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I got to Beta read this & I am so obsessed!!
Ugh I just love Gabriel & Amelia!
-who hurt you
-forced marriage
-single mom
-mafia
-betrayal
-captive
-forced proximity
-he falls first
Ugh I just love Gabriel & Amelia!
-who hurt you
-forced marriage
-single mom
-mafia
-betrayal
-captive
-forced proximity
-he falls first
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
dark
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
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: It’s a pretty heavy book so not much
Perspective: First person with chapters in both hero and heroine’s perspective
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, a touch in future (not far into the future)
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone (or at least the first story in the series)
Basic plot:
With his brother dead, Gabriel takes his nephew into the folds of the Saint family – he doesn’t plan on taking the mother but once he sets eyes on her, he knows she’s his as well
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary mafia romance
- Redhill, California setting
- you’re okay with a darker, mafia story line including abduction and forced marriage and plenty of violence and death on page
- artist/fashion designing heroine
- instalove (on behalf of the hero)
- enemies to lovers
- light praise kink
- highter steam – at least 6 full scenes and some light kink
Ages:
- didn’t catch either...would guess late 20s? Possibly early 30s?
First line:
My fingers curl at my side, the only emotion that’ll show on my body.
My thoughts:
I did like a few things about this book. I like darkish romance with kidnapped themes and the hero kidnaps the heroine pretty early in. I liked how in the hero was from the beginning. I enjoyed how dominating and possessive the hero was from the beginning – but also tried to be respectful of her. I appreciated that there was a build up of their relationship over the course of the book and they didn’t dive into everything sexually right away. I think that helped build some tension for me.
But I also struggled with this book. I think it was just a personal thing and maybe I watched 365 Days too recently because that movie just kept playing through my head while reading this. Like any scene that was similar I was seeing the movie and it drove me bonkers (which is obviously a personal problem – sorry everyone! 😆 )
I had a couple issues with the writing – a few things sounded a bit conflicting like about the hero’s mother’s character. I also thought the villain was quite predictable (though I don’t really care about that – I don’t read romance to be shocked and surprised). I wanted their character depths developed a bit more. I loved that the heroine was an artist and fashion lover and wanted a bit more of that. I also could have used more character depth for the hero. I felt by the end I didn’t really know him that well other than he led a cliché mafia life. Some of the scenes just seemed to get a little crazy/gory just for the sake of it. I can’t believe how many people repeatedly broke into this house!
I tried to read the synopsis of Wilde’s books and find one that wasn’t second chance and didn’t have kids and I took a chance on this one and there is a child here 😆 so that lessened by love a bit (again, just personal).
The sex in this one was great though. It was hot and steamy and while I could have used a touch more of the emotional side (especially after the heroine just kind of broke down and capitulated to him), overall I loved it.
So, while this wasn’t a favorite for me, I would try Wilde again!
Quotes/thoughts:
“You dirty fucking girl,” he growls, “You’re going to come, aren’t you? Already.”
He jerks his cock harshly before he lets it go and slams his hand down on the shower button, switching off the water. And then the powerhouse of a man, skin radiating heat from the shower and eyes darkened with lust is coming for me.
---
There were a couple things that didn’t flow the best for me. Like in the beginning it was set up that Gabriel’s mother didn’t like the twins that were Gabriel’s half brothers because it showcased his father’s infidelity. That she resented them.
I glance towards the younger of the twins, born an hour after his brother, Asher. They were the result of infidelity by my father. My mother had never forgiven and hated that they remained and reminded her of his infidelity. The twins knew she despised them, but they remained nonetheless and growing, we had had a good relationship.
But then later in the book we’re told
My mother was the best there was with children, having raised me, my brother and then the twins after my father took them. She helped with my men’s kids, treating them like family, their mothers too. She was a family type through and through so when I finally look at her, see the exhaustion, the loss of fight, I know she’s been trying to keep Lincoln happy far longer than healthy.
It’s just not believable that she treated them like family knowing the prior sentence was said. I get what the author is saying, but stuff like this bothers me.
Content warnings:
- Murder, violence and threatening behavior on page
- Mafia behavior should cover it all…
- Forced marriage/abduction (and her child)
- Remembered physical abuse and sexual abuse/trafficking by the heroine’s stepfather that in one scene induces a panic attack
- Drowning
Author given content warnings: forced marriage themes, captor/captive romance, graphic sexual content, forced marriage, previous childhood abuse, violence and gore, mentions of alcohol and drug use, attempted SA, anxiety and panic attacks
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No but the sex is consensual and the hero does pull out
18% - hero masturbation in the shower (it’s pretty short)
21% - wedding kiss
36% - kiss
44% - kiss
50% - kiss
51% - 🔥 heroine walks in on the hero masturbating in the shower and turns into oral for her then then move to the bedroom for missionary to doggy style
68% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her
74% - 🔥 shower sex
79% - 🔥 pool sex
84% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, blow job that leads into another scene back at the house with toys and bondage
97% - 🔥 oral for her, sex
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥+
Humor: It’s a pretty heavy book so not much
Perspective: First person with chapters in both hero and heroine’s perspective
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, a touch in future (not far into the future)
Should I read in order?
This is a stand alone (or at least the first story in the series)
Basic plot:
With his brother dead, Gabriel takes his nephew into the folds of the Saint family – he doesn’t plan on taking the mother but once he sets eyes on her, he knows she’s his as well
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary mafia romance
- Redhill, California setting
- you’re okay with a darker, mafia story line including abduction and forced marriage and plenty of violence and death on page
- artist/fashion designing heroine
- instalove (on behalf of the hero)
- enemies to lovers
- light praise kink
- highter steam – at least 6 full scenes and some light kink
Ages:
- didn’t catch either...would guess late 20s? Possibly early 30s?
First line:
My fingers curl at my side, the only emotion that’ll show on my body.
My thoughts:
I did like a few things about this book. I like darkish romance with kidnapped themes and the hero kidnaps the heroine pretty early in. I liked how in the hero was from the beginning. I enjoyed how dominating and possessive the hero was from the beginning – but also tried to be respectful of her. I appreciated that there was a build up of their relationship over the course of the book and they didn’t dive into everything sexually right away. I think that helped build some tension for me.
But I also struggled with this book. I think it was just a personal thing and maybe I watched 365 Days too recently because that movie just kept playing through my head while reading this. Like any scene that was similar I was seeing the movie and it drove me bonkers (which is obviously a personal problem – sorry everyone! 😆 )
I had a couple issues with the writing – a few things sounded a bit conflicting like about the hero’s mother’s character. I also thought the villain was quite predictable (though I don’t really care about that – I don’t read romance to be shocked and surprised). I wanted their character depths developed a bit more. I loved that the heroine was an artist and fashion lover and wanted a bit more of that. I also could have used more character depth for the hero. I felt by the end I didn’t really know him that well other than he led a cliché mafia life. Some of the scenes just seemed to get a little crazy/gory just for the sake of it. I can’t believe how many people repeatedly broke into this house!
I tried to read the synopsis of Wilde’s books and find one that wasn’t second chance and didn’t have kids and I took a chance on this one and there is a child here 😆 so that lessened by love a bit (again, just personal).
The sex in this one was great though. It was hot and steamy and while I could have used a touch more of the emotional side (especially after the heroine just kind of broke down and capitulated to him), overall I loved it.
So, while this wasn’t a favorite for me, I would try Wilde again!
Quotes/thoughts:
“You dirty fucking girl,” he growls, “You’re going to come, aren’t you? Already.”
He jerks his cock harshly before he lets it go and slams his hand down on the shower button, switching off the water. And then the powerhouse of a man, skin radiating heat from the shower and eyes darkened with lust is coming for me.
---
There were a couple things that didn’t flow the best for me. Like in the beginning it was set up that Gabriel’s mother didn’t like the twins that were Gabriel’s half brothers because it showcased his father’s infidelity. That she resented them.
I glance towards the younger of the twins, born an hour after his brother, Asher. They were the result of infidelity by my father. My mother had never forgiven and hated that they remained and reminded her of his infidelity. The twins knew she despised them, but they remained nonetheless and growing, we had had a good relationship.
But then later in the book we’re told
My mother was the best there was with children, having raised me, my brother and then the twins after my father took them. She helped with my men’s kids, treating them like family, their mothers too. She was a family type through and through so when I finally look at her, see the exhaustion, the loss of fight, I know she’s been trying to keep Lincoln happy far longer than healthy.
It’s just not believable that she treated them like family knowing the prior sentence was said. I get what the author is saying, but stuff like this bothers me.
Content warnings:
- Murder, violence and threatening behavior on page
- Mafia behavior should cover it all…
- Forced marriage/abduction (and her child)
- Remembered physical abuse and sexual abuse/trafficking by the heroine’s stepfather that in one scene induces a panic attack
- Drowning
Author given content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex? No but the sex is consensual and the hero does pull out
18% - hero masturbation in the shower (it’s pretty short)
21% - wedding kiss
36% - kiss
44% - kiss
50% - kiss
51% - 🔥 heroine walks in on the hero masturbating in the shower and turns into oral for her then then move to the bedroom for missionary to doggy style
68% - 🔥 kisses, fingering for her
74% - 🔥 shower sex
79% - 🔥 pool sex
84% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, blow job that leads into another scene back at the house with toys and bondage
97% - 🔥 oral for her, sex