** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh-wee. Lots to unpack here because this book was hella jam-pacMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
Ooh-wee. Lots to unpack here because this book was hella jam-packed with characters and different narratives— all in a complex, expansive interconnected criminal underworld.
Although this can be read as a standalone, I’m going to be real honest and say, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series or the Thorns of Omertà series, then there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself a little lost when it comes to some of the character crossovers and the connections they have with the MCs. There are so many familial links and ever-growing allies that it can be pretty overwhelming if you’re not up-to-scratch with Winners’ dark mafia multiverse.
Christian (aka Priest) and Ivy are both likable characters. I had gravitated towards Priest as a character from the very beginning of this series just because of the mystery and darkness that surrounded him. Ivy was somewhat similar. She was never quite the centre of attention, always just lingering in the background… that is, until this book.
There are two sides to every coin, and same can be said for Priest. I knew there was constant darkness lurking around him, but after learning the full extent of his backstory, I have an even deeper love and admiration for him. He might just be my favourite Kingpin. (Sorry Basilio. Sorry Dante). Priest is an overly complex character and his brutal and disturbing upbringing is the result of his volatile mental stability. He knows it. The people closest to him know on some level too. But what I found myself marvelling at is his determination to change, when most of his life he has moulded himself in armour. Winner written a mafia romance and included raw, real-life issues that many could connect and relate with.
This story is not for the fainthearted. I, myself who normally doesn’t have triggers found this one to have an effect on me. Please err on the side of caution. It contains dark themes that some readers may find triggering such as child abandonment, child abuse, sexual assault, blackmail, kidnapping, exploitation, graphic violence and torture— which are all by-products of severe mental, physical, and emotional trauma. Priest’s backstory also broaches on his religious upbringing, and is one of the key reasons behind his actions and demeanour. This book is intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s character-driven. It’s emotionally-charged, and with the past coming back to haunt not only the MCs but the secondary cast of characters as well, it’s packed with action and suspense.
The complexity of this story stems from the totally twisted, totally dysfunctional familial relations present. The dynamics you see between Priest’s family, as well as Ivy’s equally intricate one, will have you questioning whether or not you’ve walked into a telenovela or soap opera. Everyone seems to be linked to someone one way or another, and anyone that was deemed done and dusted, may very well be alive and kicking. Like I said, it’s a damn soap opera! LOL. It’s equally entertaining, as it is overwhelming.
It’s well-paced storytelling, told from multiple POVs. The story has a very sombre, heartbreaking atmosphere, but there are bouts of lightness and banter throughout that keeps it from going overly dark. Ivy injects a lot of sweetness, calmness, and loyalty into Priest’s life, and seeing him trying to navigate through it all is probably one of my favourite things from this book, along with his overall character growth.
Priest and Ivy’s story is one that felt full-circle. It started out with loneliness, pain, and uncertainty, and ending with stability, love and family.
This story also hints at various other storylines, which I’m excited for. There are a handful of characters that have intrigued me for a while now, and this book only reiterated my anticipation to read their stories next.
If you like big chunks of spice, this one has it. I’m all for spice if it heightens the story and the characters’ developing relationship. But in this case, there was a bit too much of it (I know, shocking) for my liking, to the point where the story occasionally dragged. There were also instances where I found the storytelling jumped from one subplot to the next, and back again, and with big portions of the book being sexual content, the writing felt choppy and didn’t flow as well as the other books. Whilst certain subplots were understandably introduced and left open for future books, there were others that I thought developed and concluded rather abruptly. There were particular developments that I also thought deserved a shit-ton of grovelling for and deserved major grudge-holding, but alas, it just felt short of my torturous liking. Oh well.
I still enjoyed it regardless. I think it’s a beautiful addition to the series, and Priest is a refreshing change of pace from the previous broken heroes of the Kingpins of the Syndicate. Ivy is the softness to Priest’s hard-heartedness, and the balance between them is just warming to witness. Theirs is a journey of highs and lows, and it’s evident their relationship is a work-in-progress as they work through insecurities and open up about their emotions. I love the relatability of their relationship, their willingness to repair damaged relationships with friends and family, and how realistic they went about with their overall healing process. The fleshed-out scenes that were added and the genuine developments amongst the characters in my opinion, were the absolute factors that made this book a weighty little gem.
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
What goes around, comes around…
If you had read the first book; TMy Rating: 4 stars!
** ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review. **
What goes around, comes around…
If you had read the first book; The Heroes We Break, then you know leaving it at that cliffhanger was not an option. Not reading this book was NEVER an option.
What I thought was an already intricate maze of secrecy and doubt in the first book, was nothing in comparison to the labyrinth of schemes, deception, and mistrust in this second book.
The pacing slows down as the story gets more elaborate. Plot twists are dropping left, right, and centre that there’s a lot to take in. Some predictable, some not. But throughout it all, you can’t help but feel the need to see Ophelia’s and Silas’ story through to the end. These two confront some pretty dizzying developments that always resulted in a “one step forward, two steps back” progression in their relationship.
However, one thing I found unwavering was Silas’ ultimate game plan. Mete out vengeance, and get the girl. Come hell or high water he was going to see it through.
This book evoked some strong emotions out of me. I spent half of the time frustrated and half of the time at the edge of my seat waiting to see how these MCs were going to handle the situations they were thrown into. I became so invested that it’s a testament to how appealing the writing and characters are.
The first book introduced varying familial dynamics, but they get more interesting and a lot more complex in this second book. There’s an obvious contrast amongst Ophelia’s and Silas’ families, and although these relationships are fictional, there were still some realism and relatability present. Not only did these characters’ backstories set precedence, but it also set the overall tone of the story. It’s gloomy and romantic elements took a bit of a backseat to matters that needed immediate attention.
This book broaches on sensitive matters that may be triggering for some readers. It contains rape (off-page), suicide (off-page), explicit violence and sexual content, blackmail, stalking, and death. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
For a good chunk of the story neither Ophelia nor Silas could catch a break. Certain subplots were introduced only to conclude abruptly, and I was saddened by a particular circumstance, but it was safe to say their HEA was much-deserved and worth the wait.
I mentioned this in my review for the first book, but I’m reiterating it in this one— Silas is THE main attraction. This is his journey from cruelty and helplessness to courageousness and becoming a force to be reckoned with. He’s a determined, morally grey hero who has great intuition. If all else failed, he’s the one pillar of strength you could always rely on, and it was exhibited time and time again.
The writing is effortless to follow. The world-building is just diabolical enough to keep things engaging, and the antsy atmosphere throughout really elevated my reading experience. This duet is definitely different from Knight’s other dark romances. It’s more a contemporary with darkish tendencies that broached on sensitive matters.
Give this duet a try, if you enjoy romance reads containing any of the following:
- Next-Door Neighbours - Secret Crush - Friends-to-Lovers - Forbidden Romance - Age-Gap Romance - Marriage of Convenience
Make sure to read The Heroes We Break prior to starting this one, as it’s a continuous storyline.
It’s thought-provoking from start to finish. Also, heartbreaking at times. But at the end of the day, this story represented good prevailing over evil. And man, were there tons of evil to overcome. I enjoyed reading it. If you’re an avid fan of Knight like I am, it’s not to be missed. If you love dark contemporary romances, or relatively new to the sub-genre, this is a spicy yet suspenseful read I recommend adding to your TBR.
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Spice, spice, and more spice! Billie and Winston’s relationshiMy Rating: 4-4.5 stars!
**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**
Spice, spice, and more spice! Billie and Winston’s relationship snapped, crackled, and popped from beginning to end. They are a prime example of cliff diving into a vast ocean of sexual desire. Consequences be damned! Their story comprised of blue-balling and banter wrapped up in a solid layer of baggage.
Told from dual POVs. Billie and Winston take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions through a tangled web of complications. They navigate through years’ worth of lusty feelings, risky opportunities, and secrecy.
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading Misdeeds of a Billionaire (book two) first. It provides a full backstory of how Billie and Winston meet, the relationships between their families, and will give you a full knowhow of timelines and events that take place throughout the years.
They immediately intrigued me in Misdeeds and I couldn’t wait to read their story. Although it’s steady-paced, character-driven, and time constantly moving, I had hoped for more to their narrative. I enjoyed the banter, and their zingy chemistry was clear as day, but in comparison to the previous books in the series I had expected a lot more meatiness that didn’t appear until the last few chapters.
However, those last few chapters were by far my favourite part of the book. It was intense, highly emotional, and had me on edge. Despite initially knowing the tropes and plot points included in this book, nothing could’ve prepared me for the deluge of emotions that Billie and Winston evoked out of me within the short time span.
Winners’ writing is always effortless to follow, and the characters are so, so fascinating that I’m constantly left wanting to know more about them. There are side characters included that I’m looking forward to reading their books next, but there are also certain characters introduced that have me deeply intrigued, and I’m hoping it’s not the last we see of them.
This book includes sensitive subject matters that may be disturbing or triggering for some readers. It broaches on torture, suicide, PTSD, kidnapping, violence, attempted sexual abuse, and a miscarriage. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
Billie and Winston’s story is ominous for the most part but I promise good things are present. The love and positive support system is undeniable. Their relationship not only developed from strangers to lovers, but it grew from strength to strength. They’re flawed, complex characters, each with their own struggles and heartbreak who in time grow and come to terms with their past. They go through realistic traumas that some readers may relate to. Although tough to witness, I thought it was well-written with care and sensitivity. You can’t help but be invested in these MCs and seeing their journey through.
It’s a romance story with a smidge of action and suspense and mafia elements. I am addicted to the interconnected world Winners has created and the infinite character crossovers, but the Billionaire Kings has fast become my favourite. The Ashford brothers are a sight to behold. First there was Alessio, then Byron, and now Winston.
If you love reading about morally grey heroes who fall first and fall hard, then you’ll adore Win. He’s possessive, erratic, and when he sets his sights on something, you can bet he’ll get it. Billie is spunky, stubborn, and has the tendency to get into all kinds of trouble. But she’s also loyal, sweet, and playful. They may butt heads but that’s half the fun when seeing them together.
SOAB is another swoon-worthy addition to the series, and it has me counting down the days, weeks, and months until the next billionaire king. With its overall sombre atmosphere, it’s the perfect rainy day read to escape into. Their HEA was well and truly deserved!
Ugh! What an amazing addition to the Boston Underworld series! I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it dow**spoiler alert** My Rating: 4.5 stars!
Ugh! What an amazing addition to the Boston Underworld series! I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I wished it was longer. I really do!
Conor is a loved side character for me the minute he was introduced into the series in the previous books. He was the young, loyal, still somewhat innocent guy who was willing to take on anything thrown his way, and him finally getting his own book felt like come full circle.
I loved that his personality.. his sweetness is on full display here. No amount of reminding that his part of the strongest and scariest mafia syndicates will hide the fact that when it comes down to it, he will EFF you up if you and anyone else who thinks to mess with his brotherhood, his family and what's his. He's possessive. He's protective. He's the guy you would want by your side.
His love is fierce. No doubt about it and him struggling to express that properly is one of the reasons why Conor will forever be a sweetheart in my eyes! He's still a puppy dog. An adorable baby you just want to put in your pocket and protect at all cost. Haha.
This definitely was more romance, less Mafia-esque. So it's a little less darker that the previous books in the series - but note; still dark.
~~~~~~ ** Trigger warning on! There's still violence, abuse, kidnapping and rape. Also note it has cussing. And not for readers under the age of 18. ** ~~~~~~
Ivy. What can I say about her? She is resilient. I don't know if I could survive the things she's been through. All the female protagonists in this series have gone through unimaginable, cruel, evil torture and managed to scrape through and survive. What I found with Ivy is she's the most relatable. The most realistic when it comes to her situation. Her thoughts are warranted and I couldn't blame her for both her actions and insecurities. She's probably become my fave from the ladies in the series (sorry Mack).
This was another gripping storyline that flowed effortlessly. I would've kept reading if the pages didn't end. Boston Underworld will forever be one of my all time favourite Mafia romance series'. The world building is amazing. You get a taste of the mob life (not as brutally dark as some other Mafia books) but you get the gist, and you get to see the hardships they go through. With each book you get the main characters' backstories which helps you to really see how much they've grown - and how much their past has made an impact on their present day lives. And of course you get the romance and to see how much 'love' changes so much.
I'm going to miss waiting for a new addition. But thank you Ashleigh! The hangover I have now is more than worth it!...more
Rina | booksofthemuggleborn
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