Donny arrives wearing a sharp suit and the kind of cool control that makes people nervous. His gaze cuts through the crowd with quiet authority as he makes his way through his employer’s sprawling estate. He receives congratulatory remarks on his recent promotion. He wears a tight smile, says thank you, and introduces me, the pretty brunette on his arm. His girlfriend, Laura. He keeps me close, paying attention to who’s looking at me and how. I’m not naive. I knew what I’d agreed to. I knew Donny was no ordinary businessman. That his world was dangerous. But it was simple. Smile and look pretty.
Except he sees me. The most dangerous man here watches me with lingering eyes. Like he knows I’m out of my depth. He flashes a devilish grin, promising chaos.
The problem is he’s not the kind of man you lie to. The cost is too high and he’s not very forgiving.
And me? Well, my life is built on a house of lies. Everything about me is a lie. Even my name.
I smile back politely.
I’m a fool if I think I’m going to survive him, aren’t I?
Alina Hurtado writes emotional, character-driven romantic suspense that blends heart-pounding tension with emotional depth. She is known for weaving tense emotional landscapes with themes of identity, reinvention, and dangerous desire. Her work explores the powerful transformation that happens when a woman confronts who she is—and who she might become.
Alina is currently working on the next novel in The Lion's Den series. -------------------------------------------------------- Alina Hurtado escribe romance de suspenso mafioso donde la emoción y el peligro se entrelazan. Sus historias, intensas y centradas en los personajes, exploran paisajes emocionales cargados de tensión, identidad, reinvención y deseo peligroso. Su obra se adentra en la transformación que nace cuando una mujer se atreve a enfrentar quién es… y quién está dispuesta a convertirse.
This is by far one of the most attention grabbing book I have read. I was not able to put this book down until I finished it. Has a mix of romance, drama, comedy, thriller, action- I mean really it is a very well written book. The plot twist at the end really threw me for a loop but tied the whole book together. I hope that there is a part 2!!!!!!
I absolutely loved this book! It has the perfect mix of suspense, action, romance, and unexpected twists that keep you hooked from beginning to end. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, and I couldn’t put it down. This one is a must read!!
WOW. That’s honestly the only way to begin. This book breadcrumbed its reveals so expertly that even when I suspected something, I dismissed it because the pieces didn’t seem to fit—until suddenly they did, and everything snapped into place in the most shocking, satisfying way.
The emotional depth of these characters surprised me. Every single one of them felt real—messy, flawed, loyal, dangerous, vulnerable. Their connections form fast, but they feel earned because the stakes are so high and the environment is so intense. I found myself deeply invested in people I didn’t expect to care about, and completely blindsided by the ones I thought I understood.
What really stuck with me is how this book explores identity under pressure. The story plays with the idea of masks—who we are, who we pretend to be, and what happens when those lines blur. It raises fascinating questions about trust, loyalty, and the emotional cost of living in a world where nothing is what it seems. I’m still thinking about it.
And the twists… I thought I’d seen them all, and then the book kept twisting. One reveal in particular absolutely floored me and reframed the entire story in a way that made me want to immediately reread from the beginning. It’s rare for a twist to hit that hard and still feel completely earned.
I loved the found‑family threads, especially Steph’s arc. I loved the morally gray chaos. I loved the emotional wreckage. I loved the way this book made me feel—even when those feelings hurt. This was unputdownable when I was reading it, and unforgettable after I finished.
A solid 5‑star read. I’m absolutely buying this series even though it’s on KU.
This book is EVERYTHING. A roller coaster of every emotion. I was laughing, crying, screaming, and furious. I love the secrets, the lies, the betrayal, THE BANTER! Favorite book ever. P.s- I’ll always love u Donny
This was magnificent writing. The last third of this book was read in a non-stop whirlwind. I won a copy through a LibraryThing giveaway and wasn't sure at first that this was what I was expecting, or if it was even a genre I would normally read. But, rewind to the first sentence... The writing is magnificent. It kept pulling me along with these intriguing characters and this oh so engrossing plot. And then, fantastically, it ended up being a genre I do read. And even if it wasn't, I will now and forevermore read it, at least this particular author's books. Am I not making sense? Well, you should definitely read this book because then everything I'm saying will slowly begin to make perfect sense and by the end, you too will be saying you want to read everything this author writes. I instantly wanted to start the next book and found out that unfortunately, I have to wait until the end of next month.
There are very few authors that can mesmerize you with the style of their writing and wrap you up in a tale so effortlessly and seductively as this one did. I can't wait to fall into her next beautiful story.
***I won a copy of this book from the author through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***
I don't even know how to put into words how much I loved The Lion's Den. This book completely consumed me. I stayed up way too late because every time I told myself, "Just one more chapter," something happened that made it impossible to stop.
This is the definition of a perfectly executed slow burn. Following Savannah as she's thrown into the dangerous world of Donny, Kid, Lola, and the rest of this unforgettable criminal family had me hooked from the very first page. Savannah isn't one of them, which makes every interaction feel unpredictable and every decision carry even more weight.
The chemistry is incredible, the action never lets up, and the plot twists hit at exactly the right moments. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it completely pulled the rug out from under me. The emotional highs and lows had me hanging on for dear life, and I loved every second of it.
One of my favorite things was the multiple points of view. Getting inside each character's head made every chapter even more addictive because I had to know what everyone was thinking. Every single character felt important, memorable, and impossible not to become invested in.
The storytelling is absolutely phenomenal. I genuinely have no notes. This book is everything I want in a story. Gripping, emotional, dangerous, addictive, and impossible to forget.
And that ending! That cliffhanger absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. I immediately needed book two.
If I could give this 11 stars, I would without hesitation. This has officially become one of my favorite books of all time, and I have a feeling these characters are going to live rent-free in my head for a very, very long time.
I received an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving my review.
The writing of this book was so interesting This had me gripped from the get-go It’s like nothing I’ve read before, having so many peoples perspectives, and just the unhinged of Laura herself Not knowing what situation Laura was in and what role she played frustrated me, but I just needed the answer so badly
Laura‘s character started out very unsure of herself. I wasn’t sure if she was going in as an escort or if she was undercover. Anyway, Laura and Donny are undercover FBI as a couple, trying to bust a drug cartel family The Ins and out of the family politics and business drive the story. From going to meetings in different cities or countries to meeting underworld bosses she’s in over her head and she knows it. She makes two friends, Steph and Kenia who helped her through this unknown world she’s been thrust into, not that they know she is undercover Laura and Donny are pretending to be a couple Stephen and Lola, are husband and wife and with Steven’s brother kid(Ezra) they run the cartel that includes Sam, Lenny, Marc, Jose, Kid takes an instant interest in Laura and she can’t shake the attraction As she gets pulled deeper.. She makes bold decisions that happen to pull off in the best way, so they trust her more. Once kid and Laura sleep together, it’s end game She pretends to be with Donny, still not telling him that she loves Kid
Theres multiple altercations within different drug families, but in the crossfire of Pedro‘s meeting Marc is killed and she is kidnapped As she escapes, she runs to the FBI safe house, which makes the FBI pull her from the job The ending is nuts! They make the call to raid the house, she finds out Donny and Kenia are married and she is also undercover!!!! So Laura gives everyone in the family a heads up about the raid. She’s too deep in this family and to in love with kid to let them go to jail. Her name is Savannah, the underworld puts a bounty on her head for blowing up so many operations and stopping the flow of drug traffic into the US She doesn’t know who’s gonna come after her so when she is taken from her house in the middle of the night, she hopes it’s who she thinks it is. It turns out to be a kid Stephen and Lola. They interrogate her, but she keeps his tight lip. The only thing that she does tell them is that she’s pregnant
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Some books just suck you in and hold your mind hostage—The Lion’s Den did exactly that for me. I was completely hooked and couldn’t look away, even when I cried, even when I grit my teeth. This is the perfect blend of suspense and mafia romance. There is some spice and adult scenes that contain darker content, so please check trigger warnings if that’s something you’re sensitive to or prefer to avoid.
I really loved the family in this story. The author did a great job making each character unique, and it genuinely felt like these were real people. And the FMC—I just felt for her. The ending was gut-punching, and I desperately need the next book.
The only thing holding me back slightly was that, at times, the writing felt a bit muddled, and the reflection moments within chapters occasionally leaned a little melodramatic for my taste, but that’s purely personal preference.
Overall, this is a 4.5-star read for me, and I loved it—even though it took a full day to process all the twists and turns.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I got this book for free from LibraryThings early reviewer program:
I really don’t think that I am the target demographic for this book. It just didn’t do it for me. I don’t understand the whole first chapters really weird “Pretty Woman” style rip off misdirect thing. If you’re paying attention at all during the book, you know something is off, if you have half a brain, you should know what’s going on. The reveal later that …*spoiler alert*…they are FBI and DEA agents makes that first chapter even weirder. He knew what she was doing there, she knew why she was there. They could have just talked like adults instead of all the awkwardness and weirdness, but then I guess you would have known they were agents…but, really, you should have known that well before the reveal. It had some positives, the action was good, it kept me engaged (mostly) but man, if she isn’t just the worst FBI agent ever, I dunno. Yeah…it, uh, just wasn’t for me…
Honestly, this was one of the best reading experiences I’ve ever had — and I’ve read a lot of books. The storyline completely pulled me in from the very beginning, the emotional depth was incredible, and the characters… don’t even get me started 😳 They felt so real and unforgettable.
The chemistry, the tension, the heartbreak, the healing… everything was written so beautifully. I laughed, cried, stared at the wall for an unhealthy amount of time, and now I genuinely don’t know how to move on 😂
The writing style was absolutely amazing, and I already know I’ll be thinking about this duet for a very long time. I seriously cannot wait to read more from this author in the future, and I’m crossing my fingers that this eventually becomes a series because I am NOT ready to let these characters go yet.
If I could this book would get 0 ⭐️ I don’t understand the good reviews either they getting paid or fake accounts from the author. This book was all over the place, you don’t know what’s goin on, from the beginning there’s no explanation, she’s at this guy’s door, going to a “dinner” he picks an outfit for her and he tell her, her names now is Laura. That’s it, I don’t know why she’s doing it, for what, if he is paying her, nothing. Literally just read until page 100, pushing myself to keep going, it can’t be that bad, I keep telling myself for it to get worse 😭 This book needs an editor by yesterday The story is poorly written Characters are dull and there’s not depth to them. I bought this book on Amazon and I feel scam.
I could not put this down! When I wasn’t reading it, I found my mind kept going back to it. When I was reading it, I felt like I couldn’t read fast enough. Can’t wait to read book two!!
There’s a slow, gradual start with a captivating beginning, and then all of a sudden everything happens! It quickly becomes a page turner. It’s a mafia romance with a spin. It has lots of the usual action-packed scenes and morally grey characters. But it’s also a psychological thriller with deep emotional connections, found family, questions of the self, sarcastic humor, and amazing plot twists. You think you know how the story will unfold, but you will be taken on a wild ride you never thought you needed.
This was such a good story. From beginning to end, I was invested.i loved everything this story brought. The twists and turns were wild. I kept turning pages to see what was going to come next. This was just such a wild read. I laughed, and enjoyed the entirety of this book. So well written. Loved the characters so much. Donny rocked, he’s my man.❤️ this is definitely one worth reading, two or more times. I’ve never read this author before, but I’m really looking forward to reading what comes next.
This is Book 1 of The Lion's Den series. And a FANrastic start it is! Look forward to more from this world.
'He flashes a devilish grin, promising pure chaos. I smile politely, like I don’t already know the hunt is on.'
The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Lion’s Den completely pulled me in from the start. It’s one of those books you can’t put down—every chapter had me wanting just one more. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, it surprised me again.
The tension, pacing, and drama were so well done that I flew through it faster than expected. Definitely a gripping read that keeps you hooked the whole time.
I’m already counting down until the second book comes out—I need to know what happens next!
Firstly, this book was so good! The writing style, emotional and dark, the way the author gives you clues throughout the plot, but the twists! This book had my attention - and kept me reading because I kept thinking, I think I know, but then I didn’t. Secrets, masks, and the idea that we can hide. The characters you get to know, and then feel side swiped! If you love forbidden attraction, morally grey MMCs, unhinged and dangerous, this book is for you. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Ok wow… I was not expecting half of the turn of events that took a turn there! I enjoyed this and definitely left me wanting more… the writing was a little different from what I’m used to so it took a moment in the beginning to get used to it. The time jumping was not my favorite as it sort of left things unanswered until the back flashbacks. Otherwise I found this very entertaining and am dying to find out what happens next!
This was a book with tons of suspense, action and romance. It is truly a roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns. You think you know what is happening but nope and you have to readjust. Can’t wait for book 2!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is amazing!! Once I started reading The Lion's Den, I didn't want to put it down. I was glued to my seat turning page after page. Good thing I had my water nearby so I didn't have to pause. The storyline will pull you in from the very start. Great book!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Lion’s Den is the first book in the series of the same name. I enjoyed it from first to last chapter. I loved the characters, their chemistry and how they interacted. The gripping plot was full of drama, suspense, intensity, twists, danger and more. It kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages non-stop. Absolutely worth reading! I am voluntarily leaving this review
This was an amazing book. The plot twist….PLOT TWISTED. Everything I suspected turned out to be far from the truth. The life and death decisions that Laura had to make made me want to keep reading. Now I want a second book!
It was good, but there was definitely an issue with certain parts of the story later on where some of the stuff that happens earlier doesn't make sense. It was a well written book, especially for a new author.
I gobbled this one up! When I had to put it down, I couldn’t help but think about how it all ends for her. Who is she? Who does she choose? Rarely does a book make me feel a deep pang but this one did! On to the next book in the series.
The story grabs you from the beginning. Sometimes you want to reach I go your screen and shack the main characters then you are like, okay, that makes sense.