Dark Hearts Aflame - Amber Daulton

 A drug lord on the run. A cartel princess in hiding. All it takes is a spark to set their world ablaze.

Bristol Rieger, better known as Thorn, left his criminal life behind for a fresh start in Mexico. Flying under the radar of the government and the cartels alike, his best-laid plans go awry when a woman from his narco days discovers his whereabouts. Carmen Lozano, however, is no longer the innocent girl he remembers.

Carmen escaped the chains of her tiara and her abusive marriage to join a group of resistance fighters. The last thing she expected was the now-retired capo setting out to seduce her with his wicked touch. Embracing the blood on his hands is easy, but his secrets wear on her patience.

When their enemies close in, Bristol will have to summon his inner monster to protect her. But can that monster be tamed again?



– Book one in the dark romantic suspense series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuring torture/violence, kidnapping, attempted assault, drug use, and suicide (discussed) may be uncomfortable for some readers.

– No cheating and HEA guaranteed!

Dark Hearts Aflame (Lozano Cartel Book 1): A Dark Redemption Cartel/Mafia Romance by Amber Daulton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark Hearts Aflame follows the story of Carmen and Bristol. Carmen is in hiding from her husband and family. She meets Bristol by accident, who is also on the run from his criminal past. They were both very attracted to one another when they were younger and now, meeting again, it's impossible to deny their attraction.
Unlike many characters in similar books, Carmen is a strong woman who isn't afraid to get what she wants and from who she wants. I'm a bit sick of these virginal, quiet types, so this certainly made a welcome change. Bristol is a good match for her and I thought that they worked really well together.
It did amuse me that to hide his identity, Bristol changed his second name, but stuck with Bristol. I don't think I've ever heard anyone with that as their name before. But perhaps that's simply because I'm in the UK and naming people after British cities is something we don't really do.
This was a gripping and satisfying read and I'd recommend.

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A Beauty So Cruel - Beena Khan

A Beauty So Cruel
Beena Khan
(Beauty & The Beast #1)
Publication date: February 14th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

I was a beauty, a stray orphan until the beast took me as his hostage.

Once upon a time…
A Don by the name of Vlad Vitalli ruled New York. He’s a mafia man. The leader of one of the ruling families, La Cosa Nostra. He’s a monster. A trained killer and a cold-blooded murderer. Tall, mysterious, with icy gray eyes, and he rarely smiles. His smile was made to fool any girl. He’s ruthless, cold, dangerous, and wants to kill me.

I was the wrong person at the wrong time.
Just an innocent at the masquerade ball. The mafia has rules: no witnesses left behind. To save my life, I made a deal with the beast. I handed myself to the cruelest man in the kingdom.

For him, It was supposed to be an easy kill. I’m an orphan raised in poverty. No one would have missed me. Just as the Don Vlad was about to order the hit, I threw off my masquerade mask, revealing my face, and offered myself to him. One look and I was doomed. He took me as his hostage. His captive. He didn’t know by taking me, Dahlia Hadid, he sealed his own fate.

Welcome to New York’s Underworld.
Loosely based on the fairytale.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Beena Khan writes literary fiction and edgy, contemporary romance. She 27 years old and lives in New York. She’s from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, an immigrant who moved to New York when she was five years old. She currently holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology. She enjoys reading, writing, and netflixing. The Name of Red is her debut novel published at the age of 26. All of her books are on Kindle Unlimited + Free Novella!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

My Review

I do enjoy dark romances and this one certainly falls into that category. Dhalia finds herself under the control of notorious mafia Don Vlad Vitalli after witnessing a murder. He takes her and keeps her hostage in his house, never allowing her to leave, but also never taking things further with her. The more time that she spends with him, the more that she begins to questions the idea of him being the beast he has a reputation for being.

This is a retelling, or perhaps it would be better to say that it is inspired by, Beauty and the Beast. Vlad is captivated by Dhalia's beauty and his reputation and actions make him a beast. Just like the original fairy tale, the longer that the two spend together, the closer that they become. But, can anything 'real' develop between them when Dhalia is a captive?

This was a gripping and interesting read. It doesn't actually finish with the end of the book. In fact, we're left with almost as many questions as we might have had in the lead up to it. It's clear that there is much more to come with this story. I wouldn't like to guess where it might go next, but I'm interested to find out. 

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The Dangerous Son - Zoe Hill

The Dangerous Son by Zoe Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do enjoy dark romances and The Dangerous Son certainly falls into that category. There are warnings at the beginning of the book that this book deals in some subjects that might be difficult for some people to read. Even so, I think it's worth mentioning that again. There are themes of child abuse, rape, as well as violence.
Spencer and Poppy are both broken, having suffered sexual abuse as children, their whole lives have been shaped by the experience and although they are now adults, neither of them has really come to terms with what they faced. Thrown into one another's paths, they find that perhaps the way to accepting who they are is through each other.
This is the first book in a group of books about a criminal outfit called the Coalition. I believe that the books can all be read as standalone novels. Having said that I think we got glimpses of at least two characters that will be in future stories. This is a dark series that has an overarching storyline.
I like books that push the boundaries of who is good and who is evil and this book does that. We are given reasons why many of the characters are the way that they are and why they behave as they do. Even at the end of this book, it's isn't completely clear if everyone is as they appear to be. This was an enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. I'm keen to read more from this series and find out the secrets that might ultimately bring the coalition down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Count of Eight - Brynn Ford

Counts of Eight by Brynn Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading Brynn Ford's previous Duo Blue and Switch I couldn't resist giving Counts of Eight a go. I knew that it was probably going to be a bad idea. Not because I wouldn't enjoy it, but because this is book one of a trilogy and the second and third parts are not due out until later this year and early next year respectively. I'm a glutton for punishment though and couldn't resist diving in and giving this a read.
This is a very dark read and won't be for everyone. I don't mind admitting that some aspects of it edge towards the end of my enjoyment. It's not that the storyline isn't gripping (it really is) but what the characters are put through is really so awful. The story is about Anya and Ezra, who are both talented dancers. They are also owned by an evil head of one of the four crime families mentioned in the series title. These families are involved in human trafficking and think nothing of keeping talented individuals as talent slaves and to satisfy their other dark desires. Anya has been living this life for three years, but Ezra is new to it. It's Anya's role to break him so that he will obey, the longer it takes her, the harder it is for her.
As mentioned this is an incredibly dark story and it ends on a cliff hanger. I'm not sure where it's going next but I don't mind admitting that I really want to know. If you enjoy dark romances and like to have your emotions battered as you read, then I think you'll enjoy this. Don't expect a happy ending, at least not at the end of this book. It's clear that Ezra and Anya have a great deal more to face and deal with first.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Jack's Heart - Demi Vice

The Jack's Heart by Demi Vice
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I have to admit that when I read the description I was intrigued, but not completely convinced that it would be that great. I was wrong. As with many stories, it's the characters that draw you in. Jack has so much enthusiasm and lust for life, despite his history, that it's hard not to warm to him from the start. There's always a danger that stories about prisoners or ex-prisoners are a little too cliche or that there's a miraculous change in character where they suddenly see the error of their ways and reform. Not so here, Jack may be 'retired' but he's still the dark and troubled soul that went to prison in the first place.
Books, where the characters are flawed always attract me and both Jack and Ahrianna, are certainly flawed. Victims of their upbringing both have known pain and loss. Jack seems to have dealt with it all and finally got what he's always wanted, while Ahrianna is struggling daily just to survive.
I loved the way that these two were together. The chemistry between them was explosive. This isn't a sweet love story. It's one of passion and darkness, but it's all the better for it. This is the start of the series. I think I that at least one of the characters in the next book has made a couple of cameo appearances in this book. I shall just have to read and find out if I'm right.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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