This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.25


First Impressions
This is the second installment, but you need to read the first book for many things in this installment to make sense. This is a trilogy of plot complexities and character dynamics that I wasn't even expecting. I will say that this installment is the origins between Adrian and Lia. And it was really fascinating to see how they journey goes from when they actually first meet and the revelations that are unveiled at the end of book one. Rina Kent really blew me away with this one, I did enjoy this installment a bit more than the first book. And the author really elevated this couple in so many moments. But boy do they go through the wringer because the relationship angst in this one is unreal.

What I Loved
I think what impressed me the most with this one was how well-layered this story turns out to be. I honestly wasn't expecting it to have this type of depth to it and one of my favorite things about reading is reading an author you think you know what to expect and then she turns your world upside down. There is so much going on with this book and Adrian is not a simple alpha male. He is a thinker and researcher and he doesn't know how to deal with someone to love. He is really great with his son, but when it comes to romantic relationships, he definitely has a more challenging time. Seeing our characters find each other and figure out what their relationship is can be pretty combative at times, and sometimes I don't know I felt the BDSM was a bit too strong, but these moments were really important because that is where the emotional intimacy really builds in these scenes. I really adored these characters and even though they are all over the place, they have such real connection that you just want to cheer them on with and it really tore through my emotions. So heartfelt.

What I Struggled With
So this style of BDSM isn't really my thing, it really should be better developed. Sadism isn't something you can just easily place into a story and I do wish it was more fleshed out to be honest. And I do wish that we saw a bit more of sweet vulnerable moments between these two here.

Overall View
Tempted by Deception is a fascinating story that captured my heart and only added more mystery to what is being built for the finale!

Favorite Quote(s)

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Romantic Suspense, Dark Romance
Character Types: Mafia, Dancer
Themes: Angst, Tear Jerker, Kids/Children Involved, Danger Elements
Tropes: Forced Relationship, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix of Both

Song This Book Inspires
Hurt Me Harder by Zolita

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes, you must read these in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.