My one-night stand.
A ruthless bastard.
A heartless billionaire.
The man who ruled his empire with a cold head and an even colder heart. And most importantly, my son’s father. Except, he wasn’t aware of that little fact. To the media, Byron Ashford is a Billionaire King. To me, he’s a reminder of the hottest, most forbidden, night of my life. And my biggest mistake.
I hadn’t seen him in years and hoped we’d never cross paths again.
But then, my best-laid plans always seem to go astray. Now, I need his help to bail me out of trouble. He’s a billionaire and I’m just a broke, debt-riddled surgeon.
Against my better judgment, I sought him out. It should have been easy, in and out. Except, nothing with Byron Ashford was ever easy. He refuses to hand out free favors. And the price for his help?
My freedom. Literally.
He wants to shackle me to him with a marriage I don’t want then throw away the key.
His demands are scandalous. His rules are dangerous for my heart.
It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but nothing about Byron is ever that simple. Once he slips the ring onto my finger, the rules change.
His demands grow. He no longer just wants to own my body. He also wants my heart and soul. But I’m not that young, naive woman anymore.
Too bad this billionaire forgot one thing. Nobody can own your heart unless you give it freely.
And this time, I’m not blinded by his smile and especially not by his lies.
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.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
My one-night stand.
A ruthless bastard.
A heartless billionaire.
The man who ruled his empire with a cold head and an even colder heart. And most importantly, my son’s father. Except, he wasn’t aware of that little fact. To the media, Byron Ashford is a Billionaire King. To me, he’s a reminder of the hottest, most forbidden, night of my life. And my biggest mistake.
I hadn’t seen him in years and hoped we’d never cross paths again.
But then, my best-laid plans always seem to go astray. Now, I need his help to bail me out of trouble. He’s a billionaire and I’m just a broke, debt-riddled surgeon.
Against my better judgment, I sought him out. It should have been easy, in and out. Except, nothing with Byron Ashford was ever easy. He refuses to hand out free favors. And the price for his help?
My freedom. Literally.
He wants to shackle me to him with a marriage I don’t want then throw away the key.
His demands are scandalous. His rules are dangerous for my heart.
It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but nothing about Byron is ever that simple. Once he slips the ring onto my finger, the rules change.
His demands grow. He no longer just wants to own my body. He also wants my heart and soul. But I’m not that young, naive woman anymore.
Too bad this billionaire forgot one thing. Nobody can own your heart unless you give it freely.
And this time, I’m not blinded by his smile and especially not by his lies.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“You alone have the power to destroy me.”
First there was Alessio. Now Byron. Give me an Ashford any day! 😍 Phew. This was another exceptionally addictive love story from the Billionaire Kings series, but even more so, another phenomenal piece of narrative writing from Winners! I can’t get enough of her books.
Byron and Odette had me mentally and emotionally invested in their journey from the very first page. The opening scene alone had me perking up with giddy interest. I hadn’t expected more than half of the developments that occurred and I just about broke down in tears through a handful of them. I couldn’t have asked for two more lovable, relatable, genuine MCs to read about. Their story was swoony, unpredictable, suspenseful, and all-around heart-palpitating.
This is a dark contemporary, billionaire romance with an age-gap, second-chance premise. Winners has an intricate web of interconnected books/ characters from different series’ that can all be read as standalone novels. If Winners is a new-to-you author, you’ll learn character crossovers are a common trait in her books. There are a handful of supporting characters that make appearances in this one that have/ or will have their own books. The gradually developing secondary storylines are the perfect addition to the main narrative. They add further zing and dimension to the overall storytelling, and just made me anticipate reading their books even more.
It’s well-paced and told from both MCs points of view. From the misunderstandings, to the secrecy, to a lot of the what-ifs between Byron and Odette wrapped up in crackling sexual tension made this one massive page-turner! I enjoyed this book so much I could’ve read more, but will happily settle for rereading instead.
I enjoyed the smattering of dark and gritty elements incorporated in the story that helped build-up and maintain suspense throughout. It toes the line of mafia themes too, giving these characters’ world a sense of danger. The world-building is vivid, extensive, and gives a taste of what Byron Ashford’s life is like having endless money, luxury, and powerful influence.
I found Odette to be a likable heroine. At times she was a little out of her depth, but her constant determination, love of her family, and fierce values made for a relatable character I easily connected and sympathised with. For a powerful billionaire running an empire, Byron has a lot of common dreams in life. Despite his difficult upbringing and brutal experiences, he’s protective nature and willingness to choose a different path makes him such a striking hero. There’s a slight push-and-pull but there’s no denying these two opposites fit so well together.
It does contain sensitive subject matters that may be triggering/ difficult for some readers to read. It touches on depression, suicide, physical assault, drugging, and graphic violent acts. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
The writing is effortless to follow and sucks you in immediately through its characters. Byron and Odette had an initial fling the quickly evolved into more. Although there’s some surprising twists and turns, the growing complexity and angst in their relationship had my undivided attention. As backstories and recollections of past events are steadily revealed, you’ll eventually see Byron and Odette’s relationship come full circle.
I’ve become obsessed with this book. It’s now one of my top favourites by Winners. It has a satisfying combination of romance and suspense within an in-depth storyline. The synopsis hooks you in, the characters keep you intrigued, and the overall storytelling makes it unputdownable. The familial dynamics and interactions were another addition that I truly enjoyed seeing. There’s a diverse cast of personalities that brought about a lot of heart, cheeky banter, and genuine bonds.
I would absolutely recommend this book (and the series) to fellow romance readers. I think it has a little bit of everything that makes it a worthy read. It has a solid plot that was well-executed, captivating, fleshed-out characters, a constantly progressive narrative, and a romance the concluded on a well-deserved HEA! I’m not complaining about the locations this story was set in either. It had me travelling to different places without leaving the comfort of my own bed. I couldn’t have asked for a better romance book to escape into. It left me happy sighing!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💙
🔔 Interested in reading Misdeeds Of A Billionaire? Grab your copy here: Amazon | Amazon INTL
Before the world knew me as a rock god, I was just the angry boy who stole her heart.
She was a good girl.
The forbidden fruit I wasn’t meant to taste.
Our stars were crossed, and fate had doomed us from the start.
She was promised to someone else.
I had her secret smiles.
Moments stolen in dark corners.
But I couldn’t have her future.
Destiny tore us apart, and all that remained was the ghost of her memory.
When she died, I did too.
But when I catch a glimpse of her five years later, alive and well, that love turns to hate as the bitter truth emerges.
She left me.
She lied.
And now, I’m going to make her pay.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“All I ever had to offer her was me.”
Phew. This was one behemoth of a romance story that’ll tear you apart only to put you back together again. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. It’s a contemporary romance but with strong dark themes included.
This book contains several romance sub-genres and tropes, as well as sensitive content that some readers may find triggering. Madden and Bianca’s story consists of the following:
Rockstar Romance
First Love
Star-Crossed Lovers
Ex-Military
Forbidden Romance
Secret Romance
Love Triangle
Friends-to-Lovers
Love-to-Hate-to-Love
MC Romance
Please note the dark themes are graphic. It deals with death, strong violence, blackmail, physical and mental abuse, and sexual assault. As well as horrific events resulting in psychological and emotional trauma, substance abuse, depression, and overall PTSD. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s a journey full of unbreakable bonds and honest friendships, but also brings about what seems like an endless amount of hopelessness. Be prepared for a lot of heaviness. Right from the very beginning you’re pulled into a sombre backdrop that sets the precedents of the entire book’s atmosphere.
Without giving away the storyline, Madden and Bianca’s lives are wrapped in half-truths, mystery, and constant roadblocks. Somebody upstairs certainly didn’t want them together. Although they do get their HEA, it was undoubtedly an uphill battle to get to their happiness. It was an emotional rollercoaster that evoked a mixture of heartbreak, frustration, and eventually contentment.
Zavarelli created two very complex MCs in a twisted character-driven narrative. It takes place in both the past and present day and interchanges chapter to chapter. To be honest, it felt like I was reading two books simultaneously— one the prequel, the other the main story. In my opinion, both timelines had their own pacing which disrupted the overall flow. The backstory was slower-paced and I felt it dragged somewhat in the middle of the story before it picked back up towards the end. The chapters with the present day were definitely my favourite parts of the book to read. They were faster-paced and had a lot of the interactions and developments that had me completely hooked.
Madden and Bianca are stuck in an infinite loop of push-and-pull and unresolved issues. On one hand it was frustrating to see the repetitiveness, but on the other, it was relatable seeing the difficulties they went through individually and with each other. On some level, I resonated with certain issues and easily sympathised with their situation.
I especially gravitated towards Madden and his painful journey of finding his place in the world and the love he deserved. With his raw character, vulnerability, fundamental strength, and most importantly his unwavering belief, he’s without a doubt my favourite MMC from this series.
“I don’t know how to love someone I can’t have.”
I like the initial premise. It’s one of my favourite elements but can be a bit of rare find, so discovering Zavarelli’s newest novel revolved around it had me excited to say the least. The mystery surrounding Bianca and needing to uncover the truth was ultimately what made this a page-turner. With the addition of lovable secondary characters that stole my attention from time to time added a level of dimension and injected genuine positivity to a mostly grim storytelling.
It’s a standalone within the Sin City Salvation series with character crossovers from the previous books. I recommend reading them first before starting this one to understand the relationships amongst the characters.
All in all, this third and final book was a beautiful conclusion to the series. It had a little bit of everything from the romantic elements, to the comradery and diverse familial dynamics, to the action and suspense. It’s a story of growth, loyalty, and loss.
I always find Zavarelli’s writing whilst intricate still effortless to follow, and this book was no different. It’s a real survival, “love conquers all” love story that’s so hearty and gut-wrenching, it’ll leave you feeling like you’ve been put through the wringer right alongside Madden and Bianca. And after having read their story, their HEA was well and truly deserving.
It has vivid world-building, complex characters, and multiple developing storylines. If you’re an avid fan of Zavarelli, you won’t want to miss out on reading this. Any dark and contemporary romance readers who enjoy any of the following sub-genres and tropes I mentioned should give this one a try. Just have tissues on hand.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Ashleigh Zavarelli for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💜
The man who ruled his empire with a cold head and an even colder heart. And most importantly, my son’s father. Except, he wasn’t aware of that little fact. To the media, Byron Ashford is a Billionaire King. To me, he’s a reminder of the hottest, most forbidden, night of my life. And my biggest mistake.
I hadn’t seen him in years and hoped we’d never cross paths again.
But then, my best-laid plans always seem to go astray. Now, I need his help to bail me out of trouble. He’s a billionaire and I’m just a broke, debt-riddled surgeon.
Against my better judgment, I sought him out. It should have been easy, in and out. Except, nothing with Byron Ashford was ever easy. He refuses to hand out free favors. And the price for his help?
My freedom. Literally.
He wants to shackle me to him with a marriage I don’t want then throw away the key.
His demands are scandalous. His rules are dangerous for my heart.
It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but nothing about Byron is ever that simple. Once he slips the ring onto my finger, the rules change.
His demands grow. He no longer just wants to own my body. He also wants my heart and soul. But I’m not that young, naive woman anymore.
Too bad this billionaire forgot one thing. Nobody can own your heart unless you give it freely.
And this time, I’m not blinded by his smile and especially not by his lies.
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.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
She loves writing about tortured heroes and the strong heroines who love them. When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching documentaries in the name of research.
She lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
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
Zepp Hunt wasn’t the king of Dayton high school. He was the top of the food chain. And I was next in line to be dragged into the lion’s den. At least that’s what he thought…
Good girls wanted to tame him. Bad girls want to be tainted by him. Everyone bowed down to him. And me?
I hated Zeppelin Hunt with every fiber of my being.
Which was why I stayed away from the arrogant bad boy with tattoos and a rap sheet.
Until I couldn’t.
Until we traded favors, and I owed him three months of my life. I never thought I would end up in his bed, and when I did, I had to remind myself that he hated me as much as I hated him.
Until I didn’t.
Zepp Hunt was no prince, and I absolutely refused to be his damsel in distress…
MINI REVIEW
Genre/ Tropes: Hate-To-Love, Close Proximity, Instant Attraction, Secret Crush
TW: Attempted Sexual Assault, Drug Use, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Violence
I went into this book with the assumption it was just another hate-to-love teen romance. Little did I know it was the start of a new obsession! 😍 Dayton is the type of harsh reality I only ever see in either films and tv, or on the news— rundown neighbourhoods, seedy environments, high crime rated streets, and those who unfortunately live in the thick of it.
Yes, it’s angsty and tragic, but rightfully so. Yet, I found it thoroughly engaging and at times unpredictable. This book sets up the world-building and overall gritty tone of the book, and the rest of the series for that matter. It’s contemporary with a handful of dark elements included. The cast of characters introduced immediately had me curious to know more. Zepp and Monroe couldn’t have been a more perfectly suited pairing. The zingy pull-and-push relationship brewing between them was gripping to say the least. The constant game-playing and sexual banter was highly entertaining, but there was also a nice counterbalance of sincerity, understanding, and protectiveness in between.
You see a gradual progression in their character growth as the two unexpectedly form an undeniable bond. I was intrigued by the premise, and I’m happy to say the storytelling was well-executed. I didn’t even mind the slow burn romance. My only hang-up is the ending was a little on the abrupt side and wasn’t as in-depth in details as the rest of the book. But it’s still a gripping read and an excellent start to the series.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•••
• BOOK TWO | NO GOOD •
BLURB
He was the reprobate king of Dayton high. I was the bitter princess cast out of my kingdom. And we were at war.
It started off with a lie, and a one-night stand gone terribly wrong. Although I knew nothing good would come from my encounter with Bellamy West, the small town’s gorgeous bad boy, I didn’t expect him to throw jet fuel onto the already flaming wreckage of my life. Then step back with a sexy smirk on his face to watch me burn.
And burn I did…
He got me fired.
I got him arrested.
We were enemies until we weren’t. Until one touch went too far, and I found myself craving each dirty word. Every filthy promise.
Bellamy West was no good, and I wanted to be bad.
Screw falling for Prince Charming, I wrote my love story with the villain.
And for that, I paid..
MINI REVIEW
Genre/ Tropes: Opposite Sides Of The Tracks, One Night Stand, Close Proximity, Forbidden Romance
TW: Drug Use, Violence, Bullying
This next book was a little more on the light-hearted, playful side. There’s still some saddening developments but for the most part Bellamy and Drew have this highly amusing, super adorable relationship. It’s an opposite sides of the tracks love affair that had me giggling all throughout. 🤭 They’re another likable pair of characters, with Drew being a cute and confident heroine with bratty tendencies, and Bellamy surprisingly being one of the sweeter, more adult, more thoughtful heroes from the series, and it has a lot to do with his backstory.
The distinct differences between Bellamy and Drew doesn’t hold them back from pursuing one another—and when it looks like all things are stacked against them, they always manage to find a way around it. If charming, protective, loyal heroes tickle your fancy, I think you’ll find Bellamy quite the sweetheart.😉 He went from a secondary character to the main man of Dayton in this book and he filled the role with his own swoon-worthy finesse.
A great addition that essentially left me happy sighing, but it’s another story in the series with another abrupt ending— this one slightly more hasty than the last in resolving issues before it concluded. Although there was an epilogue, I was left wondering about certain matters. I wish this story was longer, but nevertheless still a worthwhile read!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•••
• BOOK THREE | NO ROMEO •
BLURB
To everyone in Dayton, Hendrix Hunt was the tattooed bad boy, the bully, the player. Guys hated and feared him. Girls wanted to tame him. And I just wished I could forget him.
Two years ago, Hendrix was my world. Then the taint of Dayton ruined everything, breaking us both with secrets and lies. I destroyed him and now he wants to destroy me…
They say love is patient, that love is kind, but when love is broken it becomes filled with jealousy and revenge.
Hendrix Hunt was no Romeo. But unfortunately, just like Juliet, I was in love with my enemy.
MINI REVIEW
Genre/ Tropes: Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Love–Hate–Love, Close Proximity
TW: Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Drug Use, Abortion, Violence
I’ve read countless romance books with “alpha-holes” and “man-whoring” leading men… but after having read these books, Hendrix takes top spot, hands down! Lol. In saying that, never in a million years could I have predicted (after all he has said and done in the past two books) that Hendrix and his story would end up becoming my favourite! 🤯😄
I was wholly captivated by Hendrix and Lola’s relationship and their entire backstory right from the opening scene. Hendrix has a distinct image he presents to everyone but this book gave amazing insight to another side of him that ultimately made me see him in a different (and absolutely lovable) light.
It’s well-paced storytelling, and jam-packed full of developments between Lola and Hendrix. Their history is well-developed alongside a deep sense of genuineness to their relationship that was effortlessly convincing. There’s air of tension and angst throughout that really drives home the heartbreak that both these leading characters are constantly experiencing. I love the amount of heart and emotion their story possessed— it’s one of the main reasons as to why I became so invested in seeing their HEA.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
•••
I’m not even the slightest bit embarrassed to admit I got hooked on this series relatively quickly. I wasn’t even halfway through No Prince before I knew I needed to grab the other books in the series. Each book’s storyline has some repetitive formulas but I didn’t mind it one bit. There’s still differences within each of the couples and their developments that made each story their own.
Although it’s set in a high school backdrop, these books are most certainly NA romance with a ton of raunchy sexual content for targeted audiences 18+ only. The world-building is one I haven’t come across in a lot of contemporary romance reads and immediately had me curious. The struggle is real with what these cast of characters go through and I was invested in each and every one of their lives from beginning to end.
I’ve been an avid fan of Lovell’s mafia romances and wanted to check out the rest of her backlist of books. Not only has the Dayton series introduced me to Lovell’s style of contemporary romance writing, but it also introduced new-to-me author Stevie J. Cole.
I’m late to the Dayton series party, and I’m not sure if No Romeo is officially the last book, but I do hope Wolf gets one of his very own. Although Hendrix is a loud, very memorable, one of kind character, Wolf was the very first Dayton “bad boy” introduced in No Prince (besides Zepp) that caught my eye.
Once I started this series I could not NOT binge-read them back to back. Safe to say they’ve become an addiction! 😁 They all have crude but laugh-out-loud humour, swoon-worthy romantic elements, and strong, genuine friendships that made them massive page-turners. There’s a real sense of survival, desperation, and a struggle with poverty with these characters that added another layer to each of their narratives. These books won’t be for everyone, but I highly recommend you give them a try. It’s an interconnected series but each is a standalone novel.
Ex-Navy SEAL Chris Draper is CEO and founder of the Texas based company, Tri Star Security, an ex-military rescue and protection service. Clients turn to Tri Star when no one else can help them. When Tri Star’s office manager, Lani Cantrell goes missing, a Mexican Cartel is the prime suspect. Chris and his team will pull out all stops to find and rescue her before she’s killed in retaliation for her brother’s deeds. The dangerous mission will require the team to cross international borders and use all the special ops skills and tactical training they have.
For Chris, maintaining a calm, detached, professional demeanor is everything, but Lani is more than an employee, she’s the love of his life, and this job is personal.
He’ll tear apart the cartel and burn the city to the ground to save his woman.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“You ready to jump in the deep end with me, babe? You ready for that?”
This had spice and all things nice! It’s an edge-of-your-seat military romance with an overall surprisingly playful atmosphere. If there’s one thing that James does well when writing romance stories, is the way she creates her characters with such personality that instantly has you perking up with interest. Each one of the characters introduced in this book, whether main or secondary have left an impressionable mark.
James can write from any romance sub-genre and it will immediately suck you in. This first book in her new military romance series has set the tone for what you can expect in the next books to come. I’m going to need advance copies of books two, three, four, and onwards because I was left wanting more.
It’s fast-paced with constant developments. The storytelling is told from a third person narrative and switches between the protagonists POVs. If you’re familiar with James’ type of romance, then it’ll be no surprise to see some laugh-out-loud banter, some cheeky flirtation, and some seriously sweet relationships that ultimately balances out the grittiness, the action and suspense, and the darkness that some of her characters endure in this story.
Although the majority of this story is light-hearted, there are some serious content that may be triggering for some readers such as, kidnapping, rape, violence and abuse that results in PTSD. It also brings up matters of drug and human trafficking. This book is intended for readers 18+ only.
There’s such a contrast of settings and unexpected subplots within this story that felt somewhat disjointed in certain parts, but it does eventually fuse together by the end and ensures Chris and Lani’s story come full-circle. It’s an emotional journey that I was invested in from start to finish. With the military backdrop as the base of the world-building of this series it’s obvious James has done her research. There’s intricate details and jargon that could easily have gone over my head but I needed have worried as it’s effortless to follow and similar to its heroine, I came away learning something new. 😜😄
All in all, it’s an amazing introduction to Tri Star Securities. Whilst I would’ve loved to have seen a more fleshed-out story, with how things concluded and seeing the premise for the second book, it’s looking to be an interconnected series of standalones where the world-building gets more vivid and complex as more books follow. If you enjoy military romance reads with a workplace romance trope, then I recommend you add this one to your TBR. The characters have amazing chemistry and there’s just enough spice in Chris and Lani’s romance to keep things heated between them. For me, the friendships are definitely a big highlight, adding not only an entertaining group dynamic but a strong support system as well.
I found the cast of characters truly likable and I loved seeing their gradual character growth and getting to know some of their backstories. With a fierce, intelligent heroine, and charming alpha heroes who exude strong protective vibes, this book just about made me feel all tingly with giddiness. It can easily be read in one sitting and will leave you sighing in happy contentment. I’m eager for book two!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Nicole James and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 🧡
Gavin Leonard is the worst.
He lives in the best party house off campus at Valley U, overrun by jocks galore.
I live next door, watching Jane Austen adaptations with my sketchbook in hand.
He stays on his side of the fence.
I stay on mine.
Now we’re accidentally on a camping trip together, but there’s only one tent left.
Gavin Leonard is the worst.
And he’s the last guy who broke my heart.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“It scares me how easy it is to be with him again. Hating him was simpler.”
When you combine a next-door neighbours, hate-to-love romance trope with a sports, college backdrop that’s full of emotion and dimension in a well-executed narrative, you have yourself Hating The Player! This is the second book in the Campus Wallflowers series and also my second book by Jenshak, and it’s a complete slam dunk! 🏀
I got addicted to this read real fast! The entertaining banter, the sizzling tension, and needing to know their backstory had built up the excitement in seeing their relationship blossom… and it did not disappoint!
This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend you start from the beginning of the series with Tutoring The Player to get the full introduction of the world-building, the friends, links amongst certain characters, and the overall dynamic of the groups.
My all-time favourite romance tropes are unquestionably enemies-to-lovers/ hate-to-love, and Jenshak has incorporated this theme into an overall light-hearted atmosphere. There’s a lot of angsty moments and remorse involved that could easily have given this a more heart-breaking tone, but the friendships played a big role in adding comic relief, moral support, and general positive vibes. Although it’s essentially a New Adult romance, it also inspires genuine hope and forgiveness cementing Gavin and Violet’s journey as one of second chances and fresh beginnings. It’s such an engaging read! 😊
The handful of elements included are well-balanced, having the romance, friendships, school and sports-related aspects all throughout kept the story constantly developing. Gavin and Violet are complete opposites and as they gradually evolve from friends to lovers, you see how their differences worked for and against their budding relationship.
Don’t let the jock status fool you, because Gavin is one swoon-worthy cinnamon roll! He’s more than meets the eye and once you discover his story, you’ll know just how complex his life really is. Violet is one tough heroine, and I applaud her for sticking to her guns, yet also knowing when to take a leap of faith. These two are such a sweet pairing and their story have set the bar for the rest of the series.
Besides the growing romantic relationship, these characters deal with relatable real-life matters that I easily connected and could sympathize with. Familial drama, stresses with juggling school and personal life, on top of which having to delve deep into future goals.
Whilst I had some mixed feelings about the first book, this one however has me eager to continue with the series. The world-building has considerably expanded from book one to book two with existing secondary characters having more presence, as well as the introductory of new characters that will most likely appear in future books.
This was definitely my type of contemporary romance read. The premise caught my eye and the story itself delivered! Jenshak’s writing is effortless to follow and pulls you in immediately. Gavin, Violet, and the rest of the crew are diverse personalities, without a doubt give-off authentic college student vibes, and are all likable, intriguing characters. It’s told from dual POVs, and gives you insight into both protagonists’ inner dialogue. This book is smile-inducing, and with the added bonus epilogue Gavin and Violet come full circle.
I loved it and think it’s a must-read for fans of NA contemporary romance. It has a comfort-read quality about it and I, for one know it’ll be a book I’ll reread again and again.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Rebecca Jenshak and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💜
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booksofthemuggleborn 
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