He Said Always is the first book in the “Lost Corisi’s” series by Ruth Cardello. This is a connection to other previous books that she has written but more specifically the Corisi Family which this author has dedicated a couple of previous series to so it was such a delight in knowing that this book and this series she is currently working on is connected to one of my favorite contemporary indie series. I have loved these billionaires that this author writes, she really makes them so fun, and even though this book was a struggle in the beginning, I admit that I ALMOST set this one aside because I just couldn’t get into it but I will tell you that I did get into it about 30% into it and I am so happy that I was able to. Because I ended up truly liking this book and this pairing was so adorable and I can’t wait for the next “lost Corisi”
He Said Always is a story that will stop your heart and that features:
Gian-driven, successful, brother to the top Corisi, a scientist, loyal to a fault.
Teagan-independent, sassy, protective of those she calls family, and secretive in reference to her research but dedicated to those she loves.
He Said Always is a story that sets off with a bet that Gian makes with his niece, Judy. Judy is the daughter of Dominic and has a bit too much of her father in her. Gian though is a winner and is determined to show his brother he doesn’t need his wealth or guidance, that he can make his own way through life. He finds Dominic to be too controlling and needs freedom. And when he meets Teagan, he is overwhelmed by what they feel for each other is just their first meeting alone. He knows that the chemistry they have is unique and he has never felt this way about any other woman before and he wants to make her his. But she is connected to some long-lost siblings of Dominic’s, and highly protective and a bit prickly where they are concerned, she doesn’t trust him but he is determined to be as honest as he can with her and prove that he is worthy of that trust. But proving to Teagan that he is worth the risk will be much more difficult than he imagined, and it will take charm and delicate hands to win her heart over. But will his family be too overwhelming for Teagan or will he able to win her heart and trust completely?
Dare to dream. If things worked out the way you wanted them to, what would your life be like?
I found He Said Always to be a charming story that completely won my heart. What I have really admired about this author, is how well she wins me with her character development. She definitely has a style of character-driven stories over plot drive, so if that is what you like more in your contemporary romance than I highly recommend this author. Everything I have read from her so far has been superb. I will admit that I haven’t read her lately and have really fallen behind on her books but I am more than happy to get caught up. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed the Corisi’s especially Dominic (he is such a hoot and one of my favorites, and those of you who have read his book will know why he is a favorite) But seeing Gian come to light, Gian is completely different and I really liked that about him. He is so driven but loyal to those he calls family. I love how sweet he is with Teagan, and so devoted to her. He is falling hard for Teagan, and will admit to it up front, and the transparency he conveys is so heartwarming all the way through the story.
Now Teagan, she can be a prickly heroine. She does get defensive, she has had to work hard for everything that she has achieved, and she is a technology scientist of sorts, and boy she is so secretive about it all, its kinda funny. But when you see what she works on, you will understand why she can only share it with those that she trusts the most. I did find her refreshing at times, and she stands her ground against those she views as threats. I really liked that Gian stood up to her, he wasn’t afraid of fighting for her and proving himself. I would have liked to see more of Teagan proving herself to Gian, because he is such an honest good soul and deserved someone that will fight for him as much as he is willing to fight for her. Not surprised I didn’t get it that much in this one (rarely do I see it in contemporary romance) but I admired the dynamics in the relationship that was conveyed in this story. The bantering between the Corisi family members was a hoot and seeing Judy (who tends to act spoiled and high strung) get a life lesson was wonderful to see. I like her as a character, but she does have a lot to learn.
How can you be so smart and not have figured out that you're the universe you're asking for help from? That's why it works. Once you put it out there, it happens because you make it happen. So make it happen
Overall I found He Said Always to be a romance of charm, wit, and style. It’s a romance to leave you with a smile and eagerness to continue on with the next book in the series. It should prove interesting to see where this author takes this series and these lost siblings.
Inked In Lies is the fifth installment in the "Fallen Men" series and its a fantastic installment, this was a easy five star read for me. I adored everything about this story. I wasn't sure what I was quite expecting, I just knew after reading this author that she would tear me apart and sideways before putting everything back together again and I can tell you that this one just might be my favorite of the series overall. I mean each installment is special in their own right, and I am not sure how this holds up to King's story but somehow this one won my heart instantly and there isn't really any taboo topics that deal with this couple so that is something I think that was special....unlike the other books in the series, while there is a sense of the "unreachable" in this book, this is a story that I think many will find is touchable in an easier way than some of the other books in the series. This is a couple that we have seen in previous books and so happy to see the full breadth of their story and seeing what this couple is made of.
Inked In Lies is a stunning portrayal that will captivate hearts and a story that features:
Nova-An artist, the bad boy, likes to test limits, infamous tattooist, and a brother of the Fallen MC. Protective, doesn't find himself worthy of Lila or the family he was born into.
Lila -daughter of a drug lord, lover of beauty, art and flowers most of all. Been in love with Nova since she was five and while sweet she has a fiery fighting spirit and was adopted by the Fallen MC and Nova's birth family.
“My dark horse,” she whispered. “So unique and brave and wild. I didn’t doubt for one second that you would. I don’t know how, but we’ll find a way to make it work, honey. We always do.”
Inked In Lies begin when our heroine was just five years old, and she made friends with her next-door neighbors, a good hardworking but poor family who loved her with every breath. Their son, Jonathon (Nova) protected her when she witnessed the death of her mother and then she and her brother were torn apart in foster care, but then through a miracle, they were brought back together and raised with love by Nova's parents. Nova and Lila formed a bond, a bond most could never begin to comprehend, but as they grew older, feelings started to emerge. But while Lila stayed true to Nova and would have no other, Nova became restless and had to fight his own battles. But when Lila couldn't continue to put her heart on the table and be rejected by Nova, she turned down another path. But all roads eventually lead us to our fate, and Lila's road led her back to Nova when Nova realized he couldn't let his flower lady go to another man but now he will have to prove his worth to Lila. But there are secrets and dangers and only by trusting in each other's love will they be able to embrace a future together....
You are the fiercest, bravest, and kindest girl in the whole world. If someone chooses not to love you, they aren’t worthy of you. It’s really as simple as that
Inked In Lies is a story that I was so captivated by, when I first started reading I told myself just a few chapters and before I knew it I had breezed through this story. I found so many captivating moments in this book, and I was so drawn in by Nova and Lila's story. It's a friends-to-lovers trope also with a mix of unrequited love and I love these types of tellings and Giana Darling did such a tremendous job in capturing their story in such a way that stole my heart completely. It's not a story that you will expect from this author, but it is one that will motivate you to find a beautiful love just like this one here. There are plenty of secrets and thrills that are emboldened into this story and it will only keep you wanting more for this pairing. They don't have an easy go of it. They both have their own challenges that they need to face. But seeing their friendship form was so unique and I loved seeing what was behind Nova's motivations. Through much of the story you wonder why he has spurned Lila. I mean, they are best friends and have a deep almost spiritual connection to each other. And when you find out what happened to him when he was younger, a secret no one knew about, I truly was stunned. My heart ached for Nova and how he never felt worthy of Lila but seeing Lila come into her own womanhood and femininity and find her own strength and be willing to fight for them even when Nova wouldn't, was a stunning portrayal of feminine strength of will and courage. I absolutely adore seeing an heroine fight for her MAN, we just don't see it enough in romance.
You’re more than my family, you’re more than my best friend. You’re the choice I want to make every single day, to live to the fullest and love the hardest.
Now there are other plot twists that are involved that just build the overall plot of the series. We still have the trafficking and the married couple in charge of it that pose a great risk to the MC. But seeing Lila be willing to go undercover and risk it all for the club was wonderful. She has a heart of gold and courage of that like Esther (bible), because those in the MC are her family and she wants an end to the threats against them. But there are some characters that come into play in this story that we won't expect, I certainly didn't. I wanted an appearance of Dane (and honestly I hope he gets a book because his story needs to be told), then we have the long-lost sister who has been stuck in prostitution and addicted to drugs, and hopes she finds the peace and HEA that she deserves herself. There are many leads in this story that could end in future books, but I truly adored seeing how this book evolved and it won't be a story easily forgotten.
Not sayin’ it’s always gonna be a breeze, you bein’ with me, me tryin’ to be the kinda man worthy of the woman you are, the best kinda woman I’ll ever fuckin’ know, but you got patience, and me? I got time. That is, you wanna spend the rest of our life with me too.
Overall I found Inked In Lies to be a story that will pierce you in all the right places, its story-heavy in emotion and will sting and stab you in places, but its a romance of deep abiding love, of healing, of renewal, and hope and finding the beauty amidst the storms of life.
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance my-review-updated Dark Mafia Prince is not a book I would normally pick up on my own, but when I read a very positive review from Mandi over at Smexy books....I knew I had to pick this one up and I am so glad that I did!!! Annika Martin wrote such a superb read. It sets out with Aleksio and Mira, were once childhood friends. But then Aleksio's parents were murdered and he and his two younger brothers were shipped away to different places to training camps. But Aleksio has never forgotten Mira or the fact that her father was behind the attacks against his parents and he has been wanting revenge and the location of his youngest brother. Unfortunately Mira is put in the middle. Mira has lived a life that is far different than what most people expect of her. She doesn't live in a mansion with a huge property, but in the midst of a crowded city, working as a lawyer to help needy families. When she comes back for a visit for her father, her life is thrown a curveball. She is taken captive by the one man that once was a childhood friend and she once thought she could trust with her life. She doesn't know what to expect from him, but she is determined to learn the truth just as he is. As Aleksio and Mira reconnect once again, they join forces to bring down the real enemies and find the location of his youngest brother. But will their love be their undoing or their greatest strength....
What a story and packed with so much and I honestly wasn't expecting to be swept away by this story. But boy was I and I couldn't contain my excitement with each chapter of these two rekindling a old friendship and a new passion for each other. Now the chemistry between them is scorching hot but so well done!! At first, they both are under difficult circumstances, and man does the story really get intense at some moments, that you just want to cover your eyes and not read it....but so worth it!! I love how devoted these two become to each other, and even though they each make mistakes they also don't let those mistakes define their relationship. They seriously have quite a few lessons to learn, and along the way overcome issues together. It was quite an exciting and thrilling ride!! Highly Recommend to Mafia or Romantic Suspense fans.
Dead Man Walking is the latest release in the series and I finally reached Priest and Bea's story and this is the book I have been anticipating the most out of ALL the books. This is the book that all the romance booktubers and romancestagrammers have been raving about so I was really excited for, so, I definitely had high expectations of this book and even though it wasn't a perfect read, it didn't quite make a five rating, it did get close to it. I really appreciate how Giana Darling wrote this story. When you first start the story, you have no idea how this author will show the human side pf Priest. He is one of the darkest and difficult heroes that I have ever read before but his story is utterly beautiful and Giana Darling will definitely take you on a roller coaster, but I truly valued the gift that she delivers within this story.
Dead Man Walking is an unrequited love romance that will take you on a wildin' journey that features:
Priest -Fallen MC Enforcer, the bad boy of the group, likes to play with death, fondness for literature and is a protector
Bea - sister of the queen bea of the Fallen MC, been in love with Priest since she was 16, sweet yet sassy and tough when needed.
Dead Man Walking is a story that sets off with our heroine, Bea. Bea has been in love with Priest for years and she is tired of waiting for him to make a move. She knows that he never will make the first move and that it must be up to her. But she also sees goodness in him that not many see including her sister. She is prepared for a battle of wills, and not just with Priest. She will have to stand up to those that she loves the most. But she will see the true man when she gets caught in the middle of a war against a drug battling family, and Bea will be injured in the process and by some miracle, she is saved by Priest. But this is only the beginning of their story because Bea is realizing her own strength in dealing in shadows and being the love match with a tiger, the most dangerous of all men. But as Priest and Bea explore the light and shadows of their relationship, an enemy approaches, one neither of them is ready for. An enemy that stalks them and their loved ones and will Priest be able to protect Bea when it truly counts?
I took the name of the monster who made me, who stripped me bare straight down to the dark heart of me, and made it mine
Dead Man Walking is the sixth installment of this series and I have to say that this one might be my favorite and yes I have loved many books and I am not sure if I could even say that this one could beat King and Cressida's love story, however, the relationship that builds between Priest and Bea is quite a unique one. Now I would say that this book will only work for those readers that truly can handle a dark romance, that deals with some challenging topics. There is knife and blood play in this book, so I do want to caution future readers of this. Now, this is the FIRST time I have ever come across blood play, and only Giana Darling could work her magic to where this would really work for me. There is such a dark sensuality between Bea and Priest, but Bea is such a unique heroine. She is so accepting of Priest, completely for who he is. She accepts him unconditionally both the good and the bad and I truly valued her spirit and tenacity to prove to him that she is in it for the long haul. Now to some this might seem like instant love since they are "together" early on in the story, but, if you have read the series, you will have seen the sparks of chemistry that have been built up throughout the series. Seeing these two finally come together after all this time, and find their own path together was so beautiful.
Despite it all, I was being dragged, kicking and screaming, back into the land of the living by one much too young and entirely too naïve girl with moonshine hair and a soul drawn dangerously to my dark.
There are some pretty heartbreaking moments though, so fair warning because Giana Darling will always tear your heart apart. And boy she really tore me up here, so make sure you have your tissue box ready because your heart will be shredded by the intensity of emotion that she will convey in this story. It's not light or for the faint of heart. But this is what I have really come to value within this author. I promise though that as she tears you apart, she will also bring healing and unity within the pages of this powerful story. Now I will say that there is a level of suspense in this one, which features the stalker and I can tell you right now you won't be able to predict who the stalker is. Its the LAST person I ever expected, and I truly admire that. While I don't mind if its predictable, I truly appreciated that this author really led me on a merry chase all the way through it.
If I make you mine, you stay mine until death comes for us. You’re mine in the night and the shadows where I’m fucking king. You’re mine in the light with your family and friends, standing beside Death as his queen. If I’m a killer, you’re a killer. Where I end, you fucking begin
Overall I found Dead Man Walking to be a dark and edgy telling of a story that will deliver on all fronts. Its a romance that showcases unconditional love, understanding goodness in all people, forging your own path towards healing and family, and is written in such a way that will tug at your heartstrings in such a life-altering manner. I guarantee that Giana Darling will have you feeling breathless in this journey of Priest and Bea.
We must not all be exactly alike to live a life worthy of God’s grace. Instead, we must follow the path our hearts set out for us so that we might find fulfilment in ways more than just spiritual, but equally profound
Bastian is the sixth installment in the "Lords of Satyr" series and I have had this series on my TBR for I don't know how long, I can't tell you how tempted I have been in picking up these books. The seventh book "Sevin" I think I saw somewhere on a book blog and I was so intrigued that I knew that I needed to read these books. Now I think what put me off these books was the erotic factor of these books. At the time of placing this series on my TBR, I remember knowing that I needed to be in the right mood. But as I was browsing through my library, I saw that this was a series I had really wanted to read. And it does have fantastical aspects of it so felt like a perfect fit for the month and for some reason Libby was telling me that this one was the FIRST book of the series ....and let me tell you it ISNT haha But I hadn't realized it until I was already hooked into it but I was actually fine. I mean there seemed to be details that I was missing out on but I caught on quickly and even though there was some mild confusion, I adapt quickly.
Bastian is a highly sensual romance that features some wildin:
Bastian -a brother of the Satyr clan, highly sexual, color blind, a magical being
Silvia -is a pure Ephemeral, moves from body to body to survive, immortal, mission to save her sisters
Bastian is a story that starts off with our heroine, Silvia, who is a pure Ephemeral, which is a being that can only maintain her form for 24 hours when she is in the mortal world, and she can be invisible if she chooses, and she is also immortal. She was sent to serve the goddess when she was just a girl and pledged to give thirty years of her life before marriage but then the goddess cursed them into this Ephemeral form, and now her sisters are imprisoned, and she and her best friend have been sent to the mortal realm to claim certain stones for the one that imprisoned their friends. Silvia is determined to free her people no matter what it takes. Her uncle is evil in every way but is cursed and will use her for whatever means he can. The stones are hidden in Italy in the late 1800's, and a certain Satyr male "Bastian" is in charge of the dig site. Bastian and his brothers need those stones to maintain their concealment of the mortal world, if they fail, they all mythical creatures of the gods will be revealed. But, Bastian is having an affair with Silvia's best friend, and she has to keep switching forms every month, but somehow Bastian recognizes her unique soul, but will Silvia be able to continue deceiving the man she is falling hard for or fall under the love spell he captivates her with....
Bastian is one of the most strange unique and unusual romances that I have EVER read in my life. I honestly don't know how this review will go because I still don't know how I feel about this one. I know I liked it quite a bit, but it's a strange one. First, off it does have a mix of genres packed within it, and another well there are some scenes with f/f and m/m sexual interactions and it's definitely different. Now the f/f is a scene at the beginning between Silvia and her best friend and you can see how they have a relationship where they are the best of friends but occasionally explore each other. Now the m/m scene, that was different but technically it was a mix because it was Silvia possessing a male body, and she and Bastian were smexin it on haha So I am not sure how to categorize that, to be honest. I will say that I found Silvia to be such a wonderful heroine. I love what a fighter she is, despite being betrayed and hurt by all those that she trusted the most, for the losses that she has to grieve and always having to deny herself, love, and family. She is so bound by her duty to free her sisters who have been imprisoned. And I really wondered how this romance would work with Silvia switching bodies so much, but there is a way that the hero can detect her presence, so we do see their bond build in that way even if he is put in the dark for much of the book. Bastian is such a great hero though, he definitely knows how to work his body but he also has this connection with Silvia that goes deeper than just his sexual appetites. I love how he is willing to fight for her and for what they have because she is not in a position to do so.
I found their love story to be so breathtaking in so many aspects, I honestly think that what kept this book from being a higher rating is the lack of connection and romance you don't really feel in the first half of the story. Because of how she switches forms so often and he doesn't see the real her for quite a long while in the book, there is this disconnect but about 60% I was really feeling their chemistry and their bond to each other. I definitely would put this under a slow burn even if the sex scenes are explicit because the overall relationship is slowly built gradually. There will be aspects of their relationship that isn't built right away, so you do need to be patient because I can see why the author wrote it in this way now that I have fully read the story. There were some levels of confusion I had at times (I think part of that was definitely reading this book out of order of the series) but I truly enjoyed so many elements in this one here.
Overall I found Bastian to be a highly sensual erotic romance that expands the horizons of time and space in a way you won't be expecting, its the most unique, adaptive romance you will uncover in your reading exploits, but its a story that will entrench you in its grasp and is utterly memorable!
I will admit that I was highly apprehensive about this book, while also somewhat excited. I was really hoping this would be a success for me, as her past series Bareknuckled Bastards were and even those skimmed the surface of the line I draw in the sand when it comes to historical romance, this book, this BOOK....DANG, it Sarah MacLean. I am going to make an effort to NOT rant too much in this review because my readers don't deserve it but at the same time, I do think you all deserve to know what is actually in this book and judge if its one you want to take on because this won't be for everyone.
Bombshell sets the stage for a story about a group of women that come together and unite forces. All of them have unique capabilities and different personalities but they are all wanting to kick the can at society, the culture they were raised in, with little respect for those that sacrifice and make an effort to destroy those they deem unworthy. Lady Sesily doesn't care one whit for scandal, she embraces scandal and laughs in the face of those that adhere to the statutes. She is more than content being the mess maker of the group and having all the attention of society focused on her. But despite the ruckus she makes, people are in awe of her and some even respect her. She is willing to do what it takes until ....Caleb Calhou. Caleb is part of Sesily's past and one that she would like to forget. He hurt her and she is determined that he never finds out how he destroyed all her hopes and aspirations, but Caleb is determined to watch Sesily's back while she creates mayhem in London. They both have desires for each other, and hope they can get each other out of each other's systems so they can move on from the tornado of feelings they evoke in each other....but best-laid plans don't always work in the way one would expect them too.
I would like to say that I enjoyed this book but I will be honest that I didn't. This book is just a prime example of the problematic journey of historical romance and I can no longer support this author. Bombshell was one of the most unbelievable books I have read in historical romance and so modernly feminists its ridiculous at times....alright most of the time. I can't tell you how many times I was rolling my eyes through it all. And I only lasted till about 70 % and I had to put it aside because really?? This is a book like the recent trend for authors to write contemporary that is dressed up as a historical. Now if this had been written as a contemporary romance, I would have enjoyed it so much more. But I have RULES for historical romance, and this stems from reading the genre for so long. I know people will struggle with this review and my RULES, but I make no apologies for how this book made me feel and I am at the end of my rope with this one. Now if you like contemporary historical's then go for it.....but please don't judge me for wanting a historical to have some realism to it. And quite frankly when authors write stories like this, it demeans the countless women who lived in this era and fought and struggled against true society standards that went against them and the sacrifices they made so we could have equality today. Some may say well its FICTION.....yeah that is true. Fiction is fiction, but I like to be somewhat closer to the real thing. Historical romance still falls under the historical fiction genre far more than the contemporary genre and I want it to feel like that. I want to sense the authenticity and I mean really this book.....the dialogue should say it all. Its like Sarah MacLean didn't even try that hard. We see words like "awesome" and I really can't stand modernisms in the dialogue. I am sure this book was written like this on purpose, with each series this author has done it has been leading to this and its a trend currently. I don't understand the tones of this book though in some ways, it was almost like having a feminism lecture preached to me at times and when I read romance I don't want to be preached to, or have feminism shoved down my throat. I mean HELLO I read historical romance.....for decades its always been about women empowerment. That is what I LOVE about the genre and writing these type of tones doesn't help or encourage or showcase the true trials of women over the centuries at least not from my perspective.
I am sad to say this will be the last MacLean I am ever going to read, and probably be pickier on these more modern like historical's because they really aren't my cup of tea and this is an honest opinion and I really wanted to give this book my best shot. Now if you loved this book, then I am happy for you that you could gain something from it. We each have preferences in the books that we read, it saddens me this is the way that the genre is heading, but I also understand why this will appeal to romance readers especially newer romance readers who want these feminist themes to them. I hope Sarah MacLean will continue to write and deliver books her readership will enjoy even if this is adieu to an author that I have respected over the years.
No Holding Back is the first book in this new series "Mckenzies of Ride Trail" and I will admit that when I listened to the sample of this audiobook I was sure that this would be a such a win of a read, because the first part of the book will really pull you so quickly into the story. This is a book that features some content that may be hard for some as it does contain elements of human trafficking and the slave trade so be aware before reading this book if that is going to be triggering for you. I will admit that this book didn't quite deliver in the ways that I was expecting it to. I think I had too many high hopes or maybe I wasn't worried about the heroine since this author has always delivered on relatable heroines but I just struggled with the romance and certain aspects of the character development that kept this from being a higher rating from me but I still liked it in the end.
No Holding Back is a intense filled suspense which features:
Cade McKenzie-Ex military, Bar Owner, Commando, Protector and Defender of the Innocent
Sterling (Star) Parson-On The Run, Posing as a Truck Driver, Fighter and Protector, Stubborn and Independent
No Holding Back is a story that begins with our heroine, where she gets kidnapped into the human trafficking rings but manages to eventually escape on her own and has been in hiding and on the run ever since. She found her way to getting her CDL license and found a perfect way to find victims of human trafficking rings and being a defender of those victims. But while in a small town, she finds herself making herself comfortable with a bar owner that she feels can see too much inside of her and he intimidates her. A part of her wants to be able to trust Cade, but she knows the evils of the world and she has survived on her own and will continue to do so but Cade is not a man to be denied. He is a defender of the innocent too and he holds secrets that could rival those of Star's. But can these two fighters come together and find a love that is a fierce as their need to bring down the human trafficking rising around them?
No Holding Back is a book that I deeply wanted so much of, and it has been a long time since I have read this author. I have been meaning to get to her, but just other books have gotten in the way of that. I will say that I was highly intrigued by the sound of this one here and I do love books that feature on this "Human Trafficking" because it doesn't get the attention it should in this country. So I really appreciate in this respect, how Lori Foster, really wrote this book and felt like it was done very well in the way you can tell that she definitely did her research on this and it was reflected in this story. When you look at the characters individually you can really respect what they both bring to the table. They are both fighters but whereas Cade is willing to compromise more and adapt .....our heroine ISNT. She is so stubborn, willful, and independent, and to the extremes. I really struggled with Star's character, but a full margin. Because she just ruined the enjoyment of the story, to be honest. She was so stubborn, not wanting to let anyone in, that I definitely felt Cade deserved someone better. I just couldn't really be as invested in the story as I wanted to be because of this. And there was this odd interaction with her and his family. I don't know, I just couldn't really understand these moments. They felt disconnected in certain ways that just had me speeding up the book so I could get to the good stuff. There is a good mystery though, where there are these villains (and one of them you aren't sure if she is a villain or not) so I was really curious to see how that would all play out in the end. I am curious to see how Lori Foster builds this series since I did like the familial connections.
Overall I found No Holding Back to be a likable enjoyable story with many redeemable qualities and if this level of angst is what works for you, then-No Holding Back will definitely work for you.
*Warning: Spoilers Ahead* Brutal Prince is a story that I read based on the recommendations from "The Book Refuge" and I saw many focus on reading this one during the Mafia Read A Thon that happened this past month. I will say that this book was ridiculous at times, and I almost DNF'd it, to be honest. I think it was the focus of the family and the way the hero is that kept me engaged in the story. I really REALLY struggled with this heroine, she was quite frankly spoiled and a brat. Her family has apparently let her get away with whatever she wants but the way she treats the hero is NOT OKAY in my opinion. I mean poisoning him on their wedding day?! Is that supposed to be justified just because you don't like the situation and don't want to be accountable for your choices? I just couldn't get behind her for most of the book and its only thanks to the page turner, engaging style of writing that kept me with this story. But while this one was most disappointing (the second book wasn't)
