Sins of Sorrow: With a Kiss Duet, Book 1

With a Kiss Duet #1

by A.R. Rose, Dane Anderson (Narrator), Mia Madison (Narrator)

From author A. R. Rose comes a modern Romeo & Juliet Reimagining for the listeners who live for enemies to lovers, stolen kisses, and family drama.

Her father murdered my uncle in front of me, starting a war between our families, and I learned from a young age to never trust a Paladino. But I never expected to be so captivated by the daughter of the very man I long to kill.

The sight of her, dancing in another man's arms, ignites a fury so powerful it catches me off guard.

My interest in her is dangerous, and the lines of my loyalty are blurring.

I should hate her. I do hate her.

At least, that's what I continue to tell myself.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Retellings, Slow Burn, Contemporary, Ebooks

Audible Audio

First published March 14, 2024

Reviews

[Mandy’s Spicy Book Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

It lives up to the being a modern day Romeo and Juliet. The story is about Sly and Vinnie. Their story began briefly when they were introduced at a very young age. A death of a relative between the families would cause a great divide of hate between the families. Only to grow up to hate each other. Years later these two meet once again hidden by masks at a masquerade but fully aware of who the other is. From that night they can’t stop thinking about one another.
Sly, a hot bad boy, not quite a doctor and a pleasure Dom. Vinnie owns her own publishing company and daddies girl whose family is ready for her to get married. The secrecy and drama between these two will keep you on your toes as to what happens next. I completely forgot this was part one of the duet. So of course I’m anxiously awaiting part two. Highly recommend reading.

[Nanii’s Book Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sins of Sorrow (With a Kiss Duet #1)
by A.R. Rose

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⇝ ★★★★★

🦋 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🦋
“To all the readers who had their sexual awakening when Leo came on screen as Romeo, this one’s for you.”

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↴
🌸 Slow Burn
✨ Biker MMC
🌸 Pleasure Dom
✨ Romeo & Juliet
🌸 Rivals to Lovers
✨ Secret Relationship
🌸 Forbidden Romance

🦋 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 🦋
“Such a little thief, Vicenza. You’ve stolen my heart. Can’t you see that you’re holding it captive now?” - Sly Luchetti

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ↴
WTF is that ending?! Respectfully! I’m absolutely in love with this book, with every single scene that involved Sly & Vinnie. I was all for the secrecy, loving it in fact but I was also impatiently waiting for one of them to say that they wanted everyone to know about them. I will say that Sly is obviously my favorite character and my favorite thing about him, he is a pleasure dom and I LOVE HIM FOR IT. It goes without saying that my least favorite characters are Joseph (Vinnie’s brother and tormentor) and August, Joseph’s friend and a total creep. They could both get hit by a 🚌 and I would dance and spit on their 🪦 after I was done. They deserve the worst ending possible in my opinion. Now that ending… wtf. was. that? I was ready for their happily ever after and all I got was a cliffhanger. I need to know who spilled their secret although I have someone in mind, and I am so ready to find out if my suspicions are correct so with that being said I needed the second book like yesterday. I have a couple of other books by A.R. in my kindle library but have yet to get around to them. I am so glad that I started with this masterpiece. Excellent writing.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ↴
Sexual harassment, Physical assault, Death, Mentions of domestic violence and violence to a child.

𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲? ⇝ Yes

🫧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 🫧
This is an Advanced Reader copy. Although this book was given to me as an ARC my thoughts are my own. Thank you, A.R. Rose, for the ARC opportunity.

🫧 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖

[Kirsten | Bookish.kir · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Modern Day Romeo & Juliet
- Family Enemies
- Forbidden
- Hidden Relationship
- Pleasure Dom
- Slow burn

I loved Sly when I was first introduced to him in Marked by Cain (does not need to be read prior to this duet) and I was ecstatic when I saw that he was getting his own book! And y’all I DEVOURED this book. Responsibilities be damned I did not want to put this down. I am beyond obsessed with Vinnie and Sly and their secret, spicy, forbidden relationship.
Under Sly’s tough exterior he is such a sweet and caring guy who is passionate about helping the less fortunate AND HE’S A PLEASURE DOM!? Like Sir, could you be anymore perfect!? Vinnie is one lucky lady. I can’t wait to find out what happens in book two!

[Courtney P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I have loved Sly since meeting him in Marked by Cain and really enjoyed getting to see where he came from and why he made the decisions he did. I loved Vinnie and can’t wait to see what happens for them.

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me foaming at the mouth for so much more! The first part of Sly and Vicenza’s is so well done and will leave you wanting to find out how they get their happy ending ASAP.

Tropes:

🖤 Forbidden
🖤 High Society
🖤 Rival Families
🖤 Romeo & Juliet Vibes
🖤 Secret Relationship
🖤 Pleasure Dom

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️.5
Angst level: 💔💔

This book has Romeo and Juliet vibes, while also living in the world of Gossip Girl (IMO). I really felt like I was getting Chuck and Blair kinda vibes from these characters.

Vincenza and Sly’s families have hated each other for decades. And that hate and loathing has not lessened up as the years go on. If anything, the second generation holds even more hate for each other.

But when Vinnie and Sly’s paths keep crossing, they find a safe place within one another, even though that is the furthest thing they should be feeling.

Their love story is beautiful and genuine. The support that they give one another is something to aspire too.

But of course things between their families won’t immediately be resolved, so they have to make hard choices, even if some of them are being forced upon them.

The side characters in this are great for both characters. I love how they have their own found families on each side to get them through their own indecisions.

A.R. Rose gives us an amazing start to this duet and I cannot wait to read how these two get the happily ever after that they both deserve!

[Lupi_reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bailed out at 12% 🙈

Man, I hate to say it, but this book was a total snooze fest. I had a feeling it wasn't my jam from the get-go, but I gave it a shot. By chapter 7, I was still not feeling it.

It's got this vibe, you know? Feels like one of those Wattpad stories—not that they're all bad, but this one just felt kinda cheap. Like it was rushed out without a second look. And don't even get me started on 12-year-old Vicenza chatting away like she's a seasoned adult. Seriously, who talks about marble floors and makeup when they're barely out of primary school?

Nothing more than a four-course meal in their grand ballroom, packed with round tables for the most elite New York families to pretend like they care what each other has to say

You see what I mean?

Just couldn't get into it, didn't feel authentic at all.

Thanks to A.R Rose for providing me with a ARC copy in exchange for my honest review

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is nearly 500 pages but I flew through it in less than a day. It’s one of those easy reads that you can pick up and put down easily, but you want to keep going to know what happens next. Sly and Vinnie’s families are rivals after something that happened when they were both kids. They’ve largely stayed out of each others social circles, until Sly moves back to New York and (literally) runs into Vinnie multiple times. They’re both instantly drawn to each other but know their families hate each other so they try and keep their distance. As a result this ends up being a bit of a slow burn as there’s a lot of push and pull leading up to them finally giving in.

I think a forbidden relationship is always fun to read cause it has this built in tension. The families are rivals and kind of give off some mafia undertones. Sly and Vinnie are one of those relationships that are meant to be no matter what gets thrown in their way. It takes awhile for them to give in but things move quickly after that.

Normally I despise a cliffhanger but it helped knowing that one was coming. I am very curious to see where things go and will be anxiously waiting for their happily ever after.

🏙️ rival families
🤫 forbidden / secret relationship
🩶 morally grey characters
🔥 slow burn
🌸 cliffhanger

dual POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2.5/5 spice level 🌶️

[Brittany Rudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to A.R. Rose for an arc copy of Sins of Sorrow. I read this in less than 24 hours and am completely obsessed. If you like a Romeo and Juliet retelling, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and found family… you have to read this book. I can’t believe we have to wait for June to get the next one!

[Shanna Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sly and Vinnie come from rival families and have crossed paths several times throughout their childhoods.

They have been taught to hate each other but are drawn to each other at the same time.

Suspense, slow burn, great character development and forbidden love. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is billed as a modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, with a backdrop of the upper echelons of Manhattan’s Uber elite,and exclusive.

This story features an extremely slow-burn tale of lust and rivalry between the children of two families who can barely exist in the same social circles,and whose tabloid fodder has sold countless covers for well over a decade.

Our heroine, Vincenza has long been aware of her father’s less than savory “business” deals, but as his only girl, and the apple of his eye, she’s maintained a loving relationship with her family patriarch. I would’ve liked to have seen more inner conflict explored with her character. She was ambivalent at best,and it didn’t translate to her having a conscience, or reluctance to associate with her father’s shady dealings,but rather, we see her trying to simply keep the peace and not rock the proverbial boat.

Sylvester,our hero, is portrayed as having a soft heart, and spending his days as a pro- bono doctor to the poor. His tender hearted nature didn’t do him any favors,and I was never really sure how to feel about him, to be honest. While I like his character, I wouldn’t say that he was intriguing to me. He came across as a bit of a pushover.
This book also features many side characters, none of them I found myself becoming truly invested in.

The author and characters of this book would’ve been better served had it been a standalone,instead of the first installment in a duet. Perhaps if more time was spent developing chemistry and we’d been treated to more authentic dialogue between the characters, instead of them consistently and almost constantly being ships passing in the night at social events for the first third of the book, it could’ve remained a standalone .
I don’t know that I enjoyed this book enough to continue reading the series, but I can definitely see fans of a very slow burn enjoying the story. Here’s hoping that the characters will be fleshed out quite a bit more in the second book of this duet. Since nearly 400 pages into the 1st we still don’t know the details of what started the family rivalry in the first place.

[Tamarra Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is a first for me, however, not the genre.

If modern-day retellings are anything to go by, and they are your thing, the Romeo and Juliet vibe will surely capture you.

In the beginning, our MMC Sly and our FMC Vinnie met at a very young age. However, their meeting is marred by the death of a relative between the families, which causes a rift and a hate like no other to develop between the families.

Their families' systemic hate of each other as Sly and Vinnie grow up results in them hating in each other. But fate has other plan, when a Masquerade ball, years later have these two meeting under the guise of masks, yet the anonymity doesn’t obscure who they really are, because they are both aware of who the other is.

That one night changes everything for Sly and Vinnie, they can’t stop thinking about each other. These two are successful in their own right, Sly a doctor by day, a hot bad boy, and pleasure dom by night. Vinnie, a daddies girl and a successful business owner, owning her own publishing company, however her family is pushing the idea of her getting married, however she is not sure if she will be happy with the idea of having a husband.

If modern day retellings, family enemies, forbidden, spice and steamy scenes for days, hidden relationship, please dom and slow burn is your thing, then this is definitely a book you should be adding to your TBR list for sure.

Highly recommended both the author and the book.

I received an ARC. Therefore, I am submitting a voluntary review.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I should hate you, but I don't. I should recoil from your touch, from your scent, from your very being. I should be strong enough to stay away from you, but when you're near, I find myself wanting to do the very oppsite."

"You don't even know me,"

"No, but I want to. And that's a problem for me, Vincenza, because I'm suppose to loathe you."

5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

I wanna thank A.R. Rose for giving me the chance to receive an ARC from her and also thank myself for taking a chance on an author I've never read before. This is absoutly a spectacular retelling of Romeo and Juliet and left me wanting more.

Let me tell you, this book was hard to put down and if I didn't have an adult life I would have never put it down. This book has everything you could ask for, forbidden love, secret lovers, that amazing slow burn we all love. Our story follows Slyvester "Sly" Lucchetti and Vincenza "Vinnie" Paladino.

The two meet as children at the age of nine when Sly's family went over to Vinnie's home for dinner. It was there that Sly witnessed his uncle being unalived by Vinnie's father and thus this is when the feud between the two familys has begun. (not a spoiler if its on the blurb). The two of them would run into each other a couple of more times in their teens, the first being innocent and the second meeting with Vinnie trying to figure out why he dislikes her so much.

Years later Sly spots the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and wants to get to know her until he finds out who she really is but yet even with this knowledge he can't get her out of his mind.

Vinnie is an obedent daughter, listens to her parents and attendings parties that her parents wish for her to attend. She knows her duty will soon be to find a husband that will not just make her look good but will also make her family look good. But like Sly, she too is drawn to the man whom she knows she must stay away from but yet fate keeps putting them in each others paths and soon the two can no longer fight their feelings and it brings to us an amazing story by A.R. Rose.

This book was so wonderfully written. Everything flowed so well and the characters including the side characters made you want more. Though there wasn't a ton of spice, the spice when it happened was firey. The story does leave off with a cliff hanger which delights me cause I want more of Vinnie and Sly. I can't wait for the next book to drop.

[What_Jenna_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern Romeo and Juliet set in high society New York of two Italian families who are enemies due to a past conflict. Gossip Girl Fans…it’s for you.

Vinnie and Sly meet when they are just 9 years old however when a tragic event occurred (Vinnie’s dad murdered Sly’s uncle) Sly is taught that Vinnie’s family is now enemy number 1. There’s no retaliation…just steering clear of each other. However Sly is intrigued with the beautiful woman he can’t seem to quit thinking about. After multiple run-ins they discover they may have feelings for each other…but what would their family say? They can never tell them. I enjoyed the beginning “enemies to lovers feel”, the sneaking and sweet side of Sly and the struggle they had with wanting to be out in the open.

This is a SLOW burn, a modern retelling with definite “we want to be together but can’t” vibes. I think an explanation or a little more backstory would help with why the families are against each other to begin with. Maybe that will come in book two. I just enjoyed the overall story and easy escape it gave me. I didn’t want to put it down.

Sly is sexy and the pleasure dom aspect was fun…hopefully with more edging to come. When the spice hits it was great. I won’t think of riding on a motorcycle the same. Vinnie hopefully speaks up for herself in book 2 as she needs to fill her family in on what outside forces are doing.

Excited for book 2!

4⭐️

🥀 Forbidden
🥀 Modern Romeo and Juliet
🥀 Slow Burn
🥀 High Society New York
🥀 Pleasure Dom
🥀 Cliffhanger
🥀 Secret Relationship

[Princess Irene Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It's cute and kept me interested but I still struggled with it as I find some part dragging. The tension between the characters are incredible, especially after they start dating in secret, its just sooo frickin cute and really feels like Romeo and Juliet movies I have seen.I adore and love the side characters too especially Sully. I find his character to be intriguing and I honestly hope the author will write a book about him, I can already imagine gobbling his book up. I realized that vanilla romance aren't really for me as I read this book cause all I can think about is "where is the violence, the action, the unhingedness im craving?" But overall I enjoyed this one and will definitely read book two cause that ending! Even though that ending felt like it was straight out from novellas I watched when I was teenager, Im too invested to care 🤣

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

“These violent delights have violent ends”

Considering this book is somewhat based off Romeo and Juliet, I think this quote is quite fitting. While I did enjoy this book, it felt as if the romance happened a bit too soon and ended just as quickly. I wish there was a little more buildup and development to romance. Other than that it was lovely.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

the book has potential and I really think sly is a sweet booktok boyfriend. maybe it was just me, but somehow the story lacked tension and depth… overall it was okay.

[Abbie Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice spice spice 👌🏼 but also loved the storyline of this one I was a little skeptical about the read but once I got into it I loved it! The family fued and the love they have for each other regardless of the fued, and the fact it ends on a cliffhanger cause now I need to read more I need the other ones in the series to find out what actually happens

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked how it was going for a while but then it kinda turned into a hot mess by the end lol. But I can see why other readers enjoy this book - it just wasn't for me.

- MMC had one intimate experience with another woman prior to officially getting with the heroine even though he was already enamored with the FMC
- The FMC was fine for the most part but so frustrating how she couldn't stand up to her brother and how she didn't really try to rectify what happened near the end at the party
- The rivalry between the family felt underdeveloped - like the murder wasn't really explained and also how both parties weren't really actively antagonising each other throughout the years until the events of present day (but it was pretty one-sided even now)
- There's not much mafia action/nefarious criminal activity going on in this one... just a murder in the beginning and some vague shady activity at the docks??
- Antagonists' motivation wasn't clear, but maybe this will be further expanded in the next book

Personally, would not read again nor continue with the series since I read some reviews for the next book and am not too keen on its direction. It is still a pretty decent book overall if you're after an angsty and dramatic Romeo and Juliet inspired romance.

Overall rating: 3/5

[Lesliesbooktok · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHH that cliffhanger makes me want to scream!!!

🩷Romeo and Juliet Retelling
🩶Dark Romance
🩷Forbidden Romance
🩶Possessive MMC
🩷Rival Families
🩶Slow Burn
🩷Spicy
🩶Duel POV

I can't get enough of Vinnie and Sly!
From there masked meeting I knew Sly was good to be my new favorite book boyfriend.

Vinnie's family is pushing her to be married, putting her out there in hopes she finds the one. But little did she know it would be the man that wants to kill her father.

I need more and am so excited for book 2 in this duet.

[Ashley Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvester "Sly" Lucchetti & Vincenza "Vinnie" Paladino are from two family's in high society New York, that truly despise one another over tragic blood shed when Sly and Vinnie where just children. I get the feeling there is much more to the story that I have a feeling we do not know all the details yet. Regardless it is quite the family tragedy that has torn the entire family’s apart many years ago. The circumstances are so bad that the hatred for one another spans now to the next generation. So, with loathing one another's entire families you would think they would stay far away from each other but both families are a part of New York’s high society. In turn making each family member all belonging to the same social circles, that brings the two families together quite often. Different circumstances make Sly and Vinnie only cross paths a few times and each time an event happens to interrupt one another before. They could really get to know one another. Until a time when at an event they see each other from across the room and the pull to one another is just to strong, and despite their families warnings to stay away from one another the desire for one another is just too strong.

At first they both try to convince themselves it is just simple attraction, they both are very good looking, how could they not be. They each go so far to genuinely try to dislike each other, but the pull and draw to one another is just way too strong. But fate keeps stepping in to make sure they keep running into one another. When they no longer can cover up their true feelings for one another they decide to carry on a secret affair to see if this is just a physical appeal or if it could grow into a deeper real relationship. Why upset their families for just a fling. When it becomes obvious that they are sole mates, and so deeply in love they both don't know how they could continue on with out each other, but also struggle with how they actually can accomplish making their relationship public, especially to their families. How do they risk either giving up the most important people in their lives, their families or give up being together? How do the live with either choice, that regardless will hurt so many or destroy themselves?

This book was everything I have come to expect from Ms. Rose; the Spice, romance, and amazing storyline, with such wonderful charters. It was another one of her books I could not put down. As for the cliffhanger well we all don't like them and honestly with this one I was up late reading not wanting it to end until I knew how this story for them would actually end. Honestly if I had access to book number 2 in this series, I would have gladly continued reading on, even with the idea of facing a day with no sleep at all, YES that good. So if that doesn't say how much I love this newest book, I don’t know what will....bring on the next book "The Sinners” in this duet. Big side note, how did I not realize Sly was that amazing talented lover from "Marked by Cain" I will never know, because it definitely he is one character you just don't forget. Nice touch Ms. Rose, Nice touch.

[Kristen Barfoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to this author for my ARC copy of Sins of Sorrow!

I'd give this book 4.5/5, yet another one where I wish Goodreads had half stars!

This book was right up my alley. I will never say no to a forbidden love romance! I will say, I'm not usually one for enemies to lovers, especially if it turns into a bit of a bully romance but that is not what this book was!

Two families that have been enemies for decades yet the kids of those families (mid/late 20's) can't seem to stay away from one another. The tension and chemistry built between these two characters was incredible. I found my unable to put this book down because I was rooting so hard for them. Sly and Vinnie are the best and you can't help hoping for their happiness. And Sly's Italian phrases and pet name for her? Let me go catch my breath and fan myself for a moment... LOVE LOVE LOVE. How do I get my husband to learn Italian?

I'd probably say 2-2.5/5 on the spice level for me but the spicy scenes were chef's kiss! I cannot wait to see what's to come. And YAY FOR A COUPLE THAT ACTUALLY DISCUSSES PREFERENCES IN INTIMACY! I feel like I don't see that as often in a non-kink focused book. Loved it!

This is my first book of this author's and I'm so impressed at the dynamics of the different characters she built. I feel like ever character was multi faceted and I was so glad it was filled with just surface level side characters.

I only had two little pet peeves through the book (if you could even call them pet peeves). It took me a hot minute to learn all the names and figure out who was who in the two families in the early chapters. I think I had to reread it 2-3 times to make sure I figured out order of age and who was on who's side.

My second was I was getting so frustrated at Vinnie for not speaking up when negative things would happen to her or when she she disagreed with a situation. She kept saying how close she was to her family but she wasn't comfortable enough to discuss real issues with them. Made me frustrated for her but also a little bit at her. Come on girl! Speak up! I hope she finds even more of her voice in book 2.

Ughhhhhhh what a cliffhanger this ends on! I am already chomping at the bit to find out what happens next. I loved how this part 1 of a duet ended and am already waiting with bated breath for part two of this duet! I can't wait to see where the journeys of these two characters goes from here and I'm still rooting for Sly/Vinnie because how could you not?!

[Joy Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Angst: 💔💔💔

Cliffhanger? ✔️

Do I recommend it? ✔️

Tropes: Contemporary Romance, Romeo and Juliet reimagining, forbidden romance, slow burn, rivals to lovers, secret relationship, high society, billionaire, biker, pleasure dom

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ended in tragedy, so Vinnie is not sure why she thinks their story will be any different. Every time their paths cross, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.  The mysterious man who’s part of a rival family. A family she's been raised to despise. Yet, despite their deep-rooted hatred for one another, his presence makes her feel safe.  She knows she shouldn’t want him. Falling for him would be the ultimate betrayal to her family. They are enemies. But she can’t seem to stay away. Vinnie's father murdered Sly's uncle in front of him, starting a war between their families, and Sly learned from a young age to never trust a Paladino. But he never expected to be so captivated by the daughter of the very man he longed to kill. The sight of her, dancing in another mans arms, ignites a fury so powerful it catches Sly off guard. His interest in her is dangerous, and the lines of his loyalty are blurring. Sly should hate Vinnie. He does hate her. At least, that’s what he continues to tell himself. 

Romeo and Juliet reimaginings are some of my favorite books. My nerves were constantly on edge, wondering how the author would tweak the plot. As much as I enjoyed this story, I do feel like some aspects were too drawn out while others were perfect as is. Sly as a pleasure dom was hot as hell. There were several times I was screaming at Vinnie, and that cliffhanger had me wanting to throw my Kindle through my window. The wait for book two is going to be brutal. I am definitely recommending this read. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[foreverbooked.krystan · Rating 5 out of 5]

💖I never knew until this moment how fragile a heart could be, like it’s made of glass. From the outside, it’s strong and made to withstand many hardships, but when its exterior is splintered, all it takes in one thing to shatter it completely💖


✨BOOK REVIEW✨
✨POSSIBLE SPOILERS✨

🩷Book: Sins of Sorrow
🩷Series: With a kiss duet
🩷Author: A.R. Rose
✨Overall: 5/5⭐️
✨Spice: 3/5🌶️

✨Please check for trigger warnings before reading.✨

🩷Where to start!? One thing about me is, I love me some enemies/rivals to lovers ESPECIALLY when there is banter. The banter in Sins of Sorrows isn’t just between Vinnie (FMC) & Sly (MMC), but between the guys too and it had me dying laughing. I felt basically every emotion while reading this; hurt, joy, love, laughter, and sadness. I CRIED. I LITERALLY CRIED. I haven’t cried from a book since I read Exodus (IYKYK) and that was YEARS ago. I have soo many questions and it’s going to kill me having to wait until June for the second book to be released. This book will definitely be living rent free in my mind until then.

•This book gave me Gossip Girl mets Romeo and Juliet in the best way possible!

✨favorite lines✨
THERE ARE SOO MANY.
💖”Because a little thief is what you are. You’ve broken down my walls and have begun to steal pieces of my heart without even realizing it” -Sly
💖”I love you with the heat of a thousand suns, but I also understand the gravity of what I am asking you to do. And even though I would do anything, earth side or heaven far, to keep you, I will not ruin your life just to do so.” -Sly

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
7 Spicy Scenes

It is a tale as old as time. These 2 families have been feuding for decades and the loyalty they have to each of their families can not be shaken. Or so they have believed for years.

Raised to hate each other Sly and Vinnie do not know what to make of their feelings when they start running into each other and searching out each other’s glances in parties. Why are they searching for the people they should hate most in the world? And why are they starting to question does the feud even really have anything to do with them?

Let’s just hope their story ends better than the last famous feuding family.

So I am going to be brutally honest here and say I did not have high hopes when I signed on for this ARC. I thought it was going to be some boring and barely altered story of Romeo and Juliet.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG! This story had me in a chokehold and almost calling into work to finish it quicker. These characters had me in a captured and itching to read more of the story! And the way Sly practices his job also gives him a humanized like quality! You do get hints Romeo and Juliet because this does take certain aspects from the older story and make it more modern but I would also say that this is also a story all of its own and really doesn’t have to compare to Romeo and Juliet because they are both brilliant in their own rights.

And the ending and cliffhanger has me marking down the calendar until book 2 releases! Please just let Sly and Vinnie have a happier ending then Romeo and Juliet.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Slow burns, duets, and cliffhangers are three of my least favorite things when it comes to books, and all are a part of the Sins of Sorrow description. I couldn't help but sign up for it regardless after reading the description, and I am so glad I did.

Sylvester Luccheti and Vincenza Paladino are my newest favorite forbidden couple. Despite their families being sworn enemies since their early childhoods, over the years, Sly and Vinnie's brief interactions have been filled with an unforgettable chemistry. Both are devoted to their families, and they remain at odds until one night at a masquerade ball when the tension between them is finally broken.

The enemies to lovers angst between these two results in banter filled exchanges as they try to fight their pull towards each other. This book is full of delicious moments despite being a slow burn, and I absolutely devoured it in one night. Vinnie, despite being a crime family princess, has also earned her degree and runs an independent publishing house. I loved seeing an FMC who found her own path while still trying to honor her role in the family. Sly, despite being the son of a doctor, exists more in the shadows than you would expect. He has a huge heart beneath his all black attire, and by the end of this story, it belongs to Vincenza Paladino.

The cliffhanger left me gasping, and I can not wait to see how this story ends in book 2 in June.

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sins of Sorrow, the first book in the With a Kiss Duet by A.R. Rose was utterly riveting!!! If you’re a fan of classic retellings with a modern twist then you are going to love this Romeo & Juliet rival family romance reimagining! Rose is a genius at creating a story that draws you in, slowly unfolding with a phenomenal plot full of burning hot tension, all the emotional angst and of course steamy hot romance—and this one had it all!!! Because what can only happen when two members of rival families suddenly find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, but pure love hate energy that burns up the pages!!!

Because seriously, when I say the chemistry between Sly and Vinnie is off the charts explosive—I’m not even kidding! Just like in the original R&J you can’t help but root for these two opposing forces as their love hate energy is pure fuel to the fire making them burn so brightly. Rose truly has a way with character development, because even though the main characters clearly steal the show, the side characters are just as charismatic and humorous enough to suck you in and wish for more from them as well.

Overall, if you love a tragic, forbidden, enemies to lovers/star crossed lovers captivating romance that’s full of emotional turmoil, endless intrigue and enough family drama to sink a ship—this is the one for you! And man…that ending had me begging for more to come!!!

[Betsy Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚: Sins of Sorrow by AR Rose


Tropes:
👉 Romeo & Juliet
👉 Secret Relationship
👉 Rival Families



TWs 😟: violence


Main Takeaway 🏹: A beautifully written slow burn


Synopsis 📜: Sly witnesses his uncle being murdered as a child, bringing him into full awareness of the feud between his family and the Paladino family. Years later, he formally meets his enemy’s daughter, Vencenzia and he can’t understand why he can’t stop thinking of her.

Vencenzia feels much the same way about Sly and does everything she can to resist the pull but when her older brother makes it his mission to marry her off to his sleazy friend, she finds herself running towards the enemy instead of away from him.


Personal Thoughts 🤔: I have never been a huge fan of Romeo and Juliet but the blurb for this book grabbed my attention immediately. Thankfully I knew this was part of a duet before starting because that cliff hanger at the end was brutal!

The writing in this book is beautifully done and despite being a super slow burn, the pacing is perfect. Vinnie and Sly clearly lob each other with everything they have but Vinnie is rightfully scared to come out with their relationship and risk the wrath of her family. I can’t wait to see how this story comes to is conclusion is the second book.


Recommendation ✔️❌: Absolutely, everyone who likes these tropes should read this book!

[Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the hatred and drama of the original Romeo and Juliet in a seductive and sleek retelling that amps up the sinister vibe, cranks up the heat, and pretty much destroys you with the cliffhanger. If you like Romeo and Juliet, you are going to eat this book up and be totally enamored with Sly and Vinnie!
They were raised to be enemies. To hate the sight of each other with every fiber of their being. But every chance meeting for Vinnie and Sly feels like something bigger than the both of them. He's completely captivated, she feels a safety in his presence that she's never known. Their relationship has every chance of destroying them and stoking the coals of a drawn-out war between their families into flames that could consume them all. So how much are they willing to pay to have each other?
I love the darker, sexier feel of this book, it's definitely a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but it's modern, it's spicy, it has a mafia type vibe that is perfect and Sly is probably the sexiest, most broody, Romeo ever! Great swoon factor, so angsty, and the writing is gorgeous, giving a rather elegant feel to the whole story even as Vinnie and Sly are sneaking all over the place and practically inhaling each other at a restaurant. Definitely recommend this one it's an exceptional and captivating retelling of the most famous love story ever!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sins of Sorrow is the first book in the With a Kiss Duet. It’s a modern day Romeo and Juliet reimagining following two rival families in Manhattan.

“𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮, 𝙨𝙤 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩.”

Overall this was a pretty good read. It was off to a bit of slow start. I didn’t truly feel the chemistry between Sly and Vinny for a bit and I wish it was jumping off the page, especially for a Romeo and Juliet story. This was definitely more a slow burn. Towards the end it picked up more and that cliffhanger has me hooked!

When they were young, Vinny’s father unalives Sly’s uncle and the families have been rivals ever since. Now many years later Vinny and Sly run into each other at masquerade party and neither can deny the pull they have to one another. Though they know their families would hate it, they sneak around, hiding their relationships from everyone they love.

"𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦.”

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
•Romeo & Juliet vibes
•Forbidden romance
•Slow burn
•Rivals to lovers
•Secret relationship
•High society
•Biker MMC
•Pleasure dom

3.75* rounding up

[Pana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Author Agency & A.R. Rose for this ARC!

Sins & Sorrows by A.R.Rose

4.5⭐️

“𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚, 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖. 𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨. 𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚, 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙧𝙖.”

A modern day retelling of Romeo & Juliet Italian style. Two families at war since Sly & Vinnie were toddlers. One dinner and one death that started this Italian war. Sly & Vinnie were never meant to run into each other or even develop feelings, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

Both families are incredibly rich and famous, Sly & Vinnie are very well known especially by the paparazzis, nothing will get by the public eye, so the lengthy history of this feud between families will surely cause a World War III if anyone finds out how they feel about each other.

I love the rich fictional men with a passion. And when both MMC & FMC are rich gahhhhh *chef kiss* this book did not disappoint! The way Sly loves, makes me ooze with giddiness. He could make me say yes so fast, his native tongue is Italian and I am such a sucker for fictional men with accents and who speak a different language.

All I’m gonna say is public play >>>>>>>>>>>>

Tropes:
✨Public play
✨Pleasure Dom
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Story retelling
✨Billionaire romance
✨Celebrity romance
✨Revenge
✨Forbidden relationship
✨Love triangle