It Kills Me

Betrayal #1

by Penelope Sky

My father has chosen me to succeed him in the family business.

But if I want the job, it comes with stipulations. And one of those stipulations is to never mix business with pleasure. AKA, don't sleep with anyone on the job. My father leads by example, and not once have I ever seen him get involved with anyone, not even his beautiful assistant. That was an easy rule to follow...until Axel.

Axel is an expert distributor, someone who knows how to get our product past the ruthless regulations mandated by the government. My father has never had a partner, but he makes an exception for Axel because he's good at what he does.

But the second our eyes meet...there's fire. He's by far the most handsome man I've ever seen, and his I couldn't care less attitude makes me weak. But I put up boundaries and reject his advances.

But this man doesn't stop until he gets what he wants.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Mafia Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2024

About the author

A New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Penelope Sky is known for her dark romance that makes you fall for her characters….no matter how dark they seem. Her books are being translated into several languages around the world, and she’s sold more than a million books worldwide. She lives in a small town in California with her husband, where she spends most of her time writing on the back porch.

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me, and I had been procrastinating on reading it for some time. To help me out, she generously lent me her paperback copy. I think she was getting a bit impatient for me to dive into the series, so she gave me that extra nudge.


His childhood home, located on the outskirts of Florence, has been passed down through generations. They've been producing olive oil for hundreds of years. But years ago
his Ex accused him of something truly unforgivable in the eyes of his parents., he was essentially exiled from the family. This moment transformed his life completely, leading him to seek a fresh start.
Axel usually keeps his heart at arm's length from most women, but he doesn't know that his new business partner in the underworld has a daughter who's not just attractive and feisty, but also really sharp. And trust me, she definitely comes with warning bells

Scarlett, the daughter of a drug lord, is diving into the family business when one of her dad's partners takes an interest in her. She’s aware that mixing business with pleasure is a no-go with daddy

No one has ever treated Scarlett as anything more than her father's daughter. She's never had a suitor who genuinely wants to understand her beyond that connection.

This installment has some pretty realistic moments, but then there are parts that just don’t add up. Like, how does this big-time drug dealer let his precious daughter live alone without any security or bodyguards? I found that hard to believe, which is one reason I knocked off a star. The other reason? Well, it’s just my usual issue with Cliffhangers……. Now with all that said and done I still am going to look for round two in this series…… Oh I know you’re going to say it -curiosity killed the cat- On my OCD won’t let me walk away well at least not quite yet

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars
For all those who love mafia romance, this is for you!

*Please note- the story ends on a cliffhanger.*

This was a quick and steamy read with a decent storyline. As someone who loves mafia romance stories, I found this one to be quite enjoyable. However, I would have appreciated it more if the story had delved deeper into the mafia's activities and not just focused on their meetings. Additionally, while the story overall was engaging, I felt that the ending was a bit disappointing. Scarlett displayed unwavering determination in her understanding and trusting of Axel's character, yet inexplicably, she abruptly gives up in the end. Considering all the things Axel has mentioned regarding her father... really?!

Overall, it was an entertaining read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Penelope Sky, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Dora Koutsoukou]

Part 1/3

Slow burn, slow paced, dragging.
A mafia princess living on her own with no guards around, unbelievable…
Moreover, the heroine didn’t convince me she was the right character to succeed to her father’s mafia leadership.

Dnf @ 36%

[Biblio · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥 Forbidden Love
❤️‍🔥 Mafia Boss x Mafia Boss's Daughter/Successor
❤️‍🔥 Banter
❤️‍🔥 Smart and Sassy FMC
❤️‍🔥 Secrets

Scarlett, the daughter of a mafia boss is set to take over her father's business if he ever perishes. One rule- Never mix business with pleasure. (AKA don't screw your "coworkers") That was all fine and dandy until Axel comes along and knocks her off her feet. Axel gets tied up in Scarlett's father's business and becomes one of his partners. He notices Scarlett right away and is smitten. Daddy dearest notices this and lets Axel know he is forbidden from dating his daughter. But that won't keep these two apart. Are they willing to risk everything to be together? The ending had me screamingggg. I cannot wait for book two in this series. Penelope's writing is addicting and will have you hooked.

This is an ARC review. All opinions are my own.

[↬ Ⓛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It kills me” u damn right bc the hero x heroine killed me not in a good way, but a dumbass way.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Dark Romance, and this is the first book in the Betrayal series. This type of book is not for everyone, and there are things in this book that could upset a reader. I liked the characters ok, but I felt it took me awhile to connect to the characters. The storyline was ok, but I really did not like the ending. This book's ending leaves you hanging and wondering what happened, but what really upset me is it really did not feel like an ending at all. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Kylieisreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear Penelope never misses!!!!

Okay first of all i fell in love with Scarlett & Axels story. Scarlett is the daughter of a drug lord and is learning the business when she catches the eye of one of her father’s partners. She knows she’s not supposed to mix business with pleasure but DAMN Axel makes it hard. This is a steamy mafia romance with great banter and thrills throughout.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

❌ Shelves Book´s 1-2-3 (Axel & Scarlett): forbidden-love-stupid, stupid-drama, friends-with-benefits-vibe, mafia-boss-x-mafia-boss's-daughter/successor, time-apart-or-separation, both-with-others-after-meeting, both-sleeps-with-others--after-connection, cheating, heroine-emotional-cheating, hero-emotional-cheating, om-ow-drama, sex-om-ow, heroine-bitch, cynical-hypocritical-heroine, hero-idiot, bratty-jealous-fmc, ex-con, secrets, mafia-organized-crime, contemporaneo, mf, dnf, not-safe.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Kills Me❤️‍🔥🥀
✨By Penelope Sky✨

Releasing on February 23, 2024

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Dark: 🖤🖤

Tropes❤️‍🔥
⭐️Touch her and ☠️
⭐️Forbidden Love
⭐️Mafia Boss MMC & FMC
⭐️Fake not-dating
⭐️Actual Healthy Relationship
⭐️Banter
⭐️Ex Con

Review:🩸
When I saw Penelope had a new book coming out I knew I had to read it! This book follow Scarlett who is the daughter of a drug kingpin, and she is set to inherit her father’s business. Her father has her accompany him to learn the business and she goes with him to meet a potential business partner. That’s when she sees Axel who is supposed to be the man with all the connections and the ability to cut costs. He is also covered in muscles, rich, and hot!

Her father is very protective and believes you can’t mix business with pleasure, but Axel makes that very difficult…😍

I binged this in one day it was so good. Axel has the perfect dirty mouth and I love that he only has eyes for her! He will do anything just to end up with Scarlett and he made me melt😍✨❣️ I cannot wait for the next book cause the cliffhanger broke my heart😭 I just want them to be okay🫶🫣

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord have mercy, there’s smoke and I’ve been set on fire by this man! 🥵😮‍💨🥵😮‍💨🥵

If you are a long-term fan of Penelope Sky, and who wouldn’t be,then you know her leading men are strong, capable, Alpha-men who take care of business in the boardroom and the bedroom.
None could ever compare to Axel!
This man brings quiet confidence to a new level, his silent self-assured nature is sexy, but Lord when he opens his mouth…wowza.

After a traumatic event reset the course of his entire life and existence, he branches out to make a new future for himself. Unbeknownst to him, his new business partner in the city’s criminal underworld is the father of a sexy, sassy, intelligent woman who will change the trajectory of his life once again.

Scarlett has never had a suitor who takes her seriously, no one has ever gotten to know her beyond their knowledge of her father‘s occupation, and her connection to it.

Her chemistry with Axel is undeniable, and though they both fight it, eventually they succumb to a powerful physical affair that turns into so much more. No longer able to hide their relationship from her father the two are faced with a decision that will affect both business and pleasure.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, it’s intriguing and I couldn’t get enough of these characters, and their genuine affection for one another. Because she hates me, (I’m looking at you,Penelope! lol) this ended on a cliffhanger! Books 2&3 to follow shortly.

I absolutely cannot wait for the completion of this series, and the opportunity to devour even more of Scarlett and Axel’s story!

5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[ReneeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this but didn’t realize it ends on a cliffhanger. Had to knock a star off just for that 😂.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the male/female dual narration on this book! It made it so much easier to understand who was talking and both narrators were clear and concise. The story itself has lots of extra spicy scenes! Just be aware if you’re looking for something light and sweet, this isn’t the book for you! I would recommend to anyone who likes spicy, drug lord romance with likable characters!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thanks so much to NetGalley, author Penelope Sky, and publisher Dreamscape Media for free access to this audiobook.

Wow. This book was hot, but also complicated, frustrating, tense, cute, and so much more. I literally gasped out loud when the female main character made a bold move on the male main character. I laughed at some of the sweeter moments. And I groaned when it ended on a big question mark that left me needing to know what will happen next. The cover may look like this book is all smut without substance, but don’t let it fool you. There is definitely plot, and complex relationships between many of the characters. It has tension. The dual POV writing leaves you, the reader, knowing things that makes you want to shout out at the FMC to open her eyes. It was a captivating read that I really enjoyed. I will definitely be reading the next in the series, as I simply must know what comes next.

The audiobook narration was well done. It used different voice actors for each of the two POVs, which made it easy to keep track of whose eyes the story was being told through. Both voices fit the characters and the story well.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in 2 days. It was just so freaking good!

I loved everything about the forbidden romance, and the smooth way Axel lays it on heavy. The fact that the FMC doesn't take shit and isn't afraid to eat.

I'm so ready for book 2.

[maye’s pov · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s the result of transform Wildest Dreams from TS into a mafia romance book? THIS! BOOK! and is sooooo good 😫

It Kills Me tell us the story of Scarlett the daughter of a drug lord who is learning everything about the business since she’s the only heir her father has and is committed to take the business in her hands and to do that she has to be in business dinners and also know her father’s partners, as Axel.

I don’t know how to describe Axel but let me tell you something I’M OBSESSED WITH HIM😭😭 he’s my dream man😍. He’s handsome, a gentleman, has a lot of ego (but in a good way) like he know he’s so fine and has no shame to express his feelings aaaghhhhh😍😍😍

❝𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥❞

Everytime Axel sees Scarlett in her father’s house he tries to convince her to sleep with him but Scarlett keeps saying no since her father taught her to never mix business with pleasure until she can’t resist the temptation anymore🥵

Their relationship is pure CHEMISTRY 💥 I love them so much, I love how Axel treats Scarlett and it’s so refreshing read about him since he’s not like the typical man who works in the mafia and is so mean, refuse to compromise or keeps denying his feelings HE’S ALL IN AND I LOVE THAT 😍 the only problem we have is Dante, Scarlet’s father who doesn’t want Axel near his precious daughter and this is going to cause us a lot of headaches.

❝“𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐞. 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬❞

I couldn’t stop reading it until I finish it and then I regret so much because now I’m desperate to have book two, so yeah, this book is as good as that ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and also as I mentioned in the begging I couldn’t stop thinking in wildest dreams, that’s their song. 🥺

Thank you Penelope for creating the man of my dreams 🥹🥹 here’s one of my favorite lines 😍😍😍😍

- “You want to shut me up? Then sit on my face.”

- “It’s my honor to fuck you.”

- “Look at you. You think a one-night stand would be enough?” He shook his head. “I knew the first time would be a hit, and then I’d need another hit, and then another. Now I’m a full-blown addict.”

PLEASE EVERYONE GO AND READ THIS, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO REGRET IT.

[Jess *lovetolovebooks* · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Kills Me by Penelope Sky is the first in a new series featuring Scarlett who’s the daughter of a drug kingpin and in line to inherit the family business. She was raised by her single dad who has always shown her love and she is determined to make him proud. Enter Axel: her dad’s new business partner. He’s an instant shameless flirt and makes his attraction known to her but she doesn’t want to break her dad’s rule: never mix business with pleasure. So he’s off limits….but maybe just one night won’t hurt.

This was a great darker romance read. Axel is such an honest person. Like unexpectedly so. He seems like he’d be a guy full of secrets and mystery but he’s really not and it was a breath of fresh air. I loved him. He’s got this devoted cinnamon role center but with a hard outer layer and that shit gets me every time.
Scarlett is complex. She’s naive of so much in a world she’s lived and been aware of her whole life and it’s frustrating at times. She constantly trying to prove herself as worthy to her dad but she’s also really lonely because no one wants to date a kingpin’s daughter. She is such a daddy’s girl that it’s hard for her to see this whole other side of her dad but she’s got a reckoning coming in the next book because good lord that man loves to rule with fear and threats. And he’s gonna get what’s coming to him hopefully.
I definitely can’t wait to see where Axel & Scarlett’s story leads us because that ending hurt.

What to expect:
-MF
-drugs are the family business
-He’s her dad’s new work partner
-sneaking around
-he gives off touch her and die vibes
-he brings her pizza and runs her bubble baths
-face sitting
-instalust

TW/CW: discussion of past time served by the MMC due to being found guilty of rape and domestic violence (he was falsely accused and is innocent), very hostile relationship with parents, violence, threats of violence & murder, FMC dad is a drug kingpin & also a huge manipulator, guns

[Patricia H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, poor Axel 😢. He's such a sweetheart but keeps getting the wrong end of the stick. Scarlett, of all people who should have seen right through his lies and excuses, fell right into the trap along with the rest of the doubters. She's so blinded by her father Dante's deception and manipulations that she can't see the forest before the trees. Axel has been railroaded by his so-called wife and his parents of all people who should love him unconditionally, fell short. Now, with Dante's psycho manipulation, Scarlett is now one of them. How much more can one man take before He's truly broken 💔 😢?! I don't want to give anything away, but this is a very profound and emotional story. Axel and Scarlett love was instant. It deserves to flourish in its purity. I wonder what really happened to Scarlett's mother🤔. Is Dante her father really telling the real story of her mother? Or did he get rid of her? Thanks, Penelope Sky, for the ARC, and allowing me to write this review on my own.I can not wait to read the next installment of this amazing story.

[Helen Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kills me had the perfect banter for me. The narrators truly brought this book to life and I instantly felt the chemistry between the two main characters. Scarlett was a strong female wanting to make a name for herself in a man’s world. Axel came into her world and threw her world on its axis. I did feel for her because she doesn’t know who her father truly is and the lengths that he will go to keep her all to himself. I cannot wait to read book 2! I already downloaded it on KU

[gretareadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I think life is more than a piece of art on the wall. It's about living in the moment, not staring at someone else's moment."

I loved It Kills Me and when I finished that cliffhanger left me clutching the book for more!

This book is dark and steamy and forbidden and I can't wait to see what is going to happen next for Scarlett & Axle!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic audiobook!! This was my first time reading a book from Penelope and I absolutely love her writing!! This is a steamy mafia romance with great banter and chemistry. The ending had me screaming!! But I am excited to continue reading this series.

[Lidia Zg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 me entretuvo , muy del estilo de Penelope , me veía venir el final ..

[Marcia Arguelles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much dialogue based. So very easy to read.
Hate that it was short because at some point it felt kinda rushed.

[Romance Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Erin Trump · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an angsty forbidden romance.
Scarlett is such an incredible, intelligent woman, she is her father’s successor and that makes her off limits.
Axel is intense, gorgeous, and bows to no one, so when he sees something he wants, he goes after it.
The passion and chemistry between Scarlett & Axel is so intense, he is so intense but also shows her that she is cherished & loved.

Their relationship has gone so far past casual, & just when they thought they were safe, things go sideways.
I can’t wait to see what happens next, and how Axel will handle the events from the ending of this book.
I have a feeling Scarlett & Axel will have a hard & bumpy road ahead of them.

[Stacey]

IT KILLS ME

Listen. If you want me to read a book, you just gotta put Chad Hurst on it and I’m adding it to my cart. Which is what happened here. 😂🙈

It Kills Me is a trilogy which I paid no attention too (again. Chad Hurst). It follows Scarlett whose dad deals with drugs and “training” her to take over the business. Axel is her dad’s new distribution partner. They are trying not to mix business with pleasure. But fail. Rather quickly.

DNF @ 60%
2.5🌶️ (at least)

The writing was fine but the story was just ok. I couldn’t connect with Scarlett. She was a horrible choice to take over the business. What kind of mafia princess just leaves her door unlocked and doesn’t have any protection? She’s delulu in what she thinks her father does.

I’ll try this author again. She has a new series that just came out that I wanted to read. This story just wasn’t for me!

(Since this was a negative review, don’t be a dick. Don’t tag the author. We don’t do that here!).

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was definitely killing me and not in a good way. First of all a 6’4” blond blue eyed Italian man? Not happening. It’s set in Florence, Italy, which is an incredibly beautiful place. Yet all that’s mentioned is “Duomo, pizza, spaghetti”. If the whole plot is going to revolve around f**king and food at least include some food porn? How about pasta carbonara? Caffe Rivoire has the best desserts and chocolate in town! Compare the MMC to the statue of David perhaps? I had a hard time even caring about the main characters none the less finishing the book. I’m offended on behalf of Firenze and hot Italian men everywhere.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope does it again.

The beginning of another great series staring Scarlett and Axel. Every time I read one of her books, I am reminded that few authors are able to reel readers into the story in a way that others aren't. Her dialogue/word usage is so good that her characters are so real that you feel as though you are a part of the story and not just reading it. She is able to describe sensual sexual scenes in such a way that resonate with the reader without BDSM, just down to earth men and women who are so connected sexually through her use of words and feelings; that it feels real.

Scarlett and Axel enter a dangerous relationship behind the back of Dante, Scarlett's father when Axel is brought on to act as his only source for distributing his drugs. Dante is a drug lord and psychopath that controls his daughter like a fine tuned instrument. Their relationship is far from a normal loving father/daughter relationship. The entire father/daughter relationship is very creepy, even though there is no clues of a sexual relationship between the two. Their relationship is filled with deceit, lies, murder and manipulation. Scarlett is clueless to the real man she calls her father who she loves and adores believing everything he tells her. She is easily manipulated by Dante even when cracks appear in his exterior showing her the man he really is. Her mother is explained away making the reader wonder what the real story is while Dante often treats Scarlett like a wife or hired arm candy. Dante doesn't date or have any contact with women other than Scarlett and yet he suppose to be in his forties..

The connection between Axel and Scarlett sets the pages on fire while daddy dearest is plotting behind their backs to end it. I loved Axel's character and enjoyed Scarlett, but felt she was being duped time and time again by her strange father. Axel reminded me of Bartholomew's character in the Skull Kings in some aspects, but also had a soft loving side to him that was intoxicating.

Dante dearest is successful in carrying out his plan by the end of book one. Axel is forced to save the lives of the parents that turned on him when his ex-wife lied resulting in him going to prison netting her millions. His parents are horrible characters in this book. Who believes a con-artist/gold digger over your own son?

I have already started book 2.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐈𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐞
(book 1)

*dark mafia
*ex con
*forbidden love
*friends with benefits vibe

It kills me is the first book in Penelope new series. I finished it so fast yesterday. It’s such an addictive read. I cannot wait for the next book to come out in March. I feel desperate for it.
I’m so happy it’s not too long away.

“never mix business with pleasure”

Scarlett is being groomed to take over her father’s mafia business. Axel is her father’s new business partner. Axel has the connections Dante her father needs to sell his product.

Pretty early on Axel makes a play for Scarlett she turns him down for many reasons but one because she has boyfriend and Dante l m sees the attraction in Axel for his daughter and forbids him to act on it. Obviously Axel doesn’t give up. And Scarlett realises that no normal job man will accept her further job roll. She gives into Axel and they start a secret relationship of friends with benefits kind of but it’s not a secret as Dante the king pin already knows. And takes things into his own hands. And it leave his daughter broken hearted and Axel in a situation he can’t do anything about.

This book ends in a cliffhanger. My mouth was literally hanging open when it finishes. This book is full of everything I love to read. It’s not what it seems, there are secrets to still be revealed. Dante character… I don’t trust him.
I honestly loved this book.
The spice was so so spicy. The chemistry beteeen the two was off the chart. Penelope writes the best men, Axel is a man who overcomes so much and looses so much. I just love.

Highly recommend.
Available on KU.
Quotes

“You can look at it, Pretty. You know I love to look at yours.”

“I’m coming to your place. You’re going to cook me dinner then come on my face. Any questions?”

“The hit was supposed to cure the itch, but it only ignited a fiery addiction.”

“You want to shut me up? Then sit on my face.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to you…ever.”

Book 2 - it breaks me (releasing March 22)

Book 3 - it ruins me (releasing April 22)


IG ef_reads

[Tyla (literaryladydeath) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC.

True 2.5⭐️ I honestly am rounding up to 3⭐️ due to liking the relationship up until the book hit the 98% mark.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good “mafia daughter dates someone she shouldn’t”, but this one by the end was a bit of a let down due to the way it ended.

I LOVED their relationship 90% of the book. The MMC definetly acts like a cocky ass in the beginning to get the FMC’s interest. Some people don’t love that, but I’m a dark romance girlie, so I’m used to that. Axel absolutely loves Scarlett, but he has a hard exterior working in the ‘industry’. Scarlet understands him, because she too is in the industry and is slated to inherit the drug pushing business from her dad. Throughout the book their ‘dates’ get repetitive because they’re sneaking around. Sex. Pizza. Sex. Pizza. Bath. Repeat.
I did love how endearing and soft he was towards her and their relationship was sweet.

HOWEVER, the big kicker and why I rated it so low was the way it ended. I can understand leaving a book on a cliffhanger, without a finite happily ever after, but this book just strait up ended in the middle of a thought.

I legitimately thought there was an error in the ARC audio because of the abruptness of the final sentence. It was like the story was trucking along and progressing towards her saying how she felt and poof… no more book. I understand it’s book one in a series, but it doesn’t feel like a ‘complete’ novel without a true ending.

If it would’ve had more of a finite ending I probably would’ve went to a 4⭐️

[Jesi Blanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Axel and Scarlett's story is complicated. Scarlett is the to be the successor to her father's kingpin business. Axel is his new distributor. Per her father's rules: business should never mix with pleasure but what do you do with an attraction like theirs, boiling to the point of no return?

Well, they kept it a secret. But that doesn't stop her father from threatening him to stay away from her. Axel has some things on his criminal record that raised red flags for him. While Axel clears it up with Scarlett, her dad still isn't convinced.

This book is on the" quicker" slow burn side and does end on a cliffhanger. Though she believes Axel's side of the story, she's quick to dismiss anything they have by the end of this book. The characters, though her specifically, have lots to grow.

✨️𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬+𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔✨️
- age gap, alpha-male, boy obsessed, business partners, dark romance, forbidden romance, forced proximity, friends with benefits vibes, mafia romance, mutual pining, workplace romance, ow/om drama