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Park Avenue Kings #6
Unholy
He hears my confessions.
Now he can’t unhear them.
I keep showing up to church.
I don’t speak. I don’t confess. I just sit there—close enough to remember what it felt like to be his.
Father Rafael Vitale thinks he can keep this professional.
Measured. Contained. Holy.
I’m none of those things.
I’m Alessio Trentacapelli—the technocrat of the Park Avenue Kings. I live in shadows, break systems, and protect my brothers at any cost. I still believe in God. I just don’t forgive Him for demanding the man I love.
Rafael is discipline and devotion.
I’m want and resentment and everything he was never supposed to crave.
We were boys together. Then lovers.
Then nothing we were allowed to keep.
Now we’re orbiting each other again behind a confessional screen—through silence, ritual, and everything we refuse to say out loud. Every look lingers. Every boundary bends. And every time he tells me no, it hurts worse than the last.
Because the priest with the steady hands and the quiet voice?
He remembers me.
And then we cross a line we both know by heart.
If he makes me choose between losing him again…
or giving in to something we can’t take back—
I already know which sin I’ll commit.
Now he can’t unhear them.
I keep showing up to church.
I don’t speak. I don’t confess. I just sit there—close enough to remember what it felt like to be his.
Father Rafael Vitale thinks he can keep this professional.
Measured. Contained. Holy.
I’m none of those things.
I’m Alessio Trentacapelli—the technocrat of the Park Avenue Kings. I live in shadows, break systems, and protect my brothers at any cost. I still believe in God. I just don’t forgive Him for demanding the man I love.
Rafael is discipline and devotion.
I’m want and resentment and everything he was never supposed to crave.
We were boys together. Then lovers.
Then nothing we were allowed to keep.
Now we’re orbiting each other again behind a confessional screen—through silence, ritual, and everything we refuse to say out loud. Every look lingers. Every boundary bends. And every time he tells me no, it hurts worse than the last.
Because the priest with the steady hands and the quiet voice?
He remembers me.
And then we cross a line we both know by heart.
If he makes me choose between losing him again…
or giving in to something we can’t take back—
I already know which sin I’ll commit.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
131 people are currently reading
584 people want to read
About the author
Ella Frank
87 books8,874 followersElla Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite Preslocke series. Her Prime Time series has been praised as “highly entertaining!” and “sexy as hell!”
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.Ella is represented by:
Kimberly Brower
Brower Literary & Management
kimberly@browerliterary.com
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.Ella is represented by:
Kimberly Brower
Brower Literary & Management
kimberly@browerliterary.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 21, 2026
Celibate for 15 years while apart 🙌🏼
They only have been with each other !!!
They are seperated for 15 years and they have not been with anyone else during the separation.
Rafael is a priest during the separation so understandable but Alessio, the 32 year old hot hacker, had not been involved with anyone during the 15 years apart. I repeat, that during the 15 years apart, Alessio did not touch another person. He has been celibate cause Rafael is and always be his forever🥹
“You didn’t choose me…and I chose you forever.”
“You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and I would sell my soul to feel your lips against mine again?”
“You. I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
Now, that’s how you write “it’s always been you” trope. That’s how you convince me of true love and soulmates between 2 characters🥹.
OP drama: at the begining of the book, Alessio does go to a sex club (first time going there) wanting to forget Rafael and move on. I was ready to brace myself for disgust or dnf but nothing happens. He doesn’t touch anyone or get horny. He literally stays for few minutes but he doesn’t anyone (except Rafael) so he leaves. Totally safe.
I’m glad I didn’t dnf cus to discover later on that he has been celibate for 15 years earned an automatic 5 stars from me🤩.
This book is about Father Rafael (32) and the hacker Alessio (32) who meet after 15 years of being apart. They met at 15 as altar boys, develop a friendship, then fell for each other and became boyfriends, before at 17, Rafael chose to go to Rome to become a priest. The past between them is told in glimpses across the book. The book is mainly in the present day.
I devoured this book. The yearning!!!!!!!! God, the yearning, especially from Alessio is chef’s kiss. You never see lust between these two but a more deep connection; and I love that.
It is a slow burn, and I appreciated that. But when these two finally get together, it is hot and intimate. The spice is not too overwhelming, it is hot and spicy but does not feel cheap, it goes beyond the physical to convey how deeply these two feel for each other. And God, how much these two love each other.
We see couples from the previous books in the series. I haven’t read the other books but it did not stop me for enjoying this one.
The only thing I wished for is either a proposal or a wedding. But beggers can’t be choosers. They are already husbands in the epilogue years later🙌🏼.
Thank you EF & BB for proving that 2 characters who love each other deeply can be separated for many years and still be faithful for ecah other heart and body👌🏼
I wish some other authors could stop with the “it’s always been you” and “you’re the love of my life” while the MMC f*cks everything that moves during the separation period😏
They only have been with each other !!!
They are seperated for 15 years and they have not been with anyone else during the separation.
Rafael is a priest during the separation so understandable but Alessio, the 32 year old hot hacker, had not been involved with anyone during the 15 years apart. I repeat, that during the 15 years apart, Alessio did not touch another person. He has been celibate cause Rafael is and always be his forever🥹
“You didn’t choose me…and I chose you forever.”
“You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and I would sell my soul to feel your lips against mine again?”
“You. I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
Now, that’s how you write “it’s always been you” trope. That’s how you convince me of true love and soulmates between 2 characters🥹.
OP drama: at the begining of the book, Alessio does go to a sex club (first time going there) wanting to forget Rafael and move on. I was ready to brace myself for disgust or dnf but nothing happens. He doesn’t touch anyone or get horny. He literally stays for few minutes but he doesn’t anyone (except Rafael) so he leaves. Totally safe.
I’m glad I didn’t dnf cus to discover later on that he has been celibate for 15 years earned an automatic 5 stars from me🤩.
This book is about Father Rafael (32) and the hacker Alessio (32) who meet after 15 years of being apart. They met at 15 as altar boys, develop a friendship, then fell for each other and became boyfriends, before at 17, Rafael chose to go to Rome to become a priest. The past between them is told in glimpses across the book. The book is mainly in the present day.
I devoured this book. The yearning!!!!!!!! God, the yearning, especially from Alessio is chef’s kiss. You never see lust between these two but a more deep connection; and I love that.
It is a slow burn, and I appreciated that. But when these two finally get together, it is hot and intimate. The spice is not too overwhelming, it is hot and spicy but does not feel cheap, it goes beyond the physical to convey how deeply these two feel for each other. And God, how much these two love each other.
We see couples from the previous books in the series. I haven’t read the other books but it did not stop me for enjoying this one.
The only thing I wished for is either a proposal or a wedding. But beggers can’t be choosers. They are already husbands in the epilogue years later🙌🏼.
Thank you EF & BB for proving that 2 characters who love each other deeply can be separated for many years and still be faithful for ecah other heart and body👌🏼
I wish some other authors could stop with the “it’s always been you” and “you’re the love of my life” while the MMC f*cks everything that moves during the separation period😏
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Unholy is the final installment in teh Park Avenue Kings series and follows the forbidden love between Father Rafael and Alessio. They have a shared history that makes their current relationship dynamic very challenging and harmful as their mutual residual feelings towards one another conflicts with their very different goals and professional ambitions.
Overall this was a great way to wrap up the series due to the forbidden nature of their relationship and the slow burn aspect of finally acknowledging their feelings for one another and choosing a path forward together.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Overall this was a great way to wrap up the series due to the forbidden nature of their relationship and the slow burn aspect of finally acknowledging their feelings for one another and choosing a path forward together.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
April 8, 2026
“Bodies, souls, fates intertwined. That was how we’d always been. Alessio had said he’d die for my sins. But I was well aware I’d give my soul for all of his”
The pining, the angst, and the forbidden tension in this book made it so addictiveeeee! The tropes with the authors’ writing were just the perfect combination to make this such a good book. I love when I can feel the want and longing in such a way that it makes you ache and hurt for the characters, and this book definitely had that.
It was the type of book where I wanted to shout at the MMC, “You want him!! Just accept it and be together,” but I also couldn’t be mad about it because it built the tension and made it soooo good. The emotional conflict these two had to face, especially Rafael, was so well done that it made me feel so many emotions, and I couldn’t help but see and understand the difficult situation they were in.
“This.” I reached up to put my hands over his. “You. I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
“His moan. My name. His sharp gasp. My groan. They each represented the longing, the lust, the ever-present love we’d always had for one another. It was in every touch of our hands, every angry word shared, the fated outcome of our lives that had always run parallel and were now coming back together.”
I also have to applaud the authors because the religion aspect was strong and really present, but it wasn’t overwhelming or overshadowing the romance. It wasn’t made into the villain, it was what built the forbidden aspect of the relationship, the complication, and the source of their internal and external conflict as a couple and as individuals.
Religion surrounded them both. There was talk about God, right and wrong, and prayer. But in my opinion, it was beautifully handled. It didn’t villainize religion, and it also didn’t sell it as the only right thing in this world. I don’t know if I’m explaining it right, but I just appreciated the balance of it.
“It finally hit me then, that I was not betraying God after all. I was finally choosing honestly, without fear or grief or pressure, because my faith wasn’t diminished by my loving Alessio and choosing to spend the rest of my life with him. It was completed. The way it always should’ve been”
I absolutely adored both Alessio and Rafael, and like always, it’s five stars for the MMCs and their relationship. In terms of plot, everything revolved around their relationship, and even though I did wish for a more vigilante, dangerous plotline—like the ones I’ve come to expect from this series—I can also see that not having one here was the right move for these two. So I’m not even mad about it, and I loved every second of it.
Last book of this seriesss, and I am so sad abouttt ittttt! I will miss this found familyy and this fun world so freaking muchh, I absolutely love all of the seven Kings and all their partners sooo much. The last epilogue got me emotional, seeing them all together, each with their partners, and even some with kids, ughhh stop, my heart was so happy with that epilogue. I will miss all of them so much, and I hatee that I have to say goodbye to this series.
“As the sun began to set, I glanced around the table as each of my brothers sat reminiscing about the past and more recent adventures we’d shared, and I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was. These men were family, our partners that we’d chosen to bring into our world were family, and this was what we fought for day in and day out. The laughter and love we all shared, it was more than a family we’d built. It was a kingdom. Our kingdom. Something bigger than all of us, something that would last even when we were long gone. And honestly, who could ask for more than that?”
--------------------
Quotes worth mentioning:
“I want you,” he said. No hesitation, no apology. “And I think you want me too. If this is about fear,” he went on, “about judgment, then let me take it. All of it. I’d die for your sins any day. I’ve been carrying my silence for years. I can carry this. I can carry yours.”
“This man was mine. He always had been, always would be. I’d had Rafael first, and if God had problem with that, He could strike me down right here. He’d never played fair, and neither would I.”
“You and I were always two parts of the same puzzle. Light and dark—”
“Good and bad?”
“A believer and a realist. But the one thing that was always clear to everyone around us was the picture we made when we came together—love.”
The pining, the angst, and the forbidden tension in this book made it so addictiveeeee! The tropes with the authors’ writing were just the perfect combination to make this such a good book. I love when I can feel the want and longing in such a way that it makes you ache and hurt for the characters, and this book definitely had that.
It was the type of book where I wanted to shout at the MMC, “You want him!! Just accept it and be together,” but I also couldn’t be mad about it because it built the tension and made it soooo good. The emotional conflict these two had to face, especially Rafael, was so well done that it made me feel so many emotions, and I couldn’t help but see and understand the difficult situation they were in.
“This.” I reached up to put my hands over his. “You. I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
“His moan. My name. His sharp gasp. My groan. They each represented the longing, the lust, the ever-present love we’d always had for one another. It was in every touch of our hands, every angry word shared, the fated outcome of our lives that had always run parallel and were now coming back together.”
I also have to applaud the authors because the religion aspect was strong and really present, but it wasn’t overwhelming or overshadowing the romance. It wasn’t made into the villain, it was what built the forbidden aspect of the relationship, the complication, and the source of their internal and external conflict as a couple and as individuals.
Religion surrounded them both. There was talk about God, right and wrong, and prayer. But in my opinion, it was beautifully handled. It didn’t villainize religion, and it also didn’t sell it as the only right thing in this world. I don’t know if I’m explaining it right, but I just appreciated the balance of it.
“It finally hit me then, that I was not betraying God after all. I was finally choosing honestly, without fear or grief or pressure, because my faith wasn’t diminished by my loving Alessio and choosing to spend the rest of my life with him. It was completed. The way it always should’ve been”
I absolutely adored both Alessio and Rafael, and like always, it’s five stars for the MMCs and their relationship. In terms of plot, everything revolved around their relationship, and even though I did wish for a more vigilante, dangerous plotline—like the ones I’ve come to expect from this series—I can also see that not having one here was the right move for these two. So I’m not even mad about it, and I loved every second of it.
Last book of this seriesss, and I am so sad abouttt ittttt! I will miss this found familyy and this fun world so freaking muchh, I absolutely love all of the seven Kings and all their partners sooo much. The last epilogue got me emotional, seeing them all together, each with their partners, and even some with kids, ughhh stop, my heart was so happy with that epilogue. I will miss all of them so much, and I hatee that I have to say goodbye to this series.
“As the sun began to set, I glanced around the table as each of my brothers sat reminiscing about the past and more recent adventures we’d shared, and I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was. These men were family, our partners that we’d chosen to bring into our world were family, and this was what we fought for day in and day out. The laughter and love we all shared, it was more than a family we’d built. It was a kingdom. Our kingdom. Something bigger than all of us, something that would last even when we were long gone. And honestly, who could ask for more than that?”
--------------------
Quotes worth mentioning:
“I want you,” he said. No hesitation, no apology. “And I think you want me too. If this is about fear,” he went on, “about judgment, then let me take it. All of it. I’d die for your sins any day. I’ve been carrying my silence for years. I can carry this. I can carry yours.”
“This man was mine. He always had been, always would be. I’d had Rafael first, and if God had problem with that, He could strike me down right here. He’d never played fair, and neither would I.”
“You and I were always two parts of the same puzzle. Light and dark—”
“Good and bad?”
“A believer and a realist. But the one thing that was always clear to everyone around us was the picture we made when we came together—love.”
March 24, 2026
Finally, after all these installments, we get the romance between Alessio and Rafael.
Rafael, who is a priest and with whom Alessio clearly has a past with.
Overall, I did enjoy this, and I think these two being the plot more than anything is what was really needed because they - especially Rafael - had so much to work through, and if a fast action plot had been added, it would have detracted from these two and their relationship, and them working through all their shit to get a hard won HEA.
Still, it was a bit jarring after this whole series being action packed to go it being so calm in this one. Several times I kept expecting Rafael to be pulled into something and Alessio and his brothers would have to keep him safe. No such thing happened.
Instead we delved more into these two and their past, and working through their present to get where they end up. It seemed almost impossible, but get there they did.
I think a big reason for my star off is that Rafael, as great of a guy as he was, was so frustrating to deal with. That might be my own personal feelings on religion, especially the institution of it, but I personally do not understand why he held on so tightly to be a priest. As if he couldn't be religious without being a priest who has to take a vow of celibacy his whole life. It felt almost needless to cause angst between these two.
Which, I get is not actually true. I get that religion is much more important to other people - it is very much not to me - and people find comfort it and peace, but I just...don't understand the like...almost self flagellation of denying yourself happiness and being yourself all in the name of this thing other people made up (believe in, yes, I understand but...still made up at the end of the day.)
Like in the past after what happened with Rafael's family, I get him needing time, but it's established in this that it's been 15 years since he chose his path. I don't know how long school is or whatever it is men need to go through to become a priest, but as Rafael went to a university in Rome I assume it was at least 3 years.
Then he came back and the timeline was not clear on how long Alessio and Rafael had been back in each other's lives, but not really talking at ALL, but going to these monthly confessionals anyway. I think it might have been 10 years? But damn if so, that is SUCH a long time for these two be in each other's lives once a month for years and never really talk. Like I get that they weren't IN each other's lives a lot, just one night a month for a few hours, and Alessio always sat there not saying anything, but...that's so so many months and moments they could have talked. Like what changed NOW that they finally talked? (I get that Alessio got drunk, but I'm sure he's been drunk before and never went to Rafael. Like what was it that broke the camel's back?).
But if it had only been a few years, that'd make more sense. But again, we don't get a concrete timeline of when the monthly visits started.
I do like that they had time away from each other - they were just teenagers when they were together before - and had time to grow and heal from past grief and also to mature as men. But did it have to be 15 years? Like damn, that is a long ass time. If they had only been back in each other's lives for a few years it wouldn't feel as wild, but...again, it's hinted at it being about 10 years of monthly confessionals. That's a long ass time to never really talk. Almost stretching the believability for me. Almost.
Anyway, that aspect of this was frustrating. Also Rafael pushing and pulling several times over. He clearly wants Alessio but pulls back and frets and panics several times. If Alessio wasn't so crazy head over heels in love with Rafael, anyone else would have been gone. Like damn even Alessio reaches his breaking point eventually and then Rafael gets bent out of shape over it, as if he didn't bring this on both of them all on his own.
I was hoping for this to be more spicy in the taboo department of it all, these two having sex when it's not only a priest having sex and that's a big no no, but two men at that. Literally Rafael cannot marry Lucien and Kai in the church because his church is still homophobic enough that they won't perform gay weddings in their church.
But it was more like they kissed here or there, almost did more, there was definite tension, but they don't do anything until Rafael is basically ready to so there was no forbidden aspect to this at all, really. What is with romances involving priests I've read that don't give into the taboo forbidden-ness of it? Like damnit I wanted these two at LEAST making out in the church all hot and heavy a la Fleabag. (Full on sex wouldn't have hurt but I would have settled for heavy making out and almost being caught or being full on caught.)
Like one of my biggest pet peeves is people taking a forbidden/taboo trope and doing practically nothing with it. Like what. is. the. point!
Like Rafael being a priest was just for the angst in their relationship, nothing more. And that's a big boring and frustrating!
So as much as I loved these two as characters, and some of the push and pull was fun, and once we got to sex between these two is was hot and sexy, that aspect I just could not ignore. All I will say is pleaseee authors, stop watering down these fun fictional taboo tropes and making them into no big deal in the end. It's boring in that regard.
But, take that aspect away, and these two DID have amazing chemistry, and the love between them was SO damn palpable it was crazy. Alessio more than Rafael just for the fact that Rafael was holding himself back so much because he believed he had to.
I also very much appreciated that while this is religion heavy, it never felt preachy. I never felt like I was being preached at, only that we the readers were seeing into these character's lives and their personal beliefs and feelings. Another big pet peeve is if a book that heavily involves religion feels preachy, so major plus for this avoiding that.
Like these were two men in love who happened to be heavily religious (Rafael more so, but Alessio is still religious somewhat himself as well) and not a sermon pretending to be a romance book, so yeah, very happy about that fact.
I do wish just a little bit that we'd gotten a bit more of the rest of the brothers, but I also understand that there was so much ground to cover between these two to get them to their HEA.
I loved the epilogue, seeing every couple happy and thriving and living the best HEAs. I'm sad to see this series end, I've loved these kings - and the princes - and getting to read their wild adventures as they fall hopelessly in love.
But I am very excited about what's next for these ladies. I do hope they keep up these full length stories and do not go back to when they were doing two, mainly three short installments all the time with annoying AF cliffhangers. These full length novels are definitely the way to go.
Until the next one! Can't wait! 😘
My Ratings for the Park Avenue Kings Series:
✨ Savage: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Devilish: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Immoral: 4 stars (my review)
✨ Merciless: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Ruthless: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Unholy: 4 stars
Rafael, who is a priest and with whom Alessio clearly has a past with.
Overall, I did enjoy this, and I think these two being the plot more than anything is what was really needed because they - especially Rafael - had so much to work through, and if a fast action plot had been added, it would have detracted from these two and their relationship, and them working through all their shit to get a hard won HEA.
Still, it was a bit jarring after this whole series being action packed to go it being so calm in this one. Several times I kept expecting Rafael to be pulled into something and Alessio and his brothers would have to keep him safe. No such thing happened.
Instead we delved more into these two and their past, and working through their present to get where they end up. It seemed almost impossible, but get there they did.
I think a big reason for my star off is that Rafael, as great of a guy as he was, was so frustrating to deal with. That might be my own personal feelings on religion, especially the institution of it, but I personally do not understand why he held on so tightly to be a priest. As if he couldn't be religious without being a priest who has to take a vow of celibacy his whole life. It felt almost needless to cause angst between these two.
Which, I get is not actually true. I get that religion is much more important to other people - it is very much not to me - and people find comfort it and peace, but I just...don't understand the like...almost self flagellation of denying yourself happiness and being yourself all in the name of this thing other people made up (believe in, yes, I understand but...still made up at the end of the day.)
Like in the past after what happened with Rafael's family, I get him needing time, but it's established in this that it's been 15 years since he chose his path. I don't know how long school is or whatever it is men need to go through to become a priest, but as Rafael went to a university in Rome I assume it was at least 3 years.
Then he came back and the timeline was not clear on how long Alessio and Rafael had been back in each other's lives, but not really talking at ALL, but going to these monthly confessionals anyway. I think it might have been 10 years? But damn if so, that is SUCH a long time for these two be in each other's lives once a month for years and never really talk. Like I get that they weren't IN each other's lives a lot, just one night a month for a few hours, and Alessio always sat there not saying anything, but...that's so so many months and moments they could have talked. Like what changed NOW that they finally talked? (I get that Alessio got drunk, but I'm sure he's been drunk before and never went to Rafael. Like what was it that broke the camel's back?).
But if it had only been a few years, that'd make more sense. But again, we don't get a concrete timeline of when the monthly visits started.
I do like that they had time away from each other - they were just teenagers when they were together before - and had time to grow and heal from past grief and also to mature as men. But did it have to be 15 years? Like damn, that is a long ass time. If they had only been back in each other's lives for a few years it wouldn't feel as wild, but...again, it's hinted at it being about 10 years of monthly confessionals. That's a long ass time to never really talk. Almost stretching the believability for me. Almost.
Anyway, that aspect of this was frustrating. Also Rafael pushing and pulling several times over. He clearly wants Alessio but pulls back and frets and panics several times. If Alessio wasn't so crazy head over heels in love with Rafael, anyone else would have been gone. Like damn even Alessio reaches his breaking point eventually and then Rafael gets bent out of shape over it, as if he didn't bring this on both of them all on his own.
I was hoping for this to be more spicy in the taboo department of it all, these two having sex when it's not only a priest having sex and that's a big no no, but two men at that. Literally Rafael cannot marry Lucien and Kai in the church because his church is still homophobic enough that they won't perform gay weddings in their church.
But it was more like they kissed here or there, almost did more, there was definite tension, but they don't do anything until Rafael is basically ready to so there was no forbidden aspect to this at all, really. What is with romances involving priests I've read that don't give into the taboo forbidden-ness of it? Like damnit I wanted these two at LEAST making out in the church all hot and heavy a la Fleabag. (Full on sex wouldn't have hurt but I would have settled for heavy making out and almost being caught or being full on caught.)
Like one of my biggest pet peeves is people taking a forbidden/taboo trope and doing practically nothing with it. Like what. is. the. point!
Like Rafael being a priest was just for the angst in their relationship, nothing more. And that's a big boring and frustrating!
So as much as I loved these two as characters, and some of the push and pull was fun, and once we got to sex between these two is was hot and sexy, that aspect I just could not ignore. All I will say is pleaseee authors, stop watering down these fun fictional taboo tropes and making them into no big deal in the end. It's boring in that regard.
But, take that aspect away, and these two DID have amazing chemistry, and the love between them was SO damn palpable it was crazy. Alessio more than Rafael just for the fact that Rafael was holding himself back so much because he believed he had to.
I also very much appreciated that while this is religion heavy, it never felt preachy. I never felt like I was being preached at, only that we the readers were seeing into these character's lives and their personal beliefs and feelings. Another big pet peeve is if a book that heavily involves religion feels preachy, so major plus for this avoiding that.
Like these were two men in love who happened to be heavily religious (Rafael more so, but Alessio is still religious somewhat himself as well) and not a sermon pretending to be a romance book, so yeah, very happy about that fact.
I do wish just a little bit that we'd gotten a bit more of the rest of the brothers, but I also understand that there was so much ground to cover between these two to get them to their HEA.
I loved the epilogue, seeing every couple happy and thriving and living the best HEAs. I'm sad to see this series end, I've loved these kings - and the princes - and getting to read their wild adventures as they fall hopelessly in love.
But I am very excited about what's next for these ladies. I do hope they keep up these full length stories and do not go back to when they were doing two, mainly three short installments all the time with annoying AF cliffhangers. These full length novels are definitely the way to go.
Until the next one! Can't wait! 😘
My Ratings for the Park Avenue Kings Series:
✨ Savage: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Devilish: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Immoral: 4 stars (my review)
✨ Merciless: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Ruthless: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Unholy: 4 stars
March 24, 2026
"I grabbed hold of the pristine robe draped around his shoulders and pulled him in a step until our toes touched, and before he could reprimand me— or shove me away— I captured Rafael’s mouth with mine. The second our lips met, it felt like a bolt of lightning struck me, the electricity crackling through me and leaving a burning path along my veins. I’d expected to be thrust away, shouted at, condemned to hell and back, but instead, God was striking me down where I stood. Oh well, if I was going to die, it might as well be from kissing the most beautiful man in the world."
Unholy is the sixth and final book in the Park Avenue Kings series by powerhouse writing duo Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine and I absolutely inhaled it. This is a series that I do recommend you read in order, although each book does follow a different pairing.
I absolutely loved Alessio and Rafael's story (it's been a long wait for them!) and especially loved all the cameos from our favourite Kings! This was the first book that soley focused on the MMC's relationship without any over-arching story, which made for a different type of book.
This series is set in the same world as the Park Avenue Princes series by the same authors, and whilst there's a definite link between the two worlds, pre-reading of those books is not required (although I'd definitely recommend that series too!)
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Friends to lovers to separation to reunion
🖤Forbidden
🖤Priest x hacker
🖤Opposites attract
🖤All the angst
🖤All the steam
🖤"It was always you"
🖤Found family
🖤HEA
So sad to say goodbye to these Kings, but excited for what's to come next!
4 stars 🌟
Unholy is the sixth and final book in the Park Avenue Kings series by powerhouse writing duo Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine and I absolutely inhaled it. This is a series that I do recommend you read in order, although each book does follow a different pairing.
I absolutely loved Alessio and Rafael's story (it's been a long wait for them!) and especially loved all the cameos from our favourite Kings! This was the first book that soley focused on the MMC's relationship without any over-arching story, which made for a different type of book.
This series is set in the same world as the Park Avenue Princes series by the same authors, and whilst there's a definite link between the two worlds, pre-reading of those books is not required (although I'd definitely recommend that series too!)
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Friends to lovers to separation to reunion
🖤Forbidden
🖤Priest x hacker
🖤Opposites attract
🖤All the angst
🖤All the steam
🖤"It was always you"
🖤Found family
🖤HEA
So sad to say goodbye to these Kings, but excited for what's to come next!
4 stars 🌟
March 20, 2026
4.25/5 - Can’t believe the series has concluded. These Kings stole my heart along with their partners. I thought Alessio and Rafael were a great way to end the series. I will say while I had moments I teared up and loved, it did leave me wanting more. Maybe I set my expectations super high, but I still overall enjoyed this final installment.
March 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐
Y.e.a.r.n.i.n.g !!! 🔥💕💕💕
Ah bon sang que c’était BON !
Ce tome, ce pairing, je les voulais depuis des mois, depuis la toute première scène introduisant le personnage de Rafael dans le premier tome de la série. Ella et Brooke nous auront fait languir, mais ça y est, le tome sur Alessio et le hot priest est enfin là !
Ma lecture a été largement à la hauteur de mes attentes, j’ai tout bonnement dévoré ce roman ! J’avoue ne pas avoir trop lu les chapitres au fur et à mesure de leur mise en ligne sur le Patreon des autrices (juste les trois premiers), car je voulais pouvoir tout gober d’un coup. Et je peux vous dire que dès que j’ai reçu mon ARC, j’ai dévoré d’une traite les 60 premiers %. Cette séance de lecture intensive m’a plongée la tête la première, ainsi que le cœur et les tripes dans les retrouvailles entre Alessio et Rafael (car oui surprise ! ils se connaissaient déjà avant, et depuis longtemps).
J’ai été submergée par l’intensité de leurs émotions et la force des sentiments qu’ils éprouvent l’un pour l’autre, le yearning (terme intraduisible en français) étant un schéma romantique qui me renverse complètement s’il est bien maîtrisé. Ici on a tout : un amour fou, le manque, la puissance des sentiments malgré les années qui passent, des obstacles a priori insurmontables, la force de l’interdit (interdit ultime ici puisque l’un des deux hommes est un prêtre catholique) … Toutes ces choses qui font battre notre cœur au rythme de celui des personnages, et c’est formidablement bien écrit et maîtrisé par les autrices. Pour avoir été globalement peu séduite et emballée par leurs deux séries consacrées à leur fine équipe de Newyorkais, je dois dire que là je suis retombée folle amoureuse de leur plume …
Cette fois, pas d’intrigue farfelue, on se concentre uniquement sur la romance, tout en retrouvant à quelques intervalles les personnages des précédents tomes. J’ai été très surprise par le personnage d’Alessio, que je n’avais pas du tout imaginé aussi amoureux, sensible et romantique. Finalement, je me suis complètement plantée au niveau de leur dynamique quand je m’étais échafaudé mes petits scénarios au fil des tomes, et vous savez quoi ? J’ai adoré être surprise !
Vous l’aurez compris, j’ai vraiment chaviré pour ce roman et pour ce couple ! ❤️
Y.e.a.r.n.i.n.g !!! 🔥💕💕💕
Ah bon sang que c’était BON !
Ce tome, ce pairing, je les voulais depuis des mois, depuis la toute première scène introduisant le personnage de Rafael dans le premier tome de la série. Ella et Brooke nous auront fait languir, mais ça y est, le tome sur Alessio et le hot priest est enfin là !
Ma lecture a été largement à la hauteur de mes attentes, j’ai tout bonnement dévoré ce roman ! J’avoue ne pas avoir trop lu les chapitres au fur et à mesure de leur mise en ligne sur le Patreon des autrices (juste les trois premiers), car je voulais pouvoir tout gober d’un coup. Et je peux vous dire que dès que j’ai reçu mon ARC, j’ai dévoré d’une traite les 60 premiers %. Cette séance de lecture intensive m’a plongée la tête la première, ainsi que le cœur et les tripes dans les retrouvailles entre Alessio et Rafael (car oui surprise ! ils se connaissaient déjà avant, et depuis longtemps).
J’ai été submergée par l’intensité de leurs émotions et la force des sentiments qu’ils éprouvent l’un pour l’autre, le yearning (terme intraduisible en français) étant un schéma romantique qui me renverse complètement s’il est bien maîtrisé. Ici on a tout : un amour fou, le manque, la puissance des sentiments malgré les années qui passent, des obstacles a priori insurmontables, la force de l’interdit (interdit ultime ici puisque l’un des deux hommes est un prêtre catholique) … Toutes ces choses qui font battre notre cœur au rythme de celui des personnages, et c’est formidablement bien écrit et maîtrisé par les autrices. Pour avoir été globalement peu séduite et emballée par leurs deux séries consacrées à leur fine équipe de Newyorkais, je dois dire que là je suis retombée folle amoureuse de leur plume …
Cette fois, pas d’intrigue farfelue, on se concentre uniquement sur la romance, tout en retrouvant à quelques intervalles les personnages des précédents tomes. J’ai été très surprise par le personnage d’Alessio, que je n’avais pas du tout imaginé aussi amoureux, sensible et romantique. Finalement, je me suis complètement plantée au niveau de leur dynamique quand je m’étais échafaudé mes petits scénarios au fil des tomes, et vous savez quoi ? J’ai adoré être surprise !
Vous l’aurez compris, j’ai vraiment chaviré pour ce roman et pour ce couple ! ❤️
March 24, 2026
This.... I've been waiting for this to come out and it did not disappoint! This is how you write a Priest MM book people!!!
This is my ultimate favourite trope by an absolute mile but there are so few books for it and, for the ones that are available, none of them (with the exception of Ariana Nash's trilogy (drool)) quite hit the spot. I looove the yearning, the spic struggle against God and faith and the constant battle against doing what faith presides vs what he wants. But this one hit all the markers perfectly because Father Vitale doesn't just wake up one day and forget his faith, he struggles (and I mean really struggles) between his love for God and his love for Alessio. And that's what I bloody love!!
There's just enough of a slow burn to make it interesting but not so much that it just goes on and on. There's a perfect amount of yearning from both sides to have you yelling at your kindle 'he loves you too!!'. And, most importantly for me, the priest aspect is covered almost perfectly (insert applause here).
Amazing read and I'd sell my left pinky to be able to read it again for the first time.
This is my ultimate favourite trope by an absolute mile but there are so few books for it and, for the ones that are available, none of them (with the exception of Ariana Nash's trilogy (drool)) quite hit the spot. I looove the yearning, the spic struggle against God and faith and the constant battle against doing what faith presides vs what he wants. But this one hit all the markers perfectly because Father Vitale doesn't just wake up one day and forget his faith, he struggles (and I mean really struggles) between his love for God and his love for Alessio. And that's what I bloody love!!
There's just enough of a slow burn to make it interesting but not so much that it just goes on and on. There's a perfect amount of yearning from both sides to have you yelling at your kindle 'he loves you too!!'. And, most importantly for me, the priest aspect is covered almost perfectly (insert applause here).
Amazing read and I'd sell my left pinky to be able to read it again for the first time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had been looking forward to Alessio’s story ever since the first book, and honestly, it was completely worth the wait! This book is filled with intense emotions, longing, and heartbreak that really stays with you. Alessio’s pain felt so real that there were moments it actually made me tear up. All I wanted to do was protect him and give him the comfort he truly deserved. 🥺🫶
Rafael’s inner conflict was one of the most powerful parts of the story. His devotion to becoming a priest and his deep love for Alessio created a constant emotional struggle. As someone who isn’t religious, it was sometimes difficult for me to fully understand why his faith created such a strong barrier between them. Still, as the story unfolded, I began to see the reasons behind the choices Rafael made in the past, especially during his younger years. Even though I didn’t always agree with them, the author made his perspective feel genuine and meaningful.
What made the ending so satisfying was how hard Alessio fought for his happiness. The love between him and Rafael felt pure, deep, and incredibly moving. Watching them finally find their happy ending after everything they had been through felt truly rewarding. ❤️
This book also stands out from the rest of the series because the entire focus is on their relationship. Unlike the earlier books, there isn’t much outside conflict or crime happening. Instead, the story dives deeply into their emotions, past trauma, and the magnetic pull they have toward each other. No matter how much they try to stay apart, they simply can’t. Their connection is just too strong. 💫
I also enjoyed seeing Rafael meet Alessio’s brothers as his partner, which was such a meaningful moment. The escape room scene was hilarious and added a lighter touch to the story. I only wish we could have seen even more moments with the whole group together.
Now that the Park Avenue series has come to an end, it feels a little bittersweet. I’m definitely sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I’m also excited to see what the author will create next. 📚✨
Rafael’s inner conflict was one of the most powerful parts of the story. His devotion to becoming a priest and his deep love for Alessio created a constant emotional struggle. As someone who isn’t religious, it was sometimes difficult for me to fully understand why his faith created such a strong barrier between them. Still, as the story unfolded, I began to see the reasons behind the choices Rafael made in the past, especially during his younger years. Even though I didn’t always agree with them, the author made his perspective feel genuine and meaningful.
What made the ending so satisfying was how hard Alessio fought for his happiness. The love between him and Rafael felt pure, deep, and incredibly moving. Watching them finally find their happy ending after everything they had been through felt truly rewarding. ❤️
This book also stands out from the rest of the series because the entire focus is on their relationship. Unlike the earlier books, there isn’t much outside conflict or crime happening. Instead, the story dives deeply into their emotions, past trauma, and the magnetic pull they have toward each other. No matter how much they try to stay apart, they simply can’t. Their connection is just too strong. 💫
I also enjoyed seeing Rafael meet Alessio’s brothers as his partner, which was such a meaningful moment. The escape room scene was hilarious and added a lighter touch to the story. I only wish we could have seen even more moments with the whole group together.
Now that the Park Avenue series has come to an end, it feels a little bittersweet. I’m definitely sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I’m also excited to see what the author will create next. 📚✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
un cierre hermoso para una serie espectacular. nada más que decir. ❤️
March 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
A bit too much posing and not enough connecting.
A large part of this book was just a lot of fancy words but missing the emotional connection to draw me into the story or feel invested into the main characters. At the last 20% of the book it started having the emotional tension and turmoil I enjoy reading but I wished this had been more present when the book started. I didn’t enjoy the flashbacks nor the floofy reason why Rafael made the choice that he did.
I know it’s probably a me thing but overall this was a very enjoyable read.
A bit too much posing and not enough connecting.
A large part of this book was just a lot of fancy words but missing the emotional connection to draw me into the story or feel invested into the main characters. At the last 20% of the book it started having the emotional tension and turmoil I enjoy reading but I wished this had been more present when the book started. I didn’t enjoy the flashbacks nor the floofy reason why Rafael made the choice that he did.
I know it’s probably a me thing but overall this was a very enjoyable read.
March 19, 2026
“This man was mine. He always had been, always would be. I’d had Rafael first, and if God had a problem with that, He could strike me down right here. He’d never played fair, and neither would I.”
➻ my rating: ✩✩✩✩.5
Who wrote this book, because it couldn't have been Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine? (JK…kinda).
I really appreciate the change of approach they took with this book. The last several EK & BB books have been action movie backdrops, lust forward, and no character development. Unholy, however, was the opposite.
EK & BB took the time to develop the journey back to each other that Alessio and Rafael had. The dancing around each other, the multiple confessions of desire and it not being enough in some instances (Angst city central), the exploration of Rafael’s need for religion and the barrier it presented, Alessio’s beef against God and what he took from him, all of it made for an enjoyable read, one where I believed the couple was meant to be together.
What also made this book so enjoyable was the lack of an external plot. Which may sound crazy, but what made the other books less enjoyable for me was feeling like the external plot (which didn't feel well developed) took away from the internal plot between characters. This was about Alessio and Rafael only, which made for better focus. Sometimes the plot should be the characters getting from point A to point B. We don't always need to see them fighting against a big bad and using tech gadgets (looking at you, Lachlan).
If EK & BB continue with the formula they created here, I’ll be a fan for life.
➻ my rating: ✩✩✩✩.5
Who wrote this book, because it couldn't have been Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine? (JK…kinda).
I really appreciate the change of approach they took with this book. The last several EK & BB books have been action movie backdrops, lust forward, and no character development. Unholy, however, was the opposite.
EK & BB took the time to develop the journey back to each other that Alessio and Rafael had. The dancing around each other, the multiple confessions of desire and it not being enough in some instances (Angst city central), the exploration of Rafael’s need for religion and the barrier it presented, Alessio’s beef against God and what he took from him, all of it made for an enjoyable read, one where I believed the couple was meant to be together.
What also made this book so enjoyable was the lack of an external plot. Which may sound crazy, but what made the other books less enjoyable for me was feeling like the external plot (which didn't feel well developed) took away from the internal plot between characters. This was about Alessio and Rafael only, which made for better focus. Sometimes the plot should be the characters getting from point A to point B. We don't always need to see them fighting against a big bad and using tech gadgets (looking at you, Lachlan).
If EK & BB continue with the formula they created here, I’ll be a fan for life.
March 20, 2026
Firstly, I just have to say how much I love the cover!!!
I've been looking forward to reading Raphael and Allesio's book for a while. It was everything I'd hoped for and more.
Father Raphael and Park Avenue Kings' tech wiz Allesio have a long history.
Years ago Father Raphael felt a calling that came with a choice. That choice left Allesio hurt for so many years. You felt the loss of a love not possible. Allesio's pain was heartbreaking.
"He was my forever. I just wasn't his."
"The boy I'd loved, the boy I'd given myself to, had morphed into the most beautiful man in the world, and he knew every secret I possessed. Every single desire. He had the power to wreck me, and I wanted him. "
This is such a beautiful ending to a fantastic series. I usually avoid reading anything with religion involved but this book had me hooked. It had just the right amount of everything. I'd highly recommend this book and the whole series. It is definitely one I will re read.
I've been looking forward to reading Raphael and Allesio's book for a while. It was everything I'd hoped for and more.
Father Raphael and Park Avenue Kings' tech wiz Allesio have a long history.
Years ago Father Raphael felt a calling that came with a choice. That choice left Allesio hurt for so many years. You felt the loss of a love not possible. Allesio's pain was heartbreaking.
"He was my forever. I just wasn't his."
"The boy I'd loved, the boy I'd given myself to, had morphed into the most beautiful man in the world, and he knew every secret I possessed. Every single desire. He had the power to wreck me, and I wanted him. "
This is such a beautiful ending to a fantastic series. I usually avoid reading anything with religion involved but this book had me hooked. It had just the right amount of everything. I'd highly recommend this book and the whole series. It is definitely one I will re read.
March 19, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is the last book in the Park Avenue Kings series. It’s been a fun ride and I think Unholy might be the best book in the series. Alessio has been a mysterious member of the group and Rafael has been seen a bit on page and this book definitely works better if you are grounded in the series.
There is so much pining going on here, it’s a bit painful. Alessio has never and will never get over not being with Rafael any longer. The pining and longing and utter devotion Alessio has had for Rafael for so long makes this story. The men are so well suited for each other and I liked it even more for the taboo nature of their story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is the last book in the Park Avenue Kings series. It’s been a fun ride and I think Unholy might be the best book in the series. Alessio has been a mysterious member of the group and Rafael has been seen a bit on page and this book definitely works better if you are grounded in the series.
There is so much pining going on here, it’s a bit painful. Alessio has never and will never get over not being with Rafael any longer. The pining and longing and utter devotion Alessio has had for Rafael for so long makes this story. The men are so well suited for each other and I liked it even more for the taboo nature of their story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
March 19, 2026
Unholy was exactly what the title promises—temptation, restraint, and the kind of emotional tension that keeps you completely locked in.
Alessio and Rafael’s story is built on history, longing, and everything left unsaid. The push and pull between them is intense, layered with guilt, devotion, and a connection that never really went away.
The confessional dynamic adds such a unique element—quiet, intimate, and filled with tension that feels like it could snap at any moment. Every interaction carries weight, every look lingers, and every “no” feels just as powerful as a “yes.”
This one is definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but in the best way. The kind that keeps you invested from beginning to end.
Sinful in just the right way… and completely worth the ride.
Alessio and Rafael’s story is built on history, longing, and everything left unsaid. The push and pull between them is intense, layered with guilt, devotion, and a connection that never really went away.
The confessional dynamic adds such a unique element—quiet, intimate, and filled with tension that feels like it could snap at any moment. Every interaction carries weight, every look lingers, and every “no” feels just as powerful as a “yes.”
This one is definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but in the best way. The kind that keeps you invested from beginning to end.
Sinful in just the right way… and completely worth the ride.
March 19, 2026
so sweet
We have reached the end of the Park Avenue Kings series and I am not ok. Alessio and Rafael have a long history that no one else is aware of. Alessio and Rafael have never stopped loving each other but Rafael is devoted to the church. Eventually, Rafael can’t fight it anymore and the pull to Alessio is too strong. These two put me through the wringer but it was so worth it for them to be able to get their HEA. And those epilogues? Are you kidding me?! OBSESSED!!
We have reached the end of the Park Avenue Kings series and I am not ok. Alessio and Rafael have a long history that no one else is aware of. Alessio and Rafael have never stopped loving each other but Rafael is devoted to the church. Eventually, Rafael can’t fight it anymore and the pull to Alessio is too strong. These two put me through the wringer but it was so worth it for them to be able to get their HEA. And those epilogues? Are you kidding me?! OBSESSED!!
March 28, 2026
Love Comes Softly
Dee’s Grade: A
This book wasn't what I expected it to be and I enjoyed it all the same.
Alessio and Rafael’s story has been building throughout the series. This book focused on the conflict and obstacles that were keeping them apart rather than the adventure and subterfuge of the previous books.
It was a calm soft way to close the series. I also loved their story sneak peak into everyone’s HEA.
Dee’s Grade: A
This book wasn't what I expected it to be and I enjoyed it all the same.
Alessio and Rafael’s story has been building throughout the series. This book focused on the conflict and obstacles that were keeping them apart rather than the adventure and subterfuge of the previous books.
It was a calm soft way to close the series. I also loved their story sneak peak into everyone’s HEA.
March 8, 2026
this was quite literally everything to me. i will be sobbing and throwing up and mourning one of my fav groups of men for months. what a beautiful ending. ella and brooke please write an update on them every couple months or i Swear i will spiral please
March 23, 2026
my favorite in the entire series– maybe even avenue princes included. I absolutely love the writing style in this, it is so full of emotions, I stayed up entire night to read it😭😭 nad decision considering I've got an exam tomorrow, but yeah, thats how good this one is
March 19, 2026
**I was gifted an ARC of this book**
This final book in the Park Avenue Kings series absolutely did not disappoint!
Alessio and Rafael’s story is a friends-to-lovers, second-chance, forbidden romance with a beautifully slow, tension-filled burn. The emotional longing between them had me completely hooked. Watching Rafael wrestle with his love and desire for Alessio while trying to honor his commitment to the church was genuinely heartbreaking at times. I especially loved how that conflict ultimately came to a head when he finally told the truth to the bishop—it was such a powerful moment.
Alessio’s unwavering love for Rafael was just as moving. The fact that he never pursued another man because of how deeply he loved him? That level of devotion nearly did me in. And when they finally gave in to their feelings, the chemistry between them was absolutely electric.
Unlike the earlier books in the series, this story focuses almost entirely on the development of their relationship rather than including a major side plot. While I might have enjoyed it even more with an additional storyline like the others had, it didn’t take away from how much I loved watching Alessio and Rafael’s journey unfold.
Overall, this was a fantastic and emotional finale to the series, and I had such a great time reading it.
This final book in the Park Avenue Kings series absolutely did not disappoint!
Alessio and Rafael’s story is a friends-to-lovers, second-chance, forbidden romance with a beautifully slow, tension-filled burn. The emotional longing between them had me completely hooked. Watching Rafael wrestle with his love and desire for Alessio while trying to honor his commitment to the church was genuinely heartbreaking at times. I especially loved how that conflict ultimately came to a head when he finally told the truth to the bishop—it was such a powerful moment.
Alessio’s unwavering love for Rafael was just as moving. The fact that he never pursued another man because of how deeply he loved him? That level of devotion nearly did me in. And when they finally gave in to their feelings, the chemistry between them was absolutely electric.
Unlike the earlier books in the series, this story focuses almost entirely on the development of their relationship rather than including a major side plot. While I might have enjoyed it even more with an additional storyline like the others had, it didn’t take away from how much I loved watching Alessio and Rafael’s journey unfold.
Overall, this was a fantastic and emotional finale to the series, and I had such a great time reading it.
March 19, 2026
Amazing 💗
I loved every minute of this last book in the series really sad it’s over but I will read them again. Thank you Ella and Brooke for a fantastic series of books.
I loved every minute of this last book in the series really sad it’s over but I will read them again. Thank you Ella and Brooke for a fantastic series of books.
Read
April 12, 2026…rtc. “So this—is my hail Mary.”
March 24, 2026
I liked it, especially the way they hadn't been with anyone else all this time.
April 23, 2026
ok but i seriously hated this book. i should've just skipped this one. if it was up to me aleesio would've ended up with literally anybody else.
March 7, 2026
In the final installment of this beloved series, lovable Alessio is ready to fight for the man he’s always loved…now if only Father Vitale would get with the program!
Really enjoyed Alessio & Rafael’s romance. Their long history and chemistry was immediately apparent. And seeing the lovable tech savant FINALLY get his happy end was incredibly satisfying.
So many cameos of the other Kings and I was obsessed!! The banter? The love they have for each other? And the final epilogue? *Chefs Kiss*
Felt like it was SUCH a quick read/goodbye! I wish we would’ve gotten more friendship flashbacks and external conflicts and just more pages 😅
Highly recommend this series and its predecessor. Can’t wait to see what this writing duo does next!
READ FOR
Man of God x Man of Shadows
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Found Family
Billionaire Romance
Slow Burn
Really enjoyed Alessio & Rafael’s romance. Their long history and chemistry was immediately apparent. And seeing the lovable tech savant FINALLY get his happy end was incredibly satisfying.
So many cameos of the other Kings and I was obsessed!! The banter? The love they have for each other? And the final epilogue? *Chefs Kiss*
Felt like it was SUCH a quick read/goodbye! I wish we would’ve gotten more friendship flashbacks and external conflicts and just more pages 😅
Highly recommend this series and its predecessor. Can’t wait to see what this writing duo does next!
READ FOR
Man of God x Man of Shadows
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Found Family
Billionaire Romance
Slow Burn
April 22, 2026
Tropes & Themes
Priest to lover
Religion in a positive way.
What I loved / liked :
De Vecchi: I’m glad he wasn’t portrayed as the mean and obtuse kind of priest. On the contrary, he was the one who helped Raf with his doubts and confusion, and encouraged him to adjust his life to live as a fulfilled man.
The fact that it didn’t take forever once Raf had made his decision and that he didn’t hesitate to ask Alessio for support in hosting him.
I also really loved Alessio and Raf as characters, their goodheartedness. I loved that Alessio never had anyone else after Raf left, it gave their bond an incredible intensity.
What I hated / disliked :
There’s one thing that unsettled me. It was the sex scene in the rectory. I’m totally fine with the idea of a priest yielding to his desire, forgetting about his vows. To me, Raf was never made to be a priest because his attraction to Alessio was always there. I’m not into religion, I’m not baptized, but I do respect religion and religious places. Shep and Theo having sex at church was already close to disturb me, though I love sex scenes in public places. I guess it’s more the idea of a priest doing this in their religious place. I understand Raf’s commitment to God was misplaced in the first place because it wasn’t the right future for him, but I feel like he should have respected that at least since none of this has ever weakened his faith in God.
Through all of the six books of the series, we never got to know how their association started. Who joined King first? In which order did they join? How King recruited them? Sadly, it reflects how superficially these series are conceived, with a lack of background details and solid details for secondary plot lines or characters. We never really knew what happened to Raf’s parents. We never met Alessio’s either.
Narrative in past tense. I hate those. And that’s just me as it seems like a large majority of readers prefer past tense.
Quick summary:
Alessio has always imposed on his fellow kings to visit Father Vitale once a month to confess, though he never did confess himself. Rafael Vitale is actually a childhood friend and his ex. They broke up when Raf became a priest.
King gave Alessio an ultimatum to get out of his funk after the last book’s events, so now he goes to the booth though he remains silent as being so close to Raf, feeling and smelling him only hurts him more. He also watches him return to his quarters every night thanks to a camera he put there. We also learn that Raf still craves Alessio.
A month after the beginning of the book, and another silent confession, Alessio tries to go to Libertine’s 5th floor’s sex club, wanting to put an end to his celibacy (he hasn’t been with anyone at all since Raf) but he relents and meets Benoit as he leaves. Benoit convinces him to go for a few drinks on the second floor and that « few » make him go to church afterwards where he meets Raf and asks for confession time and this time he does.
Drunk Alessio is absolutely hilarious! gosh I love him. He confesses his eternal love to Raf who doesn’t say a word until Alessio leaves. Back to his rectory, Raf yields to temptation and jerks off. On his side Alessio wakes up with a pounding headache but remembers everything he said. Raf has a tense day of guilt for his weakness. Lucien and Kai visit him to ask that he officiates their wedding a month later, which he accepts. Lucien also reveals that Alessio lives right across his street and that night, Raf sees him from his window. The next day, Alessio successes in a mission and drinks it up with Lachlan when Lucien shows up to nd announces his upcoming wedding which silently upsets Alessio.
A month later, Raf is marrying Lucien and Kai. Raf and Alessio have a private conversation apart where Allesion mentions again his anger at still feeling for Raf and he kisses him before running away.
A week later they’re all attending a church charity afternoon where Alessio speaks with an apparently difficult teenager, Marco, and Raf invites himself into the conversation. When Marco leaves, Lachlan overhears part of their conversation where Raf says he doesn’t want to speak to Alessio about the kiss.
Another week later, Raf eventually goes to Alessio’s place to tell him they have to stop but the temptation is too strong. They kiss and make out, until Alessio offers him an out and Raf leaves. Back to his place across the street, Raf watches Alessio jerk off from his window.
The following day at mass, Raf gives a sermon on temptation and as he notices Alessio attending for the first time, he’s brought back to the past a day they had almost gotten making out by Alessio’s father. Alessio leaves fast at the end of the mass and himself has a memory of the day Raf had buried his parents and decided to go to Rome to become a priest and Father De Vecchi had told Alessio to let him go.
One week later, it’s confession night for the guys but Alessio doesn’t come and when Raf returns home, there’s no light in Alessio’s window at all. It turns out Alessio has made a decision to definitely move on. He’s put up a curtain to his window, won’t go to confession nights and even considers moving away. We learn that as he has coffee with Lachlan a week later and Raf arrives. They briefly talk but Alessio is too wrung up. Then he finally confesses his story to Lachlan who advises to try his luck again because to him, Raf definitely cares.
So that night, Alessio goes to Raf’s and they have sex, Raf topping him, in the rectory bedroom. As they cuddle and talk, Raf confesses that he’s no longer happy but that he can’t cancel his vows. They agree to meet again.
Which they do the following night as Raf meets Alessio in his underground office where they start making out. As they’re interrupted by a surprised King, they then go to the penthouse in Libertine where they have sex, Alessio riding Raf.
The next week Raf meets Archbishop De Vecchi, his mentor, who instantly notices that something is wrong. Hé was the one who helped Raf when he lost his parents and who told Alessio to let Raf go since going to seminary was what he needed at the time. The archbishop’s reaction is good when Raf tells him that he still loves Alessio and need him now more than God. He encourages him to pursue his feelings and that he can serve in different ways his faith.
That night, Raf goes to Alessio with his luggage and Alessio immediately offers him to stay with him, and they have sex, Raf bottoming for him. They stay locked in for three days, catching up on time and enjoying themselves, then meet all the kings at an escape game where they officially announce their relationship. On the Sunday, they attend morning mass, done by De Vecchi, who then has a nice conversation with Alessio.
Several months later, they are enjoying a walk where they had their first kiss as teenagers. Raf has a part time teaching position at a diocesan school.
Second epilogue is years later and the entire group with kids are spending their yearly holiday break at the villa in Monaco. Alessio and Raf are married and talk about starting their own family too.
Characters of the series :
Tyrone Kingston: professor at Astor University (Park avenue Princes series) who’s with student / « Prince » James Easton and Zac Fletcher, teacher assistant.
Lachlan Stone: King member. Hitman at night. Head of Stone Security the day.
Cooper Patterson: journalist from Colorado who moved to NYC to investigate on his best friend’s death.
Alessio Trentacapelli: King member. IT genius. Technocrat. 32.
Rafael: or Father Vitale, a priest. Alessio’s ex. 32.
Benoît Olivier: King member. Former burlesque dancer. Charmer. French.
Dimitri Stavros: arms dealer. 47. Was raised by the man who accidentally killed his father. Killed Giorgos as he was plotting against him.
Theo Rinaldi : King member. Youngest prince of Monaco. Rebellious and unhinged. 37.
Shepherd Winchester: King’s second in command. King’s ex. Son of former POTUS. Levelheaded. 40.
Lucien Vale: King member. 37. Owner of The Veil, a sex club, and other establishments.
Kai: 23. Parents kicked him out at 15. Lived on the streets and prostituted, then was sold and traded between rich men.
Priest to lover
Religion in a positive way.
What I loved / liked :
De Vecchi: I’m glad he wasn’t portrayed as the mean and obtuse kind of priest. On the contrary, he was the one who helped Raf with his doubts and confusion, and encouraged him to adjust his life to live as a fulfilled man.
The fact that it didn’t take forever once Raf had made his decision and that he didn’t hesitate to ask Alessio for support in hosting him.
I also really loved Alessio and Raf as characters, their goodheartedness. I loved that Alessio never had anyone else after Raf left, it gave their bond an incredible intensity.
What I hated / disliked :
There’s one thing that unsettled me. It was the sex scene in the rectory. I’m totally fine with the idea of a priest yielding to his desire, forgetting about his vows. To me, Raf was never made to be a priest because his attraction to Alessio was always there. I’m not into religion, I’m not baptized, but I do respect religion and religious places. Shep and Theo having sex at church was already close to disturb me, though I love sex scenes in public places. I guess it’s more the idea of a priest doing this in their religious place. I understand Raf’s commitment to God was misplaced in the first place because it wasn’t the right future for him, but I feel like he should have respected that at least since none of this has ever weakened his faith in God.
Through all of the six books of the series, we never got to know how their association started. Who joined King first? In which order did they join? How King recruited them? Sadly, it reflects how superficially these series are conceived, with a lack of background details and solid details for secondary plot lines or characters. We never really knew what happened to Raf’s parents. We never met Alessio’s either.
Narrative in past tense. I hate those. And that’s just me as it seems like a large majority of readers prefer past tense.
Quick summary:
Alessio has always imposed on his fellow kings to visit Father Vitale once a month to confess, though he never did confess himself. Rafael Vitale is actually a childhood friend and his ex. They broke up when Raf became a priest.
King gave Alessio an ultimatum to get out of his funk after the last book’s events, so now he goes to the booth though he remains silent as being so close to Raf, feeling and smelling him only hurts him more. He also watches him return to his quarters every night thanks to a camera he put there. We also learn that Raf still craves Alessio.
A month after the beginning of the book, and another silent confession, Alessio tries to go to Libertine’s 5th floor’s sex club, wanting to put an end to his celibacy (he hasn’t been with anyone at all since Raf) but he relents and meets Benoit as he leaves. Benoit convinces him to go for a few drinks on the second floor and that « few » make him go to church afterwards where he meets Raf and asks for confession time and this time he does.
Drunk Alessio is absolutely hilarious! gosh I love him. He confesses his eternal love to Raf who doesn’t say a word until Alessio leaves. Back to his rectory, Raf yields to temptation and jerks off. On his side Alessio wakes up with a pounding headache but remembers everything he said. Raf has a tense day of guilt for his weakness. Lucien and Kai visit him to ask that he officiates their wedding a month later, which he accepts. Lucien also reveals that Alessio lives right across his street and that night, Raf sees him from his window. The next day, Alessio successes in a mission and drinks it up with Lachlan when Lucien shows up to nd announces his upcoming wedding which silently upsets Alessio.
A month later, Raf is marrying Lucien and Kai. Raf and Alessio have a private conversation apart where Allesion mentions again his anger at still feeling for Raf and he kisses him before running away.
A week later they’re all attending a church charity afternoon where Alessio speaks with an apparently difficult teenager, Marco, and Raf invites himself into the conversation. When Marco leaves, Lachlan overhears part of their conversation where Raf says he doesn’t want to speak to Alessio about the kiss.
Another week later, Raf eventually goes to Alessio’s place to tell him they have to stop but the temptation is too strong. They kiss and make out, until Alessio offers him an out and Raf leaves. Back to his place across the street, Raf watches Alessio jerk off from his window.
The following day at mass, Raf gives a sermon on temptation and as he notices Alessio attending for the first time, he’s brought back to the past a day they had almost gotten making out by Alessio’s father. Alessio leaves fast at the end of the mass and himself has a memory of the day Raf had buried his parents and decided to go to Rome to become a priest and Father De Vecchi had told Alessio to let him go.
One week later, it’s confession night for the guys but Alessio doesn’t come and when Raf returns home, there’s no light in Alessio’s window at all. It turns out Alessio has made a decision to definitely move on. He’s put up a curtain to his window, won’t go to confession nights and even considers moving away. We learn that as he has coffee with Lachlan a week later and Raf arrives. They briefly talk but Alessio is too wrung up. Then he finally confesses his story to Lachlan who advises to try his luck again because to him, Raf definitely cares.
So that night, Alessio goes to Raf’s and they have sex, Raf topping him, in the rectory bedroom. As they cuddle and talk, Raf confesses that he’s no longer happy but that he can’t cancel his vows. They agree to meet again.
Which they do the following night as Raf meets Alessio in his underground office where they start making out. As they’re interrupted by a surprised King, they then go to the penthouse in Libertine where they have sex, Alessio riding Raf.
The next week Raf meets Archbishop De Vecchi, his mentor, who instantly notices that something is wrong. Hé was the one who helped Raf when he lost his parents and who told Alessio to let Raf go since going to seminary was what he needed at the time. The archbishop’s reaction is good when Raf tells him that he still loves Alessio and need him now more than God. He encourages him to pursue his feelings and that he can serve in different ways his faith.
That night, Raf goes to Alessio with his luggage and Alessio immediately offers him to stay with him, and they have sex, Raf bottoming for him. They stay locked in for three days, catching up on time and enjoying themselves, then meet all the kings at an escape game where they officially announce their relationship. On the Sunday, they attend morning mass, done by De Vecchi, who then has a nice conversation with Alessio.
Several months later, they are enjoying a walk where they had their first kiss as teenagers. Raf has a part time teaching position at a diocesan school.
Second epilogue is years later and the entire group with kids are spending their yearly holiday break at the villa in Monaco. Alessio and Raf are married and talk about starting their own family too.
Characters of the series :
Tyrone Kingston: professor at Astor University (Park avenue Princes series) who’s with student / « Prince » James Easton and Zac Fletcher, teacher assistant.
Lachlan Stone: King member. Hitman at night. Head of Stone Security the day.
Cooper Patterson: journalist from Colorado who moved to NYC to investigate on his best friend’s death.
Alessio Trentacapelli: King member. IT genius. Technocrat. 32.
Rafael: or Father Vitale, a priest. Alessio’s ex. 32.
Benoît Olivier: King member. Former burlesque dancer. Charmer. French.
Dimitri Stavros: arms dealer. 47. Was raised by the man who accidentally killed his father. Killed Giorgos as he was plotting against him.
Theo Rinaldi : King member. Youngest prince of Monaco. Rebellious and unhinged. 37.
Shepherd Winchester: King’s second in command. King’s ex. Son of former POTUS. Levelheaded. 40.
Lucien Vale: King member. 37. Owner of The Veil, a sex club, and other establishments.
Kai: 23. Parents kicked him out at 15. Lived on the streets and prostituted, then was sold and traded between rich men.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2026
Amazon
The time has come for Alessio to finally reunite with his first, only, love, Father Rafael. He's been waiting literally years to be with his man, and most of those years he never thought he'd have him again. In the time since they've been apart, Alessio has become the the tech wizard of his found family, and has used that wizardry to watch over Rafael from the shadows, from a distance. But now? Now's the time he's coming for him in person, not from behind a monitor, and not separated by the confessional lattice.
When Rafael made the choice back then to walk away from Alessio and into his faith and his calling, it was what was right for him at the time. In the years since, he's shoved his love deep into the place he doesn't acknowledge, and has let his love for his God guide him. But now Alessio has come to him in person, away from the confessional where he's been sending his brothers, and he himself has come to silently sit. Seeing him, being around him, he's having a battle of his love for Alessio and his faith. Which will he choose?
I have been eagerly and impatiently waiting for Alessio and Rafael's story since Alessio was first introduced. I could feel Alessio's pain so deeply each time he talked about watching Rafael, dreaming of him, missing him, loving him. Although I knew they would eventually have their reunion, Ella and Brooke made them both work for it. Rafael, with a little guidance from his mentor, worked through what had driven him away from Alessio and to the Catholic church, and Alessio had been relentlessly working his way toward his one and only goal - forever with his love, Rafael. Their journey was painful, but deeply moving and even heartfelt, slow burn delicious, and very much centered on just their relationship, rather than allowing much outside intrigue like in the previous stories. Although I liked the suspense in the other stories, I appreciated that for the final story, it's just a second chance love, rather than a lot of action and suspense. Of all the couples, I think the authors definitely were smart to save Rafael and Alessio for a fitting conclusion.
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
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April 29, 2026
4.5 -
HEHEHE, I WAS WAITING FOR THIS BOOOK. I was so so excited for this couple, I could feeel their tension in the other books and was so curious about their dynamic. This is a really emotionally heavy book which so much yearning and heartbreak, it physically made my heart hurt but the end made it soooo worth it.
Father Rafael Vitale. Rafael has always been religious and has always turned to God, as his parents made him be apart of the church since a kid, it became a very big part of him. He is one of the most patient characters i've ever read about (probably a characteristic he gained from the church). He always believed he needed to give his life to the church because that was the only way to find peace in his life, and it was the only way to ensure he had someone to lean against who would never leave him, something he thought to be completely true after both of his parents died. However, he has a secret. He is in love with his childhood best friend who he left when he joined the church.
Alessio Trentacapelli. A literal tech rat. You know those scenes in movies where the hackers are like "I need to get through the firewall and done!", he is basically that x100 and is actually legit. He has his own huge room with a bunch of technology gadgets and knows how to code anything and hack anything. Being part of the Park Avenue Kings, he helps to get justice by hacking criminals and sort of ruining their lives (they deserve it). While he is ruthless, inside his heart he is literally a heartbroken teenager who yearnnnnssss for Rafael, he just wants to be loved by the one person his heart beats for. (It sounds corny but it's true istg).
The book starts with the monthly confession that Alessio and his friends from his group (the Kings) have. Alessio introduced them to Rafael because while they are not the most religious people, all the illegal things that they do to try and protect the world does put a weight on them and confessing to a Father that is completely trustable helps them a bit. Anyways, the beginning of the books is basically understanding this dynamic Alessio and Rafael have. Alessio hurts daily because of Rafael and what they use to have and Rafael thinks he is at peace when in fact he is not. They have gone many months without interacting or speaking but that slightly changes when Alessio drunkenly finds him in the church and confesses how much he misses him and wants to be with him. That is the beginning of the unravelling of Rafael. Very slowly he starts losing control of himself and of all the promises he made to the church. He tries to stay away but by breaking the silence that use to surround both of them, it seems he can't. A bit later, one of Alessio's friend asks Rafael to help officiate his wedding because they really trust him. This also leads to Rafael finding out that Alessio lives in a building right next to the Church and likes to watch him. Alessio, hurt by the fact that Rafael is officiating a gay wedding which they could have had if Rafael didn't leave him, tries to get away from him at the wedding. Rafael decides to follow him even though he knows he shouldn't and whadayaknow, they end up kissing. Alessio runs away and a couple days later Rafael goes to his apartment, intending to "end things" but obviously it doesn't happen and they get really close to doing something spicy but Alessio realizes he can't be the thing Rafael regrets once again. The following Sunday, Rafael hosts a mass that centers around regret and temptation which hits right in the balls since Alessio decided to show up at that mass. After hearing what he said, Alessio decides it's time to stop and he makes the decision to get curtains, stop watching the cameras and stop attending confession to not see him. While it was clearly what they both needed, here Rafael realizes that he can't live without Alessio and he can't go more than a week without seeing or interacting with him. With a bit of a push from one of the Kings, Alessio shows up to Rafael's room and they end up spending the night together. After this night, while Alessio thinks its temporary, Rafael realizes that he can't live without him and he needs to make a choice. They end up seeing each other and in the mean time Rafael meets up with his old mentor to try to explain and ensure he is making the right decision. He gets the breath of fresh air he was looking for when he realizes that choosing Alessio is what he needs. After this, Alessio and Rafael finally connect again and they both realize that while they suffered so much, the space was necessary for both of them to grow and find themselves before being together. The series ends in such a cute way with all of the Kings having their partners and living a very carefree life together.
Alessio and Rafael are literal soulmates and not one that convince me otherwise. I found this book so cute and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved them so much and if anyone deserved a happy ending more it was them. After suffering daily by not being together, their connection was so strong that they couldn't deny it. Like who can go 15 years without being with anyone because their heart belongs to someone else, literally kill me. I loved the flashbacks of them as children and their moments, and I especially enjoyed how they weren't overly long, they were just right to understand their past together. Loved them. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is because when I give 5 stars I need to like cry, or have a need to finish the book at like 3am and while I loveddd them, it didn't reach that intensity. Still, soososos good!!
HEHEHE, I WAS WAITING FOR THIS BOOOK. I was so so excited for this couple, I could feeel their tension in the other books and was so curious about their dynamic. This is a really emotionally heavy book which so much yearning and heartbreak, it physically made my heart hurt but the end made it soooo worth it.
Father Rafael Vitale. Rafael has always been religious and has always turned to God, as his parents made him be apart of the church since a kid, it became a very big part of him. He is one of the most patient characters i've ever read about (probably a characteristic he gained from the church). He always believed he needed to give his life to the church because that was the only way to find peace in his life, and it was the only way to ensure he had someone to lean against who would never leave him, something he thought to be completely true after both of his parents died. However, he has a secret. He is in love with his childhood best friend who he left when he joined the church.
Alessio Trentacapelli. A literal tech rat. You know those scenes in movies where the hackers are like "I need to get through the firewall and done!", he is basically that x100 and is actually legit. He has his own huge room with a bunch of technology gadgets and knows how to code anything and hack anything. Being part of the Park Avenue Kings, he helps to get justice by hacking criminals and sort of ruining their lives (they deserve it). While he is ruthless, inside his heart he is literally a heartbroken teenager who yearnnnnssss for Rafael, he just wants to be loved by the one person his heart beats for. (It sounds corny but it's true istg).
The book starts with the monthly confession that Alessio and his friends from his group (the Kings) have. Alessio introduced them to Rafael because while they are not the most religious people, all the illegal things that they do to try and protect the world does put a weight on them and confessing to a Father that is completely trustable helps them a bit. Anyways, the beginning of the books is basically understanding this dynamic Alessio and Rafael have. Alessio hurts daily because of Rafael and what they use to have and Rafael thinks he is at peace when in fact he is not. They have gone many months without interacting or speaking but that slightly changes when Alessio drunkenly finds him in the church and confesses how much he misses him and wants to be with him. That is the beginning of the unravelling of Rafael. Very slowly he starts losing control of himself and of all the promises he made to the church. He tries to stay away but by breaking the silence that use to surround both of them, it seems he can't. A bit later, one of Alessio's friend asks Rafael to help officiate his wedding because they really trust him. This also leads to Rafael finding out that Alessio lives in a building right next to the Church and likes to watch him. Alessio, hurt by the fact that Rafael is officiating a gay wedding which they could have had if Rafael didn't leave him, tries to get away from him at the wedding. Rafael decides to follow him even though he knows he shouldn't and whadayaknow, they end up kissing. Alessio runs away and a couple days later Rafael goes to his apartment, intending to "end things" but obviously it doesn't happen and they get really close to doing something spicy but Alessio realizes he can't be the thing Rafael regrets once again. The following Sunday, Rafael hosts a mass that centers around regret and temptation which hits right in the balls since Alessio decided to show up at that mass. After hearing what he said, Alessio decides it's time to stop and he makes the decision to get curtains, stop watching the cameras and stop attending confession to not see him. While it was clearly what they both needed, here Rafael realizes that he can't live without Alessio and he can't go more than a week without seeing or interacting with him. With a bit of a push from one of the Kings, Alessio shows up to Rafael's room and they end up spending the night together. After this night, while Alessio thinks its temporary, Rafael realizes that he can't live without him and he needs to make a choice. They end up seeing each other and in the mean time Rafael meets up with his old mentor to try to explain and ensure he is making the right decision. He gets the breath of fresh air he was looking for when he realizes that choosing Alessio is what he needs. After this, Alessio and Rafael finally connect again and they both realize that while they suffered so much, the space was necessary for both of them to grow and find themselves before being together. The series ends in such a cute way with all of the Kings having their partners and living a very carefree life together.
Alessio and Rafael are literal soulmates and not one that convince me otherwise. I found this book so cute and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved them so much and if anyone deserved a happy ending more it was them. After suffering daily by not being together, their connection was so strong that they couldn't deny it. Like who can go 15 years without being with anyone because their heart belongs to someone else, literally kill me. I loved the flashbacks of them as children and their moments, and I especially enjoyed how they weren't overly long, they were just right to understand their past together. Loved them. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is because when I give 5 stars I need to like cry, or have a need to finish the book at like 3am and while I loveddd them, it didn't reach that intensity. Still, soososos good!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alessio and his priest’s story has been teased for a while, and to say I was excited for it was an understatement.
Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of emotion in this one. Alessio has years of anger and hurt stored up after Rafael’s decision broke them apart. But the way he stays loyal, steadfast in his feelings, for so many years, keeping that childhood promise even without Rafael knowing – I found it really romantic actually. There were so many little tells that his feelings hadn’t changed, and each one made me feel for him and like his character even more.
I’ll admit I did get very caught up in Alessio’s feelings and I did end up feeling frustrated at Rafael on the other man’s behalf fairly regularly. But as we learn what a genuinely kind man Rafael is – I mean as you would hope for a priest – and after hearing his side of the story, he did gain a lot more sympathy from me, especially knowing he’s had to live with that decision too. And when Rafael shows up, does he show up! Finally! He knows how to say the right thing, that priest, and his incredibly heartfelt words made me melt on Alessio’s behalf.
I did feel the push and pull in this one. I kept hoping they’d finally give in to one another to break the tension. And the pining. Oh, the pining! There’s plenty of that here, as you’d hope for these two who have been longing for each other for so long. You can feel it in every interaction, in their touches, in their words. There’s some powerful, raw emotion in this.
There’s no side action plot in this one like the other books in the series, it purely focuses on these two’s relationship. And to be honest, I felt Alessio and Rafael deserved all the attention after having waited so long to be together again.
This second chance, slow burn romance is a great closing book of this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what these authors will bring us next.
----
I received an ARC copy of this book from the authors and The Author Agency, and this is my honest review.
----
Some of my favourite quotes
“You didn’t choose me. And I chose you forever. So where the fuck does that leave me?”
God may feed my soul, but Alessio had always fed my heart and desire. And if that was a sin, then I’d atone for it...later.
“You have no idea what you do to me. How much you fuck with my head. I wake up every day knowing I can’t have you—knowing I never will—and then I get to watch everyone else get the love that they want like it’s easy. This is all bullshit. You keep showing up in my life just enough to keep me unsteady. Just enough to keep me hoping.” “I never asked you to hope.” “No. You just let me. You want to be friends and sit across from me and pretend nothing ever happened. That you didn’t ever want me too.”
This man was mine. He always had been, always would be. I’d had Rafael first, and if God had problem with that, He could strike me down right here. He’d never played fair, and neither would I.
“I’ll always protect you, always watch over you. I love you. You know that, right?”
How could he stand up there, so righteous and composed, and talk about us like we were somehow wrong? Like we were a fucking weakness instead of a love that felt like oxygen?
“I understand what it would be like to lose you. And I’m not doing it.”
“You are peace. You are love. You are passion and chaos and turmoil, and I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what it can mean.”
“I’ve wanted you for so long. Waited even longer.”
“I can’t be near you without wanting you. And I don’t know how to reconcile that with everything else I’ve built.”
“It wasn’t. It never was. You and I were always two parts of the same puzzle. Light and dark—” “Good and bad?” “A believer and a realist. But the one thing that was always clear to everyone around us was the picture we made when we came together—love. And that never changed. I love you, Alessio. I know I’ve hurt you. I’ve made choices for the both of us that had far-reaching consequences, but the one thing I never stopped doing, the one thing I will never stop doing, is loving you.”
“I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
“I love you. So much my heart feels like it’s going to fly out of my chest.”
“You’re really here.” “I really am.” “For how long?” “For however long you want me.”
“Do you really believe there’s anything you could say or do that would make me love you any less? I know who you are, Alessio, then and now. And I don’t love you in spite of it—I love you because of it.”
“I don’t want to change who you are, Alessio. And I don’t want you to hide it from me either.”
“I choose you. Always. Forever. There will never be a moment that I don’t ever choose you again.”
Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of emotion in this one. Alessio has years of anger and hurt stored up after Rafael’s decision broke them apart. But the way he stays loyal, steadfast in his feelings, for so many years, keeping that childhood promise even without Rafael knowing – I found it really romantic actually. There were so many little tells that his feelings hadn’t changed, and each one made me feel for him and like his character even more.
I’ll admit I did get very caught up in Alessio’s feelings and I did end up feeling frustrated at Rafael on the other man’s behalf fairly regularly. But as we learn what a genuinely kind man Rafael is – I mean as you would hope for a priest – and after hearing his side of the story, he did gain a lot more sympathy from me, especially knowing he’s had to live with that decision too. And when Rafael shows up, does he show up! Finally! He knows how to say the right thing, that priest, and his incredibly heartfelt words made me melt on Alessio’s behalf.
I did feel the push and pull in this one. I kept hoping they’d finally give in to one another to break the tension. And the pining. Oh, the pining! There’s plenty of that here, as you’d hope for these two who have been longing for each other for so long. You can feel it in every interaction, in their touches, in their words. There’s some powerful, raw emotion in this.
There’s no side action plot in this one like the other books in the series, it purely focuses on these two’s relationship. And to be honest, I felt Alessio and Rafael deserved all the attention after having waited so long to be together again.
This second chance, slow burn romance is a great closing book of this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what these authors will bring us next.
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I received an ARC copy of this book from the authors and The Author Agency, and this is my honest review.
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Some of my favourite quotes
“You didn’t choose me. And I chose you forever. So where the fuck does that leave me?”
God may feed my soul, but Alessio had always fed my heart and desire. And if that was a sin, then I’d atone for it...later.
“You have no idea what you do to me. How much you fuck with my head. I wake up every day knowing I can’t have you—knowing I never will—and then I get to watch everyone else get the love that they want like it’s easy. This is all bullshit. You keep showing up in my life just enough to keep me unsteady. Just enough to keep me hoping.” “I never asked you to hope.” “No. You just let me. You want to be friends and sit across from me and pretend nothing ever happened. That you didn’t ever want me too.”
This man was mine. He always had been, always would be. I’d had Rafael first, and if God had problem with that, He could strike me down right here. He’d never played fair, and neither would I.
“I’ll always protect you, always watch over you. I love you. You know that, right?”
How could he stand up there, so righteous and composed, and talk about us like we were somehow wrong? Like we were a fucking weakness instead of a love that felt like oxygen?
“I understand what it would be like to lose you. And I’m not doing it.”
“You are peace. You are love. You are passion and chaos and turmoil, and I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what it can mean.”
“I’ve wanted you for so long. Waited even longer.”
“I can’t be near you without wanting you. And I don’t know how to reconcile that with everything else I’ve built.”
“It wasn’t. It never was. You and I were always two parts of the same puzzle. Light and dark—” “Good and bad?” “A believer and a realist. But the one thing that was always clear to everyone around us was the picture we made when we came together—love. And that never changed. I love you, Alessio. I know I’ve hurt you. I’ve made choices for the both of us that had far-reaching consequences, but the one thing I never stopped doing, the one thing I will never stop doing, is loving you.”
“I would’ve waited my whole life for you. I love you, Rafael. I never stopped, couldn’t stop, not even when I wanted to. You’re the other half of my heart, the other half of my soul, and I haven’t felt complete until this moment right here.”
“I love you. So much my heart feels like it’s going to fly out of my chest.”
“You’re really here.” “I really am.” “For how long?” “For however long you want me.”
“Do you really believe there’s anything you could say or do that would make me love you any less? I know who you are, Alessio, then and now. And I don’t love you in spite of it—I love you because of it.”
“I don’t want to change who you are, Alessio. And I don’t want you to hide it from me either.”
“I choose you. Always. Forever. There will never be a moment that I don’t ever choose you again.”
Review of advance copy received from Altro
ARC REVIEW
UNHOLY (PARK AVENUE KINGS 6) by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank
…e anche questa avventura arriva, purtroppo, alla sua fine! É stato un viaggio meraviglioso cominciato con Park Avenue Princes e non leggere più di tutti loro mi mancherà tantissimo!!
Unholy é il sesto e ultimo libro della serie Park Avenue Kings. Aspettavo questo libro sin dalla prima volta che Alessio e Padre Vitale sono apparsi in Savage e finalmente è tra le mie mani!
Questa storia è stata un susseguirsi di emozioni: ho provato felicità, ho sospirato, ho esultato e ho pianto! La storia di Rafael e Alessio ha un passato molto doloroso che mi ha tenuta con il fiato sospeso tutto il tempo. Vederli interagire è stato stupendo! Ho divorato il libro in 24h perché non riuscivo a smettere di leggerlo, ho ritrovato i miei amati Kings ma soprattutto ho letto un Alessio che non conoscevo prima (è l’hacker del gruppo e nei libri precedenti aveva un ruolo di comparsa). Nonostante tutto, mi aveva conquistata sin da Savage. E’ un personaggio complesso, un genio con i computer, quando lavorava per Tyrone King mi piaceva sempre e la sua storia è stata la degna conclusione di questa serie.
Nei libri ci sono un sacco di flashback che ci portano a conoscere decisamente meglio i due protagonisti, ma soprattutto il loro passato. Questo libro parla di scelte. Una molto sofferta, bisogna leggere il libro per capire quanto.
Il secondo protagonista della storia è Padre Vitale, il prete giovane e maledettamente sexy della Chiesa di St. Andrews, dove Alessio “costringe” i suoi fratelli almeno una volta al mese ad andare a confessarsi. Ma Alessio non si è mai confessato nei libri precedenti e mi sono sempre chiesta perchè si tenesse così alla larga… In questo libro abbiamo TUTTE ma dico TUTTE le risposte finalmente e come già immaginavo, questo è stato uno dei più belli della serie. La serie Park Avenue Kings mi è entrata nel cuore e già non vedo l’ora di fare una rilettura!
Ps: Ho notato un personaggio… 👀 chissà!
Grazie mille a Brooke e Ella Frank e a The Author Agency per la copia ARC.
English review ⬇
Unholy is the 6th book in Park Avenue Kings Series, read the series from book 1 Savage (personally I suggest starting from Park Avenue Princes!)
The main characters in this book are Alessio Trentacapelli and Rafael Vitale, the hacker and the priest. Yes, you read it RIGHT! Alessio is a 32years old man, hacker in the most important secret society in New York and we get to know him better in this book. His character intrigued me since book 1 in this series and I’m so happy to read his story and his finally deserved HEA! Alessio and Rafael have known each other since they were teenagers, they were best friends and went to the same church. But… they grow up and friendship changes into something more… until a devastating decision turns their beautiful friendship into… nothing. Now all grown up, finally they decided to bring back the past and Rafael explained why he decided to “break” their friendship. Alessio is heartbroken and I suffered for him when he saw that all his friends and his family started to have boyfriends and beautiful relationships. He was always single and happy with his computers and his technology but he missed his person, he missed Rafael. I’m so happy they found each other and Alessio deserved his happiness. I really loved how Brooke and Ella described their story (there is angst, yes, but you will cheer for both of them!) They were amazing and I couldn't wait for their awaited happy ending! I recommend with all my soul this series because it’s amazing and I’m sad that it is over! Can't wait for their new books!
UNHOLY (PARK AVENUE KINGS 6) by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank
…e anche questa avventura arriva, purtroppo, alla sua fine! É stato un viaggio meraviglioso cominciato con Park Avenue Princes e non leggere più di tutti loro mi mancherà tantissimo!!
Unholy é il sesto e ultimo libro della serie Park Avenue Kings. Aspettavo questo libro sin dalla prima volta che Alessio e Padre Vitale sono apparsi in Savage e finalmente è tra le mie mani!
Questa storia è stata un susseguirsi di emozioni: ho provato felicità, ho sospirato, ho esultato e ho pianto! La storia di Rafael e Alessio ha un passato molto doloroso che mi ha tenuta con il fiato sospeso tutto il tempo. Vederli interagire è stato stupendo! Ho divorato il libro in 24h perché non riuscivo a smettere di leggerlo, ho ritrovato i miei amati Kings ma soprattutto ho letto un Alessio che non conoscevo prima (è l’hacker del gruppo e nei libri precedenti aveva un ruolo di comparsa). Nonostante tutto, mi aveva conquistata sin da Savage. E’ un personaggio complesso, un genio con i computer, quando lavorava per Tyrone King mi piaceva sempre e la sua storia è stata la degna conclusione di questa serie.
Nei libri ci sono un sacco di flashback che ci portano a conoscere decisamente meglio i due protagonisti, ma soprattutto il loro passato. Questo libro parla di scelte. Una molto sofferta, bisogna leggere il libro per capire quanto.
Il secondo protagonista della storia è Padre Vitale, il prete giovane e maledettamente sexy della Chiesa di St. Andrews, dove Alessio “costringe” i suoi fratelli almeno una volta al mese ad andare a confessarsi. Ma Alessio non si è mai confessato nei libri precedenti e mi sono sempre chiesta perchè si tenesse così alla larga… In questo libro abbiamo TUTTE ma dico TUTTE le risposte finalmente e come già immaginavo, questo è stato uno dei più belli della serie. La serie Park Avenue Kings mi è entrata nel cuore e già non vedo l’ora di fare una rilettura!
Ps: Ho notato un personaggio… 👀 chissà!
Grazie mille a Brooke e Ella Frank e a The Author Agency per la copia ARC.
English review ⬇
Unholy is the 6th book in Park Avenue Kings Series, read the series from book 1 Savage (personally I suggest starting from Park Avenue Princes!)
The main characters in this book are Alessio Trentacapelli and Rafael Vitale, the hacker and the priest. Yes, you read it RIGHT! Alessio is a 32years old man, hacker in the most important secret society in New York and we get to know him better in this book. His character intrigued me since book 1 in this series and I’m so happy to read his story and his finally deserved HEA! Alessio and Rafael have known each other since they were teenagers, they were best friends and went to the same church. But… they grow up and friendship changes into something more… until a devastating decision turns their beautiful friendship into… nothing. Now all grown up, finally they decided to bring back the past and Rafael explained why he decided to “break” their friendship. Alessio is heartbroken and I suffered for him when he saw that all his friends and his family started to have boyfriends and beautiful relationships. He was always single and happy with his computers and his technology but he missed his person, he missed Rafael. I’m so happy they found each other and Alessio deserved his happiness. I really loved how Brooke and Ella described their story (there is angst, yes, but you will cheer for both of them!) They were amazing and I couldn't wait for their awaited happy ending! I recommend with all my soul this series because it’s amazing and I’m sad that it is over! Can't wait for their new books!
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