Asia

3.5/5

I was excited about this book but, my God, it was way too long. 530 pages? Over 16 hours of an audiobook? And it was so... boring in places, it could easily be better if it were 200-250 pages shorter. We really didn't need that cat rescue at the end or the cat's fucking birthday party (WHY) or even Ayana's kidnapping. The thord act breakup was also unecessary, considering that she broke up with him for killing someone when she killed someone too, later. The fire, the kidnapping... it was all unecessary.

And I hated the fact that while Roman was back, he never reunited with Christian because Vuk never told him about his brother. UGH. Super annoying and for what?

I also wasn't a fan of Ayana and Vuk's relationship while she was still engaged to Jordan. I don't care that it was an arranged engagement, it felt tacky and icky and I hate cheaters.

4/5

It was a solid book and I enjoyed it. Sloane was a no-nonsense character who didn't take anyone's shit and Xavier wanted to relax her. I liked their relationship and Sloane's aversion to romcoms was funny. Her attitude towards The Fish was hilarious. I couldn't relate to her not being able to cry - I cry too often as it is - so I'm glad she could do it later. At least twice. And I'm glad that she learned she's worthy of love.

Xavier was great and I'm glad he was more than just a pretty face who wanted to party. I liked his growth and his relationship with Sloane.

I wonder who burned the club down. Was it Roman? Maybe? Who knows. I wonder if that's going to be revealed at all.

I didn't read the description for the next book yet, but I have a feeling it's going to be about The Serb and that supermodel. Right? Right???? Those are the only crumbs I've noticed!

4.5/5

This book was amazing and I liked it very much. Tbh, I disliked that they divorced in the first place (was this really necessary? Couldn't they just separate and then figure things out? But I'm so glad they remarried again. Ngl, the audiobook ended with the last chapter where they weren't married and I was so confused when the narrators signed off, thiking "this was it? They're just dating now and that's the happy ending?" And only THEN, AFTER THE END CREDITS, we got the epilogue. Talk about a heart attack.

Without the epilogue, it was 4 stars, with epilogue it's 4.5 stars. Something was missing and I couldn't give it 5 stars though I'm not sure what. Maybe it was the fact that they literally divorced halfway through the book. BUT! There was no third act breakup, which was a relief!

The characters were great and I enjoyed the narration too. The epilogue makes me think that the next book might be about Sloane and Xavier, but who knows. I wonder if Roman will ever get his own book or is he going to be okay? Who knows.

I enjoyed the friendship between Alessandra, Isabella, Vivian and Sloane, and Dominic, Kai and Dante. Roman was annoying half the time, and I wonder if this whole drama with the bank was even necessary, considering that Dominic bought another one. Idk. I didn't really understand this part of the book. ANYWAY, I think it was mostly there for Dominic to miss out on Alessandra's shop opening.

I hope they'll still appear in the next books!

4/5

I enjoyed this book. I loved both MCs and it was nice to see more people like Alessandra or Cassandra too. I guess the latter won't get her won book but I'm super interested in Dominic and Alessandra's story.

I liked Kai and Isabella a lot though some of the plot was very easily guessed. I hated the third act breakup though. While in the King of Greed it was necessary, it wasn't needed here. She was just too stubborn to listen to a reason.

I'm glad they got back together but that angst at the end was completely unecessary and it was just there to drag the book out. It would be better to see them fight for each other and see them happy and strong, instead of them getting back at the very end only to see their epilogue set 2 years later. (Also did Alessandra really stay with Dominic for 2 more years??? Jesus. That woman is a saint)

4/5

I enjoyed this book. I was afraid I would hate MMC but he wasn't an irredeemable asshole so that was good. And I loved that he grew up and communicated!! At the end, but still! And I LOVED that FMC didn't forgive him immediately, but that she took time. It gave them both ability and time to grow up as separate characters and as a couple, and it made them stronger. Sometimes a 3rd act breakup is necessary and I enjoyed how it was handled here.

I loved both MCs and when MMC pointed out how FMC makes herself smaller to get the approval of her parents, I was with him and angry with FMC for excusing it. But I'm glad she grew up and stood against her father and't didn't forgive him just because he was her father.

The story was fun, well written, and the characters were enjoyable. I will definitely read the whole series.

3.75/5

So you're telling me that not only did he kidnap her and threaten her family, but also bought her expensive gifts to buy her love and THEN, because it wasn't enough, got her drunk so they'd get married while she didn't know and then send her home? And then he let himself be shot?

Talk about a complicated man.

I enjoyed this book but it was also cringe at times and not in a good way. The writing was poetic in one instance and then simple in others. It was weird. I didn't like it.

I had to completely turn my brain off to enjoy this book, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy it. I mean, seriously, the author wanted to have a Beauty and the Beast retelling and she wrote a Stokholm syndrome novel instead. Which, btw ISN'T what Beauty and the Beast is about.

Anyway.... I probably won't read any other books by this author tbh. Mafia isn't for me. At least Italian mafia lol.

4.25/5

Portia is a feminist and a 'radical' who seeks justice and reform and hates aristocracy. Leo is a duke and a magistrate who just wants to keep his sisters safe.

When he hires her as his sisters' chaperone, they have no idea what might happen.

This was a fun book. I enjoyed it very much.

The characters were funny, engaging, well written. The whole book was better written than the previous two, the inner thoughts and ramblings weren't as long and didn't detract from the story - possibly because they didn't happen in the middle of the scene anymore.

I loved the hijinks and mishaps Portia got herself into even if they were ridiculous. And Leo's valiants attempt at helping her which somehow always complicated things instead.

Without spoilers, I loved the book. i didn't see the plot twist coming at all and I cried during ahhh certain scene after Abigail was sent home. That's all I'm saying. I also LOVED Portia's speech to Abigail and I was cheering her on.

I loved the relationship between Portia and Leo and Portia and Letitia. I wish we saw more of Portia's friendship with Lottie and Georgie. I know that only Kitty is unmarried and that's why she was the only person there, but surely both Georgie and Lottie would come to see Portia when she needed them! After all, they both (well, at least Georgie) live in London.

So that friendship between her supposed best friends is what's missing for me. Other than that, I enjoy this series a lot.

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5

That was a cute book, I enjoyed it.

Very fluffy, which is what I wanted, and followed a tried formula, which is exactly what I wanted too. The only thing I didn't like is that the writing was at times throwing us in the past where it didn't belong, with some long, long, VERY long musings and inner thoughts in the middle of the scenes (3 pages of description about the past while the other character was waiting for a response, for example), which slowed down the plot and annoyed me.

The book could have been better written. it wasn't phenomenal but it was solid.

I liked the characters, though the dogs weren't for me. Georgie was great, I loved her, though Harry was boring at times. And all this drama with Elizabeth that didn't go anywhere was disappointing. If you introduce the lying ex, I expect drama, but there was just nothing there. Idk why she was even there, her not being there wouldn't change the story a bit. Even without her, Harry would still talk to his sister about the admiral, and they would still come to the same conclusion anyway.

Anyway, the book was solid. I preferred the second book in the series about Lottie, though.