kindle/ Ruthless Oath :A Dark Mafia Romance (Cruel Empire Book 1) by Ella Jade

 amazon

 Book 1 of 5: Cruel Empire 

 

Kidnapped by a savage enemy...

As heir to the throne in a royal mafia family, it's my job to get the information needed to bring my father home. And that means kidnapping a rival's spoiled mafia princess daughter.

At the time, I don't know the man is in negotiations to marry her off to a brutal arms dealer, but when I discover how difficult of a captive she is, it kind of makes sense. Soon, she foolishly starts to see me as the lesser of evils, but while she seems willing to be my captive, she's mistaken to believe I'm doing her any favors.

I can't allow anything to distract me. Especially not some naïve woman who doesn’t realize we've just set off a mob war. Now the only way to stop what I started and be reunited with my father is to let her go.

Problem is, I've fallen for my hostage, and while I have the guts, power, and resources to keep her as a willing prisoner, if I make the wrong choice, it could cost my family’s empire everything.

If you like dark, steamy romances by Zoe Blake, Maggie Cole, and Nicole Fox, you’ll devour USA Today Bestselling author Ella Jade’s Cruel Empire Series.

Start reading this deliciously dark enemies to lovers mafia series today by scrolling up and one-clicking now.

----My 5 Star review- I liked it even though it's only a HEA for now

Marchello Accetti is the main character and has a brother named Milo.  Their father is in hiding trying to help save him It's not been going very well in that respect. Lissa is Gian Gallanti's daughter.  She's a NYC graduate and Danny Collins is her father's new, closest associate.  She thinks he has his eyes on her and finds him creepy. So did I. Her father seems to just keep pushing them together and she HATES it.   She's kinda silly and clueless and also spoiled, I didn't like her very much in the beginning! I was shaking my head more than once thinking, "How could she be SO stupid?"  Sweet Ricardo is supposed to be watching her because he's sweet and won't be rough with her like some of the men that surround Matchello and his teams.  That's gonna work, right? I could trouble coming a mile away on that score and it does !! She ends up just "stepping away", gets Ricardo in trouble and has everyone tearing their hair out trying to find her. She deserves everything spanking she's going to get when they finally find her !

Everything comes together at the end for a HEA for now ending.  Collins does get away alive,  to continue to cause trouble where he can !  To me this is a mild cliffhanger and the story continues in "Vicious Vows." 

 

March 12th, 2026Bksprout- "Sicilian Vendetta" by Nicolette Chase

  Bksprout

 

Sicily made him a prince; one night made him a weapon.

Luciano Rossi is the reluctant heir to the island’s most feared famiglia, bound by omertà and

a single oath: avenge what was stolen. When a chance encounter puts him face-to-face

with Isabella Fratelli—the brilliant, untouchable daughter of the man who shattered his

world—his disciplined life fractures.

Their hidden meetings ignite a love powerful enough to challenge a dynasty. But choosing

Isabella could detonate a blood feud, betray the code that raised him, and cost him the

crown—or his life.

As old enemies circle and the island readies for war, Luciano must decide: legacy or love.

Will their bond remake Sicily’s darkest empire—or burn out with the last embers of a

vendetta?

Explicit

Novel

Romance Mafia Romance Dark Romance Italian Mafia Romance Steamy Mafia Romance Spicy Dark Romance  t Romance Dark Mafia Romance Touch her and die Possessive MMC

Hosted by Nicollet's ARC Team

Review on at least 1:

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---------------4 STARS Review: Titled: Good but the pace is slower

Death came quickly for Luciano Rossi's father, Salvatore-  in a betrayal death. Luciano quickly became known as El Fantasma "The Ghost" !  The scene moves to Present Day and Luciano is now 25 years old and his cousin and protector Enzo stands with him..always ! No matter what even when he warns he against Fausta Fratelli and their attraction. But Enzo knows to say it and then shut up ! He knows that Luciano is also a strategist, calm and patient.  And warns that he could get them all killed.  Lucano doesn't care, he still wants her. I loved Enzo in this story as well as her driver Marco who covered for her so many times. I was so hoping they didn't end up getting killed ! 

Now, Faffa who is Fausta's brother and he's patient in his OWN Cruel kind of way. Always appearing to taunt and expect a show when he steals or kills. He usually lets other show up to do most of those deeds but he is always there, tossing his dice and grinning. Yuck ! Their father is the worst of bullies though always trying to control others especially his daughter. Well once she meets Luciano, she decides she's had enough of his control and wants to feel alive with Luciano again and again.  Some hot times happen in some cathedrals, of course so do some murders. Not gory but yes, they happen !

 Because of the almost poetic feel to the story and the well described situations and places, I think this is what slowed the story a bit.  It almost turned into a Romeo & Juliet scenario..Almost ! I liked how the story ended with their HEA.

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

bookfunnel free/ How to Fix a Broken Billionaire by Maggie Tate

  For any other questions, please contact:
Maggie Tate <hello@maggietatebooks.com>

He came home to fix his past. I taught him how to fix my future.

I run the only auto shop in the small town of Briar Hollow,raise two wild boys, and I've sworn off men—especially ones who leave and billionaires who think money can fix everything.

Then Will Carpenter rolls back into town with a broken sports car and a face that should be illegal. The same boy who shattered my heart when we were young is now a CEO with an apology I'm not ready to accept.

He wants forgiveness. I want him gone.

But when I see him laughing with my sons like he was born for backyard football and looking at me like I'm the most fascinating thing he's ever seen—grease stains and all—I don't stand a chance.

And when he promises he's staying, I start believing that second chances aren't just for broken engines.

Because this man isn't the boy who hurt me. He might be the one to heal me.

My 5 Star Review TITLED:   Who knew ?

What a surprising re-union between Will "Johnny" the bully and  sweet but now that ,"no one messes with her" skilled mechanic, Harper ! It's hilarious when she realized the boy who embarrassed her all through school now has a luxury car towed into her garage !She can hold it hostage as long as she wants ! Decisions, decisions !   His mom is delighted to see him again after him escaping the town and not coming home for so long ! Her sister is warning Big Cautions about Will ! Enough men have hurt Harper before, including her ex. 

I loved how they both started to carefully move around each other like two prize fighters. Lol.  Her young boys are super protective of their mom 

It all ends in the most delightful way and now I want more from this author. It's a shame that I couldn't review on Amazon, Bookbub or Goodreads because I would  have. 

bkfunnel ARC/ His Risk, Her Red String Bikini By Poppy Reed

    For any other questions, please contact:
Poppy Reed <hello@poppyreedromance.com>

Amazon

 ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GLHKZM38

• 494 Pages
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 11, 2026

Book 8 of 8: The Black Sisters Series 

 Grumpy Rancher × City Doctor
Forced Proximity • Small-Town Romance • Found Family • Slow-Burn Heat
Rowan Carter knows land.
Horses.
Weather.
Responsibility.
What he doesn’t know is what to do with a sharp-tongued city doctor who steps out of a limo in heels, champagne on her breath, and absolutely no business being anywhere near his Kentucky horse ranch.
Anna was supposed to be a joke.
A summer camping trip turned forced-proximity chaos—five elite medical professionals dropped into the Bluegrass countryside, one grumpy cowboy rancher in charge, and nowhere to escape when sparks start flying.
Rowan assumes Anna doesn’t ride.
Doesn’t camp.
Doesn’t take orders.
Anna lets him believe it.
What she does do is swim—especially in a red bikini that makes Rowan forget every rule he’s ever lived by.
Out on the trail, beside a quiet lake and under open skies, tension builds into slow-burn heat as campfire confessions, summer storms, and a watching small town pull them closer. Rowan is determined to protect her—even as she challenges everything he believes about control, belonging, and love.
She doesn’t belong on his ranch.
Until she belongs in his life.
Set in the heart of rural Kentucky, this contemporary western romance delivers grumpy-sunshine chemistry, found family, small-town spotlight, and a swoony, emotional happily-ever-after.
Perfect for readers who love cowboy romance, forced proximity, fake relationships, and slow-burn love stories that simmer before they ignite.

 

__My 4 STAR Review Notes TITLED:  5 ''City Girls" and Rowan  

 

Anna, a doctor and her citified friends, Faith, Noel, Ivy and Holly enter like a small country invading Kentucky's ranch ! They all know about or work in the medical field.

Everly Hayes now Carter has invited Anna and her friends  to the working ranch/ vacation Some vacation !. They had NO idea how hard working their vacation was going to be !!! Noel is a hoot, always coming in hot for fun, something she learns to tame down a bit. 

Rowan is a large, take no prisoners who runs and knows how to rule the land. It's his legacy. One that at times he wishes he could escape but he can't leave it.  He's quiet, strong and bossy.  He carries authority naturally. Not unkind; he just knows what needs to be done and wants everyone safe. 

 Anna carries authority naturally at her hospital, because she knows what needs to be done and it gets done.  She doesn't like to be told what to do on the ranch and gives Rowan some snark along with wearing  red string bikini later.  It about setts him on fire !

 There is a lot of give and take between them along with some silences and distances.

This story has a LOT of people in it and at first I kind of got lost in that fact, especially at first.  Also a lot of food, comradery, and family and workers that really pulled hard together. All a family even if not by blood. Anna doesn't feel like there is a place for her to fit in.  She's afraid, always looking for the exit. Rowan was a afraid of his attraction to her because he's had a woman bail on him before !

It's a full story with a hard won HEA.  

---

Mar 10, 2026BkSprout/ Prince: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance (King of the Mafia Book Two)by Ivy Davis

  Bksprout

Amazon 

I was forced into an arranged marriage.

 Maksim Petrov – handsome and terrifying and a complete stranger to me.

We have to get married for the sake of peace between our families.

But neither one of us wants this marriage to happen.

We can’t seem to get on the same page no matter how hard we try.

He’s lived too much while I have never lived at all.

I have a secret that I hold close to my chest.

I know if I let Maksim in, we could make our marriage work.

But to let him in would be to destroy me.

Can we find love between us?

Or will we fail to find peace?

I’m terrified of the answer.

I’m even more terrified of what my heart is telling me. 

Explicit

Novella

Romance mafia romance mafia arranged marriage arranged marriage romance dark mafia romance dark romance age gap romance mafia billionaire romance mafia age gap romance enemies to lovers romance mafia forced marriage romance

Hosted by Ivy Davis's review team

Note from the Author

Prince is the second book in my King of the Mafia series but can be read as a standalone. Thank you for taking the time to review my book!

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-----------------My 5 Star Review TITLED:  How can  Maksim & Natasha make it work?

Maksim is a 30 year old man forced into a marriage that he definitely DOESN'T  want !!  He loves parting and one night stands with women.  Nikolai is not only his best friend but also the head of their New York organization.  So, he really has no choice. His father, Gregor Petrov, never gives his son respect or credit for anything but of course he's all in for this marriage. I hated Gregor as well. Give your son a break, he's an adult !!

  Maksim  doesn't even to meet his "bride' before the wedding !! They are in Chicago. 

Natasha is  a younger woman and TERRIFIED of her father, Lev Sokolov and is totally dominated by him.  She's shy and completely sheltered and isolated and her father loves that ! He's a First Class Bully !!

Both of the fathers almost ruin the marriage alliance between New York and Chicago and just can't seem to keep their butts out of their marriage. Especially Lev. He thinks he still calls the shots because of the Peace Pact between the two organizations. What an idiot !

 I loved outrageous Kira who was Maksim's sister. She hugged Natasha the moment they met and declared they were going to be best of  friends ! She kind of overwhelmed shy Natasha but she liked her.   Kira was the Ultimate Party Girl. Her father Gregor thought she was the Golden Girl and gave her whatever she wanted.  He thought she would never cause any trouble. Right !

I so enjoyed how Maksim and Natasha have to FIGHT their way to getting to  know each other and it has a great ending !  Plenty of suspense and fighting by the way. I loved how experienced, handsome Maksim is so clueless at first when it came to getting to know his new wife.  He just can't seem to say or do anything right. That was nice for a change. 

Well, maybe not so good for Kira because now it's her turn to get offered up to a rival organization as a Peace Offering in marriage. Oh, Enzo is gonna love that !  Enzo is the head of that rival organization and was causing them trouble throughout this book.  Maksim just wants to kill him but they can't ! Oh, Kira is SO going to hate this idea.  They get their shot a relationship in the third book called "Boss". Should be amazing !!

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

 

bkfunnel/ Murder, Mystery, and a Very Good Boy by A.P. Wells

 For any other questions, please contact:
A.P. Wells <wells@apwellscozymystery.com>

Hazel Winslow’s first mistake was falling in love with the dead man’s dog.

 All Hazel wanted was a fresh start. Instead, her car blows a tire outside a quirky little town, and a body turns up before the tow truck does.

Now's she a primary suspect in a murder she didn't commit. Bad timing. Worse luck. Story of her freaking life.

The hawk-eyed sheriff says civilians get killed poking their noses where they don't belong. Hazel can't tell if it's a threat or a warning. 

Hazel’s only way out is to find the killer, with nothing but her instincts and a clue-sniffing sidekick. But the murdered antique dealer left behind a whole mess of enemies. Every smiling face in town seems to be hiding something: even the crazy cat lady.

And when a death threat shows up on Hazel's door, it becomes painfully clear someone has been watching her. Someone knows where she’s staying. And every answer Hazel uncovers only tightens the noose.

Because the killer isn’t just covering their tracks. 

They’re making sure there are no witnesses—

not even a puppy. 

 Proudly written and edited by real humans, for real humans

----My 5 star Review TITLED: Bramblewick Surprises 

To start off with I LOVED quirky Hazel -she was hilarious ! All she wants to do is get her stuff and her carload of Books to the new book store that she will be setting up. No such luck; way to easy, right? !!!  When she encounters Sheriff "Mustache" Calder Reed, he's suspicious of her especially because she didn't live around there.  I got the biggest laugh out of her thinking of him as "Sheriff Mustache".  Add in such a sweet fluff of a dog, that she gets attached to. She hopes she can keep him but she's never had a dog before.  She always wanted one though.

I really enjoyed this shorter book and look forward to more stories about Hazel and "Watson."  

bkfunnel/ Forbidden and Forgotten by Christina Rowan

  For any other questions, please contact:
Christina Rowan <hello@christinarowanauthor.com>

Amazon

 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G6XHSPTT

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Orchid Press

64 Pages

Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 14, 2025

He remembers everything. I remember nothing…
Except what my body never forgot.

Walking back into Matteo Ricci’s world is a mistake. Especially when I’m undercover—tasked to betray him.

Red dress. Velvet shadows. My body pinned by the billionaire crime boss who haunts every memory I don’t have.

I should run. I should finish my mission. I shouldn’t want the man who tears my past wide open with every bruising kiss.

But Matteo doesn’t care about should. He wants answers. He wants me—whether I remember our past or not.

When the lies, the lust, and the lethal truths collide… Only one question remains.

Will loving him save me— or destroy us both?

---------My4 Star Review  TITLED:  She's missing something

Juliet Devereaux is undercover for the Feds. Her handler, Camilla wants her to go in, get the evidence they need and get out QUICKLY !!! They want the goods on the billionaire crime boss, Matteo Ricci.  But she's in over her head in minutes !  I loved that there was dual P.O.V's in this story.  And there sure was a lot missing for Juliet...like her memories.  But Matteo still loves her. The story has some drama. They did have a romance before she vanished.  The story ends with a kind of HEA for now. But also sort of a cliffhanger as well as they wait for people to come after them again ! It was a good quick story though. 

Nice eBook cover by the way.  

5th of March 2026/ Mafia Don's Crimson Bride: by Piper Raven

  Bksprout   Book 15 of The Mafia Don Series

I crash the wedding next door because my best friend dares me to.

She says it’ll be fun. She says no one will notice.

By the time the groom is face-down on marble, his nephew steps forward, a ring is locked onto my finger, and his hand settles at my spine—steady, claiming—while the room waits for his permission to breathe.

That’s when I learn the wedding was never real.

There was no bride. There never was.
And somehow, I was always meant to be here.

Rocco Rizzo is nine years older. Cold. Controlled. Dangerous.
The kind of man whose presence pulls at me even when I know it shouldn’t.

Now I’m trapped in his world—his estate, his rules, his watchful gaze that lingers a second too long.

I was meant to take the fall. Not become his wife.

But the longer I stay, the harder it is to ignore the tension between us… or the secrets closing in.

Then my body changes everything. I’m pregnant with Rocco Rizzo’s child.

And now the most dangerous man in Seattle—the one I can’t stay away from, the one whose touch feels inevitable—is the only one who can keep me alive.

Explicit

Novel

Romance arranged marriage age gap surprise pregnancy next door neighbor forced proximity alpha male bad boy with a good heart protector enemies to lovers opposites attract

Hosted by Piper Raven

Note from the Author

An Age Gap Arrange Marriage Mafia romance thriller that will definetely steam up your reading glasses. Reader discreation is advised! Note: Your copy may contain unedited parts.

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 4 STAR TITLED: Everyone underestimated Eva...at first

 

Eva Sarzetti has no idea what she has just walked into . But it's deadly and could have died  if not for Rocco Rizzo stepping up and claiming her as his bride. Blood happens before that? Yes, his Uncle Vincent is standing at the altar waiting for his bride when he suddenly falls down dead.  Rocco prevents chaos erupting as he has now inherited The Throne.  

Rocco really didn't want to get married but knew that he really had no choice. He "knew' his uncle had been murdered so that others could seize control. He loved his uncle but knew he had to do something right now. He was definitely going to investigate this ..later. 

Eva's best friend Gia Barbetti was the one that encouraged Eva so strongly to crash the party.  Have fun for once she says. She almost literally pushes out the door to do it.  Made me think Eva shouldn't be so trusting of her bestie.  Another uncomfortable character in the story is Rocco's father Mario.  He was the one that got passed over and he was SO smooth, but cunning like patient snake.  I didn't like him at all !

Rocco is really cool towards Eva in the beginning although none of this was her fault and he suspected that maybe she wasn't a plant.  He just had to be sure.  I couldn't believe how quickly, Eva just accepted everything.Of course, she soon learns how dangerous her life has become. Most people don't trust her or her ability to stay and survive because she was just a "civilian". 

The story slows down quite a bit for a while because everyone has to be so patient. UNTIL things finally start moving.  Eva and Rocco have their "hot times" together and finally start working together. Eva refuses to continue to be used or left behind.  

Everything comes to a great conclusion with Justice being served and a new future being built.  The Epilogue shows even more of that future.  

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Bksprout March 1/ Forbidden Protector Book 2 by Carmella Knight

  Bksprout

She showed up out of nowhere—battered, nameless, with sunshine in her eyes and scars no one could see.

I’m Blaze, Vice President of the Iron Titans MC—dominant, dangerous, and way off-limits.

I’m supposed to keep my distance, but she’s a wildfire in my world.

When I moved her into my penthouse for protection, forced proximity became our hell and heaven.

She’s got sass, mystery, and a past darker than the streets I grew up on.

Against every rule, every warning, I found myself falling for the innocent who couldn’t remember her own name.

Three stolen moments—her laugh, her fight, the way she looked at me like I was the only safe place left.

Then she vanished—kidnapped by enemies who want her silenced forever.

I tore through Miami to find her, and when I did, everything changed.

If she’s my sunshine, I’m the storm—and losing her would mean losing everything I’ve fought for.

Explicit

Novel

Romance romantic suspense biker gang alfa male billionaire steamy off limits forced proximity protector kidnapping bad boy with a good heart The Amnesiac/Mystery Woman

Hosted by arc team Forbidden Protector

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----------------My 5 Star Review TITLED:  Ivy just can't seem to catch a break 

 

 Blaze is with the Iron Titans MC when an injured woman in Miami (Ivy) stumbles into a very dangerous alley meeting with baddie, Raul Mendoza. Blaze has several of his team with him,his crew that are  guarding his back.  Trigger, Saint, Shadow and Ghost. Ghost is the most vehement at leaving her behind. Blaze refuses even though she could break potential danger to him and the MC. And boy, does she ever!!!  But one look him her hazy eyes, he just couldn't do it.  Other crew members add to the story like Steel and Patch. I kept wondering if Patch was going to be a problem ! She gets voted out by the Prez and the crew. Turn her loose and not let her bring a war to their door. So, Blaze and Ivy hop on his motorcycle and run for their lives ! It seems like everyone wants her dead, silenced until she met up with Blaze. He wants her to remember who she is and what happened to her. 

Grip your seat for a lot of tension, surprises some shocking surprises, hot scenes and a great conclusion to the story !!! I loved the two of them together !

 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

bkfunnel/ Be My Pretend Valentine by Sophie Shelton

  amazon 98 pages

For any other questions, please contact:
Sophie Shelton <sophie@sophiesheltonromanceauthor.com>

I agreed to fake-date the woman I’ve secretly loved for years. It’s going as well as you’d expect.

Tessa is the only woman I’ve ever wanted, but to her, I’m just Noah, the best friend. The guy who fixes things.

Her flower shop is in trouble. The Sweethearts Contest prize can save it.

She needs a boyfriend on paper. So, I say yes. Even though pretending is going to be torture.   I want her to win. I hope she realizes what we could be.

When I warm her knuckles with my lips on stage, a whole room swoons.

We "kiss for the camera," and I think she finally feels what I feel.

I’m sure I’ve finally crossed that line from friend to boyfriend.

Then she calls me her "best friend" in front of three hundred people and talks about how I “deserve better.”

Is she freeing me, or is she trying to escape me?

I don’t want to be just friends. Worse, if I ask for a clean break from pretending, will there be a best friends version of us left to return to?

 ---My 5 star review TITLED:  Friendship Opposites Attract

Noah suffered so LONG in the friendship zone and he was such a GREAT guy.  My goodness they known each other for 7 Years !! Tessa sure took a very long time to see him as possible  "boyfriend material".  I loved both of them. Yes, he was the easy going, always there for her friend. Quick to help !  She was also good to others and often helped and was kind even when totally stressed ! And she often was in her Bloom flower shop.  Noah knows how to steady her when she spirals although he is a man of few words. He knows her tells and come to find out she knows his ! He's shy. That's some of my favorite parts !

This book was sweet, endearing, with a great ending ! A perfect book for Valentine's Day and to be honest- Any Time.  I also thought that the eBook cover was adorable and true to form with the story. That was nice !

bookfunnel ARC/ Kipper Killer by Elsie Grey

  Amazon

It isn’t.

With the scent of smoked fish in the air and rumors swirling faster than the tide, Lily is pulled back into investigation mode—this time in a case tangled with old grudges, hidden deals, and a killer who knows the coast as well as she does. As tensions rise and secrets surface, Lily must uncover the truth before another life is claimed and Pine Grove’s charm is permanently tarnished.

Set against Oregon’s misty shoreline, Kipper Killer is a cozy culinary mystery filled with small-town intrigue, coastal atmosphere, and a heroine who proves that once a detective, always a detective—even when the clues smell faintly of kippers.
Perfect for fans of quick, binge-able cozies with heart, humor, and a seaside twist.

 -------

My 4 STAR Review TITLED:  Something fishy is going on 

 Another charming story with humor even amidst murder. Some date for Lily and Lance, right? I don't want to give to much away about the story but  I enjoyed this novella. And look forward to more of Lily and Lance's adventures !

I  received an advance review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

Febuary 26, 2026-ARC/Hiding from the Don By Broxy Hart

  Bksprout

 Amazon

One night. One backseat. One stranger I should never have touched.

He tasted like whiskey and bad decisions. I didn't know his name. I didn't care.

After a 14-hour shift, a sleeping four-year-old at the sitter's, and five years of looking over my shoulder, I deserved one reckless night.

Except the arrogant bastard who blocked my parking spot with his Maserati?

He's Gio Benedetti. The most powerful man in Cleveland.

And he just found out who my ex-husband is.

Now he's offering me protection I can't afford to refuse. His estate. His men. His rules.

The way his hands trace my skin says those rules won't last the night. The way my body begs for more says I'm counting on it.

My son is already looking at him like he hung the moon. And the man I've been hiding from for five years just found out where I am.

I escaped one dangerous man. Now I'm falling for another.

And this time, I hope it doesn't get me killed.

Explicit

Novel

Romance alpha man mafia steamy romance single mother second chance forced proximity possessive alpha dark boss

Hosted by Broxy Hart Romance

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-------------------------

5 STAR REVIEW TITLED:  "Adorable" Mafia Style

 Victoria March is one scared but brave woman who has been running from her abusive ex-husband, Marcus Webb. She got scars and a history of broken bones from him. He's rich, a Don, slippery and charming to others. Fooling so many people.  She's an exhausted nurse, but will do whatever it takes to stay hidden from him. Marcus doesn't know that he has a 4 year old son named, Wickham (Wick) and Victoria wants to keep it that way.  Odd name but okay.  He's adorable, funny, protective of his Mom and loves everything dinosaurs ! I liked how he latched onto Gio so quickly and Gio unfamiliar with kids, some falls too ! 

The very first  encounter  between Gio (Giovanni) and Victoria in the hospital parking garage was HILARIOUS ! She was in a hurry to pick up her son and she was royally ticked by what idiot parked his car blocking her in ! She didn't care who the entitled jerk  thought he was and told him so !! His tough looking goon, Benny was with him and later couldn't stop laughing !!  She really had some great funny lines which made ME laugh.  Benny was a great right hand man and friend to Gio. I liked him a lot. Just so you know, Victoria and Gio will be sharing some hot and tender scenes together. 

She also went through quite a bit of suffering by her ex and when it comes to helping rescue Gio's sister Lucia, from a monster, she was all in ! 

 Gio's housekeeper Rosa is a gem. She's been a part of Benedetti household and family for YEARS.  I loved how she welcomed Victoria and Wick with wide open Italian arms !

Victoria has a friend named Bri who has missed Victoria for 5 yeas never knowing is she is alive let along safe.   I loved their reunion.  And the ending was everything I could have hoped for a - HEA- Adorable Mafia Style. Just like the title I selected for this review. 

 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Bksprout March2- Taken by the Rival Don Gia Hartley

  Booksprout

Amazon

I kidnapped my enemy’s daughter.
Now I’m willing to burn the city down to keep her.

I wasn’t supposed to touch Vivian Callaro.
She’s the daughter of my rival, the key to everything her dead father owed me.

Taking her should be simple.
Use her to collect what’s owed, then let her go. 

But first, I make sure she sees me kill a man. 

Now she can’t leave. Now she’s mine to contain.

That’s mistake number one.

We share late nights over bloodstained ledgers.
Her mouth challenges me, her brain saves my empire, her spine dares me to deserve her.

I tell myself it’s strategy when I protect her.
I tell myself it’s control when I touch her.

It stops being a lie the moment I choose her over my men.

Over my reputation.

Over my revenge.

Because while I’m falling for the woman I stole, the truth surfaces...
Her father’s death wasn’t collateral.

It was a setup.

And the worst part?
The man responsible is coming for her next…

And I’ll be damned if I let him take anything of mine, especially her.

Explicit

Novel

Romance mafia romance contemporary romance enemies to lovers possessive alpha male touch her and die morally gray hero rival families steamy mafia romance protective alpha kidnap

Hosted by Gia Hartley Romance

Note from the Author

This is my first Mafia Romance novel. I appreciate you taking the time to read it, and I would love your feedback when finished. Thanks!

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-----My 5 STAR REVIEW--TITLED: They are going to have to Dig Deeper

 

Vivian Callaro is a woman who is just living her life working in Art and she's extremely skilled. She has had  some suspicions about how honest her father Antonio really is.  But she didn't really think to much about it. That is until he is murdered. Now, she just has to know who killed him and why.  

Is Elena Marchetti really her friend? I had some doubts about that in the opening of the story. 

  

She thinks that Rafael Morsco is behind her father's  murder.  She just doesn't know what she's been thrown into when she's kidnapped very smoothly by Rafael and his team.  A man named, Tommaso is a member of that team and has been with Rafael for years. She's furious but also smart. Rafael coerces her by threatening her beloved Aunt, a retired school teacher who lovingly raised her after her mother's  death.  Her aunt lives in Connecticut and Rafael shows Vivian that he knows all about her and can "touch' her if Vivian doesn't help him. Bully ! I loved her aunt and wanted to see her re-united with her niece safely !  She was a lovely older woman. 

 The attraction between the MC's is definitely there and turns HOT ! But that doesn't mean that they trust each other.  That takes awhile and some mistakes especially on her part. But they have to work together because they do have some seriously dangerous enemies.  Massimo seemed shady from the start. But there were several other semi-hidden and deeper hidden enemies.  Yess,  Vivian and Rafael WILL have to become a team together and work together to get what they want and stay alive.   It gets pretty intense and enjoyable as they fight their way to their HEA.  Turns out Vivian is not the softer version of herself any more and becomes a sharp weapon against their enemies. 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

 ___________________________________________________________________

 

Rucci and Lorenzo Castellano are the deep dig enemies- not included in my review. 

ARC/ KINDLE BOUGHT/ Embers of a Second Chance by Ariel Prosper

  

AMAZON 

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She ruined me once. Walked out without a word, leaving me with nothing but a scarred heart and a whole lot of rage.

Now Tessa Morgan is back in Silver Ridge, shoved right into my world like fate’s got a twisted sense of humor.

I tell myself to stay away. To keep it professional, keep it cold. But one look at her—those storm-gray eyes daring me to remember, that cascade of dark hair I used to wrap around my fists, those curves that make my pulse hammer—and I’m toast.

Every shift with her is torture. The scent of her skin, the sway of her body, the way her mouth tilts when she’s about to argue—it all drags me back to nights I swore I’d forget.

She’s fire, pure and dangerous. And I know if I touch her again, I won’t stop.
The question is… will she.

 -----My Review Notes--- The Pressures Increase

Tessa Morgan is coming back to Silver Ridge. The county hired her as the new wildfire education coordinator; a job tailor made for her because of her environmental science degree.  Her  grandmother's best friend is Bernice Hanley who is sitting with her for the station's first meeting.  Her grandmother Leah had passed away and Bernice had now "adopted" her after she passed. Bernice is warm and supportive and also owns Hanley's Cafe & Gifts.   Tessa's sister Claire, stays in contact with her. Tessa has a secret about why she left without warning..does Claire know the secret?  

Ethan Cole hears his Chief Jake Torres welcomes her afterwards. Is he interested in her? Ethan is a good man who is still mad at her but still shows up when she needs him ! Let's face it, he still loves her after ten years. They had been high school lovers and he still wanted her ! Yikes, trouble ahead right?  Tessa starts to do some stupid stuff while photographing things for her job.  Like getting too close to fire lines and getting caught in it or just getting WAY too close !!! It made me want to slap her !!! 

His fellow co-worker Sparky Riggins is good at his job but it's also clear to see that he's an well meaning, funny mischief maker. And I enjoyed how everyone had each other's back at the firehouse, even personally !

There is a snake reporter by the  name of Caleb Bryant. who's a trying to dig up dirt to make himself look big and slant the story, for his benefit of course ! Rumor Monger ! He beings to harass both sisters and Bernice.  But boy, oh boy, does he get taken care of !! I  loved that!

Great conclusion and HEA for Tessa and Ethan.  

I bought this book also on Amazon 

Review by Feb 22, 2026-Bksprt/ARC-Bad Boy I Can't Escape-"Book 2 of Small Town MC Romance Series by Mia Amour

  Bksprout

 Amazon

I inherited land. He inherited me.

And my worst enemy is the only thing standing between me and the grave this town dug for me. 

I came back to Moonrise with a deed to one thousand acres and a plan to burn every secret this town buried with my name.

I didn’t plan on Priest Calder still owning every dark corner of it. 

Ex-MC road captain. Bars. Nightclubs.

A jaw that clenches every time I walk into a room like my existence is a failure he never survived. 

When a threat appears on my door, Priest doesn’t ask.

He moves me into his house because there is nowhere else I’ll live through the night.

 I refuse his help. He stays anyway.

I shove him, and his hands catch mine like he’s been waiting four years for me to touch him first.

 Hate doesn’t blur. It cracks.

And what’s underneath is the reason I should run. 

Then I find it.

The blood oath he swore the night I left.

The silence that destroyed me wasn’t cowardice. It was a deal. 

Exposing it levels his empire.

Staying silent puts me back in the ground. 

And this time, Priest has to decide who he buries.

Explicit

Novel

Romance Enemies to Lovers forced proximity protector instinct small town romance ex-mortorcycle club he falls first alpha entrepeneur smart sassy curvy

Hosted by mia amour romance

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------------------

5 STAR REVIEW- TITLED: She's done running

 

I loved this sweet eBook cover.   

I also fell in love with tough,  Isabella Quinn ! She's one determined woman, a fighter !! Ten years ago she ran from this town with her tail between her legs after being laughed at and discredited about her documents of corruption ! Well, she's back and "they" won't be able to laugh it off this time. Her friend warns her to be careful but know she won't stop. Danger, oh yes ! Isabella knows the Gage Mercer and his group wants her stopped; GONE by any means,  if necessary. Things have been buried for years and they  plan to keep it that way ! Mercer has everyone afraid or in their pocket. Judges and law enforcement like Sheriff Wade Harland is among that bunch ! Priest  has his former MC leaning on him and  they want her gone too ! They are at risk as well because they provided security and okayed everything. 

Turns out Isabella's Aunt Elinor left her a will that was  brilliant. A brilliant, clever weapon that when it detonates will be catastrophic for the bad guys.  It could just take Priest Calder with it ! Consequences could be grim for him. How in the world is this going to work out?    

Priest Calder, what an emotional mess he was.  He was trying to hide it from Isabella. I loved how he called her, "Belz" ! He knows how much she hates him and the why of it but he still hopes she never finds out how involved he really was ten years ago.  His friends actually his "brothers" adopted because of their lives aren't fooled about his feelings and tell him what are you going to do about it? His closest, Reed Lawson is blunt and funny at times. He's this big tough, tattooed guy who is now running a successful business AND has his hands full with trying to corral his terrifyingly hilarious 5 year old triplets ! I loved him and the triplets and his way of dealing with them. The oldest triplet, Maddie is the funniest, and most blunt! At least I think so.  Their mother, Lily does show up briefly in the story. Turns out Lily and Reed have their own story written called, " Bad Boy Next Door". 

Priest has 5 "brothers" who are family are- Rafe, Knox, Reed, Jax and Colt. They are a Family of Chaos and are a hoot. They start "adopting" Isabella too !

This was an emotional, suspenseful, well written story with a great ending and Epilogue.

  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

ARC 2-20-26 bksprt/ Blood Guilt by Elias Ashcroft

  Bksprout

 

There’s no such thing as a perfect murder—unless you can explain blood that’s been programmed to die.

How do you find a killer that leaves no evidence, no blood, no wounds, just a body with biology rewritten to kill?

It starts when a notorious Southern California crime boss collapses at his daughter’s birthday party—just five days after his acquittal.

FBI Special Agent Erin Ward is called to investigate a death that defies every forensic law.

More bodies start to drop—each one a ghost of justice past.

Each victim marked by an identical, silent countdown inside their veins.

The evidence points to a weapon too small to see, too advanced to exist.

Enlisting Jordan Pike, a reckless field agent, and Aditi Das, a scientist who deciphers life itself, Erin chases the truth onto an unsuspecting California University campus.

There she finds a man who has turned loss into a blueprint for death.

As drones swarm a city on the edge of chaos, Erin faces an invisible enemy who’s turned justice into a weapon—and set the countdown to end with her.

Mature

Novel

Suspense Suspense Thriller Mystery FBI Organized Crime

Hosted by Elias Ashcroft 1

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------------------------My Review Notes- 5 STARS TITLED: Great Suspense

 

Opening scene is with Maya, a barista making a special order for a man who has just a rich bad guy getting off of charges a the courthouse. Never should have happened; so many people hated him and wanted to see him pay.  Suddenly he drops door-nail dead.   Things take off deadly from there. Especially when any other entitled bad guy beats the rap and he's now SUDDENLY dead too ! Neither man had any signs of what killed them, they were in "good health" at the time of their deaths.  

Special Agent Erin Ward is put in charge and ordered to keep it a "Quiet" Investigation. Yeah right, that's going to happen !! She has a good team assigned to her and at first they aren't sure how easy she will be to work with.  They seem like good people to work with though.  Erin does begin to wonder if they have a Revenge Serial Killer at work.

Plenty of suspense that keeps things moving !  I liked Erin and her team even while wondering how in the world would they catch this  person?  Was the killer working with some else?  

 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

 

--------------P.S. I DIDN'T FINISH ALL OF IT YET BUT REVIEW WAS DUE-------

ARC-BKSPROUT/ Feb 14/ "The Don's Vengeance" by Jasmin Song

  Bksprout

 

I fell for my sworn enemy's daughter while plotting to destroy her. 

Isabella Russo walks into the club and gives me the best one-night stand of my life. No names. 

The next day, she shows up across the table from me on the business deal of her lifetime. 

That’s when I realize who she is: the daughter of the man who killed my father. 

I'm his only surviving son, a Don raised in secret, trained for one purpose: vengeance. 

And the principessa just walked into my trap. 

She’s perfect for my plan. So, I seduce her. I make her believe I'm someone she can trust. Every dinner reveals a vulnerability. Every touch, another confession. 

But as I steal her secrets, she steals something too. My own damn heart.  

I’m supposed to destroy her deal and her family’s future. 

If I choose Isabella, my family starts a war, with my dead father rolling in his grave.

If I choose my vendetta, my enemies burn, with Isabella at the center of the blaze. 

Explicit

Novel

Romance mafia enemies to lovers one night stand forbidden forced proximity revenge

Hosted by Jasmin Song

Note from the Author

Please enjoy and leave your honest review when the book goes live on Amazon.

Review on at least 1:

Amazon

File(s) available:

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------My  4 Star Review TITLED: Deceitful Seduction/Romance

 

Isabella Russo is her family Mob Lawyer.  Her father is the Don. And she's good at her job.  But her family demands revenge and Isabella is all up for that.  Stephen Hale is really a young man who was spirited away with his mother Maria when his father and older brother were murdered in their home. Maria and Stephanos Petrakos (his real Greek name) were hiding in a closet and saw it all ! They both came to America and Maria married an American professor who now adores her. She didn't feel the same but affection for him has grown on her part at a least.  

This is such an emotional story, with some tender scenes that developed between the main characters.  Several really good and interesting secondary characters and a really good Epilogue. 

 

ARC DUE 2/17-23/ "Knit One, Purl a Secret" (Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mysteries Book 10) by Tessa Silver

  Booksprout  Bookbub  Goodreads  

Amazon 

In Quillhaven, friends don't let friends face dangerous magic alone.

The Cozy Loopers knitting circle is more than a weekly gathering. It's a lifeline for six friends navigating love, loss, and second chances in the magical town of Quillhaven. When they decide to create a Valentine's afghan for the Hearts and Hands Charity Auction, they expect needles, yarn, and companionship. What they get is enchanted crimson fiber that reveals their deepest secrets in every stitch.

Nettie faces her wild past and a famous musician who wrote a song about her. Martin confronts the partner he left behind in Boston. Mabel wrestles with guilt over falling in love again after her husband's death. As the magic intensifies and the auction approaches, the group must decide whether honesty is worth the risk of exposure. Can their found family survive the truth woven into their creation?

Find out in Knit One, Purl a Secret, a cozy magical mystery about community, courage, and the threads that bind us together. 

General

Novel

Mystery cozy mystery paranormal witches magic small town found family

Hosted by ARC Team- Knit One, Purl a Secret

Note from the Author

This is Book 10 in a series, however each one can be read as a standalone.

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PDF (Download only) 

--------------- 

 My 4 STAR Review TITLED: Crimson Yarn Trouble? 

I loved the dedication by the author that said to Maryann who taught the left handed author to knit ! So sweet ! 

The Foundation:  

The story opens with the Wednesday meeting at the Yarn to Be Wild shop and the Crazy Loopers are meeting.  It's Nettie Silverloop's shop and she's getting tea ready for this favorite time with the group of knitters which includes gossip and companionship. It's an eclectic group:

Mabel Crispin comes next and she has big "news" which the talking cats Leo and Luna wonder about. They always seemed to be around which was a good thing ! Amelia and hubby Arthur Jenkins come in next. He's just there to make sure she got there okay ; they've been happily married for years.  Arthur heads to the hardware story to see Henry and his affectionate dog, Gus.  Greta Bell and then Olivia Sweetwater and within minutes Martin Fitzgerald trails in. 

And then : 

Suddenly after finding some unaccounted for strange but beautiful crimson yarn; they begin to use it for personal squares to add to a large Valentine's afghan.  That's when some REALLY strange things begin to happen. Is that yarn Alive? 

One of my favorite phrases is when Martin mentions that this town see to have a way of making you face things !! 

Great surprises and  heart warming conclusions.  

  I received an ARC from the author and this how I feel about it. P.S. Once again I loved the colorful eBook cover !