Throwback Thursday // Mafia or Organized Crime

June 06, 2024


Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday! Every other week I'll be sharing my book recommendations within a specific romantic trope or theme.

Today I'm sharing five Mafia or Organized Crime books I loved and reviewed on the blog. I love the light and easy ones, the dark ones, and even the terrifying ones. Seriously, the scarier and more intense, the better. If you've got a recommendation, please send it my way!


Ravage Tillie Cole

Ravage by Tillie Cole


Every book I've ever read from Tillie Cole has been spectacular and this book was no different. The entire Scarred Souls series is amazing and I recommend starting from the beginning with Raze. Broken heroes, suffering and an emotional overload are just a few things to expect.

Find my review HERE


In the Beginning London Miller

In the Beginning by London Miller


This book had me hooked from the opening scene! While I haven't read much from this author, the Volkov Bratva series is great. I don't think I've really read much from her since, I think I should try to fit in some more of her books on my to-read list.

Find my review HERE


For Fallon Soraya Naomi

For Fallon by Soraya Naomi


I don't know where the heck I've been to not have read this author, but I'm so glad I crawled out from under that rock! If you like mafia romance with plenty of action, intrigue and feels, you can't go wrong with any book from the Chicago Syndicate series. Start with this one.

Find my review HERE


Razing Grace Amo Jones

Razing Grace Part 1 by Amo Jones


Holy Smokes!! I'd like to start this off by saying that I NEED BOOK 2 NOW!!!! It was mayhem, distraction, dysfunction, and tons of feels. It was a mess, but a beautiful mess. And if you're into that sort of thing, you can't go wrong with this book.

Find my review HERE


Deathless & Divided Bethany-Kris

Deathless & Divided by Bethany-Kris


When it comes to mafia romance, Bethany-Kris brings it! I've said it before and I'll say it again — Bethany-Kris is one of the best writers of mafia romance I've ever read from. She gives you guts and glory, suspense and drama, romance and love and everything in between. I couldn't be happier to have found her books and if you're looking to give her a try, start with this one.

Find my review HERE

Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter

June 05, 2024

Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter

He was breathtakingly cocky, with his leading man face and broad shoulders, but she'd never been so absorbed by a male. Not a real one, anyway.
Broken-doll Daniela... wanted. Him. A vampire.


In Untouchable, Kresley Cole delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time...and a Valkyrie aching to be touched.

In Tempt Me Eternally, Gena Showalter puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted...and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.


Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter

Deep Kiss of Winter includes:


Untouchable by Kresley Cole


Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden -- the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter


Aleaha Love can be anyone -- literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself.


For Untouchable:


Rating -
Standalone - Immortals After Dark #7
Genre - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Length - 270 pages

Part Valkyrie part Fey, she couldn't be touched without being burned, she couldn't touch someone without freezing them, and she had blooded a vampire, making her his Bride. How was this going to work?

Well, for most of the book, Murdoch was a jerk. He was deliberately obtuse and made me laugh. Daniela was a fool and it was a lot of fun watching these two fall all over themselves in an effort to avoid falling for each other. They were doomed from the start!

When they finally let each other in, it was quick and dirty and so sweet. With each other, they had finally found their missing piece and I was actually really happy about that.

Is there a story for the other Estonians, such as Rurik? If I'm going to have to wait forever and a day for Nix's book, I'm hoping to get stories about characters I care about and Rurik seemed like a loyal, worthwhile and damaged fellow.


For Tempt Me Eternally


Rating -
Standalone - Alien Huntress #3.5
Genre - Paranormal Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Length - 161 pages

Annnnnddd... once again, here I am, picking up a book several books into a series. To sum it up, this story gave me enough to spark my curiosity for the rest of the series. I adored Breean, sorta liked Aleaha, and enjoyed pretty much everything that happened here. I only wish I knew more about the world these characters inhabit. There are aliens, creatures, humans, etc. I need more info so I will keep reading.

Btw, I loved seeing the quick reference to Kresley Cole's Immortals series. Hey there Nix!

Review // Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

May 31, 2024

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

“I'll listen to you, but you need to treat me with a little respect.
Because it doesn't sound like I'm a pawn. Sounds like I'm more of a queen."
A vein in his temple began to throb, and she grew bolder, the sense of power emanating from the mark on her chest filing her with the mettle she'd lost after the break-in two years ago.
Lowering her voice to a tense whisper, she nipped his earlobe. "Checkmate.”


Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione


Rating - 1/2
Standalone - Lords of Deliverance #1
Release - April 1, 2011
Genre - Paranormal Romance / instalove
POV - Mutiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 432 pages

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.


When I mentioned that I was looking for a sexy, paranormal romance featuring the Horsemen, I got plenty of recommendations. Most of them were not what I was looking for — please stop sending me recs for RH! I also tried the first book in Thalassa's series, but I found Pestilence to be (uncommon opinion) boring. And then I tried this and found Eternal Rider to be just what I was looking for!!

Ares would become War if his seal was broken and he was desperate to avoid the apocalypse. Seeing the evil his brother, Reseph (Pestilence), had become when his seal was broken, Ares and his other siblings, Thanatos and Limos, were determined to keep theirs intact.

Ares' seal was currently branded onto a fallen angel, but with Pestilence hunting down and killing all of them, that angel needed to get rid of the seal fast to protect it. His unwilling accomplice becomes the most unlucky human in existence—Cara.

I loved every bit of this book. Seriously, even when Ares was trying to be cruel, I was falling for this male. I couldn't blame Cara for having a weakness for him. They were so wonderful together. He gave her the chance to be brave and strong, a warrior while she gave him the warmth, comfort and affection his life sorely lacked for millenia. I lived for their tender moments and their fierce ones.

I can't see how the author will ever redeem Reseph, but I know she does because I've met him in a later book in the series, full of remorse for all he did. I'm excited to watch it all unfold. And because I'm the kind of person who picks up a book midway through a series, I'm going back to book one of Demonica so I can get the whole picture.

See you there!

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione


Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.

She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.

She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.

What to Read Weekend (May 31)


Hello and Happy Friday!

The weather this week in Toronto was absolutely lovely. There was a day of rain, which was much needed because it cooled down the extreme heat we were having. How's it going for all of you?

Today I'm sharing a week's worth of what I'm currently reading, what I want to read, and several romance book bargains.

Hopefully you find something to enjoy here too. Have an amazing weekend!!

What I'm Reading Now



What I'm Hoping to Read Next


Unintended by Ari Reavis
Raise the Blood by Nenia Campbell
Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake

Added to my TBR


Twisted Cage by Beck Knight
When Lies Unfold by RC Boldt
The Wild Man by Alex Grayson
Not Made to Last by Jay McLean

Romance Book Bargains


$1.99


Standalone
Genre: suspense

$2.99


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Chronicles #1
Genre: fantasy

$2.99


Chronicles #2
Genre: fantasy

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$1.99


Tickled Pink #1
Genre: contemporary

$1.99


Tickled Pink #2
Genre: contemporary

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$1.99


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Lost Daughter of a Serial Killer #1
Genre: thriller

$2.99


Stope Packs #2
Genre: paranormal

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$1.99


Fluke My Life #1
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Standalone
Genre: historical

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.99


Chronicles of Saylok #2
Genre: fantasy

$2.99


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.49


Standalone
Genre: contemporary

$2.49


Harmony Pointe #1
Genre: contemporary

$1.99


Immortal Warriors #1
Genre: fantasy