What do you think?
Rate this book
The Botticelli Brotherhood #1
Sold To The Syndicate
Sold to pay a debt, but she is not anyone's pet.
Lorenzo Botticelli is like royalty. His family runs this city. He is brutal, ruthless and always in control. He is not a man to be messed with. Avalie is a sassy, sarcastic woman who has spent her life learning how to fend for herself. She is not the type of woman you control. Lorenzo owns her now, sold to him to pay a debt. Avalie quickly shows him that she is not going to roll over and play nice as a hostage. A steamy battle of wills ensues as they fight to determine which of them will break first. Will it be her? Or will it be him?
Lorenzo Botticelli is like royalty. His family runs this city. He is brutal, ruthless and always in control. He is not a man to be messed with. Avalie is a sassy, sarcastic woman who has spent her life learning how to fend for herself. She is not the type of woman you control. Lorenzo owns her now, sold to him to pay a debt. Avalie quickly shows him that she is not going to roll over and play nice as a hostage. A steamy battle of wills ensues as they fight to determine which of them will break first. Will it be her? Or will it be him?
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2023
238 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Quick
38 books340 followersJ.L. Quick is an author of spicy, dark, contemporary (18+) romance novels and novellas. Utilizing a mixture of her life experiences and Master's degree in Psychology, she creates deep, rich characters who battle their demons while finding savage and brutal love. In her free time, she enjoys reading, food festivals, visiting distilleries, and cult-classic movies. J.L. Quick resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and the pack of pitties.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 21, 2023
I literally read this book in one day! I could barely put it down, if it wasn’t for having to adult, I wouldn't have. Lorenzo is daddy and no one can change my mind. His need to own and protect is rather swoon worthy and I hope his and Ava's bond only grow in the rest of the series. Ava is strong willed and I love it. Her mouth may get her into trouble, but she knows when to hold back as well. The mafia story and twists is very intriguing and kept my interest from start to finish. Can not wait for book 2.
July 7, 2023
DNF at about 50%
It started off strong but I lost the attraction to the story when it went from I hate you to I want you in less than a paragraph. The writing was pretty choppy. There was no actual described internal fight within the FMC. Just went from A to B with nothing in between.
This story could have been better if it were longer. I skimmed the end but again… the ending was just like “TA DAAAA” but nothing that actually explained it… it was just so random and out there. I didn’t expect it but it wasn’t quite a plot twist. It was more of an “oh?”
The only good thing was the spice. Sheesh. Sppiiiiiicy! Oh! And the dual perspective in first person from the MMC and FMC.
I’m happy I skimmed through the last half. Overall, the authors writing style didn’t appeal to me. But spice level was great.
It started off strong but I lost the attraction to the story when it went from I hate you to I want you in less than a paragraph. The writing was pretty choppy. There was no actual described internal fight within the FMC. Just went from A to B with nothing in between.
This story could have been better if it were longer. I skimmed the end but again… the ending was just like “TA DAAAA” but nothing that actually explained it… it was just so random and out there. I didn’t expect it but it wasn’t quite a plot twist. It was more of an “oh?”
The only good thing was the spice. Sheesh. Sppiiiiiicy! Oh! And the dual perspective in first person from the MMC and FMC.
I’m happy I skimmed through the last half. Overall, the authors writing style didn’t appeal to me. But spice level was great.
April 26, 2023
I was honored to receive an ARC and even though I was not quite quick enough with the review, here it is!
This book kept me on my toes🔥 it was fast paced hot and spicy but didn’t lack in plot or story! It was a fun quick read that got me out of my reading slump.
I liked the world it was set in and the characters so far, there were some minor details that had me question my own sanity, thats how good this was🥵🌶️
I love that it has a sassy fmc and a protective possessive alpha-hole who is only sweet to her (except for in the bedroom)🙈 and the ending was so sweet! It was not a cliffhanger per se but it left so much unanswered that I am really excited for the second book!!
!!Be sure to read TW since this is a dark romance book with explicit scenes!!
Spice rating: 5/5🌶️🔥
This book kept me on my toes🔥 it was fast paced hot and spicy but didn’t lack in plot or story! It was a fun quick read that got me out of my reading slump.
I liked the world it was set in and the characters so far, there were some minor details that had me question my own sanity, thats how good this was🥵🌶️
I love that it has a sassy fmc and a protective possessive alpha-hole who is only sweet to her (except for in the bedroom)🙈 and the ending was so sweet! It was not a cliffhanger per se but it left so much unanswered that I am really excited for the second book!!
!!Be sure to read TW since this is a dark romance book with explicit scenes!!
Spice rating: 5/5🌶️🔥
April 21, 2023
Dark, gritty and smutty!! Pick this book up!! Can this get any hotter!! Phew , Lorenzo , this man he wants something he gets it and makes no bones about it. Avalie, the sassy FMC who has put up with more shit that any other but still looks for the silver lining. Circumstances puts them in each other's lane and boy the sparks fly (not wanting to be) and it gets so good.
Love the character development in this book and looking forward for more from this series!! ❤️❤️
Love the character development in this book and looking forward for more from this series!! ❤️❤️
April 21, 2023
This is a great Dark Mafia Romance. It has a great plot with twist and very dirty spice!! It is book one of the series but does not end on a cliffhanger, meaning that it is either a standalone and the other books will be about a different character from this book or they will have a whole new set of problems in book 2. I hope you enjoy!!
July 24, 2023
“Touch her and you die” type of mafia romance.
Want to read
April 20, 2024🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/26/2023)! 🎁
May 8, 2023
She has done it again. If I didn't have this thing called a job, I would have finished this book in a day.
This is a amazing dark mafia romance that takes you on a ride for your life. You meet Avalie, Ava, who has been through a lot in her short life. She is just trying to get away from her stepfather. She is a strong sassy character that will not back down. Lorenzo, Renzo, is a hard a$$ and the enforcer for his mafia family. He meets Ava when he goes to collect on a debt her stepfather owes. We see that hard side of Lorenzo come out. When he comes back the next day Ava's stepfather gives her as payment for his debt.
Ava doesn't go willingly; she fights Renzo every step of the way. As the story progresses, she and Renzo relationship goes from capturer to lovers.
This book does not end in a cliffhanger but does leave you wanting to know more.
I received this book as an ARC and leave this review willingly.
This is a amazing dark mafia romance that takes you on a ride for your life. You meet Avalie, Ava, who has been through a lot in her short life. She is just trying to get away from her stepfather. She is a strong sassy character that will not back down. Lorenzo, Renzo, is a hard a$$ and the enforcer for his mafia family. He meets Ava when he goes to collect on a debt her stepfather owes. We see that hard side of Lorenzo come out. When he comes back the next day Ava's stepfather gives her as payment for his debt.
Ava doesn't go willingly; she fights Renzo every step of the way. As the story progresses, she and Renzo relationship goes from capturer to lovers.
This book does not end in a cliffhanger but does leave you wanting to know more.
I received this book as an ARC and leave this review willingly.
July 14, 2023
Okay my darklings this book was perfection! I haven’t been able to find a mafia romance that I could stomach and didn’t get bored with and this fixed that issue for me! I read this book in under a day. It held my attention, had a realistic timeline, and was short and sweet and covered all the bases. I enjoyed the cat and mouse games the players had with each other and plenty of twists that hold your attention. I wanted a short spicy read and this did just that! I can’t wait to finish this series and see what else unfolds!
April 24, 2023
Grab some milk because this one is spicy 🥵 This new dark mafia romance by JL Quick is going to leave you panting and wanting more. It’s listed at 187 pages so she’s a quick read and you won’t be able to get through it fast enough.
Ava has had a hard life. Her dad is unknown. Her mom left her at an early age, with a stepfather (Frank) who has not shown her much kindness. She’s surviving. Trying to save away to finally break free.
Lorenzo is the next in line to head his mafia family. He’s sexy and dark. And just everything we love. After giving Frank plenty of time to settle his debt, Frank still can’t come up with the money. So instead, he offers Ava as payment. The sassy, sarcastic woman has piqued Lorenzo’s interest so he accepts the deal. What he didn’t realize was how much this woman was going to change his whole life.
And ya’ll that’s just the beginning. Ava expects harsh treatment because that’s all she’s ever known. But Lorenzo is proving to be much more than that. A twisted turn of events is going to have Lorenzo ready to burn down the city and secrets to unfold.
This book was easily a five star read. It’s dark and gritty and just 🔥. I’m excited to see where this series goes.
Check your trigger warnings!! Happy reading ya’ll 🖤
Ava has had a hard life. Her dad is unknown. Her mom left her at an early age, with a stepfather (Frank) who has not shown her much kindness. She’s surviving. Trying to save away to finally break free.
Lorenzo is the next in line to head his mafia family. He’s sexy and dark. And just everything we love. After giving Frank plenty of time to settle his debt, Frank still can’t come up with the money. So instead, he offers Ava as payment. The sassy, sarcastic woman has piqued Lorenzo’s interest so he accepts the deal. What he didn’t realize was how much this woman was going to change his whole life.
And ya’ll that’s just the beginning. Ava expects harsh treatment because that’s all she’s ever known. But Lorenzo is proving to be much more than that. A twisted turn of events is going to have Lorenzo ready to burn down the city and secrets to unfold.
This book was easily a five star read. It’s dark and gritty and just 🔥. I’m excited to see where this series goes.
Check your trigger warnings!! Happy reading ya’ll 🖤
April 24, 2023
Extremely Spicy Dark Mafia vibes
We are introduced to the Mafia straight up in the book. Then introduced to our main characters Avalie and Lorenzo.
Avalie is Independent and trying to get out of her current living situation with her good for nothing step dad. Her mom left when she was little and she has no idea who her dad is. She's fearless, in everything that she does. She's a straight up queen in the life she's been given.
Lorenzo Botticelli is ruthless and loves to punish those that wrong the family. But, he soon finds himself fighting Avalie to come with him as payment, but being the woman she is, she's not going down without a fight. Ava expects harsh treatment because that’s all she’s ever known. But Lorenzo is proving to be much more than that. There's twists and turns about Lorenzo that will unfold before you're eyes.
His need to own and protect is rather swoon worthy and I hope his and Ava's bond only grow in the rest of the series
This new dark mafia romance by JL Quick is going to leave your kitty begging for more. Being 187 pages, it's a quick read and you won’t be able to get through it fast enough. And the best part Is the bond Avalie soon has with someone special in the book.
We are introduced to the Mafia straight up in the book. Then introduced to our main characters Avalie and Lorenzo.
Avalie is Independent and trying to get out of her current living situation with her good for nothing step dad. Her mom left when she was little and she has no idea who her dad is. She's fearless, in everything that she does. She's a straight up queen in the life she's been given.
Lorenzo Botticelli is ruthless and loves to punish those that wrong the family. But, he soon finds himself fighting Avalie to come with him as payment, but being the woman she is, she's not going down without a fight. Ava expects harsh treatment because that’s all she’s ever known. But Lorenzo is proving to be much more than that. There's twists and turns about Lorenzo that will unfold before you're eyes.
His need to own and protect is rather swoon worthy and I hope his and Ava's bond only grow in the rest of the series
This new dark mafia romance by JL Quick is going to leave your kitty begging for more. Being 187 pages, it's a quick read and you won’t be able to get through it fast enough. And the best part Is the bond Avalie soon has with someone special in the book.
May 3, 2023
Quick High Heat Read
This book was interesting and had good flow and excellent pacing! There were some fun twists and turns and the characters ended up being likable.
The steam was great.
There were some editing and word choice errors but none that hindered reading.
Absolutely worth the read!
This book was interesting and had good flow and excellent pacing! There were some fun twists and turns and the characters ended up being likable.
The steam was great.
There were some editing and word choice errors but none that hindered reading.
Absolutely worth the read!
July 29, 2023
This book does have some spelling/ grammar mistakes that could be fixed.
Gave it two stars because there were a few good one liners.
Story felt rushed and the characters were fine for a short story but had no personality or growth.
Gave it two stars because there were a few good one liners.
Story felt rushed and the characters were fine for a short story but had no personality or growth.
May 3, 2023
This was a really quick and fun read. Super steamy and all the mob boss storyline a mafia romance should have!
January 19, 2024
Love love love
This is the first jl quick book I've read and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to start the second installment.
This is the first jl quick book I've read and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to start the second installment.
February 20, 2024
A mafia romance where the FMC gets really excited by the vicious side of mafia-ing. Also including the line 'Who the fuck is Ava?' has got the song stuck in my head, so thanks to the author for that.
April 28, 2023
Hot Dark Mafia Romance!
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
He fell first
Mafia Romance
Sassy FMC
First off, I only dabble in dark romance m, and tend to need happy light romance afterwards. This time around it was the perfect amount of dark that didn’t leave me needing a pallette cleanser. I loved the nickname he gave her, and may have looked it up before he finally told her what it meant. I loved the twists and turns and can’t wait for the next to come out to find out what will happen next.
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
He fell first
Mafia Romance
Sassy FMC
First off, I only dabble in dark romance m, and tend to need happy light romance afterwards. This time around it was the perfect amount of dark that didn’t leave me needing a pallette cleanser. I loved the nickname he gave her, and may have looked it up before he finally told her what it meant. I loved the twists and turns and can’t wait for the next to come out to find out what will happen next.
April 28, 2023
I loved it
Hot, sweet, suspenseful, dash of psychotic what more could you ask for? Definitely one of the best books I've read this year, I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
Hot, sweet, suspenseful, dash of psychotic what more could you ask for? Definitely one of the best books I've read this year, I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
April 22, 2023
This book was so enticing!
Ava is sassy and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Not even when she is sold to the Mafia to pay off a debt. Lorenzo doesn’t know what he’s in for when he decides to accept the trade.
Lorenzo is harsh but has a soft side. He never lets any harm come to women or children when doing his work for the family. He wants Ava from the moment he meets her and knows just what she needs to be satisfied.
There are plot twists and surprises throughout the book but nothing can stand between Renzo and Ava once the create their bond.
Ava is sassy and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Not even when she is sold to the Mafia to pay off a debt. Lorenzo doesn’t know what he’s in for when he decides to accept the trade.
Lorenzo is harsh but has a soft side. He never lets any harm come to women or children when doing his work for the family. He wants Ava from the moment he meets her and knows just what she needs to be satisfied.
There are plot twists and surprises throughout the book but nothing can stand between Renzo and Ava once the create their bond.
April 25, 2023
Dark and Dirty! JL Quick definitely knows how to bring the heat in this Mafia romance. I had this book read in 5 hours. I just couldn’t put it down. Events occur that give Lorenzo and Avalie no choice but to create an incredible bond. This is a book that I highly recommend.
September 26, 2023
Genre: Dark Romance 🖤 (Mob Story)
My Thoughts: I got this book for free on stuff your Kindle day. I read the whole book in one day bc I couldn’t sleep. It was kind of hot for the first like 50 pages then it was so predictable and had little to no story line. I think there was a lot of good lines in there that were spicy but the writing style wasn’t great. You can tell this was an author, who was just starting out writing books. The plot lacked any build up. It basically was like she was sold to him, mild tension between Lorenzo and Ava, she was kidnapped, immediately got back to him, then like fell for each other. Honestly felt like reading a Wattpad story haha. There was a few grammatical errors as well which is never good for a book. I will not continue reading this series.
Overall Rating: ⭐️
My Thoughts: I got this book for free on stuff your Kindle day. I read the whole book in one day bc I couldn’t sleep. It was kind of hot for the first like 50 pages then it was so predictable and had little to no story line. I think there was a lot of good lines in there that were spicy but the writing style wasn’t great. You can tell this was an author, who was just starting out writing books. The plot lacked any build up. It basically was like she was sold to him, mild tension between Lorenzo and Ava, she was kidnapped, immediately got back to him, then like fell for each other. Honestly felt like reading a Wattpad story haha. There was a few grammatical errors as well which is never good for a book. I will not continue reading this series.
Overall Rating: ⭐️
August 17, 2023
(Happy Release Day🎉🎉🎉)
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Someone turned up the damn heat or something because wow, this book escalates rather quickly. The chemistry between our two badass MC’s is only half there from the beginning (FMC plays a little hard to get😉) but when things heat up, it’s a full-on inferno 🔥🫢
MMC, Lorenzo, is the son of one of the five major crime families in New York and it shows. He is all business- until he meets Avalie -she flips his world on its axis and he’s powerless to do anything about it.
This was a fairly quick read for me because I couldn’t put it down! Today is release day (04/24) so grab your copy now and thank me later ✨
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Someone turned up the damn heat or something because wow, this book escalates rather quickly. The chemistry between our two badass MC’s is only half there from the beginning (FMC plays a little hard to get😉) but when things heat up, it’s a full-on inferno 🔥🫢
MMC, Lorenzo, is the son of one of the five major crime families in New York and it shows. He is all business- until he meets Avalie -she flips his world on its axis and he’s powerless to do anything about it.
This was a fairly quick read for me because I couldn’t put it down! Today is release day (04/24) so grab your copy now and thank me later ✨
August 19, 2023
Mafia dark BDSM romance
First person, double pov
Check TW, this book is on the dark side
Stand-alone, continues in series with a new couple but the ending is pretty resolved
This book technically had a lot of noticeable typos, sometimes words were missing from lines, sometimes two words were switched in a line, and a few were misspelled. I felt there were a few times where it seems like the main character doesn’t know someone’s name but after the love interest’s pov, the name gets automatically filled in, but apart from the typos, I’d say the book was well written, in terms of how information was presented to the reader and the plot structure flow.
In terms of the book being dark, like mentioned in the TWs there is torture and general mafia aspects.
In terms of BDSM, you don’t get as much education or info but kinks are introduced. You get bondage and restraints as well as some of the darker aspects like Knife play and breath play along with harder impact play that leaves marks. There is dubious consent at some points in the beginning but the love interest makes it a point to mention that the main character can stop it before it gets sexual, but I don’t think it follows consent education perfectly. Aftercare is very focused on, though, and it actually makes the book a very cute cozy comfort read at points!
You get about 4-5 sex scenes with a few more bdsm scenes sprinkled around those, but they’re well paced with the plot! You get a few time jumps and one skipped sex scene but you still get a lot of scenes with the love interest
In terms of the plot, you still get a well fleshed out mafia plot structure that has a somewhat resolved end, though I can tell there are some aspects that could be expanded upon through the next books in the series.
First person, double pov
Check TW, this book is on the dark side
Stand-alone, continues in series with a new couple but the ending is pretty resolved
This book technically had a lot of noticeable typos, sometimes words were missing from lines, sometimes two words were switched in a line, and a few were misspelled. I felt there were a few times where it seems like the main character doesn’t know someone’s name but after the love interest’s pov, the name gets automatically filled in, but apart from the typos, I’d say the book was well written, in terms of how information was presented to the reader and the plot structure flow.
In terms of the book being dark, like mentioned in the TWs there is torture and general mafia aspects.
In terms of BDSM, you don’t get as much education or info but kinks are introduced. You get bondage and restraints as well as some of the darker aspects like Knife play and breath play along with harder impact play that leaves marks. There is dubious consent at some points in the beginning but the love interest makes it a point to mention that the main character can stop it before it gets sexual, but I don’t think it follows consent education perfectly. Aftercare is very focused on, though, and it actually makes the book a very cute cozy comfort read at points!
You get about 4-5 sex scenes with a few more bdsm scenes sprinkled around those, but they’re well paced with the plot! You get a few time jumps and one skipped sex scene but you still get a lot of scenes with the love interest
In terms of the plot, you still get a well fleshed out mafia plot structure that has a somewhat resolved end, though I can tell there are some aspects that could be expanded upon through the next books in the series.
August 19, 2023
Sold To The Syndicate is a dark, spicy, mafia romance book. This story follows Lorenzo (Renzo) and Avalie (Ava). Renzo is taking over the family business and when he goes to collect a debt owed, Frank is unable to pay his debt in cash so he offers Renzo something a little different, or should I say someone a little different. Renzo takes Franks offer and takes Ava against her willingness. Ava is a spitfire and fights back verbally and physically but its nothing compared to the Mafia she now belongs to. Things begin to accelerate when Renzo decides Ava is not Botticelli property but rather she belongs to him. This includes issues within the mafia, gripping family secrets, and some super spicy kinks.
Sold to the Syndicate is a spicy romance and the spice starts immediately. It is a dark romance so there are some trigger warnings you want to check before reading. Like most dark romances there may be some kinks or behaviors that some may not be comfortable with reading.
I loved all aspects of this book. Renzo is a steamy MMC, and Ava is a spitfire FMC. The Mafia vibes are there, but I would have liked to have a little more. The spice is there, but I wish there would have been more character/relationship building between the two main characters. This was a quick read. It grabs you attention and has all the factors dark romance readers are looking for, but being a dark romance reader, I craved a little more than this book gave.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars and 4/5 spice level.
Sold to the Syndicate is a spicy romance and the spice starts immediately. It is a dark romance so there are some trigger warnings you want to check before reading. Like most dark romances there may be some kinks or behaviors that some may not be comfortable with reading.
I loved all aspects of this book. Renzo is a steamy MMC, and Ava is a spitfire FMC. The Mafia vibes are there, but I would have liked to have a little more. The spice is there, but I wish there would have been more character/relationship building between the two main characters. This was a quick read. It grabs you attention and has all the factors dark romance readers are looking for, but being a dark romance reader, I craved a little more than this book gave.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars and 4/5 spice level.
April 24, 2023
Quick read but very good and spicy none the less. This is the first book in The Botticeli Brotherhood Series by J.L Quick. We get introduce to Avalie. Independent and trying to get out of her current living situation. Avalie has no idea who her dad is. Her mom left when she was little and left her with her "step-dad" who has been less then caring. Unbeknownst to her she finds out that her stepdad sold her to the syndicate to pay out his debt and Lorenzo Botticelli is here to collect!
Lorenzo Botticelli is ruthless and loves to punish those that wrong the family. When he finds himself in the predicament of taking Avalie as payment he soon finds out that she is not going down without a fight.
I enjoyed this read a lot. Both characters were very interesting in their own ways but together they were just a delightful combination. Get ready for the secrets that get revel. Cant wait for the next book in the series!
Now, the only thing for me that I hope she can integrate in the upcoming series was the time lapse. I usually like it when the author will indicate when weeks or months have pass and I notice during the story you only new about the time lapse as the character was going remembering of the time that has past.
Lorenzo Botticelli is ruthless and loves to punish those that wrong the family. When he finds himself in the predicament of taking Avalie as payment he soon finds out that she is not going down without a fight.
I enjoyed this read a lot. Both characters were very interesting in their own ways but together they were just a delightful combination. Get ready for the secrets that get revel. Cant wait for the next book in the series!
Now, the only thing for me that I hope she can integrate in the upcoming series was the time lapse. I usually like it when the author will indicate when weeks or months have pass and I notice during the story you only new about the time lapse as the character was going remembering of the time that has past.
July 28, 2023
I’m a sucker for a mafia romance, especially when it’s by an indie author. This book was a fun read, with honestly really enjoyable spicy scenes, and that’s all I needed it to be!
Lorenzo Boticelli, heir to the Italian mafia family in NYC, agrees to take Avalie as payment for her stepfather’s debt. The spitfire that is Ava obviously wasn’t a huge fan, but who can resist a sexy, powerful man like Renzo. He wins her over in the lust department easily, but her heart is a bit harder to catch.
I can’t say the book was very well written, and it could definitely use another round of editing, but I still enjoyed it! The spicy scenes had a bit of kink and BDSM in it, which is always fun; our FMC loves pain and our MMC likes delivering it… so it works out!
I honestly enjoyed the two MCs and their dual POV. I do think some phrases and interactions were overused, particularly in the romantic side of their relationship, but it’s fineee. The plot was a bit random, but you know what? I was along for the ride. And I did quite enjoy the addition of other mafia and mob families that actually seemed to be well-informed (unlike some other mafia romances I’ve read).
Lorenzo Boticelli, heir to the Italian mafia family in NYC, agrees to take Avalie as payment for her stepfather’s debt. The spitfire that is Ava obviously wasn’t a huge fan, but who can resist a sexy, powerful man like Renzo. He wins her over in the lust department easily, but her heart is a bit harder to catch.
I can’t say the book was very well written, and it could definitely use another round of editing, but I still enjoyed it! The spicy scenes had a bit of kink and BDSM in it, which is always fun; our FMC loves pain and our MMC likes delivering it… so it works out!
I honestly enjoyed the two MCs and their dual POV. I do think some phrases and interactions were overused, particularly in the romantic side of their relationship, but it’s fineee. The plot was a bit random, but you know what? I was along for the ride. And I did quite enjoy the addition of other mafia and mob families that actually seemed to be well-informed (unlike some other mafia romances I’ve read).
July 3, 2023
Book is very spicy and fast paced. Very short chapters were nice too.
But the fast pace and short chapters lent to a lack of detail. I wanted more. I just finished the book and I couldn’t tell you what the main characters looked like.
The book felt like a rough draft or a first draft to me. It was in desperate need of an editor or at least a good beta reader. For example, at the beginning Lorenzo is talking about his sister and the boy whose lap she’s sitting on. Then out of the blue a woman walks up and flirts with him. There was no mention of her until she was suddenly there. Another example was after they “played” for the first time he said he’d be busy the next day. Then she wakes up and said it’d been 2 weeks since he touched her. The timing was all over the place and very confusing.
There was no relationship building between them either. It was just them playing.
I think the story had good bones to be something great, but it needs more.
But the fast pace and short chapters lent to a lack of detail. I wanted more. I just finished the book and I couldn’t tell you what the main characters looked like.
The book felt like a rough draft or a first draft to me. It was in desperate need of an editor or at least a good beta reader. For example, at the beginning Lorenzo is talking about his sister and the boy whose lap she’s sitting on. Then out of the blue a woman walks up and flirts with him. There was no mention of her until she was suddenly there. Another example was after they “played” for the first time he said he’d be busy the next day. Then she wakes up and said it’d been 2 weeks since he touched her. The timing was all over the place and very confusing.
There was no relationship building between them either. It was just them playing.
I think the story had good bones to be something great, but it needs more.
December 22, 2023
I read this back in August and forgot to put up a full review. So, this is me catching up.
Let's start out with Renzo and Ava still live rent free in my noggin! I loved the dynamic and character growth in this story. The spice was DELICIOUS!
The title is fitting, so make sure you check your Triggers to have the best experience. The spice with the angst and suspension of this had me on the edge of my seat, and when I tell you i couldn't put this book down I mean it. I devoured it in ONE SITTING.
I am a sucker for dramatic rescue.
I had found this as a free download on stuff your kindle day, and it couldn't wait to dive in. Im so glad i found J.L. through stuff your kindle day, she is now an auto-buy author for me! The introduction to the Botticelli Brotherhood still has my head reeling, I love the warm and fuzzies I got from the end after the drama that nearly MADE ME CRY!!
This will hands down be a reread for me.
Let's start out with Renzo and Ava still live rent free in my noggin! I loved the dynamic and character growth in this story. The spice was DELICIOUS!
The title is fitting, so make sure you check your Triggers to have the best experience. The spice with the angst and suspension of this had me on the edge of my seat, and when I tell you i couldn't put this book down I mean it. I devoured it in ONE SITTING.
I am a sucker for dramatic rescue.
I had found this as a free download on stuff your kindle day, and it couldn't wait to dive in. Im so glad i found J.L. through stuff your kindle day, she is now an auto-buy author for me! The introduction to the Botticelli Brotherhood still has my head reeling, I love the warm and fuzzies I got from the end after the drama that nearly MADE ME CRY!!
This will hands down be a reread for me.
August 8, 2023
This is the first book I read from this author. It’s a mafia romance enemies to lovers. The story is good it’s about a guy who sells his stepdaughter to the mafia he owes money too. In order to payoff his debt.
I love Ava she is feisty and can take it as much as she gives it. And Lorenzo is a hot mafia guy who is a killer, and he has some feelings for Ava once he takes her with him, she’s the first one that can take his punishment and love them as much as he likes to give them.
The story has a lot of hot scenes and some thriller moments. You meet some other characters that are from her other books in the series. I really enjoyed the book it kept me interested and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Can’t wait to read the other book in the series.
4/ ⭐️
4.5/ 🌶️
I love Ava she is feisty and can take it as much as she gives it. And Lorenzo is a hot mafia guy who is a killer, and he has some feelings for Ava once he takes her with him, she’s the first one that can take his punishment and love them as much as he likes to give them.
The story has a lot of hot scenes and some thriller moments. You meet some other characters that are from her other books in the series. I really enjoyed the book it kept me interested and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Can’t wait to read the other book in the series.
4/ ⭐️
4.5/ 🌶️
June 10, 2023
Attitude & Spice
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was a good mafia read with a ton of spice. The author explores pleasure/pain and BDSM. Our MMC, a mafia prince, embodies the touch her and ☠️ characteristic.
Ava grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She has a hard life, a sharp tongue, and a resilient spirit. Renzo, our mafia prince, shows up at her step-father’s store one day to settle a debt. Lucky for him, Ava is offered as payment.
There are some unexpected twists and turns that end with a HEA (though there are some loose ends left untied to lead us into book 2?!).
I would have loved for this to go through just one more round of editing to catch a few grammatical/wrong word errors.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was a good mafia read with a ton of spice. The author explores pleasure/pain and BDSM. Our MMC, a mafia prince, embodies the touch her and ☠️ characteristic.
Ava grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She has a hard life, a sharp tongue, and a resilient spirit. Renzo, our mafia prince, shows up at her step-father’s store one day to settle a debt. Lucky for him, Ava is offered as payment.
There are some unexpected twists and turns that end with a HEA (though there are some loose ends left untied to lead us into book 2?!).
I would have loved for this to go through just one more round of editing to catch a few grammatical/wrong word errors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews