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The Severed Signet #3
Bound by Betrayal
When a debt is owed, sacrifices must be made.
I owed my brother my life. My loyalty.
He’d saved me from pain and lifelong scars more times than I could count, taking the brunt of the demons haunting me.
When the time came to return the favor and settle a debt, I never imagined my sacrifice would
leave me bound in marriage to a woman who would consume my heart.
Amalia Montesinos.
I fell for her fire. Her rage.
The soft pieces of her very few knew.
Loving her was never part of the contract.
My purpose was clear—ensure she inherited her empire, then go our separate ways.
But I had lived at the edge of death for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be alive.
Until her.
My wife.
I’d be damned if I ever let her go.
I owed my brother my life. My loyalty.
He’d saved me from pain and lifelong scars more times than I could count, taking the brunt of the demons haunting me.
When the time came to return the favor and settle a debt, I never imagined my sacrifice would
leave me bound in marriage to a woman who would consume my heart.
Amalia Montesinos.
I fell for her fire. Her rage.
The soft pieces of her very few knew.
Loving her was never part of the contract.
My purpose was clear—ensure she inherited her empire, then go our separate ways.
But I had lived at the edge of death for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be alive.
Until her.
My wife.
I’d be damned if I ever let her go.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2024
364 people are currently reading
5551 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
May 18, 2025
This was ultimately the book that made want to start this series and it did not disappoint. Omg the way Kai and Amelia were together was everything pure burning fire. I can’t wait to see how book 4 turns out.
May 18, 2024
Wtf is this writing. Couldn’t even finish it. Never reading tik tok recommendations again. Im all for strong empowered woman but why does she have to say the same shit over and over… we get it, you’re not a damsel in distress 🙄To all the people giving this book 4-5 stars i hope you read an actually good dark romance book with a plot and character development that keeps you so entertained you cant put the book down.
April 24, 2024
“Has anyone ever told you how goddamn sexy you look when you talk murder and mayhem?”
Long story: Kai was great. Amalia drove me a little batty.
And that ending! Super curious about the long, lost sister.
Long story: Kai was great. Amalia drove me a little batty.
And that ending! Super curious about the long, lost sister.
August 8, 2025
infinity stars rating!!! OMGGG each story keep surpassing one another.
Damn I cried with this one!!!!!
"But I need you to stay…or take me with you" 💔😭
additional note: 2 days later and this book is stil on my mind, oh how I cried!!!
Damn I cried with this one!!!!!
"But I need you to stay…or take me with you" 💔😭
additional note: 2 days later and this book is stil on my mind, oh how I cried!!!
April 19, 2024
My wife gets me every time 🥹😭🙌 but when he takes a step back and let's her handle business!? YES SIR 🫠
April 24, 2024
I don't think i could say something about this book, right now, my mind is still with Kai.
5 crazy stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶
5 crazy stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶
April 18, 2024
I ateeeeeee this book up. I loved Kai and Amalia, I loved their energy and chemistry together. The way their relationship developed was perfect! I will say that I did guess who was behind the chaos, but it didn’t take away from the book at all.
My only *complaint* with this book would be *that person* who dies near the end! I just feel like it was so unnecessary, and that may be because I was attached, but it made me so sad!
I wish we saw more about Derek & Kai’s father, but that just means the drama in the next one is about to be…. 😮💨
Overall, I loved this book, and everyone should definitely read this and the others!
My only *complaint* with this book would be *that person* who dies near the end! I just feel like it was so unnecessary, and that may be because I was attached, but it made me so sad!
I wish we saw more about Derek & Kai’s father, but that just means the drama in the next one is about to be…. 😮💨
Overall, I loved this book, and everyone should definitely read this and the others!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2024
Great book! As always Elle hits it out of the park and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
April 22, 2024
This was everything and more!! All the tension, hate, plot twists and the fucking betrayal!! Oh my god…
I have officially hit a book slump. I have read this twice already because it’s that good!!
Amalia is strong because she has to be, her father decided to use her beauty and climb up the ladder with that, ultimately he knew that was wrong, just goes to show that WOMEN ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE POWERFUL.
Reading about her in Tempted by Blood left me questioning who was La Reina. And let me tell you she didn’t disappoint. I loved her relationship with Molly, it was nice knowing someone cared about her deeply, i mean before Kai. Gio, her brother, is also a favorite. He made an impact and i seriously cannot with you Elle, Hija de su puta madre 😩
Now Kai, MY MAN KAI…..
I knew he was going to be a loyal man, he is a Cain brother after all. I am so glad he got his own book and didn’t stay in Derek’ shddow as “Derek’s brother,” I don’t even have words to describe Kai other than ✨MINE✨
The way he worshipped Amalia and made her feel safe, ugh *cue ugly crying*
He’s the man you become utterly obsessed with, he gives golden retriever but he looks like a Doberman hahaha, he knows his *WIFE* can handle her own and shoots first asks questions later, always makes sure she’s satisfied and happily gets on his knees 😈
I have officially hit a book slump. I have read this twice already because it’s that good!!
Amalia is strong because she has to be, her father decided to use her beauty and climb up the ladder with that, ultimately he knew that was wrong, just goes to show that WOMEN ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE POWERFUL.
Reading about her in Tempted by Blood left me questioning who was La Reina. And let me tell you she didn’t disappoint. I loved her relationship with Molly, it was nice knowing someone cared about her deeply, i mean before Kai. Gio, her brother, is also a favorite. He made an impact and i seriously cannot with you Elle, Hija de su puta madre 😩
Now Kai, MY MAN KAI…..
I knew he was going to be a loyal man, he is a Cain brother after all. I am so glad he got his own book and didn’t stay in Derek’ shddow as “Derek’s brother,” I don’t even have words to describe Kai other than ✨MINE✨
The way he worshipped Amalia and made her feel safe, ugh *cue ugly crying*
He’s the man you become utterly obsessed with, he gives golden retriever but he looks like a Doberman hahaha, he knows his *WIFE* can handle her own and shoots first asks questions later, always makes sure she’s satisfied and happily gets on his knees 😈
January 12, 2025
“careful. you put a hand on my wife, and she’ll remove it. and i’ll take the other for fun.”
re-read review: FUCKING A 😩 kai still had me squirming and begging on my knees. literally love every single one of elle’s badass bitches. can never get enough 🖤 just utter perfection. banger after banger every damn time !!
this is book three in the series ❤️ a dark romance, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, “MY WIFE”, filthy mouthed biker mmc, badass artist fmc, girl gang, assassin, cartel, he falls first and hard, chefs fucking kiss spice !!!
oh my god the action in this one !!?? INSANE !! i loved every single bit of it. the marriage of convenience/arranged marriage trope will always have me by the throat. elle did such an amazing work portraying the emotions of amalia and kai. the way amalia didn’t want to give in, she is so headstrong and such a baddie. and then there’s kai teasing her and poking at her trying to break down her walls 🤩 ugh i love them so much
THAT ENDING ?!?? HELLO ????
🌶️🌶️🌶️
re-read review: FUCKING A 😩 kai still had me squirming and begging on my knees. literally love every single one of elle’s badass bitches. can never get enough 🖤 just utter perfection. banger after banger every damn time !!
this is book three in the series ❤️ a dark romance, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, “MY WIFE”, filthy mouthed biker mmc, badass artist fmc, girl gang, assassin, cartel, he falls first and hard, chefs fucking kiss spice !!!
oh my god the action in this one !!?? INSANE !! i loved every single bit of it. the marriage of convenience/arranged marriage trope will always have me by the throat. elle did such an amazing work portraying the emotions of amalia and kai. the way amalia didn’t want to give in, she is so headstrong and such a baddie. and then there’s kai teasing her and poking at her trying to break down her walls 🤩 ugh i love them so much
THAT ENDING ?!?? HELLO ????
🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 19, 2025
This was a fun read. But that’s it. Just fun. I loved book two in this series, but this one just fell a tad bit flat for me.
If you want a spicy good time, with banter, LOTS AND LOTS of spice, with an easy to follow plot, you’ll love this. The FMC and MMC were so fun, and I loved their interactions and banter. Them trying to navigate a marriage of convince while also being independent psychopaths was such a good time. And I loooooved their chemistry.
But the plot was meh. And super predictable. I guessed who was behind it all about 5 minutes after the first clue. It was a pretty shallow plot, with not much outside of the romance.
But if you love a a good vibe with spice for days and a HOT relationship, you’ll enjoy this.
I don’t think I’ll read the next one, but I did enjoy this. But it’s nothing memorable.
If you want a spicy good time, with banter, LOTS AND LOTS of spice, with an easy to follow plot, you’ll love this. The FMC and MMC were so fun, and I loved their interactions and banter. Them trying to navigate a marriage of convince while also being independent psychopaths was such a good time. And I loooooved their chemistry.
But the plot was meh. And super predictable. I guessed who was behind it all about 5 minutes after the first clue. It was a pretty shallow plot, with not much outside of the romance.
But if you love a a good vibe with spice for days and a HOT relationship, you’ll enjoy this.
I don’t think I’ll read the next one, but I did enjoy this. But it’s nothing memorable.
May 4, 2024
Bound by Betrayal
This deliciously dark read has suspense, marriage of convenience, love, angst, spice and more! Once I finally got my hands on this, I could not put it down!
I do strongly suggest checking the trigger warnings for this.
Amalia and Kai are chef’s kiss.
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*
This deliciously dark read has suspense, marriage of convenience, love, angst, spice and more! Once I finally got my hands on this, I could not put it down!
I do strongly suggest checking the trigger warnings for this.
Amalia and Kai are chef’s kiss.
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*
May 6, 2025
Killed Gio = 1 star
February 3, 2026
one thing I will always do is EAT up a marriage of any kind. there is nothing like a "my wife" scene that really gets me going.
This follows Kai, who we previously met in books 1 and 2 and Amalia who we saw in book 1. Amalia must marry to take over the family business and Kai has a debt to settle for his brother Derek so they end up getting into an arranged marriage. so these two barely know each other aside from the few times they have come in contact with each other but they have to make it look real in front of her parents and the lawyers so she can take over the business and you know how these marriages start and end hehe.
Kai grew up pretty much the same way that Derek did. Abandoned young by his parents and thrown into the system until Ares found him and took him in. This is where he met Derek and they have been brothers ever since. if there is one thing that I have taken from this series, it's that being related does not mean you have to share the same blood. i love the found family in this series so much. also, we know that Kai has always been a bit of a lone wolf but he aces to be someone's person. he's been walking around with a hole in his chest until Amalia stepped into his life.
My girl Amalia, the badass that she is, la reina, head of the family, i don't know if I want her or I want to be her (maybe both). my strong girl; she has to put on this mask so no one ever sees her slip or get over that wall that she has built around her heart. behind all those walls, is a woman who wants to be loved, protected, and cherished. she wants someone to look at her as if she is their entire world and that is exactly how Kai looks at her.
this book had so much action going on, I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. this one was a little emotional towards the end for both characters but I thoroughly enjoyed their love story.
5 ☆
This follows Kai, who we previously met in books 1 and 2 and Amalia who we saw in book 1. Amalia must marry to take over the family business and Kai has a debt to settle for his brother Derek so they end up getting into an arranged marriage. so these two barely know each other aside from the few times they have come in contact with each other but they have to make it look real in front of her parents and the lawyers so she can take over the business and you know how these marriages start and end hehe.
Kai grew up pretty much the same way that Derek did. Abandoned young by his parents and thrown into the system until Ares found him and took him in. This is where he met Derek and they have been brothers ever since. if there is one thing that I have taken from this series, it's that being related does not mean you have to share the same blood. i love the found family in this series so much. also, we know that Kai has always been a bit of a lone wolf but he aces to be someone's person. he's been walking around with a hole in his chest until Amalia stepped into his life.
My girl Amalia, the badass that she is, la reina, head of the family, i don't know if I want her or I want to be her (maybe both). my strong girl; she has to put on this mask so no one ever sees her slip or get over that wall that she has built around her heart. behind all those walls, is a woman who wants to be loved, protected, and cherished. she wants someone to look at her as if she is their entire world and that is exactly how Kai looks at her.
this book had so much action going on, I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. this one was a little emotional towards the end for both characters but I thoroughly enjoyed their love story.
5 ☆
May 1, 2024
Mi Reina is her nickname from him 🥹
I loved her fierce and sassy attitude 🔥 the way she made Kai squirm and he her. So much tension spilling of the page I couldn’t get enough!
Kai is such a sweetheart yet so dangerous when it comes down to anyone touching or hurting his wife. And I loved his comment “Careful. You put a hand on my wife and she’ll remove it. And I’ll take the other for fun.”
I’m glad Kai took his time to get to know her. To make her walls crumble down so he can be let in.
I loved the motorbike scene and the art studio scene when they painted each other as a declaration of love to each other by placing their hands over their heart and drawing one over it.
That plottwist broke me! I cried so hard 🥹 and that ending!!!!! Nooooooooo, really? 😳 can’t wait for the next book!
I loved her fierce and sassy attitude 🔥 the way she made Kai squirm and he her. So much tension spilling of the page I couldn’t get enough!
Kai is such a sweetheart yet so dangerous when it comes down to anyone touching or hurting his wife. And I loved his comment “Careful. You put a hand on my wife and she’ll remove it. And I’ll take the other for fun.”
I’m glad Kai took his time to get to know her. To make her walls crumble down so he can be let in.
I loved the motorbike scene and the art studio scene when they painted each other as a declaration of love to each other by placing their hands over their heart and drawing one over it.
That plottwist broke me! I cried so hard 🥹 and that ending!!!!! Nooooooooo, really? 😳 can’t wait for the next book!
April 24, 2024
“let me fill all the hollow pieces of your soul, baby. i’d give you my very last breath if i could.”
i’ve been waiting for this couple since book one, amalia caught my attention even more so than kai. to have not one, but two viciously devious female characters (counting helena from book 2) that are distinctively known and feared in their respective organizations, who not only respect each other but are friends? it’s so rare to find and the author did them justice. there was no true rivalry, just mutual understanding of what it’s like to be a woman in a criminal underworld dominated by men and thinking they're broken beyond repair, not deserving of love. i wish there were more scenes between them. just like i wish amalia’s girls were a bigger part of the story. what first made an impression was that she had forged her own faction, all female, and i wanted the story behind it, i wanted to see the different dynamics between the girls. did the female rage make up for it? absolutely, but there’s a lack of strong and empowering female duos and groups in more mafia and mafia adjacent romance and i believe this author can change that in the future.
i’ve been waiting for this couple since book one, amalia caught my attention even more so than kai. to have not one, but two viciously devious female characters (counting helena from book 2) that are distinctively known and feared in their respective organizations, who not only respect each other but are friends? it’s so rare to find and the author did them justice. there was no true rivalry, just mutual understanding of what it’s like to be a woman in a criminal underworld dominated by men and thinking they're broken beyond repair, not deserving of love. i wish there were more scenes between them. just like i wish amalia’s girls were a bigger part of the story. what first made an impression was that she had forged her own faction, all female, and i wanted the story behind it, i wanted to see the different dynamics between the girls. did the female rage make up for it? absolutely, but there’s a lack of strong and empowering female duos and groups in more mafia and mafia adjacent romance and i believe this author can change that in the future.
May 17, 2024
Well hot damn
April 20, 2024
**ARC REVIEW**
Spicy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🖤 Syndicate Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Morally Grey
🖤 Fierce FMC
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Protective MCs
“For the first time in my life, I’m home.”
Kai Cain found Amalia Montesinos to be an interesting woman, having only met as passing shadows when his brother called her and her team to assist in a situation that occurred in Severed by Vengeance. He has now found himself volunteering in his brother’s stead to marry Amalia. Never did he think that seeing her walk down the aisle and putting a ring on her finger would make him bound to a woman who would consume his heart.
Kai Cain found Amalia Montesinos to be an interesting woman, having only met as passing shadows when his brother called her and her team to assist in a situation that occurred in Severed by Vengeance. He has now found himself volunteering in his brother’s stead to marry Amalia. Never did he think that seeing her walk down the aisle and putting a ring on her finger would make him bound to a woman who would consume his heart.
Amalia Montesinos has been put in a position where she is required to take a husband to inherit the family empire. Does she want to, no, and she will not go willingly to just anyone, so she calls in the debt owed by Derek Cain. Little did she know that the man she deemed appropriate for her marriage of convenience and nothing more would cause her stone walls to start crumbling. With the wedding quickly approaching, things around Amalia start becoming bathed in crimson, but who is behind the attacks on her home and the ones she loves, and will she be able to save them all?
This book is the third in the Severed Signet series, and when I say it starts with an intense start I mean that something happens in the SECOND CHAPTER that had me on edge. Amalia is a badass who is now sharing the crown with Leni for the Queen position of Morally Grey women who are strong independent written characters! Kai, I have loved him since he was introduced in Severed by Vengence and I am so happy to see him in his own story and to have his own happily ever after. Elle Maldonado has done it again with this book, Kai and Amalia are two sides of the same coin. I love how their relationship grew throughout the book, my heart …..
The Severed Signet series will continue with Liberated by Sin.
Triggers ⚠️ please check authors' feed and front pages of books for trigger warnings. This book has a few of them 👀
Spicy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🖤 Syndicate Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Morally Grey
🖤 Fierce FMC
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Protective MCs
“For the first time in my life, I’m home.”
Kai Cain found Amalia Montesinos to be an interesting woman, having only met as passing shadows when his brother called her and her team to assist in a situation that occurred in Severed by Vengeance. He has now found himself volunteering in his brother’s stead to marry Amalia. Never did he think that seeing her walk down the aisle and putting a ring on her finger would make him bound to a woman who would consume his heart.
Kai Cain found Amalia Montesinos to be an interesting woman, having only met as passing shadows when his brother called her and her team to assist in a situation that occurred in Severed by Vengeance. He has now found himself volunteering in his brother’s stead to marry Amalia. Never did he think that seeing her walk down the aisle and putting a ring on her finger would make him bound to a woman who would consume his heart.
Amalia Montesinos has been put in a position where she is required to take a husband to inherit the family empire. Does she want to, no, and she will not go willingly to just anyone, so she calls in the debt owed by Derek Cain. Little did she know that the man she deemed appropriate for her marriage of convenience and nothing more would cause her stone walls to start crumbling. With the wedding quickly approaching, things around Amalia start becoming bathed in crimson, but who is behind the attacks on her home and the ones she loves, and will she be able to save them all?
This book is the third in the Severed Signet series, and when I say it starts with an intense start I mean that something happens in the SECOND CHAPTER that had me on edge. Amalia is a badass who is now sharing the crown with Leni for the Queen position of Morally Grey women who are strong independent written characters! Kai, I have loved him since he was introduced in Severed by Vengence and I am so happy to see him in his own story and to have his own happily ever after. Elle Maldonado has done it again with this book, Kai and Amalia are two sides of the same coin. I love how their relationship grew throughout the book, my heart …..
The Severed Signet series will continue with Liberated by Sin.
Triggers ⚠️ please check authors' feed and front pages of books for trigger warnings. This book has a few of them 👀
April 19, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ LORDDDT THEYRE HOT 🥵
Ummm this book is a dang vibe. Elle has created this amazing world of unhinged assassins and made us fall in love with them. BBB starts off with a literal bang and the action continues to move the story along til the end. Elle’s writing is so fast-paced but somehow perfectly executed. There’s violence, spice and heart and she balances it all really well.
I loved Kai and Amalia’s dynamic - the “I hate that I like you” vibes. This is 💯 Brutal Vows coded. The banter. The tension. The 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. Amalia is a typical tough as nails Elle heroine, but I liked that she showed Kai her soft spots. My man Kai falls harddd for his “vicious” (I swooned so bad at the nickname) and their power struggle as they fell in love was just hilarious and enjoyable to watch.
Elle brought the big guns out (no pun intended) and although I called the bad guy early on, I definitely did not expect the insanity that was the last 15%. 😳 AND we got the scenes I was hoping for between our past FMCs. My girl Leni never disappoints. I’m telling yall, Elle writes the best characters. I love them all.
Normally I’d tell y’all to read in any order but this series is connected and you need to enjoy it in order, trust me! I am so psyched for the 4th book. I think we’re all gonna be blown away 🤭
READ FOR:
🔪 assassins unaliving people
💍 arranged marriage of convenience
🔪 he calls her vicious
💍 bada$$ FMC who saves herself
🔪 protective MMC who lets her be her
💍 action, mystery + suspense
Thank you SO MUCH to Elle for the advanced copy.
Ummm this book is a dang vibe. Elle has created this amazing world of unhinged assassins and made us fall in love with them. BBB starts off with a literal bang and the action continues to move the story along til the end. Elle’s writing is so fast-paced but somehow perfectly executed. There’s violence, spice and heart and she balances it all really well.
I loved Kai and Amalia’s dynamic - the “I hate that I like you” vibes. This is 💯 Brutal Vows coded. The banter. The tension. The 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. Amalia is a typical tough as nails Elle heroine, but I liked that she showed Kai her soft spots. My man Kai falls harddd for his “vicious” (I swooned so bad at the nickname) and their power struggle as they fell in love was just hilarious and enjoyable to watch.
Elle brought the big guns out (no pun intended) and although I called the bad guy early on, I definitely did not expect the insanity that was the last 15%. 😳 AND we got the scenes I was hoping for between our past FMCs. My girl Leni never disappoints. I’m telling yall, Elle writes the best characters. I love them all.
Normally I’d tell y’all to read in any order but this series is connected and you need to enjoy it in order, trust me! I am so psyched for the 4th book. I think we’re all gonna be blown away 🤭
READ FOR:
🔪 assassins unaliving people
💍 arranged marriage of convenience
🔪 he calls her vicious
💍 bada$$ FMC who saves herself
🔪 protective MMC who lets her be her
💍 action, mystery + suspense
Thank you SO MUCH to Elle for the advanced copy.
April 20, 2024
You never fail to hook me in with this series! This one was nothing short of incredible, heartbreaking, thrilling, and A FREAKING ROLLERCOASTER\SALAD BOWL MIXTURE OF EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER THE SUN! 😭😍😫🖤
I am definitely still recovering from that ending, the ugly crying was severe in those last chapters.
Amelia is forced into an arranged marriage but instead of her fate being laid out for her, in true Amelia fashion that we have come to know she creates her own path and arranges her own marriage to Kai. These two couldn’t have been more perfect for one another!
The tension, the banter, the “I will never love you this is just a marriage of convenience - but if you look at another person I’ll kill you”, and just everything about them is perfect! Plus, who doesn’t live a “She’s my wife” moment? 🫠🫠
Once again, Elle gave me a book I was unable to set down once I picked it up! I can’t wait for book 4! 🖤
If you haven’t deep dived into Elle’s Severed Signet series yet, then this is your sign! 👏
💥PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS💥
Tropes include:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🖤 He Falls First - She Falls Harder
🖤 “She’s My Wife”
🖤 He calls her “Vicious” and “Mi Reina”
🖤 Enemies-ish to Lovers
🖤 Hidden Truth
🖤 Betrayal
4.5/⭐️
I am definitely still recovering from that ending, the ugly crying was severe in those last chapters.
Amelia is forced into an arranged marriage but instead of her fate being laid out for her, in true Amelia fashion that we have come to know she creates her own path and arranges her own marriage to Kai. These two couldn’t have been more perfect for one another!
The tension, the banter, the “I will never love you this is just a marriage of convenience - but if you look at another person I’ll kill you”, and just everything about them is perfect! Plus, who doesn’t live a “She’s my wife” moment? 🫠🫠
Once again, Elle gave me a book I was unable to set down once I picked it up! I can’t wait for book 4! 🖤
If you haven’t deep dived into Elle’s Severed Signet series yet, then this is your sign! 👏
💥PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS💥
Tropes include:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🖤 He Falls First - She Falls Harder
🖤 “She’s My Wife”
🖤 He calls her “Vicious” and “Mi Reina”
🖤 Enemies-ish to Lovers
🖤 Hidden Truth
🖤 Betrayal
4.5/⭐️
April 27, 2024
I have read this series since the beginning and as each book comes out, I fall more and more in love with Elle's writing and these characters. I could not wait for this book because I knew that it was going to be an epic ride with Kai.
Now woah woah woah, hold the phone babes because Kai and Amalia are a force to not be messed with! Their relationship starts off extremely rocky and with an insane amount of sassiness. But I mean, would you expect anything less from Amalia? Yeah me either. 🤣
Once she is able to let those walls down and realize that maybe Kai is the missing piece she's been lacking forever, everything changes for her and them. They become the most amazing power couple imaginable. Their relationship changes for the best and they both learn how to work as a pair!
Their love story is everything and more. I am head over heels for the two of them and everything about their lives. The growth Amalia shows is tremendous and honestly, goals babe! Ohh and let's not forget that these two sure know how to get down and dirty 🥵 seriously...like make sure you take a moment to breath because that spice is SPICIN'!
The epilogue! Oh my heart! 🥹😍 it's everything and more! I cannot wait for the next book!
Now woah woah woah, hold the phone babes because Kai and Amalia are a force to not be messed with! Their relationship starts off extremely rocky and with an insane amount of sassiness. But I mean, would you expect anything less from Amalia? Yeah me either. 🤣
Once she is able to let those walls down and realize that maybe Kai is the missing piece she's been lacking forever, everything changes for her and them. They become the most amazing power couple imaginable. Their relationship changes for the best and they both learn how to work as a pair!
Their love story is everything and more. I am head over heels for the two of them and everything about their lives. The growth Amalia shows is tremendous and honestly, goals babe! Ohh and let's not forget that these two sure know how to get down and dirty 🥵 seriously...like make sure you take a moment to breath because that spice is SPICIN'!
The epilogue! Oh my heart! 🥹😍 it's everything and more! I cannot wait for the next book!
April 19, 2024
I knew Kai's book would be amazing, and Elle did not disappoint! This book opens with a bang, literally. We're thrown into the action right away. Amalia gives off total Mrs. Smith (from Mr. and Mrs. Smith) vibes. I love that she has an all-female team and runs her organization as "La Reina", a queen with paralleled confidence. Despite their marriage of convenience, together, Amalia and Kai make an amazing couple. Right away he chips at her defenses and begins to earn her trust. Later on, he makes space for her to be vulnerable, which she's never had in a partner before.
Ugh, the end ripped my heart out but I saw it coming. Overall, you should definitely read the The Severed Signet series if you enjoy:
🌹 Forced proximity
🌹 "Where is my wife"
🌹 He falls first
🌹 Spicy FMC
🌹 Badass MCs
🌹 Mafia setting
🌹 Gratuitous spice
🌹 Cameos (from series)
Thank you to the author, Elle Maldonado, for an advanced reader copy of Bound by Betrayal!
Ugh, the end ripped my heart out but I saw it coming. Overall, you should definitely read the The Severed Signet series if you enjoy:
🌹 Forced proximity
🌹 "Where is my wife"
🌹 He falls first
🌹 Spicy FMC
🌹 Badass MCs
🌹 Mafia setting
🌹 Gratuitous spice
🌹 Cameos (from series)
Thank you to the author, Elle Maldonado, for an advanced reader copy of Bound by Betrayal!
April 23, 2024
Bound by Betrayal - Elle Maldonado
*Book Rec*
"𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆."
Book 3 in the Severed Signet did not disappoint! Upset me (IYKYK) yes 😅, disappoint me, no.
Kai and Amalia were SO good together...a little she's grumpy he's sunshine with some murder and marriage of convenience...🧑🏼🍳💋
"𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆."
Amalia needs to get married for family rules and since Derek is now married that only leaves Kai as her option. A little hate to love (for her) situation at it's finest. Banter and Spice will not let you down. I don't want to say to much cause it will give things away but if you haven't started this series yet I highly recommend you do!
"𝑯𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒉𝒆𝒎."
🐈⬛Marriage of Convenience
🔪He's Sunshine, She's Grumpy
🐈⬛Morally Grey MCs
🔪Enemies to Lovers
*Book Rec*
"𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆."
Book 3 in the Severed Signet did not disappoint! Upset me (IYKYK) yes 😅, disappoint me, no.
Kai and Amalia were SO good together...a little she's grumpy he's sunshine with some murder and marriage of convenience...🧑🏼🍳💋
"𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆."
Amalia needs to get married for family rules and since Derek is now married that only leaves Kai as her option. A little hate to love (for her) situation at it's finest. Banter and Spice will not let you down. I don't want to say to much cause it will give things away but if you haven't started this series yet I highly recommend you do!
"𝑯𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒉𝒆𝒎."
🐈⬛Marriage of Convenience
🔪He's Sunshine, She's Grumpy
🐈⬛Morally Grey MCs
🔪Enemies to Lovers
April 18, 2024
I devoted this book. Took all of me to put this book down at 2am just to get a few hours of sleep before work. The push and pull was so intriguing! Tensions were so high (the segsual tension had me so hot!) I knew Kai was going to be a sweetie but he really made me fall in love with him (maybe even more than Derek 🫣). He was the perfect example of "touch her and d!e" and he even proved it. 🫠 Amalia is a complete bad @ss and made my boy Kai WORK for it!!! Not only did she have him chasing her multiple times but then left him totally blue. I love everything about this story!! Elle is another author whose work just keeps getting better and better! I can't wait to see what she has coming for us next!
April 29, 2024
Bound by Betrayal is the third in the The Severed Signet series by Elle Maldonado. This is a dark mafia enemies to lovers romance with arranged marriage and forced proximity. He falls first and hard!
Amelia is THE BOSS. She works hard, takes absolutely no shit from anyone and is less than pleased that she is being forced into marriage by her grandfather's will.
Kai Cain, ahhhhhh the other Cain brother. Our morally grey, protective, hunk of a MMC. It takes Amelia a little time to realize she is one lucky lady.
This is a fast paced read, with plots unfolding, attacks, betrayal, everything you love reading Elle's books. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Amelia is THE BOSS. She works hard, takes absolutely no shit from anyone and is less than pleased that she is being forced into marriage by her grandfather's will.
Kai Cain, ahhhhhh the other Cain brother. Our morally grey, protective, hunk of a MMC. It takes Amelia a little time to realize she is one lucky lady.
This is a fast paced read, with plots unfolding, attacks, betrayal, everything you love reading Elle's books. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
August 18, 2024
I’m not okay. I’ve been through all the emotions with this book. That’s all I’ll say on that, HOWEVER Kai is my favourite. What a man. Amalia is one badass woman too🫶🏽 what a woman. What a pair. The perfect marriage of convenience, truly had me kicking my feet and giggling at their banta🤭
Again this book had a great storyline that was so easy to follow and understand constantly. I felt like a detective trying to work things out in my head before them. I’m truly obsessed and I think this universe will definitely sit on my chest for a while. THE ENDING TOO…wasn’t on my bingo card but now I have to wait for the final book, I don’t know how I will cope😩
Again this book had a great storyline that was so easy to follow and understand constantly. I felt like a detective trying to work things out in my head before them. I’m truly obsessed and I think this universe will definitely sit on my chest for a while. THE ENDING TOO…wasn’t on my bingo card but now I have to wait for the final book, I don’t know how I will cope😩
May 9, 2024
Ugh this book was everything I wanted it to be and more 😍 to say I had high expectations for Kai would be an understatement and Elle delivered on all of them
The way Elle writes banter between two character is unrivalled. I had so much fun reading the dialogue between Kai and Amalia and by the end of the book Elle had me sobbing (and yelling at her in the DMs, soz)
There’s nothing I love more than a “my wife” in a marriage of convenience and Kai is obsessed with his *wife* 🧎🏻♀️
If you haven’t read this series, honestly what are you waiting for??
The way Elle writes banter between two character is unrivalled. I had so much fun reading the dialogue between Kai and Amalia and by the end of the book Elle had me sobbing (and yelling at her in the DMs, soz)
There’s nothing I love more than a “my wife” in a marriage of convenience and Kai is obsessed with his *wife* 🧎🏻♀️
If you haven’t read this series, honestly what are you waiting for??
April 27, 2024
Thank you for this amazing anticipated read of 2024!!
I didn’t think I could love a couple more than Leni & Silas but here we are! This was such a great marriage of convenience between two badasses! The motorcycle scene?? OKAYYY ELLE! 🥵
This was a perfect mix of action and spice! I can’t wait for the next one!!
I didn’t think I could love a couple more than Leni & Silas but here we are! This was such a great marriage of convenience between two badasses! The motorcycle scene?? OKAYYY ELLE! 🥵
This was a perfect mix of action and spice! I can’t wait for the next one!!
April 20, 2024
Dang. I was NOT expecting that ending! Ripped my heart in freaking two. I absolutely loved Kai, he was such a beautiful character like ughhh swooning! Amalia was a total bad ass! Can’t wait to see what Elle has in store for us on the next book! This book had all the spice and action.
June 4, 2024
i’m sorry , the cliffhanger ???? WHY. oh my god , the “my wife” gets me EVERYTIME. i loved this book , im in my mafia romance era bitchhhh
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