Kristin

An addicting spicy mafia romance

Revisado: 03-09-25

I’ll start by saying this audiobook was enjoyable: I finished it in 2 days because I wanted to know what would happen, I enjoyed the characters and plot enough, and I’m planning to continue the series. It was spicy without being too over the top, and it had elements of those classic mafia dark romances I crave.

However, it’s not a perfect story. The FMC and MMC felt a bit forced. For the FMC, we have a meek woman with a dark past that’s lead her to protect her virginity and have trust/social issues. The MMC is your typical obsessive, intense, mafioso. The relationship is a bit odd for starts, and if you step back to think about it too closely, the timelines feel rushed and like far too much insta-love for the “broken woman” depicted. It isn’t a deal breaker and for me, I still enjoyed the story. I liked the glimpse of other characters and the development, which makes me want to continue on the series.

The narrators were also good. I wasn’t a huge fan of the way the male narrator depicted the female dialogue (it felt a bit like a breathy child voice? Really threw off the spicy scenes for me). However, I knew this would be duet narration, so again, not any form of deal breaker.

I’d be willing to have this book as a shelf trophy, and I plan to continue with the series, so while I am torn between a 3 & 4, I’d rate this a 4/5 stars.

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Great narration; Even better sequel

Revisado: 09-18-23

🥵🥵🥵 this has, in fact, gotten spicier than the first book. I’m all for some good revenge, and Story is out for hers! The thing with revenge is that when you dish it out, there is always a chance you can get burned in return—and we know the Lords don’t respond nicely to being messed with.

But Wrath? 😍 Where can i find a Wrath IRL.

This book has lived in my head rent free and I immediately jumped to book three.

Also, the narration is great and well cast in my opinion!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 chili peppers

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Allllllll the spice

Revisado: 09-17-23

Get ready for insane amounts of spice 🥵 with The Dare being a delicious introduction to these characters, to then Losers (part 1) being a great continuation…my hopes and expectations were very high for this final installment. Listening to the audiobook this time around, my expectations were still high to see what would happen to Jess, Manson and the rest of our guys. However, it fell slightly flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, the spice is absolutely next level, but that’s also the issue I had. This book felt like ALL spice and not as much plot. I loved Losers part one because we learned so much about each character, and I liked watching Jess transform and come to accept her wants/needs. Plus, you were constantly questions what bad thing might happen next from Manson’s father and the other jerks living in Jess’ town. However, this book focused so much on the spice and relationships that the underlying drama and mystery, at times, seemed like an after thought.

I love this author and I still enjoyed the book, but it took me a little longer to get through (I’m usually a read-it-in-one-day person) because I was never fully sucked into the plot. It seemed long for what it was.


All that said…the spice in this book will make you sweat. If that’s what you are searching for, look no further!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 chili peppers
⚠️18+: why choose/rh, 🔪 play, bdsm, role playing, golden 🚿, violence, references to childhood trauma, MM, ⚔️

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Dark and Dirty 🖤

Revisado: 08-16-23

Prepare yourself for a dark romance, and this will give you everything and more!

Story is seeking protection from a faceless man of her past, but safety comes at a hefty price when she must give herself over to the lords. On the flip side, after having a small taste of Story years ago, the lords now want to own and possess every inch of her.

This book is dark and questionable but also spicy and delicious. I loved the mystery throughout wondering who the stalker was and what was going to happen to Story or the guys. I realize this is book one in the series but I was still annoyed to have it end on a cliffhanger. However…the epilogue makes me think the series could get even darker starting in book 2!

The narrators are great. I’m so torn on whether to speed read book two now or cave and get the next audiobook because the narration just brought it next level!

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A spicy to-die-for gothic mystery

Revisado: 07-13-23

I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I loved it. This is a gothic dark academia PNR romance novel. It’s the audio equivalent of a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend!

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Incredibly spicy, but leaves a lot unknown

Revisado: 07-07-23

I didn’t love this book but I also didn’t hate it. This has fantastic reviews as an audiobook, so I started there…but some of the added background noises and sound effects ruined it for me. Idk why, but it came across as cheesy which is such a shame because the narrators for this book were phenomenal and duet narration with multiple POVs is so hard to find in dark romance.

Let me just say, the spice is NEXT LEVEL. Almost to the point where I was craving more plot and less spice lol. I had not read the novella before this, so the whole storyline was new to me. I was eagerly awaiting more character development or more explanation to the mystery of Quin to the society….but don’t expect any real answers in this book.

This is a good choice for you if you want a dark why choose romance focused on spice! Highly recommend around Halloween as well!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 chili peppers (it’s extremely heavy on the spice)

⚠️18+ tropes: Why choose, dark secret society, cults, MM, MFMM, history of @buse, 🍑, daddy, etc. Comprehensive triggers are listed in the book. This is a dark romance.

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Enjoyable dark academia audiobook

Revisado: 06-02-23

I listened to this as an audiobook while doing house projects. I feel like maybe I didn’t give it my full attention, but I was left feeling like it didn’t captivate me like I expected.

Élodie has a tragic and horrible back story leading to her attendance at Wolf Hall, where resident bully, arguable deranged Mr popular and rich kid, and member of Riot House, Wren, attends. Elodie isn’t scare of Wren and refuses to back down to anyone, something Wren is not used to. I think this is supposed to read as kind of a bully romance or enemies to lovers vibes, where Wren is obsessed with the new girl because she’s so different and he wants to destroy her…but instead he loves her. However, you can feel the sexual tension between characters from early on. I was more intrigued by the side story of what happened to the former student who went missing, and why there were so many secrets.

Overall, spicy and good book. I will probably continue on with the series at some point, but I’m also not rushing to do so. I do love dark academia and enjoyed stepping into this world.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 2.5/5 peppers (there is certainly spice…almost 3/5)

⚠️ 18+ TW: SA, familial SA, child abuse,

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Spicy Why Choose Book, but not my favorite

Revisado: 04-11-23

I love SC books, and I enjoyed the first book in this duet, Four. However, I didn’t love this one. It was just…fine.

It’s been a number of months since I listened to Four on Audible, so I came back to this world quickly catching myself up on where we left off. I absolutely adore RH/why choose romances, and the prospect of taking a foursome to a fivesome (is that a word?) was…🤤 Pair that with a mafia dark romance story line and a family of assassins? Count. Me. IN!

This books picks up with a new job that Silas feels is too risky for his family to take. Gabriel is sick and tired of his adoptive father “controlling” the family business and making decisions for them all. He boldly decides to tackle the job solo without anyone knowing. Unbeknownst to him, it is in fact a setup…but one that will ultimately cause him to question what he wants most. Does he value his “adoptive” family found in Silas and Baron and his love of Iris? Or does blood run thicker? What Gabriel is in the dark about are the secrets his blood family keeps.

I loved Gabe in the first book, but there were multiple times in this second installation that I was left thinking his reactions are utterly immature or mind-blowingly dumb. I mean, the man is a trained hit man, but he has the emotional restraint of a toddler.

Gabriel’s cousin, Quentin, is a new character on the scene…and as implied by the title “Five,” he becomes the fifth party of interest to our foursome. I loved his character—I actually wanted more! His nerdy-boy-meets-hot-guy persona was chef’s kiss.

Now here’s the real pain point for me: The FMC. Iris downright annoyed me. There were multiple times in the book where I found myself rolling my eyes, or feeling taken aback that her actions are so contradictory or immature. I adore strong female main characters. I love a bad a** woman who goes after what she wants. But Iris? Iris ain’t it. I feel awful saying that because usually, I devour anything and everything from this author. This character just made me cringe so much. I don’t remember feeling this way during Four so I’m wondering if it’s specifically this book? Also, I wasn’t vibing with the voice for Iris. I’ve heard this narrator for other books and she’s good, I just didn’t feel it was the right fit in this case.

Anyway, the story line is still enjoyable albeit predictable. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. Lots of spice! The audiobook is dual narration and the voice actors are pretty good! Also not my favorites but still good.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 chili peppers
⚠️18+ tropes: reverse harem/why choose, touch her and you d!e vibes, alpha males, age gap/daddy, mafia dark romance, unaliving, 🩸, mention of abuse and trafficking

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Mafia dark romance meets Hades & Persephone

Revisado: 01-12-23

This has been a book on my list for a long time, and the story did not disappoint! Take a classic arranged/forced marriage mafia dark romance trope and mix it with the underlying vibes of a modern take on Hades and Persephone.

My only pet peeve is when lack of communication about an issue (which could otherwise be explained) causes the main tension point in a story….and that did happen here. Despite my frustration screaming at my AirPods “just EXPLAIN what happened! Don’t sit there silent!” I still really enjoyed this book. The spice??? 🥵🥵🥵🥵

Listening to this as an audiobook, I did wish there was a different male narrator. However, that’s more of a personal preference I think.

Definitely worth listening to!

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A phenomenal end to the series

Revisado: 10-26-22

I adore this audiobook series. The duet narration is to die for—Troy Duran, Tara Langella and Erin Quinn could read me a phone book and I would swoon, I swear.

JT Geissinger is also a phenomenal mafia dark romance author. This final book in the series follows Spider and his arranged marriage to the Italians. Of course, things don’t go according to plan when, instead, he is captivated by his fiancée’s aunt—aka the Black Widow (only fitting.)

THE. CHEMISTRY. Holy crow, you can cut through it with a butter knife from the very first moment Spider arrives. These two are fire and ice, but also an absolute match made in heaven.

I finished this audiobook only to think I should really start the series over again 😂

Still my favorite audiobook series. This book only sealed the deal.

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