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Morally Grey Billionaires #4
The Rebound
He was supposed to be my forever love
Until he becomes my personal hell...
Declan Beauchamp: he’s the super-hot, super-bad boy actor.
I’m the new voice, who has an overnight break-out single.
Together we are unbeatable.
A match-made-in-tabloid heaven.
Until he betrays me...
I put him behind and move on.
I even have a new boyfriend.
Except my career is in freefall...
Only consolation?
Declan isn’t faring better either.
With my future and his at stake.
Declan comes up with a plan.
One movie together,
And a fake relationship to catapult our futures back on track.
But when our chemistry detonates,
I know I can’t survive this encounter.
I tell him the deal is off,
Except it’s too late...
A standalone, enemies-to-lovers fake relationship billionaire romance about mistakes, heartache, and second chances.
Until he becomes my personal hell...
Declan Beauchamp: he’s the super-hot, super-bad boy actor.
I’m the new voice, who has an overnight break-out single.
Together we are unbeatable.
A match-made-in-tabloid heaven.
Until he betrays me...
I put him behind and move on.
I even have a new boyfriend.
Except my career is in freefall...
Only consolation?
Declan isn’t faring better either.
With my future and his at stake.
Declan comes up with a plan.
One movie together,
And a fake relationship to catapult our futures back on track.
But when our chemistry detonates,
I know I can’t survive this encounter.
I tell him the deal is off,
Except it’s too late...
A standalone, enemies-to-lovers fake relationship billionaire romance about mistakes, heartache, and second chances.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2023
About the author
L. Steele
79 books2,762 followersAmazon top 4 bestselling author L. Steele is best known for her marriage of convenience, billionaire romance novels.
She writes about powerful men with ice in their veins who are brought to their knees by the curvy, strong women they never saw coming.
She lives for the heart-aching angst, the sharp banter, and the kind of raw, soul-deep connection that makes readers stay up until 4:00 AM because they cannot bear to leave her characters behind.
She strives to create stories that breathe. The kind of magic that imprints on your heart and stays with you long after you have read the final page.
Did she succeed? Message her and let her know. She loves hearing from her readers.
When she is not dreaming up her next OTT possessive MC, she can be found trading trivia with her husband, watching movies, or walking nature trails with a dirty chai latte in hand.
She writes about powerful men with ice in their veins who are brought to their knees by the curvy, strong women they never saw coming.
She lives for the heart-aching angst, the sharp banter, and the kind of raw, soul-deep connection that makes readers stay up until 4:00 AM because they cannot bear to leave her characters behind.
She strives to create stories that breathe. The kind of magic that imprints on your heart and stays with you long after you have read the final page.
Did she succeed? Message her and let her know. She loves hearing from her readers.
When she is not dreaming up her next OTT possessive MC, she can be found trading trivia with her husband, watching movies, or walking nature trails with a dirty chai latte in hand.
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Currently Reading
May 19, 2023Audiobook for The Rebound is out NOW! Narrated by Shane East and Rose Dioro
On Audible => https://readerlinks.com/l/3174621
On Apple => https://readerlinks.com/l/3174615
On Audible => https://readerlinks.com/l/3174621
On Apple => https://readerlinks.com/l/3174615
Read
May 27, 2023DNF at 35%
I had to dnf this one. I really felt uncomfortable with the age gap (I like age gaps but not the ones with a 14 and 21 yr old)... the time jump 4 yrs later didn't make a difference (I felt like Solene still acted like a 14 yr old)**
The last straw for me was the end of Chapter 28... I felt really disgusted by Declans behavior...
Also something that was missing for me were trigger warning. At the beginning of the books there was almost something terrible happening to Solene and this could be triggering to some people...
**I received an ARC prior to the release, in that ARC version the FMC was 14 yrs old, but was later changed after publication to 17. Therefore my review is referring to the ARC I received.
I had to dnf this one. I really felt uncomfortable with the age gap (I like age gaps but not the ones with a 14 and 21 yr old)... the time jump 4 yrs later didn't make a difference (I felt like Solene still acted like a 14 yr old)**
The last straw for me was the end of Chapter 28... I felt really disgusted by Declans behavior...
Also something that was missing for me were trigger warning. At the beginning of the books there was almost something terrible happening to Solene and this could be triggering to some people...
**I received an ARC prior to the release, in that ARC version the FMC was 14 yrs old, but was later changed after publication to 17. Therefore my review is referring to the ARC I received.
May 20, 2023
DNF at 5%
why the hell did this author make a 14 y/o and a 21 y/o makeout IM DISGUSTED
why the hell did this author make a 14 y/o and a 21 y/o makeout IM DISGUSTED
September 17, 2023
🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧
PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING: 5++ Stars!!
I couldn’t have picked two narrators more suited for the roles of Declan and Solene! Rose Dioro has a way of playing the role of young and naïve super well and it’s not the first time I’ve experienced her doing so. She was fantastic. Shane East was also spectacular as Declan and the two together took this story to the next level for me!
STORY REVIEW & RATING: STRONG 3.5 stars but since half stars are not a thing and it isn’t a 3-star story, 4 stars it is!
About this story … (I’ve been sitting on reviewing this book because in all honesty, I liked the story a lot as a whole, but there were major circumstances I couldn’t wrap my head around)
Declan’s character tested me LOL This is only the second story I’ve experienced by this author but so far, her MMCs have both been borderline ”not good men” in my opinion. I had the opportunity to download the book via KU while I listed to this ALC provided by Valentine PR which allowed me to highlight my many frustrations with his character and as I look at all the highlights, I’m getting all frustrated with him again! LOL In the end, he did redeem himself (obvs) but this story is 17 hours long *blink* and redemption just did not come fast enough for me. *shrug* #twitchy
Now, about the age thing when they meet and Solene’s innocence one minute but not the next … without giving away anything about the story, I found that the author set up her curiosity and willingness to give anything Declan threw at her regarding sex a try. Do I think Declan should have been a little more communicative with Solene before he just did whatever his sexual inclinations wanted? Sure, yes, and that added to my frustration of him but I think he saw something in Solene when it came to this, and he knew that’s how/what she needed. That’s my take away at least. Now, about the age thing when they meet. I know from reading reviews that originally this story was written as Solene been only 14 yo and Declan being 21 or 22 yo old but then changed it to the version I listened to where she is 17. I’m disappointed the author changed the story after publication because I have a strong feeling, she did it out of pressure and not because the story made more sense the way it is written today. I HATE THAT! There are two things I strongly believe in … 1. Everything in life is a choice and you should think carefully before you make said choices. 2. Once you make that choice, stand by it and defend it. I know, I know, mistakes can happen and of course you should try and make amends for your choices if something like that happens, but this wasn’t that type of choice and gaaaaah, I wish the story had stayed as it was first published. That’s a me thing and in no way affected my reading experience, kinda! LOL
In keeping with my theme of not ”giving away the plot”, I can’t say much about the why of the last thing I have to say about this book, but even though 17 hours comes across as daunting, I can’t really say it could have been told in less and been as impactful as it was. I enjoyed this story. I got lost in it for many hours at a time. Sometimes I got frustrated and others I was smiling from ear to ear. There’s a lot going on in this journey to keep you captivated and on your toes and I especially liked that it mainly focused on Solene’s growth because as I said before, Declan tested me way too much! LOL
PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING: 5++ Stars!!
I couldn’t have picked two narrators more suited for the roles of Declan and Solene! Rose Dioro has a way of playing the role of young and naïve super well and it’s not the first time I’ve experienced her doing so. She was fantastic. Shane East was also spectacular as Declan and the two together took this story to the next level for me!
STORY REVIEW & RATING: STRONG 3.5 stars but since half stars are not a thing and it isn’t a 3-star story, 4 stars it is!
About this story … (I’ve been sitting on reviewing this book because in all honesty, I liked the story a lot as a whole, but there were major circumstances I couldn’t wrap my head around)
Declan’s character tested me LOL This is only the second story I’ve experienced by this author but so far, her MMCs have both been borderline ”not good men” in my opinion. I had the opportunity to download the book via KU while I listed to this ALC provided by Valentine PR which allowed me to highlight my many frustrations with his character and as I look at all the highlights, I’m getting all frustrated with him again! LOL In the end, he did redeem himself (obvs) but this story is 17 hours long *blink* and redemption just did not come fast enough for me. *shrug* #twitchy
Now, about the age thing when they meet and Solene’s innocence one minute but not the next … without giving away anything about the story, I found that the author set up her curiosity and willingness to give anything Declan threw at her regarding sex a try. Do I think Declan should have been a little more communicative with Solene before he just did whatever his sexual inclinations wanted? Sure, yes, and that added to my frustration of him but I think he saw something in Solene when it came to this, and he knew that’s how/what she needed. That’s my take away at least. Now, about the age thing when they meet. I know from reading reviews that originally this story was written as Solene been only 14 yo and Declan being 21 or 22 yo old but then changed it to the version I listened to where she is 17. I’m disappointed the author changed the story after publication because I have a strong feeling, she did it out of pressure and not because the story made more sense the way it is written today. I HATE THAT! There are two things I strongly believe in … 1. Everything in life is a choice and you should think carefully before you make said choices. 2. Once you make that choice, stand by it and defend it. I know, I know, mistakes can happen and of course you should try and make amends for your choices if something like that happens, but this wasn’t that type of choice and gaaaaah, I wish the story had stayed as it was first published. That’s a me thing and in no way affected my reading experience, kinda! LOL
In keeping with my theme of not ”giving away the plot”, I can’t say much about the why of the last thing I have to say about this book, but even though 17 hours comes across as daunting, I can’t really say it could have been told in less and been as impactful as it was. I enjoyed this story. I got lost in it for many hours at a time. Sometimes I got frustrated and others I was smiling from ear to ear. There’s a lot going on in this journey to keep you captivated and on your toes and I especially liked that it mainly focused on Solene’s growth because as I said before, Declan tested me way too much! LOL
September 18, 2023
The Rebound" by L. Steele, narrated by Shane East and Rose Dioro, is an enthralling standalone audiobook that surpasses the already high expectations set by the author's previous works. The story takes the concept of second chance romance and enemies to lovers to a whole new level, adding steamy and engaging elements that keep listeners hooked from start to finish.
Solene and Declan, both media sensations in their own right, grapple with a complicated relationship marked by secrets and a significant age gap. The chemistry between them is palpable, creating an emotional rollercoaster that fans of romance audiobooks will thoroughly enjoy.
Shane East and Rose Dioro bring these characters to life with their exceptional narration, perfectly capturing the passion and nuances of the story. Their performance immerses the listener into the world of Solene and Declan, enhancing the overall experience. Highly recommended for those seeking an audiobook that blends intense emotions, captivating characters, and a storyline filled with unexpected turns. A must-listen for romance audiobook enthusiasts.
Solene and Declan, both media sensations in their own right, grapple with a complicated relationship marked by secrets and a significant age gap. The chemistry between them is palpable, creating an emotional rollercoaster that fans of romance audiobooks will thoroughly enjoy.
Shane East and Rose Dioro bring these characters to life with their exceptional narration, perfectly capturing the passion and nuances of the story. Their performance immerses the listener into the world of Solene and Declan, enhancing the overall experience. Highly recommended for those seeking an audiobook that blends intense emotions, captivating characters, and a storyline filled with unexpected turns. A must-listen for romance audiobook enthusiasts.
August 14, 2023
1 ☆
DNF at 90%!
Whoever added this to the booktok recommendation list, I have a bone to pick with you.
I really, really wanted to finish this book because I paid for it, but the unrealistic, borderline abusive, and creepy characters made it really hard to. I tried to push through, I really did, but 70 chapters in, I'm done with it.
My first point: Pedophilia.
She was 14 and he was 22?? I'm calling the police. Declan deserved the beating he got from Solene's brother's men (???). It was really creepy how he thought the best way to say goodbye to her was by sneaking into her room at night and then kissing her. sorry, but you can't be acting like that AT YOUR GROWN AGE.
It doesn't matter if he saved her from being assaulted on the beach, he should've let it be - but oh... that wouldn't make a very long book would it?
Second Point: Unrealistic Cringe.
A famous actor and an up-and-coming pop star mafia princess? I'm sorry... What???
(CONTEXT: she's 18 now)
The storyline honestly felt like the author was making it up as she wrote. I got 70 chapters in and pretty much nothing happened. There wasn't any build-up to Declan and Solene getting together. More than anything, they got together and broke up like a dozen times and it had no real impact to the story.
Actually, none of anything that happened had any impact to the story.
Declan left Solene on her own for three months without saying goodbye? She forgave him instantly. Oh, Declan got into kahoots with the Mafia despite Solene telling him how dangerous it is? Ah, forget about it. Declan cheats on Solene as part of his deal with the Mafia to get funding for his movie that ended up flopping?? No big deal.
These things that were supposed to be (i guess??) plot points, but they didn't matter 5 pages after they happened.
Point number three: Declan.
I have never read a more unrealistic character. I can't forgive the author for blaming all of Declan's abusive behavior on the fact he's unable to express emotions because he bumped his head. I don't know, seems to me like he can express anger just fine.
He got so insanely jealous whenever anyone even breathed near Solene. It wasn't hot, he just came off as an arrogant dick.
Last point: The smut.
I wish it was a case of "at least the smut was hot." but it wasn't. While reading it, I was in disbelief because it honestly felt like the book was written by a horny virgin who got their sex-ed from Wattpad fanfiction from 2016.
All in all, it's really not worth the read and you're better off watching 365 Days on Netflix.
DNF at 90%!
Whoever added this to the booktok recommendation list, I have a bone to pick with you.
I really, really wanted to finish this book because I paid for it, but the unrealistic, borderline abusive, and creepy characters made it really hard to. I tried to push through, I really did, but 70 chapters in, I'm done with it.
My first point: Pedophilia.
She was 14 and he was 22?? I'm calling the police. Declan deserved the beating he got from Solene's brother's men (???). It was really creepy how he thought the best way to say goodbye to her was by sneaking into her room at night and then kissing her. sorry, but you can't be acting like that AT YOUR GROWN AGE.
It doesn't matter if he saved her from being assaulted on the beach, he should've let it be - but oh... that wouldn't make a very long book would it?
Second Point: Unrealistic Cringe.
A famous actor and an up-and-coming pop star mafia princess? I'm sorry... What???
(CONTEXT: she's 18 now)
The storyline honestly felt like the author was making it up as she wrote. I got 70 chapters in and pretty much nothing happened. There wasn't any build-up to Declan and Solene getting together. More than anything, they got together and broke up like a dozen times and it had no real impact to the story.
Actually, none of anything that happened had any impact to the story.
Declan left Solene on her own for three months without saying goodbye? She forgave him instantly. Oh, Declan got into kahoots with the Mafia despite Solene telling him how dangerous it is? Ah, forget about it. Declan cheats on Solene as part of his deal with the Mafia to get funding for his movie that ended up flopping?? No big deal.
These things that were supposed to be (i guess??) plot points, but they didn't matter 5 pages after they happened.
Point number three: Declan.
I have never read a more unrealistic character. I can't forgive the author for blaming all of Declan's abusive behavior on the fact he's unable to express emotions because he bumped his head. I don't know, seems to me like he can express anger just fine.
He got so insanely jealous whenever anyone even breathed near Solene. It wasn't hot, he just came off as an arrogant dick.
Last point: The smut.
I wish it was a case of "at least the smut was hot." but it wasn't. While reading it, I was in disbelief because it honestly felt like the book was written by a horny virgin who got their sex-ed from Wattpad fanfiction from 2016.
All in all, it's really not worth the read and you're better off watching 365 Days on Netflix.
May 15, 2023
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Second Chance, billionaire
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥.5
If you're a fan of super angsty reads with ALL the emotional ups and downs, The Rebound will definitely hit the spot. It was actually probably a little more angst than I personally prefer, but I know I'm in the minority, lol. There is certainly some fantastic chemistry between Declan and Solene that made you want to see it through till the end despite Declan's propensity for self-sabotage. The Rebound really has all the tropes you can't help but love: forbidden love, a bit of revenge, enemies to lovers, and fake relationship all swirled into a roller coaster of a wild ride.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Trope: Second Chance, billionaire
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥.5
If you're a fan of super angsty reads with ALL the emotional ups and downs, The Rebound will definitely hit the spot. It was actually probably a little more angst than I personally prefer, but I know I'm in the minority, lol. There is certainly some fantastic chemistry between Declan and Solene that made you want to see it through till the end despite Declan's propensity for self-sabotage. The Rebound really has all the tropes you can't help but love: forbidden love, a bit of revenge, enemies to lovers, and fake relationship all swirled into a roller coaster of a wild ride.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Want to Read
May 19, 2023For a chance to win a SIGNED PAPERBACK head to my Instagram page ➡ link can be found in my profile
Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and ends on THURSDAY, 5/25, at 11:59 pm ET.
Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and ends on THURSDAY, 5/25, at 11:59 pm ET.
May 20, 2023
ARC REVIEW
This story is an emotional rollercoaster and very angsty, which I enjoyed.
The main characters were great, as well as the side characters. There are a lot of tropes entwined in this story, from enemies to lovers, revenge, mafia, second chance, age gap, billionaire, and fake relationships.
The chemistry between Solene and Declan is hot 🔥 🥵 and completely undeniable. It was instant love at first sight, even years later. Declan is a possessive alphahole who always needs to have control over everything. While Solene is sweet and caring but also quite sassy.
This story is an emotional rollercoaster and very angsty, which I enjoyed.
The main characters were great, as well as the side characters. There are a lot of tropes entwined in this story, from enemies to lovers, revenge, mafia, second chance, age gap, billionaire, and fake relationships.
The chemistry between Solene and Declan is hot 🔥 🥵 and completely undeniable. It was instant love at first sight, even years later. Declan is a possessive alphahole who always needs to have control over everything. While Solene is sweet and caring but also quite sassy.
May 23, 2023
this book was such a rollercoaster of emotions and let me tell you that I loved every single minute of it.
billionaire romance with second chance and a side of mafia romance? sign me in
the angst and the spice were absolutely incredible 😮💨
I loved the characters and the plot. I don’t want to go into details, but it’s really good. this was my first book by L. Steele and you can bet I’ll be reading other books.
thank you L. Steele for the ARC for this book.
billionaire romance with second chance and a side of mafia romance? sign me in
the angst and the spice were absolutely incredible 😮💨
I loved the characters and the plot. I don’t want to go into details, but it’s really good. this was my first book by L. Steele and you can bet I’ll be reading other books.
thank you L. Steele for the ARC for this book.
May 30, 2024
Too much waffling
I felt like there was a lot of waffling in this book and some explanations were too long or repeated more than once. It took away from me enjoying the story as some things were over explained and I grew bored. It's certainly a spicy book but I found myself taking too long to read this book than the previous ones.
The story was simple enough, the whole will they won't they push and pull, the break ups the travelling and the eventual HEA all made for a nice but predictable story.
I felt like there was a lot of waffling in this book and some explanations were too long or repeated more than once. It took away from me enjoying the story as some things were over explained and I grew bored. It's certainly a spicy book but I found myself taking too long to read this book than the previous ones.
The story was simple enough, the whole will they won't they push and pull, the break ups the travelling and the eventual HEA all made for a nice but predictable story.
May 31, 2023
I usually don't write negative reviews out of respect to the author especially when they reach out to me in order to read their book. This was a DNF for me. I wasn't informed of the Trigger Warnings and when I saw the age gap between the characters (14 year old FMC & 21 year old MMC) I knew that this book wasn't for me
May 31, 2023
Rebound is even better than expected. I love Declan and Solene. I was a little skeptical with the beginning of the read. Solene is way younger than I would be comfortable reading about with a full grown man but I took a moment and realized in some parts of the world this is the norm. This is even expected. Woman of this age are getting married and having children, I try really hard not to discriminate against other cultures so after I took a deep breath and took this into account…then I actually read the rest and realized I had nothing to worry about. Declan had the same mindset I did. Even though the age of consent is very young he wasn’t comfortable with this and did not act on his feelings or lust.
Okay so I Declan is a jerk. But I got it after he explained his reasons for his emotions or lack there of. After Declan got his head on straight he became my favorite alphahole. He was willing to give everything up by the end but by then Solene had had her fill with him and I can’t say I blame her. It may just be too late for him get his woman back? I mean…it Lex so…what do you think? I think you should read it to find out!!!!
Okay so I Declan is a jerk. But I got it after he explained his reasons for his emotions or lack there of. After Declan got his head on straight he became my favorite alphahole. He was willing to give everything up by the end but by then Solene had had her fill with him and I can’t say I blame her. It may just be too late for him get his woman back? I mean…it Lex so…what do you think? I think you should read it to find out!!!!
September 16, 2023
Combined review of book and audiobook:
Overall Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️½
I want more. I want her sighs, her acceptance, her consent… Also, her defiance and her strength to hold her own against me. I want to show her how much pleasure I can wring from her body. I want her submission. I want her. More than I've ever wanted anything in my life.
Book Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This is a highly entertaining enemies to lovers, second chance (and third… and fourth…), fake relationship romance with a toxic alphahole billionaire and a naive young woman. There is also a mild age gap with the MCs' first meeting when the FMC is 17.
Their relationship is problematic/tragic, but they ultimately earn their HEA. At times, I found myself frustrated with their actions, and the FMC appeared a weak character whom I felt compelled to knock some sense into; or gift her with a backbone. I think she was a bit too forgiving of the MMC’s antics. He also deserved a quick kick to the shins more than once. But their missteps gave me that delicious angst I crave in these types of romances.
This is a fast-burn MF romance. The spice is top-notch with dom/sub elements and tons of dirty talk. The FMC is brought from the sheltered virgin to a woman who craves the MMC's brand of loving.
The Rebound is a standalone with some character overlap from other books in the Morally Grey Billionaire series (with several characters appearing from other series by L Steele).
Audiobook Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first audiobook with either narrator. I am absolutely obsessed with Shane East’s narration style and growly voice. The way he performs the spicy scenes is panty-melting hot. I’m sure he could read the yellow pages (if they still existed, probably showing my age here) with the same results. Rose Dioro’s Italian accent was also well done.
I highly recommend this audiobook to those listeners who enjoy the listed tropes. If only for Shane’s voice and how it reaches deep inside.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes/Features: Enemies to lovers, hate to love, second chance, fake relationship, sheltered virgin mafia princess FMC, morally grey alphahole billionaire MMC, musician, actor, dom/sub, sex club, forced O, anal training, pierced peen, degradation/praise, OTT J/P, angsty
Narrator: Dual 1st Person POV
Narration Style: Dual narration by Shane East and Rose Dioro
Relationship Type: MF, fast burn, high spice (BDSM elements)
Book Type/Ending: Standalone in Morally Grey Billionaires, HEA
Overall Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️½
I want more. I want her sighs, her acceptance, her consent… Also, her defiance and her strength to hold her own against me. I want to show her how much pleasure I can wring from her body. I want her submission. I want her. More than I've ever wanted anything in my life.
Book Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This is a highly entertaining enemies to lovers, second chance (and third… and fourth…), fake relationship romance with a toxic alphahole billionaire and a naive young woman. There is also a mild age gap with the MCs' first meeting when the FMC is 17.
Their relationship is problematic/tragic, but they ultimately earn their HEA. At times, I found myself frustrated with their actions, and the FMC appeared a weak character whom I felt compelled to knock some sense into; or gift her with a backbone. I think she was a bit too forgiving of the MMC’s antics. He also deserved a quick kick to the shins more than once. But their missteps gave me that delicious angst I crave in these types of romances.
This is a fast-burn MF romance. The spice is top-notch with dom/sub elements and tons of dirty talk. The FMC is brought from the sheltered virgin to a woman who craves the MMC's brand of loving.
The Rebound is a standalone with some character overlap from other books in the Morally Grey Billionaire series (with several characters appearing from other series by L Steele).
Audiobook Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first audiobook with either narrator. I am absolutely obsessed with Shane East’s narration style and growly voice. The way he performs the spicy scenes is panty-melting hot. I’m sure he could read the yellow pages (if they still existed, probably showing my age here) with the same results. Rose Dioro’s Italian accent was also well done.
I highly recommend this audiobook to those listeners who enjoy the listed tropes. If only for Shane’s voice and how it reaches deep inside.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes/Features: Enemies to lovers, hate to love, second chance, fake relationship, sheltered virgin mafia princess FMC, morally grey alphahole billionaire MMC, musician, actor, dom/sub, sex club, forced O, anal training, pierced peen, degradation/praise, OTT J/P, angsty
Narrator: Dual 1st Person POV
Narration Style: Dual narration by Shane East and Rose Dioro
Relationship Type: MF, fast burn, high spice (BDSM elements)
Book Type/Ending: Standalone in Morally Grey Billionaires, HEA
September 1, 2023
When I started listening to this, folks told me it's full of all the intense angst. Boy, they weren't wrong! It was! I was completely enthralled by this story.
Declan & Solene are great characters. I loved watching them together from the start to the finish. Their story had a lot of ups and downs and twists throughout the fake relationship but the more I listened, the more I wanted. It was a crazy, wild ride but they did it and they did it well!
I absolutely love Shane East and his narrations. His voice is *swoon* so addictive! He did a magnificent job being Declan to life, filling my ears with all the emotion, all the angst, all the sexiness. And, Rose Dioro was fantabulous as Solene. Every emotion was captured beautifully with her voice! This was a phenomenal duo to tell the tale!
𝙻. 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚎 is a talented author who takes her readers/listeners on a roller coaster ride they won't forget. Can't wait to listen to more!
Declan & Solene are great characters. I loved watching them together from the start to the finish. Their story had a lot of ups and downs and twists throughout the fake relationship but the more I listened, the more I wanted. It was a crazy, wild ride but they did it and they did it well!
I absolutely love Shane East and his narrations. His voice is *swoon* so addictive! He did a magnificent job being Declan to life, filling my ears with all the emotion, all the angst, all the sexiness. And, Rose Dioro was fantabulous as Solene. Every emotion was captured beautifully with her voice! This was a phenomenal duo to tell the tale!
𝙻. 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚎 is a talented author who takes her readers/listeners on a roller coaster ride they won't forget. Can't wait to listen to more!
June 2, 2023
straight to jail
July 24, 2023
Fantastic Story & Narration🎧 Emotional & Steamy🔥❤️🔥🔥
The Rebound
By: L. Steele
Narrated by: Shane East, Rose Dioro
L. Steele pens another fantastic enemies-to-lovers fake relationship romance novel and not only does she turn up the heat and kink factor, but also takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The story grabbed my attention immediately and held it captive for the entire book. Solene is the youngest daughter of the Camorra and has lived a sheltered life. After her father died, her brother took over, and he was just as strict and old-fashioned as their father. Her mother punished her after catching her reading spicy romance novels and she runs away to the beach where she is attacked, but someone saves her before anything happened. That someone was Declan Beauchamp, but he goes from savior to villain after her brother catches him in her room and she denies knowing him. His brother’s goons beat him badly, but luckily his friend stuck around and saved him. Solene never thought she’s see him again, except she does and he was with her sister, Olivia. Since Olivia left to pursue her own career, her brother arranged a marriage for Solene instead, and the man she was promised to was the man Olivia was in love with and the reason she returned home. Declan’s primary reason for being there is to get revenge for the injuries he sustained from her brother’s goon’s beating cost him. He has a plan, but he also has mixed feelings about Solene, despite that he helps her get her singing career off the ground. These two are hot together and the media eats it up, but then he messes it all up. Was he even real to begin with? I loved the originality and complexity of the characters and the story. The writing and plotting are fantastic, the drama is non-stop, the emotions run high and the steam level is through the roof. L. Steele, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic narration, Shane East and Rose Dioro did a superb job portraying these characters and did so with a complete understanding of who they were, giving each a voice that fit that character perfectly, accents and all. Shane East’s Declan was spot on, grasping all sides of his personality and nailing it as an Alpha Dom. Rose Dioro aced it as Solene, performing her role with an accent the entire time, grasping her every emotions and making you feel them all. Both were excellent at covering the secondary characters' roles too. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to, and their performance enhances the story to another level. Thank you for another wonderful listen.
The Rebound
By: L. Steele
Narrated by: Shane East, Rose Dioro
L. Steele pens another fantastic enemies-to-lovers fake relationship romance novel and not only does she turn up the heat and kink factor, but also takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The story grabbed my attention immediately and held it captive for the entire book. Solene is the youngest daughter of the Camorra and has lived a sheltered life. After her father died, her brother took over, and he was just as strict and old-fashioned as their father. Her mother punished her after catching her reading spicy romance novels and she runs away to the beach where she is attacked, but someone saves her before anything happened. That someone was Declan Beauchamp, but he goes from savior to villain after her brother catches him in her room and she denies knowing him. His brother’s goons beat him badly, but luckily his friend stuck around and saved him. Solene never thought she’s see him again, except she does and he was with her sister, Olivia. Since Olivia left to pursue her own career, her brother arranged a marriage for Solene instead, and the man she was promised to was the man Olivia was in love with and the reason she returned home. Declan’s primary reason for being there is to get revenge for the injuries he sustained from her brother’s goon’s beating cost him. He has a plan, but he also has mixed feelings about Solene, despite that he helps her get her singing career off the ground. These two are hot together and the media eats it up, but then he messes it all up. Was he even real to begin with? I loved the originality and complexity of the characters and the story. The writing and plotting are fantastic, the drama is non-stop, the emotions run high and the steam level is through the roof. L. Steele, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic narration, Shane East and Rose Dioro did a superb job portraying these characters and did so with a complete understanding of who they were, giving each a voice that fit that character perfectly, accents and all. Shane East’s Declan was spot on, grasping all sides of his personality and nailing it as an Alpha Dom. Rose Dioro aced it as Solene, performing her role with an accent the entire time, grasping her every emotions and making you feel them all. Both were excellent at covering the secondary characters' roles too. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to, and their performance enhances the story to another level. Thank you for another wonderful listen.
May 26, 2023
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warnings include:
attempted rape, mafia nonsense including beatings and murder, uncomfortable underage ‘moment’, prisoner of war, life saving surgery, bdsm and d/s situations including blood play, choking, breath play, lube-less anal
This one had a lot of things I loved! But it also had too much of the things I loved, which made it feel too overdone for me. Mafia, celebrity, billionaire, second chance, fake engagement, strangers to enemies to friends to enemies to lovers, jealousy, resentment. And none of that gave the bare minimum! Declan and Sloane met when he was 21 and she was 14. I didn’t need to resort to my mafia romance knowledge to know that he deserved whatever he had coming for him. She nearly ruined (ended) his life, but when they meet again he didn’t just offer her an olive branch, but the whole damn tree! I was glad to know that I wasn’t the only one who suffered from whiplash for the majority of the book. Solene was clueless and naive, and yet, had entirely too much understanding and acceptance for his sexual desires. She couldn’t follow simple instructions, but would allow him to choke her without question? I get the idea of fictional, but some things, like BDSM, should ALWAYS be written with non-fictional attributes. A Dom taking someone’s virginity as if it isn’t their first time? And doing things without explanation and warning? There was no hesitation from either one of them to jump right into breath play. Anal play was always done without any prep, including leaving a buttplug in for lord knows how long! (though he does finally use olive oil as lubricant) Their toxicity wasn’t even good foreplay, and it was genuinely sad. Declan’s ego and conceded nonsense became even worse than I thought it could. My brain kept chanting DNF, but I refused to. I needed to know how this could end. I had too much annoyance and anger towards these characters to enjoy it, or to even root for them to fix their problems so they could have a HEA. I didn’t want them to have one! I also had issues with some of the writing, and even though that’s completely on me, it was all the time, so it was hard to ignore. [‘a-n-d’, ‘o-k-a-y’ every time they were said, which was a lot, the use of moist and gullet]
rabbit: 72
9/10 Dirty Birdy
8/10 Enemies to Lovers
5/10 Fake Relationship
3/10 Mafia Romance
6/10 Second Chance
Trigger Warnings include:
attempted rape, mafia nonsense including beatings and murder, uncomfortable underage ‘moment’, prisoner of war, life saving surgery, bdsm and d/s situations including blood play, choking, breath play, lube-less anal
This one had a lot of things I loved! But it also had too much of the things I loved, which made it feel too overdone for me. Mafia, celebrity, billionaire, second chance, fake engagement, strangers to enemies to friends to enemies to lovers, jealousy, resentment. And none of that gave the bare minimum! Declan and Sloane met when he was 21 and she was 14. I didn’t need to resort to my mafia romance knowledge to know that he deserved whatever he had coming for him. She nearly ruined (ended) his life, but when they meet again he didn’t just offer her an olive branch, but the whole damn tree! I was glad to know that I wasn’t the only one who suffered from whiplash for the majority of the book. Solene was clueless and naive, and yet, had entirely too much understanding and acceptance for his sexual desires. She couldn’t follow simple instructions, but would allow him to choke her without question? I get the idea of fictional, but some things, like BDSM, should ALWAYS be written with non-fictional attributes. A Dom taking someone’s virginity as if it isn’t their first time? And doing things without explanation and warning? There was no hesitation from either one of them to jump right into breath play. Anal play was always done without any prep, including leaving a buttplug in for lord knows how long! (though he does finally use olive oil as lubricant) Their toxicity wasn’t even good foreplay, and it was genuinely sad. Declan’s ego and conceded nonsense became even worse than I thought it could. My brain kept chanting DNF, but I refused to. I needed to know how this could end. I had too much annoyance and anger towards these characters to enjoy it, or to even root for them to fix their problems so they could have a HEA. I didn’t want them to have one! I also had issues with some of the writing, and even though that’s completely on me, it was all the time, so it was hard to ignore. [‘a-n-d’, ‘o-k-a-y’ every time they were said, which was a lot, the use of moist and gullet]
rabbit: 72
9/10 Dirty Birdy
8/10 Enemies to Lovers
5/10 Fake Relationship
3/10 Mafia Romance
6/10 Second Chance
May 20, 2023
This book features Declan Beauchamp. An actor with the drive to be the best. While staying in Naples he encounters some men harassing and young woman, Solene, on the beach. He and his friend Knight come to her rescue. He is completely smitten with her and is shocked to learn she is only 14 to his 22. And then when he sneaks in to tell her goodbye they are discovers by her, the Don in the local Camora. This is just the beginning of their tale. They meet again when she is 18. And they embark on a tumultuous journey to their Happily Ever After. You would think he would have a lot to teach her. But she ends up showing him his heart. I love how detailed and rich these characters are. And I couldn’t help falling in love with them. I look forward to the next one to fall. I did receive an advance copy for my honest review.
May 23, 2023
"the injuries i suffered that day left their mark on me, in more ways than one. it's why i'm here - to make her pay. and i can't forget that - no matter how much her proximity affects me"
tropes:
- second chance romance
- age gap
- (slight) enemies to lovers
- billionaire mmc
- fake relationship/dating
- forced proximity
"she changed the trajectory of my life; it's only right i do the same for her "
this was the first book i read by this author and i enjoyed their writing.
there is an age gap between the two main characters - they first meet when she's fourteen and he's twenty-one. they share a kiss but something goes wrong and then they don't see each other for another four years. the next time they meet she's preparing for an arranged marriage and he's engaged to her sister (drama!). he has changed since the last time they saw each other and this really affects their dynamic.
he's determined to get revenge against her for something that happened in their past but this may not go as planned. they don't immediately fall into a relationship - they both like each other but he has trouble admitting it. he keeps running away but then he makes these big gestures like buying her a bookstore, so she can read her smutty books, and a restaurant so they can enjoy their privacy together. he has a long way to go to win her over again (and again).
he encourages her to pursue a singing career - something she always dreamed of but was too scared to do because of her family. he invites her to la and lets her stay in his house so they're in close proximity and things heat up. he wants her to have a successful career and to protect her from the industry. even when he is away, he's still protective over her; he assigns her a bodyguard and makes sure she travels in a secure car.
i really enjoyed this book - i just wish it was slightly shorter and that someone would buy me a bookstore 😅
tropes:
- second chance romance
- age gap
- (slight) enemies to lovers
- billionaire mmc
- fake relationship/dating
- forced proximity
"she changed the trajectory of my life; it's only right i do the same for her "
this was the first book i read by this author and i enjoyed their writing.
there is an age gap between the two main characters - they first meet when she's fourteen and he's twenty-one. they share a kiss but something goes wrong and then they don't see each other for another four years. the next time they meet she's preparing for an arranged marriage and he's engaged to her sister (drama!). he has changed since the last time they saw each other and this really affects their dynamic.
he's determined to get revenge against her for something that happened in their past but this may not go as planned. they don't immediately fall into a relationship - they both like each other but he has trouble admitting it. he keeps running away but then he makes these big gestures like buying her a bookstore, so she can read her smutty books, and a restaurant so they can enjoy their privacy together. he has a long way to go to win her over again (and again).
he encourages her to pursue a singing career - something she always dreamed of but was too scared to do because of her family. he invites her to la and lets her stay in his house so they're in close proximity and things heat up. he wants her to have a successful career and to protect her from the industry. even when he is away, he's still protective over her; he assigns her a bodyguard and makes sure she travels in a secure car.
i really enjoyed this book - i just wish it was slightly shorter and that someone would buy me a bookstore 😅
September 17, 2023
Ok 2.5 star listen for me
I don’t really know what didn’t work for me.
I didn’t really understand the full dynamics of the world the characters are set in I guess but it is marketed as a stand alone.
I don’t really understand why our mmc is involved in the Bartva/mafia and I don’t really get the fmc and her way of thinking.
There’s a hea in this with quite a bit of smut but an interesting storyline to try get your head around.
I don’t really know what didn’t work for me.
I didn’t really understand the full dynamics of the world the characters are set in I guess but it is marketed as a stand alone.
I don’t really understand why our mmc is involved in the Bartva/mafia and I don’t really get the fmc and her way of thinking.
There’s a hea in this with quite a bit of smut but an interesting storyline to try get your head around.
September 18, 2023
I have just recently discovered this author and I’m so glad I did. This author has got me hooked! I cannot wait to read more of her work. The audio book for this was great and I loved the narrators. I’m glad I listened to the audiobook because I sure didn’t want to put it down when I couldn’t read. I haven’t read the other books in this series so I’m looking forward to going back and reading them. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The Rebound was a must read.
May 19, 2023
4 stars
This is my first book by this author, and it did not disappoint. Declan and Solene's story was one of love at first sight and a push and pull that took you on a rollercoaster of a ride. Their story pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I was so invested in their story and kept me on the edge of my seat. Their attraction and chemistry were off the charts hot. The dom/sub relationship was a bit different in the fact that Solene's fiery personality made it interesting.
If you like age gap, enemies to lovers, second chance, then you don't want to miss out on this story. Also, the side characters are amazing and have their own stories to tell.
This is my first book by this author, and it did not disappoint. Declan and Solene's story was one of love at first sight and a push and pull that took you on a rollercoaster of a ride. Their story pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I was so invested in their story and kept me on the edge of my seat. Their attraction and chemistry were off the charts hot. The dom/sub relationship was a bit different in the fact that Solene's fiery personality made it interesting.
If you like age gap, enemies to lovers, second chance, then you don't want to miss out on this story. Also, the side characters are amazing and have their own stories to tell.
September 6, 2023
This second-chance celebrity/billionaire fake relationship romance is smutty and taboo. This book is geared toward those who enjoy taboo stories with lots of kinky smut.
Solene is sheltered within a restrictive household where she lives between the pages of her hidden smutty romance books when she meets Declan. The history of their meeting and strong connection made their reconnection deeper, but I did have an issue with her being only fourteen and him twenty-one when they first met, especially when he doesn’t fight her advances and the two are caught kissing.
I enjoyed the angst and push and pull between the two characters when they reconnect four years later. Declan is an OTT possessive alphahole. I found myself alternating between finding the good in him and being frustrated with his behavior. He crosses some lines and is a troubled man. I felt like he took advantage of Solene’s innocence and deep feelings for him.
The writing and story are intriguing. There were things I didn’t connect with. This is for those who enjoy troubled morally gray heroes, lots of kinky smut, and twists and turns.
I switched between the ebook and the audiobook and preferred the audiobook. The narrators enhanced the story by capturing the emotions and story. Shane East and Rose Dioro portrayed the characters' personalities and accents wonderfully.
Solene is sheltered within a restrictive household where she lives between the pages of her hidden smutty romance books when she meets Declan. The history of their meeting and strong connection made their reconnection deeper, but I did have an issue with her being only fourteen and him twenty-one when they first met, especially when he doesn’t fight her advances and the two are caught kissing.
I enjoyed the angst and push and pull between the two characters when they reconnect four years later. Declan is an OTT possessive alphahole. I found myself alternating between finding the good in him and being frustrated with his behavior. He crosses some lines and is a troubled man. I felt like he took advantage of Solene’s innocence and deep feelings for him.
The writing and story are intriguing. There were things I didn’t connect with. This is for those who enjoy troubled morally gray heroes, lots of kinky smut, and twists and turns.
I switched between the ebook and the audiobook and preferred the audiobook. The narrators enhanced the story by capturing the emotions and story. Shane East and Rose Dioro portrayed the characters' personalities and accents wonderfully.
Did Not Finish
July 16, 2023Dnf at 7%
Disgusting !! Why the hell did the author make a 21yo kiss a 14yo !!!!!! Are you sick ?? Why can’t they age them up for a few year ???
Disgusting !! Why the hell did the author make a 21yo kiss a 14yo !!!!!! Are you sick ?? Why can’t they age them up for a few year ???
May 24, 2023
Declan and Solene's story is one I have been waiting for since their relationship was teased in the previous book. I didn't even realise the pace I was going reading their story, and without realising I was at the end of the book. And it devastated me. These two frustrated me to no end because they wouldn't just get together. And they damn well know they are perfect for each other. Declan has his own reasons while Solene has hers. Though I did not like what Declan did to Solene, it was borderline cruel the way he tried to push her away. I would've loved it even more if he grovelled some more.
April 16, 2024
1.75 stars
I almost didn't read this book because I did not like the dynamic between these two characters in the previous book. They didn't intrigue me or make me root for them. I actually thought they just needed to break up and be done with each other because their relationship was portrayed pretty terribly in the last book. I decided to go ahead and read this book for three reasons: 1. In case there's a twist that explains their horrible dynamic, 2. In case their story from their perspectives makes a difference in how I perceive their relationship. Perhaps their perspective gives insight into why their relationship is so terrible? 3. I rated the previous book in this series five stars.
SPOILERS:
At 6 percent: "And now, I feel like the little girl he’s convinced I am." Not only does she feel it, but her actions in this scene confirm she IS a little girl. Immature, but she's 17, so I'll let it slide.
At 8 percent: The immaturity got worse and I'm not letting it slide. The FMC needs to grovel and MAYBE then she can be forgiven by the MMC. What she did was awful. She threw the MMC to the wolves to save herself. And this is after he saved her life the day before and after he tried to leave and she begged him to stay. Without her begging, he wouldn't have even been in the situation.
At 12 percent: I'm so confused. Nothing is making sense. The FMC is a Mafia princess. The MMC was beaten almost to death by her brother's men. A year later, the FMC is engaged in an arranged Mafia marriage. And...she can just hop a plane to go to LA with the MMC with no Mafia repercussions? Not even any fear of them? I understand the engagement was broken by the FMC's fiance but that doesn't mean she's just free to do whatever she wants. But okay. (After reading more, the explanation for this is horrible. Why even make the FMC a Mafia princess if the book isn't going to treat her as one?)
At 13 percent: I'm feeling highly uncomfortable with this book. I don't care that the FMC is 18. Her thoughts and actions are those of a 13 or 14 year old and it's icky. I hope this book time jumps soon because I'm close to DNFing it.
At 14 percent: The FMC doesn't know where her clit is and has never masturbated before. But the MMC caught her with her hand down her pants? Doing what then!? And she used to read spicy books but never found a time to masturbate? And she even grinded against the MMC a year ago! She hasn't put her hand down her pants not once since then? But she's bold enough to drop to her knees in front of the MMC to give him a blowjob? She panicked and ran off before doing anything but still. It doesn't make sense that she has the guts to drop to her knees in front of him, AFTER mentally acknowledging he hates her, but she has never put her own hand down her pants AT ALL in the privacy of her own bedroom. I'm not sure if this book can dig itself out of the one star hole it is currently in.
At 17 percent: The FMC keeps throwing herself at the MMC and it's pathetic. She gets to his house and decides she is not going to be a doormat for him. So what does she do? Jumps in his pool naked while he's swimming. That's a messed up thought process, but okay. I would think refraining from taking his orders would be the way to go but this FMC has the maturity of a 12 year old so... She jumps in a pool naked.
At 28 percent: There's sexy. There's hot. There's scorching. But there's also ridiculous. Trying too hard. And embarrassing. This book, so far, is of the ridiculous variety with the spice. Can crawling across a table be hot? Absolutely. Is it hot the way it happens in this book? Nope. Not even a little bit. It's ridiculous.
At 45 percent: I'm now reading just to see how messy this gets. This is a mess and both main characters are immature. At this point, I don't think they are good together. At all. The MMC feels more like a parental figure to me even though their age gap isn't that large (4 years.) It feels icky and it's solely because the FMC is so childish.
At 54 percent: "I haven’t seen him face-to-face in a month." According to the timeline of the book, it's been four months. (Sigh)
At 59 percent: "The last few weeks, we’ve coordinated through his PR manager and made sure our schedules coincided so we could be seen together. This way, they’d leave us alone the rest of the time. It helped us play to the #Declene fans, and that kept us both relevant and top-of-mind with the media. Not that the pictures were all posed.” At least, not on my side." So...the FMC says this THE SAME DAY as the quote from 54 percent from above. It went from not seeing him face-to-face in a month to seeing each other the last few weeks through coordinated visits. Which, this is the first time the reader is being told of these meetings. This book is a mess.
End: I finished this book but I couldn't keep pointing out the ridiculousness as I read it or I would have written a book of my own just about this book. There are so many continuity errors in this book, it's just sloppy. Not to mention the endless repetitive inner monologues and nonsensical behavior of the two main characters. The characters would have a big scene where it seemed like they were breaking up, but then they would act like they were together with no explanation. For example, there was one big moment where the MMC decides to choose his job over the FMC (literally saying the actual words that he isn't choosing her), but then the characters act like they are still boyfriend and girlfriend in their inner monologues and when they see each other again. Why the big scene where he makes a choice if they are still together? You could try to make the argument that he was just choosing not to spend time with her but it doesn't hold up to even the slightest bit of scrutiny. It just doesn't make sense. The scene reads like a breakup scene. With that being said, I'm going to give this book 1.75 Stars. It earned .75 stars just from being interesting enough to keep me from DNFing. This book is a mess and makes zero sense but I kept reading just to see how big of a mess it could get. Was it enjoyable? No. If you read the previous book and did not like the dynamic between these two characters, stay away from this book. If you read the previous book and you enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters, this book is for you. Their dynamic was horrible in the previous book and it spirals to be even worse during this one.
I almost didn't read this book because I did not like the dynamic between these two characters in the previous book. They didn't intrigue me or make me root for them. I actually thought they just needed to break up and be done with each other because their relationship was portrayed pretty terribly in the last book. I decided to go ahead and read this book for three reasons: 1. In case there's a twist that explains their horrible dynamic, 2. In case their story from their perspectives makes a difference in how I perceive their relationship. Perhaps their perspective gives insight into why their relationship is so terrible? 3. I rated the previous book in this series five stars.
SPOILERS:
At 6 percent: "And now, I feel like the little girl he’s convinced I am." Not only does she feel it, but her actions in this scene confirm she IS a little girl. Immature, but she's 17, so I'll let it slide.
At 8 percent: The immaturity got worse and I'm not letting it slide. The FMC needs to grovel and MAYBE then she can be forgiven by the MMC. What she did was awful. She threw the MMC to the wolves to save herself. And this is after he saved her life the day before and after he tried to leave and she begged him to stay. Without her begging, he wouldn't have even been in the situation.
At 12 percent: I'm so confused. Nothing is making sense. The FMC is a Mafia princess. The MMC was beaten almost to death by her brother's men. A year later, the FMC is engaged in an arranged Mafia marriage. And...she can just hop a plane to go to LA with the MMC with no Mafia repercussions? Not even any fear of them? I understand the engagement was broken by the FMC's fiance but that doesn't mean she's just free to do whatever she wants. But okay. (After reading more, the explanation for this is horrible. Why even make the FMC a Mafia princess if the book isn't going to treat her as one?)
At 13 percent: I'm feeling highly uncomfortable with this book. I don't care that the FMC is 18. Her thoughts and actions are those of a 13 or 14 year old and it's icky. I hope this book time jumps soon because I'm close to DNFing it.
At 14 percent: The FMC doesn't know where her clit is and has never masturbated before. But the MMC caught her with her hand down her pants? Doing what then!? And she used to read spicy books but never found a time to masturbate? And she even grinded against the MMC a year ago! She hasn't put her hand down her pants not once since then? But she's bold enough to drop to her knees in front of the MMC to give him a blowjob? She panicked and ran off before doing anything but still. It doesn't make sense that she has the guts to drop to her knees in front of him, AFTER mentally acknowledging he hates her, but she has never put her own hand down her pants AT ALL in the privacy of her own bedroom. I'm not sure if this book can dig itself out of the one star hole it is currently in.
At 17 percent: The FMC keeps throwing herself at the MMC and it's pathetic. She gets to his house and decides she is not going to be a doormat for him. So what does she do? Jumps in his pool naked while he's swimming. That's a messed up thought process, but okay. I would think refraining from taking his orders would be the way to go but this FMC has the maturity of a 12 year old so... She jumps in a pool naked.
At 28 percent: There's sexy. There's hot. There's scorching. But there's also ridiculous. Trying too hard. And embarrassing. This book, so far, is of the ridiculous variety with the spice. Can crawling across a table be hot? Absolutely. Is it hot the way it happens in this book? Nope. Not even a little bit. It's ridiculous.
At 45 percent: I'm now reading just to see how messy this gets. This is a mess and both main characters are immature. At this point, I don't think they are good together. At all. The MMC feels more like a parental figure to me even though their age gap isn't that large (4 years.) It feels icky and it's solely because the FMC is so childish.
At 54 percent: "I haven’t seen him face-to-face in a month." According to the timeline of the book, it's been four months. (Sigh)
At 59 percent: "The last few weeks, we’ve coordinated through his PR manager and made sure our schedules coincided so we could be seen together. This way, they’d leave us alone the rest of the time. It helped us play to the #Declene fans, and that kept us both relevant and top-of-mind with the media. Not that the pictures were all posed.” At least, not on my side." So...the FMC says this THE SAME DAY as the quote from 54 percent from above. It went from not seeing him face-to-face in a month to seeing each other the last few weeks through coordinated visits. Which, this is the first time the reader is being told of these meetings. This book is a mess.
End: I finished this book but I couldn't keep pointing out the ridiculousness as I read it or I would have written a book of my own just about this book. There are so many continuity errors in this book, it's just sloppy. Not to mention the endless repetitive inner monologues and nonsensical behavior of the two main characters. The characters would have a big scene where it seemed like they were breaking up, but then they would act like they were together with no explanation. For example, there was one big moment where the MMC decides to choose his job over the FMC (literally saying the actual words that he isn't choosing her), but then the characters act like they are still boyfriend and girlfriend in their inner monologues and when they see each other again. Why the big scene where he makes a choice if they are still together? You could try to make the argument that he was just choosing not to spend time with her but it doesn't hold up to even the slightest bit of scrutiny. It just doesn't make sense. The scene reads like a breakup scene. With that being said, I'm going to give this book 1.75 Stars. It earned .75 stars just from being interesting enough to keep me from DNFing. This book is a mess and makes zero sense but I kept reading just to see how big of a mess it could get. Was it enjoyable? No. If you read the previous book and did not like the dynamic between these two characters, stay away from this book. If you read the previous book and you enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters, this book is for you. Their dynamic was horrible in the previous book and it spirals to be even worse during this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2023
When Solene and Declan first met, it was kind of insta-love. Declan saved Solene from a gang of four guys who had ill intentions for her. Things went wrong when he discovered just how young she was. Solene was only 14 and Declan was 21. Because Solene was the reason Declan was harmed, he got out of her life and they didn’t see each other again…until four years later.
When they see each other again, the sparks are still there. They both have career aspirations that would put them in the spotlight, so they realize pretending to be together could help them achieve their respective goals. They spend a lot of time arguing and going back and forth, back and forth. Honestly, I felt like it was a bit too much.
I did have a bit of a hard time getting into this book. Declan was pretty cruel to Solene and his behavior just seemed a bit childish. When he finally got his head on straight, then he was more likable.
This book had some suspenseful moments and a few twists. There was so much drama with Solene and Declan with the way they argued and kept going around in circles. I will say that I did find some parts to be a little cringey, and I just didn’t really enjoy it.
** Update **
Apparently the author changed the ages of the characters, probably from the negative feedback. Regardless, the story was just not for me.
When they see each other again, the sparks are still there. They both have career aspirations that would put them in the spotlight, so they realize pretending to be together could help them achieve their respective goals. They spend a lot of time arguing and going back and forth, back and forth. Honestly, I felt like it was a bit too much.
I did have a bit of a hard time getting into this book. Declan was pretty cruel to Solene and his behavior just seemed a bit childish. When he finally got his head on straight, then he was more likable.
This book had some suspenseful moments and a few twists. There was so much drama with Solene and Declan with the way they argued and kept going around in circles. I will say that I did find some parts to be a little cringey, and I just didn’t really enjoy it.
** Update **
Apparently the author changed the ages of the characters, probably from the negative feedback. Regardless, the story was just not for me.
May 18, 2023
The Rebound by L. Steele is the second-chance story of Declan and Solene (Rabbit). She is a mafia princess and hates her world. She wants something else. He’s an actor and wants to help her achieve her dreams. But, things go horribly wrong…she’s so young. He’s so out of control.
These two drove me crazy! He always thinks he knows what is for the best, what is the right thing to do. But, is he right? Meanwhile, she thinks that he refuses to face the truth. He knows the truth, just has to come to terms with it and accept it. Is she right? What a bizarre couple!!! After that, things go really haywire!!! Who knows what will happen now!! This story includes some surprise appearances that will have you giddy!!!
This Audiobook was narrated by beautifully narrated by Shane East and Rose Dioro. They were BOTH excellent at bringing out the depth and emotions of the characters…while maintaining the uniqueness of each character. What an absolute joy to have a wonderful story performed by such incredible talents!!
These two drove me crazy! He always thinks he knows what is for the best, what is the right thing to do. But, is he right? Meanwhile, she thinks that he refuses to face the truth. He knows the truth, just has to come to terms with it and accept it. Is she right? What a bizarre couple!!! After that, things go really haywire!!! Who knows what will happen now!! This story includes some surprise appearances that will have you giddy!!!
This Audiobook was narrated by beautifully narrated by Shane East and Rose Dioro. They were BOTH excellent at bringing out the depth and emotions of the characters…while maintaining the uniqueness of each character. What an absolute joy to have a wonderful story performed by such incredible talents!!
March 12, 2025
💖🎵Unwiderstehliche Milliardäre – Explizite Szenen, absolute Unvorhersehbarkeit – Suchtgefahr!!!🥰🤗 🎵💖
Gerade habe ich das Buch „The Second Chance – Eine prickelnde zweite Chance“ beendet.
Ich gebe generell keine Zusammenfassung des Buches ab, weil ich der Meinung bin, dass diese auch durch den Klappentext beim Buch schon aussagefähig ist. Insofern schildere ich hier lediglich meine Eindrücke, da dadurch sichergestellt wird, dass definitiv nicht gespoilert wird 😊
Autor:
Es ist das vierte Buch der Autorin. Irgendwie sind diese an mir vorbeigegangen, aber ich wollte unbedingt wissen, wie das Buch so ist. Also habe ich dem Ganzen eine Chance gegeben – und war positiv überrascht, dass ich wieder alte „Bekannte“ von L. Steele wiedergelesen habe! 🫶
Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil an und für sich ist wieder einmal total mitreißend! Man kommt sofort in das Buch. Obwohl es nict mein erstes Buch war, schaffte sie es wiederum, unvorhersehbare Situationen zu schaffen. Deshalb ist es wie eine Achterbahnfahrt im Dunkeln: man weiß nie, in welche Richtung es weitergeht. Und man liest weiter….und weiter….
Und irgendwann ist das Buch zu Ende. Aber auch wenn man es nicht aus der Hand legen kann: Es macht Spaß, die Charaktere zu begleiten!
Protagonisten:
Generell ist es auch hier kein absolut neuer Plot, sondern ein Thema, das so oder so ähnlich schon x-mal veröffentlicht wurde. Und dennoch schafft es L. Steele, dem Ganzen eine komplett andere Richtung zu geben. Dass es keine Déjà-Vus gibt, ist schon einmal ein riesengroßer Pluspunkt.
Zuweilen hatte ich den Eindruck, dass das geschilderte Alter der Hauptcharaktere nicht dem gefühlten Alter entspricht. Aber auch wenn dies normalerweise dazu führt, ein negatives Gefühl mit dem Buch zu verknüpfen war dies bei mir überhaupt nicht der Fall. Dafür war es zu spannend!
Die Autorin zeichnet die Personen bildgewaltig. Dadurch hat man sofort ein Bild vor Auge und die Beschreibung der Personen tut ihr Übriges! Es war wieder einmal mitreißend – und natürlich auch heiß… Dennoch bleibt das Buch nicht an der Oberfläche sondern beinhaltet durchaus auch Tiefgründiges. Deshalb definitiv Daumen hoch!
Stimmung/Atmosphäre:
Wieder einmal sehr ungewöhnlich! Dennoch finde ich, dass es tiefgründig, geheimnisvoll – und wieder einmal – mitreißend ist.
Setting:
Wie bereits oben angemerkt, ist es ein Setting wie eines unter sehr vielen. Dennoch schafft es die Autorin, genau dieses Setting so zu gestalten, dass es wirklich anders ist! In diesem Buch ist es sogar meiner Meinung nach viel tiefgründiger – und eine bestimmte Entwicklung hat mich total überrascht. Niemals hätte ich damit gerechnet! Aber hey: das wurde von L. Steele einfühl- und behutsam mitverwoben!
Explizite Szenen:
Ich möchte ausdrücklich darauf hinweisen, dass hier in diesem Buch „Vanilla“ eher keine Rolle spielt, sondern es stattdessen wirklich „zur Sache“ geht. Auch Schmerzen spielen eine Rolle und gewisse Kinks der Charaktere. Insofern sind die expliziten Szenen selbst sicherlich nichts für die zartbesaiteten Leser, sondern sind schon eben das: explizit und deutlich! Wer also eher auf die sanftere Art und „Blümchensex“ steht, sollte ggf. die Finger von diesem Buch lassen….
Kritikpunkte
Wenn man meine Anmerkungen zu den expliziten Szenen und dem zuweilen irritierenden Alter/gefühlten Alter außen vor lässt, hat man einen absoluten Pageturner!
Fazit:
Aber darüber hinaus (s.o.) muss ich gestehen, dass ich es kaum erwarten kann, die weiteren Geschichten dieser Reihe weiterzuverfolgen (und die ersten nachzulesen!). Bei einer derartigen Schreibweise versteht sich das von selbst, dass man weiterlesen muss!
Bewertung:
Es gibt keinen Abzug, so dass es bei 5-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sternen bleibt! Ich fand, dass es ein – wieder einmal - mitreißendes, großartiges Buch ist!
Insofern eine klare, definitive Leseempfehlung! Holt euch dieses Buch! Ihr werdet es nicht bereuen! 😉🤗
Gerade habe ich das Buch „The Second Chance – Eine prickelnde zweite Chance“ beendet.
Ich gebe generell keine Zusammenfassung des Buches ab, weil ich der Meinung bin, dass diese auch durch den Klappentext beim Buch schon aussagefähig ist. Insofern schildere ich hier lediglich meine Eindrücke, da dadurch sichergestellt wird, dass definitiv nicht gespoilert wird 😊
Autor:
Es ist das vierte Buch der Autorin. Irgendwie sind diese an mir vorbeigegangen, aber ich wollte unbedingt wissen, wie das Buch so ist. Also habe ich dem Ganzen eine Chance gegeben – und war positiv überrascht, dass ich wieder alte „Bekannte“ von L. Steele wiedergelesen habe! 🫶
Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil an und für sich ist wieder einmal total mitreißend! Man kommt sofort in das Buch. Obwohl es nict mein erstes Buch war, schaffte sie es wiederum, unvorhersehbare Situationen zu schaffen. Deshalb ist es wie eine Achterbahnfahrt im Dunkeln: man weiß nie, in welche Richtung es weitergeht. Und man liest weiter….und weiter….
Und irgendwann ist das Buch zu Ende. Aber auch wenn man es nicht aus der Hand legen kann: Es macht Spaß, die Charaktere zu begleiten!
Protagonisten:
Generell ist es auch hier kein absolut neuer Plot, sondern ein Thema, das so oder so ähnlich schon x-mal veröffentlicht wurde. Und dennoch schafft es L. Steele, dem Ganzen eine komplett andere Richtung zu geben. Dass es keine Déjà-Vus gibt, ist schon einmal ein riesengroßer Pluspunkt.
Zuweilen hatte ich den Eindruck, dass das geschilderte Alter der Hauptcharaktere nicht dem gefühlten Alter entspricht. Aber auch wenn dies normalerweise dazu führt, ein negatives Gefühl mit dem Buch zu verknüpfen war dies bei mir überhaupt nicht der Fall. Dafür war es zu spannend!
Die Autorin zeichnet die Personen bildgewaltig. Dadurch hat man sofort ein Bild vor Auge und die Beschreibung der Personen tut ihr Übriges! Es war wieder einmal mitreißend – und natürlich auch heiß… Dennoch bleibt das Buch nicht an der Oberfläche sondern beinhaltet durchaus auch Tiefgründiges. Deshalb definitiv Daumen hoch!
Stimmung/Atmosphäre:
Wieder einmal sehr ungewöhnlich! Dennoch finde ich, dass es tiefgründig, geheimnisvoll – und wieder einmal – mitreißend ist.
Setting:
Wie bereits oben angemerkt, ist es ein Setting wie eines unter sehr vielen. Dennoch schafft es die Autorin, genau dieses Setting so zu gestalten, dass es wirklich anders ist! In diesem Buch ist es sogar meiner Meinung nach viel tiefgründiger – und eine bestimmte Entwicklung hat mich total überrascht. Niemals hätte ich damit gerechnet! Aber hey: das wurde von L. Steele einfühl- und behutsam mitverwoben!
Explizite Szenen:
Ich möchte ausdrücklich darauf hinweisen, dass hier in diesem Buch „Vanilla“ eher keine Rolle spielt, sondern es stattdessen wirklich „zur Sache“ geht. Auch Schmerzen spielen eine Rolle und gewisse Kinks der Charaktere. Insofern sind die expliziten Szenen selbst sicherlich nichts für die zartbesaiteten Leser, sondern sind schon eben das: explizit und deutlich! Wer also eher auf die sanftere Art und „Blümchensex“ steht, sollte ggf. die Finger von diesem Buch lassen….
Kritikpunkte
Wenn man meine Anmerkungen zu den expliziten Szenen und dem zuweilen irritierenden Alter/gefühlten Alter außen vor lässt, hat man einen absoluten Pageturner!
Fazit:
Aber darüber hinaus (s.o.) muss ich gestehen, dass ich es kaum erwarten kann, die weiteren Geschichten dieser Reihe weiterzuverfolgen (und die ersten nachzulesen!). Bei einer derartigen Schreibweise versteht sich das von selbst, dass man weiterlesen muss!
Bewertung:
Es gibt keinen Abzug, so dass es bei 5-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sternen bleibt! Ich fand, dass es ein – wieder einmal - mitreißendes, großartiges Buch ist!
Insofern eine klare, definitive Leseempfehlung! Holt euch dieses Buch! Ihr werdet es nicht bereuen! 😉🤗
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