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A Sweet Alaskan Fall was such a sweet installment. I will be honest I grabbed this one up because it has such a nice fall looking cover and was looking for some autumnesque reads for the season. I also wanted to do a second try at a Jennifer Snow. While I enjoyed this, it still had some problematic aspects that did keep this from a 5 star read. I will say that the major aspects of the story were really well done from the character building to the development of the romance and the sexy times were much steamier than I expected from this author (definitely plus in my book). I will say that there were some elements that felt unbelievable at times. There is an element of nude skydiving, I am not sure if thats a thing haha but I am not sure why it would be. I mean (ouch) but its fiction so you just go with the flow. And it does have ghosts in this book, it doesn't deliver on a creepy vibe or anything, but kinda weird as you don't go into this type of contemporary expecting a ghost element to the story. The other issue I had was with the heroine. I am probably the only one with this issue, as I couldn't see this in other reviews, however, I really struggled in seeing why this heroine didn't break things off with a guy she wasn't interested in especially when she was really into someone else. Or why she didn't stand up for herself or who she wanted to be with. I really felt bad for the hero in this one who was so a good hearted man, and he deserved to be treated right and just wasn't and quite frankly way too forigiving on the heroine who hardly had to grovel and she needed to do more sincere groveling. Now that being said, there are some other great elements to the story. I really enjoyed the fall themed aspect to the story, I loved seeing the disability come into play and how it developed the story, the romance for the most part was solid in how it conveyed really strong emotion. I also liked seeing the family aspect to the story. The audio narrator was done very well and I would like to listen to more of this author's work. Overall a solid story despite its negative aspects.
Immoral was a story that I really fell in love with pretty quickly. I will admit that going into this one, I was a bit nervous with it, as I wasn't sure what it would contain or if it would have the level of too much angst for me. The previous book "Toxic" we saw the built up of the relationship between these two and its was top angst. But I went it with this one and I absolutely adored every single moment of this one. Its different than what you would expect, but the set up of the story is what made me want to pick this one up more quicker than the others. I also really enjoyled that they way we get the serial plot building more. I really want these brothers to find a way to convince their dad what needs to happen for them moving forward. I do love seeing the O'Malley's involved still with this series and seeing the way that Maggie Cole has built up this world. I really enjoyed this romance in the story. Its probably one of my favorites that this author has written. I just love the whole marriage of convenience and we definitely see how much it is needed in this one. I also loved the way in which we see the manner in how the hero fights for the heroine. He makes mistakes for it, and is wanting to move forward, the heroine though is hurt and trying to get it good in their relationship again. I am not sure how I feel about the conflict with law enforcement to be honest, I am still on the fence, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and it won me over so quickly. I didn't want to put this one down and was such a fast read for me. If you are a fan of mafia love, then I can't recommend this one enough.
First Impressions
Dark Whisper is the latest in the Carpathian/Dark Series. I have had so much fun with these books, and I know its a LONG series, but the world building is so fascinating. And we are in a new serial arch of the world building so its so fascinating to see what Christine Feehan is building here. I was so curious to see what she would deliver with Dark Whisper, it does have some unique elements and we get back to the Lycan’s and their society. I loved the Lycan books about ten books ago, so I was so pleased that Christine Feehan returned back to them. This story was so intriguing as the heroine is royalty and there is plenty of action and thriller feel to the story, so if you are a fan of romantic thrillers or romantic suspense mix in with paranormal aspects then this is going to be a book for you.
What I Loved
I will say that there were so many aspects to this story that I truly ended up loving. The first is the characters that I want to discuss first. We have our hero, who is one of the ancient Carpathians but is also a bit more modernized as well. So if that type of hero works for you, then you will really end up loving that. He is so respectful of the heroine all the way through and understands what she needs from him and gives that to her. I love his steady faith in her and has his own abilities but isn’t super dominant unless she is in danger, but even in those scenes, it’s so well done and he is a healthy hero for sure. He is so encouraging and protective of those under his care and that is such an attractive quality. Then we have our heroine, who is a fighter but also royalty. Her mother trained her to fight because she knew that her path would be different from her siblings and that she would be lifemated to a Carpathian. I like the heroine, she is feisty and strong-willed but also has a level of grace about her. I did like that she didn’t get too offended by certain things from the hero, but took time to think through things. The world-building is superb and we go on an adventure with our couple that I have NEVER seen this author do, and wow what an adventure this book ended up being. I didn’t know what to make of it, to be honest, because there was something so different in the plot and the aspects of the world-building. I am becoming more and more intrigued by the four gateways and the tarot card reading. Christine Feehan never ceases to surprise me with her wit and talent of penning such remarkable growth in her world-building that literally stuns me with every serial arch.
What I Struggled With
I will say that what I struggled with the most was the romance unfortunately with this one and is the reason that it didn’t quite make it to five stars like I was expecting it to. After the last two previous books got to five stars, I was expecting this one to do the same. However, it didn’t quite make it. Not saying that I didn’t enjoy my reading with this one, because it’s a definite solid 4-star! However, I feel like the plot working and the world-building made it so that the actual romance actually suffered the most from it. I wanted so much to feel the connection that these two had, but I just wasn’t quite feeling it as I was expecting to. And side note, the heroine drove me nuts at times. I wanted to love her so much, but she was a bit too much of a modern woman for my tastes. She can fight and everything but I wanted to feel her more feminine side that we only received small glimpses of.
Overall View
I found Dark Whisper to be a powerful read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s a story of unique storytelling, a plot with its challenging archs that will leave the reader breathless, and a romance that will intrigue and fascinate the reader in such a way that you will be charmed by their story and keep you yearning for more!
Poseidon is the fifth installment in the "Contemporary Mythos" series and this might just be my favorite of the series so far. There was so much goodness in here and I just couldn't get enough of it. I will say that I had high expectations out of this one, as Posdeidon has always been a personal favorite in Greek mythology. I was truly fascinated to see how Carly Spade built up this story and the way that the romance grew in this one. I did go into this one blind, which I highly recommend. I am glad that I didn't even read the blurb for this one even. I do feel like going into this story blind will make the reader be more swept away by the story. And in this review I even want to be a bit more careful on what I actually discuss because I don't want it to be spoiled too much here.
What I found most profound about this one was seeing the way that there is such a instant bond between these two. I was completely drawn into this story from the very first chapter, and I was so charmed by their flirting with each other. We also see so much depth that is crafted within this story that just made you appreciate what the author creates within this installment. I so wanted to cheer these two one, and its such a perfect summer read as well. If you are a strong fan of mythological romance, then you definitely need to grab this author up. These books are just so delightful in every way!
What I found most profound about this one was seeing the way that there is such a instant bond between these two. I was completely drawn into this story from the very first chapter, and I was so charmed by their flirting with each other. We also see so much depth that is crafted within this story that just made you appreciate what the author creates within this installment. I so wanted to cheer these two one, and its such a perfect summer read as well. If you are a strong fan of mythological romance, then you definitely need to grab this author up. These books are just so delightful in every way!
Huckleberry Christmas is book three in the "Matchmakers" series by Jennifer Beckstrand. Even thoug the first books had some issues, I am still so charmed by the world building of a Amish romance, with the strong sense of community, faith centered traditional living and non preacy feminist dialogue. I adore the way that this author is able to show strength of women without being on a soap box, where it just feels so down to earth and genuine. What really ended up working for me in this one was seeing the romance develop between these two and a fun trope that I see very rarely, I just don 't see it common in romance like I used to. We do deal with some challenging issues that the author was willing to tackle, and I really admired the way in which it was handled.
The set up of the story is where our heroine, Beth, is a widow and a single mom. She is also recovering from an emotionally abusive husband although its hinted at that there was more than that. Then we have our hero, Tyler, who has recently been burned and jilted at his own wedding. Beth's grandparents are determined to matchmake them together, but Beth is against any marriage in the future. She blames God for what happened to her, and the abuse that she suffered. And even though Tyler appears to be honest and good, she doesn't want to suffer again. But as Tyler and Beth grow closer, they will be tested when Beth will have to reconcile her past and learn to trust again...
I absolutely adored just about everything about this book. Its my favorite so far in this series and I had such a fun time seeing these characters come together like they do. It definitely kicks off with a great start, and I adored the way that they instantly have a connection. Now even though I didn't always approve of Beth's action, I definitely understood it from a certain point. It did get a bit dragged out in the end, but I loved how the hero stands up to beth in what he deserves and it helps Beth to reevaluate her decisions and come to terms with her issues and reconcile with God and her faith and learning to forgive and fight her battles. I did enjoy how protective Tyler could be while at the same time, he let her fight what she needed to.
There was so many laughs in this one, despite the difficult issues that come into the story. I delighted in seeing the manner in the way of the sense of family and community, the way these grandparents attempt matchmaking these two together and the atmospheric vibe of Christmas time. It just had me wanting to put some Christmas carols on and put up some mistletoe. I really enjoyed seeing some characters from previous books, and the way the child aspect was implemented into this one here. The more I read this author, the more I become hooked on her stories. I can't recommend this one enough if you want to get a solid Christmas romance or just want to try out a Amish romance. I will say that even though this is closed door in the heat level, I will say that there are some amazing kissing and affection scenes portrayed.
Overall I found Huckleberry Christmas to be utterly delightful, charming in its portrayal and genuine in the character building and the romance that will speak deeply to your heart!
The set up of the story is where our heroine, Beth, is a widow and a single mom. She is also recovering from an emotionally abusive husband although its hinted at that there was more than that. Then we have our hero, Tyler, who has recently been burned and jilted at his own wedding. Beth's grandparents are determined to matchmake them together, but Beth is against any marriage in the future. She blames God for what happened to her, and the abuse that she suffered. And even though Tyler appears to be honest and good, she doesn't want to suffer again. But as Tyler and Beth grow closer, they will be tested when Beth will have to reconcile her past and learn to trust again...
I absolutely adored just about everything about this book. Its my favorite so far in this series and I had such a fun time seeing these characters come together like they do. It definitely kicks off with a great start, and I adored the way that they instantly have a connection. Now even though I didn't always approve of Beth's action, I definitely understood it from a certain point. It did get a bit dragged out in the end, but I loved how the hero stands up to beth in what he deserves and it helps Beth to reevaluate her decisions and come to terms with her issues and reconcile with God and her faith and learning to forgive and fight her battles. I did enjoy how protective Tyler could be while at the same time, he let her fight what she needed to.
There was so many laughs in this one, despite the difficult issues that come into the story. I delighted in seeing the manner in the way of the sense of family and community, the way these grandparents attempt matchmaking these two together and the atmospheric vibe of Christmas time. It just had me wanting to put some Christmas carols on and put up some mistletoe. I really enjoyed seeing some characters from previous books, and the way the child aspect was implemented into this one here. The more I read this author, the more I become hooked on her stories. I can't recommend this one enough if you want to get a solid Christmas romance or just want to try out a Amish romance. I will say that even though this is closed door in the heat level, I will say that there are some amazing kissing and affection scenes portrayed.
Overall I found Huckleberry Christmas to be utterly delightful, charming in its portrayal and genuine in the character building and the romance that will speak deeply to your heart!
This was such a charming novella and I had so much FUN with this one. It does connect to the novel "Poseidon" so I wouldn't read this without reading the full-length novels in the series up to book five. It does have a bit of a cliffhanger concerning their daughter. I did enjoy seeing them go on a vacation together and meet up with Hades and Caroline and play around with the humans using their abilities, it was so entertaining. It was so fun to read this shortly after Poseidon. I have become so impressed by this author, and can't wait for more. These books are just so so much fun!
Backstage Pass was a book that I first tried reading some time ago, and I ended up DNFing it at the time. I will be honest, back then, this book wouldn't have worked for me. I have become more open-minded in certain areas. And I am glad, as this book was such a better win for me. Even though it wasn't a perfect romance, I had such a fun time with this one here. It was truly delightful. I also loved the way in which we get introduced to all the band members and I am so curious for their books. Reading this one also made me realize why I love rock star romance so much, and I had a fun time seeing these two work their way together. I do think that the way some of the sex scenes are written, will be struggling for some readers. There is some voyeuristic scenes here, so keep that in mind before reading. Overall I had a fun time with this one and glad that I decided to pick this one back up! As it worked so much better for me the second time around!
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
Archangel’s Resurrection is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, this series is on another level, and one of the few Urban Fantasy series I actually truly love. Nalini Singh shows that you can write a UF with a strong focus of romance. This series is always a delight and honestly I went into this one practically blind, I didn’t even know who the main characters were at first, the only thing I did know was that it featured an archangel but that was it. I knew that it probably wouldn’t be a Raphael or Illium installment though, with how this series has been written I expected it to be someone else. I am really happy that we got Alexander’s book. His character we have seen small moments with in previous books and I really wanted to get his romance with his lady Zanaya. This book was so in depth and we really go back centuries of time to get the fullness of his story and I really enjoyed that. It almost had a historical fantasy like feel to some of the book until we get to the current timeline and I think fans of the series will actually be highly entertained by this one here.
Summary
There has always been a epic love passion between Alexander, Archangel of Persia and Zanaya, the Queen of the Nile. We see the beginning’s of their stories and how they start out their lives and grow into the beings that they become. We see the instant passion that rises between them and how Alexander is forced to push Zanaya away due to her young years in comparison to him and knowing she needed to grow into herself before anything could ever happen between them. We see the growths of their characters while also building within their relationship. We see the joys and the passions while also seeing the heartbreak, the angst and loss that they both experience. We see the strength of the force of their love that will strengthen them throughout the centuries. We see the rise of their enemies but also the loss of what they suffer but through that suffering we see the growth in their love and truly realizing what they have together and letting go of pass faults and insecurities and embracing their relationship in a way that completes them in a way they haven’t yet discovered….
What I Loved
Archangel’s Resurrection is the 15th installment in the Guild Hunter series. And can you believe that we have reached number 15 on this series??!!! I can’t believe how much this series has grown. And I will say this is one of my favorite installments that didn’t feature Raphael and Elena. There was something so epically beautiful and touches the reader so deeply in reading this story. First what I think really made the difference is seeing their backgrounds from when they are fledglings to full grown archangel’s. I truly adored seeing Alex and Zanaya come together in such a way that adds clear depth to the story and also to the romance itself. Seeing such character growth was worth every moment. I adored this pairing together and the way that they come together and really work through their issues was quite heartfelt. They aren’t the perfect couple but they are the right couple for each other. I really enjoyed the way that they learn and grow in each other and make mistakes in their relationship. This is not a fairytale type of romance, they have their battles and fights that they have to overcome. And even some hurdles where they end up hurting each other even without meaning to. We also see them rise to the occasion of standing together and fighting against true evils. Their romance was so deep and entrenching because we get to see them grow through their mistakes and really capitalize on what they have together and not letting those mistakes define their relationship and in the end its learning to let go of past mistakes and learning to rely on each other and valuing each other as they should. We also get some delightful journeys with past events and characters. My emotions were all over the place with this one and I was so encouraged to see that as it really connects this book to so many of the previous books.
What I Struggled With
I will be honest …..NOTHING….This book just felt so right all the way through!
Overall View
Archangel’s Resurrection is a stunning portrayal that is packed with history, grit, and fierce passions that rise to the occasion! Its a tale that will give the readers thrills and charm and utter depths of emotion!
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
Archangel’s Resurrection is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, this series is on another level, and one of the few Urban Fantasy series I actually truly love. Nalini Singh shows that you can write a UF with a strong focus of romance. This series is always a delight and honestly I went into this one practically blind, I didn’t even know who the main characters were at first, the only thing I did know was that it featured an archangel but that was it. I knew that it probably wouldn’t be a Raphael or Illium installment though, with how this series has been written I expected it to be someone else. I am really happy that we got Alexander’s book. His character we have seen small moments with in previous books and I really wanted to get his romance with his lady Zanaya. This book was so in depth and we really go back centuries of time to get the fullness of his story and I really enjoyed that. It almost had a historical fantasy like feel to some of the book until we get to the current timeline and I think fans of the series will actually be highly entertained by this one here.
Summary
There has always been a epic love passion between Alexander, Archangel of Persia and Zanaya, the Queen of the Nile. We see the beginning’s of their stories and how they start out their lives and grow into the beings that they become. We see the instant passion that rises between them and how Alexander is forced to push Zanaya away due to her young years in comparison to him and knowing she needed to grow into herself before anything could ever happen between them. We see the growths of their characters while also building within their relationship. We see the joys and the passions while also seeing the heartbreak, the angst and loss that they both experience. We see the strength of the force of their love that will strengthen them throughout the centuries. We see the rise of their enemies but also the loss of what they suffer but through that suffering we see the growth in their love and truly realizing what they have together and letting go of pass faults and insecurities and embracing their relationship in a way that completes them in a way they haven’t yet discovered….
What I Loved
Archangel’s Resurrection is the 15th installment in the Guild Hunter series. And can you believe that we have reached number 15 on this series??!!! I can’t believe how much this series has grown. And I will say this is one of my favorite installments that didn’t feature Raphael and Elena. There was something so epically beautiful and touches the reader so deeply in reading this story. First what I think really made the difference is seeing their backgrounds from when they are fledglings to full grown archangel’s. I truly adored seeing Alex and Zanaya come together in such a way that adds clear depth to the story and also to the romance itself. Seeing such character growth was worth every moment. I adored this pairing together and the way that they come together and really work through their issues was quite heartfelt. They aren’t the perfect couple but they are the right couple for each other. I really enjoyed the way that they learn and grow in each other and make mistakes in their relationship. This is not a fairytale type of romance, they have their battles and fights that they have to overcome. And even some hurdles where they end up hurting each other even without meaning to. We also see them rise to the occasion of standing together and fighting against true evils. Their romance was so deep and entrenching because we get to see them grow through their mistakes and really capitalize on what they have together and not letting those mistakes define their relationship and in the end its learning to let go of past mistakes and learning to rely on each other and valuing each other as they should. We also get some delightful journeys with past events and characters. My emotions were all over the place with this one and I was so encouraged to see that as it really connects this book to so many of the previous books.
What I Struggled With
I will be honest …..NOTHING….This book just felt so right all the way through!
Overall View
Archangel’s Resurrection is a stunning portrayal that is packed with history, grit, and fierce passions that rise to the occasion! Its a tale that will give the readers thrills and charm and utter depths of emotion!
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
There’s no joy without pain. The greater the pain, the greater the joy.
My Review
First Impressions
I was quite intrigued by this one though, and I have been meaning to get back to this author here and get through this series. Even though some of the books haven’t been my favorite so far, I have been quite intrigued by this one, and I did like this one. One thing you can say about the books in the series is that they aren’t your typical mafia type of romances so you can rely on this having a refreshing feel to it. I had forgotten the trope that is in this one, so I admit this one isn’t going to go on the list of my favorites from this author. She is really becoming a hit or miss for me. Now that isn’t to say that I didn’t find this a solid read, it was, and the hero in this book is going on my book boyfriend list *hands down* however, I also had plenty of issues with this one.
I love you like . . . like I’d destroy anything that tried to come between us. Like I’d burn the whole world down if I had to.
Summary
Simone and Dante live in completely different worlds. Simone lives in high society, and she is expected to find a good match and marry as her parents expect of her and it doesn’t matter what dreams she has for herself. Her baby sister is sick and will always need to be in the care of family. When she finds herself in her car being stolen by strong and intimidating Dante, she never expected that she would engage in a secret love affair with the man. Dante and Simone’s love is forbidden, they are from two different worlds but Dante believes that their love is worth fighting for. Simone while she has a love for Dante, she also is fearful of her parents and standing up to their expectations and she knows being in a relationship with Dante won’t reach their approval. But when the time comes for Simone to stand up, Dante is left on his own, and Simone ends up pregnant and she and Dante are separated for nine long years. Now Simone is stronger than ever, she is willing to stand on her own. She has created her own career as a model and has her own wealth, but she doesn’t expect to cross paths with Dante again, but now that Dante and Simone have found their way back to each other, will their love be enough to stand the limits and dangers of evil that want to destroy them?
I love you, Simone. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. I’m never going to stop. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you have my heart in your hands.
What I Loved
There were quite a few aspects of this story. There are a number of tropes that are actually in this story that I actually do enjoy. There was a forbidden love and also a class difference setup that really seemed to work for this pairing. We have a devoted hero, who may be in the mafia and have to kill when he has to, but he also has a sense of honor and is willing to fight for those he loves. What he is willing to sacrifice for Simone was so beautiful. I absolutely loved the way that they were with each other in those quiet moments. This pair makes you believe love can withstand any trial of life. I really admired the sensitive and sweet nature of Simone. She has such a tender heart. And I loved even in the worst of moments, and the betrayals, that Dante stands firm in his love for Simone. What is willing to go through for her, has so many heart aching moments that leave the reader humbled in unexpected ways. He is one of those heroes you dream of in every romance. I also liked that there were no back and forth flashbacks. The flashback was done first and then we see the story kick off nine years later. I also liked seeing the entry of Raylan (who is the reason I wanted to read this series, he is the character I have heard the best about and he had the most perfect entry and I SWOONED.
I never stopped wondering how you could leave me, when I couldn’t let go of you even for a second.
What I Struggled With
I will be honest, even though there were aspects of the heroine’s character that I did like, I found that overall I just found her weak and without a backbone. I DESPISE secret baby as a trope, but honestly, she has the option to go to Dante with this and she chose not and it was dragged out al the way through till almost the end of the book. I didn’t understand it. I felt for her and what her parents did to her here, but at the same time, she wasn’t willing to stand by Dante when it mattered and also not tell him the truth that he deserved and he missed 9 years of his child’s life. Quite frankly, Dante deserved so much better than what he got with Simone. This book is evidence that shows you don’t pick who you love, and quite frankly, Simone should have groveled much more. She betrayed one of the best heroes I have ever read especially in the mafia, and even though I understand she isn’t a super strong and healthy balanced heroine, I felt like he deserved a woman that was willing to fight for him. The relationship felt very one-sided in that aspect and left me disappointed and just sad.
She loves me. And I love her. I can’t stop loving her. No matter what she’s done to me, no matter what she might do in the future, I can never stop. I would cut off my hands for this woman. Strip the flesh off my bones for her. I can’t live without her, and I don’t want to try. Forgiving her isn’t optional. I have to do it. I can’t exist without it.
Overall View
Overall I found Bloody Heart to be a captivating read, Sophie Lark sucked me in very quickly into this story, she brought some powerful emotions to the front and added layers of depths, and Dante is a hero worth reading, no matter the battle in getting there!
She’s the other part of me. I’ve been wandering around for nine years with only half my soul. I never thought I’d be whole again.
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
There’s no joy without pain. The greater the pain, the greater the joy.
My Review
First Impressions
I was quite intrigued by this one though, and I have been meaning to get back to this author here and get through this series. Even though some of the books haven’t been my favorite so far, I have been quite intrigued by this one, and I did like this one. One thing you can say about the books in the series is that they aren’t your typical mafia type of romances so you can rely on this having a refreshing feel to it. I had forgotten the trope that is in this one, so I admit this one isn’t going to go on the list of my favorites from this author. She is really becoming a hit or miss for me. Now that isn’t to say that I didn’t find this a solid read, it was, and the hero in this book is going on my book boyfriend list *hands down* however, I also had plenty of issues with this one.
I love you like . . . like I’d destroy anything that tried to come between us. Like I’d burn the whole world down if I had to.
Summary
Simone and Dante live in completely different worlds. Simone lives in high society, and she is expected to find a good match and marry as her parents expect of her and it doesn’t matter what dreams she has for herself. Her baby sister is sick and will always need to be in the care of family. When she finds herself in her car being stolen by strong and intimidating Dante, she never expected that she would engage in a secret love affair with the man. Dante and Simone’s love is forbidden, they are from two different worlds but Dante believes that their love is worth fighting for. Simone while she has a love for Dante, she also is fearful of her parents and standing up to their expectations and she knows being in a relationship with Dante won’t reach their approval. But when the time comes for Simone to stand up, Dante is left on his own, and Simone ends up pregnant and she and Dante are separated for nine long years. Now Simone is stronger than ever, she is willing to stand on her own. She has created her own career as a model and has her own wealth, but she doesn’t expect to cross paths with Dante again, but now that Dante and Simone have found their way back to each other, will their love be enough to stand the limits and dangers of evil that want to destroy them?
I love you, Simone. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. I’m never going to stop. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you have my heart in your hands.
What I Loved
There were quite a few aspects of this story. There are a number of tropes that are actually in this story that I actually do enjoy. There was a forbidden love and also a class difference setup that really seemed to work for this pairing. We have a devoted hero, who may be in the mafia and have to kill when he has to, but he also has a sense of honor and is willing to fight for those he loves. What he is willing to sacrifice for Simone was so beautiful. I absolutely loved the way that they were with each other in those quiet moments. This pair makes you believe love can withstand any trial of life. I really admired the sensitive and sweet nature of Simone. She has such a tender heart. And I loved even in the worst of moments, and the betrayals, that Dante stands firm in his love for Simone. What is willing to go through for her, has so many heart aching moments that leave the reader humbled in unexpected ways. He is one of those heroes you dream of in every romance. I also liked that there were no back and forth flashbacks. The flashback was done first and then we see the story kick off nine years later. I also liked seeing the entry of Raylan (who is the reason I wanted to read this series, he is the character I have heard the best about and he had the most perfect entry and I SWOONED.
I never stopped wondering how you could leave me, when I couldn’t let go of you even for a second.
What I Struggled With
I will be honest, even though there were aspects of the heroine’s character that I did like, I found that overall I just found her weak and without a backbone. I DESPISE secret baby as a trope, but honestly, she has the option to go to Dante with this and she chose not and it was dragged out al the way through till almost the end of the book. I didn’t understand it. I felt for her and what her parents did to her here, but at the same time, she wasn’t willing to stand by Dante when it mattered and also not tell him the truth that he deserved and he missed 9 years of his child’s life. Quite frankly, Dante deserved so much better than what he got with Simone. This book is evidence that shows you don’t pick who you love, and quite frankly, Simone should have groveled much more. She betrayed one of the best heroes I have ever read especially in the mafia, and even though I understand she isn’t a super strong and healthy balanced heroine, I felt like he deserved a woman that was willing to fight for him. The relationship felt very one-sided in that aspect and left me disappointed and just sad.
She loves me. And I love her. I can’t stop loving her. No matter what she’s done to me, no matter what she might do in the future, I can never stop. I would cut off my hands for this woman. Strip the flesh off my bones for her. I can’t live without her, and I don’t want to try. Forgiving her isn’t optional. I have to do it. I can’t exist without it.
Overall View
Overall I found Bloody Heart to be a captivating read, Sophie Lark sucked me in very quickly into this story, she brought some powerful emotions to the front and added layers of depths, and Dante is a hero worth reading, no matter the battle in getting there!
She’s the other part of me. I’ve been wandering around for nine years with only half my soul. I never thought I’d be whole again.