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Skull #1
The Skull King
My husband is cruel, ruthless, and despicable.
I hate him with every fiber of my being.
The only reason I haven't killed him or tried to run away is because of the promise I made. I sold myself to save someone I loved...and this is the price I have to pay.
I was sitting alone in a bar when the most handsome man walked inside. Striking blue eyes, cheekbones as sharp as glass, and a muscular body fit for a war. He was gorgeous. I couldn't take my eyes off him. When he bought me a drink, I didn't say no. I'd been unfulfilled for so long, and I wanted a real man for the night. My husband had his affairs so why couldn't I?
I noticed the peculiar ring on his right hand, a diamond carved into a skull. If only I'd known what that meant, I would have known who this man was.
The Skull King.
A man more cruel and ruthless than my own husband.
I hate him with every fiber of my being.
The only reason I haven't killed him or tried to run away is because of the promise I made. I sold myself to save someone I loved...and this is the price I have to pay.
I was sitting alone in a bar when the most handsome man walked inside. Striking blue eyes, cheekbones as sharp as glass, and a muscular body fit for a war. He was gorgeous. I couldn't take my eyes off him. When he bought me a drink, I didn't say no. I'd been unfulfilled for so long, and I wanted a real man for the night. My husband had his affairs so why couldn't I?
I noticed the peculiar ring on his right hand, a diamond carved into a skull. If only I'd known what that meant, I would have known who this man was.
The Skull King.
A man more cruel and ruthless than my own husband.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2019
4174 people are currently reading
6224 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Sky
74 books6,614 followersA New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Penelope Sky is known for her dark romance that makes you fall for her characters….no matter how dark they seem. Her books are being translated into several languages around the world, and she’s sold more than a million books worldwide. She lives in a small town in California with her husband, where she spends most of her time writing on the back porch.
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April 3, 2019
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! Thanks S!
Book 1
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
My husband is cruel, ruthless, and despicable.
I hate him with every fiber of my being.
The only reason I haven't killed him or tried to run away is because of the promise I made. I sold myself to save someone I loved...and this is the price I have to pay.
I was sitting alone in a bar when the most handsome man walked inside. Striking blue eyes, cheekbones as sharp as glass, and a muscular body fit for a war. He was gorgeous. I couldn't take my eyes off him. When he bought me a drink, I didn't say no. I'd been unfulfilled for so long, and I wanted a real man for the night. My husband had his affairs so why couldn't I?
I noticed the peculiar ring on his right hand, a diamond carved into a skull. If only I'd known what that meant, I would have known who this man was.
The Skull King.
A man more cruel and ruthless than my own husband.
December 24, 2019
Nothing to see here. Same characters as her other books, only the names differ.
How many times can one read about women being gifted/sold/blackmailed into a marriage with drug dealers/human traffickers/mafia? No deviation at all. Then there are the unending and superfluous sex scenes which are all copy and paste. Another issue I have is the setting of Italy which never changes, yet the names of the characters are mostly Anglo.
Lastly, it’s ridiculous to price books at $7 apiece then drag the storyline into a 5-part series. Ridiculous and greedy. I’m done with this author.
no-way-jose
April 11, 2019BleuBelle's review
Are you fucking kidding me???
Male protagonist, who is involved in human trafficking??!
How more disrespectful so called author can be???
I wouldn't want to be connected to any GR-user, who would rate it over 2 stars.
Do me a favor!
Are you fucking kidding me???
Male protagonist, who is involved in human trafficking??!
How more disrespectful so called author can be???
I wouldn't want to be connected to any GR-user, who would rate it over 2 stars.
Do me a favor!
April 9, 2019
I thought this book would be entirely different.
Heroine is TSTL. Seriously. She has a boyfriend (whom she loves) and he was supposed to be killed by her now husband, so to safe the life of the boyfriend, Heroine agrees to become a willing and submissive wife for the cruel Husband to be. For all her life!
How did she even get to make the deal? Was she there when the man wanted to kill her boyfriend? How dumb can one be, to throw away her entire life? She has to have sex with him. And he whores around. She isn't even sure if she has any diseases because of said husband. How would she bring children into this world?
And this is the premise that is starting this book. So bad! I thought it was a badass Heroine, who married a cruel man for her own goals and is giving back as good as she gets. But no, she's whiney and daydreaming about the Hero and drowning in self-loathing.
The Hero was just a bad man. He doesn't deserve to be called a Hero. Sure he's nice enough to the Heroine. But only because she's the perfect specimen and he enjoys having her in his bed. There's nothing gentle or nice about him. He's the head of a crime organization. It includes trafficking of women! He doesn't care because this gets good money and he wouldn't give it up, even if he could. But of course he get's offended when theres a 16 year old girl being auctioned off. He saves her, but all the other women will live as slaves for wealthy men.
And he's a manwhore. He sleeps with women nearly every day, and it's always a different one. But he prefers to have paid sex. So he can do whatever he wants without complaining form said women. Gross!
There's no plot in this story. Nothing happens. Heroine meets Hero, he's irresistible so they have secret sex with each other. Heroine says it will be the last time, then crawls back to him. Repeat.
Hero always thinks about her and her body. Repeat.
This whole book is just sex. And it ends with a cliffhanger. Heroine is so naive and doesn't have a backbone.
There was no chemistry between them. No romance. Nothing.
So I'm out.
Heroine is TSTL. Seriously. She has a boyfriend (whom she loves) and he was supposed to be killed by her now husband, so to safe the life of the boyfriend, Heroine agrees to become a willing and submissive wife for the cruel Husband to be. For all her life!
How did she even get to make the deal? Was she there when the man wanted to kill her boyfriend? How dumb can one be, to throw away her entire life? She has to have sex with him. And he whores around. She isn't even sure if she has any diseases because of said husband. How would she bring children into this world?
And this is the premise that is starting this book. So bad! I thought it was a badass Heroine, who married a cruel man for her own goals and is giving back as good as she gets. But no, she's whiney and daydreaming about the Hero and drowning in self-loathing.
The Hero was just a bad man. He doesn't deserve to be called a Hero. Sure he's nice enough to the Heroine. But only because she's the perfect specimen and he enjoys having her in his bed. There's nothing gentle or nice about him. He's the head of a crime organization. It includes trafficking of women! He doesn't care because this gets good money and he wouldn't give it up, even if he could. But of course he get's offended when theres a 16 year old girl being auctioned off. He saves her, but all the other women will live as slaves for wealthy men.
And he's a manwhore. He sleeps with women nearly every day, and it's always a different one. But he prefers to have paid sex. So he can do whatever he wants without complaining form said women. Gross!
There's no plot in this story. Nothing happens. Heroine meets Hero, he's irresistible so they have secret sex with each other. Heroine says it will be the last time, then crawls back to him. Repeat.
Hero always thinks about her and her body. Repeat.
This whole book is just sex. And it ends with a cliffhanger. Heroine is so naive and doesn't have a backbone.
There was no chemistry between them. No romance. Nothing.
So I'm out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2019
There is nothing to distinguish between the 'hero' (H) and the 'baddie husband' (BH) but we are meant to be rooting for the H because:
BH has oily hair, H has nice short hair and is gorgeous; BH is around 5'11, H is 6'3 and gorgeous; BH has a hairy chest, H has a not so hairy chest and is gorgeous; BH makes explosives and sells them to evil ppl, H buys explosives and is evil but is gorgeous; BH mostly treats the h ok, H deals with human trafficking but is gorgeous; BH is skinny fat, H has abs to die for and is gorgeous.
Having said all that, i actually enjoyed the story (go figure!) - it was surprisingly better than the Buttons one i had read by the same author - the writing has definitely improved since then.
BH has oily hair, H has nice short hair and is gorgeous; BH is around 5'11, H is 6'3 and gorgeous; BH has a hairy chest, H has a not so hairy chest and is gorgeous; BH makes explosives and sells them to evil ppl, H buys explosives and is evil but is gorgeous; BH mostly treats the h ok, H deals with human trafficking but is gorgeous; BH is skinny fat, H has abs to die for and is gorgeous.
Having said all that, i actually enjoyed the story (go figure!) - it was surprisingly better than the Buttons one i had read by the same author - the writing has definitely improved since then.
January 15, 2024
2.5 Diamond Skull Stars⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This book is 256 pages and I can tell you that you can summarise the plot of this book into about 6 of those pages.
The rest of this was smut...and it wasn't even good smut. There were hardly any kinks or real dirtiness...the only reason I didn't keep this as a 4 Spicy Level was because of the SHEER VOLUME OF REPETITIVE BASICALLY VANILLA SWEATY SMUT we have to be forced to read...
If you want something to read to just...you know read smut, read this... else there is nothing unique about this story to really grip you.
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This book is 256 pages and I can tell you that you can summarise the plot of this book into about 6 of those pages.
The rest of this was smut...and it wasn't even good smut. There were hardly any kinks or real dirtiness...the only reason I didn't keep this as a 4 Spicy Level was because of the SHEER VOLUME OF REPETITIVE BASICALLY VANILLA SWEATY SMUT we have to be forced to read...
If you want something to read to just...you know read smut, read this... else there is nothing unique about this story to really grip you.
May 4, 2019
The cover art is what drew me to this book. Yes I judged a book by its cover!
Our characters, Cassini and Belto, are quite an interesting pair but theres not much to the book. The beginning starts off great but then plateaus. It's pretty much a wham bam thank you ma'am storyline that ends with a cliffhanger. Theres potential and I'm hoping Sky brings her A game in the next installment.
Our characters, Cassini and Belto, are quite an interesting pair but theres not much to the book. The beginning starts off great but then plateaus. It's pretty much a wham bam thank you ma'am storyline that ends with a cliffhanger. Theres potential and I'm hoping Sky brings her A game in the next installment.
April 15, 2019
I've read almost every Penelope book there is to read from the Buttons series to the Banker series and everything in between and while I love her and her books and I'll still download everything she releases, the writing and the stories have actually become so repetitive and boring.
Just like the same characters with new names and different crime profession, same attitude, same arrogance, same strong-but-damsel-in-distress kinda heroines. Boringggg.
After reading the tyrant and as much as I loved it (because Penelope Sky has put me under a spell) I was like take a breeaakk...this is becoming too same old same old.
I wished these women were making these men quit the life of crime in real life so that we'd know that at least humanity was being saved but alas it's all make believe.
And now we're back to the same thing again, I'm still going to read the skull crusher and the skull ruler and any other thing Penelope releases next because I know she has a story in her head or about to be released for Case, (Cassini's brother) and Heath, (Balto's brother) and even Bates, (Cato's brother) and she's going to milk those ones too for 12 more books. Ugh.
And no matter how exhausted I am, I'm still going to download and read because I'm a sucker for pain.
The skull king is typical crime lord meets woman except this time she's married unknowing to him his enemy.
They start an affair. He gets lost in the pussy sauce. She's also dicknotized so they can't quit each other.
When Balto discovers that she's married to his enemy who's basically pussy in his hands, he asks him to give him what he owes and when his enemy and Cassini's husband, Lucian refuses, he takes his wife! (almost like crow took pearl from Pearl from Bones)
Cassini goes willingly thinking she's being rescued from a loveless marriage by her knight in shining armor only for Balto to start laying down rules of slavery on their way to his house. The end. (Did I add like Crow?)
Did I also add that Balto thinks he's the most powerful man in Italy?
Penelope Sky is basically a one trick pony and as much as it exhausts me, (Well no one's forcing me to read) I also respect how she's milking our obsession with the Italian crime lords and making us root for and fall in love with men of the underworld.
If this was my first Penelope Sky book, I would have been leaping for joy and giving it 10 stars buutttt... since I know how it's going to end with Balto giving up with life of crime for a normal life with the love of his life Cassini, 3 stars is all I'm giving.
I'm only going to be reading cos I want to see what's going to happen with Case, Heath and the little war that's going to be coming with Lucian.
Just like the same characters with new names and different crime profession, same attitude, same arrogance, same strong-but-damsel-in-distress kinda heroines. Boringggg.
After reading the tyrant and as much as I loved it (because Penelope Sky has put me under a spell) I was like take a breeaakk...this is becoming too same old same old.
I wished these women were making these men quit the life of crime in real life so that we'd know that at least humanity was being saved but alas it's all make believe.
And now we're back to the same thing again, I'm still going to read the skull crusher and the skull ruler and any other thing Penelope releases next because I know she has a story in her head or about to be released for Case, (Cassini's brother) and Heath, (Balto's brother) and even Bates, (Cato's brother) and she's going to milk those ones too for 12 more books. Ugh.
And no matter how exhausted I am, I'm still going to download and read because I'm a sucker for pain.
The skull king is typical crime lord meets woman except this time she's married unknowing to him his enemy.
They start an affair. He gets lost in the pussy sauce. She's also dicknotized so they can't quit each other.
When Balto discovers that she's married to his enemy who's basically pussy in his hands, he asks him to give him what he owes and when his enemy and Cassini's husband, Lucian refuses, he takes his wife! (almost like crow took pearl from Pearl from Bones)
Cassini goes willingly thinking she's being rescued from a loveless marriage by her knight in shining armor only for Balto to start laying down rules of slavery on their way to his house. The end. (Did I add like Crow?)
Did I also add that Balto thinks he's the most powerful man in Italy?
Penelope Sky is basically a one trick pony and as much as it exhausts me, (Well no one's forcing me to read) I also respect how she's milking our obsession with the Italian crime lords and making us root for and fall in love with men of the underworld.
If this was my first Penelope Sky book, I would have been leaping for joy and giving it 10 stars buutttt... since I know how it's going to end with Balto giving up with life of crime for a normal life with the love of his life Cassini, 3 stars is all I'm giving.
I'm only going to be reading cos I want to see what's going to happen with Case, Heath and the little war that's going to be coming with Lucian.
April 3, 2019
Who knows when life will be both a blessing and a curse. In Cassini Salazar's case the curse was the day she married her husband while the blessing was the day she met Belto.
Never planning to stray from her wedding vows, Cassini is still human and tempted by the looks, charm, and promise of being with someone who can satisfy her as Belto personifies.
One night, that's all she wants to live off of for the rest of her life as if her husband finds out, he'll surely kill Belto and who knows what he'll do to her.
One night should be enough until it isn't.
* * * * *
Warning: I know there are those who have a trigger over adultry so I wanted to make sure to point out adultry plays a major part in this book/series. Also, it's a dark themed Italian crime family story so expect content consistent with that lifestyle. Consider yourself warned.
This story is addictive and one of the kind of stories that had me glued to my e-reader from beginning to end. Seriously, if you're on the fence regarding this one, grab the sample and read the prologue/first chapter sample. THEN tell me you didn't one click it on the spot. The bar scene was down right sinful.
Belto & Cass. The devil and angel parallel in that the devil tempts the angel to sin and wins time and time again. Was amazed my e reader didn't spontaneously combust multiple times during the course of reading this story.
Secondary characters. Limited cast of characters that includes some good (snort as who really could be considered good in an antihero crime family story), some bad, and others down right offensive. I won't name names as this is a new release and thus up to any potential reader to sleuth who fits which category.
My issues. The ending is a semi cliffhanger. More a shock and awe .... to be continued sort of thing. So not fair. I want The Skull Crusher that won't be released until May 7, 2019. I'm not revealing a spoiler if I point out the blurb for 'Skull Crusher' pretty much gives the cliffy away so don't read that blurb unless you know that.
I loved, adored, and can't express how much I am in book reader heaven over this story that takes place in Italy, the core home of crime family lure. Where the baddest of the bad reside and thrive.
Never planning to stray from her wedding vows, Cassini is still human and tempted by the looks, charm, and promise of being with someone who can satisfy her as Belto personifies.
One night, that's all she wants to live off of for the rest of her life as if her husband finds out, he'll surely kill Belto and who knows what he'll do to her.
One night should be enough until it isn't.
* * * * *
Warning: I know there are those who have a trigger over adultry so I wanted to make sure to point out adultry plays a major part in this book/series. Also, it's a dark themed Italian crime family story so expect content consistent with that lifestyle. Consider yourself warned.
This story is addictive and one of the kind of stories that had me glued to my e-reader from beginning to end. Seriously, if you're on the fence regarding this one, grab the sample and read the prologue/first chapter sample. THEN tell me you didn't one click it on the spot. The bar scene was down right sinful.
Belto & Cass. The devil and angel parallel in that the devil tempts the angel to sin and wins time and time again. Was amazed my e reader didn't spontaneously combust multiple times during the course of reading this story.
Secondary characters. Limited cast of characters that includes some good (snort as who really could be considered good in an antihero crime family story), some bad, and others down right offensive. I won't name names as this is a new release and thus up to any potential reader to sleuth who fits which category.
My issues. The ending is a semi cliffhanger. More a shock and awe .... to be continued sort of thing. So not fair. I want The Skull Crusher that won't be released until May 7, 2019. I'm not revealing a spoiler if I point out the blurb for 'Skull Crusher' pretty much gives the cliffy away so don't read that blurb unless you know that.
I loved, adored, and can't express how much I am in book reader heaven over this story that takes place in Italy, the core home of crime family lure. Where the baddest of the bad reside and thrive.
Read
April 15, 2019Dude is called BALTO?! I kept thinking of a cartoon my kid used to watch about a dog. BALTO?!!
Rape scenario and human trafficking? nah....
Rape scenario and human trafficking? nah....
December 5, 2021
When she's married and he doesn't care>>>>>
April 17, 2020
Da ich Penelope Sky liebe, musste jetzt auch diese Reihe dran glauben.
Mir hat der erste Teil echt gut gefallen!
Balto ist ein interessanter Charakter und ich kann noch nicht ganz einschätzen, in welche Richtung das Ganze gehen wird.
Ich hätte mir noch mehr Handlung gewünscht, da der Erotikanteil doch recht hoch ist, aber mal sehen, was im zweiten Teil kommt! 👀🙌🏻
Mir hat der erste Teil echt gut gefallen!
Balto ist ein interessanter Charakter und ich kann noch nicht ganz einschätzen, in welche Richtung das Ganze gehen wird.
Ich hätte mir noch mehr Handlung gewünscht, da der Erotikanteil doch recht hoch ist, aber mal sehen, was im zweiten Teil kommt! 👀🙌🏻
August 5, 2022
Sir, why you lying tho?
That cliffhanger was chef’s kiss! Don’t mind me, just making my way to get the second book.
That cliffhanger was chef’s kiss! Don’t mind me, just making my way to get the second book.
August 17, 2024
Cassini & Balto
July 1, 2024
Be warned - this is a trilogy - and the MMC is an anti-hero. I don't think it's going to be a pretty ride, but it's got me intrigued. UPDATED below with series info.
Cassini (25, apparently has a golden p*ssy) married a slimy criminal, Lucian (weapons dealer), in order to save the life of the man she thought she loved. Now she's in a loveless marriage, but on the plus side, she's rich, she can do what she wants, and she only has to spread her legs for him occasionally. One night she's having a drink in a bar when she meets sex personified, Balto (32, crime lord, drug smuggler, sex trafficker, arms dealer). They end up starting an affair which is mostly about hot, passionate sex. Outside of the bedroom, they don't know anything about each other. It comes out that Balto is a criminal, who is even more dangerous than her husband. He offers to kill her husband so that she can be available to fuck him every night instead (not knowing who her husband is). She declines because "she gave her word" to marry Lucian (don't get me started on how stupid that part is).
Balto is feeling frustrated one night because Cassini can't meet him since her husband didn't leave town during the weekend like he usually does. Balto decides to go visit an old enemy of his instead. When he arrives at the location and sees Lucian, he's ready to give the guy hell - until he realizes Lucian is with his wife. Guess who that turns out to be!! There's a confrontation, and.....
The primary reason I'm enjoying this book so far is the hot sex. It's doing it for me. Be warned, this is not an insta-love book. Balto makes it perfectly clear he's not a good guy, and he's also a sex trafficker. That doesn't bother me. But seriously, the sex between Balto and Cass is smoldering.
I do have some issues with this book. First, Lucian and Balto are allegedly two HUGE crime lords and live in the same town, yet they don't run into each other? If Balto has been keeping tabs on Lucian all this time, how does he not know the man is married?? That didn't make sense. Then, there's a whole thing about how Lucian and Balto became enemies (which I won't tell you because it's a spoiler), and it doesn't make sense that Balto would let Lucian live. The whole rivalry is confusing. There's this whole thing with her brothers that's confusing. It's stupid to me that she doesn't just leave Lucian. I realize that it's not always easy to do that, but she says so in the book that she could have if she really wanted to. Plus, Balto conveniently has a twin brother. WTF I hate that trope.
PLUS. There's a LOT of repetition. It's blatant. Like the same sentence on a different page. Then sometimes there's a direct contradiction within the same chapter. He constantly repeats "I'm the Skull King" throughout the book. At one point she says that Lucian only let her eat healthy food because he thought she was fat, but when she moves in with Balto, she claims all she eats is junk food.
Again - why do I like it?? THE SEX
SERIES INFO: I said I liked this for the sex. It was steamy during this first book. After that - it was totally one dimensional. There is nothing outside of him sinking into her and filling her with his "load". There's never anything with nipples or clit. Ok there's like one time and it literally lasted one sentence. That's it. 3 books with them just having missionary sex got boring really quick.
The book went almost like you could predict. Nothing surprised me. The third book - it's the surprise 👶
Like I said - it's predictable and one dimensional. That said - I still enjoyed it for the most part. I wouldn't say I recommended it, but it's not a totally bad read.
Cassini (25, apparently has a golden p*ssy) married a slimy criminal, Lucian (weapons dealer), in order to save the life of the man she thought she loved. Now she's in a loveless marriage, but on the plus side, she's rich, she can do what she wants, and she only has to spread her legs for him occasionally. One night she's having a drink in a bar when she meets sex personified, Balto (32, crime lord, drug smuggler, sex trafficker, arms dealer). They end up starting an affair which is mostly about hot, passionate sex. Outside of the bedroom, they don't know anything about each other. It comes out that Balto is a criminal, who is even more dangerous than her husband. He offers to kill her husband so that she can be available to fuck him every night instead (not knowing who her husband is). She declines because "she gave her word" to marry Lucian (don't get me started on how stupid that part is).
Balto is feeling frustrated one night because Cassini can't meet him since her husband didn't leave town during the weekend like he usually does. Balto decides to go visit an old enemy of his instead. When he arrives at the location and sees Lucian, he's ready to give the guy hell - until he realizes Lucian is with his wife. Guess who that turns out to be!! There's a confrontation, and.....
"I didn’t rescue you. I took you. You belong to me now. You will live with me. You will listen to me. The only freedom you’ll have is the small amount I give you. I did not liberate you—I stole you."
The primary reason I'm enjoying this book so far is the hot sex. It's doing it for me. Be warned, this is not an insta-love book. Balto makes it perfectly clear he's not a good guy, and he's also a sex trafficker. That doesn't bother me. But seriously, the sex between Balto and Cass is smoldering.
I do have some issues with this book. First, Lucian and Balto are allegedly two HUGE crime lords and live in the same town, yet they don't run into each other? If Balto has been keeping tabs on Lucian all this time, how does he not know the man is married?? That didn't make sense. Then, there's a whole thing about how Lucian and Balto became enemies (which I won't tell you because it's a spoiler), and it doesn't make sense that Balto would let Lucian live. The whole rivalry is confusing. There's this whole thing with her brothers that's confusing. It's stupid to me that she doesn't just leave Lucian. I realize that it's not always easy to do that, but she says so in the book that she could have if she really wanted to. Plus, Balto conveniently has a twin brother. WTF I hate that trope.
PLUS. There's a LOT of repetition. It's blatant. Like the same sentence on a different page. Then sometimes there's a direct contradiction within the same chapter. He constantly repeats "I'm the Skull King" throughout the book. At one point she says that Lucian only let her eat healthy food because he thought she was fat, but when she moves in with Balto, she claims all she eats is junk food.
Again - why do I like it?? THE SEX
SERIES INFO: I said I liked this for the sex. It was steamy during this first book. After that - it was totally one dimensional. There is nothing outside of him sinking into her and filling her with his "load". There's never anything with nipples or clit. Ok there's like one time and it literally lasted one sentence. That's it. 3 books with them just having missionary sex got boring really quick.
The book went almost like you could predict. Nothing surprised me. The third book - it's the surprise 👶
Like I said - it's predictable and one dimensional. That said - I still enjoyed it for the most part. I wouldn't say I recommended it, but it's not a totally bad read.
July 6, 2023
How did I even finish this?!
The wording. The cliches. The woman who is a damsel in destress and the man who is a cold criminal and human trafficker. He f*cks her in the @$$ like it’s nothing WITHOUT ANY PREPARATION.
I need to recover from this.
The wording. The cliches. The woman who is a damsel in destress and the man who is a cold criminal and human trafficker. He f*cks her in the @$$ like it’s nothing WITHOUT ANY PREPARATION.
I need to recover from this.
October 14, 2022
Disclaimer about book (and author): this covers some tough topics...sex/human trafficking, abuse, crime, violence, drugs. Penelope has written along these lines forever so it's expected from her. In fact, this book is the least "dark" of any work of hers I've read. Now that's out the way......
After finishing the Banker series I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one....I was so interested in the Skull Kings from the moment they were introduced to us in the Buttons series. Penelope did not disappoint in this one. I have read where others say it's the same repetitive story she continues to tell but I don't think so! In a way all dark erotica follows a similar plot, but this one has a fresh spin on it.
Synopsis:
Cassini is a beautiful woman trapped in a marriage she entered in order to save someone she loved. She's married to a dangerous man, but he's dangerous not in the way of guys like Crow (from Buttons). He's a genius with explosives. This has made him a very rich man and he has enemies. One of his enemies is the leader of the Skull Kings, Balto. Balto is letting his revenge simmer and drag out, making it that much worse. He sees Cassini in a bar alone unaware of who she is, and he finds her irrestible. He can tell she isn't satisfied and leaves his card for her to call him, and after a while she does. But will he find out just who the husband she warned him about is? What will happen if he does? You have to read to find out--and although it ends on a cliffhanger you still get some answers.
These two create some sexyyyy hot scenes together and I love that even though it is a no strings affair you can see on both sides what it's leading to.
Penelope is a master at writing the best anti-hero...these are men that you won't immediately love. You might never love them but she writes them in a way that you likely can't resist it. They aren't good guys and don't claim to be. They do some shady illegal things and normally don't have much of a conscious or heart. That's what's so good about the story: we see these women come in and thaw some of that out and make them love.
As for the heroine, normally I LOVE Penelope's female leads. They survive awful situations (ones most of us wouldnt) and have an uphill battle to get their happy ever after....all while refusing to play victim or whining about it. Honestly, Cassini is my least favorite of Penelope's girls, she comes off as helpless and is just wallowing in her own self-pity...not taking any action to change her circumstances for the better. But despite this, I do think she's going to come into her own later in this series....i couldn't take a star away for this bc the overall story was just too good.
Most of Penelope Sky fans have likely read this so if you are new to this author I say give this a shot---and if you are looking for more from her the Buttons series is my #1 fav!
After finishing the Banker series I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one....I was so interested in the Skull Kings from the moment they were introduced to us in the Buttons series. Penelope did not disappoint in this one. I have read where others say it's the same repetitive story she continues to tell but I don't think so! In a way all dark erotica follows a similar plot, but this one has a fresh spin on it.
Synopsis:
Cassini is a beautiful woman trapped in a marriage she entered in order to save someone she loved. She's married to a dangerous man, but he's dangerous not in the way of guys like Crow (from Buttons). He's a genius with explosives. This has made him a very rich man and he has enemies. One of his enemies is the leader of the Skull Kings, Balto. Balto is letting his revenge simmer and drag out, making it that much worse. He sees Cassini in a bar alone unaware of who she is, and he finds her irrestible. He can tell she isn't satisfied and leaves his card for her to call him, and after a while she does. But will he find out just who the husband she warned him about is? What will happen if he does? You have to read to find out--and although it ends on a cliffhanger you still get some answers.
These two create some sexyyyy hot scenes together and I love that even though it is a no strings affair you can see on both sides what it's leading to.
Penelope is a master at writing the best anti-hero...these are men that you won't immediately love. You might never love them but she writes them in a way that you likely can't resist it. They aren't good guys and don't claim to be. They do some shady illegal things and normally don't have much of a conscious or heart. That's what's so good about the story: we see these women come in and thaw some of that out and make them love.
As for the heroine, normally I LOVE Penelope's female leads. They survive awful situations (ones most of us wouldnt) and have an uphill battle to get their happy ever after....all while refusing to play victim or whining about it. Honestly, Cassini is my least favorite of Penelope's girls, she comes off as helpless and is just wallowing in her own self-pity...not taking any action to change her circumstances for the better. But despite this, I do think she's going to come into her own later in this series....i couldn't take a star away for this bc the overall story was just too good.
Most of Penelope Sky fans have likely read this so if you are new to this author I say give this a shot---and if you are looking for more from her the Buttons series is my #1 fav!
April 3, 2019
Love the Barsetti stories, but lately, I cannot seem to get into her new books
Not much action so it was not exciting as other books. I love Penelope Sky, but lately I cannot seem to get into her new books. The female characters are not as strong as the barsetti woman, despite the effort. Overall, it was a good read, although I did skip through most of it since it was repetitive. Miserable husband, awesome lover, miserable husband, awesome lover. It was until the last 2 pages, when something actually happened.
Not much action so it was not exciting as other books. I love Penelope Sky, but lately I cannot seem to get into her new books. The female characters are not as strong as the barsetti woman, despite the effort. Overall, it was a good read, although I did skip through most of it since it was repetitive. Miserable husband, awesome lover, miserable husband, awesome lover. It was until the last 2 pages, when something actually happened.
April 1, 2019
*arc generously provided in exchange for my unbiased review*
**Pene, honey, you still my boo**
Cassini is the beautiful, unhappy wife of an explosives dealer. She has two brothers who adore her, and they're just as unhappy about her marriage as she is, though blessedly, her icky husband ignores her for the majority of their marriage, allowing her some small measure of freedom. Her days are usually spent by the pool with a book, but sometimes her husband requires her to attend a few business dealings. It's at one of these meetings that she meets a man named Balto.
Balto is gorgeous, arrogant, dangerous, and quickly becomes enamored with Cassini. Their attraction and the benefit of her slight independence from her husband allow them to entangle in a steamy affair. They quickly become addicted to each other, and neither Cassini or Balto can resist the chemistry that blazes between them.
But Cassini doesn't realize that Balto and her husband have a history. A history involving a deal gone bad and Balto, when he finally decides that the mystery of who Cassini actually belongs to has gone on long enough, he makes a decision that will impact everything.
5 stars! Enjoy!
**Pene, honey, you still my boo**
Cassini is the beautiful, unhappy wife of an explosives dealer. She has two brothers who adore her, and they're just as unhappy about her marriage as she is, though blessedly, her icky husband ignores her for the majority of their marriage, allowing her some small measure of freedom. Her days are usually spent by the pool with a book, but sometimes her husband requires her to attend a few business dealings. It's at one of these meetings that she meets a man named Balto.
Balto is gorgeous, arrogant, dangerous, and quickly becomes enamored with Cassini. Their attraction and the benefit of her slight independence from her husband allow them to entangle in a steamy affair. They quickly become addicted to each other, and neither Cassini or Balto can resist the chemistry that blazes between them.
But Cassini doesn't realize that Balto and her husband have a history. A history involving a deal gone bad and Balto, when he finally decides that the mystery of who Cassini actually belongs to has gone on long enough, he makes a decision that will impact everything.
5 stars! Enjoy!
October 22, 2019
Poor Cassini, she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not a clue how this trilogy is going to end. Perhaps book two will offer some clues. Wow Lucian is nobody to mess with and Balto tops him. I'm afraid Cassini, it's not going to be sunshine and roses. I have a feeling this is going to get ugly in book two.
This is my first book reading Penelope Sky...it was descent.
This is my first book reading Penelope Sky...it was descent.
March 16, 2022
the first chapters were promising. but later there was not much happening apart sex
September 10, 2024
Audiobook: loved it!!
June 13, 2020
Penelope does it again. This book was fantastic! Definitely was not expecting the ending... the last few sentences had
my jaw on the floor. I loved it
my jaw on the floor. I loved it
August 1, 2021
3.5🌟
Si algo tengo que destacar de penelope, es lo adictivo que son. Al menos para mi. Literal que los empiezo y los termino de leer en unas horas.
La historia es parecida a sus otros libros. Pero me gusta.
Es mi guilty pleasure favorito.
Y como siempre sus finales explosivos.
Si algo tengo que destacar de penelope, es lo adictivo que son. Al menos para mi. Literal que los empiezo y los termino de leer en unas horas.
La historia es parecida a sus otros libros. Pero me gusta.
Es mi guilty pleasure favorito.
Y como siempre sus finales explosivos.
September 1, 2023
Book: The Skull King
Read By: Ebook and Audio
Author: Penelope Sky
Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo and Natalie Eaton
Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica
Main Characters: Cassini and Belto
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
I somewhat liked this book.
The concept was interesting and I like the two main Mcs.
Whatever we have is too strong to ignore. We have lust, heat, and a passion that’s so volatile, it could burn this entire city to the ground. I’ve fucked a lot of women, but I’ve never had this kind of chemistry before.
I struggled with the whole sex trafficking side of it. I mean the main Mc is involved in it…. And the FMC is in love with this man…. Im just not ok with this…. I hope that she can make him change and get rid of it….
If she were my wife, she would never sleep alone. She would always be right at my side.
Now I understand this is a dark romance, and I have no triggers at all… and this book to me has no triggers either, but the whole being ok with an affair thing on Belto side creeps me out a bit… what type of man is he?
“I didn’t rescue you.” He stared straight ahead. “I took you. You belong to me now. You will live with me. You will listen to me. The only freedom you’ll have is the small amount I give you. I did not liberate you—I stole you.”
I will contunie the series just to find out if she can change him and get her freedom while she dose it.
“Mistakes are lessons, not life sentences.” Her beautiful green eyes lifted to meet mine.
The smut side is delish but lol….
Read By: Ebook and Audio
Author: Penelope Sky
Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo and Natalie Eaton
Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica
Main Characters: Cassini and Belto
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
I somewhat liked this book.
The concept was interesting and I like the two main Mcs.
Whatever we have is too strong to ignore. We have lust, heat, and a passion that’s so volatile, it could burn this entire city to the ground. I’ve fucked a lot of women, but I’ve never had this kind of chemistry before.
I struggled with the whole sex trafficking side of it. I mean the main Mc is involved in it…. And the FMC is in love with this man…. Im just not ok with this…. I hope that she can make him change and get rid of it….
If she were my wife, she would never sleep alone. She would always be right at my side.
Now I understand this is a dark romance, and I have no triggers at all… and this book to me has no triggers either, but the whole being ok with an affair thing on Belto side creeps me out a bit… what type of man is he?
“I didn’t rescue you.” He stared straight ahead. “I took you. You belong to me now. You will live with me. You will listen to me. The only freedom you’ll have is the small amount I give you. I did not liberate you—I stole you.”
I will contunie the series just to find out if she can change him and get her freedom while she dose it.
“Mistakes are lessons, not life sentences.” Her beautiful green eyes lifted to meet mine.
The smut side is delish but lol….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2019
A simple glance across a crowded bar or destiny - a very fine line. Cassini and Belto are the perfect match, but unfortunately she is married to the enemy. Is it just a relationship between the sheets or will it end up being so much more. Can you really fall in love with the one man who was double crossed your husband? Even if you wanted the man you are married to dead? Once again Penelope Sky creates characters that are behind the eight ball. Filled with high emotions, deception and lies this book had me on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more. I need the next book in this series ASAP!!
April 5, 2019
Love this book! This is my 1st book I've read by this Author and I wasn't disappointed. This makes me want to binge read all of Penelope Sky's books. This was a very intense page turner.
Cassini got herself into a hard time. She signed herself up for failure with a slimy guy named Lucian. She married this man to save someone. She can't back out because she made a deal, and it's not in her blood to not fulfill the promise to Lucian. She meets Balto and the sparks fly.
Once I found out who she was trying to protect my heart really broke for her. I'm so excited to read the second installment of this series.
Cassini got herself into a hard time. She signed herself up for failure with a slimy guy named Lucian. She married this man to save someone. She can't back out because she made a deal, and it's not in her blood to not fulfill the promise to Lucian. She meets Balto and the sparks fly.
Once I found out who she was trying to protect my heart really broke for her. I'm so excited to read the second installment of this series.
April 2, 2019
Penelope's worlds are filled with dark and dangerous men, and strong women. Both usually have a more tender side. I'm not totally sure how I feel about Balto or Cassini yet. So far, their connection is just lust and obsession. They still don't know a lot about one another, or seem to want to. But there's a ton of sex. And sneaking. And backroom deals with shady characters, not to mention secrets.
We'll see where this story leads us, and I hope to fall in love with this couple, but I'm not there yet. Especially while the Skull Kings still run those awful auctions.
We'll see where this story leads us, and I hope to fall in love with this couple, but I'm not there yet. Especially while the Skull Kings still run those awful auctions.
June 23, 2023
I’m not a fan of the cheating trope, but I still wanted to give this book a try. Still makes me cringe a little bit, but the spice in this was off the charts. The plot was lacking and I wish there was more tension between Cassini’s brothers, they had a short appearance but maybe they will be brought up in the later books perhaps? The human trafficking was a big ICK too. The ending threw me off completely when Balto was being a dick by saying he owned Cassini. I don’t know if he still has that sort of vibe in the next book but I’m going to give it a try, might DNF it, not sure yet.
January 22, 2023
2.5 Stars
For a 250 page book, this took me a while to finish. It really wasn't that good. There was a lot of repetition in the descriptors.. This book was 85% sex and 15%. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of spicy books, but when the steamy scenes are all described the same way it's boring after a few chapters. I can see potential in the plot, but it was not executed well. I'm guessing that you could eliminate a good portion of the sex scenes and combine the 3 books into one decent story, but I'll probably never find out. I don't think I can put myself through a second, let alone third book in this series.
For a 250 page book, this took me a while to finish. It really wasn't that good. There was a lot of repetition in the descriptors.. This book was 85% sex and 15%. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of spicy books, but when the steamy scenes are all described the same way it's boring after a few chapters. I can see potential in the plot, but it was not executed well. I'm guessing that you could eliminate a good portion of the sex scenes and combine the 3 books into one decent story, but I'll probably never find out. I don't think I can put myself through a second, let alone third book in this series.
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