forbiddenromance – booksofthemuggleborn

By Virtue I Fall Teaser

Book Teaser, Contemporary, Dark Romance, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Upcoming Release

The first look at Cora Reilly’s next book in the Sins of the Fathers series!

Coming Soon! #ByVirtueIFall 💛

ByVirtueIFall_Cover — Cover design: Hang Le | Photographer: Michelle Lancaster | Model: Chase Mattson

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— BLURB —

A standalone forbidden bodyguard romance!

Love is an inconvenience Anna Cavallaro doesn’t have time for.

She only has one goal: to become a fashion designer. Chicago’s elite already copies her style religiously, not least because she’s the daughter of the city’s notorious mafia boss.

When she’s accepted at a world-famous fashion institute in Paris, her father’s condition is to take her bodyguard along.

Anna definitely wouldn’t mind a few weeks of no-strings-attached fun with her brooding protector. Santino Bianchi became the Outfit’s enforcer because he liked the thrill of the hunt and kill.

Babysitting his capo’s daughter is an honorable assignment he can’t refuse. His thoughts about Anna?

Not so honorable.

Santino’s ignored Anna’s persistent flirting for years. Now, far away from home boundaries begin to blur. But Santino doesn’t have any intention to be the reason for a failed engagement and the ensuing scandal.

A summer fling in Paris.

Only two things stand in Anna’s way.

Santino’s iron will.

And…her fiancé.

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— TEASER —

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— By Virtue I Fall by Cora Reilly —

Sins Of The Fathers (Book Two)

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Genre: Forbidden Mafia Romance

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Pre-order links coming soon!

🎁 Enter the Giveaway ➡ Facebook Giveaway

An e-ARC for one lucky winner (you’ll receive it some time in June like the ARC team!) Giveaway will be closed on Sunday!

📣 Join the promotions!

Enter here ➡ Blogger & Bookstagrammer Sign-Up

•••

— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —

Cora Reilly

Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.

Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.

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Join Cora Reilly’s Facebook Group! Cora always post the latest news, teasers, and book covers in that group first! Lots of fun to be had with tons of bonus surprises!

→ Cora’s Flamingo Squad

Follow Cora Reilly on her social media!

🔔 Don’t forget to sign up for Cora’s Newsletter! Cora Reilly’s Newsletter

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Cora Reilly has a MasterList!

If you’d like to help spread the word about future cover reveals, sales, teasers etc, then you won’t have to sign up separately anymore if you’re on said Master list. You’ll be emailed the images and info directly. So if you want to spread the Cora mafia love, please sign up here: Cora Reilly MasterList

Her Rebellion Teaser

Adult Romance, Book Teaser, Dark Reads, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense, Upcoming Release

So excited to share the cover reveal for #HerRebellion!

Book two in The Rite Trilogy! ❤

HerRebellion_Cover — Cover Design: CoverLuv

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— BLURB —

I am a Sovereign Son. A king within The Society.

With a look I send men to their knees.

Yet she stands tall against me, taunting me with her rebellion.

But we all have rules we must live by.

Even me.

And I have broken the most sacred.

I took her to my bed.

I claimed that which did not belong to me.

And now that the beast within has had a taste, it wants more.

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— TEASER —

•••

— Her Rebellion by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli —

The Rite Trilogy (Book Two)

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Genre: Dark Romance

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

⚖ Start The Rite Trilogy!

Book One: His Rule

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

📣 Coming Soon…

Book Three: Their Reign

Release Date: June 21, 2022

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

— ABOUT THE AUTHORS —

Natasha Knight

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over 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.

Follow Natasha Knight on social media!

Website: http://natasha-knight.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/natasha-knight
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Natasha-Knight/e/B009MIHIFG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashaknightauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1752075498339742
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknight13

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A. Zavarelli

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell. Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Follow A. Zavarelli on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azavarelliauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/943497375705372
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azavarelli
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZavarellibooks
Website: https://www.azavarelli.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13549895.A_Zavarelli
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-Zavarelli/e/B00U2562W8
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-zavarelli

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His Rule Release Day Teaser

Adult Romance, Book Teaser, Dark Reads, Dark Romance, New Release, Romance, Suspense

Happy Release Day, Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli!

#HisRule is now live! ⚖💛

HisRule_Cover — Cover Design: CoverLuv | Photographer: Wander Aguiar | Model: Andrew Biernat

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— BLURB —

I live in a world where secrecy reigns.
A Society rooted in power, wealth, and long-held dynasties.
Where men are Kings, and women are pawns.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of escaping the shackles of my expectations.
But it can only ever be a dream.
I made a fatal mistake, and those shackles became a cage.
Now I’m trapped in a war with a man who controls my every move.
He’s my brother’s best friend.
My enemy, my tormentor, and my solace.
His words have the power to wound me.
His touch just might break me.
But this is his kingdom, and as long as I’m here I only have one choice.
I’ll play by his rules.

•••

— TEASER —

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

•••

— His Rule by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli —

The Rite Trilogy (Book One)

Release Date: April 26, 2022

Genre: Dark Romance/ Romantic Suspense

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Grab your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

📣 Coming Next…

Book Two: Her Rebellion

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

Book Three: Their Reign

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

— ABOUT THE AUTHORS —

Natasha Knight

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over 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.

Follow Natasha Knight on social media!

Website: http://natasha-knight.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/natasha-knight
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Natasha-Knight/e/B009MIHIFG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashaknightauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1752075498339742
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknightromance

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A. Zavarelli

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Follow A. Zavarelli on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azavarelliauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/943497375705372
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azavarelli
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZavarellibooks
Website: https://www.azavarelli.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13549895.A_Zavarelli
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-Zavarelli/e/B00U2562W8
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-zavarelli

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His Rule by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli

Adult Romance, ARC Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Dark Reads, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense

⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!

booksofthemuggleborn_hisrule — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

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• MY REVIEW •

“When Mercedes and I come together, it’s like fire and ice. A battle of wills. Two beasts with our jaws on each other’s jugulars. For one to win, the other must lose, but what will the cost be?”

Give this book ALL the stars! It may be a little premature since this is only the first book in the trilogy, but I’m calling it anyways… this is the BEST, most intense story I’ve read within The Society! I have enjoyed all the previous books set in this world but I just emotionally connected with Mercedes’ and Judge’s unbelievably in-depth story on a whole deeper level!

It’s ironic how much of a non-fan I was of Mercedes in The Society Trilogy (where she was first introduced) only to come back around after reading His Rule to become my favourite heroine! 😅 A true testament of Knight’s and Zavarelli’s high quality storytelling to have who was once considered a devious antagonist become a complex, misunderstood protagonist you can’t helped but be emotionally invested in… and lowkey wanting to kick ass!

Whilst I had instantaneously adored Judge in The Society Trilogy, Mercedes however was a tough character to support. But seeing how much her character has evolved and finally knowing her backstory made me realize how quickly I may have prejudged her and assumed she was just another trouble-making side character. 🤦‍♀️

Other than his sense of dominance and power within The Society, very little is known of Judge as a character before this book, and when you finally learn about his story, you will swoon over him more so. He blows hot and cold, yet I found myself mirroring Mercedes as she navigates through her feelings.

A fast-paced, super action-packed storytelling that has so many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book. It has an overall sense of mystery, danger, and thrill that only heightened the reading experience. I found the world-building so vivid and alluring that I wished I could transport to their world.

Knight and Zavarelli know how to write weighty, in-depth stories and this is another prime example of their honed skills. The secrecy lurking at what seems like every corner, the handful of seedy secondary characters that you can’t help but need to keep constant attention on, and the rollercoaster ride that Judge and Mercedes takes you on as they battle out the effects of their push-pull relationship is what makes His Rule a must read!

The chemistry between these two fierce characters was off the charts FIRE! The heated banter was entertaining and only increased my love for them as a couple. There’s such an appeal in the forbidden aspect of their relationship and as the story develops, the more you want to see their bond.

Just the dark, romantic suspense story I needed for the perfect escape. It has an amazing combination of elements I look for (and expect) in my dark romance reads. Yes, it’s ultimately a work of fiction, but a lot of the parts included are fairly realistic and relatable— from the complex family dynamics, to the bonds and friendships formed, to dealing with one’s own social standing. I love the many layers this story consisted of, with multiple subplots both in the foreground and background, it’s what made it such a gripping read. There’s an equal balance of romance, personal journey, and all-around suspense to keep the intensifying build-up that culminates to an epic cliffhanger. It’s safe to say this book left me in such a desperate state of needing book two!

Please note, this book does contain sensitive subject matter that may be triggering for some readers such as, child abuse, domestic abuse, and graphic violence. It also contains strong sexual content. Intended for readers 18+ only.

However, if you have no triggers, and love any of the following romance tropes and genres, I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR.

Hate-to-Love
Forbidden Romance
Dark Romance
Romantic Suspense
Brother’s Best Friend
Age Gap Romance

It’s not necessary to read The Society Trilogy first, but I still recommend you do so, or at least go back to it after reading this one as it introduces you to Judge and Mercedes, and how their intricate relationship began.

Knight and Zavarelli are THE dream romance writing team and in my honest opinion His Rule was beautifully executed. Mercedes’ and Judge’s story not only expanded the existing world-building but IVI have another striking couple added to their already impressive list.

All in all, it’s an unbelievably impressive start to The Rite Trilogy. I couldn’t fault it. It’ll definitely be a story I’ll go back and visit time and time again!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Natasha, Ashleigh, and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💛

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🌹 More from the exclusive world of The Society – IVI

booksofthemuggleborn_thesocietytrilogy — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

💀 The Society Trilogy by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli

(Santiago De La Rosa and Ivy Moreno)

Book One: Requiem Of The Soul by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli

Book Two: Reparation Of Sin by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli

Book Three: Resurrection Of The Heart by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli

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booksofthemuggleborn_kingdomfall — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

👑 Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli

(Alessio Scarcello and Natalia Cabrera)

Standalone Book: Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli

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Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

⛪ Devil’s Pawn Duet by Natasha Knight

(Jericho St. James and Isabelle Bishop)

Book One: Devil’s Pawn by Natasha Knight

Book Two: Devil’s Redemption by Natasha Knight

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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

His Rule Teaser

Adult Romance, Book Teaser, Dark Reads, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense, Upcoming Release

Get the first look at Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli upcoming release!

Coming Soon! #HisRule ⚖

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— BLURB —

•••

— TEASER —

•••

— His Rule by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli —

The Rite Trilogy (Book One)

Release Date: April 26, 2022

Genre: Dark Romance/ Romantic Suspense

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

📣 Coming Next…

Book Two: Her Rebellion

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

Book Three: Their Reign

🔔 Pre-order your copy now!

Amazon US | Amazon INTL | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

•••

— ABOUT THE AUTHORS —

Natasha Knight

Follow Natasha Knight on social media!

Website: http://natasha-knight.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/natasha-knight
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Natasha-Knight/e/B009MIHIFG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashaknightauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1752075498339742
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknightromance

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A. Zavarelli

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Follow A. Zavarelli on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azavarelliauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/943497375705372
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azavarelli
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZavarellibooks
Website: https://www.azavarelli.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13549895.A_Zavarelli
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-Zavarelli/e/B00U2562W8
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-zavarelli

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Deceitful by C. Reilly

ARC Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Crime Thriller, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense

⚠ This review contains minor teasers!

booksofthemuggleborn_deceitful — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, a young woman with special powers might be the only person able to stop him. As part of a secret branch of the FBI, Tessa is sent on a mission to impersonate Madison, a local teen and the last victim of the brutal attacker, to find the killer before he strikes again.

As if absorbing the DNA of someone else and pretending to be them wasn’t hard enough, Alec, the guy she’s been in love with for years, is joining her on the dangerous mission. Tessa knows she can’t let her feelings for him get in the way, especially as her crush seems hopeless. Not only is Alec her self-defence teacher but he’s also taken. If only the attraction between them would stop complicating everything!

Will Tessa find the killer before another person falls victim to him? Or will she lose herself in a life she’s always longed for but never had?

•••

• MY REVIEW •

For those who are only familiar with Cora Reilly’s work through her mafia romance books need to know that she’s an author who’s dabbled in other romance genres— dark, contemporary, sports romance… and now her latest? Supernatural fiction meets Crime Thriller. I can tell you after having read Deceitful, it went straight to my list of all-time fave Reilly books, and I am itching with anticipation to read the next book! 😍

“She is the perfect spy—the ultimate weapon.”

It took a little settling into but when I got into the groove, it was complete and utter smooth sailing with the storyline and getting to know these characters. Their special abilities and the purpose they’ve been given could easily have been overwhelming to learn about that you start to lose interest or focus, but Cora eases you into this new world she has created.

It’s effortless to follow, from the introductions of all the characters, to their backstories, to the relationships they have with one another. The storyline had a nice flow that keeps you in suspense from start to finish. There were three outstanding elements that stood out for me that ultimately made this a winning read:

The strong friendships that provided such contrast and dynamic to the cast of characters.
The excruciating love Tessa had for Alec, the bond they shared, and the rollercoaster of emotions they took me on.
And finally, the plot’s constant unpredictability throughout the book. As a crime enthusiast (both true and fictional), it was a real treat feeling like you’re working this case right alongside Tessa. Being suspicious of anybody and everybody, but never quite figuring out who the culprit is before the big reveal. I was on tenterhooks and it was such a buzz! 😄

I couldn’t help but think that it gave me such X-Men vibes with these characters having their own unique abilities— Tessa in the forefront with her ability to shapeshift into anyone she touches. They’ve formed somewhat of a diverse substitute family unit, and seeing their interactions were just as fascinating as seeing them use their abilities.

Cora has introduced world-building that honestly has so many possibilities and potential for growth. It already has great bones with Deceitful setting the tone, not just what we can look forward to seeing from Tessa, but from the rest of the superhuman operatives under the FBI’s secret branch.

I initially would’ve liked dual POVs but I quickly discovered that Tessa as the sole narrator was more than enough as this is her story to tell, her experiences, her journey. Whilst I fell in love with a few other characters in this book, it’s hard to overlook Tessa. Her inexperience and lack of emotional control made her such a raw, genuine, and relatable character. You may not agree with all her decisions and actions, but with her history, you can’t quite hate her for them either.

But I’m not going to lie… I’m excited to see more of the secondary characters introduced. There’s already a couple of characters that caught my eye that I’m eager to see more of in future books. There were a few things that I felt needed to be elaborated on, but with how this book ended, I’m hoping to eventually get in-depth details later.

I should point out that it does contain graphic violence that may be triggering for some readers. Although the majority of the story takes place in a high school backdrop, it’s new adult fiction with mature content.

Overall, a relatively quick but punchy read! As I mentioned earlier, it’s become one of my favourite books Cora has written. I undoubtedly recommend it to readers who are fans of murder-mystery/ crime fiction with supernatural themes. There’s certainly romance, and despite Cora mentioning it being on the light side, I beg to differ. I thought there was just the right amount of romance weaved throughout that not only had me swooning, but it also had me craving to see more. It’s somewhat of a slow-burn but trust me when I say, there’s plenty of heat to keep the romance side of things nice and toasty! 😉

“He might keep me safe from the killer, but who the hell would protect me from my feelings for him?”

With how this book concluded, I’m actually hoping to see if another romantic bond forms. *whispers* Let’s just say this particular pairing is giving me vibes similar to Kiara/Remo but whilst theirs will never happen… I can only hope this one has a fighting chance… (For those who’ve read the book, I’m talking about a certain “brother”) *cough cough* 🤞🙏 I can’t be the only one who saw potential!

This is a high quality debut for Cora into the supernatural/ crime fiction genre! Action-packed. Thrilling. Complex. It’s a must read! You won’t be disappointed. I’m already counting the days until Renegade!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Thank you Cora Reilly and Emily Alice for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💚

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Beautiful Nightmare by Giana Darling

Adult Romance, ARC Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Dark Romance, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Suspense

⚠ This review contains minor teasers!

booksofthemuggleborn_beautifulnightmare — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

Bianca has finally found her rightful place amid the powerful Constantines. But all is not what it seems in this glittering new world. And Tiernan Morelli refuses to give up her up…

BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE is the final book in the Dark Dream duet by USA Today bestselling author Giana Darling.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

“She was too good and I was too bad, but life wasn’t black and white, and somehow, together, we made more sense than we did separately. Night and day. Ice and fire. A matched set.”

This was one emotional, drama-filled rollercoaster of an ending to the Dark Dream duet, let me tell ya! There are a lot of parts I enjoyed seeing play-out, but there were also a few that I felt it could’ve done without, or that it was just a smidge anti-climactic.

After the cliffhanger from Dangerous Temptation that left me itching to find out what happens to Bianca and Tiernan next, I had some relatively high expectations of Beautiful Nightmare. I was left with quite a handful of questions that I needed answers to, and a cast of supporting characters I wanted to see more of.

So, did this book deliver what I hoped it would?

Yes… and no.

Whilst there’s character growth from both protagonists with a progressive storyline, I can’t help but wonder if it could’ve been more in-depth? I just wasn’t as gripped with this book as I was with the first one. Maybe this is one instance where it’s more of an “it’s me, not you” situation because I just didn’t get the intensity and edge-of-your-seat vibe that would’ve otherwise had me effortlessly glued to the pages.

Tiernan Morelli is the outcast of his family who’s been tormented physically, emotionally, and mentally throughout his life, and seeing him turn his life around and finally come from behind the shadows of not only his father, but his siblings was one of those fist-pumping moments. But call me bloodthirsty, with how this story was progressing to a gradual build-up, I was expecting to see action-packed scenes that actually packed a wallop! In my opinion, it was a bit of a hit and miss at times.

But in saying that, the more the story proceeded, the more I was hooked on his character development and personal story. More so than Bianca’s— and I think that has a lot to do with her youthful, naïve character. There’s no doubt that Tiernan and Bianca have this intense yet fitting chemistry between them, but Bianca has a lot of adolescent rebelliousness to her that often than not got her into some deep shite. There’s drama, and then there’s eye-rolling drama. 😬🙄

This book ended up being one of those books where I was more interested in seeing the secondary characters. Tiernan and Bianca’s relationship was hot, but I’m not going lie, the brotherhood and camaraderie amongst Tiernan and The Gentlemen of Lion Court was the highlight for me. I love a band of misfits who form their own family, and these guys were just that! Add in the light-hearted comic relief of Bianca’s little brother into the fold, and the friendship within just elevated my reading experience!

With the exception of a few plotlines being a little more fast-paced resulting in abrupt conclusions, for the most part it’s relatively well-paced storytelling. There’s twists and turns, some more predictable than others, but not enough to put you off from continuing. Although it’s told from dual points of view, for a tortured-antihero-loving-reader like myself, Tiernan’s perspective is the one to lookout for. He’s a complicated character with a lot of struggles and battle scars, and getting an insight into his mentality is one of the more appealing aspects of this story.

“The heartless Tiernan Morelli has fallen.”

Side Note: I’ve read the majority of the books in the Midnight Dynasty and all the characters have similar views on their family dynamics with the head of their respective households being the main source of concern. Here’s a silly question— with all the resources, power, and energy these siblings have, why oh why haven’t Bryant Morelli and Caroline Constantine been “taken out” yet?!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ (Hmm. There goes my thirst for bloodshed rearing its ugly head again). Lol.

This book may not have held the same level of oomph Dangerous Temptation did, looking back at their story as whole (the entire duet) I’m still left contented. The expansion of the Midnight Dynasty world with the Constantines and the Morellis will always have me intrigued. The addition of Tiernan Morelli was an unexpected yet happy surprise. Not only did we get another swoon-worthy Morelli brother in our midst, but he added another layer and contrast to the entire Morelli clan. The world-building is ever-growing and I’m finding the more books are added, the more intricate the Midnight Dynasty world becomes.

I’m curious to see what the epilogue entails *as this review went live, the exclusive epilogue had yet to be released*. But in the meantime, I can proudly say I’ve ticked off “guardian/ward taboo romance” off my romance trope list! 🤭🙌

A contemporary, billionaire romance with an edge of just deserts! This duet is not to be missed if you’re working your way through the Midnight Dynasty books.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐¾

Thank you to Giana Darling and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💛

•••

🕊 Read my reviews for the Dark Dream Duet!

Prequel: Bad Dream by Giana Darling

Book One: Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

More Midnight Dynasty reviews!

🥿 Cinderella Trilogy | Book One:

Stroke Of Midnight by K. Webster

🖤 Hearts Trilogy | Book One:

Stolen Hearts by M. O’Keefe

🌹 Beauty and the Beast Trilogy | Book One:

Secret Beast by Amelia Wilde

🔥 Hellfire Club | Book One:

Wicked Idol by Becker Gray

✝ Standalone Taboo Romance:

Lessons In Sin by Pam Godwin

🎨 The Collector Trilogy | Book One:

Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

2021 Favourite Reads

Adult Romance, Contemporary, Dark Reads, Dark Romance, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Suspense

Guess who’s back with another favourite reads post!?

Yep. Last year I posted a round-up of my favourite reads, and this year I decided to do it again! Could it be the start of a new tradition… Who knows? 😊

Ha! I thought 2020 was a tough year to get through. Sheesh. If I knew how sucky 2021 ended up being, I wouldn’t welcomed it with open arms. Lol.

But like I said last year and every year I’ve been reading… it’s always been my form of sanctuary and escapism. I’m your stereotypical introvert who prefers books to company. Who prefers a cozy night in with a swoon-worthy book and comfort food over late-night partying with outfits that’s all-too binding, uncomfortable shoes, and the stench of sweat in the air. 😅

This year, I’ve compiled my top 12 favourite reads of the year. Ideally, I wanted one favourite book from every month but… some months had doubly amazing reads, whilst others had mediocre ones not completely worthy of this list.

Even though I had a few reading slumps along the way (nothing new), after compiling my top reads, I realized that the majority of the books were from new-to-me-authors, so despite a few hiccups along the road, this year introduced me to some incredible authors who’ve quickly become auto-buy authors!

So here we go!

•••

booksofthemuggleborn_favereads2021 — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• Contemporary Romance •

📖 Kiss Me First by Anna B. Doe

(Small Town, Coming of Age, Sweet New Adult Romance)

📖 Kiss To Remember by Anna B. Doe

(Second-Chance, Sports Romance, Love Triangle, New Adult Romance)

📖 The Hate Love Duet by Lauren Rowe

(Hate-to-Love, Rockstar, New Adult Romance)

— ♥ —

Not Pictured (Honorable Mention):

📚 The Reed Rivers Trilogy by Lauren Rowe

(Age-Gap Romance, Friends-with-Benefits, Workplace Romance)

— ♥ —

📖 Brutal Blueblood by Becker Gray

(New Adult, Enemies-to-Lovers, Bully Romance, Academia Setting)

📖 Sweet Devil by Becker Gray

(New Adult, Hate-to-Love, Secret Crush, Academia Setting)

📖 Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

(Second-Chance Romance, First Love, Fake Relationship Trope)

📖 Lessons In Sin by Pam Godwin

(Taboo Romance, Forbidden, Secret Romance, Age-Gap, Academia Setting)

•••

• MC Romance •

— ♥ —

Not Pictured (Honorable Mentions):

📖 Saint by Nicole James

(MC Romance, Suspense, Marriage of Convenience, Age-Gap Romance)

📖 Climbing The Ranks by Nicole James

(MC Romance, Suspense, Whirlwind Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

•••

• Mafia Romance •

📖 With This Ring by Natasha Knight

(Dark Mafia, Suspense, Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers)

📖 Kiss Of Death Duet by L.P. Lovell

(Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Russian Assassins/ Italian Mob)

📖 Tears of Salvation by Michelle Heard

(Enemies-to-Lovers, Suspense, Dark Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

Not Pictured (Honorable Mention):

📚 The Saints Series by Michelle Heart

(Suspense, Marriage of Convenience, Arranged Marriage, Opposites Attract, Assassins, Dark Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

📖 A Vow Of Lust & Fury by L.P. Lovell

(Dark Romance, Arranged Marriage, Age-Gap Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers) *Trigger Warnings*

•••

• Dark Romance •

📖 Secret Beast by Amelia Wilde

(Beauty & The Beast Retelling, Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Captor/Captive Romance)

•••

Annnnnd… there you have it! Yes, I snuck in a few books that technically did not make it to my top 12 list but came a very close (hence the mentions)!

Like last year, if you want to see all my reads for the year, check out my Monthly Wrap-Ups. I posted my December one earlier and I wanna say I have reviews up for all the books I read this year… but sadly there’s some still waiting to be written. Sigh. But links are up for those available.

I hope you all had a relaxing Christmas (if you celebrate), and now enjoying the holidays (hopefully you have holidays)! I sincerely wish everyone a safe yet happy New Year’s Eve/ Day! 🎉

Thank you for the support you’ve all given me for my reviews and my book blog in general! I’m in awe of the amazing people I’ve met through this bookish community and the copious amounts of books I’ve discovered over time. I’m truly thankful for the friendships I’ve made. As well as the opportunities I’m fortunate enough to be a part of.

I truly hope 2021 will be a year of nothing but happiness, love, good health, and good fortune for us all!

Happy reading, and as always catch you in my next one! Xo

Till Next Time by Cora Brent

Adult Romance, ARC Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance

⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!

booksofthemuggleborn_tillnexttime — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

I met Colt Malene when I was fourteen years old.

And it seems I’ve never recovered.

He became the headstrong star quarterback in a town that idolized high school football titles.

Meanwhile, I was the coach’s dutiful perfectionist daughter, never daring to step out of line.

We should have stayed far away from each other but we didn’t.

And the volatile fallout was unbearable.

More than a decade has passed and now my father is dying.

He wants to make amends.

He wants to be forgiven for the role he played in Colt’s ruinous downfall and my painful heartbreak.

To give a dying man some peace, Colt and I agree to a plan.

While Colt is here in town, we pretend to date.

We pretend to like each other.

We pretend that the past is buried and forgotten.

But with one reckless, passionate act we carve a new future.

Leading to a fate we never suspected.

In the middle of a storm we never saw coming.

And an ending no one could have predicted…

•••

• MY REVIEW •

“I never meant to fall in love with Colt Malene. I wasn’t supposed to. I’ve done it anyway. Again. I couldn’t help it, then or now.”

After reading Till It Hurts and loving the strong trio of characters, I knew I needed more. Till Next Time is utter perfection that completely transported me back to their small town of Arcana, and to the trio who’ve reconnected as adults.

This story centred around Colt Malene and his life story. I couldn’t put it down! Cora has executed in telling his story and getting me emotionally invested right from the first few pages. The writing is effortless and vivid. It’s exactly the type of drama-filled contemporary romance I love to read. Fleshed-out, heartbreaking, yet nevertheless, inspiring.

Memories of past events weaved in between the present day not only gave Colt’s and Susanna’s personal stories so much depth and dimension, but it provided insight to their perspective households, families, and their developing relationship through their POVs.

The characters are complex and their lives are more than your average teenage rebellion against their parents. You see how much certain events that took place in their past have impacted and influenced their adulthood in the present.

You can’t help but feel for Colt. He had very little positivity in his life growing up, and it’s saddening to see his parents failed him as his much needed support system.

Susanna has her own issues and it becomes evident as the story progresses how much her life hadn’t ended up as initially planned.

It’s well-paced storytelling and these protagonists’ lives are not only touching to learn about, but they deal with life-long insecurities, along with some very heavy, realistic, and quite relatable issues along the way. I love the realism that Cora has imbedded in their story (along with Till It Hurts), it’s why I easily felt an attachment to these characters, especially Colt. They’re a likable pair of people, genuine characters with strong polar-opposite personalities.

The world-building is extraordinary— from Arcana; the little town that’s gradually wearing out over time, to the different backdrops that holds so many memories for Colt and Susanna, to the diverse range of supporting characters who all played significant roles in shaping them into who they are now and bring about contrasting dynamics.

I loved their journey. The highs and lows. It had the right amount of angst, drama, and suspense to keep you reading with bated breath, but also had moments of lightheartedness to keep it from veering towards an overly depressing atmosphere. Colt and Susanna come full circle by the end of the book that leaves you not only happy sighing with complete contentment but a little bittersweet knowing that with Till It Hurts and now, Till Next Time, all three friends have had their story told and we bid adieu to their world.

This is only my second book of Cora Brent’s but after having back-to-back exceptionally quality storytelling, I’ll be looking into her backlist of books for sure. Till Next Time is a must read along with Till It Hurts. You can definitely read them as standalone books without missing a beat as events and relationships are well explained… but I do highly recommend reading the pair!

Colt’s and Susanna’s story was one big “Sliding Doors” moment full of missed chances and what-ifs? The road to their HEA wasn’t an easy feat, but it’s an epic second-chance romance that was a long time coming and well worth the wait!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Cora Brent and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

🔔 Interested in reading Till Next Time? Grab your copy here: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

•••

🏈 Where it all started! Read my review!

booksofthemuggleborn_tillithurts — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

📘 Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

By Sin I Rise: Part Two by Cora Reilly

ARC Review, Book Review, Book Reviews, Contemporary, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Suspense

booksofthemuggleborn_bysiniriseparttwo — Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

By Sin I Rise Part 2 (Marcella & Maddox)

A fatal bond that was never meant to be.

Marcella gave Maddox the impossible choice, and he chose her.

Still, she wonders if Maddox is ready to commit to a relationship, or if he’s scared of losing the uninhibited freedom his biker lifestyle offered him.

All his life Maddox knew who his enemies were, but suddenly he’s at a loss whom to trust. Will he ever find a place in Marcella’s life and family, or will old companions give him a new home and purpose?

Can enemies ever truly become lovers if the odds are against them?

•••

• MY REVIEW •

“Marcella is the queen I didn’t know I needed in my life. There’s no one I’d like to be led around by the balls by.”

*singsong voice* Everybody! Take a shot every time Marcella is remotely mentioned as being a “Queen.” LOL 🙄🥃

Hmm. I have a lot of strong thoughts and emotions swirling in my head right now that I’m trying to unjumble and put into words. I’ve been reading Cora’s books consistently for a few years now and I found fairly early on that her writing is white-hot and all-consuming. With detailed world-building that practically transports you to her characters’ world, and the characters themselves stand-out effortlessly from a crowd. It’s a big reason as to why she’s easily an auto-buy author of mine.

So, I really had trouble digesting that this book was written by the one and only Cora Reilly. When you have a much-loved OG series, it can be difficult to top or re-create the same likability in a spin-off or next generation series. The first book in this two-part story had potential, unfortunately I just think this conclusion missed the mark. It didn’t have the same vibe as the previous books set in this world. Other than the appearances from OG characters like Luca, Matteo, and Growl, it almost didn’t feel like a mafia-based backdrop, let alone one that had MC elements. 😐

The story is character-driven and focuses solely on Maddox and Marcella trying to navigate through their emotions about their relationship whilst figuring out how the Famiglia will accept Maddox into their fold—and for that reason, I found the book relatively repetitive.

I know I’m going to be in the minority here, and that’s fine. Not everyone is going to like the same books, or even the same characters— and I think that’s ultimately the reasoning behind this book being a miss for me. The characters. As I mentioned in my review for Part One, I am not a Marcella fan. As a child when her personality started to peek through, I knew when she would be of age, that either her “princess” personality would only grow tenfold, or Cora would revamp her character and show plenty of growth and maturity.

I found the preconceived notions the characters had of her in this book spot-on. She’s a spoilt, bratty princess who keeps insisting she can “rule” because she’s a Vitiello. Nope. Sorry. It’s one thing to say it, but it’s another to follow through and for people to believe it.

I couldn’t connect with either Marcella or Maddox, and I had trouble getting invested in their story. Their romance doesn’t seem genuine, and it was painful to easily see Maddox proclaim his “love” only for it to not be openly reciprocated by Marcella. The majority of the time it felt like Maddox was putting all the effort into their drama-filled “relationship”. It was not an equal partnership. Not even close. I almost pitied Maddox for being the one who constantly sacrificed a piece of himself whilst all Marcella did was take, take, take.

“Marcella makes the rules and I’ll follow her, if necessary, to the gates of Hades.”

*singsong voice* Everybody! Take a shot every time Maddox is willing to do anything and everything for Marcella! 🤦‍♀️🥃🥃

Is Marcella Vitiello really worth all this trouble? Ehhhhh. Not really.

They’re a pair of characters who I felt would’ve been fine and may have even done well all on their own. Their coupling lacked believability, visible connection, or even intensity that the past couples from this world had displayed time and time again.

The pace of the storytelling lagged, and lacked any in-depth development. In all honesty, the only positive aspects I found in this book is the fact that we get to see OG characters; more specifically Growl. 😍😍 I always hoped for another book for him just because I wanted to see how his life had turned out after he moved to New York and started working for Luca. (I know Growl and Cara have a novella in the Bound by Blood Anthology, but it wasn’t enough for me lol). This book actually shows a good number of snippets into what he’s been up to after all these years. All the parts that included Growl were by far my favourite scenes! I actually loved the contrast he brings in. There’s a cool dynamic between Growl and the Vitiello brothers.

I’m not crossing this entire series off, because that seems premature. I knew going into the Sins of the Fathers series that Marcella’s story would’ve been the book I probably would have liked the least. So now that hers is officially done, I am eager to see the next next-gen character in line. After reading this book, I have my eyes set on Amo’s story. He’s the only Vitiello offspring who I saw real potential in bringing back some of the old Mafioso flare that Luca Vitiello first ignited in Bound by Honor. He already has the vibe going for him, so I have my fingers crossed that his story ends up being an epic one!

I strongly recommend reading Cora’s Born In Blood series first before diving into Maddox’s and Marcella’s story, especially if you’re new to her books. This is not her strongest work, and it doesn’t provide enough world-building on its own. Reading the original series that started it all will not only give you the backstory behind the Vitiello family, but it explains the history behind the war between the New York Famiglia and Maddox’s MC (motorcycle club).

This may not have been my cup of tea but I have no doubt other readers will like it. Especially if they’re already a fan of Marcella. It’s light on both the Mafia and MC elements. It has more of a NA contemporary atmosphere to it.