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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Standing ovation for this book!!! I am so completely in love with Claire Contreras’ Because You’re Mine. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE!! Entertaining. Thrilling. Addicting. Intoxicating even. I could get love drunk on Claire's words. To say I devoured this books would be a gross understatement.
Claire Contreras takes us on an intense, sexy, suspenseful ride inside the world of organized crime. Filled with secrets and lies, crime and murder, lust and love, I could NOT get enough!!! I wished I had more! The characters and the fiery passion they shared…. my God!! So good!! The connection between Lorenzo and Catalina was felt instantly.
Catalina is a new favorite heroine. Loved her strong will. Her independence. Her heart. I loved that she not afraid of Loren, who by the way is crazy hot, possessive and protective (*fans self). As the daughter of one of the mafia's most feared leaders, she knows any connection between her and her family could be dangerous. She's distanced herself from them; dedicating her life to her ballet/dance. Even when she is pulled back into that world, she hold her own.
Here is the thing about Because You're Mine, once you start reading you’re definitely not going to want to stop. I am so utterly addicted to this book!! Because You’re Mine goes right to the top of my favorite Claire Contreras book right along with Paper Hearts. (*sigh Jensen) I don’t read a lot of mafia romance but this one I want to read over and over again!! I highly highly highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to read what is next from these characters.
Claire Contreras takes us on an intense, sexy, suspenseful ride inside the world of organized crime. Filled with secrets and lies, crime and murder, lust and love, I could NOT get enough!!! I wished I had more! The characters and the fiery passion they shared…. my God!! So good!! The connection between Lorenzo and Catalina was felt instantly.
Catalina is a new favorite heroine. Loved her strong will. Her independence. Her heart. I loved that she not afraid of Loren, who by the way is crazy hot, possessive and protective (*fans self). As the daughter of one of the mafia's most feared leaders, she knows any connection between her and her family could be dangerous. She's distanced herself from them; dedicating her life to her ballet/dance. Even when she is pulled back into that world, she hold her own.
Here is the thing about Because You're Mine, once you start reading you’re definitely not going to want to stop. I am so utterly addicted to this book!! Because You’re Mine goes right to the top of my favorite Claire Contreras book right along with Paper Hearts. (*sigh Jensen) I don’t read a lot of mafia romance but this one I want to read over and over again!! I highly highly highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to read what is next from these characters.
Rating || ★★★★☆
Publication Date || July 12th, 2018
“And you’d keep chasing me? If I say no to this? If I turned you away?” “Probably.” I stare at him. “Why?” “Because you’re mine.”
Dark, sexy, suspenseful and full of passion. This book is a thrill-ride from start to finish. Packed with just the right amount of action, romance, and twists that is hard to put down.
This is my first time reading anything by Claire Contreras and I'm surprisingly impressed. Usually, I don't go for authors I haven't heard of but a few pages into this book and I was hooked. Full appreciation to the author and that cover! WOW.
Catalina tried to stay out of the family business. Growing up inside the Mafia Family cost too much, so she turned to Ballet instead. But when it comes to family, especially her sister, there's nothing she wouldn't do. That's when the favor came in. Registering to a class course much closer to home under her sister's name, was just what she needed to bring her back into the family business.
What she didn't expect was to meet Lorenzo. The man oozes trouble from the moment she laid her eyes on him. That and Sex. There's no subtle attraction between them. The sexual tension sky-rocketed from their first debate in class and continued further on until none of them could take it anymore.
This book exceeded the expectations I have about Mafia romance story. I've only read a few because It's not one of my favorite genres. I love a good complexity in a story and very much enjoyed the build-up to the climax of a plot. This book has exactly those two things, so it's not at all a waste to read.
Lorenzo is the perfect alpha male, not too controlling of Catalina and it's not always a damsel in distress situation for both of them. Somehow, it irked me most authors used that as a way to showcase the perfect Alpha Male in a story. Thankfully, that's not the case in this one.
Their chemistry was amazing and hot. Of course, it was lust that came first but I like that it's not too rushed or too slow into the steamy parts. The characters went through several phases before they say I love you, which is always a worthy read for me.
All in all, I gave this book 4 stars! A recommended read to anyone who's into books about Mafia and the sorts. Definitely going to read more books by this Author!
No chemistry between these two. The very confusing plot is more interesting than they are.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Yes yes yes!
I can’t wait til the next book comes out!! I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved all the twists and surprises plus the romance?! It kept me rooted to my seat for hours.
I can’t wait til the next book comes out!! I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved all the twists and surprises plus the romance?! It kept me rooted to my seat for hours.
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Claire Contreras is one of the authors on my radar since I ventured in romance novels. This is my first book from her and my entry for mafia romance readathon.
Because You’re Mine is a good novel for those who are new to mafia romance. It’s not as dark as the other ones I’ve read. However, this is more of contemporary with mafia family in it. Hence, the reason I lowered my rating for its lack of foundation. So if you want something lighthearted, this is for you.
The characters have good chemistry. Catalina Alvarez is a ballerina at New York City Ballet. She's associated in mafia because of her family but she stays away due to the trauma it brought to her life. Then she meets Lorenzo Costello and her life turned upside down. It took me a while to warm up to them because they're platonic. Lorenzo is hot and sexy but I wasn't entranced by him.
It may not be my favorite, this could have a potential if it isn’t a standalone. The saving point of this book is its plot twist.
Because You’re Mine is a good novel for those who are new to mafia romance. It’s not as dark as the other ones I’ve read. However, this is more of contemporary with mafia family in it. Hence, the reason I lowered my rating for its lack of foundation. So if you want something lighthearted, this is for you.
The characters have good chemistry. Catalina Alvarez is a ballerina at New York City Ballet. She's associated in mafia because of her family but she stays away due to the trauma it brought to her life. Then she meets Lorenzo Costello and her life turned upside down. It took me a while to warm up to them because they're platonic. Lorenzo is hot and sexy but I wasn't entranced by him.
It may not be my favorite, this could have a potential if it isn’t a standalone. The saving point of this book is its plot twist.
Warning: This will be another post with me gushing about Claire's talent.
I don't tend to rush to pick up a book if it is Mafia themed in any way. I've watched many mafia movies, and I was obsessed with the Sopranos, but it has never translated really well into books for me. I cant exactly explain it....maybe just hadn't found the right books yet? So when this book was announced and the word mafia was thrown around, I did not even blink before knowing I would read it. This was the same with The Player - I am so weird and picky about sports romance, but I do love soccer, and The Player was amazing! Anyway, based on experience, I knew there was a damn good chance that this book would work for me.
And boy did it. Knocked it out of the park.
Catalina is a ballerina, and comes from a family hard wired in the mafia business. She has had bad experiences and wants nothing more than to separated from that part of her life and those parts of her past. She is so likable, being headstrong and determined, and a reasonable, realistic person. Like someone I could know. I loved this about her character. Yes, she has turned a blind eye to many things in her life where the mafia business is concerned, but that is to be expected in these types of scenarios. I really enjoyed her character.
I love that this book was dual perspective. Lorenzo is that full of himself, typical mafia guy - at first glance. He had many more layers hiding in there, and so many secrets. He was possessive in the way that women want, to be protected and cared for, and know they are desired, not in the way where it shows ownership and sounds more like you are a prisoner than anything else. I just imagine that he has an eternal smirk on his face for some reason. That's the Lorenzo in my head.
The twists, reveals, and action were so awesome. Sure, a few things you may have seen coming, but the big action scene I was not expecting to happen when it did and how it did, and it was so vivid in my mind, my heart raced. There were a couple of times at reveals (and at some steamy moments) that I was laying in bed like "OH SNAP." and my husband wakes up to me talking to a book in the middle of the night... whatever. ::Shrugs::
This book was both rough and delicate. Light and dark. We were shown the hard edges of a life of crime and the soft edges of love. Catalina and Lorenzo's chemistry was so wonderful, their desire and connection felt so real and so right. I loved getting to know some of these other characters, and I can't wait to see what Claire does with their stories, and what kind of glimpses of Cat and Lorenzo that we might get in the future. I really hope she picks up on some of what was being mentioned through the end of the book as well. I loved this world.
Also, that cover? So simple.... so sexy. ::wipes off drool::
***ARC provided by author in exchange for HONEST review. Original review can be found at No BS Book Reviews!***
I don't tend to rush to pick up a book if it is Mafia themed in any way. I've watched many mafia movies, and I was obsessed with the Sopranos, but it has never translated really well into books for me. I cant exactly explain it....maybe just hadn't found the right books yet? So when this book was announced and the word mafia was thrown around, I did not even blink before knowing I would read it. This was the same with The Player - I am so weird and picky about sports romance, but I do love soccer, and The Player was amazing! Anyway, based on experience, I knew there was a damn good chance that this book would work for me.
And boy did it. Knocked it out of the park.
I'm addicted to watching you dance...
Or maybe it's just you I'm addicted too.
Catalina is a ballerina, and comes from a family hard wired in the mafia business. She has had bad experiences and wants nothing more than to separated from that part of her life and those parts of her past. She is so likable, being headstrong and determined, and a reasonable, realistic person. Like someone I could know. I loved this about her character. Yes, she has turned a blind eye to many things in her life where the mafia business is concerned, but that is to be expected in these types of scenarios. I really enjoyed her character.
I love that this book was dual perspective. Lorenzo is that full of himself, typical mafia guy - at first glance. He had many more layers hiding in there, and so many secrets. He was possessive in the way that women want, to be protected and cared for, and know they are desired, not in the way where it shows ownership and sounds more like you are a prisoner than anything else. I just imagine that he has an eternal smirk on his face for some reason. That's the Lorenzo in my head.
The twists, reveals, and action were so awesome. Sure, a few things you may have seen coming, but the big action scene I was not expecting to happen when it did and how it did, and it was so vivid in my mind, my heart raced. There were a couple of times at reveals (and at some steamy moments) that I was laying in bed like "OH SNAP." and my husband wakes up to me talking to a book in the middle of the night... whatever. ::Shrugs::
This book was both rough and delicate. Light and dark. We were shown the hard edges of a life of crime and the soft edges of love. Catalina and Lorenzo's chemistry was so wonderful, their desire and connection felt so real and so right. I loved getting to know some of these other characters, and I can't wait to see what Claire does with their stories, and what kind of glimpses of Cat and Lorenzo that we might get in the future. I really hope she picks up on some of what was being mentioned through the end of the book as well. I loved this world.
Also, that cover? So simple.... so sexy. ::wipes off drool::
***ARC provided by author in exchange for HONEST review. Original review can be found at No BS Book Reviews!***
Lorenzo and Catalina story has everything, fun banter, great chemistry, hot alpha Hero, strong willed Heroine, some tear worthy scenes and a few surprises. There were a few plot points that seemed to stretch the boundary towards unrealistic but it’s fiction so some liberty is given to make it all fit. Overall I really enjoyed this one. Even though I’ll read just about anything Claire writes I was so happy when I found out she was working on a book with mafia ties again. Then I was even happier to see one of those ties was Dean. Even though he only had a small part I love when old favorites come back into books. I can’t wait to see who will be next in this series.
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated