Poverty is an understatement when it comes to describing my circumstances. My mother is a lost cause I can’t get rid of, and I work my fingers to the bone just trying to keep my head above water.
To ease the stress bearing down on my shoulders, I like to dance. Working as a janitor at a ballet company makes it easy for me to steal thirty minutes at night when the place is empty.
Or so I thought. Just my luck that the dangerously handsome owner catches me red-handed. He thinks I’m a hardworking ballerina, and I don’t bother correcting him… because, you know, I’d like to keep my job.
Dario La Rosa has every girl at the company swooning, hoping she’ll be the one to end his bachelor status. Me? I just want to keep my secret and try to avoid the man at all costs.
But then my mother’s sins burst through my dilapidated front door, and my life takes a turn for the worse.
Turns out Dario isn’t who I thought he was, and the man has the power to not only change my entire life, but to keep me from losing it.
Even though I’m drawn to the darkness coming off him waves, I’m not sure whether I should run or stay.
Michelle Heard is a Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author who loves creating stories her readers can get lost in. She resides in South Africa with her son where she’s always planning her next book to write, and trip to take.
Drew Marshall is the epitome of a walking nightmare.
Deranged. Psychotic. Immoral.
After breaking my heart and publicly humiliating me, I vow to forget his existence.
He has other plans, though, and vows to make certain I don’t.
The only one I can turn to for help is a man I thought to be my enemy.
Drew’s best friend Sebastian who claims to be my brother.
He promises me security and protection. But no one can protect me from Drew.
The faster I run, the more he chases.
The harder I struggle, the tighter his grip becomes.
My enemy. My stalker. My villain.
It’s wrong, but I can’t stop myself from craving his rough touch, filthy words, and the dark promise of pleasure he gives me. They say the truth will set you free, but ours didn’t do that. It locked us inside the cage and tossed away the key.
**This is book 2 in the Oakmount Elite series and is NOT a standalone. This must be read after The Wallflower. Please be sure to check the author note at the start of the book if you have triggers. This book contains dark subject matter, sexual situations, and questionable morals.**
Beck writes steamy romance that’s unapologetic, meaning it makes no apologies for the way it rips you open and makes you crave more. Her heroes are alphas who take what they want, and she pairs them with heroines that bring them to their knees.
She loves writing about darkness, passion, suspense, and of course, steam.
Leaving her readers gasping and asking what the hell just happened is only one of her many tricks.
Her books range from morally grey to dark and spicy but always end with a happily ever after. She loves to write across numerous tropes, but her favorite is enemies to lovers.
She started her writing career in the summer of 2014 and hasn’t stopped since. She lives in Wisconsin and is a mom to two, a wife, and likes to act as a literary agent part-time.
I’ve had a crush on my best friend’s older brother for as long as I could remember. His charm and sex appeal could seduce a saint, never mind a sex-crazed woman.
With his cocky grin, those broad shoulders, and that filthy mouth, he was a heartbreaker in a leather jacket. And a leading man in every single one of my naughty fantasies.
The first time I kissed him, we ended up locked in the friend zone forever. Apparently my smooching skills left much to be desired. In my defense, I was too young and inexperienced.
But I grew up and totally got over him.
Until my engagement fell apart and Royce swooped in like a prince charming, saving me.
One tiny problem.
I was falling for him all over again. My lustful imagination, raging hormones and accidental glimpses of Royce’s nakedness weren’t helping. Neither were the rumors of Royce’s kinky tendencies.
But I refuse to be a footnote in Royce’s life. If we were doing this, we’d do it all.
We’d go all the way.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“Willow and I had been years in the making, we just didn’t know it.”
Oh my oh my oh my…
*Flails arms*
*Fans face*
Sheesh. 🥵
Talk about a super-hot change of pace from the rest of the Ashford brothers from the Billionaire Kings series. Don’t get me wrong, the previous books are equally steamy, but they also all consisted of angsty heartbreak within in-depth storylines. This book was pure unadulterated sex… and I would’ve been nutso not to have enjoyed the hell out of it! Willow’s and Royce’s book is the epitome of “here for good time, not a long time”.
It was fast-paced. It was smutty. It was… *singsong voice* 🙌 glorious!
I’m always up for a juicy dark billionaire romance with tons of build-up, but sometimes it’s refreshing to just sit back and escape into a fun, undemanding erotic read.
Let’s get the obvious romantic element out of the way. Kinks! Yes, its presence is strong. This would be little treat for readers who enjoy BDSM in their romance books. For full transparency, I’m not a particular fan of this element especially when it’s at an extreme level. Luckily for me, the BDSM included in this book was on the moderate side— some voyeurism, some spanking, and some exhibitionism. Alongside your usual teasing, praising kink, and dirty talk.
Although it’s an overall spicy romance read, please note it does contain triggering content that some readers may find disturbing to read through. It includes domestic abuse, explicit violence, drugging, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
The “friends-to-lovers” romance trope tend to be a bit of hit or miss for me. But intertwining it with the “secret crush” and the “forbidden romance” tropes made it all the more gripping. Willow and Royce have such a loving and playful relationship that their life-long friendship felt authentic. There interactions ooze out effortless comfortability that always ended up making me smile. Even with their age difference, they were in the same wavelength.
Besides the romance there were a lot of other highlights. One being the Ashfords. Whether they’re playfully ribbing one another or banding together to mete-out vengeance, their interactions never fail to keep things entertaining. There are strong familial support systems present. Willow’s family are exceptional. They’re your quintessential loving family dynamic in a world where the majority are cruel and corrupt.
There’s a great balance of lightheartedness to the grimmer portions of the story. It’s constantly progressing and told from multiple POVs. Whilst this is a standalone, it’s interconnected with the rest of the series through the cast of characters as they all crossover.
Willow and Royce have a sweet and spicy relationship going on. After years of staving off their desires, once their relationship evolved from platonic to romantic, there was no holds barred. This couple is in heat! 🤭 You have been warned, there is an abundance of explicit sexual content— fetishes incorporated!
All in all, I think it was fun book to end the series on. It’s a cool change-up to have an Ashford brother who hadn’t had as bad a backstory as his other siblings. I adored his friendship with Willow and aside from his kinky side, he’s quite the doting gentleman.
The writing itself is effortless to follow. Even with the occasional flashbacks to the past, there was a seamless flow to the story. This is not one of those books that’s plot-heavy, and there isn’t much character growth either, but it does have great characters and the various backdrops featured really puts you in such wanderlust.
I couldn’t read it fast enough and easily finished it in one sitting. It’s a must-read for fans of this series and the expansive interconnected world Winners has created. If you’re fan of billionaire romances that are on the dirty side, consider adding this one to your TBR.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Eva Winners and Megan Pagnano-Gatanis (The Next Step PR) for the opportunity to read an advance copy! ❤
🔔 Interested in reading Kinks Of A Billionaire? Grab your copy here: Universal Link
Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over half a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.
His skills are unparalleled. His motives clear. His lethality unquestionable. His only purpose is to obliterate the kingdom that had stolen more than his innocence from him. Until he crosses paths with a ghost from his past and he’s drawn into the woman’s web.
Liana Volkov. An ice princess with murderous plans. The unstable killer with the face of an angel.
Something big is happening in the belly of the underworld. Realities are shattered. A deadly game is played, tearing apart the kingdom from within the belly of the beast. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The line between enemies and allies is blurred. Mysteries unravel. Histories clash. Desires consume. Nothing is as it seems.
A new reign is born.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I’m yours until I draw my last breath.”
😲 Give me a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor. Because… damn.
It’s a masterful piece of writing. It has striking world-building, intricate chain of events, and was so emotionally propelled that it effortlessly transported me into Kingston’s and Liana’s harsh world. With each page I was pulled further and further into an immersive, yet highly twisted labyrinth.
I’ve said this in my other book reviews for this series— Billionaire Kings is by far my favourite series by Winners, and after having read this newest addition, I can re-iterate it. I absolutely loved the tropes and plot twists included. Kingston’s and Liana’s story is uniquely theirs. It’s still a billionaire romance but includes mafia/ organised crime elements within. It’s darker, more grittier, and a lot bloodier than the previous books in the series. It contains sensitive subject matters that may be triggering for some readers. It delves in strong graphic violence, kidnapping, child abuse, torture, human trafficking, sexual abuse, and death. It’s not for the fainthearted, and is intended for readers 18+ only.
Kingston and Liana have bound themselves to one another. They have a deep, complex history, and throughout a span of their lives, the connection that tethered them together never wavered. I devoured this book purely on the fact that I was wholly invested in seeing how things will unravel between them. If you enjoy dark romances filled with mystery and suspense, this book is not to be missed.
I’ve read countless romance books, plenty in the dark, mafia sub-genres. But I’ve only encountered a handful of “fierce” and “badass” heroines that have actually lived up to those descriptors. Liana, I can happily say fits the bill, and during my reading experience firmly held my attention.
Kingston (aka Ghost) is a complex character, and we finally get his full backstory. He’s screwy and broody, and not one to be messed with, but knowing the reasons behind his personality, it’s not hard to love and respect him for it.
These MCs have been to hell and back, and to hell again. The story was in-depth, felt relatively hefty, and was constantly progressing. The storytelling is told between a few different POVs, and goes back and forth from past to present through flashbacks, which could easily disrupt the flow, but I didn’t get any of that reading this one. It was well-paced and kept a satisfying build-up of anticipation.
It’s full of secrecy. The premise barely skimmed the surface of Kingston’s and Liana’s story. It’s a book that really needs to be experienced by the reader first-hand. Without spoilers or a full list of tropes revealed. Once you start, you’ll quickly realise where the direction of the story is heading. I’m not sure if the main “plot twist” was meant to be unpredictable (as there were signs everywhere), but I thought it was obvious nonetheless. However, it didn’t take away from the thrill of seeing developments unfold.
I recommend readers be up-to-date with Winners’ multiverse of books as they all interconnect through the characters. With this book being on the darker side, a lot of the time the backdrop is set within the underworld. Secondary characters involved in the mafia/organised crime play pivotal roles, and Kingston and Liana are in the heart of it alongside them. It can be read as a standalone, but in my opinion, the importance of certain characters and relationships will not necessarily have the same impact unless you’ve read Winners’ other books— specifically the previous books in the Billionaire Kings, as well as the Belles & Mobsters series.
The secondary characters not only amped up the story, but certain characters had me excited to read upcoming books. Winners is always adding teasers of confirmed future couples (or possible pairings), and this one introduced a couple of new characters that have me mentally keeping tabs on now.
I couldn’t fault this book. I loved it from start to finish. Yes, if I had to nit-pick there were a couple of questionable actions made by these characters but blips in the grand scheme of things. Kingston and Liana are an unbelievable pairing. They’re freaking formidable! I love that their journey was a Herculean feat. That from darkness there was light. I loved that despite the brokenness, they came out as survivors, fighters; both of whom exuded strength. That they never lost the ability to love either. If there was ever a couple who deserved a HEA, it was these two. Hell, it was a long time coming!
✔ Billionaire Romance
✔ Dark Romance
✔ Enemies to Allies to Lovers
✔ Slow Burn
✔ Mafia/ Organised Crime
✔ Suspense
Five stars all-around. Five stars for storytelling. Five stars for flow. Five stars for character growth. Five stars for the sizzling scenes. Five stars for the action and suspense. Five stars for the well-executed tropes and elements. You get the gist. 👌 It’s a page-turner.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners and Megan Pagnano-Gatanis (The Next Step PR) for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💚
🔔 Interested in reading Reign Of A Billionaire? Universal Link
Cover Designer: Lori Jackson Designs | Illustration: Sarah Jane, Illustrious Jane
•••
— BLURB —
He’s the hot, tattooed bad boy that I traded insults with…and now he wants my help?
Knox Holland is in a jam. After an incredible first year on the pro motocross circuit, he should be on top of the world. Instead, his bad reputation has landed him without a team. He’s untouchable and desperate to turn it around.
Which is how he ends up at my gym asking me to train him. As a college gymnast with two Olympic medals to my name, I know a thing or two about the pressure to succeed. Last season I choked and then injured myself before I could show the world that I’m not a twenty-year-old has-been.
Focused on the future, I can’t afford to get distracted. But I recognize the desperation in Knox’s eyes, and I can’t say no to him, either.
It should have been an easy task, but nothing about Knox is easy. One minute we’re arguing, and the next I’m enjoying his shirtless handstands a little too much.
Falling for him would be a mistake…
Burnout is a sports romance with a cocky bad boy, spice, banter, and a happily ever after.
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments. Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over half a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.
Billionaire Kings’ #SecretsOfABillionaire is now live!
Cover Designer: Eve Graphic Design | Photographer: Wander Aguiar | Model: Gustavo P.
•••
— BLURB —
Winston Ashford, not exactly Prince Charming.
Arrogant.
Bastard.
Gorgeous.
I’d mistaken him for a ten when he turned out to be a minus five. He was so beautiful but damaged beyond repair. There was no amount of understanding or loving that could save a man who didn’t want to be saved. So after one night together, I gladly washed my hands of him.
Until everything went south.
My father was dead. My sister needed help, and it was time I behaved like a responsible older sister, one with a plan.
Unfortunately, my plan was slightly…lacking.
When I was caught red-handed stealing from my less than wonderful one-night stand, Winston Ashford became intent on bending me to his will.
It turned out that he was as ruthless as he was gorgeous and cruel as he was tender.
Forced into an unwanted arrangement with the arrogant bastard, the kind that required rings, my last name became his. I became his reluctant, yet thankfully, secret wife. Unfortunately, he became the man who unknowingly held all the cards. At least we went our separate ways even if legally we were still bound together.
Six lonely years later, our paths crossed again.
There was still a darkness inside of him that scared me down to my very core.
He claimed he wanted a real marriage. That he was a changed man. But deep down, he was still the same. Damaged. Battling invisible scars and habits that were hard to break.
He saved me once upon a time. It was time for me to save him.
Eva Winners release her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing vigorously ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.
She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails or exploring the beaches.
Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.
Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you’ll never want to leave.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
I’d mistaken him for a ten when he turned out to be a minus five. He was so beautiful but damaged beyond repair. There was no amount of understanding or loving that could save a man who didn’t want to be saved. So after one night together, I gladly washed my hands of him.
Until everything went south.
My father was dead. My sister needed help, and it was time I behaved like a responsible older sister, one with a plan.
Unfortunately, my plan was slightly…lacking.
When I was caught red-handed stealing from my less than wonderful one-night stand, Winston Ashford became intent on bending me to his will.
It turned out that he was as ruthless as he was gorgeous and cruel as he was tender.
Forced into an unwanted arrangement with the arrogant bastard, the kind that required rings, my last name became his. I became his reluctant, yet thankfully, secret wife. Unfortunately, he became the man who unknowingly held all the cards. At least we went our separate ways even if legally we were still bound together.
Six lonely years later, our paths crossed again.
There was still a darkness inside of him that scared me down to my very core.
He claimed he wanted a real marriage. That he was a changed man. But deep down, he was still the same. Damaged. Battling invisible scars and habits that were hard to break.
He saved me once upon a time. It was time for me to save him.
But what happens when I’m not enough?
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Just let me be yours.”
Spice, spice, and more spice! Billie and Winston’s relationship snapped, crackled, and popped from beginning to end. They are a prime example of cliff diving into a vast ocean of sexual desire. Consequences be damned! Their story comprised of blue-balling and banter wrapped up in a solid layer of baggage.
Told from dual POVs. Billie and Winston take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions through a tangled web of complications. They navigate through years’ worth of lusty feelings, risky opportunities, and secrecy.
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading Misdeeds of a Billionaire (book two) first. It provides a full backstory of how Billie and Winston meet, the relationships between their families, and will give you a full knowhow of timelines and events that take place throughout the years.
They immediately intrigued me in Misdeeds and I couldn’t wait to read their story. Although it’s steady-paced, character-driven, and time constantly moving, I had hoped for more to their narrative. I enjoyed the banter, and their zingy chemistry was clear as day, but in comparison to the previous books in the series I had expected a lot more meatiness that didn’t appear until the last few chapters.
However, those last few chapters were by far my favourite part of the book. It was intense, highly emotional, and had me on edge. Despite initially knowing the tropes and plot points included in this book, nothing could’ve prepared me for the deluge of emotions that Billie and Winston evoked out of me within the short time span.
Winners’ writing is always effortless to follow, and the characters are so, so fascinating that I’m constantly left wanting to know more about them. There are side characters included that I’m looking forward to reading their books next, but there are also certain characters introduced that have me deeply intrigued, and I’m hoping it’s not the last we see of them.
This book includes sensitive subject matters that may be disturbing or triggering for some readers. It broaches on torture, suicide, PTSD, kidnapping, violence, attempted sexual abuse, and a miscarriage. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
Billie and Winston’s story is ominous for the most part but I promise good things are present. The love and positive support system is undeniable. Their relationship not only developed from strangers to lovers, but it grew from strength to strength. They’re flawed, complex characters, each with their own struggles and heartbreak who in time grow and come to terms with their past. They go through realistic traumas that some readers may relate to. Although tough to witness, I thought it was well-written with care and sensitivity. You can’t help but be invested in these MCs and seeing their journey through.
It’s a romance story with a smidge of action and suspense and mafia elements. I am addicted to the interconnected world Winners has created and the infinite character crossovers, but the Billionaire Kings has fast become my favourite. The Ashford brothers are a sight to behold. First there was Alessio, then Byron, and now Winston.
If you love reading about morally grey heroes who fall first and fall hard, then you’ll adore Win. He’s possessive, erratic, and when he sets his sights on something, you can bet he’ll get it. Billie is spunky, stubborn, and has the tendency to get into all kinds of trouble. But she’s also loyal, sweet, and playful. They may butt heads but that’s half the fun when seeing them together.
SOAB is another swoon-worthy addition to the series, and it has me counting down the days, weeks, and months until the next billionaire king. With its overall sombre atmosphere, it’s the perfect rainy day read to escape into. Their HEA was well and truly deserved!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners and Megan Pagnano-Gatanis (The Next Step PR) for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💜
🔔 Interested in reading Secrets Of A Billionaire? Grab your copy here: Universal Link
Attending a party with my stepbrother, I’m in for the surprise of my life.
It’s not a regular party, but instead, my wedding.
To Angelo Rizzo.
A coldhearted man who’s feared by all. Including me.
Turns out my stepbrother owes the Cosa Nostra money, and I’m being used to repay his debt to Angelo Rizzo.
Do I have a choice?
No. Not when it comes to matters concerning the Cosa Nostra.
Three hours later, I have a new shiny wedding ring on my finger and a husband I’m terrified of standing by my side.
Yep, my life just took a turn for the worse.
There’s no hiding. No running.
All I can do is face the nightmare that awaits me and pray I’ll survive being married to Angelo Rizzo.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I’m comfortable with the idea of going to hell.”
Aaaaaand we’re off! 👏👏👏 Angelo and Tori kicked off the Kings of Mafia series with a sonic boom! Not only was I completely smitten reading their story, but I was simultaneously excited for what’s to come next in Heard’s newest mafia world.
Fast-paced. Instant zingy romance. Tons of heart-warming moments. This book is two parts romance, one part mafia elements. It’s not as suspenseful as other mafia romance books but still elicits a thrill. Mild spice levels but lots of swoony wooing.
It’s actually a pretty good story to start off with if you’re relatively new to the romance sub-genre. It has a sense of danger lurking to give you an ominous vibe of organized crime without it becoming overly dark-themed. But in saying that, the narrative still broaches on sensitive subject matters that some readers may find disturbing. It contains violence, bullying, abuse— resulting in mental, physical and emotional trauma. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
I was happily surprised; the premise only teases the surface of this story. Angelo Rizzo is as intimidating as they come, but behind closed doors… he’s on another level. Think heaven with the devil. He also falls first so, that’s a nice change-up from the heroine falling in love first.
First impressions of Vittoria Romano are that she’s your stereotypical damsel in distress; a shy, submissive heroine. And although she possessed those traits, her unwavering moral values and religious beliefs kept me engaged and invested in seeing her character growth. You read about heroines who are “good girls, “innocent and pure”, but along the way for whatever reason they tend to lose those qualities, but not Vittoria. It was refreshing to see a FMC gradually evolve but also stay true to their initial character arc.
Besides the uber-sweet romantic development, there is a strong brotherhood amongst the leading men of this series, and an even stronger presence of a found-family. The secondary characters in this book are just as lovable (if not more) than the MCs. They make the scenes they appear in that much livelier. The bonds that develop will have you hand-to-heart emitting the warm and fuzzy.
With the narrative’s pacing, the relationship between Angelo and Tori technically developed pretty fast but it doesn’t necessarily come across that way when you’re reading it, so there’s a sense of sincerity behind their feelings.
I read this book in one sitting and although there were some plot twists that I thought came out of left field, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of reading it. It’s one helluva cute mafia romance and an exciting first book in what will undoubtedly be an amazing series. I’m eager to see the world-building expand further.
Heard is an auto-read author for me. I know what I can expect from her writing and know I’m going to enjoy what I read. I happily recommend this book to fellow romance readers. Like I said earlier it’s not as dark as far as mafia romances go and would the great read for those still dipping their toes into mafia romances.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Michelle Heard for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💗
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