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Twisted Shadows: The Notorious Five Series
***EDITED JUNE 2023***
There's a fine line between love and hate. Love is not something we are all accustomed to, though. It is not something we are all lucky to feel in our lifetime.
Myself? I am one of those people that doesn't apply.
From the age of twenty-one, my life was officially promised away, forced into a marriage with a man I had never met before. It was an arrangement to suit families. A truce to suit everyone but the individuals.
It was to be expected that I hated Ryder Genovese with every bone in my body. I loathed the man, despised him with a passion so furious that the line between love and hate became blurred,
Ryder Genovese came into my life like a tempest, a relentless storm that refused to release me. He was the darkness, the shadows monsters hide within.
But as much as I hated Ryder, this man twisted the shadows and revealed something I never knew about myself.
There's a fine line between love and hate. Love is not something we are all accustomed to, though. It is not something we are all lucky to feel in our lifetime.
Myself? I am one of those people that doesn't apply.
From the age of twenty-one, my life was officially promised away, forced into a marriage with a man I had never met before. It was an arrangement to suit families. A truce to suit everyone but the individuals.
It was to be expected that I hated Ryder Genovese with every bone in my body. I loathed the man, despised him with a passion so furious that the line between love and hate became blurred,
Ryder Genovese came into my life like a tempest, a relentless storm that refused to release me. He was the darkness, the shadows monsters hide within.
But as much as I hated Ryder, this man twisted the shadows and revealed something I never knew about myself.
490 pages, Hardcover
Published July 26, 2023
55 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Dyer
30 books171 followersSophie is neurodivergent, British author currently residing in Dubai. She writes Mafia Romance with all the twists and turns you thought you saw coming.
You can find out more about Sophie below:
Website: www.thenotoriouswriter.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_notorio...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dyers...
You can find out more about Sophie below:
Website: www.thenotoriouswriter.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_notorio...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dyers...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 7, 2024
This is more of a 3.75 for me. I really enjoyed the book as this is my first read of this author and I am dipping my toes more into mafia romances which I have been really wanting to read lately and I enjoyed this book and it def makes me want to read this genre more. The reason I didn't give it a 4 was may be because I am not use to this type of trope mafia/arranged marriage trope. I will say I have read fantasy arranged marriage tropes so it's not unfamiliar with me. The issue is there were some preconceived notations within the marriage on both MCs parts more so on the husband's side. Don't get me wrong she is plotting against him in some capacity but nowhere near what he thought and never by incidences he witnesses. For example, like taking the father saying to the daughter to not fck up the marriage and he takes that as an indicator that she is out too unalive him. It just felt at times that this was boarding on the miscommunication trope and if they just sat down and talked even a little these two could have worked together as a team rather than enemies. I just really really hate the miscommunication trope and it just felt like it was boarding near that trope where I just wanted to scream at them to just sit the fck down and talk. I love a good enemy to lovers as well which these two do have the vibes without the violence (there is some don't get me wrong but nowhere near the scale I have seen in other books so I would say based off that its more vibes. it's all perspective.)
In the end I did enjoy the book, the overall plot and authors writing style. I liked the FMC, and I can understand the issues surround the MMC that caused him to form and stick to his preconceived notions and why he is so untrusting. As this is book 5 in a standalone series you don't necessarily have to have read the previous books (i didn't) but I can tell there were references that I would have understood better if I had read the previous books. I am also curious about the other characters and their stories so I will be reading the previous books in the future.
the author did send me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review, but I downloaded it off of KU to support the author with the page reads.
In the end I did enjoy the book, the overall plot and authors writing style. I liked the FMC, and I can understand the issues surround the MMC that caused him to form and stick to his preconceived notions and why he is so untrusting. As this is book 5 in a standalone series you don't necessarily have to have read the previous books (i didn't) but I can tell there were references that I would have understood better if I had read the previous books. I am also curious about the other characters and their stories so I will be reading the previous books in the future.
the author did send me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review, but I downloaded it off of KU to support the author with the page reads.
May 12, 2024
I absolutely love Sloan! She has fire in her soul. Ryder, on the other hand, makes me so frustrated, and I want to smack him silly at some points. In this fifth and final book of The Notorious Five series, we finally get to know more about the mystery grumpy Ryder. My heart was ripped out and healed back together with this story. I highly recommend this story. It finishes off the last of an excellent interconnected mafia romance series with a bang.
May 19, 2024
Ryder and Sloan.
An arranged and unpleasant marriage; that's how their relationship started. Unable to do anything about it they loathe each other with passion. A passion that ignites different kinds of feelings as the book progresses. Their physical attraction turns out to be something more, something neither of them expected.
This book was by far darker than the previous four. I see Ryder also as a broken boy bringing him second close to Hunter(book 4) who comes first in my preferences. He battled with his own demons and shadows and came out stronger and better.
I saw a lot of character growth in this book, a lot of twists (some were predictable from the hints - others not), and a lot of violence. Ryden was so close to killing the poor girl at some point before unending in total touch her and unalive possessive Alpha male.
Even though I'm not into so much darker themes I absolutely enjoyed and liked the book. It was like testing my own limits and I'm happy to see that I can take even more darkness.
So, bring it on !!!
I highly recommend this book but would like to suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading it as some are really tough!
An arranged and unpleasant marriage; that's how their relationship started. Unable to do anything about it they loathe each other with passion. A passion that ignites different kinds of feelings as the book progresses. Their physical attraction turns out to be something more, something neither of them expected.
This book was by far darker than the previous four. I see Ryder also as a broken boy bringing him second close to Hunter(book 4) who comes first in my preferences. He battled with his own demons and shadows and came out stronger and better.
I saw a lot of character growth in this book, a lot of twists (some were predictable from the hints - others not), and a lot of violence. Ryden was so close to killing the poor girl at some point before unending in total touch her and unalive possessive Alpha male.
Even though I'm not into so much darker themes I absolutely enjoyed and liked the book. It was like testing my own limits and I'm happy to see that I can take even more darkness.
So, bring it on !!!
I highly recommend this book but would like to suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading it as some are really tough!
June 2, 2024
This was the last book in the series. I’m so sad it’s over. I loved all of the books. Sophie is an amazing writer!! Sloan and Ryder were the main characters in this book. The beginning of the book Ryder was at a masquerade ball and Ryder hooked up with a woman in the bathroom. He never got her name and they both had the masks on. Ryder and Sloan were told they had to marry each other. Neither one of them wanted to marry! They both tried to get out of it. They had not met before a little time before the wedding. Ryder was not happy about the situation so he took Sloan back to his house and avoided her for some time. A lot happened in the book. If you like mafia stories this is a really good one!!
May 8, 2024
Please read triggers
Holy cow I loved the whole series but this was definitely the best Ryder had an awful upbringing his father is a nasty piece of work on the other hand Sloan upbringing was and is full of love from her family that’s until she’s made to marry Ry
This book is a must read the whole series is
This author has become my favorite her writing style is great keeps me hooked on everything written
Holy cow I loved the whole series but this was definitely the best Ryder had an awful upbringing his father is a nasty piece of work on the other hand Sloan upbringing was and is full of love from her family that’s until she’s made to marry Ry
This book is a must read the whole series is
This author has become my favorite her writing style is great keeps me hooked on everything written
June 22, 2024
I have loved all the books in The Five series but I think Ryder’s is my favourite. Seeing him & Sloan going from hating each other to being the only thing they want was fantastic, there was so much involved in getting there with twists and turns to keep it interesting and so you are desperate to know what happens next. I loved their relationship in the end and was sad to finish the book and the series, looking forward for more to come.
May 28, 2024
She has been told by her father that she is to marry this man. Because the family will be stronger with the merger. At first they are completely separate and do no act like they are married. But little does she know they have already had interaction. They are perfect for each other you won't be disappointed
February 5, 2024
5 stars for this entire series 🥹 I love how Sophie wrote this… a little bit of each character for each book. In every book, you get a different POV of similar scenarios with all the characters involved and a little bit of a future state of each couple. I’m sad that this is over 🥲
May 16, 2024
I dont know how sophie does it,but with each book it gets better and better.
Hunter and trigger were my 2 favourites from this series ,but then along came ryder and knocked them both off top spot.
This is an arranged marriage story that does contain triggers so please be aware of them.
Hunter and trigger were my 2 favourites from this series ,but then along came ryder and knocked them both off top spot.
This is an arranged marriage story that does contain triggers so please be aware of them.
July 19, 2024
Oooohh. Is this one good and hot! An awful arranged marriage between enemies. This is tumultuous and it will probably make you cry but it's oh so good. Sophie as per usual puts all the emotions in her books. I think this one is my fave as much as I hated Ryder early on.
November 22, 2023
Oof! This book taught me some things about spice that I didn’t know. Loved the steamy scenes, but loved the story more! Read this book! Simple as that.
May 23, 2024
Oh. My.
Go dark or go home, ami’right??
Italian Mafia
Irish Mafia
Forced marriage
Degradation
Secrets
Coercion
Blood play
Knife play
Unaliving
Torture
Rape — not on page
This is what I call a dark romance
Go dark or go home, ami’right??
Italian Mafia
Irish Mafia
Forced marriage
Degradation
Secrets
Coercion
Blood play
Knife play
Unaliving
Torture
Rape — not on page
This is what I call a dark romance
December 25, 2023
Ryder had me in chokehold!
I have been the most curious about Ryder's story from the beginning.
So gruff and angry who woulda thought he'd burn down the world for the one person he swore to hate.
Sloan is everything that a perfect mafia wife isn't. She doesn't want the marriage any more than Ryder but the high angst between them makes for epic steamy scenes!
When the two finally get over themselves and admit they have true feelings, everything around them hits the fan. The tension became so thick, I had to put everything on hold to finish this book.
Sophie teases the HEA, rips it away from you but then gives it back once she has made your heart break and tears fall.
What a conclusion to the Series. I was so sad to see it end but she did an incredible job finishing off all of the multiple plots along the way. Can't wait for what she writes next!
I have been the most curious about Ryder's story from the beginning.
So gruff and angry who woulda thought he'd burn down the world for the one person he swore to hate.
Sloan is everything that a perfect mafia wife isn't. She doesn't want the marriage any more than Ryder but the high angst between them makes for epic steamy scenes!
When the two finally get over themselves and admit they have true feelings, everything around them hits the fan. The tension became so thick, I had to put everything on hold to finish this book.
Sophie teases the HEA, rips it away from you but then gives it back once she has made your heart break and tears fall.
What a conclusion to the Series. I was so sad to see it end but she did an incredible job finishing off all of the multiple plots along the way. Can't wait for what she writes next!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews