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Alliance #2
King
Okay, so my bad for assuming the guy I was going on a date with wasn't married.
And my bad for taking him to a friend's house for dinner, only to find out my friend is also friends with his wife. Because, in fact, he is married. And she happens to be at my friend's house because her husband was "busy working."
Confused? So am I.
Unsurprisingly, my date's wife is super angry about finding out that her husband is a cheating asshole. Girl, I get it.
Then to make matters more convoluted, there is the man sitting next to my date's wife. A man named King, who is apparently her brother, and who lives up to his name.
Since my date is a two-timing prick, I'm not going to feel bad about drooling over King, especially since I'll never see him again. Or at least I don't plan to.
I plan to take an Uber to the cheater's apartment to get my car keys. I plan for it to be quick.
If I had to list a thousand possible outcomes… witnessing my date's murder, being kidnapped by his killer, then being forced to marry the super attractive but clearly deranged crime lord would not have been on my bingo card.
But alas, here I am.
And my bad for taking him to a friend's house for dinner, only to find out my friend is also friends with his wife. Because, in fact, he is married. And she happens to be at my friend's house because her husband was "busy working."
Confused? So am I.
Unsurprisingly, my date's wife is super angry about finding out that her husband is a cheating asshole. Girl, I get it.
Then to make matters more convoluted, there is the man sitting next to my date's wife. A man named King, who is apparently her brother, and who lives up to his name.
Since my date is a two-timing prick, I'm not going to feel bad about drooling over King, especially since I'll never see him again. Or at least I don't plan to.
I plan to take an Uber to the cheater's apartment to get my car keys. I plan for it to be quick.
If I had to list a thousand possible outcomes… witnessing my date's murder, being kidnapped by his killer, then being forced to marry the super attractive but clearly deranged crime lord would not have been on my bingo card.
But alas, here I am.
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 25, 2023
5679 people are currently reading
26487 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Tilly
26 books10.8k followersS.J. Tilly lives in Minnesota with her husband and their herd of boxers. She spends an unhealthy amount of time with her face buried in books, reading and writing. If she’s not nose deep in text, or harassing her dogs, she’s probably playing with her plants, pretending she knows how to garden.
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,600 reviews
May 26, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐️
SJ needs to trademark her own subgenre and call it cozy dark romance
why? because nero and king mafia romances with morally charcoal gray heroes and all the death that comes with dark romances but the heroes are SO down bad and obsessed with their women and you never once doubt their love for them so the books are unexplainably cozy.
savannah’s bringing the guy she’s seeing to meet her friend except that when they walk in, there are two other people there… one of which turns about to be her date’s wife. flash forward to the end of the night when she realizes she forgot her keys at her date’s apartment so she goes back for them only to hear him get shot by the guy who was there tonight (the wife’s brother). mafia men have single minded brains so he says whoops, can’t let you go after hearing that! in fact, you actually have to marry me.
king was just sooooooo hot and for what??? he was OBSESSED with her and possessive in the most calculating way. like is your man shipping your exes off to alaska? mine neither 😔
SO good. def for my unhinged, red flag men lovers and of course, like with all her books, the spice was very hot.
SJ needs to trademark her own subgenre and call it cozy dark romance
why? because nero and king mafia romances with morally charcoal gray heroes and all the death that comes with dark romances but the heroes are SO down bad and obsessed with their women and you never once doubt their love for them so the books are unexplainably cozy.
savannah’s bringing the guy she’s seeing to meet her friend except that when they walk in, there are two other people there… one of which turns about to be her date’s wife. flash forward to the end of the night when she realizes she forgot her keys at her date’s apartment so she goes back for them only to hear him get shot by the guy who was there tonight (the wife’s brother). mafia men have single minded brains so he says whoops, can’t let you go after hearing that! in fact, you actually have to marry me.
king was just sooooooo hot and for what??? he was OBSESSED with her and possessive in the most calculating way. like is your man shipping your exes off to alaska? mine neither 😔
SO good. def for my unhinged, red flag men lovers and of course, like with all her books, the spice was very hot.
August 3, 2023
4 stars
good read, wrong time..
at first, the writing seemed to be anticlimactic, but I persevered to accommodate to the author's tone. therefore, It took me some time to fully immerse myself in the plot and become attached to the characters. i was tempted to give up before reaching the 35% mark, but I knew it was a matter of personal preference, more of a 'me thing'. —I was not supposed to read when I had so much going on in addition I had the impression that this book was perfect after a grueling and heavy read.(which is not the case of my previous read)
the book's remaining content was so entertaining and fast-paced that I couldn't put it down. the course of events was so well orchestrated rebounding from family drama to the chaotic dynamics between the protagonists. although the hero was a little too patronizing for my liking, I still loved their relationship. the plot did fall in some clichéd trope holes but it was a nice and well written marriage of convenience arc but one smutt scene left me.. speechless to say the least. overall, it was an enjoyable read.
~•~•~
the mmc is 45 so ig yummy 😋
❛ the world needs your art.❜
good read, wrong time..
at first, the writing seemed to be anticlimactic, but I persevered to accommodate to the author's tone. therefore, It took me some time to fully immerse myself in the plot and become attached to the characters. i was tempted to give up before reaching the 35% mark, but I knew it was a matter of personal preference, more of a 'me thing'. —I was not supposed to read when I had so much going on in addition I had the impression that this book was perfect after a grueling and heavy read.(which is not the case of my previous read)
❛He was just so much that night.
He was everything.
He was the family I’ve always wanted.❜
the book's remaining content was so entertaining and fast-paced that I couldn't put it down. the course of events was so well orchestrated rebounding from family drama to the chaotic dynamics between the protagonists. although the hero was a little too patronizing for my liking, I still loved their relationship. the plot did fall in some clichéd trope holes but it was a nice and well written marriage of convenience arc but one smutt scene left me.. speechless to say the least. overall, it was an enjoyable read.
~•~•~
the mmc is 45 so ig yummy 😋
May 28, 2023
DNF. I hate when heroine’s discuss their weight on every page. Plus, she is a bit annoying.
May 31, 2023
He literally picked her up said “heavy” then once he could tell she didn’t like that said “I like them heavy” when I say that would have been my 13th reason-
June 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''He was the family I've always wanted''
Safety warnings:
- H 45 / h 32
- Cheating (not between MCs)
- OM/OW drama
- Violence/d*ath
- Blackmail
- Kidnapping
- Dub-con
- Mention of human trafficking
- Forced marriage
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
So, Savannah is on her third date with this guy who she brings over to a friend’s house and that friend is friends with Savannah's dates wife who also happens to be at the house along with her older brother King (who we met in Nero).
Awkward? yeah lol
All hell breaks loose, and we get into a good fight between husband and wife. Sadly, Savannah is seen as the ''whore'' of the situation, despite the fact we know she actually never slept with him and also wanted to break up with him after that day before the cheating was exposed.
She however forgot her car keys in his bachelor pad of an apartment and when she goes there, she witnesses King KILL his brother-in-law and runs off but King catches her and takes her prisoner in his house and forces her to marry him so she can never be a witness against him over his death etc. Though his reasons are stupid since he basically owns the city and most people in it, I found that he was just making himself feel like he had to marry her but in reality, he wanted to.
Honestly though, he was not a BIG red flag, yes, he does questionable things and forces marriage on her, but I have read far worse MMCs and he actually was sweet to her in ways he did not need to be.
This is a slow burn for some, but I think it was needed since they JUST met, JUST got married (24 hours later) and it's been a week? so insta lust/love needed to develop a little bit before we got them together together.
There was not much going on plot wise besides them figuring out how to be married and her trying not to fall for her captor. There is a guy from King’s past who harms her, and this leads to King being extremely upset about failing to protect her and possibly wanting to let her go but it’s shut down by Savannah after a bit of time.
I enjoyed this more than Nero for some reason but don't ask me why since sadly I don't remember Nero A LOT.
Also, King is his actual name, and his full name is King Bartholomew Vass. Yah, rich white dude name haha
I do wish we had gotten a scene or something with Savannah's parents and them finding out who she married since they disowned her after she went to school for Art and pursued it as a career. She needed some sort of FINAL closure from them since it was such a massive pain for her and feeling like she just wanted someone to be proud of her and King was finally that person. I wanted her parents to be in a scene to witness her success and marriage just to kick them with it haha
OW drama: His ex-fuck buddy shows up and he puts her in her place, and she leaves.
OM drama: She dated his brother-in-law and believes for a while that they slept together.
''He was the family I've always wanted''
Safety warnings:
- H 45 / h 32
- Cheating (not between MCs)
- OM/OW drama
- Violence/d*ath
- Blackmail
- Kidnapping
- Dub-con
- Mention of human trafficking
- Forced marriage
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
So, Savannah is on her third date with this guy who she brings over to a friend’s house and that friend is friends with Savannah's dates wife who also happens to be at the house along with her older brother King (who we met in Nero).
Awkward? yeah lol
All hell breaks loose, and we get into a good fight between husband and wife. Sadly, Savannah is seen as the ''whore'' of the situation, despite the fact we know she actually never slept with him and also wanted to break up with him after that day before the cheating was exposed.
She however forgot her car keys in his bachelor pad of an apartment and when she goes there, she witnesses King KILL his brother-in-law and runs off but King catches her and takes her prisoner in his house and forces her to marry him so she can never be a witness against him over his death etc. Though his reasons are stupid since he basically owns the city and most people in it, I found that he was just making himself feel like he had to marry her but in reality, he wanted to.
Honestly though, he was not a BIG red flag, yes, he does questionable things and forces marriage on her, but I have read far worse MMCs and he actually was sweet to her in ways he did not need to be.
This is a slow burn for some, but I think it was needed since they JUST met, JUST got married (24 hours later) and it's been a week? so insta lust/love needed to develop a little bit before we got them together together.
There was not much going on plot wise besides them figuring out how to be married and her trying not to fall for her captor. There is a guy from King’s past who harms her, and this leads to King being extremely upset about failing to protect her and possibly wanting to let her go but it’s shut down by Savannah after a bit of time.
I enjoyed this more than Nero for some reason but don't ask me why since sadly I don't remember Nero A LOT.
Also, King is his actual name, and his full name is King Bartholomew Vass. Yah, rich white dude name haha
I do wish we had gotten a scene or something with Savannah's parents and them finding out who she married since they disowned her after she went to school for Art and pursued it as a career. She needed some sort of FINAL closure from them since it was such a massive pain for her and feeling like she just wanted someone to be proud of her and King was finally that person. I wanted her parents to be in a scene to witness her success and marriage just to kick them with it haha
OW drama: His ex-fuck buddy shows up and he puts her in her place, and she leaves.
OM drama: She dated his brother-in-law and believes for a while that they slept together.
May 29, 2023
I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED.
Nero? Nero was a red flag...the reddest of flags that I gobbled up...adored...wanted more of.
King? He was a limp faded orange flag that may have used to been red.
Savannah was whiny and well...kind of dumb. I went into this thinking it was going to be a darker read like Nero with an unhinged, obsessive, possessive, stalkerish and dominant alpha male. That is not what I got.
Will I continue to read this author? Of course.
Did I like this? Nope.
The two stars are for the exhibition scene. IYKYK.
Nero? Nero was a red flag...the reddest of flags that I gobbled up...adored...wanted more of.
King? He was a limp faded orange flag that may have used to been red.
Savannah was whiny and well...kind of dumb. I went into this thinking it was going to be a darker read like Nero with an unhinged, obsessive, possessive, stalkerish and dominant alpha male. That is not what I got.
Will I continue to read this author? Of course.
Did I like this? Nope.
The two stars are for the exhibition scene. IYKYK.
March 25, 2025
"From the first moment I saw her, I was attracted to her... She's mine now. And I'll remove every memory she's had of that dumb bastard, one touch at a time... Because no one touches what belongs to me. No one would fucking dare."
💛💛 Reread update 💛💛
"Till Death do we part, Savannah Baby."
Ever go to visit a friend with your boyfriend and find his wife at the same house?
Well Savannah Oates and let's just say uncomfortable is a HUGE understatement.
Break up with him is obvious. But when she goes back to get her things she finds herself in a dangerous situation.
So remember the wife? Well she has a super YUMMY brother who just so happens to be *punishing* said EX boyfriend.
And let's just say that brother cannot have any witnesses.
Who is that brother you ask?
King Vass.
One of the most powerful men of "The Alliance".
So what does King do? The most obvious of course.
Take Savannah and make her his wife.
Whatever could go wrong?
"Savannah is mine. She's my wife. Whether she wants to be or not."
For girls who love their fictional men dripping in red flags but can't get enough!
King is the example. This is legit the book of "If he wanted to he would"
Curvy Plus Size FMC? Check
Forced Marriage? Check
Obsessive/Possessive MMC? Infinity Checks
"Touch her and I'll kill you?" Too many to count and honestly not enough
"The world needs your art."
With this reread I was bouncing around the room with excitement. I was fanning myself. I was underlining and highlighting most if not all of the book and I was loving every single second of it. I mean King is literally for the girlies who love their fictional men dripping in red flags and never want to get enough!! S.J. Tilly delivers with each one of "The Alliance" men and obsessed doesn't even begin to cover it. PRAISE TO KING AND SAVANNAH BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST THAT GOOD 💛💛💛
"Play time is over, wife."
King is that possessive psychopath softie that we all love and can't get enough of and Savannah is that "innocent" girl that you have to look below the surface to see the truth.
And just side praise to the Nero and Payton cameos. Thank you for including my loves <3.
S.J. Tilly writes the reddest of flags and my best obsessions. Nero and King are tied in my opinion but very different stories. Both bomb ass books.
"That's right baby, I'm your fucking King."
And you know this playlist is full of dark mafia romance vibes and I am always here for it 💛💛
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zc...)
🎶 "Flames" - R3HAB, ZAYN, Jungleboi
🎶 "Flowers" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Gangsta - Harley Quinn & Joker Flashback Version" - Kehlani
🎶 "My Head & My Heart" - Ava Max
🎶 "gaslight" - Nessa Barrett
🎶 "the AUDACITY" - emlyn
🎶 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Can You Feel My Heart" - MOTHICA
🎶 "Dangerous" - David Guetta, Sam Martin
🎶 "Lion" - Saint Mesa
🎶 "Criminal" - Fiona Apple
🎶 "HONEY (ARE U COMING?)" - Maneskin
🎶 "Shivers" - No Resolve
🎶 "Scream" - Besomorph, RIELL
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Ruin Me" - Sebastian Schub
🎶 "No Witness" - LP
🎶 "Victim" - Halflives
🎶 "LET THE WORLD BURN - Sped Up" - Chris Grey
🎶 "Skeletons" - New Years Day
🎶 "Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
🎶 "runner up" - Bailey Spinn
🎶 "Crazy" - Natalie Jane
🎶 "Crazy in Love" - Sofia Karlberg
🎶 "RICH BOY" - payton
🎶 "Take It From Me" - KONGOS
🎶 "Control" - Zoe Wees
🎶 "Money, Money, Money (Acoustic Cover)" - Bear Montana
🎶 "Body Electric" - Lana Del Rey
🎶 "Consequences" - Camila Cabello
🎶 "Prisoner" - Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa
🎶 "stalker" - Stevie Howie
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "7 Minutes in Hell" - Chrissy Constanza, VOILA
🎶 "Colors" - Halsey
🎶 "On My Mind" - Ellie Goulding
🎶 "Purple lace bra" - Tate McRae
🎶 "I See Red" - Everybody Loves an Outlaw
🎶 "Clandestina - Remix" - FILV, Edmofo, Emma Peters, JVSTIN
🎶 "Killing Butterflies" - Lou Bliss
🎶 "Nightmare" - UNDREAM, Neoni
🎶 "Biblical" - Calum Scott
🎶 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎶 "Just Pretend" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Gun In My Hand" - Dorothy
🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "ALWAYS BEEN YOU" - Chris Grey
🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker
🎶 "Skin and Bones" - David Kushner
🎶 "Dangerous" - Royale Deluxe
🎶 "No Mercy" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "In My Blood" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Hesitate" - Jonas Brothers
🎶 "The Bones" - Maren Morris, Hozier
🎶 "Paper Love" - Allie X
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Drinking with Cupid" - VOILA
🎶 "Sports car" - Tate McRae
🎶 "I Want To" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Bad Drugs" - King Kavalier, ChrisLee
🎶 "Blood // Water" - grandson
🎶 "I wish I hated you" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 "Last Man Standing" - Livingston
🎶 "Lightning" - Little Mix
🎶 "After Dark" - Mr. Kitty
🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token
🎶 "Chokehold" - Sleep Token
🎶 "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT" - Loveless
🎶 "Play with Fire" - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
🎶 "Right Here" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Hold On" - Chord Overstreet
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "counting crimes" - Nessa Barrett
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎶 "NFWMB" - Hozier
🎶 "Smells Like Sex" - Sizzy Rocket
🎶 "King" - Lilith Czar
🎶 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Dangerous Woman" - Halocene
🎶 "Seven" - Jung Kook, Latto
🎶 "needy" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Beautiful Things" - Our Last Night
🎶 "Demons" - Jacob Lee
🎶 "So It Goes…" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Breathe" - Kansh
🎶 "Like A God" - Lia Marie Johnson
🎶 "Moth To A Flame" - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 "Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
🎶 "Diamonds" - Rihanna
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Spectrum (Say My Name)" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "The Monster" - Eminem, Rihanna
🎶 "You and I" - PVRIS
🎶 "Addicted" - Saving Abel
🎶 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Joseph William Morgan, Shadow Royale
🎶 "Renegade - Slowed + Reverb
🎶 "Eve" - Precious Pepala
🎶 "Criminals" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "Crowded Room" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "FOR YOUR LOVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "I'm yours" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "Six Feet" - Call Me Karizma, Mike's Dead
🎶 "Feeling Good" - Muse
🎶 "Pretty In The Dark" - Ashley Sienna, Ellise
🎶 "HELLGIRL" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Gasoline" - Halsey
🎶 "Castle" - Halsey
🎶 "Close To You" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "Me and the Devil" - Soap&Skin
🎶 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎶 "Love The Hell Out Of You" - Lewis Capaldi
And King - OMG just trust me 🌶️🔥💋
"So fucking wet. And so fucking mine."
"Coming on my tongue is for good girls. Have you been good, Savannah?"
"Fuck. Who knew my pretty little wife would be such a dirty little slut?"
👑 Tropes 👑
🎨 Plus Size FMC
🎨 Kidnapping
🎨 Forced Marriage
🎨 Mafia Dark Romance
🎨 Age Gap
🎨 Touch her and Die
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DHTO_hVo4...
💛💛 Reread update 💛💛
"Till Death do we part, Savannah Baby."
Ever go to visit a friend with your boyfriend and find his wife at the same house?
Well Savannah Oates and let's just say uncomfortable is a HUGE understatement.
Break up with him is obvious. But when she goes back to get her things she finds herself in a dangerous situation.
So remember the wife? Well she has a super YUMMY brother who just so happens to be *punishing* said EX boyfriend.
And let's just say that brother cannot have any witnesses.
Who is that brother you ask?
King Vass.
One of the most powerful men of "The Alliance".
So what does King do? The most obvious of course.
Take Savannah and make her his wife.
Whatever could go wrong?
"Savannah is mine. She's my wife. Whether she wants to be or not."
For girls who love their fictional men dripping in red flags but can't get enough!
King is the example. This is legit the book of "If he wanted to he would"
Curvy Plus Size FMC? Check
Forced Marriage? Check
Obsessive/Possessive MMC? Infinity Checks
"Touch her and I'll kill you?" Too many to count and honestly not enough
"The world needs your art."
With this reread I was bouncing around the room with excitement. I was fanning myself. I was underlining and highlighting most if not all of the book and I was loving every single second of it. I mean King is literally for the girlies who love their fictional men dripping in red flags and never want to get enough!! S.J. Tilly delivers with each one of "The Alliance" men and obsessed doesn't even begin to cover it. PRAISE TO KING AND SAVANNAH BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST THAT GOOD 💛💛💛
"Play time is over, wife."
King is that possessive psychopath softie that we all love and can't get enough of and Savannah is that "innocent" girl that you have to look below the surface to see the truth.
And just side praise to the Nero and Payton cameos. Thank you for including my loves <3.
S.J. Tilly writes the reddest of flags and my best obsessions. Nero and King are tied in my opinion but very different stories. Both bomb ass books.
"That's right baby, I'm your fucking King."
And you know this playlist is full of dark mafia romance vibes and I am always here for it 💛💛
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zc...)
🎶 "Flames" - R3HAB, ZAYN, Jungleboi
🎶 "Flowers" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Gangsta - Harley Quinn & Joker Flashback Version" - Kehlani
🎶 "My Head & My Heart" - Ava Max
🎶 "gaslight" - Nessa Barrett
🎶 "the AUDACITY" - emlyn
🎶 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Can You Feel My Heart" - MOTHICA
🎶 "Dangerous" - David Guetta, Sam Martin
🎶 "Lion" - Saint Mesa
🎶 "Criminal" - Fiona Apple
🎶 "HONEY (ARE U COMING?)" - Maneskin
🎶 "Shivers" - No Resolve
🎶 "Scream" - Besomorph, RIELL
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Ruin Me" - Sebastian Schub
🎶 "No Witness" - LP
🎶 "Victim" - Halflives
🎶 "LET THE WORLD BURN - Sped Up" - Chris Grey
🎶 "Skeletons" - New Years Day
🎶 "Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
🎶 "runner up" - Bailey Spinn
🎶 "Crazy" - Natalie Jane
🎶 "Crazy in Love" - Sofia Karlberg
🎶 "RICH BOY" - payton
🎶 "Take It From Me" - KONGOS
🎶 "Control" - Zoe Wees
🎶 "Money, Money, Money (Acoustic Cover)" - Bear Montana
🎶 "Body Electric" - Lana Del Rey
🎶 "Consequences" - Camila Cabello
🎶 "Prisoner" - Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa
🎶 "stalker" - Stevie Howie
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "7 Minutes in Hell" - Chrissy Constanza, VOILA
🎶 "Colors" - Halsey
🎶 "On My Mind" - Ellie Goulding
🎶 "Purple lace bra" - Tate McRae
🎶 "I See Red" - Everybody Loves an Outlaw
🎶 "Clandestina - Remix" - FILV, Edmofo, Emma Peters, JVSTIN
🎶 "Killing Butterflies" - Lou Bliss
🎶 "Nightmare" - UNDREAM, Neoni
🎶 "Biblical" - Calum Scott
🎶 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎶 "Just Pretend" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Gun In My Hand" - Dorothy
🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "ALWAYS BEEN YOU" - Chris Grey
🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker
🎶 "Skin and Bones" - David Kushner
🎶 "Dangerous" - Royale Deluxe
🎶 "No Mercy" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "In My Blood" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Hesitate" - Jonas Brothers
🎶 "The Bones" - Maren Morris, Hozier
🎶 "Paper Love" - Allie X
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Drinking with Cupid" - VOILA
🎶 "Sports car" - Tate McRae
🎶 "I Want To" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Bad Drugs" - King Kavalier, ChrisLee
🎶 "Blood // Water" - grandson
🎶 "I wish I hated you" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 "Last Man Standing" - Livingston
🎶 "Lightning" - Little Mix
🎶 "After Dark" - Mr. Kitty
🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token
🎶 "Chokehold" - Sleep Token
🎶 "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT" - Loveless
🎶 "Play with Fire" - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
🎶 "Right Here" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Hold On" - Chord Overstreet
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "counting crimes" - Nessa Barrett
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎶 "NFWMB" - Hozier
🎶 "Smells Like Sex" - Sizzy Rocket
🎶 "King" - Lilith Czar
🎶 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Dangerous Woman" - Halocene
🎶 "Seven" - Jung Kook, Latto
🎶 "needy" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Beautiful Things" - Our Last Night
🎶 "Demons" - Jacob Lee
🎶 "So It Goes…" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Breathe" - Kansh
🎶 "Like A God" - Lia Marie Johnson
🎶 "Moth To A Flame" - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 "Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
🎶 "Diamonds" - Rihanna
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Spectrum (Say My Name)" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "The Monster" - Eminem, Rihanna
🎶 "You and I" - PVRIS
🎶 "Addicted" - Saving Abel
🎶 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Joseph William Morgan, Shadow Royale
🎶 "Renegade - Slowed + Reverb
🎶 "Eve" - Precious Pepala
🎶 "Criminals" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "Crowded Room" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "FOR YOUR LOVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "I'm yours" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "butterflies" - GAYLE
🎶 "Six Feet" - Call Me Karizma, Mike's Dead
🎶 "Feeling Good" - Muse
🎶 "Pretty In The Dark" - Ashley Sienna, Ellise
🎶 "HELLGIRL" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Gasoline" - Halsey
🎶 "Castle" - Halsey
🎶 "Close To You" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "Me and the Devil" - Soap&Skin
🎶 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎶 "Love The Hell Out Of You" - Lewis Capaldi
And King - OMG just trust me 🌶️🔥💋
"So fucking wet. And so fucking mine."
"Coming on my tongue is for good girls. Have you been good, Savannah?"
"Fuck. Who knew my pretty little wife would be such a dirty little slut?"
👑 Tropes 👑
🎨 Plus Size FMC
🎨 Kidnapping
🎨 Forced Marriage
🎨 Mafia Dark Romance
🎨 Age Gap
🎨 Touch her and Die
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DHTO_hVo4...
November 24, 2025
Marriage of convenience will do it for me EVERY TIME.
January 14, 2025
He’s a 10 but murders literally every man that touches you. He’s a 10 but tracks down all your ex boyfriends and relocated them to Alaska. That’s the type of obsessed man I’m looking for 🙌
Savannah is a shy artists on a date with a guy she already hates. When she goes back to his apartment to pick up her keys….she finds the guy dead & his killer standing over him 🩸🩸 Now don’t assume our guy King aka the killer is a bad guy. He is actually one of the good guys in the mafia game but he straight up panicked at the time and just kidnapped Savannah. King soon comes to the only possible conclusion that he needs to marry 💍 her to keep her silent. Obviously.
The spice was so fucking SPICY 🌶️ my fiancé came into the room several times to ask what was going on because I was literally screaming!!! The build up and tension between Savannah & King was top notch. And then….guys…the exhibitionism 🥵🥵 probably the hottest exhibitionism kink scene I ever did read in my entire existence. I can’t BELIEVE THE DIRTY TALK HAD ME BLUSHING!!
“I won’t force myself inside you, Savannah Baby. But I am dying to come all over those pretty tits, so don’t fucking tempt me.”
“Savannah Baby.” “Why do you call me that?” Because I’ve always wanted to call someone Baby. Because your pretty eyes call to something inside me. Because you fucking belong to me, and I’ll call you whatever the hell I want.
“Who knew my pretty little wife would be such a dirty little slut?”
“I don’t deserve her.” Nero laughs. Like the bastard he is, he laughs.
“No shit, you don’t deserve her. King, she’s a woman. We don’t deserve any of them.”
“Exactly.”
“But that doesn’t stop us from keeping them.”
For some reason I anticipated this to be the least appealing book in the series and I saved it until last. But King has quickly risen through the ranks and become my FAVORITE in the series (thus dethroning Hans 🧎🏽♀️👑 ) I was also pleasantly surprised that the book was quite long although with the interesting plot it didn’t feel like it.
The spice in this one definitely secured S.J. Tilly authors! Her books will from now one be an automatic purchase for me.
age gap (but she is 31)
plus size fmc (LOVE IT!)
kidnapping 📿
forced marriage
possessive mmc
touch her and die (quite literally)
exhibitionism!!
HEA
Savannah is a shy artists on a date with a guy she already hates. When she goes back to his apartment to pick up her keys….she finds the guy dead & his killer standing over him 🩸🩸 Now don’t assume our guy King aka the killer is a bad guy. He is actually one of the good guys in the mafia game but he straight up panicked at the time and just kidnapped Savannah. King soon comes to the only possible conclusion that he needs to marry 💍 her to keep her silent. Obviously.
The spice was so fucking SPICY 🌶️ my fiancé came into the room several times to ask what was going on because I was literally screaming!!! The build up and tension between Savannah & King was top notch. And then….guys…the exhibitionism 🥵🥵 probably the hottest exhibitionism kink scene I ever did read in my entire existence. I can’t BELIEVE THE DIRTY TALK HAD ME BLUSHING!!
“I won’t force myself inside you, Savannah Baby. But I am dying to come all over those pretty tits, so don’t fucking tempt me.”
“Savannah Baby.” “Why do you call me that?” Because I’ve always wanted to call someone Baby. Because your pretty eyes call to something inside me. Because you fucking belong to me, and I’ll call you whatever the hell I want.
“Who knew my pretty little wife would be such a dirty little slut?”
“I don’t deserve her.” Nero laughs. Like the bastard he is, he laughs.
“No shit, you don’t deserve her. King, she’s a woman. We don’t deserve any of them.”
“Exactly.”
“But that doesn’t stop us from keeping them.”
For some reason I anticipated this to be the least appealing book in the series and I saved it until last. But King has quickly risen through the ranks and become my FAVORITE in the series (thus dethroning Hans 🧎🏽♀️👑 ) I was also pleasantly surprised that the book was quite long although with the interesting plot it didn’t feel like it.
The spice in this one definitely secured S.J. Tilly authors! Her books will from now one be an automatic purchase for me.
age gap (but she is 31)
plus size fmc (LOVE IT!)
kidnapping 📿
forced marriage
possessive mmc
touch her and die (quite literally)
exhibitionism!!
HEA
March 6, 2024
Ignore the fact that I literally read this entire series out of order. But I absolutely devoured it. These men are walking red flags... and that might even be an understatement.
As always, the build-up and tension was so so good and I didn't look up from the pages for a couple of hours. I can't resist a good marriage of convenience and a splash of a found family made this one perfection.
My rankings of the series -
1. Hans
2. Dom
3. King
4. Nero
As always, the build-up and tension was so so good and I didn't look up from the pages for a couple of hours. I can't resist a good marriage of convenience and a splash of a found family made this one perfection.
My rankings of the series -
1. Hans
2. Dom
3. King
4. Nero
August 9, 2023
while there was nothing inherently wrong with the book, i just got the ick everytime she called him "my king" or "husband" like please...
Also, the writing was choppy at best with a lot of missing info like did they ever talk about her parents? her previous trauma? the h's only personality seemed to be "a misunderstood by family artist" we never get a reconciliation between h and the H's sister. Just a lot of open ended plot points. I for one don't like to speculate on whether the plot would have could have gone in a certain direction so this just annoyed me
Also, the writing was choppy at best with a lot of missing info like did they ever talk about her parents? her previous trauma? the h's only personality seemed to be "a misunderstood by family artist" we never get a reconciliation between h and the H's sister. Just a lot of open ended plot points. I for one don't like to speculate on whether the plot would have could have gone in a certain direction so this just annoyed me
May 18, 2023
A man who will literally unalive anyone who dares to look at his wife wrong. Red flags? No baby they’re green flags to me.
4.5⭐️
S.J. Tilly once again gives us an unhinged possessive obsessive morally grey book boyfriend who is amazing.
A forced marriage? ✅
Curvy heroine? ✅
A man who’ll do anything for his “wife”?✅
Steam and spice spice baby ?✅
Loved loved loved this so much!! King and savannah were so surprisingly perfect for each other and I loved them. The way king cared and loved savannah was so precious. Also the panty moment? I’m deceased 🥵🥵
Only thing I didn’t love were the spicy scenes mostly because they were not my cup of tea lol.
Still adored this sooooo much🫶🏼🫶🏼
4.5⭐️
S.J. Tilly once again gives us an unhinged possessive obsessive morally grey book boyfriend who is amazing.
A forced marriage? ✅
Curvy heroine? ✅
A man who’ll do anything for his “wife”?✅
Steam and spice spice baby ?✅
Loved loved loved this so much!! King and savannah were so surprisingly perfect for each other and I loved them. The way king cared and loved savannah was so precious. Also the panty moment? I’m deceased 🥵🥵
Only thing I didn’t love were the spicy scenes mostly because they were not my cup of tea lol.
Still adored this sooooo much🫶🏼🫶🏼
July 25, 2025
⤿1 ★
So… that happened. And by that, I mean: I hated this book. I'm just going jump in.
My main problem with King by S.J. Tilly is that it had no substance. Nothing felt meaningful - not the writing, not the characters, not their actions or thoughts. There was nothing I could connect to, because I was given nothing.
Let me just say one thing I liked: I liked when Payton, the female main character of the last book, showed up. But that lasted, what? One page? - before we were back to back to the testosterone-fueled merry-go-round of King Vass Wants Wife and Wife Is Confused but Also Wet.
All we had was obsessive monologues, primal growling "(Pure alpha male lust. Deep and growly. The sound of a man ready to blow™)," and emotionally stunted declarations like "She's mine" and "I don't deserve her" every two pages.
Let me paint you a picture. Your name is Savannah, you're 32 years old and you act and think like a kid. You've just been forced to marry a 45-year-old MAN-CHILD whose inner monologue reads like a bro with a protein shake in one hand and a God complex in the other. He walks around with nothing but colourful silky underwear and his finely-shaped ass 😍😬. And he has the occasional bout of brooding over how you might've slept with a guy named Leland. (Spoiler: you didn't. And we hear about it. Seven. Thousand. Times.) Life must be nice, huh? Everything is magically cured with ✨dick.✨ Emotional trauma? Miscommunication? Male ego? Just add dick.
And then there's stuff like her calling him "My King" during sex. I cringed. Physically. Repeatedly. Puh-leeeze 🤚🏻🥸
The writing tries to deliver mic-drop moments but mostly reads as juvenile and hollow. Chapters are extremely short - like someone thought they were writing poetry instead of a novel. And the character introspection? Empty and meaningless, and sometimes even hilarious, but not in the way the author intended.
Here are examples:
—
⇢ Val lifts her gaze from the table to meet mine. “Savannah never slept with Leland.”
Time creaks to a stop.
“Say that again.”
“Savannah never slept with Leland.”
“She told you that?”
Val nods.
A staggering wave of relief crashes into me and I slump back in my seat.
Savannah never slept with Leland.
I hadn’t realized how much that had been bothering me until right now.
And it won’t bother me anymore, because Savannah never slept with Leland.
Something that feels like victory fills my chest and I stand from my chair. “Your guard is waiting for you by your car. He’ll follow you home.”
Val blinks at me. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” I answer as I stride to the door.
Because Savannah never slept with Leland.
⇢ Did y'all fucking hear that?? SAVANNAH NEVER SLEPT WITH LELAND 📢🗣️🗣️
—
That’s not all of it though, is it?
I tip the bottle further and gulp down the rest.
I like her.
I like my wife, and liking her makes me feel guilty about what I’ve done to her.
Liking her also means I want to keep her.
I am going to keep her.
I also want her to like me back.
My eyes squeeze shut.
How the fuck am I supposed to make her like me back?
I set the bottle down and grab another.
Another mouthful of beer and I remind myself, I’m King Fucking Vass.
I know how to make women fall for me.
No. That stupid inner voice argues. You only know how to make women fall for your dick.
I shrug at myself and finish the bottle.
Seems like a good enough place to start.
Because if she falls for my body, I can make her fall for me.
And if she falls for me, she won’t run away again.
And if she doesn’t run from me, then I can keep her safe.
Because that’s what I do. I keep my family safe.
And my goddamn wife is part of this family. Willingly or not.
⇢ Shakespeare could never.
—
I admire her nice manners as I admire her walking before me.
⇢ C'mon. You've ought to give me something. 😒
—
Orlando says something to King as he walks by, but King just glares at him as he keeps walking.
And he just keeps walking.
Just keeps coming.
Closing the distance between us, ignoring multiple people that try to greet him.
Because he’s coming to me.
Because I’m his.
⇢ please tell me I'm not overreacting with this writing, like do you see what I seeee???🤚🏻😭😭
—
Okay, to conclude: I liked Nero (book 1) so much more than this. Why? Probably just a me problem 🤡 I'm still going to read the rest of the series for when I need a good laugh, and because I really enjoy this buddy reading with Layla thing.
-~-
✧˖° Before...
Layla and I loved and hated Nero, book 1 in this series. I hope we enjoy this one more!
Btw, Layla, ml, happy reading! 🤭 Can't wait to yap with you.
-~-
So… that happened. And by that, I mean: I hated this book. I'm just going jump in.
My main problem with King by S.J. Tilly is that it had no substance. Nothing felt meaningful - not the writing, not the characters, not their actions or thoughts. There was nothing I could connect to, because I was given nothing.
Let me just say one thing I liked: I liked when Payton, the female main character of the last book, showed up. But that lasted, what? One page? - before we were back to back to the testosterone-fueled merry-go-round of King Vass Wants Wife and Wife Is Confused but Also Wet.
All we had was obsessive monologues, primal growling "(Pure alpha male lust. Deep and growly. The sound of a man ready to blow™)," and emotionally stunted declarations like "She's mine" and "I don't deserve her" every two pages.
Let me paint you a picture. Your name is Savannah, you're 32 years old and you act and think like a kid. You've just been forced to marry a 45-year-old MAN-CHILD whose inner monologue reads like a bro with a protein shake in one hand and a God complex in the other. He walks around with nothing but colourful silky underwear and his finely-shaped ass 😍😬. And he has the occasional bout of brooding over how you might've slept with a guy named Leland. (Spoiler: you didn't. And we hear about it. Seven. Thousand. Times.) Life must be nice, huh? Everything is magically cured with ✨dick.✨ Emotional trauma? Miscommunication? Male ego? Just add dick.
And then there's stuff like her calling him "My King" during sex. I cringed. Physically. Repeatedly. Puh-leeeze 🤚🏻🥸
The writing tries to deliver mic-drop moments but mostly reads as juvenile and hollow. Chapters are extremely short - like someone thought they were writing poetry instead of a novel. And the character introspection? Empty and meaningless, and sometimes even hilarious, but not in the way the author intended.
Here are examples:
—
⇢ Val lifts her gaze from the table to meet mine. “Savannah never slept with Leland.”
Time creaks to a stop.
“Say that again.”
“Savannah never slept with Leland.”
“She told you that?”
Val nods.
A staggering wave of relief crashes into me and I slump back in my seat.
Savannah never slept with Leland.
I hadn’t realized how much that had been bothering me until right now.
And it won’t bother me anymore, because Savannah never slept with Leland.
Something that feels like victory fills my chest and I stand from my chair. “Your guard is waiting for you by your car. He’ll follow you home.”
Val blinks at me. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” I answer as I stride to the door.
Because Savannah never slept with Leland.
⇢ Did y'all fucking hear that?? SAVANNAH NEVER SLEPT WITH LELAND 📢🗣️🗣️
—
That’s not all of it though, is it?
I tip the bottle further and gulp down the rest.
I like her.
I like my wife, and liking her makes me feel guilty about what I’ve done to her.
Liking her also means I want to keep her.
I am going to keep her.
I also want her to like me back.
My eyes squeeze shut.
How the fuck am I supposed to make her like me back?
I set the bottle down and grab another.
Another mouthful of beer and I remind myself, I’m King Fucking Vass.
I know how to make women fall for me.
No. That stupid inner voice argues. You only know how to make women fall for your dick.
I shrug at myself and finish the bottle.
Seems like a good enough place to start.
Because if she falls for my body, I can make her fall for me.
And if she falls for me, she won’t run away again.
And if she doesn’t run from me, then I can keep her safe.
Because that’s what I do. I keep my family safe.
And my goddamn wife is part of this family. Willingly or not.
⇢ Shakespeare could never.
—
I admire her nice manners as I admire her walking before me.
⇢ C'mon. You've ought to give me something. 😒
—
Orlando says something to King as he walks by, but King just glares at him as he keeps walking.
And he just keeps walking.
Just keeps coming.
Closing the distance between us, ignoring multiple people that try to greet him.
Because he’s coming to me.
Because I’m his.
⇢ please tell me I'm not overreacting with this writing, like do you see what I seeee???🤚🏻😭😭
—
Okay, to conclude: I liked Nero (book 1) so much more than this. Why? Probably just a me problem 🤡 I'm still going to read the rest of the series for when I need a good laugh, and because I really enjoy this buddy reading with Layla thing.
-~-
✧˖° Before...
Layla and I loved and hated Nero, book 1 in this series. I hope we enjoy this one more!
Btw, Layla, ml, happy reading! 🤭 Can't wait to yap with you.
-~-
February 14, 2024
King is absolutely delusional and I am on my knees for this man. He may have held Savannah down as they said their vows but I mean he just wanted her so bad. 😮💨 He fell for her fast - I mean what a fkin simp I loved it so much.
Also, every sex scene in this was immaculate. I mean WOW. Hot hot hot. 🥵
4.5 ⭐️
Also, every sex scene in this was immaculate. I mean WOW. Hot hot hot. 🥵
4.5 ⭐️
August 11, 2024
“Marrying King to this hellcat will be my fucking pleasure.”
Now, listen. No part of me was expecting this to be lighthearted and funny. Whilst also having its dark moments.
I mean, it’s a kidnapping story. Humour was the last thing I thought would make an appearance. But I’m so glad it did!
It made the reading experience so enjoyable. The level of toxicity and unhinged behaviour? I support it. 😌
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Now, listen. No part of me was expecting this to be lighthearted and funny. Whilst also having its dark moments.
I mean, it’s a kidnapping story. Humour was the last thing I thought would make an appearance. But I’m so glad it did!
It made the reading experience so enjoyable. The level of toxicity and unhinged behaviour? I support it. 😌
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
December 15, 2025
I know I’m probably in the minority here — but I preferred Nero.
King left me… underwhelmed.
💍 The Setup
Savannah goes on a date with Leeland. Later she drops by her friend Mandi’s and finds two unexpected guests: King and his sister Aspen. Plot twist — Aspen is married to Savannah’s date.
Fast forward: Savannah goes back to Leeland’s place for her keys, hears him get murdered, and King basically goes, “Hmm. Can’t have witnesses. Guess I’ll kidnap you and make you my wife.” Sure, the official reason is to keep her from testifying, but c’mon. We all know he just wanted her.
🎨 Savannah
She’s 32, an artist, and at first I loved her little survival instincts. Choosing a black shirt instead of white when braless? Only trusting sealed food and drinks? Smart girl energy.
But as the book goes on, her choices start feeling less intentional. And the closure she deserves? Nowhere to be seen. Her parents disowned her for choosing art, right? So where’s the delicious full-circle moment of them seeing her thriving (plus her unconventional, mafia-marriage life)? Instead: radio silence. Missed opportunity.
👑 King
We met him in Nero, and honestly? I liked him better there. He’s 45, dangerous, a walking red flag.
But I’ll give him this: when he’s sweet, he nails it — recreating her studio down to the brands, buying a minivan for hauling canvases… those beats landed. And sending Savannah’s exes to Alaska instead of killing them? Petty. Iconic. I laughed.
🧩 Plot
Most of the book is basically “married life with your kidnapper,” Savannah resisting… until she doesn’t. And that could’ve been fun, chaotic, dramatic — but too many threads just dangled.
The family fallout never pays off, Aspen’s viciousness barely gets resolved, and the security logic is questionable — supposedly it’s a heavily guarded place, yet ex-flings ring the bell and no one bats an eye. It makes the mafia-life stakes feel oddly low.
And the ending leans hard — hard — on miscommunication. Tension that could’ve been solved with one honest conversation. Also… that second epilogue? What was that?
🎯 Final thoughts
Nero hooked me from page one. King… not so much. There were some genuinely lovely moments, but the story felt rushed, thin, and sometimes straight-up random. I wanted more emotional weight, more payoff, more… anything.
That said, I’m still curious enough to see what Dom and Hans bring to the table.
🖤Tropes / What to Expect
Age gap (13 years)
Kidnapping → forced marriage
Plus-size FMC
“Touch her and I’ll kill you” energy
Exhibitionism
Series Ranking
1. Hans — Book 4 (5⭐️) My review
2. Nero — Book 1 (4⭐️) My review
3. Dom — Book 3 (4⭐️) My review
4. King — Book 2 (3⭐️)
King left me… underwhelmed.
💍 The Setup
Savannah goes on a date with Leeland. Later she drops by her friend Mandi’s and finds two unexpected guests: King and his sister Aspen. Plot twist — Aspen is married to Savannah’s date.
Fast forward: Savannah goes back to Leeland’s place for her keys, hears him get murdered, and King basically goes, “Hmm. Can’t have witnesses. Guess I’ll kidnap you and make you my wife.” Sure, the official reason is to keep her from testifying, but c’mon. We all know he just wanted her.
🎨 Savannah
She’s 32, an artist, and at first I loved her little survival instincts. Choosing a black shirt instead of white when braless? Only trusting sealed food and drinks? Smart girl energy.
But as the book goes on, her choices start feeling less intentional. And the closure she deserves? Nowhere to be seen. Her parents disowned her for choosing art, right? So where’s the delicious full-circle moment of them seeing her thriving (plus her unconventional, mafia-marriage life)? Instead: radio silence. Missed opportunity.
👑 King
We met him in Nero, and honestly? I liked him better there. He’s 45, dangerous, a walking red flag.
But I’ll give him this: when he’s sweet, he nails it — recreating her studio down to the brands, buying a minivan for hauling canvases… those beats landed. And sending Savannah’s exes to Alaska instead of killing them? Petty. Iconic. I laughed.
🧩 Plot
Most of the book is basically “married life with your kidnapper,” Savannah resisting… until she doesn’t. And that could’ve been fun, chaotic, dramatic — but too many threads just dangled.
The family fallout never pays off, Aspen’s viciousness barely gets resolved, and the security logic is questionable — supposedly it’s a heavily guarded place, yet ex-flings ring the bell and no one bats an eye. It makes the mafia-life stakes feel oddly low.
And the ending leans hard — hard — on miscommunication. Tension that could’ve been solved with one honest conversation. Also… that second epilogue? What was that?
🎯 Final thoughts
Nero hooked me from page one. King… not so much. There were some genuinely lovely moments, but the story felt rushed, thin, and sometimes straight-up random. I wanted more emotional weight, more payoff, more… anything.
That said, I’m still curious enough to see what Dom and Hans bring to the table.
🖤Tropes / What to Expect
Age gap (13 years)
Kidnapping → forced marriage
Plus-size FMC
“Touch her and I’ll kill you” energy
Exhibitionism
Series Ranking
1. Hans — Book 4 (5⭐️) My review
2. Nero — Book 1 (4⭐️) My review
3. Dom — Book 3 (4⭐️) My review
4. King — Book 2 (3⭐️)
August 9, 2024
Ehhhhh definitely not my favorite as far as dark mafia romance goes. This book just ended up being underwhelming, which was disappointing because the first half was a lot of fun then I just lost interest. I really like a little more plot going on other than just the romance when it comes to mafia books and this series is just lacking in that department so far. Which typically if I’m obsessed with the couple I can get past that but with this book specifically I just really wasn’t invested in their romance and our MMC King gave me the ick at times… I’m definitely going to continue this series because the first book was fun and I head the next two books are the best! But yeah this one was just a bit boring to me.
May 31, 2023
King!!! K.I.N.G. is one crazy OTT alpha!! Let's start by saying I felt bad for Savannah she didn't think a date with a guy would make her being called a homewrecker, seeing a murder and kidnapped all in one day, lol But I was proud of her she did try to escape, but it didn't work. She was also attracted to King the very moment she saw him, even if he had her locked in his room. He's a very good host, bringing her some snacks and water, and even left her to her thoughts for a few hours since he's crazy in kidnapping her. And when he tells her his idea, I think everyone, even Nero, was like, "Dude...WTF???" The relationship between them was up and down he wad very smitten but still "warned" her if she tried to escape which bravo girl she tried lol. He also let her continue with her work as a artist he loved her art and was so happy when he said stuff about her art.
Plus, that dirty mouth of his.. and the way he tortures ppls who look, flirt, or touch his wife.
We do get some charas I wanna know who Dom ends up with. I kinda wish it's with Val. I'm still not happy with Aspen. I understood her mood, but Lord could've let poor Sav explain.
Tiny om drama, no cheating, secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Push away from h then H
Age gap
32h/45H
Praise kink
violent death
Drugs
Kidnapping
Tiny Exhibitionism
Blackmail and forced imprisonment
Some dubious consent
Discussions of human trafficking
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
Plus, that dirty mouth of his.. and the way he tortures ppls who look, flirt, or touch his wife.
We do get some charas I wanna know who Dom ends up with. I kinda wish it's with Val. I'm still not happy with Aspen. I understood her mood, but Lord could've let poor Sav explain.
Tiny om drama, no cheating, secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Push away from h then H
Age gap
32h/45H
Praise kink
violent death
Drugs
Kidnapping
Tiny Exhibitionism
Blackmail and forced imprisonment
Some dubious consent
Discussions of human trafficking
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
April 23, 2024
I am loving this series!! These mafia men are 🥵🥵
I was so excited to meet King from Nero and he did not disappoint. He is oh so possessive and we love every second of it.
I am super excited for Dom because I think it will be my favorite!
"He's crazy. I'm married to a crazy man." 🫠🫠
- mafia
- kidnapping
- forced marriage
- touch her & die
- unaliver.. literally
- "MY WIFE"
- possessive mmc
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
I was so excited to meet King from Nero and he did not disappoint. He is oh so possessive and we love every second of it.
I am super excited for Dom because I think it will be my favorite!
"He's crazy. I'm married to a crazy man." 🫠🫠
- mafia
- kidnapping
- forced marriage
- touch her & die
- unaliver.. literally
- "MY WIFE"
- possessive mmc
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
November 19, 2024
3.5 stars
I love SJ Tilly’s books, but this series is just a little too over the top for me. Once again, great ‘touch her you die’ vibes (literally) and I liked the heroine, but the book as a whole was too extra.
I love SJ Tilly’s books, but this series is just a little too over the top for me. Once again, great ‘touch her you die’ vibes (literally) and I liked the heroine, but the book as a whole was too extra.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Jack Calihan & Chloe Ryan
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 11h 33m
September 26, 2025
Decent chemistry.
One of the best MMCs I've read in a while!
King just adores Savanah and we love to see it. Our gurl deserves the best husband!
Although our fmc had weird some moments... like...
I could have done without the various parts when she points out how full of flaws her body is... or the whole "i buy men's clothes and wear them to feel like i have someone" thing... yeah, i dont know what that was about... but ok.
And I also didn’t like slutshaming and internal insults she was throwing at another woman who used to sleep with King...
I don't like internalized misogyny where women insult each other over a man... and Aspen, who is King's sister also does that to Savanah, which i also didn’t like...
But yeah, other than that, this was very enjoyable! More than the first one in this series, which i gave 2 stars.
And the smut was decent!
One of the best MMCs I've read in a while!
King just adores Savanah and we love to see it. Our gurl deserves the best husband!
Although our fmc had weird some moments... like...
I could have done without the various parts when she points out how full of flaws her body is... or the whole "i buy men's clothes and wear them to feel like i have someone" thing... yeah, i dont know what that was about... but ok.
And I also didn’t like slutshaming and internal insults she was throwing at another woman who used to sleep with King...
I don't like internalized misogyny where women insult each other over a man... and Aspen, who is King's sister also does that to Savanah, which i also didn’t like...
But yeah, other than that, this was very enjoyable! More than the first one in this series, which i gave 2 stars.
And the smut was decent!
March 29, 2025
Reread in 2025 for Patreon
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.
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Another bonkers Mafia man who takes what he wants. I loved it.
Forced Marriage when an artist heroine sees something they shouldn't.
4 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
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.
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Another bonkers Mafia man who takes what he wants. I loved it.
Forced Marriage when an artist heroine sees something they shouldn't.
4 stars
3.5 on the spice scale
June 13, 2024
This was such a great read! King made me swoon so many times throughout the book and Savannah was adorable as well🥰 Also y'all...chapter 75 and 76??? HOLY SHIT I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO GET ME SO HOT AND BOTHERED I - 🥵🥵🥵 I'd say I liked King the least out of all the books in this series - not that it was bad or anything - and the only reason I cut a star was because a) the OW-drama-but-not-really-drama made me overthink and dissect that scene way too much and annoyed me a bit (but it wasn't anything major so there's that) b) Aspen was such a bitch like??? Miss maam, Savannah was a victim as well fyi. You wanna curse someone out? Then curse your good as dead cheating, lying, scumbag of an ex-husband and not the other woman he lied to as well c) the typical FMC who's been celibate for sooooo long and has a "dried up vagina" and the MMC hasn't had sex for the longest time i.e. only a "handful of weeks" - I don't like the double standards there. Either don't mention it or just make it equal ifykyk😒 Other than that, King was a nice, light hearted but not so light hearted (because duh it's a dark romance in the end), swoonworthy read for me. Hans is def my fave tho followed closely by Dom. Nero, I'm gonna skip out on because there's OW drama where Nero does not, in fact, put the OW in her place and ik that's gonna piss me off so yeah I'm good lolz. If you're looking for a dark mafia romance series where the men are obsessed with their women and with plus sized rep, I'd totally recommend this series!!!
Safety Squad:
- slight OW drama (mentioned above. the H puts the OW/past hookup in her place and makes her leave)
- no cheating
- slight OM drama + jealousy (H makes all the h's exes move out of the country by buying a company abroad and giving them jobs there because he's jealous)
- no cheating/sharing
- no condoms
- mentions of negligent parents, cheating (not between MCs), death, violence, gore, exhibitionism, etc
- mafia romance
- age gap (H is 45, h is 32)
Safety Squad:
- slight OW drama (mentioned above. the H puts the OW/past hookup in her place and makes her leave)
- no cheating
- slight OM drama + jealousy (H makes all the h's exes move out of the country by buying a company abroad and giving them jobs there because he's jealous)
- no cheating/sharing
- no condoms
- mentions of negligent parents, cheating (not between MCs), death, violence, gore, exhibitionism, etc
- mafia romance
- age gap (H is 45, h is 32)
January 15, 2024
Definitely better than Nero.
Marriage of convenience between King and Savannah because she caught him offing her ex (who was apparently King’s sister’s cheating husband). He’s a suits version of Nero, and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Savannah didn’t go down without a fight and I loved how much hell she gave King.
I’m still not sure what The Alliance does, and I don’t think the author does either.
Marriage of convenience between King and Savannah because she caught him offing her ex (who was apparently King’s sister’s cheating husband). He’s a suits version of Nero, and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Savannah didn’t go down without a fight and I loved how much hell she gave King.
I’m still not sure what The Alliance does, and I don’t think the author does either.
February 13, 2024
4✨, 3.25🌶️
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. I never thought I would be giving this book 4 stars.
After reading Book 1, Nero, in this Alliance series by S.J Tilly, I have to say I wasn't entirely impressed. The writing was OK, the pacing was iffy, and sometimes the OTT nature of it all started to feel just extra versus extra delicious.
But King???? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh boy. This is a book that took the OTT trope and made it its bitch! It worked so, so, soooooooo well with this couple.
And not only that, the jump in quality between King and Nero was insane. The writing became much better, everything flowed, the character development worked and made sense, even under the aforementioned OTT conditions.
S.J Tilly knocked it outta the park with this one, and this book is the perfect example of how a story like this can work sooooooooo well in fiction. It leans into the campiness and OTT nature, it doesn't take itself seriously until it does, and finds its balance just right. So much fun.
What a ride of tropes this one has too. Arranged/coerced-ish marriage, mafia, OTT/dom MMC, a strong FMC who adapts to her surroundings and you root for, and spicy, spicy, spice.
Very much looking forward to the next one ;)
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. I never thought I would be giving this book 4 stars.
After reading Book 1, Nero, in this Alliance series by S.J Tilly, I have to say I wasn't entirely impressed. The writing was OK, the pacing was iffy, and sometimes the OTT nature of it all started to feel just extra versus extra delicious.
But King???? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh boy. This is a book that took the OTT trope and made it its bitch! It worked so, so, soooooooo well with this couple.
And not only that, the jump in quality between King and Nero was insane. The writing became much better, everything flowed, the character development worked and made sense, even under the aforementioned OTT conditions.
S.J Tilly knocked it outta the park with this one, and this book is the perfect example of how a story like this can work sooooooooo well in fiction. It leans into the campiness and OTT nature, it doesn't take itself seriously until it does, and finds its balance just right. So much fun.
What a ride of tropes this one has too. Arranged/coerced-ish marriage, mafia, OTT/dom MMC, a strong FMC who adapts to her surroundings and you root for, and spicy, spicy, spice.
Very much looking forward to the next one ;)
January 9, 2024
DNF @ 73%
Plot: 2/5 ⭐️
Smut: 2/5 🌶
Trope: plus size, age gap, mobster, kidnapping, forced marriage 💒
Format: Kindle 📚 • 394 pages & Audible 🎧 • 11h 33m
Narrated by Jack Calihan & Chloe Ryan
Perfect example of BAD Stockholm syndrome. (Never thought I’d say that sentence) 🤷🏻♀️ 😂
King has a couple of redeeming moments and one liners but that’s about it.
* I HATED the “Husband” and “My King” 👑 nicknames, however I loved the “Honey” 🍯 and “Savannah Baby” nicknames.
* I HATED the ‘I’m not gonna fuck you again until you beg for it’ and then his impatient ass teases her into begging?! Like no sir. Not the same thing. Doesn’t hit as good if you make her!
* Absolutely LOATHED when he snapped his fingers at her! Are you shitting me?!?! What am I the help?! Or a dog?! 🐶
Duke, the actual dog in this story, was by far the best supporting character throughout this whole book. 🐕
This little rich boy wannabe mobster just better be glad we don’t live in the same world. I’d popped a cap in his ass. Bang bang mofo.
This is def the worst book in the series and so far the worse book I’ve read in 2024.
Plot: 2/5 ⭐️
Smut: 2/5 🌶
Trope: plus size, age gap, mobster, kidnapping, forced marriage 💒
Format: Kindle 📚 • 394 pages & Audible 🎧 • 11h 33m
Narrated by Jack Calihan & Chloe Ryan
Perfect example of BAD Stockholm syndrome. (Never thought I’d say that sentence) 🤷🏻♀️ 😂
King has a couple of redeeming moments and one liners but that’s about it.
* I HATED the “Husband” and “My King” 👑 nicknames, however I loved the “Honey” 🍯 and “Savannah Baby” nicknames.
* I HATED the ‘I’m not gonna fuck you again until you beg for it’ and then his impatient ass teases her into begging?! Like no sir. Not the same thing. Doesn’t hit as good if you make her!
* Absolutely LOATHED when he snapped his fingers at her! Are you shitting me?!?! What am I the help?! Or a dog?! 🐶
Duke, the actual dog in this story, was by far the best supporting character throughout this whole book. 🐕
This little rich boy wannabe mobster just better be glad we don’t live in the same world. I’d popped a cap in his ass. Bang bang mofo.
This is def the worst book in the series and so far the worse book I’ve read in 2024.
January 4, 2024
SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
I really loved Nero but I have to say KING has officially taken the spot as my favorite of this series!!!! Ahhh he is perfect.
There were so many moments where I was literally screaming because they were exactly what I wanted & also hot as fckkkkk. And I was also a giggly mess? What a COMBO.
I truly loved everything about this book. And that we get another glimpse into the alliance. And see Nero & Payton again. And the relationship between King & Savannah was so wild but amazing?!! DUKE IS MY FAVE & the GOODEST boy there ever was.
My favorite moment is when he is being a supportive husband during an art show & I swear I melted into a sappy puddle on the floor. The *I’m proud of you* moment was top tier.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Touch her & you die
Look at her & you die
Forced Marriage
Forced proximity
Mafia romance
Dark romance
Plus size hero
Age gap
I really loved Nero but I have to say KING has officially taken the spot as my favorite of this series!!!! Ahhh he is perfect.
There were so many moments where I was literally screaming because they were exactly what I wanted & also hot as fckkkkk. And I was also a giggly mess? What a COMBO.
I truly loved everything about this book. And that we get another glimpse into the alliance. And see Nero & Payton again. And the relationship between King & Savannah was so wild but amazing?!! DUKE IS MY FAVE & the GOODEST boy there ever was.
My favorite moment is when he is being a supportive husband during an art show & I swear I melted into a sappy puddle on the floor. The *I’m proud of you* moment was top tier.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Touch her & you die
Look at her & you die
Forced Marriage
Forced proximity
Mafia romance
Dark romance
Plus size hero
Age gap
April 16, 2024
Can we talk about what a man holding his crotch in a cover does to a book? 💀 can we ban them?
This was… average? I don’t know, I kind of liked it. I love a possesive and mean alpha being a simp for his woman, but I don’t like the body betrayal syndrome when she’s wet when he carries her away kidnapping her.
I feel I’ve read this a thousand times already. But the pacing was good, the story was easy to read and I liked both characters, so there’s that.
And I’m reading Dom 🤡
This was… average? I don’t know, I kind of liked it. I love a possesive and mean alpha being a simp for his woman, but I don’t like the body betrayal syndrome when she’s wet when he carries her away kidnapping her.
I feel I’ve read this a thousand times already. But the pacing was good, the story was easy to read and I liked both characters, so there’s that.
And I’m reading Dom 🤡
May 24, 2023
S.J. Tilly does it again!
I’m convinced that S.J. Tilly has created a genre of her own with this book because she brilliantly intermixed dark romance and romcom effortlessly.
Savannah goes on a date, only to realize that he’s actually married! After a nightmare of an evening, it only gets worse because she witnesses a murder and said murderer decides to kidnap her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! S.J. writes books that are so easy to follow and have the most lovable characters!
I
✨Dark Romance
✨Captive & Captor
✨Mafia
✨Forced Marriage
✨Curvy FMC
✨Spicy
✨Touch her & 💀
Rating 5⭐️ 3 🌶️
I’m convinced that S.J. Tilly has created a genre of her own with this book because she brilliantly intermixed dark romance and romcom effortlessly.
Savannah goes on a date, only to realize that he’s actually married! After a nightmare of an evening, it only gets worse because she witnesses a murder and said murderer decides to kidnap her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! S.J. writes books that are so easy to follow and have the most lovable characters!
I
✨Dark Romance
✨Captive & Captor
✨Mafia
✨Forced Marriage
✨Curvy FMC
✨Spicy
✨Touch her & 💀
Rating 5⭐️ 3 🌶️
January 7, 2024
4 stars baby
KING!!! He’s a comedian the book should be called King of Comedy FR FR. I knew i was gonna love him bc of his appearances in Book one and he didn’t disappoint one bit. I was in a fit of laughter since chapter 3. I mean he was just TOO GOOD and wildly insane but with personality just how i like em.
His possessiveness + his humor + his devotion + his delusion + his protectiveness? Please he was so perfect. SAVANNAH MY QUEEN. I LOVE HERRRRR. She was exactly the right fit for King. I love how wild she was and she gave him back just as much as he gave her. She my Homegirl in my head.
They were SO HOT together, the first sex scene had me gagged okay GAGGED. I could have done without the bit of miscommunication but whatever. I ate this up all the same.
DOM I AM COMING FOR YOUUUU
KING!!! He’s a comedian the book should be called King of Comedy FR FR. I knew i was gonna love him bc of his appearances in Book one and he didn’t disappoint one bit. I was in a fit of laughter since chapter 3. I mean he was just TOO GOOD and wildly insane but with personality just how i like em.
His possessiveness + his humor + his devotion + his delusion + his protectiveness? Please he was so perfect. SAVANNAH MY QUEEN. I LOVE HERRRRR. She was exactly the right fit for King. I love how wild she was and she gave him back just as much as he gave her. She my Homegirl in my head.
They were SO HOT together, the first sex scene had me gagged okay GAGGED. I could have done without the bit of miscommunication but whatever. I ate this up all the same.
DOM I AM COMING FOR YOUUUU
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