Forgive Me My Sins

The Augustine Brothers #1

by Natasha Knight

I’m not supposed to fall in love with my husband. It’s not part of my plan.

Forgive me.

Those were the first words Santos Augustine spoke to me before we sealed an unbreakable oath. A contract signed in blood binding me to him as payment for my father’s sins.

Wearing the mask of legitimacy, this powerful crime family has returned to Avarice to punish those who have wronged them and take what they’ve always been denied, a place among the elite.

Forced to marry my enemy, I’m thrust into his world of secrets and betrayals.

My husband is a dangerous man. And he has dangerous enemies. But it’s when I’m attacked that his fury is unleashed.

It’s then I see what it means to belong to Santos Augustine.

And although I know the safest place for me is in his bed, I can’t let myself fall in love with my husband.

*Please note this age-gap, arranged marriage mafia romance contains references to past self-harm.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Marriage Of Convenience

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

About the author

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.

Write Natasha here:
natasha@natasha-knight.com

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Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

DNF @ 62%

This just isn’t doing it for me. Madelena is driving me nuts. Her behavior is that of a child throwing tantrums and just isn’t in line with her upbringing and abuse in my opinion. I also feel like Santos is a lame duck mafia head. I obviously haven’t read the whole duet, but the fact that his brother and mother are so clearly working against him is so obvious, it’s ridiculous. Please correct me in the comments if I’m wrong on that.

I don’t like reading mafia/gang books where there is zero circle of trust around the lead. I get that betrayal happens, but I feel like Santos has no one around him. As a result, this feels like it’s lacking all the mafia feels I’m looking for. I also don’t like the whole Alexia element and the photo someone slipped into Madelena’s wedding muff. The setup for long-running miscommunication has been set and it’s just not something I’m in the mood to wade through right now.

Overall…Something is just missing and after glancing at the reviews of a trusted GR friend on this and book two, I don’t feel like investing my time on this when my reading time is so limited right now. Maybe I’ll try this again another time, but it’s just not catching my interest at the moment.

[Salma]

dnf’ed bc he called her “little kitten” and that was a no for me

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐-⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (ARC Review)

''We can be each other's savior. Or the other's destruction''

Safety Warnings:
- H 30/ h 20
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of su*cide
- Attempted s*xual assault
- Self harm
- Physical abuse/assault
- Torture/violence/d*ath
- Cliffhanger

I got so many theories and none of them would shock me if they turned out to be true. I don't want to give too much away as this is one of those books that you need to go in without any spoilers, it needs to unravel for you as the story progresses.

Almost everyone is sketchy, and I trust very little in what they do or say. Santos's brother and mother are on top of the list of people I don't trust, and I have my reasons for it, and I am sure once people read the book they will understand why. There are too many moments where I can sense the manipulation and lies.

That ending was extremely intense and I really am shocked by how it all played out? Thiago's last warning to Madelena was ominous and I think it plays well into my theory.

Santos and Madelena sign a blood oath which placed them in an arranged marriage situation that will be initiated in 5 years, during those 5 years Santos shows up very little in her life but makes sure she is safe and out of harm’s way as much as possible. He avenges her when the time comes, and you can sense how truly serious he takes his duty.

I was shocked by a few of his revelations concerning his past and what happened 10 years ago and the decisions he was forced to make along with the life he was forced to lead because of his actions.

Santos and Madelena share a lot more than they realize and I think it's a shame she never truly trusted him when I think their partnership throughout this whole mess would have been beneficial.

I really liked Santos, he was the grumpy/dark broody MMC we all love to love. He has gone through so much and the trauma it has given him will last a lifetime.

I can't wait to finish up this duet soon and I know the wait isn't long but it's still torturous.

Also, despite how sad the words ''Forgive me'' are, it's incredible to see the connection for Madelena.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5. This story is very well written but I feel missing something… the romance is a little off , but this don’t take away the beauty of the book.
It’s worth the reading.

[Shaikha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Please, Natasha babe, if you see this rating just ignore it because I love your books but I’ve not been feeling very generous lately. #itsnotyouitsme

Maybe people who enjoy age gap romance would love this especially if this is their first book by Ms. Knight, but in my case neither do i like age gap nor is this my first NK book, so I was completely trudging through it in the hopes it would get better but no.

As much as I gobbled up Requiem of the Soul series (SantiIvy still give me butterflies 👹🫶🏼) I think the whole marriage of convenience; marrying the enemy’s daughter and using her as a pawn for his revenge plans but realizing that said daughter is innocent and he might actually love her *snorts* is getting tedious and a bit repetitive because I’ve read the same tropes by the same author one too many times and naturally it has lost its appeal. However, the only silver lining of these books is the forced pregnancy trope. I always eat that up! Like yes my boy temper with her bc pills and put that baby in that silly ass b.

There was Z E R O chemistry between the MCs. I don’t like how Santos (H, 30) didn’t hate Madelena (h, 20) and was gratuitously protective and possessive of her from the get go. I don’t hate possessive heros but I prefer the more inconspicuous, suble possessive type where they pretend they don’t care all that much about the heroine, but go feral when any male shows a mild interest in her. But Santos was very much vocal about how Madelena belonged to him and it was less hot and more cringey. Man she is just your fiancé you don’t even know her yet calm your titties. There is nothing remotely hot about a 27 year old man accosting a 17 year old boy at his prom because he touched his 17 year old fiancé. 💀


The cringe level reached an all time high when at 15 Madelena had Santos perfume custom made for her. And the secondhand embarrassment I felt when Santos smelled it on her! On what planet would this be considered romantic!? It was downright creepy and typical teenage shit.

“When Santos Augustine had leaned close and inhaled my scent. His scent. It’s unique. Custom made. I used the handkerchief to have it made for myself after much research. I wasn’t sure if he’d noticed it back then, but a year ago, when he smelled it on me again, I knew he had known all along. He just hadn’t said anything.”

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

While I know the marriage of convenience trope is getting repetitive, I can't stop reading it; it's one of my guilty pleasures.

The first 50% of the book was not as alluring as the second half. Santos and Madelene were not a couple I was 100% invested in; being this a marriage of convenience book, I was expecting something on the slow-burn romance side, not the insta-love the author gave us. And it's not that I'm against insta-love in books; it's just that I think the story needed something deeper between the main characters.

A blood oath, a promise made, and Santos and Madelena were to get married in 5 years. During those years, Santos showed up when she needed him; keeping her safe was one of his priorities. You could feel Santos's feelings toward Maddy from the moment they met. As for Madelene, she figured out how to make Santos's perfume in her school lab, so you can say she was as obsessed with him as he was with her.

The story got darker and messier during the second half of the book, and that's why when I got into it. The twists and plots were intriguing enough to draw me into the story, and my theories about what will happen next went wild. Anyway, I'm freaking excited for the next book in the series.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟

Another book by this author and it was quite okay. I did enjoy the book.
Santos and Madelena were forced into marriage. I liked the romace but I needed more angst, I needed some hate/banter/something to show that it was forced upon Madelena, the marriage!! I just didnt understand putting ex-bestfriend n all into the plot.
overall I did enjoy it but felt as if the plot is missing something.

[Filiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madelena ve Santos'un aileleri çok eskiden beri düşmanlardır. Bir gün Santos'un ailesinin eline bir fırsat geçer ve iki aileyi birleştirmek için 15 yaşındaki Madelena ile 25 yaşındaki Santos arasında evlilik sözleşmesi yaparlar. 5 yıl sonra, Madelena 20 yaşına gelince evlenceklerdir.

Santos Madelena'yı görür görmez onu koruma içgüsüne kapalır ve 5 yıl boyunca onu her erkekten ve kötülükten korur. Birbirlerini 5 sene boyunca bir kaç kere görürler. Madelena ise bu yıllar boyunca Santos'a karşı kendini nefret etmeye alıştırır. Evlenmeleriyle birlikte kimin dost kimin düşman olduğunu bulmaya çalıştıkları bir hayatı yaşamaya başlarlar.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Forgive Me My Sins was an ok read for me. While it did keep my attention there was just something lacking in the overall story. Madelena is 15 when she is promised to Santos Augustine and their contract is signed in blood. After the contract is signed, they go back to their lives. I think for me I found Madelena annoying. At first when she stepped up to sign the contract I was impressed, but as she got older, she became childish in my opinion. Santos was ok I feel like he spends more time running out to do business than getting to know his bride. I also felt like Madelena spent most of her time in his room barely interacting with anyone. I will say when they are together the scenes are really hot and definitely enjoyable. The book ends with a cliffhanger and I'm already reading book 2.

[Melanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[elara · Rating 3 out of 5]

⤷ ꒰ 3.5 ☆ ꒱

he could’ve given her a better nickname bc wtf is “little kitten” ???

[Maria (semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars for a very celibate hero

This was a light mafia romance, not as dark as I’m used to by this author. The H was sweet for his h and very protective. He doesn’t want any OM near her, touching her or even looking at her. There are loose ends and the book ends on a cliffhanger. The story isn’t complete. The h wasn’t my favorite, she was wishy washy. The H has secrets and they aren’t resolved in this book. It’s obvious which way the story will go and who is/are the villain(s). A rather tame story, not sure if the second part will be any better.

Safety:
Safe. This hero!! CELIBATE!! For 10 years! Has only been with 1 OW besides the h!! Not a manwhore, only used his right hand for the last decade. What we know so far, he was in love with OW, wanted to marry her and had a baby on the way but she (and the baby) was killed by her own father. They could never marry because of both families, but it’s clear he loved her because he kept all her letters in a locked box. It didn’t feel as though the h is second best, because he is VERY protective and obsessed with her. Hero didn’t care for sex, since the contract for the marriage of convenience was signed 5 years ago (and even long before that) he never was with OW and very loyal. The h believes otherwise, because he’s seen in tabloids with different women on his arm. But in his own POV he tells several times he was celibate for the last decade, only used his right hand and had only sex with 1 woman before the h. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The h was a virgin. No cheating, minor OW/OM drama but mainly jealousy so nothing too heavy and no sex with OP.

Triggers:
Self-harm (past and present, on and off page), suicide of a parent (past, referred to on page), death of a parent (on page), bullying (on and off page) and sexual assault (on page by OM but stopped before it got too far).

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From the first words he spoke to me, and every time he appeared as if by magic to rescue me from one evil or another, I have been falling in love with Santos Augustine."

The stories that this author writes are so gripping and have me captivated. I am obsessed with Santos & Madelena's world. This book was mysterious, full of chemistry and had a tinge of darkness but I have a feeling that when some important secrets are revealed, it will get darker and messier. I loved how drawn Santos & Madelena were to each other. Both had very strong and striking personalities, I couldn't get enough of the tension between them. Though I wish they were better at communicating with each other because unless some secrets are out in the open, these two won't be able to build trust in their relationship. The plot was extremely intense and engaging, keep in mind that this book ends on a shocking cliffhanger. I just can't wait to get my hands on the next book, I hope we don't have to wait much.

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha Knight is the queen of dark arranged marriage mafia romance trope. No one delivers sin, suspense, passion and twisted feels better than her when it comes to this trope. I will get never tired of her stories. Forgive Me My Sins proves again that she is the master here. Santos and Madelena's story was an epic tale of secrets, desires and broken love. The ultimate antihero. The perfect fighter heroine with scars. An unputdownable tale leaving me with book hangover.

This is the first book of a duet and ends in cliffhanger.Madelena was forced to get engaged to Santos Augustine, the heir to Augustine empire because her evil father was indebted to them. Now the time has come for her to get married to the devil himself. She wants to hate him..The man who claimed her like a property, the man who sent her Away from her brother and her home for years..but there is something in Santos that makes her feel that he has his own sadness. Their families are entwined in a web of secrets, revenge and violence. Can they love each other..

I have read a lot of mafia heroes from Natasha Knight but I think Santos is my favorite. He is complex with deep seated pain and darkness. He has been hurt and used and has been molded into a killing machine but he still has a heart. His moral compass in crooked but it's still there. He feels a strong protectiveness and possessiveness for Madelena. There is something in her that calls to his broken and dark soul too. But he doesn’t know how to show it. He hides his soft underbelly behind his ruthlessness and arrogance. Because he lives in a dangerous world and any softness is a weakness. My heart breaks for Madelena. She has suffered and survived tragedies. She has been ridiculed and neglected. She still has so much fire in her. Santos is like her dark knight. He stands like a guard in front of the malice and harm directed towards her. But she also wanted a husband who will love her and right now, she is not sure if Santos can love her and if she can trust him. It was twisted and sinful and full of jaw dropping moments..specially the cliffhanger!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS



Star Rating : 4 / 5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : Yes

Hero : Santos

Heroine : Madelena

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 5/10

Heat Rating : 5/10

Triggers Involved : Forced marriage, Trauma , self harm.

Plot Summary :
Santos knows what has to be done. He is not happy with it but marrying Madelena might be the only way. What he didn't expect was the way things would turn out. She is his wife whom he never wanted but at the same time can't have enough of. She is everything he wants and now he will do anything to keep her.

Madelena met Santos when she was young. They were bound forever that day and over the years , the shadow of his possession stayed over her and she knew she would never recover. What she didn't expect was for her husband to be as possessive as he was. She thought she would be another Clifford forgotten wife , free to do as she pleased but she was wrong. Santos was the one in control and now he would do anything to keep her forever.

Overall Opinion :
Another forced marriage trope by this author!! I swear no one writes them better than Natasha 🫠

The main protagonist has good chemistry and that kept me hooked in the book. It wasn't as dark as I expected but amazing nonetheless. The ending was a surprise and I just know that things are going to blow off in the next book!!! So excited for that one.

Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there!


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[Wobilba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Pretty much all of ms knight’s heroes and heroines are interchangeable at this point 🤦🏾‍♀️
I will be reading book two for closure and that very unoriginal cliffhanger

[Malene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay mafia arranged romance. I liked Madelena and Santos cause they each had baggage. She was strong and feisty but was also a traumatized young woman. Santos was an alpha and had a violent streak which I liked but he also treated her with care when needed.
The story took its time to establish a connection between them with I appreciate and it worked. Sadly I felt when they were together it was the same repetitive dialogue and behavior. I got bored at times not only with them but the overall story which also went in circles.
I needed more of Madelena and Santos connecting and less inner monologue.
Overall I liked it but I wanted more from the characters and story. I know it’s a duet but this first book sadly didn’t left me wanting more.

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars)
One contract five years ago…that will turn Madelena De Léon into Santos Augustine’s wife. A man part of a crime family that may offer protection…or destruction. Power is everything in the high society world that they live in but at what cost? This starts five years prior when the contract is signed leading up to the present. Can Madelena ever be safe with a man like Santos? Dive into this age gap, arranged marriage romance within a mystery that needs solving. This ends on a major cliffhanger getting you ready for book two in this duet. Told in dual POV.

[Rina | booksofthemuggleborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 stars!

**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**

To put it simply… I loved it. Immensely. It had everything I expected a Natasha Knight romance novel would have, and it did not disappoint. Elements you can expect:

- Tons of secrecy
- Plot twists and suspense
- Heartbreak
- Some shady, shady characters
- Complicated relationships

Nothing is what it seems where Madelena and Santos are concerned. One minute I’d be on the edge of my seat reeling, the next I’d be screaming into my pillow. It was utterly thrilling, angsty, and one hundred percent unputdownable.

Madelena is a mixture of damsel-in-distress and defiance, and you never know which side she’ll veer towards with each situation she’s thrown into. Santos is a conundrum that I found myself trying to decipher, and his unpredictability is one of the main factors in what kept me invested in seeing this story through. These MCs are broken in some way or another and it has resulted in their complex mentalities.

This is the first book in The Augustine Brothers duet and it painstakingly ends on a cliffhanger. It concluded with so many possibilities, plenty of developments that need resolving, and a handful of jaw-dropping plot points that I cannot wait to get to the bottom of in the next book. Knight has done an excellent job at creating a dark and curious world that I was easily transported to.

Just be aware that this dark mafia romance delves into sensitive subject matters that some readers may find triggering or disturbing to read. It contains graphic violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, self-harm, and mental and physical scarring. It has dark themes throughout, as well as sexual content intended for readers 18+ only.

If you enjoy dark, mafia romance books with a lot of push-and-pull between its MCs, I think this one is a must-read. Although there’s some spice, in comparison to some of Knight’s other books it’s not as steamy. Madelena and Santos’ relationship spans several years, and with how the story unfolds, I consider their intimacy a bit of a slow-burn development. This first book is an introduction to not only the dangerous elite world they’re associated to, but the intriguing group dynamics amongst the cast of characters. You’ll constantly be second-guessing anything and everything, and as the suspense builds, there’s a sense of desperation in the air that’ll have you anxious to figure out who can and cannot be trusted.

The characters are constantly evolving, and whilst they’re not completely fleshed-out, I have no doubt there’s still more to see. I fast became curious about the contrasting familial dynamics in Madelena and Santos’ respective families, so I’m hoping to see more of it in the next book. There’s a couple of secondary characters that caught my attention, and despite this being a duet, I’m lowkey hoping they get their own books in the future.

It’s well-paced storytelling and switches back and forth from the two MCs POV. There’s a sweet balance between the mafia and romance elements that makes this a solid dark mafia romance read. All in all, it’s a highly promising first half of the duet filled with intrigue, uncertainty, and seduction. It’s another well-put together narrative by Knight that I’m eager to read Deliver Me From Evil already! If you’re an avid fan, you’ll want to add this to your TBR.

🚨 Full review on my blog: https://booksofthemuggleborn.wordpres...

[Melissa Crump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind Blowing, Heart Stopping and Jaw Dropping!

I’m still trying to catch my breath! Natasha Knight captures every single emotion, and every detail perfectly! Ms. Knight always brings her game when writing a story. Her talent shines through as you are immersed in this new world, filled with secrets, desire and death. Buckle up tight, it’s about to get dark!

[Hopelessly Addicted To Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arranged marriage to an older dangerous man .... count me in. Madelena is still a young girl when she is promised to Santos who is part of a crime family. We get little glimpses of their lives leading up to the wedding. He is a dangerous man who will either offer her protection or be her worst enemy. This is a story of secrets that has you questioning who to trust and suspicious of everyone. Madelena is both soft and vulnerable and spiky and defiant and I liked both sides of her. Several moments had me questioning if she'd pushed them too far and I worried for her safety. It was difficult to fully know Santos as he is keeping so many secrets then we slowly see him being the protective husband she deserved. As the story spans years I would class this as a slow burn in the romance department. It is not as steamy as some of the author's previous books but there are some sexy times between them and I'm hoping for more in the next book. There are some dark aspects to the storyline so take note of any trigger warnings. The cliffhanger ending is huge and leaves so many possibilities for the next book.

[Joyffree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wholly Shittake Mushrooms (aware of the sp.)
Be prepared -
Nothing and I do mean nothing is as it seems
Trust no one
Everyone has their own agenda and no price is too high

"Wounded, fragile little kitty. Broken little kitty. Little kitty who is alone and pathetic and helpless."

NOT!

This whole book is slivers of the past and the present all placed in a way that I was never sure of anything -
Except for the crimson that flows from Santos' hand.
The evil that permeates the innocent.
And the fight in our kitten Mad Elena

This sets up the next book so well
It ends on a literal cliffy - OMG I was thrown
WHY - WHO - I have so many theories here

[Sarah♡books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 ⭐️

🤍 Virgin heroine
🤍 Celibate hero
🤍 Mafia
🤍 Forced proximity
🤍 Arranged marriage
🤍 Age gap ( 20 l 30 )
🚩no OM, no cheating or sharing


OW - I'm pretty sure that he is still in love with his dead ex 😑😬🫡
THIS was literally my biggest problem and I lost interest pretty quick...

I hope the storyline will get better in the second book but to be honest I'm not optimistic🙊🥶

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "Little Kitty!!!" stars***



"You do not want to be my enemy..."

From the very first moment that Natasha Knight got into my radar, I was hooked by her writing and the stories she is creating...
The mysterious aura, the complicated characters, the twisted plot.... all of them are making a delicious reading and I am addicted to her kind of stories!!!
The first part of this duet wasn't an exception and I was hooked by this story from the very first chapter!!!
I adore Madelena and Santos already, but this ending, here??? It left me breathless and I am really wondering how things will be played out after all!!!

"We can't be each other's savior. Or the other's destruction.
This is our destiny.
Until death do us part."

Everything started with a "Forgive me", a blood oath that signed a contract for a marriage, that was followed by a "You belong to me now... Don't forget it!!!"
And just like that Madelena De Leon's life, at only fifteen, was binded with Santos Augistine's, ten year senior of her.
For five years, there were only handful of times that they met each other and not always under the best circumstances... But these meetings were enough to spread a little seed of passion between them...
And now, it is time for these two to be bound together legally, but Madelena is determined to fight her own heart than to give it away to her enemy and her new husband...

"I am his, and I'm also a means to an end: a marriage to legitimize a criminal family once shunned by the elite of Avarice. That's all."

Well... I don't know what else to say about this story...
It was very intriguing and very frustrating from time to time...
Madelena was the ticket for the Augustines to rise in a world that had hurt them in the past, but honestly, the enemies that are surrounding Santos are too many and too shady...
The only sure thing is that Santos wants fiercely this girl, but his past is very confusing and heartbreaking...
The same goes for Madelena... The ghosts that are hunting them are too many to be faced and the enemies that are sneakily creeping around them can be deadly...
Can these two survive in a world full of deceit, betrayal and bad intentions???

"I am not your enemy."
"But you are. You have to be. Don't you get it?"

I loved Madelena and Santos so much!!!
Madelena was captivated from the man that she wasn't supposed to love... and Santos was very protective of her from very early...
I liked these two together, but I am afraid of them very much...
I just need answers cause things went to hell at the end... I have theories and I have people that I don't trust and I wish that Santos could feel it too, cause I am afraid for his well being...
As for Madelena??? My poor girl!!! She was broken, but I don't know how she will survive after everything that had happened in here!!!

"As I can break her, so can she break me..."

As you can see, I am obsessed with this new world that Mrs. Knight has created in here!!!
Santos and Madelena have become my new favorite couple!!!
The atmosphere in here was enchanting and this difficult romance had made my heart beat wildly...
I am scared to dive into the next part, even though I am impatient to find redemtion!!! But my curiosity is too big to deny myself of it!!!
Thiago's words are still playing on my mind in repeat....

"Your enemy is much closer to home, and in his veins is the blood of a monster."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[oritty: books and i (tilayov) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free...
This, was a really good duet read.
She was promised to him early in her life, both not realizing the forces behind the scenes pulling the strings.
If anything, despite his past actions and maybe because of them, S is devoted, honorable, loyal and loving.
He is also remorseful and failing to save one was a force driving him to save another.
'Don't trust anyone, including close family....'. But can they trust each other? Will they be each other downfall or savior?
Too many secrets, so many interests and great love that evolves through the years and will stand The test of time....

A close ending and a HEA, BUT I hope there will be more books in this world, because there are characters I'm curious about

[Julia Butterfield - Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgive me my Sins

Natasha Knight is a master, or should that be mistress, of arranged marriage, dark mafia romance and I absolutely love her words.  Forgive Me My Sins is right up there with my favourites.

Santos Augustine...... *sighs and swooons* is the ultimate dark, dangerous, damaged antihero with demons haunting him from every direction! This man, scarred inside and out, was beautifully captivating and I have to admit, I've fallen for him hard. Possesive and dominating, but he had a protective streak for Madelana from the moment she was forced into a blood oath.

I loved Madelana too, she had her own heartbreaking crosses to bear and I loved her fight and determination despite her vulnerabilities and inner pain. These two had fiery chemistry as well as an unusual affection, neither really wanted to acknowledge.

That cliffhanger though. It was brutal and actually a little sad. I have my suspicions and I hope I'm wrong, we will see. Can't wait for the conclusion of this enthralling duet!

[Marta Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF I only could give one million stars.... This book is Natasha Knight at the finest! It's dark, angsty, steamy with ending that I want to bite my nails off. I feel CONSUMED by this book. Santos and Madelena are delivering hate - love filled story, that kept me on the edge until last pages. There's nothing better than romance and secrets mixed with complicated family dynamic, with the age gap like the cherry on top.

Santos is everything what I love in this author's world - he's a walking mistery, ruthless for his enemies, but very caring about people who deserve his love. Madelena challenged me from the start, she's stubborn but also very strong. I loved how her character matched with Santos. They both are like ice and fire at the same moment, making me want to re-read this book at least few times until book 2 will arrive. The story line, the plot twist... I FEEL like I'm hanging over cliffhanger, but feeling, that the worst is still coming, making me greedy for more. It's not only Santos and Madelena, who left me in awe. The second plan characters are a perfectly perfect addition to their twisted and dark romance.

A page turner is NOT enough to describe this breathtaking romance. I'll be counting down the days IMPATIENTLY, because I need more in this world. Must read alert!

[Jodie Villines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummmmm omg. I am soooo mad at this cliffhanger.

Whew this book, you guys. Perfect. Mystery, angst, tension, action, mafia business, arranged marriage, it has it all and I am HERE FOR IT. I literally can’t even express to you how badly I need the second book like right this minute.

Madelena was arranged to marry Santos before she was an adult. The time finally comes to marry him and her feelings for this man is a mix of hatred, curiosity and love. She is supposed to hate him and everything about him and his family but she is confused. The man has lots of secrets and she has whispers in her ear. She doesn’t know if she should trust Santos even though he has asked her to many times.

Santos is fulfilling a duty to marry Madelena but his didn’t expect to want her so much. Santos is very protective of Madelena instantly and wants nothing more but to keep her out of harms way. Which he has found out is becoming a challenge. He is battling who to trust in his circle and it’s seems he can’t trust those closest to him.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 just okay

I really had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed because I know this author can write well and can execute a good story. Arrange marriage tropes (because they have been written about allot) need something special either in the storyline or the characters. The storyline was similar to others I have read and the characters had their moments; there just weren't enough of them. I am also not a fan of insta-love especially when we are talking about a young damaged virgin heroine who can easily be infatuated with sex.

This story is a very ritualistic type of book with blood oaths and arranged marriages of a child. I've read many books from this genre and expect originality and have greater expectations than the occasional reader of this genre.

Madelena's character is young, immature and completely over her head. She's another MFC that falls quickly for a stranger after she is purchased like a horse at the ripe old age of 15 years old to be married off in five years. Ugh. She has no idea she is being played by everyone in this book including Santos. I've read too many books where the MFC is young, terribly naïve, inexperienced, a virgin and has little depth because she has few life experiences to relate too. The author tried to make her a strong willed character but her youth failed her. She has a very self-destructive side to her and a history of both physical and mental abuse.

Santo's character is dark and overly possessive of his child-fiancé who he has some attraction to because she reminds him of his past love of a young woman he got pregnant and was then murdered by her father. His ten-year celibacy hides a darker sexual side to his character he calls "the beast" as well as his self-imposed ban of alcohol. He is a deeply scarred man who has a very dark history and many enemies and is haunted by many ghosts.

I am tired of MMC's in this genre who force a young woman to marry them and expects them to be "grateful", like he is some kind of savior instead of the devil himself. Santo's is seldom truthful with Madelena and leaves her with his crazy brother, Ana or his bitch of a mother. He locks her away, deflects questions and lies to her making her the perfect victim for a cast of deadly characters. He knows that marrying Maddy has only put a red X on her forehead, but fails to adequately warn her or protect her.

This entire book is filled with characters who are sworn enemies of Santos and Madelena. She's nothing but a pawn, has no friends and is easily convinced of all the lies and hearsay she is told. She's thinks Santos will protect her and begins to fall in love with him as he continues to finalize the family's plans which includes getting her pregnant. I am very tired of the broodmare scenario because the MMC needs an heir. A child should be something both characters agree upon and for the right reasons. Everyone has their own personal agenda, aka, Santos, Caius, daddy dearest, her brother, Camila, Liam, Thiago Ana, and mummy-in-law to only name a few, making Maddy the perfect victim, the perfect chess piece.

[Dul · Rating 3 out of 5]

—𝑺𝒊 𝒗𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒃𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒂, 𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆́ 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒖𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒐. ¿𝑴𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔? —𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒋𝒐, 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓, 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒐.

Tropes

•matrimonio arreglado
•mafia romance
•age gap

La verdad no sabía la existencia de este libros aunque me atrapó la sinopsis y no me pude resistir a un matrimonio arreglado con mafia. Los protagonistas se me hicieron interesante aunque pienso que la autora le faltó darme más detalles de todo.

En mi opinión santos y Maddy me gustaron e incluso creo que es el libro que más me gusto de la autora.
Hay muchas cosas que quedaron sueltas y probablemente me lea el segundo para poder entender todo el rollo.

Esta bien para pasar el rato si les gustan este tipo de libros

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