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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This was honestly such a great debut novel that set up the rest of the series nicely! I wouldn’t consider it a dark romance, but there are dark themes. So check TW. Other than that, I definitely suggest going into this story blind.
A big part of the plot in RR&BD is sisterhood. The bond between Sofia and Valentina, their strength, resilience, and the lengths you would go for someone you love.
While I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the romance between Sofia and Maddox, I thought the mystery/suspense was written so well. It was compelling and kept me guessing the entire time.
I’m looking forward to future books by this author. Medusa already sounds so good!
Thank you Macy for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A big part of the plot in RR&BD is sisterhood. The bond between Sofia and Valentina, their strength, resilience, and the lengths you would go for someone you love.
While I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the romance between Sofia and Maddox, I thought the mystery/suspense was written so well. It was compelling and kept me guessing the entire time.
I’m looking forward to future books by this author. Medusa already sounds so good!
Thank you Macy for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't even know where to begin. Suspenseful murder mystery romances might be my favorite genre after this book.
While I loved the romance in this book, the read page turner was definitely the kurder mystery. The plot twists in this book! Just when you think you figured the whole thing out, bang there's a plot twist!
After a horrible murder takes place in the Mayor's home killing the Mayor, his wife and an intruder. The Mayor's daughters Sofia and Valentina start living with Maddox the head detective in the case.
Sofia is one ruthless girl! She's extremely mature beyond her years and will do anything, ANYTHING to keep her sister Valentina safe. There were a few incidents where she was acting like a hot-headed child, but she realizes her mistakes quickly and tries to fix them.
Maddox is literally PERFECT! He loves Sofia and will do anything in his power to protect her and Valentina. He's gentle and kind, but tough and demanding when he needs to be
I don't even know where to begin. Suspenseful murder mystery romances might be my favorite genre after this book.
While I loved the romance in this book, the read page turner was definitely the kurder mystery. The plot twists in this book! Just when you think you figured the whole thing out, bang there's a plot twist!
After a horrible murder takes place in the Mayor's home killing the Mayor, his wife and an intruder. The Mayor's daughters Sofia and Valentina start living with Maddox the head detective in the case.
Sofia is one ruthless girl! She's extremely mature beyond her years and will do anything, ANYTHING to keep her sister Valentina safe. There were a few incidents where she was acting like a hot-headed child, but she realizes her mistakes quickly and tries to fix them.
Maddox is literally PERFECT! He loves Sofia and will do anything in his power to protect her and Valentina. He's gentle and kind, but tough and demanding when he needs to be
4.5
okay I need all of you to go read this right now!! it was so so good! To the mystery, the romance, the spice and the sisterhood, I loved it all! When I tell you the plot twist had me shook, I almost cried when we find the whole truth. That's saying something when it has to be something really really sad to make me cry
What I like most about it is how every character had a special relationship between them and they were all wholesome and so cute.
I think all older sisters can relate to being second mothers to their younger siblings and Sofia was an ode to that Cheers to us!!
If you like these tropes:
-mystery
-good cop/bad girl
-age gap (8 years)
-forbidden romance
-forced proximity
-small town
then run to KU or amazon!!!
Thank you the the author for an arc in exchange of an honest review!!
okay I need all of you to go read this right now!! it was so so good! To the mystery, the romance, the spice and the sisterhood, I loved it all! When I tell you the plot twist had me shook, I almost cried when we find the whole truth. That's saying something when it has to be something really really sad to make me cry
What I like most about it is how every character had a special relationship between them and they were all wholesome and so cute.
I think all older sisters can relate to being second mothers to their younger siblings and Sofia was an ode to that Cheers to us!!
If you like these tropes:
-mystery
-good cop/bad girl
-age gap (8 years)
-forbidden romance
-forced proximity
-small town
then run to KU or amazon!!!
Thank you the the author for an arc in exchange of an honest review!!
REREAD JUNE 2024
I decided to do a reread for the upcoming #2 in this series, and it was just as good as first time reading it, IF NOT BETTER!
I love Macy’s writing so much and I’m always gonna be a huge fan of her works! All the emotions just mixed together into one place. This murder mystery immediately got me hooked and pulled into the story in one go. AND THE SECRETS? God I just love how I think I have it all figured out to then me proved wrong.
This one just grabbed me by the neck with the plot twist and the heartwarming relationships that got me deeper. Not only with Sophia and Maddox ( like come on HES A COP ) but also the sisters Sophia and Valentina. I love Sophia so much, being so fierce and so strong. Reading this for the second time, the sisters relationship hit me even harder. There’s nothing more powerful than two sisters doing everything for each other.
Sophia and Maddox love for each other is everything. He’s so hot and adorable at the same thing. THERES NOTHING BETTER THAN A MAN BLUSHING FOR A GIRL. He’s pouring at all his love in her hands, as well to her sister. And only that is such a sweet moment. I love this little family and I can’t wait for book 2!
I decided to do a reread for the upcoming #2 in this series, and it was just as good as first time reading it, IF NOT BETTER!
I love Macy’s writing so much and I’m always gonna be a huge fan of her works! All the emotions just mixed together into one place. This murder mystery immediately got me hooked and pulled into the story in one go. AND THE SECRETS? God I just love how I think I have it all figured out to then me proved wrong.
This one just grabbed me by the neck with the plot twist and the heartwarming relationships that got me deeper. Not only with Sophia and Maddox ( like come on HES A COP ) but also the sisters Sophia and Valentina. I love Sophia so much, being so fierce and so strong. Reading this for the second time, the sisters relationship hit me even harder. There’s nothing more powerful than two sisters doing everything for each other.
Sophia and Maddox love for each other is everything. He’s so hot and adorable at the same thing. THERES NOTHING BETTER THAN A MAN BLUSHING FOR A GIRL. He’s pouring at all his love in her hands, as well to her sister. And only that is such a sweet moment. I love this little family and I can’t wait for book 2!
I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of this book! From what I’d seen of it, I knew there was going to be a twist and I thought I had it figured out, but I was thrown for a loop when it was revealed at the end! I also really adored the relationship between Maddox and Valentina; I’m a sucker for a guy being wrapped around a little girl’s finger (Cal and Cami/Ledger and Diem vibes). At times the writing seemed wordy and I felt like the book dragged during some scenes. I was torn on the relationship between Sofia and Maddox; half the book I was eating up those spicy scenes, then the other half it felt a little weird between them. The best part of this book is how the title connects to the plot. I LOVE when the title hits me while I’m reading (fun fact: it’s one of my very favorite things in a book). I’m definitely going to give the next book in the series a try when it comes out this summer to see how I like it!
i started reading this because of the pretty cover and ended up binging it in one go where I felt all kinds of emotions sksksks y'all that plot twist had me shook cos as soon as i thought "hmmm I think I've figured it out" it was like NOPE I couldn't be far from the truth
it had me crying and screaming and laughing and hoping the book would never end
it had me crying and screaming and laughing and hoping the book would never end
4.25⭐️
The story line was great
Loved the characters
I already know AK will be my favorite
For now
Alexei >Maddox
Saftey
Ow : he was jealous of the lawyer at first but she quickly liked her
- She had an encounter with maddoxs neighbor were she came to give him food while he was at work, she threw it in the trash
The story line was great
Loved the characters
I already know AK will be my favorite
For now
Alexei >Maddox
Saftey
Ow : he was jealous of the lawyer at first but she quickly liked her
- She had an encounter with maddoxs neighbor were she came to give him food while he was at work, she threw it in the trash
i’m sorry but what the actual hell did i just read. i do not think my brain and comprehend the absolute whiplash i just got from the ending of this book. i am speechless. i don’t think i’ve ever been this thrown in my life. like jesus. i have no words. this book is beautiful, heart wrenching, clever and cunning. i have never in my life read a book like this and it’s honestly one of the best things i’ve ever read. i am obsessed with every part of this. i LOVE maddox and sofia and valentina. i adore them all so so much. sofia is such a god of a woman. i mean i would love to have her in my corner. she is the most caring and loving person for valentina and honestly maddox too. my heart broke from 86% until the end and those things that happened (iykyk) made me love everyone so much more. i cannot describe how much i love every bit of this. from the characters to the story to the most shocking twist i’ve ever read in my life. everything is perfection and i need more. please please get this book. you will hate me when you get to that part but i promise you will love it.
i mean… suspenseful romance, he’s a cop and she’s…
i mean… suspenseful romance, he’s a cop and she’s…
Red Roses and Black Dahlias
Macy T. Riosa (Blood and Water, # 1)
When Sofia's world is turned upside down from her parents' brutal murders, the only person she even remotely trusts to keep her & her little sister safe is Maddox Brooks–the cop who, on multiple occasions, has put her in handcuffs for her previous rebellious behavior.
Tropes:
- Age gap
- Murder mystery
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden love (cop/guardian-ish)
As you can imagine, the tropes of this book called to me deeply & that cover is *chefs kiss*. So when [a:Macy T. Riosa|23276964|Macy T. Riosa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1672060035p2/23276964.jpg] kindly offered me an advanced copy to read, of course I said yes!
Sofia Raymond is a "bad girl". Rebellious, headstrong, and unapologetic, she doesn't hide her sass or her fire & owns it entirely. No matter what else she is, she is her sister's keeper through & through. Sofia takes an almost maternal role with her sister–Valentina–and it's one of the most heartwarming parts of this book. She would die for her with no questions asked, always putting Valentina before herself.
Maddox is such a sweet, caring character. He wouldn't let anything hurt Sofia & Valentina from the very beginning, which I thought was just precious. As the book progressed, his relationship with Valentina did as well, and it was so pure. I adored how much he cared for her (the Daddy-Daughter dance!) not just because he was taking care of her but because he truly & deeply felt that connection.
The plot was very well weaved into the story, and it kept me reading. I finished this book so quick. My only comment would be that the different tenses/grammar sometimes threw me off and could be distracting (though this is nothing an editor cannot fix). Huge props to the author for publishing her debut novel & I can't wait to read more (especially after that bonus scene).
ARC kindly shared by author for an honest review.
Macy T. Riosa (Blood and Water, # 1)
When Sofia's world is turned upside down from her parents' brutal murders, the only person she even remotely trusts to keep her & her little sister safe is Maddox Brooks–the cop who, on multiple occasions, has put her in handcuffs for her previous rebellious behavior.
Tropes:
- Age gap
- Murder mystery
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden love (cop/guardian-ish)
As you can imagine, the tropes of this book called to me deeply & that cover is *chefs kiss*. So when [a:Macy T. Riosa|23276964|Macy T. Riosa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1672060035p2/23276964.jpg] kindly offered me an advanced copy to read, of course I said yes!
Sofia Raymond is a "bad girl". Rebellious, headstrong, and unapologetic, she doesn't hide her sass or her fire & owns it entirely. No matter what else she is, she is her sister's keeper through & through. Sofia takes an almost maternal role with her sister–Valentina–and it's one of the most heartwarming parts of this book. She would die for her with no questions asked, always putting Valentina before herself.
Maddox is such a sweet, caring character. He wouldn't let anything hurt Sofia & Valentina from the very beginning, which I thought was just precious. As the book progressed, his relationship with Valentina did as well, and it was so pure. I adored how much he cared for her (the Daddy-Daughter dance!) not just because he was taking care of her but because he truly & deeply felt that connection.
The plot was very well weaved into the story, and it kept me reading. I finished this book so quick. My only comment would be that the different tenses/grammar sometimes threw me off and could be distracting (though this is nothing an editor cannot fix). Huge props to the author for publishing her debut novel & I can't wait to read more (especially after that bonus scene).
ARC kindly shared by author for an honest review.