Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this might be my fave out of all of them. however you can NOT not give me an epilogue. it feels like a personal attack tbh
➛First read: August 2024 | ★4.0 stars
➛Second read: February 2025 | ★2.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read:
I can still see why I liked this so much the first time around, but upon reflection and after reading it again, I must, unfortunately, admit that this really was much too smutty, repetitive, and (at times) problematic for me. The first time, I had somehow found a way to ignore or turn a blind eye to a lot of little (and big) things that really annoyed or bored me this time around, but now… not so much.
My most major issue was with the fact that so many of their interactions were centered around sex or lust, while I personally wanted to see more emtional intimacy, depth and affection between them. It made the whole thing feel more shallow and superficial than it could have been: the potential of their sunshine/grumpy, captor/captive, innocent/evil dynamic could have given us so much more if only it wouldn’t have all led back to sex and lust.
Not to mention, some of the things that were said and done here just irked me or rubbed me the wrong way. Ronan’s treatment of Mila could be highly uncomfortable to say the least, and I was much less forgiving of that this time around. I couldn’t find it in myself to swoon for this man anymore.
Honestly, I think this book can be best described as a ‘guilty pleasure,’ which apparently worked for me really well the first time, but, sadly, not so much now.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Yup. I liked this. I liked it a lot. It really hit a lot of the right spots for me.
For some reason I have always loved the trope of the cold, hardened, cruel mobster boss who hates the whole entire world, but somehow develops a soft spot for one sweet, sunshiney girl, and this book executed that trope perfectly.
The captor/captive trope is a more difficult one to get right and definitely has the potential to be really annoying or frustrating. Fortunately, this book managed to stay away from all potential aspects I hate about that trope, such as the captor having a sadistic streak or just treating the captive like trash in general. Luckily, that never happened here.
Ronan was completely whipped for Mila, and I loved to see it. He was obviously reluctant to develop any feelings for her, and he pushed those emotions away for quite a bit, but even so, he never pushed her away. He always wanted her in his orbit; he wanted her attention, her affection, her smiles, her banter. He just wanted her, plain and simple. And he would have burned the world down for her to be his forever.
Last but not least, I truly loved Mila as the heroine. She was naive, soft, and vulnerable, but her kindness never seemed weak to me. She had a genuinely kind and beautiful soul, which made me understand why Ronan fell so hard for her. Also, not unimportantly, she could be very witty and funny; she truly made me laugh a few times and she was undoubtedly charming.
That said, I might have wanted her to give Ronan a little more pushback from time to time and perhaps made him work a little harder for her affection, but I still never felt like she was a doormat. She did voice her displeasure whenever she felt it, but it’s just that she was a very easy-going and forgiving person, which was something I had to accept soon enough, even if I didn’t always like it.
All in all, I really liked these characters and I genuinely thought they had a very swoon-worthy, if tumultuous, romance with a lot of tropes I love. The writing was nice, albeit a bit smutty for my tastes, and I really managed to feel whatever these characters were feeling. It sucked me in from beginning to end, and I surely enjoyed the ride it put me on!
➛Second read: February 2025 | ★2.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read:
I can still see why I liked this so much the first time around, but upon reflection and after reading it again, I must, unfortunately, admit that this really was much too smutty, repetitive, and (at times) problematic for me. The first time, I had somehow found a way to ignore or turn a blind eye to a lot of little (and big) things that really annoyed or bored me this time around, but now… not so much.
My most major issue was with the fact that so many of their interactions were centered around sex or lust, while I personally wanted to see more emtional intimacy, depth and affection between them. It made the whole thing feel more shallow and superficial than it could have been: the potential of their sunshine/grumpy, captor/captive, innocent/evil dynamic could have given us so much more if only it wouldn’t have all led back to sex and lust.
Not to mention, some of the things that were said and done here just irked me or rubbed me the wrong way. Ronan’s treatment of Mila could be highly uncomfortable to say the least, and I was much less forgiving of that this time around. I couldn’t find it in myself to swoon for this man anymore.
Honestly, I think this book can be best described as a ‘guilty pleasure,’ which apparently worked for me really well the first time, but, sadly, not so much now.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Yup. I liked this. I liked it a lot. It really hit a lot of the right spots for me.
For some reason I have always loved the trope of the cold, hardened, cruel mobster boss who hates the whole entire world, but somehow develops a soft spot for one sweet, sunshiney girl, and this book executed that trope perfectly.
The captor/captive trope is a more difficult one to get right and definitely has the potential to be really annoying or frustrating. Fortunately, this book managed to stay away from all potential aspects I hate about that trope, such as the captor having a sadistic streak or just treating the captive like trash in general. Luckily, that never happened here.
Ronan was completely whipped for Mila, and I loved to see it. He was obviously reluctant to develop any feelings for her, and he pushed those emotions away for quite a bit, but even so, he never pushed her away. He always wanted her in his orbit; he wanted her attention, her affection, her smiles, her banter. He just wanted her, plain and simple. And he would have burned the world down for her to be his forever.
Last but not least, I truly loved Mila as the heroine. She was naive, soft, and vulnerable, but her kindness never seemed weak to me. She had a genuinely kind and beautiful soul, which made me understand why Ronan fell so hard for her. Also, not unimportantly, she could be very witty and funny; she truly made me laugh a few times and she was undoubtedly charming.
That said, I might have wanted her to give Ronan a little more pushback from time to time and perhaps made him work a little harder for her affection, but I still never felt like she was a doormat. She did voice her displeasure whenever she felt it, but it’s just that she was a very easy-going and forgiving person, which was something I had to accept soon enough, even if I didn’t always like it.
All in all, I really liked these characters and I genuinely thought they had a very swoon-worthy, if tumultuous, romance with a lot of tropes I love. The writing was nice, albeit a bit smutty for my tastes, and I really managed to feel whatever these characters were feeling. It sucked me in from beginning to end, and I surely enjoyed the ride it put me on!
I’m so morally fucked I found this mafia kidnap romance entertaining.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story was beyond problematic and I loved every Minute. Mila is naïve, and way too trusting but she has the biggest heart.
Ronan is the worst book boyfriend, almost Evil. How she, and I reading this story, fell for D'yavol is beyond me. He is so manipulative and back and forth on his choices, whiplash was hard to not feel.
Lets break this down.
-Makes her feel safe, cared for, cherished.
-Feeds her, only vegan food
-Buys her coats so she doesn't freeze
-Takes her on a whole date
Switch up
-Drugs and Kidnaps her
-Records her during a private moment
-Chains her up to a bed
-Threatens her life
-Threatens her fathers life
-Takes her innocence
Ronan is battling his emotions from the second Mila steps into his country. He hates her personality as much as he loves it. She is the literal yellow ray of sunshine on his black soul. The banter in this story is great, Mila says what ever she wants. Sometimes even being punished for it. Ronan has never been talked back to, without repercussions being executed. He cant even bear to think about hurting a hair on her head. I love that the author brought up the Stockholm Syndrome aspect verbally in the book. The characters are fully aware of what they got themselves into even as confusing as it might be to work out the hows and whys this happened to them.
This is a close runner up to The Sweetest Oblivion, which I loved with everything in me.
The cameos in this, with Kristian and Giana, were amazing. Seeing Kat, being a bit of both of them was perfect. I would love to see a spin off with the kids in the future. I am looking forward to the final book that is coming out.
Ronan is the worst book boyfriend, almost Evil. How she, and I reading this story, fell for D'yavol is beyond me. He is so manipulative and back and forth on his choices, whiplash was hard to not feel.
Lets break this down.
-Makes her feel safe, cared for, cherished.
-Feeds her, only vegan food
-Buys her coats so she doesn't freeze
-Takes her on a whole date
Switch up
-Drugs and Kidnaps her
-Records her during a private moment
-Chains her up to a bed
-Threatens her life
-Threatens her fathers life
-Takes her innocence
Ronan is battling his emotions from the second Mila steps into his country. He hates her personality as much as he loves it. She is the literal yellow ray of sunshine on his black soul. The banter in this story is great, Mila says what ever she wants. Sometimes even being punished for it. Ronan has never been talked back to, without repercussions being executed. He cant even bear to think about hurting a hair on her head. I love that the author brought up the Stockholm Syndrome aspect verbally in the book. The characters are fully aware of what they got themselves into even as confusing as it might be to work out the hows and whys this happened to them.
This is a close runner up to The Sweetest Oblivion, which I loved with everything in me.
The cameos in this, with Kristian and Giana, were amazing. Seeing Kat, being a bit of both of them was perfect. I would love to see a spin off with the kids in the future. I am looking forward to the final book that is coming out.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
This one wasn't for me I thought the FMC was unbearable.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No