What I've Been Reading
Updated: Oct 20, 2020
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog GoddessofBooks. Today I will be posting my latest installment in the What I've Been Reading series. In case you're new, these posts contain -
mini reviews for books I didn't feel I had enough opinions on to do a full-scale review. I sometimes wonder if I should change the title of these to be romance specific since I usually end up with a post exclusively filled with romances - but that's a thought for another day.
Disclaimer: This blog post will contain affiliate and referral links. I may earn a small commission to feed my book hoarding tendencies if you use these links to make a purchase. This in no way impacts my opinions of the books listed - they are all my own.
Title: Sweet Temptation
Author: Cora Reilly
Genre: Romance
Description: The first time Cassio met his fiancée, she called him ‘Sir’.
After losing his wife, Cassio is left to take care of two small children while trying to establish his rule over Philadelphia. Now he needs a mother for his children, and someone who can warm his bed at night.
But in a traditional world as his, choosing your wife is duty not pleasure.
Rules have to be followed. Traditions heeded.
That’s how he ends up with a woman—a girl barely of age. She might not be what he and his children need, but she’s wicked lovely and a sweet temptation he can’t resist.
Giulia always knew she’d marry a man her father chose for her. Only she never expected to be given to someone much older.
Suddenly she’s supposed to be a mother to two small children when she hasn’t even held a baby in her life.
Giulia quickly realizes that Cassio isn’t interested in a relationship on equal footing. Her mother always warned her that men of power like Cassio don’t tolerate insolence; yet, tired of being treated as a nanny and clueless child-bride, Giulia decides to fight for her vision of a happy family.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Trigger Warnings: Age Gap, Gore, Blood, Death, Murder
Sweet Temptation was my first read from the author Cora Reilly, a romance icon. I'm so glad I started with this book in her catalogue because it was everything I wanted it to be. This book is a standalone, which I always appreciate, mafia romance - a niche I've binged a lot of recently. Every trope I ever crave was in this one and they were all done so well. I enjoyed the family dynamic of Sweet Temptation in terms of the main character Giulia finding her footing in this already established family as she grows closer to her partner and his kids. It's really a great read if you love all the warm fuzzy family vibes with a hot romance thrown in.
Title: Bound by Honor
Author: Cora Reilly
Genre: Romance
Description: Born into one of the leading mob families in Chicago, Aria Scuderi is a mafia princess known for her beauty. What many consider a gift means her doom when she’s forced to marry Luca Vitiello to bring peace between two mafia dynasties. Luca is the future Capo of the New York Famiglia, a man known for his brutality—and for crushing his cousin’s throat with his bare hands.
Aria is terrified of marrying a monster like him. He may be one of the most sought-after bachelors in New York, thanks to his good looks, wealth and predator-like charisma. But Aria knows the bad boy aura isn’t just a game; blood and death lurk beneath Luca’s striking gray eyes and arrogant smile.
In her world a handsome exterior often hides the monster within; a monster who can just as easily kill as kiss you.
Yet, there’s no escaping the arranged bond, much less a man like Luca. He’d follow her to the end of the world.
Her only chance to survive in a marriage with Luca is to gain his affection and work her way into his heart—even when rumor has it that Luca doesn’t have a heart to begin with
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Trigger Warnings: Blood, Gore, Death, Murder, Cheating
After finishing my read of Sweet Temptation, I immediately wanted to read the author's other works. This lead me to Bound by Honor which is the first book in a series from Cora Reilly. Bound by Honor was a solid read. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it enough. Aria, the main character, isn't someone I immediately connected with but she managed to be interesting to read about in her unconventional setting. If mafia romance is your thing I can assure you almost definitely that Bound by Honor will make a great addition to your tbr.
Title: Becoming His
Author: Albany Walker
Genre: Romance
Description: Sophia Briar is a lone wolf. On her own since her parents died at age fourteen, Sophia isn't used to being around other shifters. In fact, the one time she did run into a pack, she met her mate - and he rebuffed her. Sophia's fended for herself all these years, and now, in Michigan, she's desperate to create a new life for herself. The only problem? It seems her mate has found her, and this time, he isn't letting her go.
Mason Black is the Alpha wolf of the Northern Territories. As an Alpha, he's accustomed to getting everything he wants - until Sophia. Walking away from his mate when she was just a teenager nearly destroyed him. Now that she's back, he'll do everything in his power to possess her. To own her. To make her his Luna.
The one thing Mason doesn't count on - Sophia is an Alpha in her own right. A unique species all her own, she's never bowed down to anyone - and doesn't intend on starting. Not when Mason left her heartbroken. Not when he doesn't quite know how to treat her as his mate, and not one of his pack. And especially not when he refuses to see the truth behind the conniving, lint-licking, wanna-be Luna, Roxanne.
Can Sophia and Mason work through their issues, or will they be the first mates on record to give up on each other?
Rating: ★★ (2/5)
Trigger Warnings: Stalking, Unusual Sexual Scenes (idk how to classify this one), Murder
I always love a good werewolf/mate book so I was very excited to start Becoming His by Albany Walker. Safe to say it was not my cup of tea. This book was vaguely enjoyable in a "it's so trashy you have to laugh" kind of way - I'll give it that. It's very traditional in gender roles which my inner feminist scoffs at. I can even somewhat find myself drawn to those kinds of books every once in a while but this book was everything bad and toxic about those dynamics. Thank you, next.
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