Reap (Scarred Souls #2) by Tillie Cole

Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva's obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act, or live for himself; he's his master's perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six-foot-six, weighing two-hundred-and-fifty pounds, and unrivaled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, who rules the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him.

Talia Tolstaia dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life. She dreams of another life--away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father and from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon, her criminal family's underground death-match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family's captive who is more monster than man, she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers. But sacrifices must be made--blood for blood...life for life...souls for scarred souls...

Oh,man! I so wished for a cliffhanger!

I'll take a cliffhanger over a  rushed ending at any time! 

---

I'm gonna start my review with the down sides of the story.

Oh, Talia, girl! What have you done? You are even more interesting than Kisa. Your beginning with Reap is unlikely to happen. I don't know...it's just that.... the first part of the book gave me an odd feeling that Talia was high on something and she imagined the entire steamy scene. 

Why was she portrayed as a desperate woman in heat? Why? I'm really having a problem with the lack of heroines in these books.Where are the strong, determined mob girls?

Not every day your brother brings home a prisoner (who happens to be your family's worst enemy) and locks him up into the basement .Not every day you decide to rebel against all of your bodyguards , your morals and rules and go down into that basement and sexually molest a dangerous criminal.

All jokes aside.

You just lost me.

You lost me when Talia decided to go visit the stranger and her guards told her not to, but she did convinced them in the end as long as the surveillance cameras were on. Yet , Talia switched them off and took her time to clean up Reap, stroke him , wash his hair and try to communicate with him as humans. It took a while, no? 

The guards were so worried that they...did nothing. They didn't bother to go check on Talia and see if she is ok, because she was in a room with a monster controlled by a serum and God knows what other mixed drugs. They just had a disapproval frown on their faces when Talia got back up stairs. 

Or maybe their disapproval wasn't because Talia turned off the cameras. Maybe they 

had another camera hidden somewhere and they saw the whole thing. ..those sick bastards.  

I wonder if Talia remembered to switch off the cameras the second time when she and Reap....

Some parts of the story just don't make any sense to me.

I easily understood Kisa and Luka's bond but I can't feel any connection between Zaal and Talia. Nothing beside physical attraction . Feelings and emotions are starting to build up only after the drama ends. That is how I felt. She mentioned his broad shoulders and long thick....,you know, far too many times.

And speaking of Kisa and Luka (because, yes, their story continues) Luka feels trapped , he can't find peace, he can't find his place, he loves Kisa and doesn't want to disappoint her, but the truth is that he feels caged, trapped in this marriage. He is not happy at all. 

And , my God, I slapped Kisa far too many times in my mind. You cannot expect a man to turn into a prince and behave like one when he was raised as an animal. Someone tell me that she didn't expected THAT to happen over night.

Luka was having a hard time fighting his two personas , he felt more like Raze than Luka, fighting and killing was all he knew. And every time he was fighting his rage and frustrations off, Kisa was like :

No wonder why Raze was so unhappy.

But Kisa is a smart girl and she finally understood that if she truly loves him she will  have to let Luka be Raze and cut the leash off. Kuddos to her! 

Now, who is 221? You're in for a big surprise. Finally Luka, I mean Raze, is able to  keep his promise to his only friend, the one who freed him from hell. The rest is up to you to discover.

So why it deserves 4 stars when I made such a long rant about it?

Because long rants are a good sign. Because it means that the story got my attention and put me on an emotional roller coaster . I'll admit that if it wasn't for Reap's intriguing background the rating would have been lower. It saved this book , both Reap and Raze saved the story.

In conclusion :  it was an enjoyable reading despite my annoyance with the female characters. 

I'm ready for the  next Scarred Souls  book !

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Raze (Scarred Souls #1) by Tillie Cole

To take back life, one must first face death...

One man stripped of his freedom, his morals...his life.

Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unremorseful, unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. Death and brutality are the masters of his fate.

After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge...bloody, slow and violent revenge.

Revenge on the man who lied.

Revenge on the man who wronged him.

Revenge on the man who condemned him and turned him into this: a rage-fueled killing machine. A monster void of humanity; a monster filled with hate.

And no one will stand in the way of getting what he wants.

One woman stripped of her freedom, her morals...her life.

Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill ‘The Silencer’ Volkov, head of the infamous ‘Triad’ bosses of New York's Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it’s a virtual prison. Her father’s savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring—The Dungeon—ensures too many enemies lurk at their door. 

She dreams to be set free.

Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. As manager of her father’s death match enterprise, only grief and pain fill her days. Her mafia boss father, in her world, rules absolute. And her fiancé, Alik Durov, is no better; the Dungeon’s five-time champion, a stone-cold killer, the treasured son of her father’s best friend, and her very own—and much resented—personal guard. Unrivaled in both strength and social standing, Alik controls every facet of Kisa’s life, dominates her every move; keeps her subdued and dead inside...then one night changes everything. 

While working for her church—the only reprieve in her constant surveillance—Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with anyone. He’s a man beyond saving, and a man she must quickly forget...for both their sakes. 

But when weeks later, out of the blue and to her complete surprise, he’s announced as the replacement fighter in The Dungeon, Kisa knows she’s in a whole lot of trouble. He’s built, ripped and lethally unforgiving to his opponents, leaving fear in his wake and the look of death in his eyes. 

Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man...this man they call Raze.

The blurb of the book sums up pretty much the story.

I've purchased a total of 6  books from Tillie Cole all of them recommended by my readers. If the rest of the 5  are as good as this one, then I will proudly add a new  favorite author on my list ! I'm high on emotions right now, where do I even begin with this one?! 

This book is a twisted , dark one and its not for the fainted hearts!

The characters (except Kisa) were so real and raw, the plot was so insanely extreme and sick!

The plot twist was kind of predictable , but very enjoyable !

My only little problem was with Kisa, she was too passive for her own good. She  is the Bratva princess, daddy's little girl , she knows that her father is ready to kill whoever lays one finger on Kisa or mistreat her in any way- yet she is struck into an abusive relationship and keeps getting raped by Alik. She never loved Alik, in fact he was abusive his entire life and she feared him ever since they were kids. Something was off with him and Kisa was aware of it the entire time. Then  again something might be off with Kisa too.

 She could escape but she chose not to until Raze showed up. She is just going with the flow.Very weak as a character.

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[Blog Tour] THIN LINES (DONATI BLOODLINES, #2) BY BETHANY-KRIS

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review and for the blog tour.

Calisto Donati

She was just a woman. That’s what Calisto wanted to tell himself; that’s what he wanted to believe. Emma was nothing more than a woman. There were other women for him to want. To obsess over.
It couldn’t be Emma Sorrento.
Not for Calisto.
She was taken.
She was claimed.
She was not his.
In a few days, Calisto would hand her off, and that would be that. He wondered why it wouldn’t be that easy to let her go. 
What good had saving her done?
He had simply taken her from one monster to give her to another.

Emma Sorrento

Emma slid on her mask. All someone would need to do was look close enough to see what was really beneath the sheer falseness of her smile.
At the other end of the table, Emma found her lies staring her right in the face.
He smirked.
And winked.
Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and the one thing she still wanted more than anything. Emma could still feel him all over her, long after his touch and kiss was gone. In thirty days, her entire world had changed—he had changed her.
Emma had a feeling that if she played another game with Calisto, she would surely lose.
She had already lost once.
Wasn’t it enough?

 The story of Emma and Calisto continues. Emma never belonged to Calisto, and she never will. She was promised to Alfonso, and now she is married to the great don. Unfortunately Emma is unable to give what Alfonso needs and she ends up being rejected by the big boss. She is willing to turn the other cheek every time...not that she has too many options . The only thing that keeps her going is Cal being around and keeping an eye on her. And that is comforting for Emma, even if their relationship can only be resumed to that. 

Calisto, once more, is left to clean Alfonso's mess, he is not only taking care of his uncle's unwanted and unknown children, but he is also put to keep an eye on his uncle's wife.  Emma is going through a tough time and her depression is getting worse but that didn't seem to bother his uncle , not one bit, and that is killing Calisto inside and out. He is Emma's only moral and physical  support . The situation gets even worse as Alfonso is planning to set up Calisto into the Boss' chair.  Calisto is willing to work things out and sets up a meeting with the Irish mob for the sake of la famiglia & Cosa Nostra, but the mess seems to have no end. He finds shocking details about his uncle's "affairs" and lies - no wonder why the Irish men are after the italians and the irish boss wants Alfonso's head on a plate.

Calisto's last drop is when Emma falls in the middle of all these and she ends up as a collateral damage.

And , of course, I will twist and turn until the next book from the Donati Bloodlines is out ! It ends on a massive cliffhanger. Alfonso has enough of playing hide and seek, he got his big plan fulfilled but he is in for big surprises.And sadly, all stars are on his favor because in the end the "the good guys always win...but we are the bad guys, Calisto." 

Thin Lines

by Bethany-Kris

Donati Bloodlines #2

Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Genres: Adult, Organized Crime, Erotic Romance

Purchase (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): Amazon | Amazon CA

CALISTO AND EMMA AREN'T STAR-CROSSED. THEY ARE IMPOSSIBLE. READ WHERE IT ALL STARTED IN THIN LIES, BOOK #1 IN THE DONATI BLOODLINES SERIES, #FREE WITH #KINDLEUNLIMITED!

Purchase (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): Amazon | Amazon CA | Paperback

Synopsis: 

Calisto Donati

She was just a woman. That’s what Calisto wanted to tell himself; that’s what he wanted to believe. Emma was nothing more than a woman. There were other women for him to want. To obsess over.
It couldn’t be Emma Sorrento.
Not for Calisto.
She was taken.
She was claimed.
She was not his.
In a few days, Calisto would hand her off, and that would be that. He wondered why it wouldn’t be that easy to let her go.
What good had saving her done?
He had simply taken her from one monster to give her to another.

Emma Sorrento

Emma slid on her mask. All someone would need to do was look close enough to see what was really beneath the sheer falseness of her smile.
At the other end of the table, Emma found her lies staring her right in the face.
He smirked.
And winked.
Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and the one thing she still wanted more than anything. Emma could still feel him all over her, long after his touch and kiss was gone. In thirty days, her entire world had changed—he had changed her.
Emma had a feeling that if she played another game with Calisto, she would surely lose.
She had already lost once.
Wasn’t it enough?

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Pinterest • Mailing List • Amazon Author Page

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[Blog Tour] Where the Sun Hides (Seasons of Betrayal Book 1) by Bethany-Kris & London Miller

ARC was received in exchange for an honest review and for the blog tour post.

In places where the sun can hide, the darkest betrayals are made.

Violet Gallucci and Kazimir Markovic have grown up in the same city, but on opposite sides of the game they call life—Violet, an Italian principessa della mafia, and Kaz, a Russian Bratva heir. Lines have been drawn, and they know not to cross them.

Their paths crossed once, a long time ago, but when they meet again, the territory and rules set out by their families that have kept them separated seem to bleed away.

She's more than her last name …

He’s more than a Russian …

But secrets from the past—and the people determined to keep them hidden—have other plans for Violet and Kaz.

Rival families.

One city.

Star-crossed lovers.

They should be enemies.

It could mean war.

This is just the beginning …

From authors Bethany-Kris (The Chicago War) and London Miller (Volkov Bratva) comes a thrilling, sexy new series—Seasons of Betrayal. Where the Russians and Italians clash in culture, mafia … and love.

I wonder if there will ever be a mob book written by Bethany-Kris that will disappoint me...Where the Sun Hides is another great collaboration between Bethany and London Miller.

This is another solid mafia romance book, about a forbidden love , yet destiny keeps throwing Kaz and Violet back together. Kaz and Violet belong to different organized crime families, Kazimir belongs to the Russian mafia side, while Violet to the Italian side. 

10 years old Kazimir first met Violet when she was just 4. They meet again when Violet gets into trouble while trying to escape her over protective father have some fun in a club. But she does not realize that she is on a forbidden ground . And a lot of troubles awaits for her because she crossed a thin line. Kazimir was taught to hate the Italians, however when he remembers Violet he steps up for her. Both Violet and Kaz try hard not to make any mistakes and break the peace truce between the Russians and the Italians, but they keep running into each others.

The attraction is more powerful than the danger that waits for them. They are willing to fight for their love.

Warning ! This book ends on a cliffhanger .

Where the Sun Hides

by Bethany-Kris & London Miller
Seasons of Betrayal, #1
Publication Date: June 6, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Organized Crime

Purchase (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): Amazon

Synopsis: In places where the sun can hide, the darkest betrayals are made.

Violet Gallucci and Kazimir Markovic have grown up in the same city, but on opposite sides of the game they call life—Violet, an Italian principessa della mafia, and Kaz, a Russian Bratva heir. Lines have been drawn, and they know not to cross them.

Their paths crossed once, a long time ago, but when they meet again, the territory and rules set out by their families that have kept them separated seem to bleed away.

She’s more than her last name …

He’s more than a Russian …

But secrets from the past—and the people determined to keep them hidden—have other plans for Violet and Kaz.

Rival families.

One city.

Star-crossed lovers.

They should be enemies.

It could mean war.

This is just the beginning …

From authors Bethany-Kris (The Chicago War) and London Miller (Volkov Bratva) comes a thrilling, sexy new series—Seasons of Betrayal. Where the Russians and Italians clash in culture, mafia … and love.

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

Website • Blog •  Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads •  Pinterest • Mailing List • Amazon Author Page

ABOUT LONDON MILLER

With a degree in Creative Writing, London Miller has turned pen to paper, creating riveting fictional worlds where the bad guys are sometimes the good guys. Her debut novel, In the Beginning, is the first in the Volkov Bratva Series. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two puppies, where she drinks far too much Sprite, and spends her nights writing.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page

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[Blog Tour] Gun Moll (Gun Moll #1) by Bethany-Kris & Erin Ashley Tanner

ARC was received in exchange for an honest review  and also for the blog tour.

James “Mac” Maccari’s career in the mafia is at a standstill. As the best solider in his Capo’s crew, all he wants is to be noticed enough to get Made in the Pivetti Crime Family. But instead, his Capo’s interests seem more focused on keeping his solider hidden from the boss, and every other Made man he can. Seemingly stuck right where he is with no chance of going up, Mac doesn’t know what will finally get him the attention he needs to earn his button.

Until she shows up and all eyes are on them …

Melina Morgan survives—that’s just what she does. She’s never been able to depend on anyone but herself to keep her safe and get things done. When a chance encounter puts her in a bad situation with the cops and the mafia, Melina has no choice but to put her faith in the hands of a man that not only infuriates her with his cocky arrogance, but catches her interest, too. Playing pretend in a fake relationship with Mac doesn’t seem all that terrible, until pretend turns real and bullets start to fly.

A man is nothing without his woman …

When the attention on Mac and Melina turns from bad to worse, and someone in the Pivetti Crime Family decides the couple needs to go, they know they’re fighting an uphill battle alone. But making it to the end alive means Mac could get what he’s always wanted, and Melina might find what she didn’t even know she needed.

Together, they’ll make waves the mafia has no choice but to notice …

I'm so excited for the new series !

"I'm not used to a man saving me"

Melina Morgan is a high paid escort who works hard to support her ill father. But when her father is no longer , she is left all alone in this world. She is firmly convinced that the mob is dead but shortly she is about to find out how wrong she is.And then troubles start to roll in, one after another. Lucky for her, the arrogant gangster Mac is there to save our sassy girl.

"I'm not used to be a hero."

James Maccari is trying to gain appreciation into the mob society, he is doing all of the dirty work for the highest members . He meets Melina under unusual circumstances , while he was taking part at an illegal underground match and Melina was escorting . Every since that night he knew that it won't be the last time he will see Melina. The unexpected situations forced them into getting to know each others.

What started as a fake relationship ended up as something real and things blew out of proportions.Someone is .trying to kill them and the bumpy ride starts.

I'm so ready for book two !!  

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Thin Lies (Donati Bloodlines, #1) by Bethany-Kris

ARC was kindly gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review !

Calisto Donati

She was just a woman. That’s what Calisto wanted to tell himself; that’s what he wanted to believe. Emma was nothing more than a woman. There were other women for him to want. To obsess over.

It couldn’t be Emma Sorrento.

Not for Calisto.

She was taken.

She was claimed.

She was not his.

In a few days, Calisto would hand her off, and that would be that. He wondered why it wouldn’t be that easy to let her go. 

What good had saving her done?

He had simply taken her from one monster to give her to another.

Emma Sorrento

Emma slid on her mask. All someone would need to do was look close enough to see what was really beneath the sheer falseness of her smile.

At the other end of the table, Emma found her lies staring her right in the face.

He smirked.

And winked.

Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and the one thing she still wanted more than anything. Emma could still feel him all over her, long after his touch and kiss was gone. In thirty days, her entire world had changed—he had changed her.

Emma had a feeling that if she played another game with Calisto, she would surely lose.

She had already lost once.

Wasn’t it enough?

WARNING: The first two books in the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy end on a cliffhanger, and are not considered safe romance.

I'm trying to post this review as close to the release date as possible to avoid eventual spoilers, but damn! It's so hard to keep it for myself! Brand new and amazing mafia series by Bethany-Kris starts with this first book. Thin Lies

Emma is forced to marry Affonso Donati , the head of the Donati family. A man much older than Emma. Until the marriage takes place she is followed everywhere by Calisto, Affonso's nephew . Trapped and disappointed , Emma's only shot to a normal life is to escape from Calisto.
And she does succeed , only now she ends up in an even more obscure world, and in serious danger,
Calisto's time is nearly up, only few days to find Emma and bring her back.

"I left a trail of dead bodies all over Vegas between yesterday and today."

But then duty grows into compassion, attraction and understanding for Emma's needs. One time won't hurt anyone. It was so wrong. She was not his, she was off limits. The passion was stronger than their moral compass.

"Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and one thing she still wanted more than anything."

But at the end of the day she was his uncle's fiancee and their love was forbidden.

"He had simple taken her from one monster to give her to another."

"I managed to break every rule I ever followed,[...] my oath to my famiglia, and betrayed my uncle. My actions would defile the church , the vows that I believe in, and my faith."

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