J.L. Quick is an author of spicy, dark, contemporary (18+) romance novels and novellas. Utilizing a mixture of her life experiences and Master's degree in Psychology, she creates deep, rich characters who battle their demons while finding savage and brutal love. In her free time, she enjoys reading, food festivals, visiting distilleries, and cult-classic movies. J.L. Quick resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and the pack of pitties.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Mafia, dark romance, possessive/controlling MMC, breeding, instalove, he falls first, kidnapping, violence
Holy Spice 🥵 This book starts off hot and heavy. It started getting steamy in the first few pages. This book is probably 75% spicy smut. However the other 25% of the book is really good. There is enough plot to carry it along. They are falling in love, there’s some drama and suspense. If you’re into Slow burn this book isn’t for you. But if you like a possessive and controlling MMC then Alejandro will be your new favorite book boyfriend.
It was a quick 200 page read but I devoured this book. The spice was so well written! I rarely give 5 peppers for spice but this book definitely deserves it. Have your spare panties ready. 😏
This was my first JL Quick book and I had no idea what to expect, but I very much enjoyed her writing style. I loved Alejandro and Isabella’s love story. I will say I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first. The first half was more smut than plot (which is not a problem of course), however the plot just wasn’t developed super well. After a time lapse into the second half of the book we really dig into the plot and characters which I enjoyed much more.
One of my favorite quotes:
“After two days with you, I know with certainty that I am not willing to let you go.” My heart is pounding in my chest as he continues to stare into my eyes as he speaks. “I meant what I said,” his lips press against mine, “But I want to give you a whole lifetime of firsts and lasts.” -Alejandro Marcano
Make sure to review the TWs. It gets dark near the end of this book and there is mention of sex trafficking.
*I received this ARC for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Embarking on my first journey into the realm of JL Quick through "Tryst" turned out to be a decision I won't regret. The novella, titled appropriately for its swift pace, had me hooked right from the outset, compelling me to devour it in a single sitting. Our protagonist, Izzy, finds herself in a streak of bad luck - losing her job and uncovering her boyfriend's infidelity all in one day. To remedy this, she indulges in a luxurious Mexican vacation🌴, where fate introduces her to the sophisticated and attractive Alex, promising her an evening of unforgettable "firsts."😏 Their night together is a tantalizing whirlwind, leaving Izzy contemplating a return to her less-than-stellar reality. However, Alex has different plans, recognizing something unique in Izzy that he's unwilling to let slip away. The plotline had me intrigued. Who wouldn't want to meet a charming, wealthy man who can hold a conversation and make you feel like a million bucks? m💰The catch? He's not just rich; he's the head of a drug cartel with a list of enemies. Surprisingly, even that twist doesn't deter the allure of Alex. Now, let's discuss the heat factor. As a newcomer to JL Quick's work, I wasn't fully prepared for the steaminess that awaited me between the pages. 🔥"Tryst" delves into the realms of erotica, peppering the narrative with spicy encounters that might raise an eyebrow or two. Nevertheless, amidst the titillating moments, the core plot remains engaging and keeps the pages turning.😉 Amid the sizzle, there are tender moments and swoon-worthy gestures that provide a balanced touch. Nonetheless, remember that beneath the romance lies a darker undertone. "Tryst" is a blend of desires and shadows, a concoction that might not sit well with everyone. Keep an eye out for trigger warnings if certain themes are a concern.‼️
I extend my gratitude to JL Quick for providing me with an eARC of this book. Although I received it early, this review reflects my honest and unbiased thoughts! 😁
Okay so this was a hard one for me to read. When I signed up to ARC this book I didn't read the blurb, I read the trigger warnings and the tropes and got so fucking excited that I instantly signed up. It was only after getting the book and reading the blurb that I realized the FMC is named Isabella; that's my daughter's name. It's also my grandmother's name but that never bothered me before when reading. I have avoided reading a book with a FMC named Isabella since my daughter was born, it felt icky. I decided to push myself and I didn't want to let the team or the author down. I am soooooo glad I did! This book was so fucking good!
The FMC is nothing like my Isabella; thank fuck, and once I got her description I was able to put that into my mind anytime Alex called her Izzy or Isabella and tell myself "your Isabella isn't 26 or a redhead with green eyes." The spicy scenes were SPICY AF! I struggled a bit reading those but again its because my kid is named Isabella. Honestly, aside from that and a few typos; to be expected in an ARC, this book was fucking phenomenal!!!
I gave it 5 stars because if I didn't have my personal life and feelings involved that's what it would be. I took me and my shit out of the equation to give this a fair review, it did all of my favorite things a book should do: make me feel feels, fall in love with a character or more than one character, not want to stop reading, and made me think about the book when I wasn't reading it.
If you love Insta love, this is for you. If you love he falls first and he falls fucking hard, this is for you. If you love secret identities, this is for you. If you love criminals, this is for you If you love cartel/mafia/etc., this is for you. If you don't have a kid or someone important in your life named Isabella, this is for you.
Alejandro or "Alex" oozes Daddy and I loved him from the start. He embodied main character energy and big dick energy and I was here for it!
I fell for Andres as well and hope he gets a book!
If you have any triggers read the warnings and take heed.
I am heading to Mexico because I need to find my Alex. Isabella can not be the only one to have an Alex. Whew. From the bar, to the beach, to the villa, to New York. I am just a little flustered by how steamy this is. Then you add in a traitor and a kidnapping and all the rest. Just yes, please.
I loved this story- it was a fast paced, almost insta love style mafia romance that kept you on your toes from beginning to end.
Isabella has experience possible one of the worst days of her life- not only has she lost her job but she has come home to her boyfriend and her best friend together. So what does a girl do when life has gotten her down? Max out her credit card on an all expense trip to Mexico and put the problems behind until she gets home. Problem is, she didn't expect to find someone else so quickly.
Alex is used to very short relationships. Most women only want him for his money and can't keep his attention intellectually. All of that is about to change when he meets Isabella. When he stops at the bar for a quick drink at the resort, he does not expect to see such a beautiful woman there- and certainly not one that can keep him on his toes.
The chemistry between these two is certainly evident from the beginning and the spice is almost from the beginning. It is a whirlwind between these two that doesn't seem to stop when the vacation ends- especially since Alex can't seem to let her go. While that chemistry certainly pushes our MC's into a situation that neither expected when they were on their separate trips, it certainly leads to some interesting moments- especially when Alex's true self is revealed after a scary accident. It was nice to see how everything played out in terms of Isabella and her acceptance of Alex's true self, but I think a bit more tension there could have made this even better. Yes there were some scare points at the end that certainly proved just how deep these two characters loved each other but I just think that if for even a second that Isabella questioned whether she could truly stick by Alex's side or Alex having to grovel would have added another layer and would have further enhanced the great ending to their story.
Great start to the series and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
This was my first read by J.L. Quick and I had no idea what to expect, but I very much enjoyed her writing style. Mafia, dark romance, possessive/controlling MMC, breeding, instalove, age gap, he falls first, kidnapping, violence and of course major spice!! This is some of what you can expect in this great read. Be sure to check your TWs first though. This was a quick read and the spice was so well written!
Isabella has one of the worst days of her life; not only has she lost her job, but she comes home to find her boyfriend and her best friend in bed together. So, she decides to get away with a little trip to Mexico. Problem is, she didn't expect to find someone else so quickly.
Alex is used to very short relationships. Most women only want him for his money, but they can't hold his attention intellectually. All of that changes when he meets Isabella. Having her walk into his life is something he never expected, but now that she’s here, he doesn’t want her to ever leave. But there are some secrets that, behind closed doors, Alex isn’t ready to reveal to her just yet.
The chemistry between these two is certainly evident from the start and the spice is almost instantaneous. It is a rollercoaster of emotions between these two and it doesn't seem to stop when the vacation ends, especially since Alex can't seem to let her go. This is a very fast-paced story. It’s well written and I love the storyline. Readers will love Isabella’s resiliency. A good spicy age gap Cartel read.
Alex and Isabella's story is quick and hot. There's love, spice, action, and more in this book. I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait for more of this series. I like how the author also discussed a major issue as well.
Isabella, a girl that has been dealt a few too many blows, is excited when Alejandro, a business man, sits next to her at the bar at the resort she went to after the mess her life became was too much. As the story progresses they talk the evening away, he tries to convince her to stay, and as time moves on danger could come their way Tryst has a tangled mess of emotions that the characters have to navigate around.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
This was good. I felt it skipped relationship development but it was good . I couldn't put it down. It definitely had the possessive whole. It was emotional. It was well written and the chemistry was good
Isabella’s life is falling apart. When she takes an impromptu trip to Mexico, she meets Alejandro and with the help of tequila spills all of her secrets.
Alejandro is a New Yorker who is obsessed at first sight. After hearing that Isabella has never come before, he decides to show her just what she’s missing.
The two fall in love, but there are still dark secrets between the two.
This is a short, dark, addicting, read. Only 150 pages, I read it super quick and totally need more!! I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
“You are the most perfect, kind-hearted and unblemished person in my life. The only thing in my life not tarnished with violence and death.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Holy Molly! This book was 🥵 im not gonna lie it will have you 💦🤭. A change of undies will be necessary. Daddy Alejandro has quite the mouth on him and he is sooooo overprotective of his woman. I absolutely love the adoration that he has for Isabella and the way he protects her from day 0, ahhhh just READ IT! Their chemistry is unreal, Alex is a dream of a man, and Izzy is the sweetest little thing ever, they are infatuated with each other and is amazing to read their story.
What a ride with this book, quick but a ride. I am becoming obsessed with JL Quick books, they are so quick and to the point, no wasting time - and the spice O M G!! The story/plot on the book is definitely fiction, so if u don’t like fiction and spice, please walk away this is NOT the book for you.
Mini review: •This was my first book read by this author but I’m so excited to read more!!
•Isabella took a vacation to Mexico to escape her life in New York where she found her boyfriend and best friend sleeping together. Isabella heads to the bar for a drink and meets Alex who is extremely intrigued with her beauty and personality. When Alex discovers some shocking facts about Isabella, he decides that she must be his. Their one night stand quickly turns into a passionate love story.
•The connection and passion these two have for each other is amazing😍
This book took a totally different turn. This book didn’t turn out the way I thought it was going to!! Great book!! They way the book started was so hot!! Isabella and Alejandro just wow!! I loved everything about this book. IThe characters were great!! I didn’t think Eduardo was going to do what he did. I’m glad he was taken care of in the manner he was. I love how this ended with them taking over the property of St Francis and what they did with it. I love how Andreas had Alejandro’s back through everything. Just amazing. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Isabella is in Mexico escaping the reality of her life back in NYC where she found her best friend and boyfriend in bed together.
Alex - Alesandro is also in Mexico at the same time and is captivated by Isabella’s beauty and personality when they meet at a bar.
As soon as Alex learns that Isabella hasn’t had an orgasm he is utterly captivated and MUST have her. Before long a one night stand turns into a love story and Alex and Isabella don’t want to be apart.
Through secrets and lies, their story unfolds together and you will not want to stop reading to see what happens next.
Alex and Isabella meet while she is vacation in Mexico after her life crumbles around her. After hearing how inexperienced she is, he makes it his mission to show her what she been missing. He falls for her first but she feels more with each day they are together. But can they survive his world. This dark, spicy, and twist romance you don’t want to miss.
First time reading any book from J.L. Quick, was able to get an advanced copy and oh my god… Definitely did not disappoint at all. So much spice is in this book 🌶️🌶️ I tried reading at work because I did not want to put it down but it was too inappropriate for it hahah. Such a hard book to put down!
When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be a light, very hot, read! Boy was I wrong, well, kind of. This is the fast paced story of Alex (a cartel leader) and Isabella, a woman recently betrayed by her boyfriend. They meet in Mexico and have an instant connection. We watch how they quickly come together, get the benefits of reading some of the best heated scenes ever and just when you think the story is going to end, the darkness comes. This story is full of love, betrayal and steam. I loved it!
This is my first book by JL Quick and it won’t be my last. Fast, quick, mafia read you won’t want to miss. Isabella isn’t expecting to find Alejandro but when she does it’s amazing. Even if you aren’t into mafia reads you will want to read this one.
Never read this author before but I will now. This book is super hot! Very sexy. He is a billionaire and she just left her ex. They meet and it is amazing love. But there is a secret about him that will come out. Recommend
Have you ever have a book that made you want to jump on a plane, max out your credit cards and fly to an island to meet some random rich guy that is going to take care of every single need you ever had; after having the worse week of your life? Well, this is the book that will do it to you, so please read with caution. This book starts off hot and ends hot, keep the water bottle close. Do not read at work. It may be a bit embarrassing if it's on audio!.
My, my, my what a read this new to me author has given us. Isabella and Alex's story is definitely a one sitting read. These characters are fantastic and consuming as is their journey. The storyline is HOT, HOT, HOT and so is the chemistry between these two. This story has plenty of emotion, action, danger and excitement and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Please read the trigger warnings for this book!! if you are comfortable with them, I recommend getting comfortable because once you start this book, you aren't gonna put it down til the last page. If you want a book with alot of 🔥🔥🔥🔥 scenes, then this book is for you... The book has an age gap, but it doesn't slow Alex down at all!! There is suspense, a kidnapping, a strong female main character and a bada$$ male main character who will do anything for his woman!!!
Holy crap!! This was one of the hottest, smuttiest books I've read this year. It started within a few pages of the first chapter and kept going and going. This is my first read by J.L. Quick and I can't wait to read more!!
The Queen is back at it again! I tore through this book! Read it in a single sitting! When I say this book is HOT!🔥🥵 It is so delicious steamy! I honestly want to find me a man like Alex! Do they sell those of Amazon?! 👀👀 I have yet to read a book by J.L. That I don’t absolutely adore! Just when I think she can’t write anything better she drops another book! I hope you never stop writing! You have a forever fan!
If you like sexy dominate men, where their life goal is to make you happy? Come fall in love with Alejandro! A spicy Latin Cartel lord who wants nothing more than seeing his love taken care of and adored!
Wow just wow, what can I say about this story, I fucking loved it, once I started I was hooked. I dug my nails in and didn't let go😊 there story line is great, every character in this book was amazing, it's full of Passion, angst, dark scenes and spice ,oh god the spice 🥵🥵
“I’d take their fucking eyes for even thinking about looking at you.”
“Such a good fucking girl,” he growls against my neck while pushing the car door open."
Isabella flees to a resort in Mexico, after losing her job and finding out her boyfriend was cheating on her with her best friend, so she does want any sane women would, Max's her credit card and goes to drown her sorrows what else she got to lose.
Alejandro (Alex) he's mafia boss, he's at the resort taking care off his business, where he meets Isabella at the bar and he likes what he sees, so they get to know one another and actually enjoy being in each other company, he then finds out how inexperienced and unappreciated she is, Alejandro makes it his mission to change that and show her the time of her life and does just that 🥵🔥
“Now be a good girl and watch me,” his lips vibrate against my clit, “Watch how much I enjoy your delicious cunt.”
He’s makes her see stars many times and makes her feel like a goddess from that first night, she thinks that it's only a one night stand , but Alex has other ideas, he's not letting her go ever.
“Now be a good girl and watch me,” his lips vibrate against my clit, “Watch how much I enjoy your delicious cunt.”
“After two days with you, I know with certainty that I am not willing to let you go.” "“Two hours after we met, I knew you were unlike any woman I have ever met in my life"
J.L. Quick had made a long time fan out off me her book was wondering written, drama, laughter, tears, joy and the spice wowee don't get me started on that again 🤣 I highly recommend this I wasn't disappointed and you won't be disappointed either. What you waiting for run grab this book. 5 stars if I could give it more I would !!
“Does it make you uncomfortable?” His tone is sincere as he pulls my bottoms over my hips and down my thighs , “That I enjoy watching your pleasure?”
This book is a dark billionaire mafia romance with tons of spice and a list of trigger warnings!! If you enjoy reading dark romance, mafia romance, angst, age gap, billionaire, insta love and/or touch her and d!e this book is probably for you. Of course, check the trigger warnings before proceeding into this book. Go check out author J.L. Quick if you haven't already.
Tryst is the first book in The Marcano Moguls Series by J.L. Quick. This book follows Alejandro Marcano a billionaire whose wears suits and ties during the day but runs his family's cartel business, and Isabella Drake is a 26 year old, who is an unemployed New Yorker who just escaped to Mexico to recover the heartbreak and betrayal she recently experienced. Neither Alex and Izzy were looking for love but deep conversations in a bar led to other things.
This book is an insta love, fast burn, spicy romance. The age gap only made the spice with this possessive MMC more steamy. Not only does this man look good in a suit, but he knows how to treat a woman. If he wants to spoil his woman nobody will step in his way.