Kissing Death by Alexandria Lee

BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS

Kissing Death is the final book in the Star-Crossed series. Sadly, I’m skipping reviewing books one and two, but only because I finished reading book two before receiving an ARC for the final installment.

This amazing series began as a steamy taboo tale of a young woman who falls for her married older employer, but not only was that romance so much more than just its forbidden nature, but the series itself progressed far beyond that aspect as well.

SPOILER ALERT!!! CONTINUE READING IF YOU HAVE FINISHED THE FIRST TWO BOOKS OR AT YOUR OWN RISK! At the end of book one, Kat Sanders had to watch her best friend being kidnapped in her place, and book two sees Kat do whatever it takes to rescue her, even if it means trading places. Kat finds herself living in a brothel, awaiting the day her captors plan to sell her off to the highest bidder. She befriends a man who works in the brothel, Blake, another victim of the circumstance of a tragic childhood. Even while achingly missing her boss turned boyfriend, Dominic, Kat’s relationship with Blake blossoms into something spectacular through book two and into book three.

Kissing Death was an ode to heartache and love, and Alexandria Lee delivered the stanzas with eloquence and a depth I’ve never experienced before. Her prose is so poetic, it’s no wonder poetry is a key element in this book.

This story was deep and moving and a rollercoaster of angst, heartache, tenderness, and WTF moments that had my heart in my throat. I haven’t cried this hard over a book in so long and I’d put myself through it all again. Just like Kat learns by the end of the series, the beauty of the journey was worth all that pain. The way things worked out for her was devastating and it fucking hurt, but it was also exactly how it was supposed to happen.

This series. Just, I loved it more than I can ever fully express. I went in expecting a steamy taboo relationship and got my heart ripped out and shredded repeatedly instead. And I wouldn’t change a single heartbreaking moment. There have been many moments, days after finishing the book, where I’ll find myself thinking about the story and being overwhelmed with emotion. I’ve cried over this story more than I’ve cried in a very long time. And this beautiful, deep story was worth every damn tear.

Kissing Death releases on April 25, 2022.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Forced Drug Abuse, Sexual Assault, Gun Violence, Homicide, Suicidal Thoughts/Intentions

Author Spotlight: R.A. Smyth

Hello, lovelies! I’m starting something new this week. I’m sure this has been done before but I want to do my own take. So once a week (ideally, but we’ll see lol) I plan to feature a different author. Most likely it will be an author I have recently read or one of my favorites. I’ll be talking about their books, especially the ones I have read and loved the most, as well as my general impression of their writing. Please feel free to steal the general idea of this post if you want, and if you do please let me know so I can check it out! Now here we go!

This week I will be fangirling over R.A. Smyth, one of my absolute favorite authors. She is a dark romance and reverse harem author living in the UK. She has released 9 books so far (I’m pretty sure lol) with one currently ongoing series and another without a projected release date but already has a lot of hype and excitement surrounding it.

Books

Crescentwood – Three Divisions, Two Forces, One Family

I have not read this series yet but just from the little teasers and quotes I’ve seen shared, I have no doubt I’m going to love it when I get to it. This is a dark bully romance and a reverse harem. There are also trigger warnings for emotional/physical bullying and abuse, violent scenes, reference to suicide and mature content/swearing,

Pacific Prep – Broken Trust, Brutal Lies, Beyond Vengeance, Break Free

This series. I just cannot fully express how much I love it. This was the first of R.A. Smyth’s books I read, and I was lucky enough to be a part of the team reading and reviewing advance copies as this series was released. I’m obsessed with it. This is also a dark bully romance and reverse harem. It is super dark with the same trigger warning as the series before it. It also has some of the most amazing relationships I’ve ever read, both romantic and platonic.

Blurred Lines

Now this is a standalone but it takes place during the events of the last Pacific Prep book and follows a few of the major characters of that series. It is also a prequel of sorts for a future series that I am SUPER excited for. I highly recommend reading Pacific Prep before this and definitely only read this if you’re interested in reading the series it leads into. It has a very bittersweet open kind of ending.

Black Creek – Rebels & Rejects, TBA

Rebels & Rejects releases tomorrow, April 1st, and is the first in a new series. It does connect to both Crescentwood and Pacific Prep but it can be read on it’s own. My review of the first book can be found here. This was such a badass and fun read. Dark, but not too dark (though I’m waiting for it to get darker further into the series). This one is not a bully romance, but it will be a reverse harem, and it has a bit of enemies to lovers vibes.

Writing Style

R.A. Smyth has a way with words I only wish I could emulate. Her writing can be very witty and even crass at times (in the BEST, most satisfying way), but she also hits those deep moments with just the right amount of gut wrenching and angst. Not to mention, her characters always feel so real and raw. And she portrays non romantic bonds with the same level of depth and intensity as her romantic ones.

You can learn more about R.A. Smyth and her books here:

Goodreads

Facebook

Amazon (most of her book are available through Kindle Unlimited)

TikTok

Instagram

Thanks for reading ❤ See y’all next time!

XO Kerry

Ruining Dahlia (Mafia Wars 3) by C.R. Jane

Mafia Wars book 3 follows Dahlia Butcher, daughter of The Firm, an English based mafia, as she travels across the Pond to New York where she is scheduled to marry Lucian Rossi, underboss of the Cosa Nostra.

Dahlia meets and has an instant connection with a gorgeous man on the plane who later turns out to be her soon to be brother-in-law. Her fiance barely pays her any attention before disappearing. And to top it all, her other future brother-in-law falls head over heels for her the moment they meet. It’s a wild mess of angst and confusing forbidden feelings.

I loved Dahlia so much. She was sweet and a little awkward and a lot anxious. She also harbors a darkness born of severe childhood trauma with which she copes in very unhealthy ways. I related so strongly to the dark feelings in her, and my heart bled for her every time those feelings took her over.

I also loved all three of the Rossi men. Though I wanted to physically fight two of them; Lucian for treating Dahlia like she doesn’t exist, and his brother Raphael for being cruel and heartless toward her in the beginning. Gabriel, though, can do literally no wrong and I would die for that sweet, sexy cinnamon roll of a Mafia man. Through the whole book he showed Dahlia nothing less than complete adoration and respect and love. They still had a tumultuous journey to their HEA, but they got there in the end.

The big conflicts of this book felt like they were connected, like one big bad was out there, but the revelations of who was behind all the problems they faced was shocking at times. And the resolutions of these individual conflicts were so satisfying. Most of them, anyway. Be prepared for some heartbreak and lots of tears.

The portrayal of trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, all the inner turmoil these characters struggled with, was done very well. It was so real. I felt for them all; practically itched to reach through the pages and comfort them. I just love and appreciate books that show these kinds of issues in such raw ways while still giving us that satsifying ending. No one was magically cured, but seeing them find ways to open up and cope made me so happy.

Gunmetal Lily (Mafia Wars 2) by Rebecca Royce

Book 2 of the Mafia Wars series sees Lily, daughter of the Italian mafia, married off to Alejandro Hernandez, heir to the Mexican Cartel and eldest brother of Rosa, the heroine of book 1.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this installment. There wasn’t a whole lot of conflict in the actual romance of the story, and while the external conflict was interesting and handled in a satisfying way, it just sort of fell flat. I would have liked to see a bit more struggle between Lily and Alejandro, though I will admit seeing a strong bond from the get go was pretty nice.

The writing style felt a little off to me but I can’t quite put my finger on why. But my biggest complaint here is the plot point that led to this becoming a reverse harem. Alejandro was the victim of extreme sexual abuse as a child and as a result, has never been able to experience sexual arousal. To keep this from negatively affecting his new wife he asks his younger brothers to take care of keeping her sexually satisfied. This quickly led to Lily and the brothers falling hard for each other. I did love that in spite of being unable to be together physically, Lily and Alejandro formed a strong emotional bond, and eventually that last barrier was overcome. But that in itself is what rubbed me the wrong way. While I understand books like this are meant to have lots of smut and heat I still would have loved to see this used as an opportunity to show that a passionate and romantic relationship does not need to involve sex to be complete.

All in all this was a pretty good story. The characters are easy to love and there were plenty of moments I greatly enjoyed. My issues with this story are my own and while I did end up rating this 4/5 stars I didn’t let those issues get in the way of my overall enjoyment of the book.

Ruled by Magic by Zara J Black

To earn my freedom, I must submit.

I’m facing years in prison. My crime? Exposing the sordid secrets of Dexia’s magical elite. In my oppressive territory, mages hold all the power, magical tech is outlawed, and sexuality is repressed.

At my sentencing, I expect a bored judge, but instead I get a crowd, reporters, and a handsome mage everyone seems to fear. He makes me kneel at his feet, and offers me a deal. Serve six months as his plaything, and leave a free woman. Shame burns through me, but I accept. -Summary from Goodreads

Ruled by Magic is a sexy, angsty story with a very satisfying ending. The major themes of equality and justice are universal and easy to relate to. However, what really impressed me was the major theme of the main character, Liv, discovering things about herself that she never would have entertained on her own. Through her submission to the seriously sexy mage who now owns her, she experiences a sexual awakening unheard of in their land. She discovers dark and twisted things that she actually really enjoys, essentially finding out through this unorthedox relationship that she has a natural affinity for submission. Her admission, although made through actions and not words at first, helps Leo, her now master, come to the realization that his sadistic urges and desire for dominance are nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a really well done plot line showcasing a sexual dynamic that is not only nothing to be ashamed of but actually really beautiful in a way.

It doesn’t hurt that what starts as a purely sexual relationship evolves into something much more, something really beautiful. I’m sure many people would find the aspects of Liv and Leo’s relationship to be problematic just as they may find issue with real-life dominant/submissive dynamics, but maybe through books like this more people can learn about this kind of lifestyle and at the very least accept it as perfectly normal.

Now, as for the major conflict of the story, there was not a whole lot done as far as the class inequality that led to the initial conflict, meaning Liv being arrested for exposing corrupted officials. I’m hopeful that with the way the story ended, and the subsequent sequels, we’ll get to see a lot more changes made for the better.

Ruled by Magic was released on January 31st, 2022, and is available through Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

Trigger warnings for mature content including sexual scenarios, physical abuse, impact play, and violence.

Break Free by R.A. Smyth

“He thinks they’ve broken me.
He thinks I’m nothing but an empty shell, ready to be molded into their perfect soldier, his perfect wife, a damaged plaything.
He might be right.

I’ve never been so exhausted, beaten down, and wary. I’m so close to giving up, so close to accepting my defeat and twisted fate.
The darkness is quickly closing in around me, but a sliver of light appears when I read the note from my brother and my guys.
I will rise, like a phoenix from the ashes. I will be a catastrophic force, one this compound trained me to be.
My guys are coming for me, and I almost feel bad for the carnage we’re going to inflict.”

We’ll burn it all down, right after I break free.

Break Free is the final book in R.A. Smyth’s Pacific Prep series, and as such I will be writing this review as though speaking to anyone who has already read the series. I’ll be avoiding major spoilers for this last installment but not for the preceding three books. Read on at your own discretion.

I have not been subtle about how much I love this series. It’s been an epic rollercoaster of twists and shocks and some fantastic character development. I loved seeing how each of these main characters grew together and on their own. Hadley, especially. It was amazing to read as she went from the traumatized child who had just escaped her own version of hell to a self confident badass who was able to stand up to her demons and reclaim her sense of self.

Each of Hadley’s guys had their own journeys of self growth, too. And while I adored each of them and the different ways they all cared about not only their girl but each other, none of the guys in this series won my heart as much as Hawk. His growth was just as epic as Hadley’s. Going from an angry, cynical asshole more than willing to eliminate Hadley, to begrudgingly accepting of her motives but still wary, to overprotective and loving big brother. His relationship with Hadley made this series for me. It was perfect. There were so many moments between them that had me ugly sobbing because I just love them so much.

All in all this whole series has been a beautifully written story of characters finding their inner strengths to fight for themselves and each other. To believe in their own self worths and fight their inner demons as well as the very real demons trying to rule their lives. It’s about fighting for the freedom to live their lives the way they want, not the way it’s been dictated their whole lives.

I’m really excited to see what R.A. Smyth has in store for the characters of this world next. Especially a few certain side characters that I adored as much as Hadley and her boys.

Break Free was released on December 1, 2021 and is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

Pretty Girls Make Graves by Steffanie Holmes

“At Blackfriars University, there’s one whispered rule: Stay inside the night before Halloween. Hide under your blankets and hope the Orpheus Society isn’t the monster outside your window.

If they get you, you won’t just be humiliated. They’ll put you six feet under.

I found bones in a shallow grave. Another good girl, just like me.

Now I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the truth.
I’ll catch the eye of the cruel aristocrat with a haunted gaze.
I’ll tempt the dark priest with forbidden tastes.
I’ll be their shameful little secret. Their plaything. Their sacrifice.

Maybe I don’t want to be a good girl anymore.

Maybe it’s time to break all the rules.” -Blurb from Goodreads

Pretty Girls Make Graves is the first book in a dark duology featuring an intelligent and strong heroine who finds herself at the center of a murder mystery at her posh new school in England. George not only makes it her personal mission to solve this murder and in doing so uncover the secrets of a highly seclusive club on campus, she also finds herself caught between the attention of two equally charming and forbidden men.

I have always loved dark academia aesthetics, but this book blew everything I’ve ever read out of the park. This story is beautiful, dark, twisted, and full of so much amazing ambience. The historical aspects of the plot made me giddy to read. And the way the characters spoke about various religions and beliefs, each with a level of reverence or fascination that just gave it all this romantic pallor. As someone who grew up Catholic and has very mixed feelings regarding religions in general, I honestly found this so refreshing. It was just beautiful, plain and simple.

Now, onto that DOOZY of an ending. I feel like I should have seen it coming, but I’m not mad that I didn’t. I loved the gut punch of angst and fear and just FEEEEEEELS that I got smacked with. And now I am frothing for book 2.

Trigger warnings: This book does contain mentions of sexual assault, drugs, violence, and includes depictions of dead bodies.

Pretty Girls Make Graves releases on November 10, 2021.

Beyond Vengeance by R.A. Smyth

Finding my family was supposed to be a dream come true, but it’s only brought more questions, more secrets and forced family responsibilities. Surprisingly, Hawk is by my side while dealing with the utter ridiculousness our parents keep pushing on me. I’m learning how to have a brother and I think we might actually like each other?

Mason, West, and Beck have been my saving grace, patient and kind. Still distant, Cam and I are trying to navigate a way to be around each other.

But just when I start to feel like I have a life worth living with my guys and my new friends, my deepest fear comes back to haunt me. -Blurb from Goodreads

My walls are coming down and I’m learning to love, but my past may ruin it all.

My review of book two of this series, Brutal Lies, can be found here. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OOF. This one was wild. R.A. Smyth continues to cement herself as one of my absolute favorite authors with the way she writes not only these amazing relationships and deep characters, but how she writes the trauma and the struggles these characters go through. I had so many conflicting emotions reading this. It was amazing.

To keep this spoiler free, all I will say plot wise is that shit happens. A lot of it. And it’s quite dark. Like, way darker than the last two books. And this ending was gut wrenching. Hadley remains one of the most badass and multi-faceted heroines I’ve encountered in a long time and I love her.

I think my favorite part of Beyond Vengeance was the introduction of a new character. It took about 2 seconds for him to be my new favorite and I love him so much already. I’m slightly wary as his loyalties have not been proven one way or another quite yet, but that just makes the whole thing even better.

Beyond Vengeance released on October 11th, 2021.