City of Salvation

Toxic Paradise #3

by Marie Maravilla

True delusion was believing that if you pretended your problems didn’t exist, they’d go away on their own. That the monsters living under your bed wouldn’t get tired of waiting for you to crawl into the dark with them. But they always did.

Nikki
Running away and becoming someone new would be far easier if the demons of my past didn’t insist on showing up at my doorstep. Turns out that leaving an evil Russian Bratva leader at the altar after helping stage his assassination only pissed him off and made me a target.

I tried blending, but hiding in the shadows under a fake alias is no longer enough.

It should have been easy to keep my distance from the MC member burdened with protecting me. He is just as averse to commitment as I am, yet he’s been the only person ever to see me, even through all the smoke and mirrors I keep between us.

Dex
She’s shrouded in secrets, and there’s nothing I want more than to peel back every layer and discover what’s at her core. The glimpses she gives me have me hooked in a way I’ve never experienced before. I’ve always been:

No commitments.

No girlfriends—hell, I’ve never had a female friend.

Yet here I am, wanting to protect her, to be the weapon she wields against her enemies. Because if there’s one thing I have learned during our time together, it’s that the ache in my chest only stops when I am with her.

She’s mine now.

City of Salvation is book three in the Toxic Paradise Series. While you could read the books as standalones, it is highly encouraged that you read them in order to fully grasp the over-arching plot and avoid spoilers. This book is for 18+ as it contains material not suitable for children. Please visit my website for full cw/tw or the book's interior will also list them.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Dark, Forced Proximity, Contemporary

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2024

About the author

They say to write these things in 3rd person, but it feels weird. So, I'm not. Clearly. I'm a baby author who deiced it was finally time to purge the stories living in my head. I currently live in Tennessee with my two babies and husband. My life is a wonderful cycle of working, writing, mom-ing, and consuming questionable amounts of caffeine.

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Death before betrayal."

Nikki is running from her past.
No one was supposed to get involved. No one was supposed to get close.
Until something happens and Dex is tasked to protect her.
It should have been easy to keep her distance from him…
Until it isn't.

"God. I love an angry woman. I'd crawl to her… fucking bark too."

Dex was always intrigued by Nikki.
And turned on.
But Dex has always had the one rule.
No commitments. No girlfriends.
Luckily Nikki has the same rule.
So shouldn't be a problem right?
Or so he thinks…

"She knew too much about me, and I felt too much for her."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The best lies are versions of the truth."

Ok ok ok. Still freaking out that I received an ARC for this but OMFG was this good!! Legit finished this all in one sitting and I have no regrets!! This book was so hilarious and amazing!! Love love love!! I have been waiting for Nikki's story since "Skeletons of Society" and bish she did not disappoint one bit!! I mean the sheer baddassery in this book is amazing and I am here for it!! Anytime Nikki wants to walk all over me with her stilettos I am present and accounted for 🫡🫡

"I wasn't a girl's girl. If you were a cunt. I was a cunt right back." - put this on a t-shirt now!!

First we have Nikki. As we said before pure badassery. Because running from her past is terrifying. But she was hilarious and amazing and I want to be her when I grow up!! She was sarcastic, she was sassy, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH BANTER!!! I was here for all of it! Legit after every chapter I said these two sentences at least 5 times - "YOU GO GIRL STAND YOUR GROUND!!" and "FOUR FOR YOU GLEN COCO, YOU GO GLEN COCO!!" (and again I have no regrets thank you very much).

"I'll do whatever you want, spitfire. All you have to do is ask."

Now we have Dex. I mean I already fell in love with the name but put that aside. Rides a motorcyle? Check. Tattoos? Check. Matches Nikki's banter? Check. Dark Past? Check. Dirty Mouth? You have no fucking clue people. I mean the sheer possessiveness from the first time he opens his mouth I was hooked. Because come the fuck on how could I not be?? Trust me you have to read this book to fall in love with him because I do not regret it one bit!! New book boyfriend? Check.

"Since it looks like you aren't going to follow directions, I'll have to teach you a lesson."

"Ask me nicely to pay you for tonight, spitfire, because I will. I'll cover whatever you would have made. Hell, I'll even double it."

Marie Maravilla the queen has the best playlists but you know me and my narcissistic behavior these are the songs that I added also 💚💚💚

(Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wK... )

🎵 "salvation" - Christabelle Marbun
🎵 "Us and Pigs" - SOFIA ISELLA
🎵 "cinderella's dead" - EMELINE
🎵 "Paint The Town Red" - Doja Cat
🎵 "Knife Under My Pillow" - Maggie Lindemann
🎵 "I Don't Even Care About You" - MISSIO
🎵 "Needed Me" - Rihanna
🎵 "Real Friends" - Camila Cabello
🎵 "I Just Wanna Run" - The Downtown Fiction
🎵 "Ashes" - Celine Dion
🎵 "All Hands On Deck" - Tinashe
🎵 "Fake Happy" - Paramore
🎵 "PARAMOUR" - Sub Urban, AURORA
🎵 "Beauty" - Layto
🎵 "Move" - Little Mix
🎵 "Shut Up And Listen - Sped Up Version" - Nicholas Bonin, Angelicca, Speed Radio, ex7stence
🎵 "Still Don't Know My Name" - Labrinth
🎵 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎵 "Selfish" - Madison Beer
🎵 "Love You Like Me" - William Singe
🎵 "Survivor" - 2WEI, Edda Hayes
🎵 "Angry Too" - Lola Blanc
🎵 "Women Don't Owe You Sh*t" - ASTON
🎵 "Bite Me" - Avril Lavigne
🎵 "TRRST" - IC3PEAK, ZillaKami
🎵 "MANTRA" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎵 "Leaving Tonight" - The Neighbourhood
🎵 "She's Crazy But She's Mine" - Alex Sparrow
🎵 "Game Of Survival" - Ruelle
🎵 "Heartless"- Dermot Kennedy
🎵 "buzzkill" - MOTHICA
🎵 "Joke's On You" - Charlotte Lawrence
🎵 "WOW" - Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "more than friends" - Isabel LaRosa
🎵 "Collide (Sped Up Remix)" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎵 "yes girl" - Bea Miller
🎵 "pretty poison" - Nessa Barrett
🎵 "Dance Again" - Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull
🎵 "Attention" - Charlie Puth
🎵 "Don't Ever Stop Running" - Maggie Jean Martin
🎵 "Nothing But You" - Conor Maynard
🎵 "boyfriend" - Ariana Grande, Social House
🎵 "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" - Usher
🎵 "Bad Boy" - CARYS
🎵 "Don't Stop The Party" - Drunk Girl, Deanna
🎵 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎵 "Vicious" - Bohnes
🎵 "Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
🎵 "Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" - Set It Off, William Beckett
🎵 "Pretty Girls" - DeLyzer, Lilianna Wilde
🎵 "what it means to be a girl" - EMELINE
🎵 "greedy sped up" - Tate McRae
🎵 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎵 "Moth To A Flame" - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎵 "Devil In A Dress" - Rhea Raj
🎵 "Hangover Heartache" - HighInd
🎵 "Can't Tame Her" - Twenty One Two
🎵 "Break My Heart Myself" - Bebe Rexha, Travis Barker
🎵 "Give Your Heart A Break - Rock Version" - Demi Lovato, Bert McCracken
🎵 "Bleed" - Connor Kauffman
🎵 "Take What You Want" - Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott
🎵 "Fool" - Taylor DeBlock
🎵 "DEVILISH" - Chase Atlantic
🎵 "You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing" - Halestorm
🎵 "Figure You Out" - VOILA
🎵 "FINAL GIRL (too pretty to die)" - pi3rce
🎵 "Earned It" - The Weeknd
🎵 "Fake" - The Tech Thieves
🎵 "Pretty In The Dark" - Ashley Sienna, Ellise
🎵 "Call Out My Name - Live" - The Weeknd

And remember what I said about that dirty mouth 😏😏😏

"You like that? Tell me what you want, spitfire. Harder? Deeper? Faster?"

"Spread them, baby… Look at how well you listen to directions, Nikki."

"Show me how well you know how to use your mouth, spitfire."

🩰 Tropes 🩰

💚 Friends to Lovers
💚 Fake Dating
💚 Found Family
💚 Slow Burn
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Badass FMC
💚 Mafia/MC/Cartel
💚 Touch her and 💀

Book edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C1sLlgRL73_/

[nikki]

DNF@7%
‼️POTENTIAL SPOILERS‼️
I really wanted to like this. But I can't. Which is why I'm choosing to stop here before I start to hate this book and this turn into a negative review/rant. Now, getting to the main point - the OW drama. Ya girl's hella sensitive ifykyk lol. It's not really OW drama per se, but it still annoyed me to the point that my mood is now ruined. I mean, the premise was really promising - both MCs being allergic to commitment but fall for each other eventually. But the thing that gave me the ick was that they'd slept tg after which Nikki told him not to step in and save her, he got mad and went to get a lap dance from another stripper. He woulda gotten a BJ as well had it not been for Nikki's text asking for help. And that personally made me go😑🤢🥴. I don't mind a manwhore/a FMC who's slept around because frankly, idc about your past. But I DO care if you entertain the thought of another woman when the story starts (especially since Dex is supposed to be an unhinged golden retriever) AND if you've already slept tg. The only exception I've made is for the Royals of FU series which is a completely different case but I digress. Usually, I would manage to push through but I'm just not in the mental state to continue. Think I'm gonna have to DNF for my mental health. More DNFs, less forcing myself to read a book I don't wanna🙂

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all if you love dark romance but want the FMC to take no shit, be stabby & badass, AND to end up with a man who would crawl for her, then this series is for you!

Nikki is in hiding and currently on the run from some scary people (don’t want to spoil anything haha). Dex gets assigned to protect her and act as bodyguard. She is an insanely talented dancer working as a stripper and he is in a biker gang. Now, these two had a one night fling, but the tension is still there and man oh man are they horny for each other lmao.

“I might like a woman who followed directions, but I liked one who made me work for her obedience even more.”

^ Dex is a very good boy btw 🥵

Needless to say, this was a wild, fun ride from start to finish! You definitely have to read this series in order, as the plot is very interconnected.

“You two are the same type of chaos. We should all be very worried.”
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Thank you for the arc GoodGirls PR and Marie! 🫶

P. S. I have a crush on Andrei 👀

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

y’all are not ready for this book😭

the tension is so yummy!!! the banter!!! the spice!!! the man of my mf dreams!!! ugh love love LOVE. infinity stars if i could. GUAU (how we say “wow” in mexico lol)

sometimes, you worry that books in a series won’t get better with each release but marie outdoes herself each time and this one has been my fave. i want to be in this girl gang and find a man like the ones marie has created bc omfg 😭🫶🏼

i can’t say enough good things about this one. i can’t wait for release day so y’all can experience nikki + dex 💚

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sound like a broken record at this point BUT if you have NOT read the Toxic Paradise series yet, what are you even doing? This series is so massively underrated and under hyped, I will be recommending this series til the end of time. Ok now that we got that out of the way, let's move on to my thoughts.

I loved this book! But are we surprised? Probably not. I will say, please read this series in order. I think you will appreciate Dex and Nikki's story that much more. Now if you have read the series in order, I know you are excited to finally see Dex and Nikki finally get together. The banter between these two throughout the series was pure gold and it did not disappoint in this book. Like our girl Nikki, I loved her and every time she called Dex a "good boy" I gave her a high five! Like what a queen.

Nikki, she's a queen. Not only does she straight deliver witty one liners to Dex all day every day, but she's a RUSSIAN BRATVA RUNAWAY BRIDE with a brand new identity as a stripper at a cartel strip club. We love that. But when her past sneaks up on her (which you find out at the end of book 1), she tries to out run what is coming for her. But our boy Dex, this man is in love and OBSESSED with Nikki. We won't let a single hair on her head be harmed if he has a say about that. And we love ourselves an overprotective MC daddy.

But the real winner of this book? The slow burn that is chuck full of TENSION. Like this book was the perfect slow burn. It worked for their story and relationship. The way that they tried to fight their attraction towards each other. And that moment when they said screw it, lawd have mercy 🥵 It was just so perfect! A great way to end the series. Like I'm sad it's over but it's my mission to get everyone and their mom to read this series so I have people to talk about it with.

Marie, thank you for your service. This series was perfection! Keep delivering me morally grey FMCs! I love you and I am now a reader for life. Good luck getting rid of me 😘

You should most definitely read this book if you like:
- MC x Mafia Romance
- Russian Runaway Bride
- Hidden/Secret Identity
- Friends to Lovers
- Morally Grey MC's
- Fake Dating
- Touch Her and Die
- Witty Banter
- Roommates w/ One Bed
- Slow Burn w/TENSION

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to this one and Nikki x Dex did NOT disappoint. I’ve loved both these characters since book one and I was READY for them. I absolutely love Nikki’s character. Marie writes such strong, fierce, intelligent and bada$$ women and other authors should take notice. This series is seriously so good and has such an overall intriguing plot throughout. The spice, the sweet and emotional bits all add up to such a great book. Even though this is Dex and Nikki’s book, I’m glad the previous characters still play such a prominent role.

I definitely would love to see Andrei have his own book bc that man has me curious as hell. So pls Marie, that’d be much appreciated because I don’t want this series to be over. *thank u*

I’d definitely recommend this whole series. They’re sort of on the darker side?? Potentially heavier themes I’d say but overall really exciting and sexy reads!! You’ll be obsessed with the FMC’s and be down bad with how down bad the men are for them. SLAY QUEENS.

[littlegirlbigbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨ this book. dex & nikki’s story. the found family. the ending.

the way dex is a fluffy golden retriever in the previous books but his darkness shows itself right away. but he’s also still low-key Ia fluffy golden retriever just with unhinged violent tendencies. swoon. i wanted to ease his pain so bad. the way he wears his humour and goofiness as a mask to hide his pain and suffering is so relatable. i could feel it in my bones. but man the way he goes about life was just so incredible and so fitting for him in a way i didn’t even expect. he is such an ultimate book boyfriend. a man of patience and understanding and pride. i adored him so much.

the way nikki’s feeling like a ticking time bomb from bottling shit up and constantly deflecting is sooo relatable. nikki is no damsel. she is stronger than anyone thinks and i loved her. she fit right in with the crew of badass women with unhinged violent men who’d do anything for them. she was so badass and the whole running to save the ones you love thing just worked for her.

they recognize the darkness in each other and while they need each other to be healed, they filled each others cracks with love and understanding and the desire to protect one another. their traumas as so different from each other, from mine, and yet like recognizes like. every time. this was surprisingly emotional and so well done. the writing in this is was better than the previous two books but while still keeping marie’s classic style of banter and inner thoughts and zero fucks given characters. dex & kenji unhinged psycho bff bonding >>> everything i wanted. i love how all the guys were just bonding and laughing together and being all found family. it made my heart clench.

the ending with all of them was everything i could have ever hoped for and idk how to feel now that this series is over when it’s lived rent free in my head for so long. the series. these characters. love them so damn much. i love how the plot connected through all three books and came together yet they still all had their own plot. it was just so well done. dark romance with plot. don’t sleep on it.

”Why did I feel like the man had just performed a grand romantic gesture for me? Beating in his fucking face was as good as him telling me he loved me.”

”I will hunt you down wherever you go, woman.”

”I will stick by your side and help slay all your demons. I’ll cheer you on and hold you when you crumble.”

”Your weapon to yield, baby. Forever and always.”

• bodyguard
• mc x mafia vibes
• forced proximity
• roommates
• fake dating
• hidden identity
• found family
• fuckboy & girl

*thank you marie & good girls pr for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[freyleyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun, but not the best in the series. 4.25 ⭐️

[Mel (whilemelwasreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"God. I love an angry woman. I'd crawl to her… fucking bark too."

My gosh that part had me cracking up.

While I felt a little underwhelmed by the first two books of the series, this one kept my attention throughout. Nikki an arranged bride on the run, meets Dex an MC member with a care free fun shell, that hides a broken past. These two have been fighting feelings for some time, but when Nikki needs a bodyguard, some forced proximity suddenly heats things up.

I enjoyed these characters individually as much as I did together. This story brings action, suspense, banter, spice and feels. Their chemistry was fire! Dex definitely has some protective swoon. And the story even has some humour too. Enjoyed the cameo’s of past characters too! I liked it. Definitely my favourite of the series!

[Ashley Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 🌶️🌶️🌶️

friends to lovers
Unhinged FMC & MMC
Fake dating
Mafia
Touch her and ☠️
Incredible banter and laugh out loud moments


THIS BOOK WAS WORTH THE WAIT AND ONCE AGAIN JUST COMPLETELY AMAZED BY MARIE’S WRITING! && she killed it with the chapter titles once again (& hood she continues this in her future books).

You get the unhinged moments but also those real and raw moments with the characters that are a bit unexpected. Dex hiding his emotions with laughter and jokes. & Nikki a closed book but I loved getting that deep dive into their characters. Slowly watching their secrets unfold and finding that safety net with one another.

Dex is the true example of “talk about her/to her like that again and I will ☠️ you”, the man did not disappoint. WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD CRAWL TO HER AND EVEN BARK my body immediately ascended and I was a goner for that man!

&& Nikki’s unfiltered mouth UGHHH MARIE KNOWS how to write the best FMCs and you can’t convince me otherwise.

I truly had the best time reading this book, the storyline & absorbing these characters and getting more time with the characters from the other books. && I am looking forward to all the future books Marie will write (&& hopefully more bad@ss FMCs ).

Thank you so much for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marie-Hélène · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki is a Russian dancer turned str*pper while on the run from her husband/owner. When he starts to catch up with her, Dex is appointed as her personal guard. The chemistry between them is PALPABLE but they both don’t do commitment, so that makes for a very one-handed slow burn. But when they finally burn, they burn so bright. After the previous two books i was so excited for Nikki and Dex’ story and Marie didn’t disappoint! As far as side characters go, Val and Andrei were amazing. Marie writes powerful women so well and i love it. The only thing that i kind of regretted was how naïve Nikki was - seeing as to what her past and her life are like, she should’ve been a bit more jaded. The ending more than made up for the slow burn and i was on the edge of my seat until it all came together.

Plus - there’s chapter titles. Big win in my book.

“Not even the devil can pry me from your side.”

[abbie s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did Dex & Nikki just take the top spot as my favorite in the series??

I freaking loved this book!! Marie has a way of writing that makes her characters so relatable and I also totally vibed with her humor. The chapter titles?? Iconic.

-friends to lovers
-angst/slow burn
-found family
-mc/mafia
-fake dating
-unhinged golden retriever MMC

Dex has been one of my favorites from the beginning and she delivered with his story! He's the typical charming, light-hearted playboy but is also equally as unhinged and terrifying. How Marie was able to write such an equally scary yet golden retriever type MMC is true talent. Nikki of course is Ryan's best friend and I was also intrigued by hints at her mysterious past. I loved how she was also a make no apologies, take no bs type of girl and also shamelessly owned herself. I appreciate that Marie writes such baddies and you can definitely tell both her and her characters are girls girls.

Both Nikki and Dex have fboy energy and were similar in so many ways, including how they put on a mask for others to hide their internal scars/traumas. Their friendship made sense and the banter and buildup for these two was insane! Literally could not put this down because I just needed to see how these two panned out. Just because Dex has golden retriever energy does not mean he doesn't like to take charge with Nikki and they were so hot together.

If you haven't read anything by Marie you're missing out. Highly recommend this book and the whole series!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMB!!!! Loved this so so much like DEX & NIKKI?!?! I’ll take them both at the same time please 😇 this was so hot and fun and my new favorite from Marie. I’ll never be over them 💚

[Koryne · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥ARC REVIEW ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

one of the many things i love about Marie’s books is the take no shit, psychotic, unhinged female main characters. there are no doormats here and Nikki is no exception.

i will say that it’s best to read this AFTER Skeletons of Society because it takes place a few months after the events in book one but it’s not necessary (you should just do it anyway because it’s also an amazing book) i wasn’t like super excited to read about Dex because he was suchhhhhh a whore in the first book and that’s not USUALLY my jam. but honestly i LOVED him so much 😭😭😭😭

nikki pushed him away so much and there IS a scene where he gets a lap dance from an ow knowing he’s going to get a bj after but Nikki texts him for help and he pushes her away and immediately goes to her. i know this won’t be for my safety gang people, but both of these characters were so fucked up mentally that i understood the reasons they did what they did. there was no double standard here either. they BOTH slept around and nikki wasn’t jealous. i don’t think either of them were with anyone after they had a *moment* together but im not 100% about dex (im just going to say he wasn’t) there also wasn’t a safety talk, just a “are you on birth control? cool i’m sliding in raw” moment which considering they both slept around i would have liked for it to be mentioned 😂

i love a girl gang and Ryan, Scarletta, and Nikki are top tier goals.

i can’t wait to read more in this universe (fingers crossed for a certain grumpy brat a man 🫣😏)

thank you to GoodGirlsPr and Marie for letting me read an arc of this 😭😭😭😭

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Good Girls PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

City of Salvation is a RIDEEE. The twists and turns that pop in this book, mixed with so much action and steamy romantic tension between Dex and Nikki delivered one banger of a novel. Marie Maravilla already broke the mold of mafia/syndicate crime/cartel romances by featuring a badass arms dealer as the FMC in Skeletons of Society, and did it again in City of Salvation.

Our FMC, Nikki, is a talented dancer and incapacitate a man as quickly as she can complete a turn. I admired her strength and resilience throughout this book so much as she tries to protect her friends and family while being on the run from her past.

On the other hand, Dex, our MMC, puts up this f-boy front to all of the brothers in his club, but inside he's really just a golden retriever trying his best to protect his brother and Nikki without falling in love with her. I loved watching him act as her bodyguard-turned fake boyfriend-turned actual boyfriend. Seeing him become more in tune to his emotions as he and Nikki bond over their shared trauma of parental abandonment and losing their loved ones was very special. I loved their relationship and how fiercely protective they are of each other! I'd rate this book 4.25 stars rounded up.

I'm definitely super excited to see if Marie Maravilla has more planned in the Toxic Paradise universe, and also very excited to dive into her contemporary sports romance world next!

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[Bad Ghouls Club -C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ and you should 10/10 read this! When I received this arc (I actually screamed) I had been holding off reading this entire series and when I say I DEVOURED the first two and was dying in anticipation for this to hit my inbox like Nikki was dying to put a hit on her husband, let 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 tell 👏🏼 you!

Marie Maravilla knows how to write a badass FMC and she didn’t disappoint with this one.

“‘Do I have a sign that says ‘talk to me’ on my forehead or what? Can’t people see I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown that might lead to a murder spree?’”

If you haven’t read the first two books, you can definitely read this as a standalone but it’s so much better if you do all three. This one is different from Skeletons of Society and Syndicate of Sins in that it’s more of a slow burn, but in the best way possible. Marie nailed it in the sense that you won’t be left feeling like you watched paint dry before the main characters kiss and somehow the spice level is muy caliente!

Daddy Dex is mmmm everything you want in a sexy golden retriever who falls first and would help dispose of a body kind of man.

“‘Life isn’t worth living without you in it, spitfire. F*** your past. All I need is your present and our future.’”

I would definitely read through the trigger warnings first as these characters are dealing with grief and trauma but Marie handled it so well and really left her heart on the pages of this book.

*I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Marie for giving us a new outlook on dark romances with females that aren’t damsels in distress (I’ll be waiting for Andrei’s spinoff story now please and thank you 😂)

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect way to end the trilogy for the Toxic Paradise series.

We finally get to know Nikki on a deeper level. Starting with her being a runaway bride in Russia to where she is currently at. Nikki is a woman of deep secrets, and her development to finally allow her close friends in to fully feel the weight of who she is, was so amazing honestly.

Dex has always stood out in the books and I couldn't wait to find out more about him. He does not disappoint. Also carrying the weight of things, Dex has a similar evolution to Nikki but because they are such thorough and intricate characters, it def feels so different.

Now put these two knuckle heads in a forced proximity and we get the wonderful tension and attraction mixed with the determination of "No we will not hook up"
UGH! Just perfect.

All the shenanigans that Nikki would be up to would have me freaking out, but to just know how Dex doesn't think twice about saving her. SWOOOOON!

Marie's writing has only gotten better? Which it was already so dang good. Def recommend this book, this whole series.

[Brontesbookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ ANGST AND BANTER!!!!
3 🌶️ S P I C E
City of Salvation left no crumbs!

K, I’m obsessed with Marie’s writing style. This series is EVERYTHING. Nikki and Dex’s book was so fricken amazing. I loved them so much. I’d been needing some Dexy since Skeletons of Society, this did NOT disappoint. AT ALL!!! These devastatingly broken twin flames have the best dynamic and banter. So angsty, so spicy, soooo good. Slow burns just enough. It was pretty much everything I love in a book. Marie can write the spice, but she can also tell an epic story!!!!

Nikki IS sass. I love her so fricken much!
Dex…. DEX!!!!! Omfg a wet dream.

They’re both broken halves of a whole. They fight what’s going on between them so hard and end up in an epic fake dating situation.

Marie does an incredible job of sharing the journey of grievint and loss of a loved one, but also that loss of a life that someone never got to live. The book is deep and impactful in a way that is easily digestible and doesn’t dilute the story.

An MC/mafia/crime romance that I would devour again.

Thank you good girls PR and Marie for my ARC copy. It was such a privilege to fall in love with these characters early 💚

[Casey Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Let us live since we are destined to die…”
4.75 ⭐️
2.5 🔥
MC
Bratva
Cartel
Criminal Organization “The Circle”
Dancer
Baddie FMC
Possessive MMC
Bodyguard
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
This was my favorite of the series so far! I love Marie’s baddie FMCs, and her MMCs are 🔥🔥🔥. I loved Nikki and Dex! Both are closed off to relationships, but are drawn to each other. Each come with their own baggage and love each other just where they are. They are twin flames and they burn bright, especially together. 🖤💚 I can’t wait for more of Andrei and more of the Toxic Paradise series!

Thank you Marie and Good Girls PR for the ARC!

[Emma Wudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been counting down to this book release since the last word I read of book 2.

I adore this series; I adore every single couple (quadruple?). If you’ve read the first book (or two?), you’ve gotten a definite vibe between Dex and Nikki, but really had no idea what the hell was goin on with them. Dex has always been sweet and funny and lovable and so deserving of someone to see that. Nikki is wild and sassy and knows what she wants, but such a mystery to everyone around her.

Watching these two spar and dance around each other and…stop dancing AROUND each other was so freaking fun!!!

I loved this book; I really had no idea where it was going so many times. This book caught me off guard in a way the first two did not; it also introduced some new characters to beg for books about.

This is my favorite mafia series by leaps and bounds; I am going to be perpetually waiting on more books from Marie from now on. There is nothing as fun as being a fan!!!!

[Lisa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to @authormariemaravilla & @good.girls.pr for letting me read the arc copy of City of Salvation! I do apologize for my lateness - I did not anticipate no WiFi on my cruise ship..

If you haven’t read this series. Drop everything and pick up Skelton of Society. That’s where you’ll meet Ryan and Gunnar. Then you’ll meet Nikki and Dex the best friends of Gunnar and Ryan. Then you’ll read book two “Syndicate of Sins”.

Back to Nikki & Dex; Someone is threatening Nikki - so Dex is enlisted as the bodyguard/roommate/shadow/fake boyfriend. The banter between these two is perfect. Marie writes such strong female main characters.

This series has me in a chokehold and I will always recommend this series to everyone and their mothers.

Also, Marie please tell me that Andrei is getting a book in the near future. I need to know - just dm me and let me know. K thanks.

[Amara Luciano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can count on 3 things when I read a Marie Maravilla:

😂 I will cry, clap, snort, and laugh my ass off at some point

🥵 I will 10/10 recommend to a friend any and all men on the page who are not the actual actual villains (she’s really good at making the villains not-hot-don’t-swoon-for-these-shitheads but like everyone else is fair game)

🫶🏽 I will adore the unhinged women eating everything and everyone and saying the most outta pocket shit

What surprised me:

The tension! The feels! CoS is Nikki x Dex’s book and I don’t know if it was the previous books or all of Marie’s teasing on socials, but I was PANTING for these two—and they did not disappoint. I have SO. MANY. KINDLE. HIGHLIGHTS.

Watching the comic relief take-no-prisoners fuck boi fall in love with the ragey stripper with a heart of gold and all the nasty dark secrets was the best kind of chaos and honestly exactly why I’m hot for this series.

This one leans more into romance than smutt, which is kinda my favorite thing because I’m a fucking sap who weeps at the slightest provocation and likes to feel things, especially connection and intimacy and… let me stop there before my heart eyes burst.

What I’m anticipating next:

ANDREIIIIII.

Give me all the Andrei.

What was on the drive, Andrei???

What I’m like meh about:

I’m always on the fence with the sex scenes in this series. Mostly how they’re written? It’s a mixed bag of spice gold and… a’right. 🤷🏽‍♀️ (I think it boils down to choreography and dirty talk. Love the latter but I’m also particular and the former makes me get in my head if I I’m going “huh?” when I’m picturing it.)

Also the last I wanna say 20% just didn’t fully hit for me. I was all for all the series class reunion wrecking shit together but… something about how all the pieces fit didn’t quite do it for me. Didn’t leave me 100% satisfied. Not sure if I wanted more murder? If it was too rushed?

I will also admit I probably felt way too invested in Nikki x Dex’s relationship to care about the actual plot lol.

Overall:

3.5 stars for me

Nikki and Dex are everythingggg.

Favorite scene:

Chad. 😂

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

NIKKI AND DEX!!! OMG.

Marie is a SPICE QUEEN!!! This is definitely an instant buy for me.

These two were heart melting! Their trauma really bonded them and made for such a cute couple pairing! The had the angst, the playful banter, the tension building, and the 4 alarm fire spice! There was really nothing not to like about each of them individually and together!

Also loved seeing each of the characters from the Toxic Paradise series come together in this book! So fun! Definitely going to need a book for Andrei and Torque though!

Thank you Good Girls PR and Marie for the ARC!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[autwenreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This is the 3rd book of the Toxic Paradise series, and its going good!

Nikki, I really need to take notes from her because she was confident and knew what she wanted. She was losing herself, or rather, it seemed as though she had never discovered herself, since she cared and loved too much, until she eventually found Dex. Dex? That man could talk dirty like a champ! He was an sexy, and hot! These two had the funniest banter ever. It was the tiny aside conversation that always led to some flirting and teasing. She was quite good at getting him to go again and to come back.

However, there are moments when I just think Nikki is annoying. She won't explain to her friends why she's being tracked down, and they don't learn the whole story until almost the conclusion of the book.

Thank you Good Girls PR and Marie Maravilla for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystal (LeeLovesBooks_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

They had me going through it! At this point, I will read a phone book if Marie writes it.

This was Marie's version of slow burn and I am sooo picky over slow burn and/or friends to lovers but I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.
I would say this wasn't SUPER spicy but when we got it, WE GOT IT (at 69%.. I see you Marie😂). I really enjoyed the tension between Nikki and Dex. The fact that these emotionally stunted beings found love with each other? yeah obsessed.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞) 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.

[zayns wife · Rating 1 out of 5]

i finished it but at the same time i did not.

literally forced myself to finish it. their monologues were so ew.

[Annesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Dex and Nikki are in lust for eachother since the first book. We got glimpses of their interaction. In this book they full on want eachother but both of them have baggage that prevents them from moving forward with one another. Both like to sleep around and hate sharing feelings.
2. We get Nikki, who decides to push her best friend away and seek help from Dex when she gets caught between the reapers and Russians coming for her.
3. Why this girl couldn’t tell these people with a ton of power that she is being chased by her psychotic Russian Mob Boss of a husband is beyond me!
4. How this girl ran from Russia and became a stripper to survive in Arizona for a year or so and build connections to the cartel and MC.. yet NO ONE figured out she’s a russian mob bosses daughter andddddd wife of another leader is BEYOND ME.
5. Cue the basic story line of “fake dating” to protect Nikki (rolls eyes).
6. This whole time they assume the Russians are coming for her because Mario promised them skin.. okay.. but why is she so special? Why aren’t these people asking important questions.
7. For a guy who gets information through torture.. Dex is an idiot. The first chance he gets with one of the Russian men who comes for Nikki and knows her story - Dex doesn’t torture out the right info from him.. straights torture and kills him!! For what? Idiot
8. Back to the fake dating. Why the hell are they so cringy? Both her and Dex gave me the ICK!!!
9. The fact that he opened up about his sister being sold to the Russians and she STILL doesn’t tell him shit about them coming for her and her connections , blows my mind !!!!
10. She keeps running ! Like girl you have a best friend and a man who CLEARLY loves you!!! You have the best resources to protect you if ONLY you told them the whole story!!! Stupid stupid nikkie
11. What the hell is with Dex !!! Like you’re a grown as man, and reacts is like a child not getting his treat. If you know that the girl you love has some daddy issues or whatever , wouldn’t you want to give her reassurance? I mean the way he yells and walks off is honestly so immature and so not hot!
12. And what the hell is with scar calling with information hella late ? (Scene where Nikki is leaving and she randomly calls Dex and says “ how much do you know about her” I mean girl you’re like - 1 year late on giving the heads up!
13. The fact that she decides to go back to the Russians to get help from the bad guys but couldn’t tell the cartel and MC!! Oh this makes me mad
14. And if you tell me Spitfire is a cute ass endearing nick name .. then I give up! Because what in the hell is cute about being called spitfire as a nickname !
15. “I’m an aquarias with daddy issues, Ofcourse I’m in love with you.” Where the hell did the IN LOVE come from !!!!!!!!!
16. Also did I mention how both of them gave me the ick!?! Even the 🌶️ scenes.. hella ickyyyyyyy



Honestly .. the series is getting worse and worse !

Unpopular opinion.. I can’t stand Scar

[BookedwithRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literal perfection.

I’ve never read a dark romance that made me

1) cry
2) kick my feet
3) giggle
4) blush

as much as this one did! It was honestly perfect.

Thank you so much to Marie and her PA for giving me an ARC to read.

[Lyla Nadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I could have wanted for their story and more! It was also nothing like I had expected and I loved every second of it! This is book 3 in the series so pick up book 1 skeletons of society and book 2 syndicate of sin to get the full picture of this story. This is Dex and Nikki’s story. Dex is the MC’s enforcer and Nikki is a runaway Bratva bride in hiding. Both characters struggle with trauma from their past, relationships and letting people in. They both have their walls up but for each other can they let them down? This book was not what I anticipated because in books one and two it was more fast paced, more bloodthirsty, tons of spice but with this one I found they really took their time, slow burn but worth it. There was a lot of super sweet moments I had not expected but absolutely swooned for, there was angst and spice to make you blush but most of all they really wrapped my heart in a vice grip. The way they struggled with their trust, vulnerability, their secret love for each other. They had such a special connection that I adored. Nikki she kept from getting attached because she didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her past so she put up a cold barrier and an attitude like she didn’t care and Dex he couldn’t let his past failures consume him. I loved Nikki and everything about her felt relatable and to watch her grow and open up was beautiful but what really took me was Dex. I LOVE an MC Enforcer there is just something about the big, ruthless, grumpy k!ler that I love, but Dex is different. When we see him in book 1 he’s fun, a bit of a joker, is up for anything not your typical enforcer so I was really excited to see what his story was going to be. I loved him so much I can’t even stand it. Sure he puts on this mask of the fun loving guy but underneath he’s sweet, caring, slightly insane but calm and calculated. The way he is with Nikki is just perfection! The perfect balance of all the things you could want, his gentle and rough, tough but understanding, I could go on forever! Oh and the consent?! We love a consent king! I can not say enough good things about this series and this book! I’m so sad to see it end but this was a perfect finish.

I received this as an arc and this is my honest opinion.