A chance meeting at a family wedding. Renzo sees the beautiful woman, but realizes she’s too young for him. Extenuating circumstances bring them together several times, and he finds himself needing to do something to protect her and keep her from a marriage that would ruin her life.
I loved Renzo and Gina’s story. They come from the same world, and their families have known each other for years, but when Gina needs Renzo’s help, she believes the worst of him when he steps up to help her, but has to think on the spot.
These two will have to work through their issues in the beginning, but when they finally start to get to know each other and make their marriage work, the unthinkable happens. Betrayal is a bitter thing to have to live with, but Renzo has plans in the works to make their issues disappear. I loved the book and the characters in Family Ties, and I hope there are more to come in this family.
Taken, I’m bound inside the home of a dangerous man. He may have saved me from his sadistic cousin, but it seems I’ve only traded one monster for another. Fans of The Five Families series by Jill Ramsower will love Violent Ascension by Giorgia Blake, a steamy, enemies-to-lovers, forced marriage, mafia romance.
Yet I’m here. Taken and bound inside the home of Alessandro Parisi.
A dangerous man who holds my life and my secrets close to the chest.
He has all the answers but refuses to answer any of my questions.
All he’s told me is that I’m his and the key to his ascension.
He saved me from his sadistic cousin; but it seems I just traded one monster for another.
The first one stalked and taunted me until I was convinced death was around every corner.
This one orders me to cooperate, bend to his touch, and obey.
Too bad obedience isn’t in my nature and sacrifice is my birthright.
We probably won’t make it out of this blood war alive…The likelihood of my heart surviving Alessandro is even less.
Violent Ascension is the first book in the Made Men of Chicago Collection, and can be read as a standalone. It is a forced marriage mafia romance with themes of organized crime, violence, and BDSM. If this is your type of romance, the happily ever after will knock your socks off!
I feel her presence the moment Isabella is nearby. That’s the way it’s become between us the past few weeks. In Jane Eyre There’s a moment where Mr. Rochester tells Jane that he feels the presence of an invisible string connecting the two beneath his left rib. He claims with fervor that if that tether ever snapped, he’d bleed inwardly while she would forget he ever existed. Rochester was old, hardened by the world, and prone to outbursts of anger; while Jane was young, innocent, and talented. The world before her, his criminal past behind him; if he didn’t protect the frailty of that string with his life, then he would lose her forever.
When I first read it, I thought it was sentimental dribble. I saw it as a passage of words to muddle through in order to get to the end of the book. At this moment, I have a different view of that passage. Charlotte Bronte herself must have felt that snap or she was an emotional savant. I feel the snap of the string that kept Isabella in my universe the moment I hear her soft steps turn the corner. She’s holding my mother’s pistol and it seems fitting. I’d want her to have it.
My silly, brave and disobedient girl.
The betrayal in her eyes lets me know that she heard what the bastard just said and she’s more than pissed. She’s hurt. I lied to her, now she’ll be more determined than ever to escape. aToo bad I’ll never let her go. I need her too much. My need has nothing to do with the Romano Ascension but everything to do with the warmth of her sun. I won’t live in the cold without it.
“Father?” Her eyes stay focused on me, and I realize she’s asking me if what she heard is true. Even now, she’s praying I’m not as monstrous as I appear to be. But I am.
I’m dismissed before I can even respond.. Her attention turns to Matteo as she closes in on the truth.,
“You’re Matteo Ricci?” Her voice is strong and sure. Her chin held high, she faces the man that created and abandoned her.
Matteo eyes her carefully. He assesses her with a detached interest. I wonder if she feels it. I pray to God her anger at me does not distort her discernment. That’s a skill I’ve admired her for since we met. She read me like a book within moments of meeting me.
“I am. Come closer child. I want to have a good look at you.”
“Stay right where you are.” I bark. “Don’t move.”
Matteo scowls. “Is this how you’ve been treating my daughter? Like some dog you can call. She’s a Ricci and she should be treated like a queen, something you promised you would do.”
His feigned care is starting to really get under my skin. He’s up to something, and I’m not letting Isabella anywhere near him until I know exactly what it is. Matteo is a dangerous and unpredictable man. It was one thing for him to want her back because she’s his. That’s the mafia way. I expect that from a man like him. It’s something else entirely if he attaches value to her. Assets can be traded or sacrificed like pawns on a chessboard.
I’m a contemporary romance author dedicated to the dangerously delicious world of Mafia Romance. Every story will dare you to believe in the power of love, even when there doesn’t seem to be one sane reason to do so!
My stories feature sexy alphas and smart heroines finding love in the most breath stealing of circumstances. If someone can’t die at any moment–it’s not a Giorgia Blake Romance!
Every plot is full of heat, suspense, and steamy passion that would make the Karma Sutra blush.
So come join me on this wild ride…you won’t regret it!
The Nashville, TN chapter of the RBMC are a special breed. More dysfunctional than the other chapters in my view. I think a lot of that has to do with Kingpin and his idea that he can do anything he wants, and the world is his oyster. Eve and Kingpin have a secret that they are keeping to protect their partners, or in Eve’s case, ex-partner. Their worlds are about to combust though when Kingpin finds her working at a small diner on Christmas day. He brings her back to the compound and keeps her hidden away and stays away from her, although it’s a fight to do. I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed all of the RBMC books I’ve read, even with the dysfunction. That’s what makes this chapter unique, just like the others. I love reading them and I look forward to more in the 5th run.
I was so excited for this book and it was well worth the wait. Chloe is grown up now and finding her footing in her life. She’s just finished school and takes a trip with one of her best friends to the U.S. for some time away from her parents and then visiting family. One night out in NYC brings her a night of fun and an unexpected surprise that keeps her hoping that he’ll call or text again before she has to leave. The trouble is that her phone doesn’t ring from his calls.
Pyro wasn’t looking for anything permanent, and he’s tired of the women that he’s been hooking up with. When the cute little redhead bumps into him he finds the woman that he wants to go home with for the night. The only trouble is that once the nights over with, he can’t seem to forget her or stop thinking about the one night they had together. However, he’s also afraid to call or text her again because he doesn’t believe that they can have anything beyond that one night.
I loved Chloe’s coming of age story and that she found a man like Pyro to protect her and take care of her. He may be a dangerous, tough guy, but he has the patience of a saint and realizes what he can have with Chloe. When he finds out who she is and that he will see her again his mind is made up that he will claim her. He isn’t afraid of her family and she’s worth fighting for. They’re a great couple and I can’t wait to read more in each of these series to come.
Jennifer Smith may be an romance author, but she doesn’t really believe in all that romance stuff. It’s great for stories and for her living, but it isn’t real. When she attends the Motorcycles Mobsters & Mayhem event in Texas, her life becomes mayhem.
Rage would rather be back home with his MC brothers than in Texas, but he wouldn’t miss his little sisters wedding for anything. Even if he has to deal with his mother while there, and that’s not his idea of a good time at all. When he has a run in with a feisty little woman in the parking lot of his hotel, his time in Texas may be looking up.
I am so loving these MMM books. This was another great story in the Mayhem Makers books and I loved being introduced to Geri Glenn and her Satan’s Descendants MC. I will be looking for more books from Geri Glenn to read in the future and can’t wait for more MMM books to come.
She is the daughter of an MC president that believes that her life is okay. However, after her father’s death secrets come to light and a stranger helps her find peace and safety.
This was my first book in the Wheel Mongers MC series, but after reading it I went back an bought the first three to read. I loved the characters and the story. Knuckles is a mystery and one that is not only smart and handsome, but also is hiding something. The trouble is that they are both keeping secrets, even if it is by omission.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. The Wheel Mongers MC are a group of rough, protective, and dangerous people that will stand at your back and protect you as long as you show them the same courtesy. I loved the book and the characters.
They married too soon and then he was deployed. Could their relationship withstand the time and distance apart? Could his new, young wife that he married not long after they met, and after they graduated stay faithful or continue to be married to a man that wasn’t around?
Barrett “Bear” Fulton thought the young woman sitting on the beach was beautiful but when he tried to talk with her she was too shy and too convinced that she would never be enough for anyone that she barely spoke to him. When her older, prettier, sexier, and more talkative sister came over and introduced herself, Barrett was smitten. Too bad he didn’t push Lyla a bit harder to talk to him.
Needing closure from a failed marriage at a young age after deployment, Barrett has joined the Savage Kings MC – Virginia chapter. It’s been several years since he’s been with a woman, but his heart and head just can’t seem to heal from the heartache he has from the woman that broke him. When he decides to get the closure he’s so sure he needs, he finds himself rescuing a young woman in the dark at the reception of his ex-wife’s wedding.
I loved this book. I love Bear and the Savage King MC characters. I have been a big fan of Lane Hard and D. B. West for quite some time now and picking up this book was a great idea. I look forward to reading more of the Savage Kings MC – Virginia Chapter books in the near future.
She’s trying to forget him, but her mind won’t let her. Blakely is trying to move on and live her new life, but she can’t seem to get Riggs out of her mind and move on.
She’ll fight with everything she has to stay away, but life won’t let her.
Blakely and Riggs are meant for each other, yes, he was dumb and wrong in his actions, but he truly loves Blakely. He just needs her to see that and understand that he messed up but he will not do anything that dumb again.
I loved the ending of this duet. It’s angsty and rough, but it was a great read. As I said in The Auction review, Maggie Cole knows how to write dark, dirty, deranged characters.
He loved her when they were in high school, they were each other’s firsts, and then she disappeared one night and he searched all over for her, with no luck in finding her. When he’s finally ready to move on and start a relationship with Lani, his past finds it’s way back into his life. However, will everything stay as it currently is or will he find his way back to the girl he once loved?
Grit is a protector, an MC member, and a man that has found someone that he can move on with in Lani. When he finally finds the courage to make his first move and acknowledge the attraction between them, his father shows up with his past love, Maddie. However, his heart is no longer beating for her, but he believes he has to protect her and keep her safe by keeping her close when he finds out where she’s been for the past eight year.
I love the NOLA Defiance and Grit has become a favorite character throughout the series. He’s loyal, protective, and kind. His and Lani’s story is heart wrenching and a must read. The action packed pages were hard to stop reading and brought such heart ache for Lani, and anger towards Maddie. I loved every word I read and I still LOVE Grit, maybe more so now.
Menace’s son has grown into a great young man that is protective, handsome, and following in his father’s foot steps.
Cruise is now a member of the Moonshine Task Force, just like his dad. He’s out grown the angry, young man that felt as though his world was so dark after one night at a party with his high school friends. Now he’s part of the same team that helped his dad raise him and mold him into the kind, brave, protective man he’s become. Proof when he over hears a young woman being threatened in the diner while meeting up with his best friend for dinner.
Ruby is on a date, but she’s not thrilled with the man she decided to go out with and when he makes some very uncomfortable and unwelcome comments, she just wants to get done with the date and go home, but when off handedly threatens her, she’s afraid that her night will become a nightmare. When a handsome stranger walks over and takes a seat at her table and pulls out a badge, she relaxes a bit and then her night brightens when she joins him and his friend for dinner.
I loved the coming of age of Cruise. He’s a wonderful young man that had to over come a lot of darkness from his high school days and grew into a wonderful, loving, kind, protector that loves his family with everything he has. I loved it and the additional chapter in the Special Edition was an added bonus to this great story.
Explore world literature and meaning-making with scholar Neriman Kuyucu. Deep reflections on postcolonial narratives, migration, and the craft of writing.
I read lots of books, from mythology retellings to literary fiction and I love to reread books from childhood, this is a place to voice my thoughts for fun. I also like to ramble about things such as art or nature every now and again.
Sassy Redhead Book Reviews 