All my brother-in-law wants is to tarnish my dreams.
Killian
She was supposed to be a pawn in my game, a means to an end. But Maricela Fernandez awakened a hunger I couldn't control. Now, she's mine. And I'll destroy anyone who tries to take her from me. Maricela I should've known Killian Fierro would be my downfall. I fought his attempts to break me, but he decimated my defenses and betrayed me in the cruelest way. Now I'm on the run, desperate to escape my ruthless monster. But a man like Killian will never let me go. He'll hunt me to the ends of the earth, drag me back into his twisted embrace. I'll die before I submit to him again... even if a traitorous part of me craves his poison kiss.
Author's Promise to Break is the first enemies to lovers book in the Deviant Alliance series. It contains dark themes of emotional and physical abuse, sexual assault, and obsessive, toxic relationships. Please check the content warnings before proceeding.
So this is a dark bully Mafia romance novel. Please check your trigger warnings before diving in. Please not to this is book 1 in a 2 book series and you must read this one first.
This book is about Killian and Maricela. You meet their family’s and how they become related (their siblings are married). They attend the same college and our story with them starts their senior year of college. It’s definitely a rollercoaster for these two. If you like a bully, fierce, and possessive MMC then Killian is for you. He has his own internal struggle you follow and he navigates his hell he created for Maricela. Being a mafia kings son makes him leader of the deviants but even he has to answer to the capo.
Maricela comes from a whole different world. She has to navigate this whole new one her sister has thrown her feet first into. She’s made some friends but for most she is on the outskirts of it all, and she would prefer that. She won’t be stepped all over but she knows how to pick her battles, from years of trauma.
The cliffhanger this book leaves you all is a dumpster fire of information. I honestly didn’t expect some of the information that comes at the end and how that will play out in the sequel has me very curious.
If you want to dip your toes into bully dark mafia romance here is a great starter series. It’s not in your face over the top on the scenes as others are but it gives you enough to fully grasp the gravity of it all.
I received an ARC of this book. So the book starts out a little chaotic and the main character Maricela is the primary speaking voice, but she does set the tone for the rest of the book really well. Then Killian enters, and we get to see them evolve. There is a lot of enemies to lovers interactions, heavy bullying. You do need to check your trigger warnings. This is not an over exaggeration. There are some heavy hitting triggers in this book. But it is really good book by the end of it. I kept reading faster and faster and faster because I knew what was supposed to be in. It do the trigger warnings and I was like oh gosh when are we gonna get to the scene. I’m excited for the next book I’m excited for more character development, I’m now worried for the MMC and MFC. There are some grammar errors throughout the book and I’ve got to figure out how to get in touch with the author and tell her about some of them, but they’re minor they don’t take away from the book itself. You can tell as the book went on. The author got more comfortable with her characters, and it just started flowing even more. Overall, it’s a good book. I honestly think that there could even be more detail in some areas because there’s some things that you just kind of seem to miss with some of the supporting characters. I definitely now hate her sister and I have no idea what’s gonna happen in the next book but it’s gonna be interesting. And yes, I am going to be reading the next book when it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is by far one of my favorite books so far this year! Lillian and Maricela are the epitome of enemies and watching the story unfold and how her world gets turned upside down was a roller coaster of emotions. The cliffhanger just about broke me and I cannot wait for the continuation of the story.
Buckle up for a wild ride These two stubborn and outspoken characters let their feelings or “hate” for each other direct their actions and behaviors to each other. Maricela has no choice but to let Killian do his worst. He’s her brother in law and she refuses to ruin her big sisters happiness after all Serena did for her. After protecting her all of her life Maricela feels like she owes it to her big sister to ensure she remains safe and gets the life she deserves. Serena caught the eye of the heir to the Italian mafia and he fell hard marrying her right away. Little did Maricela know that by opening her mouth and talking back to killian that she would become his unwilling verbal sparing partner. He lives to torment her and she takes it to ensure her sister and unborn niece live the life they deserve. So she takes the verbal abuse and bullying from him and the whole school . That is until one day she just snaps and starts fighting back. That day is the beginning of killians obsession one that can break them both. This book destroyed me in the worst ways, and im broken right now. I’m angry at killian and his father and most of all Serena. The love that Maricela had for her was ultimately her undoing. But at the same time I loved this book and couldn’t put it down I don’t want to give it all away but I will say to read the triggers please. I don’t have triggers but this book had me on the verge of tears for the last few chapters. As much as this book hurt I can also appreciate the bully enemies to lovers thing going on. In the end it just feels so unfinished and I can’t wait to read more. I know I know cliff hangers suck but hear me out the shit that killian put her through the torment that ultimately broke Mari was terrible. And it’s going to be a rough road for her. I’m sure it’s going to be tough for us as readers as well, but the groveling I can see coming! And the revenge and vengeance that will hopefully be dealt by killian( and maybe Kai and Liam) will be of epic proportions. This was my first I.V. Cox novel and it certainly will not be my last.
I promise this book is worth every bit of heartache you may feel as you read Maricela’s story. Somewhere deep down I believe killian is a… well not a good guy ,but a man who is dark and has a monster inside that he will use to rain hell down on those who betray him and his girl.
bully romance? ✔️ mafia? ✔️ dark romance? ✔️ lots of spice? ✔️ fantastic plot? ✔️ possessive mmc? ✔️ what more could you ask for?! this book is the perfect amount of slow burn that it doesn't make you want to throw the book across the room. maricela's interactions with killian are so tense that you're sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for something to happen between the two of them. I love that maricela is such a strong character by herself annd isn't afraid to stand up for herself. she's witty, yet carefully calculated in every move she makes. killian, on the other hand, is playing chess with so many pieces on the board while trying to fight his own demons. I couldn't get enough of these two. this book does end on a cliff hanger (yes I know!), but it's at just the right spot for the next book to pick up at. brb while I go mark my calendar for the next release date because I'm so ready to find out what happens between maricela and killian.
When you think mafia you already think of a MMC who takes no shit and gives no f’s…Killian is just that. Maricela our FMC is as tough as they can come and gives Killian what he deserves and more.
I don’t give spoilers but I’m here to say for I V, this is a solid first outing. The book is a tad longer than I thought it needed to be, but she came in hard at the end.
This is book 1 in a series of 3 and I’m here for the rest. Always check your trigger warnings if that’s your thing. I prefer to go in blind with zero idea and what works for me, may not work for you.
I have no doubt that I V’s writing will continue to strengthen along with her characters as she goes. I think if you keep in mind this is the beginning and you go in with an open mind and grace, you’ll enjoy this very much.
This book tore me out of my reading slump and I couldn’t be happier! It drew me in right from the start and I couldn’t read enough.
Maricella is such a strong character. She is fiercely loyal and spends her life protecting those she loves. She’s a great FMC! Killian, Killian, Killian. He’s touch-her-and-die, he’s witty, he’s dark, he’s all you’ll want in MMC.
The plot is great, the side characters are as well, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Check the trigger warnings as this is a dark mafia book, but it is so good and absolutely worth the read! This does end on a cliffhanger, but definitely leaves you wanting more!
I haven't enjoyed a book like I did this one in SO long. Killer is written so well i hated him loved him and hated him again. I willl say the ending could be really triggering so MAKE SURE you read the entire tw. Ending included I could not put this book down! I am so excited for the second book <3
For a debut story this one was sooo good! You’ve got enemies to lovers, Killian and Maricella who are forced into each other’s lives by the marriage of their older siblings. Killian comes from a well known mafia/mob family and quickly becomes Maricella’s bully for years. That’s until he starts to fall for her!! He didn’t mean to, didn’t want to, but once it started it couldn’t be stopped. Unfortunately for both he and Maricella, that is the last thing his father, Franco, wants. This story does end on a cliffhanger, and I personally cannot wait for the second book to come out to find out the rest of their story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow, 'A Promise to Break' by I.V. Cox had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! The atmospheric setting drew me in, transporting me to different locations with vivid descriptions. The writing style was captivating, with descriptive prose that brought the story to life. The complex plot kept me guessing, filled with unexpected twists and turns. I couldn't put it down! Just a heads up, though, there are sensitive topics like violence and intense emotional situations, so be prepared. Overall, I highly recommend 'A Promise to Break' for bully romance, mafia , enemies to lover, pet name lovers who enjoy an over all great story!
Killian and Maricela, enemies to lovers...to..... I don't even know. An incredible story of a Mafia family trying to break the soul or a strong young woman who's sister married into the family. Killian humiliates her and tries to break her down....in the meantime changes his strategy and ends up falling for her. Maricela, a strong, beautiful, intelligent young woman has been through some stuff. Suffered at the hands of her father, been in the orphanage and poverty. Goes to a private school paid for by her new brother in law....and is taunted and harassed daily by his brother and all the other students. Once Killian turns his tactics and decides he wants something more from her, they both start to tear down their walls and fall for eachother. Making promises to each other and feel safe. All that changes because of the Capo, Franco ....his father. Amazing story telling and spicy as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is an amazing Mafia romance & throw in a huge amount of enemies to lovers, with a huge bully!!!! I think the FMC is fantastic, strong-willed & a damn tough cookie! The rollercoaster of a story that had me turning the pages, I could not stop reading it! But the cliffhanger.....ughhh! I can't wait for book two! I loved this book!
WHELP, this book broke me in all the right and wrong ways! 🤣
This was a dark mafia bully romance that took you on a ride between two very outspoken and strong main characters. They pushed each others buttons and limits to the extreme in the form of public humiliation on campus until they finally caved to the built up tension that lurked between them. Neither wanted to admit their inevitable feelings toward each other, but they couldn’t deny the physical attraction. It got SPICY. Little did Maricela know, her bully lover had a hidden agenda that could result in her demise if followed through…
And of course it wouldn’t be a good first book in a series if it didn’t leave off on a very stressful cliff hanger! 😬
🚩 This book has a good list of TWs, so read them before you read the book. 🚩
Killian and Marcela become enemies as soon as they meet when Marcella puts the Mafia prince in his place. These two have to attend the same college where Killian becomes Marcela's bully watch as this enemies to lovers story unfolds with a major cliff hanger at the end! well written book with a strong FMC! cannot wait for the next book!
WOW! I have never hated a character as much as I hate Franko. The things he did to his family was bad enough, but what he did to Maricela and his son Killian was horrible.
ARC review. I was super happy to receive an advance copy of this book. Please check your triggers before going in. There is some heavy bullying that happens early on and abuse at the end of the book. This is a great enemies to lovers (to enemies?) that ends on a cliff hanger. If morally grey men are your thing, Killian is your man. The book is told in dual POV which I enjoyed. Killian went from Marcela is a social pariah to touch her and I will unalive you vibes when he's not able to break her spirit. I didn't expect her sister to play such a role in her life like she did. The twist at the end....I knew this was part one of two but I was still shocked. I can't wait to see where things go in book two.
I 100%% recommend this book. Definitely check your trigger warnings on this one. This is an enemies to lovers dark romance with mafia, what more could you ask for? 🔥With the MMC’s name being Killian you already know he’s about to be a little unhinged mixed with ALOT of hotness.🥵🥵Mari our FMC is perfect, a heart of gold but after putting up with Killian’s bullying for 2 years she finally fights back. I think while he was trying to break Mari they both end up a little broken. Everything (the angst, the chemistry,the heat and build up) between them was so so so good 😮💨😮💨I’m so ready to find out what happens next. The ending 😫😫 the cliffhanger has me impatiently waiting for the next book. So well written and kept my interest peaked the entire time. Amazing work especially for a debut novel.
Wow!! The way this story was told kept my locked in from the first chapter. So many twists and turns. My heart breaks for Killian and Maricela. The emotional toll this took on me is ridiculous! Maricela knew from the beginning that he wanted something she shouldn't give, but it happened anyway. She ended up broken in so many ways and I hope Killian rectifies that in the next book. Such a cruel world meant to break innocent people.
Definitely read trigger warnings before you go into it. It's worth it for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely fell in love with this book I can’t wait the second book to come out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🥵🥵 Pierced 🍆 Marisela is a out spoken firecracker that killian is ordered to break her and killian spends 2 years trying to bully her into breaking but soon turns to lust and desire. Killian is the right amount of obsessed possessive over Marisela. But once his fathers isn’t pleased with the fact Marisela hasn’t been broken he takes matters into his own hands after sending killian on a death mission in an other country and when killian returns his life is flipped upside down.
F Franco should be the new thing on TikTok Booktok lol like wow 5 stars is not enough I need the entire series! Killian is the perfect bad boy mafia man and the fmc oooooo girl you are wild! I loved how she saved him and made him so much better and more true to himself I’ll forever love this book and need the second asap haha 😂
Enemies to Lovers Reverse Damsel in Distress Mafia Bully Romance Great Starter Mafia book Early 20's characters
Bullied by her brother-in-law viciously for years, Maricela refuses to break. Killian wants to keep her for his alone, but does he have ulterior motives?? This is dark mafia romance, so definitely read the content and trigger warnings! (Yes, they include a banana, and no, I won’t tell you why!) *Morally gray MMC *FMC loses ✨V✨ *enemies to lovers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5 Does end on a cliffhanger, BUT the second book is coming VERY soon!
Let me say this is the best book I have read recently I honestly could not put it down. I love a good enemies to lovers book and something about them makes me have to read them. This book was one I was so excited to read and I can honestly say I was not disappointed. This book meet ever hope I had for and then some. I will recommend this book to all my book besties!!!!!
This was so amazing. The enemies to lovers, and first to fall is the MMC. I loved it. Having a Mafia family taking a lower class female as their love is interesting and making even better with the arguments. I am ready to read the next one.
I recently had the pleasure of reading Promise To Break written by I.V Cox. I took some time to really think about how I could best review this book and give it the credit it deserves. With that being said, let's get into it............. SPOILER FREE
This book has truly raised the standard for any dark romance novels I will read in the future, i will even be as bold as to say......
"THIS IS MY ROMAN EMPIRE"
The abundance of tropes(Dark Mafia Romance, Bullying, Enemies-to-lovers, to mention as few)were skillfully incorporated into the narrative that kept me captivated throughout. The enemies to lovers dynamic ignited a fire in my heart, and the portrayal of bullying was remarkably well-executed. The themes of past/present trauma, resilience, and the price of secrets are explored with depth and sensitivity......
The main characters, Maricela and Killian, captured my heart completely, and I found myself deeply attached to them. Yes, there were times I felt appalled by the cruelty Killian inflicted on Maricela, and at the same time, i was physically aroused by it. I had many conflicting emotions and physical reactions while reading this book. Which add to the reasons I fell in love with every aspect of this book.......
The cliffhanger ending had me on the edge of my seat, yearning for more of my Killer and Wild Child.......
I.V Cox's brilliance is on full display in this captivating tale. Each page is a testament to her extraordinary talent. In the perfectly paced narrative, the complexity and depth of the characters and plot reveal the extraordinary workings of her brilliant mind.
I absolutely recommend reading this exceptional book. Trust me when I say disappointment will not be a companion on this remarkable reading journey.
This is a dark bully mafia romance. As always, check trigger warnings before reading. I enjoy trigger warnings so I was set!
Maricela (FMC) comes from a broken childhood and had to thief, deceive and fight her way through for her and her sister. Her sister ends up marrying one of the famous mafia brothers and no longer has any worries. Killian (MMC) is the other brother. The go to the same college and he makes Maricela's life a living he!! for two years.
The banter between these two was so fun. Payback is a biotch haha The pranks that Maricela pulls are hilarious. The spice is so hot 🥵 I was infuriated multiple times but what was happening; the betrayals and backstabbing. I need the second book, i need to know what happens next because that cliff hanger left me all sorts of confused and gasping like nooo that can't be the end!!
Omg! The twists and turns of this book. First, I got this book as an ARC reader and let me tell you, idk how many times I wanted to throw this book at the wall and immediately pick it up to continue! I finished this book in a 24 hr period. Killian and Maricela are a complete enemies to lovers to enem-lovers dream. The manipulation, fear, and secrets will and continue to destroy them until they learn to SHARE their secrets. I cannot wait till the next book, and I hope all of the deviants get their own books too. There are definitely some transition issues with the book that needed more detail/finesse to get from one scene to the next, but all in all, I HIGHLY recommend all the mafia girlies, enemies to lover readers to pick this book up and enjoy you will not be disappointment !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wowwwww... I mean just wowwww.... The warning was clear in the beginning to prepare you for the cliff hanger but it still doesn't soften the blow or prepare you for it. I need the rest like now!
Normally it takes me a day or two the most to finish a book but I savored this for a week. I wasn't ready for it to be over. I love when an author has the gift of vividly describing a scene and its as though you're watching a movie or show.
If you love angst, if you love a good dark bully enemies to lovers where the MMC definitely goes overboard but is possessive, if you can control your anger of being left on the edge of an emotional roller-coaster especially leading up to the last 8 pages. This is a must read for you ;)
This is a mafia dark romance with enemies to lovers. Killian is next in line to be the mafia boss and is king of the college campus. Maricela is sassy and doesn't let anyone boss her around including Killian. Their relationship starts off rocky due to Killian being a bully. Maricela's stubbornness wins him over and she becomes his obsession. He no longer wants to break her , but is determined to keep her. Unfortunately, the mafia is never easy and Maricela might break after all. The book ends on a major cliffhanger and I definetly want to see what happens next. Check trigger warnings spice 3/5 plot3/5 character development 4/5