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Beauty in Lies #1
Until Tomorrow Comes
Rafael
I came for war. I left with an obsession.
With one look, Isa captivated me. She consumed me, drawing me into her world without ever knowing the dangers of mine. I intend to make her mine, no matter what lies I need to tell to manipulate her into falling in love with El Diablo. It should be simple enough, but secrets lurk in the depths of her multicolored eyes, and I’ll do anything to understand what broke her before I had the chance. Because she’s mine to break.
Isa
Rafael Ibarra tore through my life like a raging inferno.
Consuming every part of me he touches, he promises to show me passion and the real Ibiza. Though our tryst can never be anything but temporary, I never want to leave the man who makes me wish things were different. But there’s a nightmare hiding within his multicolored gaze, a phantom rattling at the cages who wants to devour me, to take me and claim me as his. He’s temptation, pushing me toward sin with his wicked touch. But the sins of the flesh are different from the sins of the mind, and as much as I hate his secrets…I will never tell him my own.
Until Tomorrow Comes is the first book in the Beauty in Lies series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a dark mafia romance and contains graphic violence, mature content, and elements that may be triggering. Please listen at your own discretion.
I came for war. I left with an obsession.
With one look, Isa captivated me. She consumed me, drawing me into her world without ever knowing the dangers of mine. I intend to make her mine, no matter what lies I need to tell to manipulate her into falling in love with El Diablo. It should be simple enough, but secrets lurk in the depths of her multicolored eyes, and I’ll do anything to understand what broke her before I had the chance. Because she’s mine to break.
Isa
Rafael Ibarra tore through my life like a raging inferno.
Consuming every part of me he touches, he promises to show me passion and the real Ibiza. Though our tryst can never be anything but temporary, I never want to leave the man who makes me wish things were different. But there’s a nightmare hiding within his multicolored gaze, a phantom rattling at the cages who wants to devour me, to take me and claim me as his. He’s temptation, pushing me toward sin with his wicked touch. But the sins of the flesh are different from the sins of the mind, and as much as I hate his secrets…I will never tell him my own.
Until Tomorrow Comes is the first book in the Beauty in Lies series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a dark mafia romance and contains graphic violence, mature content, and elements that may be triggering. Please listen at your own discretion.
258 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2023
1751 people are currently reading
18787 people want to read
About the author
Adelaide Forrest
29 books3,119 followersAdelaide fell in love with books at a young age and quickly discovered her love for writing soon after. Since then, she’s become a self-professed plot hoarder of over 300 book concepts.
After receiving her degree in Psychology, Adelaide went on to work in a therapeutic riding facility. When her daughter was born, Adelaide traded out her boots to be a stay-at-home mom. In 2019, she added author to those job duties after a lifetime of dreaming about it.
She lives in New York with her husband, two children, and their dog and cat who all make up the center of her world.
For updates, please visit www.adelaideforrest.com or follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideForr...
or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelaidefor...
After receiving her degree in Psychology, Adelaide went on to work in a therapeutic riding facility. When her daughter was born, Adelaide traded out her boots to be a stay-at-home mom. In 2019, she added author to those job duties after a lifetime of dreaming about it.
She lives in New York with her husband, two children, and their dog and cat who all make up the center of her world.
For updates, please visit www.adelaideforrest.com or follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideForr...
or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelaidefor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 799 reviews
January 5, 2022
The beesh here is still being harassed by the insane number of uni deadlines but is back to ranting nonetheless. I won’t let the university deviate me from the rightful path of a Goodreads' reviewer.
But back to this joke of a dark story. So, this is supposed to be a dark romance book, right? Even my romance-washed brain couldn't take the sheer ridiculousness of it.
However, I wish my only problem with this “dark mafia romance” book was the wrong advertising, but first things first.
This author and I, we clearly do have vastly different notions of what is quite naturally required of a book that is labeled as “dark romance”. Did the story involve mafia business and murders? Yes, to some extremely limited extent it did. And in this particular case, I am not even complaining about the lack of violence galore. Cheesy conversations between organized crime lords that sound more like a teenage girl’s fluffy fantasy about how big bad criminals interact with each other don’t leave you panting for more of that supposedly dark mafia shit. I have absolutely nothing against fluffy fantasies, they are not a bad thing per se, but groundbreaking as it might seem, they were absolutely cringey given the context. The way a few murders were described in this book?
But I did not. Not when the hero murdered, fucked or stalked. His internal monologue was in a league of its own...
I guess Ms. Forrest tried to portray the male lead as this gritty ruthless villain who can't take his next breath without slitting someone’s throat, feasting on babies’ blood and instilling fear in every living soul. Wishful thinking. What we actually got was the man who just couldn't bring himself to shut tf up about how he was a cruel and nasty bastard. The kiss and tell antics but make it kill and tell. ✨
Am I really supposed to believe that this hero is a big dangerous mafia man when his way of thinking is not that different from a 16-year-old teen fangirling over their crush? That’s sweet and all but coming from a man who is in his late 20s and early 30s?
This brings me back to the major issue of this book, that being the writing that is extremely, ridiculously bad. It takes a lot of talent for a female author to make their male character’s point of view sound realistic and adequate and many of them fail miserably at it. This author is a rule rather than the exception.
Rafael (H) gave me a massive headache with his overly descriptive storytelling. Please. Fucking. Stop. Describing. Your. Smile. As. Dark. Or. Twisted. Or. Crooked. For the love of Satan you serve or whatever. 🙄
A dark smile played at my lips when his attention came back to me, and he blinked at the shock of mismatched eyes that often drew attention to my face and worked to camouflage the devil that lurked within.
...
My fingers twitched at my sides, eager to taste the violence that vibrated through the air. Monsters sensed blood on the horizon, and I was one of the worst nightmares I knew.
Fake it till you make it, they say? This guy must have taken this phrase really close to heart.
This dude overanalyzed every tiny insignificant detail and chewed over and over the same damn simplistic mafia philosophy. He explained his every goddamn thought (they weren't sophisticated and deep, take my word for it). He was trying so hard to justify his oh, so deeply immoral deeds while supposedly not giving a fuck about being a murderer? Dude, those are your inner thoughts, thus who are you trying to convince so damn hard? Seriously. Shut da fuck up.
The heroine, Isa, is your typical goody-two-shoes BUT of course not without a dark secret from the past lurking in the dark (nah never mind she is barely seventeen). The secret that forced teen Issa to play 'protector game' for her self-destructing, cunty sister out of guilt. The secret that propelled our heroine's twin sister to hate her so much that she slipped roofies in her drink (?). .Now I wanna take a moment and ask the most crucial and important question of my life: what so fuckin' terrible can commit a five-year-old?
I laughed so damn hard when the hero (who had put surveillance cameras in her house like a stalker that he was) called her “dead inside” and mysterious because when alone in her bedroom she never touched herself or listened to the music.
Though, on a serious note...what was she doing there? Place your bets.
Insta-love or insta-obsession our love doves developed over one heated glance across the road was ridiculous at its best. That's all it takes? He saw her, a 16 year-old-girl across the street and what do you think was his next thought? That he would marry tf out of this chick when she came of age. Honestly I was not even surprised. Why would author waste her precious author's time on developing a little more solid base for their relationship development?
SPOILERS
To cut a long story short. When Isa turns legal and still remains clueless about the major setup, our simple-minded stalker boy Rafael makes a move on her in his domain - Ibiza - in the hope of making Isa fall in love with him willingly (lmao). After a couple of days together she won't mind when he snatches her up and forces her to cut all the ties with her family, friends and previous life. Sure thing, immaculate logic. 🤌🏻
Literally five minutes after theirbumping hips in unison romantic dance on the bar's dancefloor (their first meeting too) and his passionate *gags* "pasa la noche conmigo" (JAIL) whisper, she goes to the hotel room with him and lets him fuck her. So what? I was forced to endure the dullest, the most mechanical sex scene ever is all.
But the joke goes on and on.
10 minutes later (I wasn't counting, pinky promise) the girl already believes herself deeply in love with him (a few dull fuck fests can produce such an effect, I assume).
Sweetie, the only thing you know about the dude is the size of his dick and you are already heartbroken over your imminent separation and jealous of all the other women in his life? Please say no more.
Finally, at the very end of the book (no, her dumbass didn’t realize it on her own, for that you'd need a functioning brain) Isa’s friend called her and communicated her the following truly shockin’ piece of news:
! her lover is a merciless murderer, ruthless mafia man, dangerous male specimen, despicable human being! *GASPS*
Oh wait.
This info doesn't stop her from eagerly fucking the “monster” the same evening the news was delivered at her doorstep. What a better way to make your farewell? Partying gift for a made man. 👉🥺👈
The ending hints oh, not so secretly that the next book will involve some kind of fucked up shit, but do I care enough to keep reading the series? Nah, thank you. Rafael got angry just because Isa was not ready to give up her life for his mafia ass after a few days in between the shits with him I —. I definitely have better things to waste my time on. Reading about a lad with a jellyfish IQ is not one of them.
(Un)Surprisingly, the presence of my favorite tropes does not guarantee that I will be able to enjoy a book.
—Mafia? ✅
— Obsessed anti-hero transforming into a creepy stalker? ✅
— Hero celibate after meeting his woman?✅
Yes, I absolutely love all of the above mentioned, but I am too much of a sapiosexual to find the story about two dumbasses enjoyable. I guess, after all, they are a match made in heaven.
Wannabe bad boy idiot + naive idiot. 🤌🏻
Last but not least. Does The Magical Healing Cock trope still need to be part and parcel of contemporary romance?
But back to this joke of a dark story. So, this is supposed to be a dark romance book, right? Even my romance-washed brain couldn't take the sheer ridiculousness of it.
However, I wish my only problem with this “dark mafia romance” book was the wrong advertising, but first things first.
This author and I, we clearly do have vastly different notions of what is quite naturally required of a book that is labeled as “dark romance”. Did the story involve mafia business and murders? Yes, to some extremely limited extent it did. And in this particular case, I am not even complaining about the lack of violence galore. Cheesy conversations between organized crime lords that sound more like a teenage girl’s fluffy fantasy about how big bad criminals interact with each other don’t leave you panting for more of that supposedly dark mafia shit. I have absolutely nothing against fluffy fantasies, they are not a bad thing per se, but groundbreaking as it might seem, they were absolutely cringey given the context. The way a few murders were described in this book?
But I did not. Not when the hero murdered, fucked or stalked. His internal monologue was in a league of its own...
I guess Ms. Forrest tried to portray the male lead as this gritty ruthless villain who can't take his next breath without slitting someone’s throat, feasting on babies’ blood and instilling fear in every living soul. Wishful thinking. What we actually got was the man who just couldn't bring himself to shut tf up about how he was a cruel and nasty bastard. The kiss and tell antics but make it kill and tell. ✨
Am I really supposed to believe that this hero is a big dangerous mafia man when his way of thinking is not that different from a 16-year-old teen fangirling over their crush? That’s sweet and all but coming from a man who is in his late 20s and early 30s?
This brings me back to the major issue of this book, that being the writing that is extremely, ridiculously bad. It takes a lot of talent for a female author to make their male character’s point of view sound realistic and adequate and many of them fail miserably at it. This author is a rule rather than the exception.
Rafael (H) gave me a massive headache with his overly descriptive storytelling. Please. Fucking. Stop. Describing. Your. Smile. As. Dark. Or. Twisted. Or. Crooked. For the love of Satan you serve or whatever. 🙄
A dark smile played at my lips when his attention came back to me, and he blinked at the shock of mismatched eyes that often drew attention to my face and worked to camouflage the devil that lurked within.
...
My fingers twitched at my sides, eager to taste the violence that vibrated through the air. Monsters sensed blood on the horizon, and I was one of the worst nightmares I knew.
Fake it till you make it, they say? This guy must have taken this phrase really close to heart.
This dude overanalyzed every tiny insignificant detail and chewed over and over the same damn simplistic mafia philosophy. He explained his every goddamn thought (they weren't sophisticated and deep, take my word for it). He was trying so hard to justify his oh, so deeply immoral deeds while supposedly not giving a fuck about being a murderer? Dude, those are your inner thoughts, thus who are you trying to convince so damn hard? Seriously. Shut da fuck up.
The heroine, Isa, is your typical goody-two-shoes BUT of course not without a dark secret from the past lurking in the dark (nah never mind she is barely seventeen). The secret that forced teen Issa to play 'protector game' for her self-destructing, cunty sister out of guilt. The secret that propelled our heroine's twin sister to hate her so much that she slipped roofies in her drink (?). .Now I wanna take a moment and ask the most crucial and important question of my life: what so fuckin' terrible can commit a five-year-old?
I laughed so damn hard when the hero (who had put surveillance cameras in her house like a stalker that he was) called her “dead inside” and mysterious because when alone in her bedroom she never touched herself or listened to the music.
Though, on a serious note...what was she doing there? Place your bets.
Insta-love or insta-obsession our love doves developed over one heated glance across the road was ridiculous at its best. That's all it takes? He saw her, a 16 year-old-girl across the street and what do you think was his next thought? That he would marry tf out of this chick when she came of age. Honestly I was not even surprised. Why would author waste her precious author's time on developing a little more solid base for their relationship development?
SPOILERS
To cut a long story short. When Isa turns legal and still remains clueless about the major setup, our simple-minded stalker boy Rafael makes a move on her in his domain - Ibiza - in the hope of making Isa fall in love with him willingly (lmao). After a couple of days together she won't mind when he snatches her up and forces her to cut all the ties with her family, friends and previous life. Sure thing, immaculate logic. 🤌🏻
Literally five minutes after their
But the joke goes on and on.
10 minutes later (I wasn't counting, pinky promise) the girl already believes herself deeply in love with him (a few dull fuck fests can produce such an effect, I assume).
Sweetie, the only thing you know about the dude is the size of his dick and you are already heartbroken over your imminent separation and jealous of all the other women in his life? Please say no more.
Finally, at the very end of the book (no, her dumbass didn’t realize it on her own, for that you'd need a functioning brain) Isa’s friend called her and communicated her the following truly shockin’ piece of news:
! her lover is a merciless murderer, ruthless mafia man, dangerous male specimen, despicable human being! *GASPS*
Oh wait.
This info doesn't stop her from eagerly fucking the “monster” the same evening the news was delivered at her doorstep. What a better way to make your farewell? Partying gift for a made man. 👉🥺👈
The ending hints oh, not so secretly that the next book will involve some kind of fucked up shit, but do I care enough to keep reading the series? Nah, thank you. Rafael got angry just because Isa was not ready to give up her life for his mafia ass after a few days in between the shits with him I —. I definitely have better things to waste my time on. Reading about a lad with a jellyfish IQ is not one of them.
(Un)Surprisingly, the presence of my favorite tropes does not guarantee that I will be able to enjoy a book.
—Mafia? ✅
— Obsessed anti-hero transforming into a creepy stalker? ✅
— Hero celibate after meeting his woman?✅
Yes, I absolutely love all of the above mentioned, but I am too much of a sapiosexual to find the story about two dumbasses enjoyable. I guess, after all, they are a match made in heaven.
Wannabe bad boy idiot + naive idiot. 🤌🏻
Last but not least. Does The Magical Healing Cock trope still need to be part and parcel of contemporary romance?
March 27, 2021
The only thing dark about this book is the cover.
Writing needs a lot of polishing as most of the time the plot is all overt the place.
I found the directions in this book somewhat strange, considering the author's intention to infuse the scenario with dark themes. In my view, the tone was not bloody enough to justify the book as a dark phantasm. And it has not been proven that the defining characteristics of the male leader portray him as is this scary mafia boss.
At most, you could say it’s mention not shown that Rafael is a tyrannical antagonist and some dark imagery follow suit. However, I have seen nothing to suggest that his characteristic traits were pushed into the realm of this horrible person. On the contrary, I think his story is a watered down version of a man who says he's a leader when realistically he was just a mere stalker who had an inexplicable obsession.
Unfortunately, the elements of a realistic vision of the life of a man who governs the world were lacking. Rafael was never that big bad wolf.
And Isa was a flat-headed woman, and her sudden feelings for Rafael were far from realistic, and there was no romance.
There was not much explanation as to how and why he is so in love with an adolescent. It’s like he just decided I want that girl in an able physical form and everyone should accept that.
The author has clearly not taken the time to make the couple fall in love and construct this romance. The book started out with I'm a shy, experienced girl who's good, but let me drop my drawers for the man I know nothing about. The whole thing was an epic failure.
I don't think the author has the slightest idea what she's going to do with the story because it's unrealistic. The characters were not likable as they were dull and the characters' choices were meaningless.
Maybe the author's intention was to show a grown man's sudden infatuation is a deadly choice, but after reading this book the plot didn’t match up with her description of the book.
The second part doesn't interest me, I won't waste my time.
Hard pass.
Writing needs a lot of polishing as most of the time the plot is all overt the place.
I found the directions in this book somewhat strange, considering the author's intention to infuse the scenario with dark themes. In my view, the tone was not bloody enough to justify the book as a dark phantasm. And it has not been proven that the defining characteristics of the male leader portray him as is this scary mafia boss.
At most, you could say it’s mention not shown that Rafael is a tyrannical antagonist and some dark imagery follow suit. However, I have seen nothing to suggest that his characteristic traits were pushed into the realm of this horrible person. On the contrary, I think his story is a watered down version of a man who says he's a leader when realistically he was just a mere stalker who had an inexplicable obsession.
Unfortunately, the elements of a realistic vision of the life of a man who governs the world were lacking. Rafael was never that big bad wolf.
And Isa was a flat-headed woman, and her sudden feelings for Rafael were far from realistic, and there was no romance.
There was not much explanation as to how and why he is so in love with an adolescent. It’s like he just decided I want that girl in an able physical form and everyone should accept that.
The author has clearly not taken the time to make the couple fall in love and construct this romance. The book started out with I'm a shy, experienced girl who's good, but let me drop my drawers for the man I know nothing about. The whole thing was an epic failure.
I don't think the author has the slightest idea what she's going to do with the story because it's unrealistic. The characters were not likable as they were dull and the characters' choices were meaningless.
Maybe the author's intention was to show a grown man's sudden infatuation is a deadly choice, but after reading this book the plot didn’t match up with her description of the book.
The second part doesn't interest me, I won't waste my time.
Hard pass.
March 26, 2021
THE FIRST BOOK OF THE SERIES! I LOVED IT SOOOO MUCH! Just what i needed! 😛😛 entertaining, fun, SAFE, thrilling, romantic and hot!
You do not have to be worry reading a book from this author because its 100% safe and romantic. NOT FCKING BORING. I ENJOY IT LIKE AWEEE.
THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN, the hero is not a virgin but have been celibate for a while and since he meet the heroine like 17 months celibate or even more, THE HERO IMMEDIATELY WANTS THE HEROINE THE MINUTE HE SAW HER🥵🥵😍😍 like hello my favorite type of hero come here!
THE HERO IS OTT LIKE OTT POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE HOT ALPHA MALE, MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO AND LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE, VERY HOT SMUT SCENES, THE HERO ALWAYS SAYS YOU ARE MINE MINE MINE, NO DRAMA WITH OW, DRAMA WITH OM BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING AND OTHER DRAMA IS WITH THE HERO’S ENEMIES FROM HIS BUSINESS, NO CHEATING AND NO SEPARATION (once they are together there has no separation but at first the hero have to separate because he wants to wait for the heroine’s age to be 18 so he can make a move), the hero is older but not too older tho, THE HEROINE IS NICE AND GOOD but not too sassy,
IT HAS PUSHING AWAY FROM THE HEROINE couple of times like three times but never more, THE HERO NEVER PUSH THE HEROINE AWAY LIKE EVER NOOOOOO. This is a cliffhanger so you have to wait for the second and third book to come out which is fun but annoying to wait lol.
I’m glad that the hero and heroine well especially the hero went through a lot growing up but he never let that be worst to him. He knows that the past is near him but he never gets that the best of him. HE IS SOOOO GOOD TO THE HEROINE! It made me jealous to see this hero and how he treated the heroine so very precious and loved!
Triggers: killing
You do not have to be worry reading a book from this author because its 100% safe and romantic. NOT FCKING BORING. I ENJOY IT LIKE AWEEE.
THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN, the hero is not a virgin but have been celibate for a while and since he meet the heroine like 17 months celibate or even more, THE HERO IMMEDIATELY WANTS THE HEROINE THE MINUTE HE SAW HER🥵🥵😍😍 like hello my favorite type of hero come here!
THE HERO IS OTT LIKE OTT POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE HOT ALPHA MALE, MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO AND LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE, VERY HOT SMUT SCENES, THE HERO ALWAYS SAYS YOU ARE MINE MINE MINE, NO DRAMA WITH OW, DRAMA WITH OM BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING AND OTHER DRAMA IS WITH THE HERO’S ENEMIES FROM HIS BUSINESS, NO CHEATING AND NO SEPARATION (once they are together there has no separation but at first the hero have to separate because he wants to wait for the heroine’s age to be 18 so he can make a move), the hero is older but not too older tho, THE HEROINE IS NICE AND GOOD but not too sassy,
IT HAS PUSHING AWAY FROM THE HEROINE couple of times like three times but never more, THE HERO NEVER PUSH THE HEROINE AWAY LIKE EVER NOOOOOO. This is a cliffhanger so you have to wait for the second and third book to come out which is fun but annoying to wait lol.
I’m glad that the hero and heroine well especially the hero went through a lot growing up but he never let that be worst to him. He knows that the past is near him but he never gets that the best of him. HE IS SOOOO GOOD TO THE HEROINE! It made me jealous to see this hero and how he treated the heroine so very precious and loved!
Triggers: killing
December 1, 2021
I’m so glad I gave this author another try I’ve read one book previous from them the one with Matteo and Ivory in and it was just ok for me this one totally surpassed that and I enjoyed this a whole lot.
This is Raphael and Isa’s story and it was so hot, filled with such explosive chemistry throughout.
Raphael is the head of a crime organisation based in Spain Ibiza he’s totally ruthless a stone-cold killer and when he spots Isa on a street in Chicago he knows she is it for him but she’s still too young so in true psycho style he goes about invading every aspect of her life keeping her safe and watched from afar whilst putting certain players in place close to home for her protection and he patiently waits biding his time.
Now all bets are off and Isa is finally of age and on a supposed all expenses paid trip to Ibiza with her friends Chloe and Hugo. Raphael wants to try it the easy way first and entice Isa to fall for him whilst he keeps her in the dark over who he actually is and to be fair he does pull out all the stops to accomplish this but when Isa finds out some things and decides to run Raphael has absolutely no Intensions of allowing her to escape him and he will always give chase when it comes to his obsession.
Isa Is a bit of a dark horse she has a twin who hates her and there’s some mystery about an event in their shared past that has caused this rift. Her sister is the wild twin while Isa does everything she can to stay good and pure but there is most definitely something lurking and buried deep and Raphael touches upon this particular darkness residing inside her.
Raphael is so full-on and has no boundaries when it comes to Isa he is incredibly extreme and dark and inspires such fear in others earning him the name El Diablo, he is certainly no Prince Charming in fact he’s the complete opposite still he tries to do this the easy way first before resorting to his usual extreme methods.
His moral compass is very skewed and he’s used to just taking exactly what he wants and this time it’s Isa.
This is the first book in a four-part series and this totally captivated and drew me in if you like mafia and extreme obsessed jealous anti-hero’s then this will be your bread and butter. It’s told from dual POV was well written and I’m looking forward to diving into the next book in the series.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
December 29, 2022
Veryyyy insta-lovey but it worked! Mostly because of the obsessed mafia hero.
![Profile Image for Lori [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1652024485i%2F125758944._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
lost-interest
July 3, 2021DNF 23%
Verdict: Overhyped
Writing was bad
The hero kept bragging about what a bad boy he was.
The heroine was bland.
I can't imagine this goes on for 4 books 🤣🤣
Verdict: Overhyped
Writing was bad
The hero kept bragging about what a bad boy he was.
The heroine was bland.
I can't imagine this goes on for 4 books 🤣🤣
July 2, 2023
#0.5 Until Memory Fades — 3 stars
#1 Until Tomorrow Comes — 3.25 stars
this is not what i was hoping to get...however, i DO love the fact that the H has been stalking the h (unbeknownst to her) for sixteen months, yet hes still making an effort to woo her the ✨conventional✨ way (which basically involves going on dates and having sex) instead of kidnapping her right off the bat. 😂 so, this book is pretty much the H giving it his all trying to make the h fall in love with him before he steals her away and locks her in his proverbial castle for good.
it was sweet & sexy but also quite meh because it didnt serve the dark elements that i was craving for. 🤷♀️ the H showed the perfect balance of being a charming hero and an unhinged one, but the h didnt impress me much. she was rather meek and too agreeable. she better has character development in the next books because her characterization will make or break the series for me. i expect her to NOT be spineless & obedient. i want her to make the H suffer after she learns the truth. 🤞
(read as an audiobook)
#1 Until Tomorrow Comes — 3.25 stars
this is not what i was hoping to get...however, i DO love the fact that the H has been stalking the h (unbeknownst to her) for sixteen months, yet hes still making an effort to woo her the ✨conventional✨ way (which basically involves going on dates and having sex) instead of kidnapping her right off the bat. 😂 so, this book is pretty much the H giving it his all trying to make the h fall in love with him before he steals her away and locks her in his proverbial castle for good.
it was sweet & sexy but also quite meh because it didnt serve the dark elements that i was craving for. 🤷♀️ the H showed the perfect balance of being a charming hero and an unhinged one, but the h didnt impress me much. she was rather meek and too agreeable. she better has character development in the next books because her characterization will make or break the series for me. i expect her to NOT be spineless & obedient. i want her to make the H suffer after she learns the truth. 🤞
(read as an audiobook)
November 2, 2021
4 Stars
Interesting enough to keep me entertained. The naiveness of the heroine was a bit of a turn off though, and while I love crueler heros, sometimes it borders the line of them being over dramatic, and the hero almost crossed it, so I'm definitely going to need some character development with these two. Also, I'm already dreading the next books in the series because why tf are there 4 books😅
Safety:
Previous manh*e hero/hero has been celibate for 16 months since he first saw heroine
Virgin heroine
No ow/om drama, although heroine is almost sexually assaulted, and hero constantly has women trying to get his attention, although he brushes them off.
No cheating/sharing
Interesting enough to keep me entertained. The naiveness of the heroine was a bit of a turn off though, and while I love crueler heros, sometimes it borders the line of them being over dramatic, and the hero almost crossed it, so I'm definitely going to need some character development with these two. Also, I'm already dreading the next books in the series because why tf are there 4 books😅
Safety:
Previous manh*e hero/hero has been celibate for 16 months since he first saw heroine
Virgin heroine
No ow/om drama, although heroine is almost sexually assaulted, and hero constantly has women trying to get his attention, although he brushes them off.
No cheating/sharing
March 27, 2021
Compulsion: Inescapable love at first sight 🔥
This is how a mafia romance is written! If augmented reality existed, I experienced it with this book. One of the most soul-searing mafia love stories I have ever read. Excellent, engaging, colorful writing projecting like a movie in my mind, I could feel the emotions of the characters, smell the salt of the Ibiza sea, feel the trepidation of what happens when a self-restrained monster claims a sheltered young woman.
For me this story carried light dark themes; there was some violence. I found it apt to a mafia romance, and accessible to audiences wanting an authentic feel to a mafia read without polarizing triggers (which I actually have no issue with). Just well-balanced.
With his striking combination of piercing emerald and sapphire irises, Rafael discovers the young Isa, the woman he believes is his life partner. Isa also feels the pull of this shadowed phantom. Rafe sets plans in motion, distance stalking, monitoring, and tracking, until Isa comes of age and he arranges for them to met again in the enchanting Ibiza where he, El Diablo, is king. Can he charm her, playing the doting lover, to fall love in nine days? The nail-biting tension unfolds in Rafe's coup at love.
This is a multi-book series, and the book one was a slow burn giving the reader time to immerse herself into character personalities, their behaviors and interactions, their day-to-day customs, and motivations. The character development in this book is simply phenomenal.
Rafael elicits ruthless authority simultaneous sensual alpha male who knows what he wants and is not deterred from getting it. His predatory though protective actions made him one of the more intense characters I've come across, definite book boyfriend material. Rafe feels like charm with an undercurrent of sinister. His personality definitely eclipsed Isa's who calls to mind a simple rather unsophisticated, altruistic young woman on a path to self-actualization. I suspect her true nature will blossom from the princess into the queen she is to become as the series evolves.
Also diverse in culture, Isa equally blessed with an atypical eye pattern, equally matched to Rafael striking masculine allure. Great cameos by some favorites from Bellandi mafia series and how strikingly their personalities transcended into this story.
A moment to write about the steamy love scenes. Vapor arose from my Kindle while reading -- experiencing -- the chemistry between the main characters. From first piercing sight to Rafe's rising out of an Ibiza pool to first electric touch, the attraction between the two is sweltering. Sweeping, burning gazes and kissing as an art form, as foreplay, simply hedonistic; love scenes were poetically descriptive, passionate, and romantic with just a bit of edge. Well-balance of story and steam.
I visited Ibiza without ever setting a foot on the beautiful island, resplendent, vibrant with history and warmth -- but of course it was carefully controlled by Rafael (and orchestrated by the author's unbelievable writing). I fell in love with Rafael, the charmer and lurking monster. And Isa? Black pawn, Knight, Bishop, Queen, Black King: Checkmate! The suspenseful cliffhanger left me restless for book two.
This is how a mafia romance is written! If augmented reality existed, I experienced it with this book. One of the most soul-searing mafia love stories I have ever read. Excellent, engaging, colorful writing projecting like a movie in my mind, I could feel the emotions of the characters, smell the salt of the Ibiza sea, feel the trepidation of what happens when a self-restrained monster claims a sheltered young woman.
For me this story carried light dark themes; there was some violence. I found it apt to a mafia romance, and accessible to audiences wanting an authentic feel to a mafia read without polarizing triggers (which I actually have no issue with). Just well-balanced.
With his striking combination of piercing emerald and sapphire irises, Rafael discovers the young Isa, the woman he believes is his life partner. Isa also feels the pull of this shadowed phantom. Rafe sets plans in motion, distance stalking, monitoring, and tracking, until Isa comes of age and he arranges for them to met again in the enchanting Ibiza where he, El Diablo, is king. Can he charm her, playing the doting lover, to fall love in nine days? The nail-biting tension unfolds in Rafe's coup at love.
This is a multi-book series, and the book one was a slow burn giving the reader time to immerse herself into character personalities, their behaviors and interactions, their day-to-day customs, and motivations. The character development in this book is simply phenomenal.
Rafael elicits ruthless authority simultaneous sensual alpha male who knows what he wants and is not deterred from getting it. His predatory though protective actions made him one of the more intense characters I've come across, definite book boyfriend material. Rafe feels like charm with an undercurrent of sinister. His personality definitely eclipsed Isa's who calls to mind a simple rather unsophisticated, altruistic young woman on a path to self-actualization. I suspect her true nature will blossom from the princess into the queen she is to become as the series evolves.
Also diverse in culture, Isa equally blessed with an atypical eye pattern, equally matched to Rafael striking masculine allure. Great cameos by some favorites from Bellandi mafia series and how strikingly their personalities transcended into this story.
A moment to write about the steamy love scenes. Vapor arose from my Kindle while reading -- experiencing -- the chemistry between the main characters. From first piercing sight to Rafe's rising out of an Ibiza pool to first electric touch, the attraction between the two is sweltering. Sweeping, burning gazes and kissing as an art form, as foreplay, simply hedonistic; love scenes were poetically descriptive, passionate, and romantic with just a bit of edge. Well-balance of story and steam.
I visited Ibiza without ever setting a foot on the beautiful island, resplendent, vibrant with history and warmth -- but of course it was carefully controlled by Rafael (and orchestrated by the author's unbelievable writing). I fell in love with Rafael, the charmer and lurking monster. And Isa? Black pawn, Knight, Bishop, Queen, Black King: Checkmate! The suspenseful cliffhanger left me restless for book two.
February 17, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5 / 5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : Yes
Hero : Rafael. He was the very definition of Possessive and dark! I loved him so very much and can't wait to see more of him.
Heroine : Isa . She was sweet and sassy. I can't wait to get to see more of her when she realizes who her lover is!
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 5/10
Heat Rating : 8/10
Triggers Involved : Stalking , Dark
Plot Summary :
Rafael has a pretty lonely life. Known as the 'el diablo' , he is ruthless and dark in all the right ways. His life takes a serious turn when he lays eyes on his angel. A woman named Isa. She is what he has been always looking for and there is no way he is letting her go.
Isa lives in the shadow of her twin. She is the quiet and mature one while her twin is the complete opposite. That is until she meets the most mysterious man ever. Rafael has secrets of his own. Secret that she desperately wants to uncover. He looks at her as if he has always known her and that confuses her. He is everything she should stay away from but she doesn't realise that the choice is no longer hers. She might want to get away from him but there is no way he is letting her go. No matter what he has to do , Isa will always remain his.
Overall Opinion :
Omg. I am speechless. I have read a lot of dark books with a lot of possessive stalkers but none of them have me chills as Rafael did. The man is the very Definition of ruthless and possessive which automatically makes him my top Favourite Hero😌.
Isa is a bit sassy and mature and she absolutely has no idea what lurks beneath Rafael's dark gaze. That the stranger who has swept her of her feet is the same man who has been following her for years. And the ending!!! Don't even get me started on that. The scene where Rafael Finally shows what lies beneath his dark exterior , I was literally dead. SO DARK!!!! Omg , I need the next book like yesterday! I have read other books by this author but this creation by her is definitely my top Favourite read of hers. Filled with Darkness that shook me to the very core , This book is a must read for all those Dark Romance Lovers out there!
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November 19, 2021
I finished this and I felt absolutely nothing.
March 20, 2021
I need book 2 now!
What in the obsession did I just read and how is this my first Adelaide Forrest book?!? She’s such a talented writer and surprised me, especially with how the chess pieces come in. I need all the books now!
Rafe and Isa made eye-contact when she was still in high school- a junior. Rafe is not into being with minors so he decides he’s going to wait- until she’s 18 and graduates from high school. He has one of his men, Hugo, disguise himself as a high school student and befriend Isa. He needs him to basically be her best friend and find out everything that he can about her. One day, Isa goes to a party to rescue her twin sister only to find out that her twin sister drugged her so that she could lose her V to a guy that’s there. She and her twin sister do not have a solid relationship, it’s a very strained one. Lucky for Isa, Hugo was there and he was able to rescue her. This is when Rafael and Isa first make contact, but because she was drugged, she doesn’t really remember it.
Fast forward to 16 months later: Isa, Hugo, and her other close friend Chloe graduate and are going to embark on a trip to Ibiza. Ibiza is where Hugo is from and also where Rafael does a lot of his businesses. They land and Rafe is very much aware that this is when he can properly seduce Isa, not only to be with him, but also to realize that this is their forever, that she will never leave him, even if he is a cruel, sadistic murderer and deals in a lot of crooked transactions.
The chemistry 🔥🥵the smexy times 🔥🥵 the connection was incredibly passionate and atomic. He’s patient yet aggressive and persuasive. He doesn’t let her doubt herself and only sees her (as in, no other woman)because he is obsessed. No one else will do and he will also be her everything. I needed to fan myself a couple of times.
The book ends of a cliffy. I NEED book 2! I’m glad I waited to read this because book 2 comes out next week. I can’t wait! 🥰.
What in the obsession did I just read and how is this my first Adelaide Forrest book?!? She’s such a talented writer and surprised me, especially with how the chess pieces come in. I need all the books now!
Rafe and Isa made eye-contact when she was still in high school- a junior. Rafe is not into being with minors so he decides he’s going to wait- until she’s 18 and graduates from high school. He has one of his men, Hugo, disguise himself as a high school student and befriend Isa. He needs him to basically be her best friend and find out everything that he can about her. One day, Isa goes to a party to rescue her twin sister only to find out that her twin sister drugged her so that she could lose her V to a guy that’s there. She and her twin sister do not have a solid relationship, it’s a very strained one. Lucky for Isa, Hugo was there and he was able to rescue her. This is when Rafael and Isa first make contact, but because she was drugged, she doesn’t really remember it.
Fast forward to 16 months later: Isa, Hugo, and her other close friend Chloe graduate and are going to embark on a trip to Ibiza. Ibiza is where Hugo is from and also where Rafael does a lot of his businesses. They land and Rafe is very much aware that this is when he can properly seduce Isa, not only to be with him, but also to realize that this is their forever, that she will never leave him, even if he is a cruel, sadistic murderer and deals in a lot of crooked transactions.
The chemistry 🔥🥵the smexy times 🔥🥵 the connection was incredibly passionate and atomic. He’s patient yet aggressive and persuasive. He doesn’t let her doubt herself and only sees her (as in, no other woman)because he is obsessed. No one else will do and he will also be her everything. I needed to fan myself a couple of times.
The book ends of a cliffy. I NEED book 2! I’m glad I waited to read this because book 2 comes out next week. I can’t wait! 🥰.
August 7, 2023
Let's clear something up right away at the start. This part of the series is definitely not DARK. (not in my opinion)
The story doesn't have anything I haven't read before, so it was predictable, but I enjoyed it immensely, hence the 4 stars from me.
The story doesn't have anything I haven't read before, so it was predictable, but I enjoyed it immensely, hence the 4 stars from me.
May 19, 2021
4.75 HOLY CANNOLI! stars!
This book...hold on let me collect my thoughts…
This story was nothing I expected. Rafael (Rafe) is known as ‘El Diablo’ and he is cold, ruthless, domineering and dark to his core. Going into this, I thought...meh...he can’t be THAT bad. Nahhh, I am eating crow now. Rafael is not a good man. He lives by his own rules and whims and makes no apologies for it. He is unapologetically possessive, controlling, demanding, obsessive and cruel. Lucky for Isa (well I suppose that’s debatable haha), Rafael sees her one day on the street and in that brief moment, she becomes his Queen without her even knowing she is now in the sights of the ultimate anti-hero. Rafael sets a plan in motion to make her his forever whether she objects or not. He will never let her go.
Isa is quiet, reserved and is a shadow compared to her rebellious twin. Isa carries secrets deep within herself and mystery surrounds her character. She endeavors to live a quiet life and push the demons she thinks she carries deep down within herself. That is until she meets Rafael. Unbeknownst to Isa, their meeting has been long in the making and everything is a calculated plan.
When Rafael and Isa finally meet, sparks fly and Isa finds herself drawn to the monster lurking beneath his skin. However, she knows he is hiding secrets and on some level she realizes he will be her undoing. Rafael tries to woo and possess Isa without showing her the true man he is but it all comes to a head at the end and we get a nail biting cliffhanger that was SO messed up lol. Which left me strangely conflicted because I didn’t hate it.
This story was incredible and if you are a dark romance reader then I highly suggest picking it up. I would say it gives off an Anna Zaires Twist Me series vibe. I love a possessive and over-the-top hero and Rafael might be at the top for the darkest hero I have ever read. He will definitely give you chills and I have no doubt that in the subsequent books he is going to push my boundaries. But I am so enthralled by him and really love his character. Isa is not a meek woman and I look forward to the way she is going to challenge him and how she is going to deal with this complete takeover of her entire life. There is so much mystery, heat and darkness to this story and I loved every second of it. I’m not one for a continuous series butttt I have to get to the end of their hopefully HEA.
[image error]
Trigger warning: Kidnapping, dark material
This book...hold on let me collect my thoughts…
This story was nothing I expected. Rafael (Rafe) is known as ‘El Diablo’ and he is cold, ruthless, domineering and dark to his core. Going into this, I thought...meh...he can’t be THAT bad. Nahhh, I am eating crow now. Rafael is not a good man. He lives by his own rules and whims and makes no apologies for it. He is unapologetically possessive, controlling, demanding, obsessive and cruel. Lucky for Isa (well I suppose that’s debatable haha), Rafael sees her one day on the street and in that brief moment, she becomes his Queen without her even knowing she is now in the sights of the ultimate anti-hero. Rafael sets a plan in motion to make her his forever whether she objects or not. He will never let her go.
Isa is quiet, reserved and is a shadow compared to her rebellious twin. Isa carries secrets deep within herself and mystery surrounds her character. She endeavors to live a quiet life and push the demons she thinks she carries deep down within herself. That is until she meets Rafael. Unbeknownst to Isa, their meeting has been long in the making and everything is a calculated plan.
When Rafael and Isa finally meet, sparks fly and Isa finds herself drawn to the monster lurking beneath his skin. However, she knows he is hiding secrets and on some level she realizes he will be her undoing. Rafael tries to woo and possess Isa without showing her the true man he is but it all comes to a head at the end and we get a nail biting cliffhanger that was SO messed up lol. Which left me strangely conflicted because I didn’t hate it.
This story was incredible and if you are a dark romance reader then I highly suggest picking it up. I would say it gives off an Anna Zaires Twist Me series vibe. I love a possessive and over-the-top hero and Rafael might be at the top for the darkest hero I have ever read. He will definitely give you chills and I have no doubt that in the subsequent books he is going to push my boundaries. But I am so enthralled by him and really love his character. Isa is not a meek woman and I look forward to the way she is going to challenge him and how she is going to deal with this complete takeover of her entire life. There is so much mystery, heat and darkness to this story and I loved every second of it. I’m not one for a continuous series butttt I have to get to the end of their hopefully HEA.
[image error]
Trigger warning: Kidnapping, dark material
June 7, 2021
Rafa has one mission and that is to have Isa as his wife no matter the cost. As he bids his time to when Isa is of age, he sets his plan in motion to make sure that his Princesa is looked after and safe.
It seems Isa is the mature one between her and her sister Odina and I felt that is what made her seem more mature on a level that would capture Rafa’s attention. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but the reality is that I was not prepared. There is so much and yet not enough-if that makes sense. Kara~5 Stars
It seems Isa is the mature one between her and her sister Odina and I felt that is what made her seem more mature on a level that would capture Rafa’s attention. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but the reality is that I was not prepared. There is so much and yet not enough-if that makes sense. Kara~5 Stars
February 16, 2021
Wow!
"Checkmate, Princesa"
Can anyone explain to me why that was so freaking hot?!?! One line. That's all and I'm over here like "Ok, take me away!"
One thing Adelaide Forrest knows how to do is leave the reader dying for more!
As we know, this is going to be a multiple-book series. Until Tomorrow Comes is the foundation of the series. It's the bones with which all the other books will be built. And what a beginning it was!
Rafe and Isa's meeting was all I thought it would be. I think every woman has had that fantasy about the "man she locks eyes with across a crowded room (or street in this case)". Except Adelaide Forrest can't do anything that innocent (thank God!). Take that fantasy, add in some deliciously dark desires and a dangerous Alpha male with an obsession with one woman and you have Until Tomorrow Comes!
If he is this panty-melting when he's being nice, I cannot wait to see what Rafe's like when he throws caution to the wind. This man is going to be lethal to every woman breathing. The last few chapters of book one are proof of that!
I love that Rafe is a quiet force to be reckoned with. He's not a bull, rushing out the gate. As you'll see in the story he's a strategist and there's a reason behind every move he makes. He manipulates situations while maintaining his iron control over all he commands. His power is intoxicating and his dark side is sexy as hell.
Isa is young, full of dreams, and weighed down with responsibility to those she loves. She's yet to embrace her true self but Rafe knows there's a Queen made for a dark King hidden away inside her. Her fears and innocence are addictive and only seem to strengthen Rafe's obsession with her.
Their budding love is beautiful to witness but the teasing of what's to come has me dancing on the edge of my seat!
This is definitely a ride you want to take. With a breathtaking setting in Ibiza, what is and what's to come is sure to keep us all glued to our kindles!
"Checkmate, Princesa"
Can anyone explain to me why that was so freaking hot?!?! One line. That's all and I'm over here like "Ok, take me away!"
One thing Adelaide Forrest knows how to do is leave the reader dying for more!
As we know, this is going to be a multiple-book series. Until Tomorrow Comes is the foundation of the series. It's the bones with which all the other books will be built. And what a beginning it was!
Rafe and Isa's meeting was all I thought it would be. I think every woman has had that fantasy about the "man she locks eyes with across a crowded room (or street in this case)". Except Adelaide Forrest can't do anything that innocent (thank God!). Take that fantasy, add in some deliciously dark desires and a dangerous Alpha male with an obsession with one woman and you have Until Tomorrow Comes!
If he is this panty-melting when he's being nice, I cannot wait to see what Rafe's like when he throws caution to the wind. This man is going to be lethal to every woman breathing. The last few chapters of book one are proof of that!
I love that Rafe is a quiet force to be reckoned with. He's not a bull, rushing out the gate. As you'll see in the story he's a strategist and there's a reason behind every move he makes. He manipulates situations while maintaining his iron control over all he commands. His power is intoxicating and his dark side is sexy as hell.
Isa is young, full of dreams, and weighed down with responsibility to those she loves. She's yet to embrace her true self but Rafe knows there's a Queen made for a dark King hidden away inside her. Her fears and innocence are addictive and only seem to strengthen Rafe's obsession with her.
Their budding love is beautiful to witness but the teasing of what's to come has me dancing on the edge of my seat!
This is definitely a ride you want to take. With a breathtaking setting in Ibiza, what is and what's to come is sure to keep us all glued to our kindles!
July 3, 2021
Suspenseful and thrilling!
Rafael is sure an enigma! I imagine falling in love with him feels like free-falling. Fast, deep and daunting. But the thrill is there and you can only close your eyes and feel the rush. In short — fcuking scary.
This is an awesome series and story starter. This book is what I would call the lure of the devil and him playing his game. Just one wrong move; one wrong decision and you will be checkmate!
I love both characters: Rafe is a dark character through and through. I honestly have the real hots for him because even though he's a menace, he was willing to make amends for Isa. He was willing to bent his rules and be what he thought Isa needed because he was just not only obsessed with her; he was deeply, madly in love with her too. He's shown Isa that he can be a good lover but alas, Isa is young, very young and still trying to learn how to live her life for herself. She wasn't aware of the life Rafael is living and she has all the right to feel so out of depth and terrified even if she's deeply, madly in love with Rafe too.
But of course they don't know that about each other! The circumstances doesn't provide a right moment. And Isa did a mistake that pushed Rafael's dark side to the surface.
Read this dang book! My heart was in my throat reading this book, especially on parts where Rafe's darkness simmers in the background. I was on the edge of my seat in the last couple of pages — trying to stabilize my breathing because the suspense and thrill is through the roof! Read this book and feel it too!
Rafael is sure an enigma! I imagine falling in love with him feels like free-falling. Fast, deep and daunting. But the thrill is there and you can only close your eyes and feel the rush. In short — fcuking scary.
This is an awesome series and story starter. This book is what I would call the lure of the devil and him playing his game. Just one wrong move; one wrong decision and you will be checkmate!
I love both characters: Rafe is a dark character through and through. I honestly have the real hots for him because even though he's a menace, he was willing to make amends for Isa. He was willing to bent his rules and be what he thought Isa needed because he was just not only obsessed with her; he was deeply, madly in love with her too. He's shown Isa that he can be a good lover but alas, Isa is young, very young and still trying to learn how to live her life for herself. She wasn't aware of the life Rafael is living and she has all the right to feel so out of depth and terrified even if she's deeply, madly in love with Rafe too.
But of course they don't know that about each other! The circumstances doesn't provide a right moment. And Isa did a mistake that pushed Rafael's dark side to the surface.
Read this dang book! My heart was in my throat reading this book, especially on parts where Rafe's darkness simmers in the background. I was on the edge of my seat in the last couple of pages — trying to stabilize my breathing because the suspense and thrill is through the roof! Read this book and feel it too!
Read
August 12, 2023DNF
August 9, 2024
Lord I tried with this one. I tried sooooooo hard. It's just not good.
Rafael is an alleged "bad guy". He spots Isa across the street and he's insta over her - except she's only 17. He sets up guards to protect her for the next year. When she turns 18 he plans to either make her fall in love with him willingly or kidnap her and take her to his private island. The only good part is they have sex a few times and it was decent.
There's way too much freaking time spent on useless shit nobody cares about. There was an entire chapter of her packing her clothes, looking for her passport, and telling her family goodbye before she leaves for vacation. WTF - nobody needs that information!!!!! There's an endless amount of time spent on talking about her fear of water, the reason her twin sister hates her, and how "dangerous" he is. I was at 90% -ish when I decided to DNF. They started talking about his mom being burned alive and at the same time, Isa nearly drowned and her grandmother said the "fire saved her" or some nonsense like that. I was like ok people now you're turning supernatural on me. No thanks. If I hadn't been so bored out of my mind at that point, and if they hadn't started the supernatural crap - I might have continued. It was just that last bit that tipped me over the edge.
I thought it was a very sad imitation of the Twist Me series by Anna Zaires. If you want a good kidnap fic that's sexy and dark-ish - try that one. It's a BILLION times better.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
PS - The audio sucked donkey balls.
Rafael is an alleged "bad guy". He spots Isa across the street and he's insta over her - except she's only 17. He sets up guards to protect her for the next year. When she turns 18 he plans to either make her fall in love with him willingly or kidnap her and take her to his private island. The only good part is they have sex a few times and it was decent.
There's way too much freaking time spent on useless shit nobody cares about. There was an entire chapter of her packing her clothes, looking for her passport, and telling her family goodbye before she leaves for vacation. WTF - nobody needs that information!!!!! There's an endless amount of time spent on talking about her fear of water, the reason her twin sister hates her, and how "dangerous" he is. I was at 90% -ish when I decided to DNF. They started talking about his mom being burned alive and at the same time, Isa nearly drowned and her grandmother said the "fire saved her" or some nonsense like that. I was like ok people now you're turning supernatural on me. No thanks. If I hadn't been so bored out of my mind at that point, and if they hadn't started the supernatural crap - I might have continued. It was just that last bit that tipped me over the edge.
I thought it was a very sad imitation of the Twist Me series by Anna Zaires. If you want a good kidnap fic that's sexy and dark-ish - try that one. It's a BILLION times better.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
PS - The audio sucked donkey balls.
September 16, 2024
this was not was I was expecting and exactly what I was expecting at the same time 😅🙈👉🏼👈🏼
Firstly the captor/captive storyline is non-existent in this book. It's basically a vacation romance with epic wooing and a lot of sex🤣
Secondly the hero's propensity to think himself the devil/monster/darkness personified was really hilarious and stupid 🤡 it didn't make him scary in my eyes, just ridiculous 🤷🏼♀️
Thirdly the mafia aspect of it was really weak... It felt like bare bones of a greater story, with the way the dialogue and the hero's inner thoughts were written.
This was entertaining, but not the best example of the subgenre🤭
Firstly the captor/captive storyline is non-existent in this book. It's basically a vacation romance with epic wooing and a lot of sex🤣
Secondly the hero's propensity to think himself the devil/monster/darkness personified was really hilarious and stupid 🤡 it didn't make him scary in my eyes, just ridiculous 🤷🏼♀️
Thirdly the mafia aspect of it was really weak... It felt like bare bones of a greater story, with the way the dialogue and the hero's inner thoughts were written.
This was entertaining, but not the best example of the subgenre🤭
July 19, 2021
This book sat on my TBR for too long!
Until Tomorrow Comes was highly recommended in several groups and I finally had time to read it and I am so happy I did! Rafael and Isa meet, sort of, and this starts their journey into obsession and protection, from afar. Raphael is the epitome of a jealous and possessive male, and when it comes to Isa he has no boundaries. When they finally meet, face to face, for the first time Raf is charming, sweet, and so focused on Isa that it seems to good to be true.
I recommend this story whole heartedly for anyone who loves the hero to be over the top!
Now I have to read Until Forever Ends!
Until Tomorrow Comes was highly recommended in several groups and I finally had time to read it and I am so happy I did! Rafael and Isa meet, sort of, and this starts their journey into obsession and protection, from afar. Raphael is the epitome of a jealous and possessive male, and when it comes to Isa he has no boundaries. When they finally meet, face to face, for the first time Raf is charming, sweet, and so focused on Isa that it seems to good to be true.
I recommend this story whole heartedly for anyone who loves the hero to be over the top!
Now I have to read Until Forever Ends!
December 9, 2025
So close, but not quite?
I've discovered a new type of MC combo recently and I'm a bit obsessed 🤩
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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I've discovered a new type of MC combo recently and I'm a bit obsessed 🤩
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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July 6, 2021
The writing isn't for me
November 6, 2023
At first, I wasn’t so sure, because it seemed like obsession on both ends from the very start and I do not like Insta love. But as the story progressed, I was fully invested. I love how Rafael is possessive. If you can suspend your disbelief for how dumb Isa is & you don’t mind the age gap, I think this is a good stalker romance.
I love the audio
I love the audio
July 2, 2021
This review contains A LOT OF SPOILERS
!! Please read at your own discretion !!
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This book is, IMO, not a dark read. Sure, the H is possessive and does some questionable things, but overall it is rather "mild" (compared to other dark romance novels out there). As so often, the H sees the h (who is 16 at the time) and knows she is the one. When the h turns 18, the H makes sure the h visits Ibiza (he lives on a private island nearby) and starts pursuing her, but not in a dark way. He tries to seduce her just like any vanilla guy would do.
So it was just a nice, "normal" romance story with an intriguing background story. Something happened to the h in the past; something that caused her twin sister to hate her and for the h to feel an obligation towards her family. Of course, we do not yet know what that event is, and my guts tell me we will only find out by the end of book 4, but I am curious enough to continue reading.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isabel "Isa" and Rafael "Rafe"'s story.
While visiting his friends of the Bellandi Crime Syndicate in Chicago, Rafe spots Isa across the street. Since she is only 16, he stations some of his crew in the US (for safekeeping and reporting back to him about her activities) before he goes back to his private island (in the vicinity of Ibiza).
When h turns 18, she visits Ibiza (she thinks she won the trip), and H makes sure they "meet" the first night she is on the island. He seduces her, she loses her virginity, and he convinces her to let him show her the "real Ibiza" and not just the tourist traps. They spend time together, she develops feelings, there are some hot times, but something happened in her past. Something that hinders her from losing herself completely in the situation, something that still makes her close off her feelings. And there is an extremely impatient business associate who wants to meet H and will not back off until he has spoken to him. She finds out he is not just a businessman, gets scared and tries to leave. It all ends in a cliffhanger.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Isa and Rafe's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Was good. I read the book in one day and did not skim.
Instalove: Yes.
He sees her and instantly knows she is his woman; he immediately stops hooking up with other women and is celibate until he can finally claim her.
She feels attracted to him when they first meet (which she does not remember since she was roofied) and feels attracted to him again when they finally "meet".
H (Hero, Rafe) rating: 4 stars.
He is a mafia boss, a cruel man who is feared by his enemies but hasn't lost his soft side yet. He tries to seduce his woman, he wants her to fall in love with him and choose life by his side instead of forcing her to become his. She already is his princess and he intends to make her his queen.
h (heroine, Isa) rating: 4 stars.
When she was 5, she nearly drowned in the Chicago River. But there is something more that happened that day. Something she does not want to talk about, something that prevents her from truly living, something that hinders her to completely open up. These events prevent her from losing herself in a relationship with Rafe and won't let her consider staying. She has a dark side in her as well, but her past prevents her from exploring it.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes They use condoms. Once he "forgets" and she gets the morning after pill. She was a virgin and he has been abstinent for 16 months prior and clean.
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No. Even more: after seeing her from afar, he lives celibate for 16 months until he can finally claim her.
Possible Triggers: as said, this is a "mild" dark book: But there are still some triggers
Closure: cliffhanger (as can be expected. This is the first book in a series)
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the h pushing the H away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does have a cliff hanger ending
!! Please read at your own discretion !!
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This book is, IMO, not a dark read. Sure, the H is possessive and does some questionable things, but overall it is rather "mild" (compared to other dark romance novels out there). As so often, the H sees the h (who is 16 at the time) and knows she is the one. When the h turns 18, the H makes sure the h visits Ibiza (he lives on a private island nearby) and starts pursuing her, but not in a dark way. He tries to seduce her just like any vanilla guy would do.
So it was just a nice, "normal" romance story with an intriguing background story. Something happened to the h in the past; something that caused her twin sister to hate her and for the h to feel an obligation towards her family. Of course, we do not yet know what that event is, and my guts tell me we will only find out by the end of book 4, but I am curious enough to continue reading.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isabel "Isa" and Rafael "Rafe"'s story.
While visiting his friends of the Bellandi Crime Syndicate in Chicago, Rafe spots Isa across the street. Since she is only 16, he stations some of his crew in the US (for safekeeping and reporting back to him about her activities) before he goes back to his private island (in the vicinity of Ibiza).
When h turns 18, she visits Ibiza (she thinks she won the trip), and H makes sure they "meet" the first night she is on the island. He seduces her, she loses her virginity, and he convinces her to let him show her the "real Ibiza" and not just the tourist traps. They spend time together, she develops feelings, there are some hot times, but something happened in her past. Something that hinders her from losing herself completely in the situation, something that still makes her close off her feelings. And there is an extremely impatient business associate who wants to meet H and will not back off until he has spoken to him. She finds out he is not just a businessman, gets scared and tries to leave. It all ends in a cliffhanger.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Isa and Rafe's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Was good. I read the book in one day and did not skim.
Instalove: Yes.
He sees her and instantly knows she is his woman; he immediately stops hooking up with other women and is celibate until he can finally claim her.
She feels attracted to him when they first meet (which she does not remember since she was roofied) and feels attracted to him again when they finally "meet".
H (Hero, Rafe) rating: 4 stars.
He is a mafia boss, a cruel man who is feared by his enemies but hasn't lost his soft side yet. He tries to seduce his woman, he wants her to fall in love with him and choose life by his side instead of forcing her to become his. She already is his princess and he intends to make her his queen.
h (heroine, Isa) rating: 4 stars.
When she was 5, she nearly drowned in the Chicago River. But there is something more that happened that day. Something she does not want to talk about, something that prevents her from truly living, something that hinders her to completely open up. These events prevent her from losing herself in a relationship with Rafe and won't let her consider staying. She has a dark side in her as well, but her past prevents her from exploring it.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes They use condoms. Once he "forgets" and she gets the morning after pill. She was a virgin and he has been abstinent for 16 months prior and clean.
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No. Even more: after seeing her from afar, he lives celibate for 16 months until he can finally claim her.
Possible Triggers: as said, this is a "mild" dark book: But there are still some triggers
Closure: cliffhanger (as can be expected. This is the first book in a series)
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the h pushing the H away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does have a cliff hanger ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
Dark mafia romance paired with age gap is basically my reader catnip, so clearly I gobbled this one right up. Ultra sexy, full of emotional and sexual tension, and riveting from start to finish- I am here for this game!
Though our story begins with a instalove/stalker type beginning, the love blossoms over time. Our young heroine (only 16 when the story begins) soon finds herself the coveted prize of the notoriously ruthless El Diablo, our Ibiza mafioso Rafael. His interest in her is more than fascination, it’s obsession- but she’s a continent away, in his ally’s territory, and underage, all kinds of forbidden and the only lines this morally grey man won’t cross. So he plays the long game- stalks her from afar, protects her, and admires her- until the time comes to snatch her up. Isa comes from a rough background and has her own set of baggage, so she’s easily seduced by his charism and sexual prowess, until she realizes that this is no Ibizan fling- Rafe plans to keep her, by force if necessary.
Oh my goodness was this addictive! Engaging writing, captivating characters, edge of your set tension, and HOLY MOLY is it hot. Rafe is everything I want, a dark mafia antihero. He’s unapologetically controlling, manipulative, violent to protect his woman, and over the top. He’s charming in his darkness, ruthless in his devotion. And he is a master of the game- every person is a pivotal chess piece in his machinations. He doesn’t just influence the world around him, he reshapes it to his liking, including his plot to seduce and keep young Isa. And I loved Isa- she’s what I crave in a mafia romance. Soft but with a gentle strength, vulnerable and broken, but smart and resilient. She’s kind and naive, but not immature, and I loved the fire awakened in her by Rafe. She caves to beautifully to his seduction, and fights so fiercely when the monster is revealed.
Adelaide has such a beautiful writing style- it’s immersive and descriptive, sensual and alluring. She’s a vivid and captivating storyteller, and even though I felt like we had quite a long exposition (which makes sense because our heroine starts out underage), I could not put it down. Of course, this is a multi-book series, so we have a big cliffhanger and only time will tell if our young innocent becomes the queen Rafe desires. I can already tell we have some interesting character arcs in our future, and I’m excited to see just what happens next. I’m desperate for more.
Though our story begins with a instalove/stalker type beginning, the love blossoms over time. Our young heroine (only 16 when the story begins) soon finds herself the coveted prize of the notoriously ruthless El Diablo, our Ibiza mafioso Rafael. His interest in her is more than fascination, it’s obsession- but she’s a continent away, in his ally’s territory, and underage, all kinds of forbidden and the only lines this morally grey man won’t cross. So he plays the long game- stalks her from afar, protects her, and admires her- until the time comes to snatch her up. Isa comes from a rough background and has her own set of baggage, so she’s easily seduced by his charism and sexual prowess, until she realizes that this is no Ibizan fling- Rafe plans to keep her, by force if necessary.
Oh my goodness was this addictive! Engaging writing, captivating characters, edge of your set tension, and HOLY MOLY is it hot. Rafe is everything I want, a dark mafia antihero. He’s unapologetically controlling, manipulative, violent to protect his woman, and over the top. He’s charming in his darkness, ruthless in his devotion. And he is a master of the game- every person is a pivotal chess piece in his machinations. He doesn’t just influence the world around him, he reshapes it to his liking, including his plot to seduce and keep young Isa. And I loved Isa- she’s what I crave in a mafia romance. Soft but with a gentle strength, vulnerable and broken, but smart and resilient. She’s kind and naive, but not immature, and I loved the fire awakened in her by Rafe. She caves to beautifully to his seduction, and fights so fiercely when the monster is revealed.
Adelaide has such a beautiful writing style- it’s immersive and descriptive, sensual and alluring. She’s a vivid and captivating storyteller, and even though I felt like we had quite a long exposition (which makes sense because our heroine starts out underage), I could not put it down. Of course, this is a multi-book series, so we have a big cliffhanger and only time will tell if our young innocent becomes the queen Rafe desires. I can already tell we have some interesting character arcs in our future, and I’m excited to see just what happens next. I’m desperate for more.
May 30, 2022
Wow.
This story is absolutely incredible so far. It was recommended to me because Twist Me by Anna Zaires is my all-time favourites, and I haven't been able to find a hero that rivals Julian... until now. Wow, Rafael is absolutely incredible. Near perfect. There a shift to darker emotions at the end of book one that had me thinking, "No!! Hold steady, Rafe!" but I know things will come full circle, so I'm not too worried.
Honestly, these two characters are so well written. Adelaide is just too damn good with her OTT J/P heroes... I can't help but get utterly lost in her stories. She has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
Rafael is a possessive, obsessed monster, and damnit if I am not a SUCKER for this type of "hero"...
This story is absolutely incredible so far. It was recommended to me because Twist Me by Anna Zaires is my all-time favourites, and I haven't been able to find a hero that rivals Julian... until now. Wow, Rafael is absolutely incredible. Near perfect. There a shift to darker emotions at the end of book one that had me thinking, "No!! Hold steady, Rafe!" but I know things will come full circle, so I'm not too worried.
Honestly, these two characters are so well written. Adelaide is just too damn good with her OTT J/P heroes... I can't help but get utterly lost in her stories. She has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
Rafael is a possessive, obsessed monster, and damnit if I am not a SUCKER for this type of "hero"...
July 29, 2024
He dosent call his car, his car. Instead he calls it 'My McLarren.'
#richpeopleshit
Im too into the story to review it yet, but I must say that it seems very unnecessary to stretch this upto 4 books. First of all, Im done with book 1 and I have yet to see any major Mafia drama. It's just a bit of mutilation and fighting, not what I would consider daaaaark Romance. (maybe im desensitized) , but this book is good for those who particularly get easily triggered by the heavy stuff.
Might review first two books in Book 2 and next two books in Book 4. We'll see.
So far, Im enjoying it, I mean can you blame me for liking smut? Which is practically 70% of this book.
SAFETY- Don't worry you guys this is safe, its her first time and his.....is not but he really is a 'i-wish-it-was-my-first-time-too' kinda guy. Lol.
#richpeopleshit
Im too into the story to review it yet, but I must say that it seems very unnecessary to stretch this upto 4 books. First of all, Im done with book 1 and I have yet to see any major Mafia drama. It's just a bit of mutilation and fighting, not what I would consider daaaaark Romance. (maybe im desensitized) , but this book is good for those who particularly get easily triggered by the heavy stuff.
Might review first two books in Book 2 and next two books in Book 4. We'll see.
So far, Im enjoying it, I mean can you blame me for liking smut? Which is practically 70% of this book.
SAFETY- Don't worry you guys this is safe, its her first time and his.....is not but he really is a 'i-wish-it-was-my-first-time-too' kinda guy. Lol.
February 25, 2021
SUPERB! A mesmerizing plot, enthralling characters & absolutely WONDERFUL writing: Ms. Forrest brings her astounding BEST to this latest entry in her list of books.
I've already been blown away by her Bellandi series & 'Until Tomorrow Comes' only increases my extant admiration for her deft & downright magical ability to pull me into her 'worlds', to be seduced & mesmerized by her characters & how she so smoothly makes them 'real' in my mind as I read. For I'm no longer 'here', but 'THERE' in her novel; magically, deliciously & perfectly entrapped from the first page to the last.
Wonderful. Thrilling. Superb. Stellar.
A definite TOP FAVE & multiple REREAD for me & I can NOT wait for the next book!
I've already been blown away by her Bellandi series & 'Until Tomorrow Comes' only increases my extant admiration for her deft & downright magical ability to pull me into her 'worlds', to be seduced & mesmerized by her characters & how she so smoothly makes them 'real' in my mind as I read. For I'm no longer 'here', but 'THERE' in her novel; magically, deliciously & perfectly entrapped from the first page to the last.
Wonderful. Thrilling. Superb. Stellar.
A definite TOP FAVE & multiple REREAD for me & I can NOT wait for the next book!
July 17, 2022
"Until Tomorrow Comes" is the starting of Isa and Rafael's story.
An innocent angel with pain in her eyes..
The evil man that gets obsessed with her..
This is the beginning of their story, where one look gets the hero addicted and he spends years waiting for and protecting the heroine. When she finally travels to Ibiza, she is in his fair and he then spends time claiming her. But will she choose him when she discovers his true identity?
Intriguing, passionate and deranged!
Safe
4.25/5
An innocent angel with pain in her eyes..
The evil man that gets obsessed with her..
This is the beginning of their story, where one look gets the hero addicted and he spends years waiting for and protecting the heroine. When she finally travels to Ibiza, she is in his fair and he then spends time claiming her. But will she choose him when she discovers his true identity?
Intriguing, passionate and deranged!
Safe
4.25/5
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