Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Mafia 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.
Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Mafia 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.
I’m not supposed to fall in love with my husband. It’s not part of my plan.
Forgive me.
Those were the first words Santos Augustine spoke to me before we sealed an unbreakable oath. A contract signed in blood binding me to him as payment for my father’s sins.
Wearing the mask of legitimacy, this powerful crime family has returned to Avarice to punish those who have wronged them and take what they’ve always been denied, a place among the elite.
Forced to marry my enemy, I’m thrust into his world of secrets and betrayals.
My husband is a dangerous man. And he has dangerous enemies. But it’s when I’m attacked that his fury is unleashed.
It’s then I see what it means to belong to Santos Augustine.
And although I know the safest place for me is in his bed, I can’t let myself fall in love with my husband.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“She and I have always been destined to be together. For better or worse. Even before our blood oath. We can each be the other’s savior. Or the other’s destruction. This is our destiny. Until death do us part.”
To put it simply… I loved it. Immensely. It had everything I expected a Natasha Knight romance novel would have, and it did not disappoint. Elements you can expect:
Tons of secrecy
Plot twists and suspense
Heartbreak
Some shady, shady characters
Complicated relationships
Nothing is what it seems where Madelena and Santos are concerned. One minute I’d be on the edge of my seat reeling, the next I’d be screaming into my pillow. It was utterly thrilling, angsty, and one hundred percent unputdownable.
Madelena is a mixture of damsel-in-distress and defiance, and you never know which side she’ll veer towards with each situation she’s thrown into. Santos is a conundrum that I found myself trying to decipher, and his unpredictability is one of the main factors in what kept me invested in seeing this story through. These MCs are broken in some way or another and it has resulted in their complex mentalities.
This is the first book in The Augustine Brothers duet and it painstakingly ends on a cliffhanger. It concluded with so many possibilities, plenty of developments that need resolving, and a handful of jaw-dropping plot points that I cannot wait to get to the bottom of in the next book. Knight has done an excellent job at creating a dark and curious world that I was easily transported to.
Just be aware that this dark mafia romance delves into sensitive subject matters that some readers may find triggering or disturbing to read. It contains graphic violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, self-harm, and mental and physical scarring. It has dark themes throughout, as well as sexual content intended for readers 18+ only.
If you enjoy dark, mafia romance books with a lot of push-and-pull between its MCs, I think this one is a must-read. Although there’s some spice, in comparison to some of Knight’s other books it’s not as steamy. Madelena and Santos’ relationship spans several years, and with how the story unfolds, I consider their intimacy a bit of a slow-burn development. This first book is an introduction to not only the dangerous elite world they’re associated to, but the intriguing group dynamics amongst the cast of characters. You’ll constantly be second-guessing anything and everything, and as the suspense builds, there’s a sense of desperation in the air that’ll have you anxious to figure out who can and cannot be trusted.
The characters are constantly evolving, and whilst they’re not completely fleshed-out, I have no doubt there’s still more to see. I fast became curious about the contrasting familial dynamics in Madelena and Santos’ respective families, so I’m hoping to see more of it in the next book. There’s a couple of secondary characters that caught my attention, and despite this being a duet, I’m lowkey hoping they get their own books in the future.
It’s well-paced storytelling and switches back and forth from the two MCs POV. There’s a sweet balance between the mafia and romance elements that makes this a solid dark mafia romance read. All in all, it’s a highly promising first half of the duet filled with intrigue, uncertainty, and seduction. It’s another well-put together narrative by Knight that I’m eager to read Deliver Me From Evil already! If you’re an avid fan, you’ll want to add this to your TBR.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Natasha Knight and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! ❤
Eva Winners released 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.
I thought I knew him. I didn’t. I thought he was trustworthy. He wasn’t.
But nothing in this world is as it seems.
I caught the attention of the most notorious man in the underworld.
Konstantin wasn’t the type to be ignored. He commanded his criminal empire with an iron fist but he had secrets of his own.
But I was Tatiana Nikolaev. I’d never bend to a man’s will or be used as a pawn. Not again.
The moment I tempted the fates and played with fire, life spiraled out of control.
My only way of survival was to trust again.
But could I?
(A Complete Duet — The story of Tatiana Nikolaev!)
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“Now, yesterday, ten years ago. Tomorrow. Ten years from now. Forever. I wanted her forever.”
Book One: Thorns Of Lust
Not only was this a mammoth page-turning start to Tatiana and Konstantin’s story, but it was one impressive introduction to the Thorns of Omertà series!
Quickly discovering the level of complexity and highly-detailed developments, there was no way their story could’ve been told in a singular novel. There was so much to grasp from this book and knowing by the end of it that there was a lot more to be revealed, I’m thrilled Winners had decided to turn their story into a duet.
I love mafia romances, but what set this one apart from others I’d read was the constant secrecy, unpredictability, and how the entire narrative was set in a massive murder-mystery backdrop. It’s an element that immediately had my mind turning, whilst the anxiety-building, sexually-charged developments between Tatiana and Konstantin amped up the overall reading experience. It’s well-paced and full of interconnecting worlds from a few of Winners’ other series’. I’m in awe of how well Winners has incorporated these various worlds and timelines of certain events into this one.
If you’re not up-to-date with her backlist of books it shouldn’t be a problem. Although there are plenty of mentions and character crossovers, it didn’t feel like I missed out on the connections and relationships amongst the cast of characters. Brief explanations are provided, more than enough to get you curious, but it also added plenty of secondary plotlines. The world-building is expansive, vivid, and held wonder.
Tatiana and Konstantin have fast become two of my favourite characters by Winners. They each have a balance of fiery determination and heart to their personalities that not only made them such likable characters, but immediately had me emotionally invested in seeing where their complicated, totally screwed-up relationship would lead.
I loved the flashbacks provided. It enriched both Tatiana’s and Konstantin’s POVs, and gradually clarified plot twists little by little with each one. There was a nice slow-burn in developments that caused this book to be unputdownable, alongside a huge cast of secondary characters that helped add dimension to both Tatiana’s and Konstantin’s characters and interesting group dynamics throughout.
There’s already a deep and twisted attraction between the two that I cannot wait to see become a full-blown love affair. It was exciting, suspenseful, at times unrequited, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit of it! I would absolutely recommend this story to fellow romance readers, whether you’re an avid mafia romance lover or not. It’s not heavily gritty or violent—perfect introduction to the dark and mafia romance sub-genre for those wanting to give it a try.
Winners’ writing is solid and effortless to follow. The characters are fleshed-out and immensely engaging. I was instantly transported to her fictional world. This is a must-read in my book!
•••
“It started with lust for me but it ended with love. I loved him so fucking much that it scared me.”
Book Two: Thorns Of Love
Freaking phenomenal! I was on tenterhooks from start to finish. The developments that transpired in Thorns of Lust had consumed my thoughts, that I couldn’t read Tatiana and Konstantin’s conclusion fast enough in Thorns of Love. Now that I have, I’m left speechless and utterly content. This story is an unbelievable example of what an exceptional fictional world and its characters can do to a reader both psychologically and emotionally. It was highly exciting, unpredictable through and through, and brought about some of the most heart-palpitating moments from this entire duet.
Just when I thought this story couldn’t surprise me anymore, Winners hits you with one shocker after another. The well-pacing from the first book continued onto this one and only sped up as secrets started to unravel. I loved the flashbacks in the first book, and I absolutely loved them here. It’s amazing once the fog cleared how things started clicking into place. Winners has written an amazing dark mafia romance that also doubled as this topsy-turvy murder-mystery that I couldn’t get enough of.
It was intricate. It was devious. It was spell-bindingly swoon-worthy.
There are a handful of juicy secondary storylines gradually developing in the background that are appetizers for the next books to come in the series, and I ended up just as giddy for them as I was seeing Tatiana and Konstantin navigate through not only their relationship but the dangers lurking about threatening their HEA.
This is definitely one of my favourite stories by Winners that I have read so far. It has a massive cast of characters that all played significant roles in expanding relationships, connections, and ultimately the world-building that Winners created and interconnected with all of her other book series’.
The familial bonds and dynamics have deepened so much from the first half of this duet to this second one. Their closeness, protectiveness, and love were a genuine sight to see. There’s a relatability in their relationships from the banter to their heart-to-hearts that I found to be some of my favourite parts of this book.
There are a lot of developments that could have easily been too much but it all worked well in elevating Tatiana’s and Konstantin’s story. The suspense kicked-up a few notches, and contained a darker tone in comparison to the first book. Please note, some parts may be triggering or disturbing for some readers as it contains kidnapping and graphic violence.
With the mystery surrounding Tatiana and Konstantin, this is a story that readers really need to experience and decipher for themselves. It has such a complex and impressive narrative that I highly recommend. It has elements that will undoubtedly captivate romance readers interests from the sizzling love story, friendships, family interactions, and a range of backdrops that’ll have you travelling from destination to destination. This second book in the duet concludes on a beautiful note that really was deserving of the intense journey that Tatiana and Konstantin go through.
I should note that I’m usually not a fan of huge age-gaps (15-20+) between MCs, and Tatiana and Konstantin have quite a bit of an age-gap between them. But Winners’ books tend to have this trope so I wasn’t surprised to see it here. If you have any hesitancy, don’t worry as the age difference between Tatiana and Konstantin in my opinion was rarely obvious, except for a couple of minor occasions.
But simply put, I loved it. It contains some pretty twisted characters—some you’ll hate, and some that may perk your interest. If you like dark mafia romance, romantic suspense, and/or a bit of murder-mystery in your romance books, then give this one a try.
DUET RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Eva Winners and Enticing Journey Book Promotions for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the duet! 💗
🔔 Interested in reading the Thorns Of Omertà Duet? Grab the books here:
(Book One) Thorns Of Lust:Amazon | (Book Two) Thorns Of Love:Amazon
Eva Winners released 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.
Eva Winners released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing feverishly 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.
Yep, I’m doing another round-up of my favourite reads,. This will be my third year posting and it’s looking like it’ll be a yearly tradition. Wooo!
I had another rollercoaster year. I remember the first few months of 2022 wishing the year would roll by quick, and now that it’s finally time to ring in the new year, I have such a bittersweet feeling because the last two-to-three months elevated the year.
I say this every year because it really is true in my life… reading has and always will be my form of sanctuary and escapism from the daily grind. I’m your stereotypical introvert who prefers books to company. The older I get the more I’ve preferred a cosy night in with a swoon-worthy book, a favourite movie playing in the background, and tons of comfort food, and I don’t really see my preferences changing back to my younger years when I spent over an hour getting ready to go out and dance the night away (although on a rare occasion I might brush off the party dress and put on a friendly smile hehe).
Now! 👏 Are you ready to see the books I ended up loving the most from all the 100+ books I read this year? Even I surprised myself when I went back to compilate this list. 😲
Here is my compilation of favourite reads of 2022. Ooh man, it was hard! Like last year, I ideally wanted to pluck out one favourite book from each month but damn it was hard! Some months had multiple stellar reads, so I tried had to do a little bit of finessing… *cough* cheating *cough* 😜😁
But I will say this, I have a bunch of different authors in this list, some are new-to-me authors that have quickly been added to my auto-buy authors list. So if you’re wondering if I’d recommend any… HELL YES!
(Nanny/ Single Dad, Opposites Attract, Grumpy-Sunshine, Standalone in an Interconnected Series)
Hating The Player by Rebecca Jenshak
(Hate-to-Love, Second Chances, Next-Door Neighbours, College Sports Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series)
📖 Shattered And Salvaged Duet by Anna B. Doe
Kiss To Shatter & Kiss To Salvage
(Brother’s Best Friend, Secret Romance, College Sports Romance, New Adult Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
— ♥ —
Honorary Mention:
📖 Kiss To Belong by Anna B. Doe
(Best Friends-to-Lovers, Secret Crush, Close Proximity, Surprise Pregnancy, College Romance) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• MC Romance •
Keeping The Throne by Nicole James
(MC Romance, Whirlwind Romance, Age-Gap Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• Mafia Romance •
Sinners Series by Michelle Heard
Taken By A Sinner (pictured)
Owned By A Sinner
Stolen By A Sinner
Chosen By A Sinner
Captured By A Sinner
(Dark Mafia, Suspense, Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers, Hate-To-Love, Age-Gap, Standalones in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
Sins Of The Orchid by Eva Winners
(Age-Gap, Forbidden Romance, Best Friend’s Brother, Suspense, Standalone, Italian Mafia) *Trigger Warnings*
By Fate I Conquer by Cora Reilly
(Enemies-to-Lovers, Close Proximity, Forbidden Romance, Secret Romance, Suspense, Dark Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• Dark Romance •
The Devil’s Pawn Duet by Natasha Knight
Devil’s Pawn & Devil’s Redemption
(Dark, Beauty & The Beast Inspired, Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Arranged Marriage, Close Proximity) *Trigger Warnings*
📖 The Rite Trilogy by A. Zavarelli & Natasha Knight
(Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Crime Thriller, Superhuman Abilities, Suspense, Small Town, New Adult Romance, Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
📖 Cruelest Oblivion Duet by M.A. Heard
Cruelest Oblivion & Sweetest Awareness
(Dystopian Romance, Survival of the Fittest, Suspense, Close Proximity, New Adult Romance) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
There you have it! 😊 As you can see I’ve added a handful of books not pictured, but they were either part of a series or duet and needed mentioning.
And as usual, if you want to see ALL my reads for the year, check out my Monthly Wrap-Ups with links to my reviews. Just note, I’m lazy lol, and I don’t have reviews up for all them but hopefully my star ratings will be enough.
Check out my December wrap-up that I just posted earlier too! It was my biggest month of reads— hey, what did I tell ya? This year really has ended on a positive.
I hope you’re all enjoying the Christmas/ End of year holidays! My thoughts go out to those who are working over this crazy, hectic time— don’t overwork and make sure you take time for yourself. Hope everyone is staying safe and wishing a beautiful 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 complex 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’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of.
Fingers crossed 2023 will be a year of happy bliss, love, good health, and good fortune for us all!
Happy reading, and as always catch you in my next one! Xo
Wherever I went, he was always there. Until he wasn’t. One wild night at a masquerade party was all it took. I got pregnant, broke my engagement, and failed my family.
The worst part.
I had no idea who the father of my baby was. I had only one clue. A Prince Albert piercing. Not exactly a smoking gun.
My parents disowned me after I refused to marry the prospects they presented. It wasn’t my fault I became gun shy. The last four men I met ended up dead. It was safer to have this baby on my own.
Our world was a dangerous one. And without the protection of my family… I was running out of time.
So it left me with no choice but to disappear, leaving no trace of where I went.
That was until Luca King found me at my lowest.
Maybe I should have tried harder to stay hidden because he would surely be my destruction.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I fell in love with a villain. A persistent villain.”
This was an oh-so sweet final book in the Belles & Mobsters series! To be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to Luca in the previous books other than the fact that he was Cassio’s brother and that he’d eventually be a protagonist with his own story. But after reading this book I’m glad I went into it relatively unaware of what his story would be about because it ended up being unputdownable!
What makes this story stand out from the previous books in the series is that there was a deep history between Luca and Margaret. It’s evident as the story developed and with how much their relationship evolved throughout the years. There’s a genuineness in their coupling that made their relationship more in-depth and believable. After a string of alpha-hole after alpha-hole of heroes within this series, I hadn’t expected anything different with this last one, but Winners presented a true blue sweetheart in Luca and he has become of one my favourites from this group of mobsters. He’s definitely one playboy you shouldn’t judge by appearance.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the developments between Luca and Margaret. If you like the hate-to-love romance trope with plenty of fiery banter involved, then I highly recommend you add this mafia romance to your TBR. Belles & Mobsters is a series of standalone stories so each one can be read individually and at any order. Please note, Luca contains sensitive subject matters that may be triggering or disturbing for some readers such as, violence, abuse, and trauma triggered by haunting events. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s well-paced, told from dual POVs, and constantly keeps you on edge. I loved that it was filled with unpredictability but didn’t distract from the main storyline developing between Luca and Margaret— if anything it heightened the suspense and their dramatic relationship.
I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect pairing from this series. They’re such a likable pair of strong-willed characters that kept me entertained, not only with their interactions but with their amusing inner dialogue throughout. Although there’s an age gap, it was hardly noticeable as their characters always seemed level in mindset. Their dynamics just worked with a distinct balance in roles between the two. There’s just enough possessiveness and resolve in Luca that makes him one desirable alpha hero. Margaret’s rebellious, but she’s also good-natured and passionate about a lot of things that matter to her.
This was a well-written, well-developed story, effortless to follow, and evokes a rollercoaster of emotions out of you. If you’re familiar with Winners’ books then you won’t be surprised in seeing a quirky character or two, and series crossovers. I haven’t read all of Winners’ backlist of books yet but there’s no denying there’s always a range of cleverly included appearances from her other dark/ mafia romances that has your curiosity piquing. The cast of characters in this series undoubtedly added comic relief, but more importantly they provided strong moral support for the MCs. I love seeing deep-set brotherhood and solid family dynamics, and just like the previous books in the series, this one had it in spades. It also had an amazing balance of raunchy romance and gritty mafia elements throughout that would thrill any fellow mafia romance reader.
All in all, it’s another gripping addition to the Belles & Mobsters series. It’s also a satisfying conclusion to the overall world Winners has vividly created. It does however leave certain things open for interpretation and a possibility for expansion. But this book had one HEA that was bittersweet but nevertheless, still had me completely and utterly sighing in happy contentment.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💗
He says you can only rise up once you hit rock bottom.
Only be made whole once you’re fully broken.
I don’t know that there’s anything left to break.
Time is running out for me. Enemies are closing in at every turn.
But this time I won’t be alone.
One brother has vowed his protection. The other reaffirmed his hatred of me.
Yet they both want me.
But something dark is unraveling inside me.
An event too terrible clawing its way into my consciousness.
And even as things begin to change between us, it’s those memories that may undo us all.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“This is Dandelion. A little weird. Damaged. But ours. Ours.”
What an emotional journey! Knight has a talent for putting her characters through the wringer. Ruined Kingdom was a strong introduction to not only Amadeo, Bastian, and Vittoria’s depraved world but to their devilishly complex love triangle. Broken Queen got bloody, it unearthed secrets, and more than ever, it cemented the trio’s bond.
After the cliffhanger that concluded the first book I couldn’t read this one fast enough, and I found that I read the majority of it with bated breath. It’s tense, dramatic, and was set in an overall murky atmosphere.
It’s a continual storyline therefore Ruined Kingdom must be read first in order to read this conclusion. It’s fast-paced, told from multiple POVs, and is constantly developing. The dark themes and content resumed in this book but if you’ve already read the first one, then you know what to expect going forward. If not, please note there are sensitive subject matter that some readers may find triggering, such as graphic violence, kidnapping, and sexual assault. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
As I mentioned in my review for the first book in this duet, MFM romance is not in my usual wheelhouse of romance reads, but Knight undoubtedly hooked me in with her characters and their twisted, yet unmistakable connection.
“I know one thing more surely than I’ve ever know anything in my life. We were fated, the three of us…”
I liked the contrast and group dynamics between these three MCs. They each had differences in their character but all worked well together. It’s evident their stronger together than they are apart. And despite the brothers sharing a heroine, there’s genuineness within their unique relationship. Unlike some love triangles I’ve encountered in other romance stories, there wasn’t anything awkward or unconvincing about these brothers falling for the same woman. They all bring something worthy to the relationship and I found myself instantly invested in seeing their relationship evolve.
From the very beginning I gravitated towards one brother more than the other despite finding both to be such likable morally grey heroes, and this second half of the duet only cemented my love for said brother. I was drawn a smidge more to his parts of the story and his interactions, in my opinion, left lasting impressions.
There’s full character growth and backstory with each of the protagonists in this story. Amadeo, Bastian, and Vittoria come full circle that left me genuinely happy to see them secure their HEA. Yes, it’s unconventional, but I ran with it because it’s fictional, it’s swoon-inducing, and after having witnessed what they had gone through, they deserved a second chance and to find some contentment in their lives.
It’s another amazingly well-written dark, mafia romance story by Knight. She’s racked up so many of them that I love whenever I come across series crossovers. The appearances made here by certain characters was a giddy surprise! Their addition to the storyline was seamless, added extra dimension, but in no way stole the limelight from the MCs.
I enjoyed reading this story and highly recommend it to avid fans of Knight, fans of dark/ mafia romances, and for those who also enjoy the MFM romance trope. It’s brutal, at times unsettling, but balanced with a scorching, ravenous romance between enemies-turned-lovers.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Natasha Knight and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💛
🔔 Interested in reading the Ruined Kingdom Duet? Grab your copy here:
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