⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!
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• BLURB •
All I want to do is look after my dad, so when I land the job of a lifetime that will take care of our expenses, I grab at the chance with both hands. Little do I know, the impossible will be expected of me.
Slowly my smile fades, and my laughter dies until all that’s left is the broken puppet my personal hell created.
Liam Byrne, the head of the Irish mafia, returns from a business trip, and I expect my hellish nightmare to increase ten-fold.
Brutal, merciless, and dangerous, Liam is feared by all – even the monster intent on killing my soul.
Turns out I was wrong.
The instant Liam notices what’s happening, he takes me under his wing, and even though he’s all sharp edges and threatening growls, I feel safe with him.
Little by little, my sunshine creeps through the cracks, and my laughter returns.
But can one monster really defeat another, or am I just a girl dreaming about the impossible?
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• MY REVIEW •
“Everything is different with you.”
Yowza! Book two in the Sinners series was a siiiiizzling, butterflies-inducing romance! Beautifully written with an intriguing storyline and engaging characters. Whilst Taken By A Sinner (book one) was an explosive hate-to-love romance story, Owned By A Sinner was a mouth-watering instant attraction.
I am OBSESSED with Heard’s Mafiosos since The Saints series, and have been loving each and every one of the heroes within. Liam Byrne is rightfully amongst these group of men, but you immediately discover his unusual characteristics is what sets him apart from the rest. That, and the fact that he seems to have a well-managed balance of his two worlds— the seedy underworld and the world’s more civilized society.
Although a relatively quick full-length novel, I thought the world-building was rich and left open for possible expansion. There was a nice constant build-up throughout which paired well with the unpredictability of it all. An Irish Mafia romance with a kick! The romance can be considered insta-love but it doesn’t come off that way with how Liam’s and Kiara’s relationship developed. If you enjoy reading workplace romances, and/or age-gap romances in your mafia books, then I recommend you try this one on for size! 😉 It’s the second book in a series of standalones, so you can technically read this one without having read Taken By A Sinner first (although I highly recommend you read in publishing order for maximum experience).
Kiara didn’t stand out as much as Liam as I would’ve liked or was hoping for. She came off as a stereotypical damsel-in-distress. I would’ve loved to have seen her be a little bit wiser in her decisions and actions. Whilst she had a lot of naiveness to her, overall, she’s still a likable character. As the story progressed and certain situations became more intense, I ended up getting just as emotionally invested in Kiara as I did Liam. There’s a sweet innocence to their relationship that I found both endearing and refreshing in comparison to Heard’s previous mafia couples.
It’s told from dual points of view, along with relatable and hilariously realistic inner monologues that honestly couldn’t stop me from smiling. There are equal measures of romance and dark mafia elements, which I loved, and which Heard has delivered time and time again. She pushes the boundaries of the level of darkness she’s willing to put her characters through and their journey ends up becoming more in-depth and genuine because of it. Owned By A Sinner does contain sensitive subject matter that may be triggering for some readers such as, strong sexual assault, blackmail, and graphic violence. Intended for readers 18+ only.
I was amazed by the excellent contrast of light and dark Heard has executed with this story. It switches back and forth from a light-hearted atmosphere to one of danger and suspense without it feeling stilted. From my past experiences I’ve always found her writing to be consistently gripping from the characters she introduces, to the solid plotlines, to the overall execution of the storytelling. Always effortless to follow and this was no different.
Other than Liam’s and Kiara’s budding romance, I was gripped by the cast of secondary characters who made quite grin-inducing impressions themselves. They were the perfect addition that not only added some of the entertainment value, but also supporting storylines that added dimension to the overall book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down until I finished it. I thought it was an amazingly swoon-worthy second book to the series. It not only had me hooked from beginning to end but had me anticipating the next books to come. Despite the gritty world Kiara has been thrust into, Liam provided warmth, affection, and all-around safe haven that will ultimately melt your heart.
Gut-wrenching at times. Not going to lie, it’s a bit of tearjerker (at least for me). But by the end it will leave you with happy contentment! Also, an Irish Mafioso who’s described as looking like Charlie Hunnam?! Umm… yes please! 😍
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Michelle Heard and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 🧡
🔔 Interested in reading Owned By A Sinner? Grab your copy here: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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⌚ Start The Sinner Series!
Book One: Taken By A Sinner by Michelle Heard
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⛪ Read the Saints Series!
Books 1-4: The Saints Series by Michelle Heard
Book 5: Tears Of Salvation by Michelle Heard
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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo
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