Scan barcode
corvinascloud's reviews
874 reviews
Asking for Trouble by Giana Darling
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“the kinda love i got for you is electric. it lights up my soul and vibrates my bones. i can’t fucking live without it. without you. never wanna know what it’s like to go back to a life without your light.”
this one hurt in a way i hadn’t hurt with a fallen men book since “good gone bad”, and for obvious reasons. it was a crime that blue and rosie didn’t meet because i have a feeling those two will get in as much trouble, if not more, as boner and curtains (which deserves his book next, poor baby). but isn’t that the beauty of this story? the peace you find within trouble, the neon lights that shine through the darkness, the bone deep connection that defies blood and law. much like nova, aaron was hiding behind his charisma as a way to deal with deep rooted trauma, having lost all hope, but he still dove deep into blue ocean eyes. and he stopped living in black and white, she brought color to his heart.
* i was sent an arc by the author and valentine pr in exchange for a honest review
this one hurt in a way i hadn’t hurt with a fallen men book since “good gone bad”, and for obvious reasons. it was a crime that blue and rosie didn’t meet because i have a feeling those two will get in as much trouble, if not more, as boner and curtains (which deserves his book next, poor baby). but isn’t that the beauty of this story? the peace you find within trouble, the neon lights that shine through the darkness, the bone deep connection that defies blood and law. much like nova, aaron was hiding behind his charisma as a way to deal with deep rooted trauma, having lost all hope, but he still dove deep into blue ocean eyes. and he stopped living in black and white, she brought color to his heart.
* i was sent an arc by the author and valentine pr in exchange for a honest review
Beautiful Beast by Neva Altaj
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
my lily of the valley is my personal brand of poison, and there’s no antidote for it. not for me. she’s coursing through my veins, and nothing on this earth will ever purge her.
neva altaj can't write a bad mafia book. that's a fact. but she not only wrote a very well established original mafia series, with world building spanning different factions and organizations, and a continuous timeline, but she's now also writing and publishing a second generation series at the same time. and it still felt fresh and new, even though it was the same writing style, the same format and formula, but most importantly, the same world. and i truly love it when the kids' books mirror the love stories of their parents, in this case the kidnapping trope. roman petrov has nothing on rafael di santi, i said what i said, and i stand by it. this was, by far, one of the best renditions when it comes to beauty and the beast reimaginings. the fated love with that prologue setting the tone, up until when the characters finally realized they've been destined to save each other destroyed me and put me back together again. and the fact that the author kept the essence of the previous series with the imperfections and disabilities, it's what not only sets these stories apart from other mafia romances, but above all makes me connect to each and every one of them.
* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review
neva altaj can't write a bad mafia book. that's a fact. but she not only wrote a very well established original mafia series, with world building spanning different factions and organizations, and a continuous timeline, but she's now also writing and publishing a second generation series at the same time. and it still felt fresh and new, even though it was the same writing style, the same format and formula, but most importantly, the same world. and i truly love it when the kids' books mirror the love stories of their parents, in this case the kidnapping trope. roman petrov has nothing on rafael di santi, i said what i said, and i stand by it. this was, by far, one of the best renditions when it comes to beauty and the beast reimaginings. the fated love with that prologue setting the tone, up until when the characters finally realized they've been destined to save each other destroyed me and put me back together again. and the fact that the author kept the essence of the previous series with the imperfections and disabilities, it's what not only sets these stories apart from other mafia romances, but above all makes me connect to each and every one of them.
* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review
When She Tempts by Gabrielle Sands
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“i’ve craved you from the moment i saw you, and i promised myself i’d carve that craving out of me. but the deeper i cut, the deeper you burrow. i’m afraid that if i don’t stop trying to rid myself of you, i’ll end up cutting out my own heart.”
this book started out strong, but lost itself along the way until the ending, which was good. i don’t know if it were the high expectations after book one or my enthusiasm about this couple, but i was a bit disappointed with it all. the pace slowed down drastically compared to the first installment and the middle of the story dragged with repetitive scenes. at one point, i forced myself to continue purely because of any possible cameos and crumbs of book 3. but overall, i’m glad i read this because the mmc was worth it. the fmc, however, made the reading experience unbearable at some points. i’m aware that she’s only 18 and naïve, but her character development could’ve been great, she had so much potential.
The Phantom's Vice by Mindy Paige
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“death has tried, and failed before to tear us apart. no, darling—my soul is tied to yours, i’m sure of it. i feel it when i touch you… that unbreakable, unfathomable recognition. it took me thirty-six years to find you this time, but i have no doubt in others, i have had you for longer. i would find you anywhere, my darling. i have, and i will again.”
something truly magical happened to me with this book. even before the prologue, i already knew this was going to be a 5-star for me and not once throughout the whole story did i ever wavered on that feeling. as soon as i read “the rules” (it will make sense once you pick up the book), i had a visceral reaction and immediately fell in love with this. the story was perfect; the author grew tremendously in her writing since book 1 and everything about this was a testament to that. not only was the overarching plot of the trilogy crafted both brilliantly and beautifully alike, but the romance in this made me ache and weep and long for something even remotely as devoted as the mmc was to his woman. i genuinely don’t believe i have ever read about a more emotional man than ghost, which made all of his trauma hurt so much deeper. he deserve the peace, but above all the unconditional acceptance and affection the fmc brought to his life. i can’t wait, albeit impatiently, for the next and final instalment of this series.
* i was sent an arc by the author and the author agency in exchange for a honest review
* i was sent an arc by the author and the author agency in exchange for a honest review
Scorch by Jane Henry
dark
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
after the last book, i’m so glad this one went back to the essence of this series and the nuclear family’s home was the setting backdrop. these stories really set themselves apart from other mafia romances due to the different dynamics at play within the band of brothers and their wives. which doesn’t sound that “fresh”, but when paired with the roles the fmcs take in the brotherhood it makes these books standout. they’re not the darkest nor more complex, but they’re very entertaining. they deliver when it comes to characters and plots, and it’s always refreshing how the author takes well established tropes and gives them her own twist.
* i was sent an arc by valentine pr in exchange for a honest review
When She Unravels by Gabrielle Sands
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
to be completely honest, i had been putting off starting this mafia series because i was apprehensive about the hype surrounding it. with mafia being my favorite trope/sub-genre, i’m very picky when it comes to what i consider a good mafia romance. and this was near perfection. i don’t know who the author made a mafia book set in ibiza work, but she did. the first few chapters of this story were one of the best and most gripping opening scenes since the kingmakers series by sophie lark. it was such an enthralling concept that i was hooked from the very start. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything quite like it and it was brilliantly and much as hauntingly executed. a very refreshing take on more common mafia tropes, setting the book apart with the continuous twists and turns. i buddy read this with a friend and we kept reading more than we were supposed to and then having to catch up with each other because this was that good. i can’t wait for what the rest of the series has in store for me because this has the potential to become a new favorite of mine.
Monstrous Urges by Jagger Cole
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
for me, this was hands down the best book by jagger cole i’ve read. i’ve been waiting for and wanting taylor to get her own story ever since she first showed up in “dark hearts”. a whole spin off series later, she finally did and it was worth the wait. this book was perfect for me, it had almost all of my favorite tropes. now, was i scared and had low expectations given my love-hate relationship with this author and his writing? yes. was i pleasantly surprised and blown away by how much i loved this book? abso-fucking-lutely. whatever i could have possibly hoped for, this was a thousand times better. i couldn’t have picture a better story for taylor myself. there were some elements, here and there, especially how the fmc was elena lombardi coded, that reminded me of the anti-heroes in love duet by giana darling, which made me even more invested in this.
* i was sent an arc by valentine pr in exchange for a honest review
All Hers: Prequel to Kitten by Char Dafoe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
the storytelling format wasn't right for me
The Sinner by Marni Mann
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
these books are always entertaining, but this story in particular was very captivating and enthralling because it had dark elements to it. was this a dark billionaire romance? no, but the way the author not only wrote but handle the stalker plotline gave a hint of suspension and thriller to this that made it stand out from the previous books in this series, rising to one of my top stories from the marni mann universe. hopefully, the future books in the series and spin-offs will give me this same edge
Caged by Luna Mason
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“you think i’d let you ever stop loving me? i’ll never let you. even in death, i’ll haunt you so you never forget me. go ahead, kill me. that won’t stop you from loving me.”
it pains me to say this, because i was excited for this book, but it was a let down. was the book necessarily bad? no, it just didn't meet my expectations, mainly due to the story not being what it was marketed as. the author teased this book continuously in her instagram and the majority, not to say all, of the scenes and quotes she shared on her stories were very misleading. first of all, this was advertised as an enemies to lovers, trying to unalive each other, hidden identities romance but none of that was true. they only became "enemies" (if you can even call it that, which i wouldn't) after the 50% mark and only tried to "unalive" each other for 5 chapters or so, and never truly wanted the other to die. those tropes were there purely to play out on the smut. and that ultimately is the main downside, for lack of a better word, of these books. yes, they have a plot but it always suffer in detriment of the smut. it'd be one thing if the stories were considered erotica romance, but that's not what they're sold as - this is a mafia romance author. do i mind the smut? not in the slightest, if it didn't take away from the plot. but at the end of the day, the smut ends up being the only entertaining element because it's the main focus. the author always wants to write more elaborate and kinky smut with each new book and the plot is pushed to the background, lacking consistency and storytelling. the only reason why i even finished this was for the next book's couple and tatiana, i love her character and truly, genuinely hope the author makes her justice.
it pains me to say this, because i was excited for this book, but it was a let down. was the book necessarily bad? no, it just didn't meet my expectations, mainly due to the story not being what it was marketed as. the author teased this book continuously in her instagram and the majority, not to say all, of the scenes and quotes she shared on her stories were very misleading. first of all, this was advertised as an enemies to lovers, trying to unalive each other, hidden identities romance but none of that was true. they only became "enemies" (if you can even call it that, which i wouldn't) after the 50% mark and only tried to "unalive" each other for 5 chapters or so, and never truly wanted the other to die. those tropes were there purely to play out on the smut. and that ultimately is the main downside, for lack of a better word, of these books. yes, they have a plot but it always suffer in detriment of the smut. it'd be one thing if the stories were considered erotica romance, but that's not what they're sold as - this is a mafia romance author. do i mind the smut? not in the slightest, if it didn't take away from the plot. but at the end of the day, the smut ends up being the only entertaining element because it's the main focus. the author always wants to write more elaborate and kinky smut with each new book and the plot is pushed to the background, lacking consistency and storytelling. the only reason why i even finished this was for the next book's couple and tatiana, i love her character and truly, genuinely hope the author makes her justice.