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Carlina
Forced into a marriage against her will, Carlina goes from living in the house her father built to living with a man she had only heard stories about. When she finds a secret cache, the decision to leave is immediate, but at what cost?
Preston, a rich kid with dark secrets, is forced to do his father's bidding. His inheritance is contingent upon being married, when he finds out his new bride is gone, he sees his future disappear with her.
Preston, a rich kid with dark secrets, is forced to do his father's bidding. His inheritance is contingent upon being married, when he finds out his new bride is gone, he sees his future disappear with her.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 11, 2025
To be fair, I am not a fan of fairy tale retelling stories but this one started off ok, and I was quite enjoying it until I wasn’t 🫣
Carlina is forced to marry at 18, her new husband Preston, he is the son of man who runs legitimate businesses but also has his hands in illegal ones too and Preston just so happens to be the man sent to delete undesirables. She had been sheltered all her life, treated like a servant in her own home by her step father, mother and step sisters. When she reaches 19 she should acquire her inheritance. Her story isn’t that simple and she ends up learning all sorts that had been kept hidden.
So, I got half way through and just thought this is stretched out and seems like it’s going into a second book because it wasn’t really moving forward. Suddenly, we’re at over three quarters of the way through and it all happens at once, the book finishes 👀. For me the writing was more like reading a statement, lots of errors not sure if I received a pre-edited version as that’s what it read like. Not being detrimental to the authors as the premise of the story would have been good if the ‘business’ side was more prominent with Carlina learning all about them.
Carlina is forced to marry at 18, her new husband Preston, he is the son of man who runs legitimate businesses but also has his hands in illegal ones too and Preston just so happens to be the man sent to delete undesirables. She had been sheltered all her life, treated like a servant in her own home by her step father, mother and step sisters. When she reaches 19 she should acquire her inheritance. Her story isn’t that simple and she ends up learning all sorts that had been kept hidden.
So, I got half way through and just thought this is stretched out and seems like it’s going into a second book because it wasn’t really moving forward. Suddenly, we’re at over three quarters of the way through and it all happens at once, the book finishes 👀. For me the writing was more like reading a statement, lots of errors not sure if I received a pre-edited version as that’s what it read like. Not being detrimental to the authors as the premise of the story would have been good if the ‘business’ side was more prominent with Carlina learning all about them.
April 30, 2025
A big thank you for allowing me to read this book. Here is my honest review. This is my first book by Flo Journey.
Rating 4
Spice 2.5
This is a mafia Cinderella retelling. It has dual pov.
I really enjoyed this book. I really felt for carlina. She was being used as a pawn piece by her stepdad and her mother is absolutely nothing. I also loathe Annabelle one of the step sisters. Her mother doesn’t take her side at all.
I absolutely love the relationship between Preston and Victoria. This made my heart happy. She was the help but a mother figure to him. Preston is a murder for hire and he is so supportive and helpful when carlina starts finding out secrets from her family.
There is some banter which I always enjoy. My favorite characters are Victoria, Seth, Preston, carlina, and Evan.
I do wish we would have found out what happens to the houses and more of her coming into the role. Hopefully we get that in book 2, which I cannot wait for!!!!
Rating 4
Spice 2.5
This is a mafia Cinderella retelling. It has dual pov.
I really enjoyed this book. I really felt for carlina. She was being used as a pawn piece by her stepdad and her mother is absolutely nothing. I also loathe Annabelle one of the step sisters. Her mother doesn’t take her side at all.
I absolutely love the relationship between Preston and Victoria. This made my heart happy. She was the help but a mother figure to him. Preston is a murder for hire and he is so supportive and helpful when carlina starts finding out secrets from her family.
There is some banter which I always enjoy. My favorite characters are Victoria, Seth, Preston, carlina, and Evan.
I do wish we would have found out what happens to the houses and more of her coming into the role. Hopefully we get that in book 2, which I cannot wait for!!!!
May 2, 2025
F.L. Journey did an amazing job with this book. It had me mad at both Carlina’s and Preston's situations of being forced to marry someone they didn't know, sight unseen. The more the story went on I became furious with Carlina mom for putting herself and Carlina into that situation and allowing Baron to do any of what he did. I loved that Preston ended up being all in, on Carlina's side, helping her get back what is rightfully hers. I'm absolutely glad they both found love in each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
*ARC Review:
This was such a fun time! Mafia romance with a touch of arranged marriage. Definitely not a dark romance in what most people think of when they think of dark romance (Which I class as erotic horror)- It's more of contemporary romance with dark theming. There is violence and mentions of domestic violence but there is no violence or abuse between the MC's.
The writing was so fun. The personalities of each character were so clear (I can't wait for Beatrice's book and for Annabelle to trip off a ledge), it was almost like I knew the characters.
Carlina, the almost 19- yr old FMC, is portrayed with a young air that doesn't feel overly immature or annoying like some books containing MC's in the 'teens' can be. A beautiful balance of the trust and naivete that comes from being young and new to the world while ensuring to maintain her status as a strong woman.
Preston, the MMC, is your all run-of-the-mill early 20's bachelor. Cares about his cars, doesn't want to follow in daddies footsteps and is an all around goof-ball.... while also being a hired killer. He rides the line of being sweet and supportive while still taking charge and being the dominant man we all swoon over.
My only complaint? It felt a little insta-lovey. (Spoilers): She disappears after being afraid he is dangerous- literally disappears in the dark of the night- but she instantly gives that up and not only is cordial with him but lovey-dovey? It felt like the change in relationship wasn't "earned". The plot behind her losing the house, and her mother, was also kind of confusing at times. It felt like it was more convoluted than it needed to be but the foreshadowing of what was to come was setup nicely, even if there was a lot going on in different areas.
Overall? This was a good read and I would suggest for anyone who is interested in mafia romances that arn't totally "dark". I was sucked in on several occasions- especially on Preston's POV. He had a lot of interesting stuff going on and it kept you entertained. I also loved that time was measured based on its proximity to the wedding.
The spice wasn't the craziest but I did enjoy the peaks at knife play we got. As always, even if this isn't a dark romance- check your triggers. I usually tout that I have no triggers but the truth is- theft of inheritance via mom is a trigger of mine. So, I definitely needed to sit and cool down a few times. I could relate to some of the feelings of confusion and betrayal that were portrayed in this book. So again, even if it isn't a dark romance- check your triggers.
This was such a fun time! Mafia romance with a touch of arranged marriage. Definitely not a dark romance in what most people think of when they think of dark romance (Which I class as erotic horror)- It's more of contemporary romance with dark theming. There is violence and mentions of domestic violence but there is no violence or abuse between the MC's.
The writing was so fun. The personalities of each character were so clear (I can't wait for Beatrice's book and for Annabelle to trip off a ledge), it was almost like I knew the characters.
Carlina, the almost 19- yr old FMC, is portrayed with a young air that doesn't feel overly immature or annoying like some books containing MC's in the 'teens' can be. A beautiful balance of the trust and naivete that comes from being young and new to the world while ensuring to maintain her status as a strong woman.
Preston, the MMC, is your all run-of-the-mill early 20's bachelor. Cares about his cars, doesn't want to follow in daddies footsteps and is an all around goof-ball.... while also being a hired killer. He rides the line of being sweet and supportive while still taking charge and being the dominant man we all swoon over.
My only complaint? It felt a little insta-lovey. (Spoilers): She disappears after being afraid he is dangerous- literally disappears in the dark of the night- but she instantly gives that up and not only is cordial with him but lovey-dovey? It felt like the change in relationship wasn't "earned". The plot behind her losing the house, and her mother, was also kind of confusing at times. It felt like it was more convoluted than it needed to be but the foreshadowing of what was to come was setup nicely, even if there was a lot going on in different areas.
Overall? This was a good read and I would suggest for anyone who is interested in mafia romances that arn't totally "dark". I was sucked in on several occasions- especially on Preston's POV. He had a lot of interesting stuff going on and it kept you entertained. I also loved that time was measured based on its proximity to the wedding.
The spice wasn't the craziest but I did enjoy the peaks at knife play we got. As always, even if this isn't a dark romance- check your triggers. I usually tout that I have no triggers but the truth is- theft of inheritance via mom is a trigger of mine. So, I definitely needed to sit and cool down a few times. I could relate to some of the feelings of confusion and betrayal that were portrayed in this book. So again, even if it isn't a dark romance- check your triggers.
May 5, 2025
I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it - I didn't realize how young the MC's were (18 going on 19) when I signed up for the chance to ARC read (I'm sure I saw Mafia/Arranged Marriage and just jumped up and down cause those are some of my favorite tropes)- so that's a me problem not the author (and also not why I only gave this read 4 stars). FMC Carlina is almost 19 and literally counting down the days till she's 19 and can receive her inheritance from her late father. Preston, also counting down the days till he can get his inheritance - is an enforcer for his dad. The two are forced into an arranged marriage - sight unseen. I really liked Preston. I struggled with Carlina - at almost 19 - basically a servant in her family home with two step sisters being so un-wordly - like not having a cell phone - while her sisters did. Anyway, she learns alot about her father, his and her family's past - and Preston steps in and helps her embrace what she's inherited - while he's stepping into a new world as well. There was ALOT of the story pre-wedding and I wish there had been more after the wedding, as they both grow in their power, grow to love each other and start a life together. Since there are the two step sisters and Preston has two friends - I will read further books from the author as I want to see how everything plays out in the end. There's still plenty of dangling storylines that intrigue me
July 10, 2025
I am blown over by the fact that this is Flo Journey’s first dark romance!
So damn good!
You get it all!
-Fairytale (Cinderella retelling)
-Mafia
-Arranged Marriage
-Forced Proximity
-Slow Burn
-There are characters you’ll love and ones you’ll loathe. Lol
Preston and Carlina are young. They’re both nearing on 19. And even though they are young they are forced into an arranged marriage with having never even met. They will both also receive their inheritances when they turn 19.
Preston is his father’s enforcer so he’s a bit more prepared to step up when he receives his inheritance. Carlina has a bit of a difficult time seeing as how her stepmother has kept her isolated ever since her father died. But Preston steps in and helps her as she learns things about her father and his and her family’s history. He teaches her how to embrace her new role and new life and they both learn to love each other.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
So damn good!
You get it all!
-Fairytale (Cinderella retelling)
-Mafia
-Arranged Marriage
-Forced Proximity
-Slow Burn
-There are characters you’ll love and ones you’ll loathe. Lol
Preston and Carlina are young. They’re both nearing on 19. And even though they are young they are forced into an arranged marriage with having never even met. They will both also receive their inheritances when they turn 19.
Preston is his father’s enforcer so he’s a bit more prepared to step up when he receives his inheritance. Carlina has a bit of a difficult time seeing as how her stepmother has kept her isolated ever since her father died. But Preston steps in and helps her as she learns things about her father and his and her family’s history. He teaches her how to embrace her new role and new life and they both learn to love each other.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
May 4, 2025
"No matter what, Carlina was mine, and I was going to do everything in my power to keep her mine."
Wow, this was good! This slow burn, arranged marriage, mafia, Cinderella retelling did not disappoint. Usually slow burns are hard for me to read but the plot was so addicting that the real romance was so worth the wait. I could not stand Baron, or Carlina's mom. I'd always just wanna yell "be a real mother"! Baron was just aggravating in every way possible and don't even get me started on Annabelle. Preston and Carlina were such a hot couple though. Their relationship was amazing to watch grow, from both of them not even wanting to participate in the marriage, to being so in love with each other. I cannot wait to see what happens in Beatrice!
Wow, this was good! This slow burn, arranged marriage, mafia, Cinderella retelling did not disappoint. Usually slow burns are hard for me to read but the plot was so addicting that the real romance was so worth the wait. I could not stand Baron, or Carlina's mom. I'd always just wanna yell "be a real mother"! Baron was just aggravating in every way possible and don't even get me started on Annabelle. Preston and Carlina were such a hot couple though. Their relationship was amazing to watch grow, from both of them not even wanting to participate in the marriage, to being so in love with each other. I cannot wait to see what happens in Beatrice!
August 24, 2025
Great read
Ok, at first I thought this was going to be another Cinderella story, but it was much better!!! There were a couple things that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First was how we didn't get to the wedding , until chapters 19 and 20 then the book flew by. Second, having the male main character talk about the wedding day in chapter 19 then having the female main character talk about the same thing in chapter 20 bothered me a tad. Otherwise, I loved the story line, loved the intimacy between the two main characters, and loved the pay back to the stepfather. My only other issue was that I wanted to know what happened to the two stepsister and the main female character's mom.
Ok, at first I thought this was going to be another Cinderella story, but it was much better!!! There were a couple things that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First was how we didn't get to the wedding , until chapters 19 and 20 then the book flew by. Second, having the male main character talk about the wedding day in chapter 19 then having the female main character talk about the same thing in chapter 20 bothered me a tad. Otherwise, I loved the story line, loved the intimacy between the two main characters, and loved the pay back to the stepfather. My only other issue was that I wanted to know what happened to the two stepsister and the main female character's mom.
June 25, 2025
Such a great read!!! Check your triggers!!
This book is a slow-burn, arranged marriage, mafia-like, Cinderellaish retelling! Even though this book is a slow-burn, it kept me turning the pages to know more! I absolutely loved the storyline! Preston and Carlina are a fantastic couple and I loved how their relationship turned out in the end. Totally disliked Annabell and Carlina's mother Celeste! Don't even get me started on the hate I had for Baron!!! Everything flowed so well in this story and I ended up reading it in one sitting, up past my bedtime!! I was sad when it came to an end because my mind craved more!!!
This book is a slow-burn, arranged marriage, mafia-like, Cinderellaish retelling! Even though this book is a slow-burn, it kept me turning the pages to know more! I absolutely loved the storyline! Preston and Carlina are a fantastic couple and I loved how their relationship turned out in the end. Totally disliked Annabell and Carlina's mother Celeste! Don't even get me started on the hate I had for Baron!!! Everything flowed so well in this story and I ended up reading it in one sitting, up past my bedtime!! I was sad when it came to an end because my mind craved more!!!
September 5, 2025
Cinderella themes
Love the Cinderella themes going. Over all the book felt slow. I found myself losing interest while Preston was in Vegas. Also as far as spice goes, I think I was 80% into the book at that point. While this book has dark themes, it didn’t feel like a dark romance to me. Again it just took so long to get to the romance part especially since it was a forced marriage and then Preston has to leave right after. It was still a good book over all. I guess I just had different expectations going into it. I’d still read Beatrice’s book after this though. I’m curious about her character arc.
Love the Cinderella themes going. Over all the book felt slow. I found myself losing interest while Preston was in Vegas. Also as far as spice goes, I think I was 80% into the book at that point. While this book has dark themes, it didn’t feel like a dark romance to me. Again it just took so long to get to the romance part especially since it was a forced marriage and then Preston has to leave right after. It was still a good book over all. I guess I just had different expectations going into it. I’d still read Beatrice’s book after this though. I’m curious about her character arc.
August 7, 2025
Arranged Marriages can have HEA
This story grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Carlina is strong, putting up with conditions that many would have broken from. Preston does what he needs to survive and thrive in his world.
This story has heart, the bad guy is the worst, and we see beauty develop in one of our characters. So many secrets, I shed a tear or 6, happy and sad, different times tho.
Must read if you love some Cinderella vibes, Mafia types, with a little love conquers all. Be ready for some surprises tho, they are not all great, but keep on reading.
This story grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Carlina is strong, putting up with conditions that many would have broken from. Preston does what he needs to survive and thrive in his world.
This story has heart, the bad guy is the worst, and we see beauty develop in one of our characters. So many secrets, I shed a tear or 6, happy and sad, different times tho.
Must read if you love some Cinderella vibes, Mafia types, with a little love conquers all. Be ready for some surprises tho, they are not all great, but keep on reading.
April 29, 2025
OH MY GOSH y'all this Cinderella retelling was AMAZING omg I ate this bad boy up Preston is the beautiful bad boy we all hate to love and love to hate and Carlina is your sweet closet badass FMC... y'all this is a must read you get fairytale, dark romance, Mafia, arranged marriage, murder for hire, evil stepsisters, slow burn spice, Amazing lead up banter between the MMC and FMC, and even the side characters get you so excited for what's coming next
May 4, 2025
I like Carlina and Preston. They are well rounded characters and easy to relate to. However, how easily they are manipulated by their parents is annoying. They both have the means to avoid the situation but they don't want to deal with the extra hassle. That being the main issue for the story is understandable, I just wish they found their voices earlier. Definitely a good read if you don't mind financial manipulation.
August 24, 2025
it was good but i felt like the love between them was too rush, i like slow burn stories. i just needed more of them spending time together.
May 13, 2025
For this to be Flo Journey's first dark romance she did not disappoint. Preston and Carlina are a smoking-hot couple. Even though it is an arranged marriage both of them did not want to even participate in it. Things get spicy and oh-so-good. There is so much to this story but not so much that it overloads you. The plot is superb. Preston helps Carlina save everything her dad worked so hard for and was taken away when he passed and her mom remarried Baron.
Carlina has two step sisters; Annabelle and Beatrice.
Out of all the characters that you meet in Carlina, my favorite are, Carlina, Prestion, Beatrice, Evan, and Seth.
My least favorites are Carlina's mom, Baron (stepfather), and Annabelle.
This books spice level is a 2.5-3 pepper for me. It is a slow-burn but oh so worth it because the plot has you so engaged into the story you are not even worrying about the spicy scenes.
Overall this book is a 5-star all the way around for me. I highly recommend this book to Dark Romance readers who also like New Adult ages.
SPOILER ALERT:
Annabelle and Beatrice are in book 2. Let me just say "Beatrice" gets a lot darker and spicer then "Carlina" is.
Carlina has two step sisters; Annabelle and Beatrice.
Out of all the characters that you meet in Carlina, my favorite are, Carlina, Prestion, Beatrice, Evan, and Seth.
My least favorites are Carlina's mom, Baron (stepfather), and Annabelle.
This books spice level is a 2.5-3 pepper for me. It is a slow-burn but oh so worth it because the plot has you so engaged into the story you are not even worrying about the spicy scenes.
Overall this book is a 5-star all the way around for me. I highly recommend this book to Dark Romance readers who also like New Adult ages.
SPOILER ALERT:
Annabelle and Beatrice are in book 2. Let me just say "Beatrice" gets a lot darker and spicer then "Carlina" is.
September 20, 2025
This has a Cinderella feel to this story. Carlie is forced by her stepfather to marry, but it doesn't take long for secrets to come out.
This took a while for me to get into; it has the Cinderella feel to the tale, with Mafia vibes as well. Carlie was a difficult character to get a read on, so I was happy to see her grow a little as the book went on.
Will definitely look up other books by this author.
This took a while for me to get into; it has the Cinderella feel to the tale, with Mafia vibes as well. Carlie was a difficult character to get a read on, so I was happy to see her grow a little as the book went on.
Will definitely look up other books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews