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REVIEW – RENT GIRL: A DARK MAFIA/CARTEL INTERRACIAL CAPTIVITY ROMANCE, BY NENIA CAMPBELL

#darkromance #interracial #mafiaromance #suspense #captiveromance

Blurb

(He was the one thing she couldn’t run from.)

Beatrice Arsenault has spent the last ten years running. She’s changed her looks and changed her name and lives her life off the books or under the table, constantly looking over her shoulder for the one person she knows is looking back.

(She’s the one thing he could never leave.)

Dominic Xiang is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of hardened criminals. He runs an empire of vice and blood, which he rules with an iron fist. But when he met Beatrice ten years ago, he had just enough of a heart left to break.

(If they don’t bury the past, they’ll bury each other.)

Now he’s found her again, and she’s dancing on the edge of his knife. Whether it cuts her ties or ends her life is all up to him . . .

My Review

Dark, intense and more than a little crazy! 5 stars

Rent Girl by Nenia Campbell is an unapologetic dark read containing Dominic Xiang, a hot but crazy villain with few if ANY redeeming qualities, and Beatrice Arsenault, a troubled heroine whom he sets his sights on. He is the LAST person she needs to be with but unfortunately for her, as soon as he notices her there is no escape. The phrase you can run but you can’t hide certainly came to mind when I read this book!

I love the dark romance genre which allows the writer and reader to delve deep into the psyche of bad men such as Dominic. His world is not a pretty one and this book contains scenes of violence, murder and abuse, not to mention morally questionable behaviour towards the heroine. Although I was shocked at some scenes and at times felt that Beatrice would be better off without Dominic, the author slowly but surely turned it round and as the story progressed my dark heart started cheering this complex couple on. I was SO immersed in the interplay between the couple and the wider characters and plot that I read it in little more than a day.

The book has two timelines, one after the couple first meet and the other ten years later when Beatrice’s luck runs out and Dominic, intent on revenge, finds her once again. Dual timelines do not always work for me, but I found it done really well here and it helped illustrate how the dynamics between the couple changed over time and how they grew as characters.

Beatrice finds herself held captive and consumed by Dominic for much of the read and is revolted by his world. The author does an excellent job of showing us just how deep this revulsion goes. I loved how despite being powerless she stood up to him as much as she could. I enjoyed her character growth and Dominic’s realisation that perhaps she means more to him than he thought.

Just how far will Dominic go when it comes to punishing Beatrice for her deceit? Has he ANY capacity for forgiveness, love, or redemption? Will Beatrice ever be more than the rent girl/whore she sees herself? Can she love a monster? What will happen to her once he grows tired of her, especially given how he deals with his enemies and those who get in his way… These questions and more buzzed around my head during the read.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as the book approached its finale, and I was a quivering mess as various chickens came home to roost for the couple. I loved the ending. It was just perfect.

Recommended for fans of the genre.

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BOOK REVIEW TOUR – SEA SHAKEN (THE CASTLEBY SERIES BOOK 3), BY J. M. SIMPSON

Blurb

All is not well in Castleby.

Her life hangs in the balance… He needs to be sure she’s dead…

Jesse Stevens lies in a coma after being pulled off a cliff by a psychopath who escaped from prison to find her.
He is in hiding, also hurt from the fall, but fuelled with rage. He needs to make sure she’s dead. If she isn’t, he’ll finish the job once and for all.

Military Intelligence Officer, Sam Jones, missing presumed dead, returns from Afghanistan after two years of brutal torture in captivity. Struggling to cope, Sam has no desire to carry on living, or return to family life, with his wife, Sophie, and son, Marcus. Sophie is desperate to help Sam recover and leans heavily on her friend and ex-forces soldier Foxy for support.

Castleby is plagued by a series of unexplained deaths among the elderly and that of a local fisherman. Inspector Steve Miller works closely with the new local GP, Kate Cooper, to try and find an explanation and they eventually uncover the sinister truth.

Intrigue, drama, suspense and a hint of romance continue in the third of the Castleby Series.

My Review

Suspenseful and emotionally intense – 5 stars

Sea Shaken is the latest release in J. M. Simpson’s Castleby series, set in a fictional coastal town. It is a character driven and suspenseful crime thriller with elements of romance, and I was hooked from start to finish! It was my first time reading this author’s work and although the book worked for me as a standalone, I will be checking out earlier books in the series which reference the backstory of some of the characters.

Castleby is a town where traumatic events have left a shadow over the lives of a number of its inhabitants. One if these is Jesse, back from the brink of death, after being brutally attacked by her ex-husband, intent on murdering her. There is also Sam, rescued from two years of torture in Afghanistan. After suffering unimaginable horrors during his captivity, he is not the same man and wants nothing of his old life with hwife Sophie and son Marcus. Luckily Sophie has a good friend Foxy who is on hand to help out, but he has his own issues… As if this wasn’t enough, the new GP Kate Cooper and Chief Inspector Steve Miller (my two favourite characters!) have their work cut out in trying to get to the bottom of unexplained deaths within the community. I was rooting for the main characters throughout, whilst asking myself if anyone was safe in Castleby.

Sea Shaken was a suspenseful and at times emotionally intense read and I really felt for what some of the characters were going through, whilst wanting those responsible for the crimes to be held to account. The plot is harrowing at times, particularly the references to those characters experiencing PTSD, but there are also moments of humour and a great deal of warmth due to the friendships and romantic elements inherent in the plot. The author is certainly skilled at creating believable and relatable characters, in which the reader very soon becomes invested. I particularly loved how she effortlessly wove their individual stories into the overall story and enjoyed the many twists and turns.

All in all, a fantastic read for lovers of crime thrillers and suspense.

Please note, a copy of the book was made available to me by the author, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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November 30, 2021 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW – No Mercy: A gripping, action-packed British noir crime thriller (A Trigger Cullen Novel Book 1), by AJ Adams

#Crime #Thriller

Blurb

Trigger Cullen left home to forget his past, but when his family run into desperate trouble, he can’t say no. But returning to Ringmere is fraught with tension. With his family’s crisis and his manipulative cousin Alex trying to lure him back into his old job as enforcer, Trigger has his hands full. To complicate matters, Rachel Fox, an old flame, is back.

Stunningly beautiful, clever and hardworking, Rachel is a rising cam star. But money attracts predators. Trigger deals swiftly and ruthlessly with Jaffa, chief enforcer for the Razors. But Rachel is also falsely accused of blackmailing her ex, Ringmere’s married and publicly pious mayor, Lucian DeVere.

Trigger fears that entering the fray will ensnare him into returning to his old life. However, the murder of Rachel’s cam partner, plus his family’s urgent need combine to force his hand.

To Alex’s delight, Trigger promises to hunt down the blackmailer turned killer. But he can’t guess how violent his quest will become. Trigger Cullen is about to be catapulted into a web of blackmail, murder and deceit.

My Review – 5 stars

Compelling Crime Thriller

This book, a new genre for AJ Adams, is a crime thriller, involving blackmail, violence, murder and deceit, with a whodunnit at the centre of the plot. It’s a compelling, suspenseful read, with strong and authentic characters and a new morally suspect anti-hero, Max ‘Trigger’ Cullen, whom I loved.

Trigger is a man with a reputation for violence, a survivor, who has done some time in the military. He has now returned home, determined to avoid resuming his old enforcer role within the Cullen family business empire. However, he is soon drawn in to the world of crime when he comes to the aid of Rachel, an old flame, who is threatened by a local gang. When Rachel is accused of blackmail and her friend is murdered, Trigger’s protective instincts kick in and he comes to her defence. He soon finds himself at the centre of the fray; a corrupt politician, an over enthusiastic local police inspector and a murderer are just some of the challenges he faces.

I loved that Trigger is a complicated character, one with a darkness inside of him, who will stop at nothing to protect those he cares about – he even tries to keep Rachel at a distance as he thinks he is not good enough for her. Rachel is a complex character too and as danger closes in on her, I was on pins to find out if Trigger could save her and solve the mystery of the blackmailer/murderer before it was all too late.

I enjoyed how the book delves into the underbelly of local politics and its links to business and often organised crime. As with all the author’s books the plot contains some humour which for me is a definite plus. I also loved how some of the characters in the author’s other books make a brief appearance or are referenced, adding depth and breadth to the world building. This book is a standaIone read and I can’t wait to read what Trigger gets involved in in future instalments.

Recommended for readers of crime thrillers who enjoy a fast-paced, character driven read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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November 27, 2021 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW – Mended Crown: A Dark Mafia Romance: War of Roses Universe: (Mice and Men Book 4), by Lana Sky

#Dark #MafiaRomance

Blurb

A broken engagement should signal the end of the feud blazing between the Stepanovs and Vanicis—barring one small hitch no one foresaw: a surprise pregnancy that could turn this petty misunderstanding into outright war.

For Donatello, this new baby is a shred of hope after nearly a decade of misery—one he won’t forfeit without a fight.

For Willow, this ordeal is a glaring reminder of her own conflicted loyalty, leading to a choice she will have to live with for the rest of her life…

Salvaging this union will be the hardest, bloodiest war Donatello has fought yet. But, as the danger looming above the city reaches a breaking point, will they outlast the violence with their lives—and hearts—intact?

Mice and Men is a new standalone series in the War of Roses Universe.

My Review – 5 stars

Intense and dramatic conclusion – an all-nighter!

After the revelations at the end of the last book, I virtually inhaled this, the final book in the series. It’s another intense and emotional read from this author who certainly knows how to put her characters through the mill and back. It contains a number of plot twists including one biggie and is a wild ride!

In it, secrets and hidden agendas are revealed from all angles as Willow and Donatello decide if they are to have a future together whilst danger from an unknown and powerful adversary threatens all they hold dear. The battle of wills between Donatello and Willow is still as big as ever, except this time there is more to consider than their own future.

Their relationship is as complex as they come. Donatello in particular continues to be one crazy tortured and guilt-ridden character and I enjoyed the push/ pull of his relationship with Willow, who really comes into her own in this instalment, growing in confidence.

Haunted by their tragic past, involving trauma and deceit, can they possibly come together to forge a future together? I was really rooting for their HEA as the suspense and danger came to a head.
I also enjoyed the battle of wills between Evgeni and Briar and how the author has woven their increasingly complex relationship into the book.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Reviwed by Tina Williams

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November 11, 2021 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW – Killing Me Softly: A Romantic Suspense Anthology

#DarkReads #RomanticSuspense #Romance

Blurb

Are you brave enough to wander on the dark side?

Do forbidden desires and tantalizing temptations call to you?

Get ready to step into the world of lies, deceit and revenge.

Worlds where you can’t look away. No is not an option.

Where strong men but even stronger women reside.

Test the boundaries between love and obsession with these 20+ romantic suspense novels that will leave you breathless, and your sheets soaked.

Delve between the pages and find out if happily ever afters can come from love that’s born in the dark.

For fans of Lisa Renee Jones, Meghan March, Willow Winters, and Aleatha Romig.

Authors in this set include: Lena Bourne, Lexy Timms, Charlotte Byrd, Lisa Lang Blakeney, Lux Miller, Drethi Anis, Linnea May, Ivy Fox, Sahara Roberts, Adelaide Forrest, Adora Crooks, Emily Bowie, Theresa Sederholt, LC Taylor & Allie Rose, Paige P. Horne, K.A Knight, Avery Sen, Margot Scott, Nikita Slater, Ashley Lane, Molly Sloan, Jas T. Ward, and Kristin Alexander.

My Review of Nikita Slater’s story, 7 Days

Quirky but Sexy Stalker Story! 5 stars

Nikita Slater’s story, 7 Days, is part of the anthology and I recommend it to readers who love a crazy alpha hero and a sassy heroine who just might be his perfect fit – if only he can persuade her!

Criminal for hire Erik becomes obsessed with safecracker Letty whilst they are on a job together. After stalking her he becomes convinced she is the perfect woman for him. Nothing and no one, not even Letty, will stand in his way. When Letty wakes up one morning to find she is held captive by Erik in her own apartment, the fun begins. Just what is a girl to do when faced with a man declaring his undying love to her, especially when he won’t take no for an answer and just tells her he will convince her to love him in seven days.

I found Erik to be one creepy, crazy individual, but like Letty, I increasingly found it difficult not to be attracted to him. I was so conflicted! I loved Erik’s attempts to woo Letty and her attempts to foil him and also that Letty is a fighter and resists Erik’s plans for her.

Erik in an interesting character – emotionally detached from everyone in his life, apart from Letty. During her forced captivity Letty gets to know him and starts to understand him. Yet how caan such a strong independent woman possibly fall for someone who is so controlling? I really enjoyed how this story played out and hope the author is planning to treat us to more stories set in the world Letty and Erik inhabit, possibly featuring secondary characters we meet in the book.

Recommended for lovers of romantic suspense.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this story from the anthology was provided to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

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July 29, 2021 by Tina Williams

💸 Blood Ties, Dinero de Sangre #2, by Lana Sky, Release Blitz with Review 💸

A new Dark Cartel Romance!

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Release Date: July 27^th

BLURB

In this twisted dark cartel romance, revenge and hate collide with the past…

As Ada adjusts to the hellish predicament she finds herself in, one thing becomes painfully clear—Domino isn’t the only monster with her life in his hands.

And by no means is he the most dangerous.

Jaguar brings with him a wealth of mystery—and violence—that threatens to rock what little ground with Domino she’s managed to gain.

In the end, Ada will have to make a choice with both her life and her body on the line.

Only one man can offer her mercy should he choose to.

The other…

Doom.

If only she knew which fate would hurt less—losing her freedom, or losing her heart?

All Retailers ➜ https://books2read.com/DDSBloodTies

Read Book One: All Retailers ➜ https://books2read.com/BloodMoney

My Review

Dark, Gripping and Emotionally Intense!

5 stars

I was consumed by this emotionally intense read. It is full of secrets, deceit and revenge and the push and pull between Domino and Ada, the heartbeat of the novel, was just the perfect torture for readers like me who are addicted to dark, edgy and suspenseful romance.

I loved how just as the author reveals more about Ada and Domino’s troubled past and their motivations, she throws yet more spanners into the works, not least Jaguar, who looms large in this story. Poor Ada is fighting for her very life and all she can do is endure what Domino is putting her through and attempt to find any leverage she possibly can. She has no one to trust and Domino’s mercurial moods are unpredictable and painful – he is truly the monster he professes to be, yet the threat of Jaguar promises to be on another level entirely…

I was on pins to see what would happen as the plot veers from one shocking scene to the next and as for the ending… Suffice to say the conclusion to the trilogy cannot come soon enough.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I was given an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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#NewRelease #DarkCartelRomance #NewSeries #LanaSky #TwistedRomance #RevengeAndHate #NeedToReadItNow #ReadMoreRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceBookAddict #Romancelandia #BookWorm #BookObsessed #RomanceBooks #SteamyReads⁠ #DarkRomance

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Lana Sky is a reclusive writer in the United States who spends most of her time daydreaming about complex male characters and legless cats. She writes mostly paranormal romance, in between watching reruns of Ab Fab and drinking iced tea. Only iced tea.

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June 22, 2021 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ/REVIEW – Stolen Love: A Diamond Magnate Novel (Beauty in the Stolen Trilogy #3), by Charmaine Pauls.

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: June 22, 2021

BLURB

Once upon a time, a thief stole me in the middle of the night. He took what he wanted, gave me an illusion, and ripped it all away to claim his ultimate trophy. My heart may be physically weak, but fighting to live made me stronger. I won’t perish as easily as that. I’m turning the tables on him. After all, I learned from the best. I’m robbing him of what he stole from me.

*Stolen Love concludes the trilogy.

Other books in the Diamond Magnate collection:

Beauty in the Broken (Standalone)

Diamonds are Forever trilogy

Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1)

Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2)

Diamonds are Forever (Book3)

GOODREADS LINK

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EXCERPT

I suck in a breath. His back sports a new tattoo. An orange tree runs from his flank up to his shoulder. The roots branch out over his lower back and side. It’s so well drawn it looks as if the network of roots is grafted with his skin. A branch with orange blossoms runs up to his shoulder. The petals curl over the arch, only the tips of a flower visible on the curve as he faces me again.

Why did he get it? The answer is obvious. The truth stares me in the face. He never said it, but he declared it in permanent ink on his skin next to the values that govern his behavior, his life.

“It’s not some kind of gravestone,” he says in a quiet voice.

My gaze slips to the pendant on the leather string that hangs in the center of his breastbone. “What’s not a gravestone?” I ask, pretending not to know what he’s talking about. It’s too deep, too personal. We don’t share that kind of intimacy any longer.

“The tattoo. It doesn’t symbolize grief.”

I can’t help from asking, “What does it symbolize?”

“Love.” His gaze intensifies. “The kind that gets under your skin.”

My Review

Perfect end to fantastic trilogy – 5 stars

After the monumental cliffhanger at the end of the last book, hope warred with fear and trepidation when this, the third and final instalment of the trilogy dropped on to my Kindle. What else could the author do to traumatise me, the unsuspecting reader?

From the first page to the very last Stolen Love is a rollicking read, as Cas and Ian reunite and face up to each other and the tragedy of their past. Scene after scene pulled at my heartstrings at what the couple have gone through. But the author didn’t stop there, with a story encompassing revenge and forgiveness as well as suspense and danger to add to the complex emotional journey this couple are going through. Once again, the attraction between them is off the scale and there are some very sexy scenes.

They are just perfect for each other, but once again individuals and circumstances conspire against them and the storyline has a number of tear- jerking moments. Cas is as feisty as ever, but vulnerable given what she has been through and Ian, the unapologetic crime lord does all he can to keep her safe. Just when you think it’s all going to be hunky dory at last, the author once again pulls the rug out from under the reader in spectacular style. I’d highly recommend this book and the others in the series to readers of the genre – superb.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author for a fair and honest review.

ALSO AVAILABLE

#1 Stolen Lust

#2 Stolen Life

AUTHOR BIO

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to Chile with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published over twenty novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles. Two of her shorts have been selected by the International Literary Society for an anthology from across the African continent.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in France with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

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There is a giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card: CLICK HERE

May 23, 2021 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW – Goodnight, Sinners (Sinner’s Empire, book 3)

#MafiaRomance

Blurb

Goodnight, Sinners is the third and final book in International Bestselling Author Nikita Slater’s mafia romance Sinner’s Empire Trilogy.
A mafia war.
A fallen empire.
A family destroyed and scattered.
Jozef and Shaun must pick up the pieces and rise to the top of a criminal empire together. If they fail, they will lose everything.
Shaun must fight for her beliefs and her career if she’s going to be happy as a mob wife.
Jozef is on a precipice. One wrong step could mean the end of his rise to power, his wife and even his life.
Together they will show the world a new Koba empire, built from the ashes of destruction and put back together with the strength of their love.

My Review – 5 stars

Emotional and action-packed

I have loved every instalment in this series and the third and final book in Shaun and Jozef’s story is by far no exception. The journey to their HEA, which takes place within the world of organised crime, is not an easy one as it is full of danger, deception and drama, but it does make for a fantastic emotional and action-packed read.

The couple are clearly very much in love with one another and whilst Jozef will do anything to keep Shaun safe, his actions sometimes go against what she wants and needs, given she is such a strong and independent woman. I enjoyed reading how they learned to open up to each other, working to resolve their differences and growing as a couple, although it was not always an easy ride in the dangerous world they live in. The tension between Shaun, a surgeon dedicated to saving lives, and Jozef for whom violence and killing has been a way of life, was palpable and kudos to the author for sharing their story with us in such a realistic and sensitive manner.

The surprises and plot twists in this instalment just kept coming, events drawing together the many threads woven into earlier books. At times I was only just recovering from one revelation when I was hit with another. I loved how the author developed a number of secondary characters, weaving parts of their stories into Shaun and Jozef’s romance, and I hope that they will feature in future books.

Recommended to lovers of mafia romance and also romantic suspense.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

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May 18, 2021 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ/REVIEW – Stolen Life, A Diamond Magnate Novel. Beauty in the Stolen Trilogy #2), by Charmaine Pauls.

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: May 18, 2021

BLURB

Ian Hart stole a night of my life but he took so much more. His obsession pinned a label on me. His lust put me in an impossible situation. Now I have to choose sides. I have to decide between right and wrong. Only, no matter what choice I make, each comes with dreadful consequences. There’s only one way this can end—how every tragedy ends.

*Stolen Life is Book 2 of the Beauty in the Stolen trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Book 3 will be released on 22 June 2021.

Other books in the Diamond Magnate collection:

Beauty in the Broken (Standalone)

Diamonds are Forever trilogy

Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1)

Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2)

Diamonds are Forever (Book 3)

GOODREADS LINK

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EXCERPT

His voice lowers with intent. “Know this, if you do run, I’ll slap a pair of ankle cuffs on you so fast you won’t have time to say my name. There’ll be no more playing nice. I’ll tie you to my bed if that’s what I have to do.” Cupping my jaw, he delivers the threat with a soft kiss on my lips. “The choice is yours.”

The heavy blow is dealt with tender words. They sift down like snowflakes to settle cold in my heart. I tremble as he pushes me down onto the hood and leans over me.

“What will it be, Cas?”

He’s not asking if I’m on board with this limited version of freedom. When he unbuttons my jeans, he’s asking a different question, and, as always, when he slips his hand into my underwear, he gets the truth.

ALSO AVAILABLE

#1 Stolen Lust

COMING SOON

#3 Stolen Love – Releasing June 22