Vows In Corruption

by Jocelyne Soto

The Lane Family is coming.
Corruption, Deception, Power, Darkness and everything in between.
Think Dark Romance meets Bruce Wayne...More information to come.

Genres: Marriage Of Convenience, Dark Romance, Workplace Romance, Billionaire Romance, Found Family, Romance, Dark

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2024

About the author

Jocelyne Soto is a writer, born and raised in California. She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.

Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.

Reviews

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC review)

''Because there will be heartbreak'

Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Loss of loved ones
- Child abandonment
- Mention of child verbal/physical abuse
- Trauma
- Single guardian (uncle and older sister)
- Blackmail
- Arranged marriage
- Boss/employee
- HEA

Bennett and Ella are both struggling individually with their own past and the things that still haunt them to this day, no matter how many years have passed.

Ella gets a job as Bennett's assistant and quickly there is a new twist that neither saw coming, Bennett needs to get married to secure the CEO position and Ella is the only one he has his eyes on being his wife.

While she needs to agree to do this because of the promises of money he makes her and a better life, she does not need all that for herself but for her younger sister who she needs to take care of and secure a better life for.

While Bennett sole reason for being CEO is his determination to get back what his family owns. Bennett might seem like a cruel boss and laser focused on his own plans; we also get to see his vulnerability. His kindness towards his nephews and niece. The kids he has been taking care of for a long time and gave everything so they would be happy.

Despite Bennett and Ella's lives being totally different and the way they were brought up, they share a lot of common interests and goals.

There are a few elements of mystery within this story. We see a different side of Bennett and the lengths he will go to protect those he loves.

I really enjoyed their chemistry and how much they complimented each other. It was somewhat of a slow burn, but it was worth it once they got together.

I still need answers for one side plot but hopefully we will have more about that in the future books within this series.

[Milica's Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, this story isn't dark and isn't mafia romance.
Just contemporary romance with lovable MCs and adorable kids.

Second, this whole book needs serious proofreading.
It's as if the author just wrote and published the book, just like that.

[carmie voracious reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf

i simply cannot continue with this book. I’m so upset because the premise sounds so good,which is why it’s not a 1 star, but until an editor gets their hands on this i have to put it down. It’s not even common mistakes, it’s really bad.

I’ve not seen any other reviews point this out which is really surprising as i noticed it right away. I never normally care, yes it’s extremely annoying, but i understand. However in this instance, it’s way too much. Some of them are completely the wrong word to be used and other times it’s letters missing.

I never really comment when there’s grammar or spelling issues in books and especially don’t list examples but the fact this isn’t even a debut novel from the author was utterly shocking and i’m scared to see what her other books are like.

please also bear in mind that i was TWENTY SEVEN percent in and this isn’t even all the examples

Some examples:

“if i ask question about something”
A QUESTION
“is as the elevator stops on the first floor”
IT’S
“i just now it”
KNOW IT (basic english which you should KNOW when writing a book)
“trying to get buy”
…this one hurt actually

this one’s really bad
“the foundation was met mother’s”
i think you mean my mothers?????? how did this book pass publication

there was also lots of cases where there was just an “I” instead of it or is

[Cokiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when it drives you crazy when you don't know if they care about each other in a fake marriage? Not here!

I thought this novel would be geared toward the fake marriage. I had different expectations. But this book blew them out of the water!

Bennett is in a conundrum. He needs to get married to take back control of his family's business. He's worked so hard to get in position for it, and with one stupid rule, he's screwed. It's a good thing he has a new assistant...

Ella has been working so hard to get her degree and take care of her little sister. She was in the foster care system and the way she cares for her and wants a better life for Charlie than she had...

That's one thing I respected about both Bennett and Ella. Bennett has been taking care of his niece and nephews for years, and Ella's been taking care of her sis. These two love family.

Bennett is able to take care of Ella and Charlie so well. Besides monetarily. I love some found family trope. Bennett has a special relationship with his youngest nephew, and it's so sweet when it extended to Ella as well.

There's also an "Alfred Pennyworth" named Henry who's taken care of Bennett after all the tragedy he's been through. Loved it.

The darker side of the book pops up throughout. This is mafia light, or mafia adjacent. There's some mystery in this book as well!

I really enjoyed it and can't wait for book 2!

[Kacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was flawlessly written and utterly captivating from the very beginning.

The narrative follows Ella, who grew up in foster care and is desperately trying to create a better future for herself and her sister. She unexpectedly lands a job at Lane Enterprises, a position she never imagined she would secure. It is here that she meets Bennett.

Bennett has been tirelessly working towards becoming the CEO of Lane Enterprises. Just as he’s about to achieve his goal, a wrench is thrown into the works with the revelation of a clause requiring him to be married.

I loved not only the fake marriage trope in this book but also the found family aspect. The story does contain some darker elements, including light mafia themes and a bit of mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I can’t wait for book 2!

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.4 Stars)
When Bennett Lane’s family business is threatened to be taken, he has one way to save it…get married. That’s where his new assistant, Ella Vincent, comes in. She might not like this new job title but she won’t have a choice. Ella moved to Chicago to give her little sister a better life. This job was part of that plan. They both are trying to make things better for the family they care for. Will this one arrangement become something more? This was a little slow to start for me and sadly, I didn’t feel the connection between the two leads. Definitely more of a strangers to lovers than dark mafia romance until about 68% then it started getting more interesting. If you enjoy a boss/employee insta romance centered around their found families you might enjoy this one. Told in first person and dual POV.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. This had an interesting plot and good characters. Ella and Bennett had great chemistry and were perfect for each other. I also enjoyed the suspense element in this story and I can't wait to read the next book.

I received an arc and this review is my own.

[Tiffany W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another new to me author, I thankfully I loved this book! It’s book one in the Lane Brothers series and when I tell you there weee a few twist so make sure you read the tropes and blurb because there is a darker side of the book and mentions of mafia activities.

Bennett is a little bit more than your normal billionaire imo, especially when you take in the fact that he’s raising four kids that aren’t his, he befriends the current CEO in hopes of taking his place when he retires and rightfully controlling his family business however he learns there is a clause saying he has to be married in order to be CEO.

Ella has had a very hard life, but along the way she’s getting it together, especially since she has custody of her sixteen year old sister, but she have a few financial obligations they need to be fulfilled, on top of wanting to give her sister Charlie the best life possible.

So who does he get to marry him you ask? Ella his new assistant of course! And while it’s helping Bennet out, it helps Ella out of more because now she can pay her debt and stop being scared of the past.

Ok so I loved this book, I really couldn’t believe both Ella and Bennet were taking care of kids that weren’t theirs, I loved how the author didn’t make us wait that long for the fake marriage to become real, and while yes we always expect a HEA, there was quite a few surprises and a bit of mystery to this book too.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the found family aspect of this story.. that include Henry!! Also without saying to much I can’t believe that lady got away?! But thankfully this was only book one in this series so hopefully we get to see what happens with that soon!

QOTD: what was the last book that surprised you?

AOTD: this and The Bonus.. I’ve been reading a lot of boss/ assistant books lately, maybe I’m in a new era

[Jesi Blanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ella lands herself a job at Lane Enterprises as an assistant to Bennett Lane, she finds herself in a predicament when he decides he’ll marry her to become CEO of his family’s company. I'm not going to lie reading about one Bennett after another was... kind of trippy. I also read The Boss + The Maid = Chemistry where his name was Bennett too, lol.

Bennett felt a pull towards Ella from the moment her application hit his desk. He suggested to the current CEO that she should be hired as his assistant. Then Bennett finds himself in his own predicament when the CEO announces he's stepping down and choosing someone to take his place. But, there's a catch: whoever he chooses must be married by the time they get announced as the CEO.

Ella and Bennett live completely different lives. At the ends of the respective societal spectrum. That doesn't stop Bennett from choosing her as his temporary wife. Bennett may be indifferent and cold at work but personal life is anything but. Having to take care of his nieces and nephews for the past decade or so gives him a common ground to explore with Ella as she is her half-sister's guardian.

✨️𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬+𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔✨️
- age gap (32H/25h), billionaire romance, boss x employee, fake marriage, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, marriage of convenience, mutual pining, workplace romance, opposites attract, single guardians
- consent, wax play

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage of convenience
Forced proximity
Insta lust
Age gap
Billionaire romance
Single Guardians

“Who knew that all I needed to do was marry my billionaire boss and all my dreams would come true.”

All of my favorite things in one book! I enjoyed Lane & Ella, they fit each other perfectly. They both had secrets and found anyway to make the life of their sibling and niece/nephews better even though the situations weren’t ideal. Both MC’s had similar story’s with being single guardians and it brought two families together as one, it went byword the contract. It was definitely fast paced, they fell for each other quickly but make no mistake Mr. Bennett and that mouth, SIR where did all that come from?! What a wild ride 😏 Ella wasn’t so innocent after all, she came out and showed Lane exactly what he would be missing once their marriage contract was up 🙂‍↕️ The suspense was driving me crazy. I enjoyed the story and that ending?! I need more, I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.

I rated it 3.5 and round to 4, there were some parts that felt a bit rushed.

[madmanreads]

I was so excited for the premise and tropes of this book but I unfortunately had to DNF this one.

At about 30% in, I still did not have a connection with either of the main characters. It was insta love right off the bat, which sometimes I can continue on with, but with no connection to either character it was hard to do that.

As I continued on, the dirty talk seemed forced and uncomfortable. We don’t judge the grammar or spelling errors in an early copy, but they were happening so frequently that it was really starting to affect my reading experience.

I also wish there would have been more family interactions since single guardian was one of the tropes.

Thank you to The Author Agency for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my review.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! I went into this book expecting a lot of the story to revolve around the fake marriage trope (which I would have been totally fine with), but what you actually get is two characters that fall so hard for each other, and genuinely want to take care of each other. There was so many aspects of found family and they were done so well. I was just in love with everyone involved.

The bits of mystery and mafia ish darkness kept things pretty interesting too and had me staying up way too late to find out what happened. This was also the first I’ve read from this author and I was not lost at all, even in the very beginning.

[Megan L Harnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay for me. It had all the twists and turns a book had but I still felt like it was missing something. Bennett is trying to get the CEO position at his company and he needs to be married in order for him to have it. Enter his assistant Ella who agrees because she needs to take care of her sister. Many people are trying to stop them. Had a good plot and the twists were good but it still missed some depth to it.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! Y’all this book was just *chefs kiss*

I may have stayed up till 1am to finish this, and boy was it worth it! I loved Bennett and Elle, their story was to good! The meet cute 🥰, both of them having a bad past but make the best of it together, I just couldn’t get enough

Arc review ⭐️

[abi ୨୧]

I heard “dark romance meets Bruce Wayne” and came sprinting 👀😍🤭

[valuuu · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.8 ⭐️

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! So I did not think I’d finish this book so quickly but I devoured it in less than two days! Although this Is my first read from Jocelyn and there is an entire other series connected to this one, I wasn’t lost at all! It was great! I loved that it wasn’t a typical billionaire romance! The plot was addicting and now I have to read the other series !! I need to know what happens!

Fav Quote:
“𝑰 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

Tropes :
🔥 Age Gap
🔥 Billionaire
🔥 Marriage of Convenience
🔥 He Falls First
🔥 Single Guardians

Storyline: 8/10
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Song: Labyrinth- Taylor Swift

[Melissa readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me 50 shades of grey and I was here for it !! Bennett was such an amazing uncle/daddy 😭

[Maryger Chacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vows In Corruption by Jocelyne Soto, is the first book in The Lane Family Series, Elizabeth “Ella” Vincent is a young woman who finds herself struggling with bills to pay and day-to-day expenses, as well as a debt she acquired, five years ago, when she brought her little sister to live with her. Her past is difficult and she wants to give her sister the opportunity to achieve her dreams and for this she is applying for different jobs. When a job offer, for an assistant at Lane Enterprises, catches her attention, she realizes that she meets the requirements and she does not hesitate and applies to this, when days later she is called to continue with the interview process she hopes that everything goes well. When the answer finally arrives, she is excited because she knows that it will not be easy but it's the beginning of a better life and of being able to pay for her sister's education, but once she arrives at the company, her nerves paralyze her and make her stop in her tracks and when she is giving herself words of encouragement to enter the building a man addresses her and when she turns around she is speechless just by seeing the man next to her, not only is he the most handsome man she has ever seen but this man bears the last name that is on the building. Bennett Lane is one of the heirs to the Lane empire, he lost his parents when he was only 8 years old and a month later his brother left and left him with his caretaker, only to return a few years later and leave him his four children, to take care of them Bennett went from drowning in his grief to being responsible for these children and straightening his life, this has led him to become a serious and taciturn man, focused on his work and making sure his nephews and niece have what they need to try to cover the absence of their father and mother. He works at Lane Enterprises, but his sights are set on regaining the reins of the family business, not only because it's his right but because others who are part of the board have wanted to keep him away from what belongs to him and he is not going to allow it anymore. Little by little he has done the work so that the time comes for when the man that is now the CEO decide to retire, he will nominate him and obtain the majority of votes. When he decides to hire a new assistant, the last thing he thought was that this girl was going to steal his attention, and although at first he doesn't trust her, he soon realizes that she is a trustworthy woman and although he tries to keep their relationship strictly work-related, everything will change when a partner, in a move to prevent Bennett from taking over the CEO position, bring to light a clause stipulating that whoever comes to occupy said position must be married, this leads Bennett to propose a marriage of convenience to Ella. And although at first things are somewhat awkward between them, they soon find themselves getting closer and forging a friendship, which will lead to their relationship evolving and attraction and feelings beginning to emerge, but they must fight not only against their own insecurities, but also with enemies and ghosts of the past that come to disturb their life and peace, putting their lives in danger.
This story is wonderful, it has drama, angst, laughter, tears, secrets, intrigue, danger, passion, sensuality and love. Once I started reading it, the characters captivated me and I wanted to know what was going to happen, a story with all the elements to keep me glued to it until its end. It's my first story from this author and after this I'm sure it will not be the last, I will be waiting patiently for the next story in this Series because I need to know more about this entire family because they definitely earned a space in my heart and mind. Totally, Absolutely and Totally Highly Recommended!
*Thanks to Jocelyne Soto and Good Girls PR for my ARC. I voluntarily leave my honest review*

Vows In Corruption de Jocelyne Soto, es el primer libro de la Serie The Lane Family, Elizabeth “Ella” Vincent es una joven mujer que se encuentra luchando con las cuentas por pagar y los gastos del día a día, así como una deuda que adquirió hace cinco años cuando trajo a su hermana pequeña a vivir con ella. Su pasado es difícil y ella quiere darle a su hermana la oportunidad de conseguir sus sueños y para esto se encuentra aplicando a diferentes trabajos, cuando una oferta de trabajo, para asistente en Lane Enterprises, llama su atención se da cuenta que cumple con los requisitos y no lo duda y aplica a este, cuando días después es llamada para continuar con el proceso de entrevistas ella esperar que todo salga bien. Cuando al fin llega la respuesta ella esta emocionada porque sabe que no será fácil pero es el comienzo de una mejor vida y de poder pagar la educación para su hermana, pero una vez llega a la empresa los nervios la paralizan y la hacen detenerse en la puerta y cuando está dándose palabras de aliento para entrar al edificio un hombre se dirige a ella y cuando voltea queda sin palabras con solo ver al hombre a su lado, no solo es el hombre más guapo que ha visto en su vida sino que este hombre lleva el apellido que esta en el edificio. Bennett Lane es uno de los herederos del imperio Lane, perdió a sus padre cuando tan solo tenia 8 años y un mes después su hermano se fue y lo dejo con su cuidador, solo para regresar unos años más tarde y dejar a sus cuatros hijos al cuidado de Bennett, quien paso de ahogarse en su duelo a ser responsable por estos niños y enderezar su vida, esto lo ha llevado a convertirse en un hombre serio y taciturno, concentrado en su trabajo y asegurándose que sus sobrinos y sobrina tengan lo que necesitan para tratar de cubrir la falta de su padre y madre. Él trabaja en Lane Enterprises, pero su mira esta puesta en recuperar las riendas de la empresa familiar, no solo porque es su derecho sino porque otros que forman parte de la Junta Directiva han querido mantenerlo alejado de lo que le corresponde y no va a permitirlo más. Poco a poco ha hecho el trabajo para llegado el momento que quien es ahora el CEO se retire sea a él a quien nomine y obtener la mayoría de votos. Cuando decide contratar una nueva asistente lo que menos pensó era que esta chica iba a robarle su atención, y aunque al principio no confía en ella pronto se da cuenta que es una mujer de fiar y aunque trata de mantener su relación estrictamente laboral todo va a cambiar cuando un socio en una jugada por evitar que Bennett se haga con el puesto de CEO saque a la luz una cláusula donde estipula que quien venga a ocupar dicho puesto debe estar casado, esto lleva a Bennett a proponerle un matrimonio de conveniencia a Ella. Y aunque al principio las cosas son algo incomodas entre ellos, pronto se encuentren acercándose y forjando una amistad, lo que los llevará a que su relación evolucione y la atracción y los sentimientos comiencen a surgir, pero ellos deberán luchar no solo contra sus propias inseguridades sino también con enemigos y fantasmas que vienen a perturbar su vida y su paz, poniendo en peligro sus vidas.
Esta historia es maravillosa, tiene drama, angustia, risas, lágrimas, secretos, intrigas, peligro, pasión, sensualidad y amor. Una vez comencé a leerla los personajes me cautivaron y quería saber que iba a pasar, una historia con todos los elementos para mantenerme pegada a ella hasta su final. Es mi primera historia de esta autora y después de esta estoy segura que no será la última, estaré esperando pacientemente por la próxima historia de esta Serie porque necesito saber más de toda esta familia porque definitivamente se ganaron un espacio en mi corazón y mi mente. ¡Total, Absoluta y Totalmente Altamente Recomendada!
*Gracias a Jocelyne Soto y a Good Girls PR por mi ARC. Dejo voluntariamente mi reseña honesta*

[Laura Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review

Vows in Corruption is the definition of "worth the wait"! Ever since I read Elliot in Flor de Muertos and Jocelyne Soto said the Lanes would have their own story I've been dying to read them, and even though I didn't expect the first in the series to be Bennett, his story with Ella brought me back to that first time I read this author and fell in love with her books: Bennett & Ella were everything I expected and so much more, their plot is what I imagined after reading the blurb, BUT at the same time, it's full of surprising twists, the sweetest and most touching moments, the best cameos and charming characters that stole my heart from the first page!

I think Bennett is one of the Lanes we had read very little about before this book: Elliot & Grayson's uncle, characters we have read about and loved in previous books by the author, but we didn't know the tragedy of his family situation, the immense love Bennett has for his nephews & niece and how hard he has worked to continue his parents' legacy. Bennett can be a serious man, sometimes unscrupulous and he does EVERYTHING to get what he wants, but when he is with rake, Grayson, Sam & Elliot he becomes the sweetest, loving & funniest man, something that made me love madly his character. Also, I loved that relationship of love & gratitude he has with Henry, who is a second father figure in his life and who also loves the kids unconditionally. Another aspect that I really liked about Bennett, and the book in general, was that dark, mysterious & dangerous touch that this character has and that comes hand in hand with his relationship with Dante, another character that the readers of Jocelyne love madly.

Ella is another character that I didn't expect to love and enjoy this much. A girl who had a difficult childhood and who struggles to stay afloat while trying to give her little sister, Charlie the life she deserves. She is a VERY funny, charming woman, with great vulnerability & strength, who can be a little clumsy around Bennett, but is the sweetest, most loving and understanding too. Her personal story is heartbreaking and interesting, and I really liked that Jocelyne kept a bit of a mystery with this character and her secrets.

Bennett & Ella meet when she starts working as his assistant, kind off, and from that moment their attraction for each other is more than clear because the tension between these two is simply perfect, BUT the both of them try to fight against what they feel at the same time Ella becomes Bennett's main ally to achieve his goals, not only because she's going to be his new wife, but because Ella & Bennett work VERY WELL together: she is loyal, intelligent and efficient, he values ​​her work, sees her as an equal and trusts her in the most complicated moments, and I loved seeing that part of their relationship. Of course we also see Bennett being a tender, sweet, protective and loving man who falls in love with his new wife little by little, and an Ella who soon wins the hearts of her boss and the children with her kindness. And although I think this story would have been even better if the author had developed a little more the relationships of the main characters with the kids and teenagers in the house, especially Bennett's with Charlie and Ella's with Elliot, Drake, Grayson & Sam, the moments she gave us between them manage to be touching, sweet and very beautiful.

💍Bennett: 5/5
❤️Ella: 5/5
💍Plot: 4.5/5
❤️Love story: 5/5
💍Secondary characters: 5/5
❤️Universe: 5/5
💍Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5

ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta

Vows in Corruption es la definición de "valió la pena la espera"! Desde que leí a Elliot en Flor de Muertos y Jocelyne Soto dijo que los Lane tendrían su propia historia he estado deseando leerlos, y aunque no esperaba que el primero en la serie fuera Bennett, su historia con Ella me regresó a esa primera vez que leí a esta autora y me enamoré con sus libros: Bennett & Ella fueron todo lo que esperaba y mucho más, su trama es lo que imaginaba después de leer la sinopsis, PERO al mismo tiempo, esta llena de giros sorprendentes, los momentos más dulces y conmovedores, los mejores cameos y personajes encantadores que se robaron mi corazón desde la primera página!

Creo que Bennett es uno de los Lane de los que habíamos leído muy poco antes de este libro: el tío de Elliot & Grayson, personajes que hemos leído y amado en libros anteriores de la autora, pero no conocíamos lo trágico de su situación familiar, el inmenso amor que Bennett tiene por sus sobrinos y lo mucho que ha trabajado para continuar con el legado de sus padres. Bennett puede ser un hombre serie, a veces sin escrúpulos y capas de TODO para conseguir lo que quiere, pero cuando está con Drake, Grayson, Sam & Elliot se convierte en el hombre más dulce, amoroso & divertido, algo que me hizo amar con locura a su personaje, además, me encantó esa relación de amor & agradecimiento que tiene con Henry, quien es una segunda figura paterna en su vida y que también ama incondicionalmente a los niños. Otro aspecto que me gustó mucho de Bennett, y del libro en general, fue ese toque oscuro, misterioso & peligroso que tiene este personaje y que viene de la mano con su relación con Dante, otro personaje que las lectoras de Jocelyne amamos con locura.

Ella es otro personaje que no esperaba amar y disfrutar tanto. Una chica que tuvo una infancia difícil y que lucha por mantenerse a flote mientras intenta darle a su hermana pequeña, Charlie la vida que merece. Ella es una mujer MUY divertida, encantadora, con una vulnerabilidad & fortaleza muy grandes, que puede ser un poco torpe cuando esta cerca de Bennett, pero también es la más dulce, amorosa y comprensiva. Su historia personal es desgarradora e interesante, y me gustó mucho que Jocelyne mantuviera un poco el misterio con este personaje y sus secretos.

Bennett & Ella se conocen cuando ella comienza a trabajar como su asistente, o algo así, y desde ese momento su atracción por el otro queda más que clara porque la tensión que hay entre estos dos es simplemente perfecta, PERO ambos tratan de pelear contra lo que sienten al mismo tiempo que Ella se convierte en la principal aliada de Bennett para alcanzar sus objetivos, no solo porque va a ser su nueva esposa, si no porque Ella & Bennett trabajan MUY BIEN juntos: ella es leal, inteligente y eficiente, él valora su trabajo, la ve como una igual y confía en ella en los momentos más complicados y me encantó ver esa parte de su relación. Claro que también vemos a Bennett ser un hombre tierno, dulce, protector y amoroso que se va enamorando de su nueva esposa poco a poco, y a una Ella que pronto se gana el corazón de su jefe y los niños con su gran corazón y amabilidad. Y aunque creo que esta historia hubiera sido aún mejor si la autora hubiera desarrollado un poco más la relación de los personajes principales con las de los niños y adolescentes en la casa, especialmente la de Bennett con Charlie y la de Ella con Elliot, Drake, Grayson & Sam, los momentos que nos dio entre ellos logran ser conmovedores, dulces y muy hermosos.

💍Bennett: 5/5
❤️Ella: 5/5
💍Trama: 4.5/5
❤️Historia de amor: 5/5
💍Personajes secundarios: 5/5
❤️Universo: 5/5
💍Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5

[Marisela M. Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vows in Corruption is a brand new series from Jocelyne Soto. Bennett and Ella story was absolutely brilliant. Bennett is very wealthy man and has one goal in mind to become CEO of his family company. He’ll do everything in his power to make sure it happens.

Ella has a rough childhood from the very beginning. But one thing she loves most in the world is her sister. She’s do everything to keep her safe.

In some ways both Bennett and Ella are the same. He is not only a wealthy man but he is also looking after his brother’s children. You see his bond with them. And he cares about them as is if there own. Since he’s been looking after them for 10 years. Ella has been keeping her sister safe about 5 years and it hasn’t been easy. When she lands a job as an assistant everything changes for the better. When Bennett is thrown a curveball Ella is the one he goes to. They strike up a deal to secure his position of CEO. You’ll see that simple arrangement turned into something more.Bennett and Ella chemistry is off the charts from the beginning. This story had it all age gap, billionaire, work place romance and so much more. This was perfect story to an incredible new series.

ARC provided by author for honest review.

[Cigi cini · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥Billionaire
🔥 Age Gap
🔥 Workplace Romance
🔥 Marriage of Convenience
🔥 Single Guardian (Uncle)

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️

"Vows in Corruption" by Jocelyne Soto is a compelling romance novel that blends elements of corporate intrigue, family dynamics, and dark secrets. The story revolves around a billionaire CEO, his unexpected marriage of convenience, and the evolving feelings that turn a business arrangement into something far more personal and dangerous.

Bennett, a newly appointed CEO, presents a multifaceted character. On one hand, he is the successful businessman and devoted guardian to his brother's children. On the other, he harbors a darker, more corrupt side that emerges when his carefully built life is threatened. Jocelyne Soto effectively portrays his internal conflict and the lengths he is willing to go to protect his interests, making him a complex and intriguing lead.

Ella Vincent, Bennett’s new assistant and unexpected wife, is a strong and relatable character. Her initial involvement in the marriage as a strategic move to secure her own future adds depth to her motivations. As the story progresses, her growing feelings for her husband and her struggle with the dangerous aspects of his life create a compelling emotional journey. Ella's resilience and adaptability make her a perfect counterpart to the brooding CEO.

The marriage of convenience trope is given a fresh twist in **"Vows in Corruption"**. The initial arrangement, meant to last only two years, evolves as genuine emotions and deep connections develop between the characters. The gradual shift from a cold, calculated partnership to a passionate and protective relationship is well-executed, keeping readers engaged and invested in the couple's fate.

Jocelyne Soto's writing shines in her portrayal of the dark undercurrents that run through Bennett's life. The suspense and danger that emerge from his past add an edge to the romance, creating a sense of urgency and high stakes. The author's ability to blend romantic tension with elements of thriller and suspense elevates the narrative, making it more than just a love story.

The themes of redemption, protection, and the complexity of human emotions are skillfully explored. The protagonist's journey from a man willing to shed blood for his ambitions to someone who finds redemption and love is both compelling and satisfying. The relationship dynamics, especially Bennet's protective nature towards Ella, add layers of intensity to the story.

"Vows in Corruption" is also enriched by its supporting characters and the broader family dynamics. The inclusion of Bennett's role as a guardian to his brother's children adds a layer of warmth and responsibility, contrasting with his darker tendencies. These familial elements ground the story and provide additional emotional depth.

In conclusion, "Vows in Corruption" by Jocelyne Soto is a gripping and multifaceted romance novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with high stakes, complex characters, and a blend of romance and suspense. Jocelyne Soto's ability to weave together corporate intrigue, personal redemption, and passionate romance makes this book a standout in the genre.

[Fatma · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

ARC Review

Tropes:
Boss x Employee
Marriage of Convenience
Morally Grey MMC
Age Gap(7 years)
Single Guardian(Uncle)
Mystery
Poor x Rich

This was such a great start to the Lane family series! The connection between Ella & Bennett was so sweet & heartwarming.

Elizabeth(Ella) at the age of 20 took her sister under her wing and for 5 years has been taking care of her. With limited resources and Charlotte applying for a private school Ella needs a new job and applyies for an assistant position at Lane Enterprises. Little did she know applying for that job would change her life.

Bennett had been abandoned a total of 3 times on his life. 1. When his parents passed away, 2. a month later when his older brother left, 3. 12 years later when his brother dropped off his 4 kids then left again. Now 10 years later, Bennett will do anything to take back his family company and provide the perfect life for his niece & nephews, including marrying his assistant.

An aspect I enjoyed and appreciated in this story was that although Bennett & Ella both felt an instant connection with each other. Bennett felt the connection to Ella as soon as he saw her name on her application & Ella felt it when she searched Bennet up. That connection between the two of them grew into love overtime and wasn't instant.

We love a morally grey hero an Bennett was just that! He will literally stop at nothing to protect the ones he loves and he's showed that multiple times throughout the story.

Family played such an important role in this story and I absolutely adored it. Elizabeth is such an amazing sister that risked so much for Charlotte, reading her story brought tears to my eyes. Bennett is an amazing uncle. His interactions with Drake and the things he's done for his other nephews & niece had me melting. Complete Single Dad vibes, but even better! All the children were so accepting of one another, it was adorable, especially that one scene with all of them in one bed, had me kicking my feet!

I loved that this story had a mystery aspect to it that will continue on in future books. While I like mysteries to be solved asap, I like that this one is going to be a long one! I was confused at one point, I did feel like there was a bit too much going on, but I guess it added to the craziness of one character.

I'm very excited to see what's next for the Lane family and to see so many amazing characters once again in the next book!

[Kristie Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I love single parent and marriage convenience tropes so i was so excited to read this book! Turns out both Bennett (the MMC) and Ella (FMC) are single guardians and they are doing everything they can for the family they have left.

Bennett lost his parents at the age of 8 and his 16 year old brother disappeared a month after and was never to be heard of until 14 years later when he says his family is in danger and asks his brother to take in his 4 children from the ages of 10 months to 10 years old. He promised he would come back but it's been ten years and he’s never returned so Bennett has had to raise these kids with Henry (he’s kind of like a butler but really he’s like Bennett's father figure and the kids grandparent). Bennetts sole focus is getting to be CEO and finding his brother right now and when it's announced that there's a marriage clause he decides to marry his assistant, Ella.

Ella has had a difficult life with her family and then foster homes, when she finds out about her sister she does anything she can to take her away from those same kinds of experiences and they live paycheck to paycheck. When her sister gets accepted into a prestigious and costly school Ella decides she will do whatever it takes to make sure she can cover expenses and luckily gets a job as an assistant. Her new boss turns out to be Bennett, who chose her resume and actually runs into her as they’re walking into work on her first day. He’s instantly attracted to her but she will be his assistant so there's not much he can do.. but with this marriage clause he thinks maybe she could be the one to marry to get that CEO position after all. As they spend more time together and the kids get along with everyone so well, their relationship starts to grow. As this is happening there’s also some odd things coming up from both their pasts that need to be dealt with… I don’t want to give too much away but I loved how even if it took them some time they were pretty honest and trusting with each other and I loved their relationship with the kids, wish we would’ve seen more of that!

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and learn more about Bennett's brother and what's been going on all these years!


Why you will love this book…
🔥Billionaire
🔥Age Gap
🔥Workplace Romance
🔥Marriage of Convenience
🔥Single Guardians

[Chai Book aur Charcha · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙑𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙄𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
- 𝘑𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘵𝘰

Elizabeth Vincent
Bennett Lane
#1 Lane Family Series

This was my first book by @authorjocelynesoto and she got me so hooked that I am not going to read all her works.

The story revolves around Bennett and Ella who despite being so different and belonging to different spectrum of societies has one thing common, their love for their family.

Ella is in desperate need for a stable and good paying job to provide for her half- sister's education and future whom she took off with five years back in order to keep her safe from their abusive family.

Bennett is taking care of his brother's kids as his own ( when he left them with him 10 years back) while trying to get to the CEO position of his family's company when he hires Ella as his personal assistant. But there is this one condition thrown at him as the curve ball to get that position, and that is to get married before it's the announcement.

Giving all the tension between Ella and Bennett that is there from the moment they meet (and just breaks off the record as the story progresses) and the connection they feel, he proposes her for a fake marriage for two years.

Once they get married their attraction turns more but before they realize what it is turning into, the shadow from the past returns with its ugly face and Ella is kidnapped.

Will Bennett be able to find Ella before it's too late and fight with the demons of his past? Will they realize their love for each other and turn their fake marriage into a real one??

A beautiful beautiful story with such amazingly lovely characters.
Bennett is this rude but hardworking man when it comes to his work and loving and caring person just for his family.
Ella is such a sweetheart that she wins over every heart with just one smile.
Henry is Bennett's perfect wingman and their comparison to Batman just fits the bill.
The kids are just so sweet and supportive of both Bennett and Ella that it makes your heart swell. Especially Darek, he is the one who steals the show with his innocence and charm.

PERFECT READ.

If you like a billionaire romance in a workplace setting with a shadow of dark side and love of found family this is your pick.

Toodles💕

[Mayra Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vows In Corruption: A Billionaire Romance (The Lane Family Series Book 1) by Jocelyne Soto
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Tropes:

🔥Billionaire
🔥Age Gap
🔥Workplace Romance
🔥Marriage of Convenience
🔥Single Guardian (Uncle)

REVIEW:

O.M.G. Jocelyne Soto where have you been all my life!!!!
I can’t explain how Vows in Corruption was E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G and more! I don’t know where to even start. Okay what got my attention about this book was the cover, and the marriage of convenience tropes (favorite trope ever). I read this book in one go, this was such a great read that I finished pretty fast.

Vows In Corruption, is the first book of the Lane Brothers series and I can tell you my life would be ruled by the Lane man! Book #1 tells the story of Bennett (37) a billionaire single dad(uncle) who is trying to become the CEO of his family company. Then we have Ella (Elizabeth 25) whose only priority is to take care of her sister Charlie.
I love how both Bennett and Ella have a tragic past full of pain, abandonment, and yet they find a way to strive for the wellbeing of those they love.
This story was well written, as you finished the story you are left with a few questions, but the way Jocelyne developed the story you realized those questions are an opening to future books. I really enjoy the way their attraction for one another turns into a love of a lifetime, in a very organic way. It leaves you wanting to know more about them and their future.
If you enjoy a story full of protective alpha male, marriage of convenience, single (uncle) parents, and morally gray characters then check this out. You would fall in love with Bennetts determination to not only become the CEO of his family company, but also the ruler of Chicago, and do everything in his power to keep his WIFE!
Vows In Corruption is a must read book, get it now you won’t regret it!

[My_book_obsession25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5

Vows in deception us the first mafia romance by Jocelyn Soto, and damn sure she nailed it perfectly!!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
❤️‍🔥 𝘼𝙜𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙥
🔥 𝘽𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚
❤️‍🔥 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
🔥 𝙃𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩
❤️‍🔥 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨

Bennett Lane is the successful businessman and devoted guardian to his brother's children.
He is trying to take over the CEO role at his family’s business having to fight with another executive fighting for that same spot.
When he ends up hiring a new assistant, Ella Vincent, he is immediately taken by her and can't stop to get her out of his head.

Ella is a strong and relatable character,who is is trying to provide for her little sister the best life that she hasn't chance to have.
When she gets the job as Bennett assistant, she finally feels like she can take a breath after so many struggles to keep they're life with her sister.
However when one clause in her boss CEO position states that he must be married to get the position Bennett think that Ella fills all qualities for the role ,and and offers her an opportunity that will change both they're life forever.

The first 40% in the book I can say that ,the story was a little bit dragged, and i was getting a little bored.
But when i get in the middle of the book, let just say that from there the real story begin for me.
I like how Bennett and Ella relationship prosperit little by little, and they develop feelings for each other.
I love Ella and Bennett nephews relationship, especially the one with the little Derek🥹.
They for sure needed mother figure in they life and Ella was the perfect one.

If you enjoy story of protective alpha male, marriage of convenience,and morally gray characters .
check this out you all will fall in love with Bennett and Ella story!

Thanks for the ARC once again ❤️‍🔥

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett Lane wants nothing more than to reclaim his family to the top of Lane Enterprises where they belong but he knows it isn’t going to be easy. Since his parents died he has been raised by Henry and has been virtually alone since his older brother, Robert, disappeared only to reappear with 4 children whom he dropped off with Bennett and then leaves once again.

Ella is supporting her sister, Charlie, but when her sister gets into a prestigious school she knows she will need at least one more job to make ends meet. She is surprised when she gets a job as an executive assistant for Lane Enterprises without even an interview and knows she will do what it takes to keep the job.

When it’s clear that someone doesn’t want Bennett to become the CEO of Lane Enterprises how far will Bennett and Ella go for him to get the job?

I liked this book and it and some good surprises but some of the dialogue felt very repetitive.

Bennett was a good guy who put aside everything for his niece and nephews as he raised them from such a young age. He was responsible and was doing everything he could to locate his brother and by any means possible. Because of everything Bennett had been through in the past he didn’t want to enter in any relationships and was focused on his goals.

Ella was someone who had also been through a lot growing up and was working on keeping her sister safe and giving her the best opportunity in life that she never had. She was willing to work as many jobs as she possibly could and I thought she was extremely resilient given everything she was going through.

There was an attraction between Ella and Bennett from the first moment they met but Ella needed this job and therefore she was focused on what was ahead of her. When Bennett’s dreams appeared out of reach Ella knew she was willing to help Bennett and at the same time it would help her out of her own situation.

The book took the path you thought it would but there were some good twists and turns towards the end that I wasn’t expecting which was good.

3.5 Stars- Rebecca

[Lisa Conant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5

Tropes:
💰 Billionaire Romance
💍Marriage of Convenience
❤️‍🔥Workplace Romance
🔪Touch Her and d1e
🫶Single Guardian (Uncle)

Review:
A Billionaire Romance that connects you to two very likable MMC's quickly, along with a sprinkle of suspense and workplace drama!

Bennett is Chicago's most eligible bachelor (who has sworn off marriage). Irony hits when, in order to take hold of his family's company and legacy, he needs to be married to do so. Enter Ella, his sweet new assistant, where they forge a marriage of convenience for 2 years so that he can claim his spot. They have immediate chemistry even before the pact, having a push-pull with their interactions, seeing as they are trying to respect boundaries and social class. Yet their true feelings grow as they spend more.time together. But all is not roses because Ella's past comes back to haunt her just has much as Bennett's does!

Bennett has some mafia adjacent dealings though he isn't the one to get his hands dirty....I honestly would like to see more of that side to him; it was alluded to in one scene and it definitely excited me! He's very cunning, s3xy, smart and empathetic. He was easy to fall in love with and it's easy to see why Ella fell so fast too! Her heart is so full and big and they each found many similarin one another as they organically spent time together.

The suspense subplot towards the latter half added the extra bit of tension and I feel leaves us open for a continuation...I hope we get it because I'm definitely up for it! All around strong main characters and supporting found family made this read fly by and its an easy recommendation for billionaire romance lovers!

[Grace Machuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this read... One of my best read this year. Bennett and Ella have come over so much trauma in their lives and had to grow up raising children who faced trauma themselves.

Ella has taken on the responsibility of her teenage sister, while Bennett has taken on raising his 3 nephews and niece for the most 10 years. Bennett is after his rightful place as CEO at his family's business and finds himself needing to marry in order to do so. He has grown up with money but was orphaned as a young child, abandoned by his older brother and raised by his family caregiver. Because of this, he couldn't refuse to raise his brother's children, giving them whatever they wanted. He has never stopped looking for his brother.

Ella grew up in the system and group home and is determined to better herself for her sister's well-being. She is hired as Bennett's assistant. He has fallen for her from the moment he laid eyes on her and offers her an offer she can't refuse. Agreement for 2 years of marriage and a million dollars later the past has caught up.

Once danger comes knocking, Bennett dies all he needs to do to protect his family, especially his wife he wants in his life more than just the agreed 2 years.

Thank you, Jocelyne, for not making the FMC as a weak victim. I loved that she was brave and straightforward with Bennett and what she needed and wanted. Both characters are broken but are strong together and realize quickly that they are made for each other. The way Jocelyne ended the story left me excited because she ended it with so many open options for the next book. I hope we get one with more Ella and Bennett.

I gave this read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+++, and when there was spice 🥵 I gave 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶. Thank you, Jocelyne, for the amazing read 🔥