his Famiglia tattoo. The skin was still red.
I read the intricate black inked letters: I’ll go where are you go no matter how dark the path.
“When Luca was about to set me down on the backseat, the strongest contraction rocked through my body. I convulsed, my eyes closing, and I released a small cry.
‘You are strong, Aria,’ Luca murmured against my forehead. ‘And I’m here for you. I wish I could take the pain from you.’”
“Luca and Matteo exchanged a look that caused Gianna to roll her eyes, but I smiled. If anyone ever so much as considered hurting Marcella, I wanted them to be met with Luca’s and Matteo’s full wrath.”
“Aria laughed and put Marcella down on the ground. Eager blue eyes zeroed in on my and Marcella crawled toward me, her diaper-clad bum bobbing up and down. I bed forward and held out my palms. She crawled faster, making high-pitched giggling noises. The second she reached me I grabbed her and rose to my feet, propelling her up over my head like a rocket. She screeched happily and I swung her around toward Matteo’s out-stretched arms, who threw her into the air and caught her again.”
This book is for sure one that you grab woke snacks, a cozy blanket, read away and ignore your responsibilities in life because now you’re part of the Famiglia and you gotta put the Famiglia first.
So many emotions, so many twists, the spice is top-notch, the banter is amazing, and the plot just gets better and better.
It was amazing to read Aria and Luca growing up together, developing not only as a couple but as individuals, and forming their love-filled family.
We’re also reminded how men react to shit worse than women - imagine if they had period cramps and hormones switching up their emotions? Yeah, it would mean war.
Fabiano also just got more interesting and I can’t wait to read about his problems, because that boy has had it rough since birth…
Now I just want to continue reading about their lives as parents because that’s the cutest and most wholesome shit on the planet. Also the realization that love is not a weakness but a strength needs celebrating since it took Luca several years to realize that.
This book was good and basically called me single and forever alone in several different languages.
- Some of my favorite scenes -
Spoiler
“Luca cupped my cheeks, his body shielding is from Romero’s gaze. I searched his eyes for reassurance but he shit me out. Fear clawed at my chest, and tears sprang into my eyes. Perhaps he tried to shield me from the realities of mob life, but I was the daughter of the Outfit’s Consigliere. The mafia was in my blood. I knew it’s rules, it’s people. A new Capo meant a shift in power.
Luca shook his head. ‘No,’ he growled. ‘No tears.’
I blinked and sucked in a deep breath. ‘You will return to me.’ It was more question than statement.
Dark determination filled Luca’s face. ‘Always. Even if I have to slaughter a thousand men to do it.’
Good Gos. I believed him. He gave me another kiss then tried to step back, but I tightened my hold around his waist.”
“A rose-gold bar bracelet say on a gray cushion. Nineteen diamonds were embedded in the smooth rose-gold surface.
‘Turn it around,’ Luca said quietly.
I did and found words engraved into the inside of the bracelet.
In the darkest hour you are my light.
Swallowing, I looked up into Luca’s warm eyes. He grabbed his shirt, pulled it over his head and turned around. I froze when I saw the new tattoo on his shoulder blade, mirroring his Famiglia tattoo. The skin was still red.
I read the intricate black inked letters: I’ll go where are you go no matter how dark the path.
“When Luca was about to set me down on the backseat, the strongest contraction rocked through my body. I convulsed, my eyes closing, and I released a small cry.
‘You are strong, Aria,’ Luca murmured against my forehead. ‘And I’m here for you. I wish I could take the pain from you.’”
“Luca and Matteo exchanged a look that caused Gianna to roll her eyes, but I smiled. If anyone ever so much as considered hurting Marcella, I wanted them to be met with Luca’s and Matteo’s full wrath.”
“Aria laughed and put Marcella down on the ground. Eager blue eyes zeroed in on my and Marcella crawled toward me, her diaper-clad bum bobbing up and down. I bed forward and held out my palms. She crawled faster, making high-pitched giggling noises. The second she reached me I grabbed her and rose to my feet, propelling her up over my head like a rocket. She screeched happily and I swung her around toward Matteo’s out-stretched arms, who threw her into the air and caught her again.”