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Valerie A year ago, I fell in love with Arellano Mendoza - the infamous and notorious Mexican cartel boss known as El León.

Seven-feet-tall, built like a bull, and covered in a gallery of tattoos, he commands fear and respect from everybody he meets.

Well, almost everybody.

Because today, he meets my parents - and Martin and Amy Hopkins are not easily impressed.

They don't care that Arellano has turned his back on his violent, criminal past. They're not impressed that he's using his power and influence to try and rebuild Mexico, and bring an end to the decades-long drug war.

All they want to know is that their daughter and infant grandson are safe with him.

That should have been easy to prove. That's why we'd come here in the first place - to an American-owned, luxury resort in Cancun that was a thousand miles from Arellano's sprawling, criminal empire.

Here - amidst laughing tourists and happy families - it should have been easy to convince my parents that a heart of gold beats beneath Arellano's terrifying exterior...

Only, there's one problem.

Shadowy figures from our troubled past have decided to use this opportunity to enact their bloody revenge. With El León alone and unprotected - with only his two loyal bodyguards to defend him - there's never been a better chance to take out the only man who offers Mexico a bright, crime-free future.

Arellano and I came here so we could convince my parents that life with El León was safe. Instead, we're all now fighting for our lives.

And the worst part? Even if we do manage to survive this onslaught - will my parents ever let my son and I stay with Arellano?

Mendoza Two days - that's all I needed.

Two days to convince Martin and Amy Hopkins that their daughter and grandson were safe with me - that my love for them was without limits, and that I'd protect them with my life.

I've spent the last year and a half making amends for my criminal past - partnering with the American government to end this endless drug war, and bring peace and prosperity back to Mexico. All I wanted to do was rebuild my homeland for the sake of my infant son. Surely Valerie's parents could respect that, right?

Wrong.

Because in turning my back on my cruel and violent past, I've made powerful enemies - and they've followed me to this luxurious Cancun resort. I came here to try and convince señor y Señora Hopkins that their daughter was safe with me - and instead, I've put them all in danger.

Only my loyal bodyguards Joaquín and Luis stand by my side - and with the lives of my parents-in-law, my wife, and my infant son at stake, the three of us are in a battle for our lives.

And the worst part? Even if we do make it out alive; will Mr and Mrs Hopkins ever let their daughter and grandson come home with me?

El León is a 40,000 word full-length bad-boy romance novel, filled with steamy scenes of explicit sensuality and wildly thrilling action and adventure. Enjoy!

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2019

145 people are currently reading
85 people want to read

About the author

Simone Scarlet

28 books3 followers

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5 stars
83 (56%)
4 stars
44 (29%)
3 stars
16 (10%)
2 stars
4 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
Want to read
March 30, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/30/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Karen.
1,491 reviews15 followers
March 28, 2019
Wow! This story starts off with a sexy tryst and pulls you right in. It’s full of danger, family drama, and hot, sexy men.

Valerie Mendoza’s story is not a nice one, but she is able to find a happy life now. A woman who was tricked into going to Mexico with a boyfriend who turned out to be a real loser, she is acquired by the head of the Mendoza Cartel and finds the love she has been looking for. Her parents visit from Arizona and stress their worry for her and their grandson, Francis, living a life in the Cartel.

Arellano El León Mendoza has finally found something worth living for. Being the head of a Cartel is not a safe life, but he will do whatever it takes to stay alive and keep his wife Valerie and their son Francis safe. He’s found a way to ensure that he is not the only man to protect them and ensure their safety, he two lieutenants will protect them with their lives as well. While away from his compound, visiting Valerie’s parents in Cancun, they will encounter danger and escape death, not only once, but twice.

This story was a quick read for me. It was a fast-paced book that takes the reader from a nice family vacation with some drama to more drama while the family has to run for their lives and seek shelter to keep out of the sights of someone who wants to harm them.

I enjoyed this story and give it a 4-star review. If you are a reader who enjoys hot, sexy, Alpha males, and stories of cartels and danger, I highly recommend this story.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews69 followers
March 27, 2019
ONE ELECTRIFYING ADVENTURE!!!
OMG! Wow! Talk about hitting the ground running. Hey guys, if you're looking for a fast paced, action packed, hard hitting, page flipping, adrenaline rush that keeps you riveted and on a razors edge. Congratulations my friends, you've found it. All the drama, fear, uncertainty, danger and suspense make for one thrilling experience. A rollercoaster of events and activities draw all of your emotions forward in this fascinating storyline and explosive plot. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it brings this bad boy roaring to life spectacularly. Amazing job Simone, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Profile Image for Misty Schott.
4,225 reviews34 followers
March 27, 2019
What a great story!!!

Just a quick note: It's not necessary to read Sold to the Cartel to enjoy this book, but I do suggest reading it before delving into this book. In Sold to the Cartel you get to see how Valerie and Arellano meet and I believe it gives you the perspective you need to get into this story more.

This is a quick read and it's got a great storyline with awesome characters. This book does have a HFN ending, but I am hoping there is more to come with this wonderful couple and their very interesting friends.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,548 reviews9 followers
April 12, 2019
what a start ... the beginning of the is book - wowza ...what a hot and steamy start, what is the saying 5 o'clock alarm, is that the saying?? the fire dept has to be called is the point??! ... then the book for me kind of fizzled out, where did that steamness go? i wonder??! ... .. oh well ... that start would almost make this read a 5 star ... just saying ... awesome cover as well. hope 2 see what else Scarlet MMA, Simone has to offer the book world??!
314 reviews3 followers
January 16, 2022
OK, so my prediction was way off. At the end of the previous book review I thought maybe the "dead" bf would come back, nope. He is still dead as a doornail.

Arellano and Valerie have two problems. One, the US government likes the chaos the drug trade brings and even though the Lion is on the right side of the law now, there are groups in the US government who want to maintain the status quo. The second problem, maybe the biggest, is a family vacation with the in-laws. Ok, that isn't the biggest problem, but they really don't like Arellano and are not shy about letting him know. What happened to people being afraid of a cartel leader?

In this book, Valerie continues her s€xy time with not only her husband but his two trusted guards. She is a mother and will do anything to keep her family safe. The family vacation in Cancun goes awry when mercenaries try to take out her family, but the Lion has allies who help him escape long enough to make a plan to save his family.

The plot moved quickly in this one with lots of action, and there was just enough s€x to keep the heat factor up. The very first chapter should get your heartrate up and leave hot and bothered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rosemary.
1,607 reviews6 followers
April 1, 2019
My oh my! I thought Arellano and Valerie's story in Sold to the Cartel could not get any hotter or better but this book surpassed my expectations. When Valerie's parents come for a visit, it is apparent that there has never been a love connection between Martin and Amy (Valerie's parents) and their son in law, El Leon but when things latterly explode in Cancun during their vacation, things really do get exceptionally worse. This book was filled with heart stopping action and thigh clenching sex scenes that may rival the ones in their first book. I am a fan of Simone Scarlett MMA who is my go to author that always seems to go just a little deeper into the erotic scenes in her books and I am glad she does! Do yourself a favor and get this book but if you have not read Sold to the Cartel, you need to start with that one.
8 reviews
April 3, 2019
El Leon has a twisted mind

As promised i am writing a review which I rarely ever do. The action in the bedroom is like wow, don't want to give it away but I can see why she enjoys it I just can't understand why he keeps enjoying it so much. As for our government i can see them doing what they did, they have to many secrets from we the people they are supposed to be working for, to much power for their own good, and get way to much pay. I did enjoy the book although it was headed more toward sex it seemed then El Leon doing a lit of mafia stuff. The only thing that did bother me is i like to read books in order, this book came as an offer to read before it came out and I was excited to do so, I had not read any of her books. If I had known that it was going to be so out of order i might have passed and read it in correct order.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
622 reviews15 followers
March 29, 2019
** I received this book in exchange for an honest teview.**

OMG, this story started off with a bang.  That's putting it mildly.  I actually have the first story of this couple and have yet to read it.  I will be fixing that shortly.  If you like 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 smoking and I mean smoking hot sexy times along with action and even a little humor this book is for you.  A pretty quick read, with action,adventure, smoking hot dirty sex and humor.
779 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2019
OMG...spending time with the in-laws shouldn't be like this!

Arellano and Valerie take little Francisco on vacation to spend time with Valerie's parents in Cancun. It's all going fine in the beginning, but that doesn't last long. Seems trouble is always following them around and this time's no different.
Great continuation to their story, great characters and great read overall. I loved it!
2,978 reviews10 followers
April 2, 2019
Cartel and Knuckleheads

Arellano and Valerie continue their life in this book. They are deeply in love but their past may be coming back to get them. Will Arellano and his guards figure out what's happening before its to late?
Exciting with lots of action that will keep you on edge.
Profile Image for Amanda M.
2,790 reviews16 followers
April 3, 2019
This was a definite different kind of read for me from a new to me author. It was an action packed edge of your seat read. There's plenty going on throughout the story that it is sure to not disappoint. This story has plenty of twists and turns with some surprises as well. Overall a great read from start to finish.
48 reviews
April 7, 2019
Steamy Romance

I enjoyed reading this book with exciting twists and turns and unconventional sex with husband sharing wife MMMF, no MM sex. This does end with a lead-in for a sequel- not a typical cliffhanger that leaves the reader annoyed and having to buy the next book to learn resolutions of the primary issues in the current story. Recommend for readers 18 and older.
Profile Image for Mindy Martinez Borda.
570 reviews5 followers
December 19, 2020
This story got me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It was fast paced and got me guessing and rooting for the characters to come on the other side of their mountain of tribulations victorious. This and the fact that both main characters have the most intense relationship I have read in a long time make this a page-turning story worth reading.
246 reviews1 follower
Read
April 13, 2021
Brill

I Love this series so much,it has great characters, well written with a strong focus on the shared lead couple with great storylines and lots of action. I Love Ms Scarlet's books the storylines are so different from what I've read, never thought I would love MC books but they are great.
493 reviews6 followers
March 31, 2019
Love in all its forms

A man with too many enemies who will bend enough to share the woman who is his life in order to assure the safety of her and his child. Perhaps unusual, but highly effective given his history and list of those who would use them to get to him or worse.
Profile Image for Nikki Henton.
36 reviews
March 31, 2019
Not what I expected

Not what I expected. Just not for me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with MMMF relationships, if that is your thing. It just isn’t for me. I wish I had known before I started the read. Glad I didn’t pay for the copy.
Profile Image for Mary.
761 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2019
Story starts with some spice, then takes you to meet the parents, and then in true Knucklehead fashion the bomb drops and all hell breaks out. The story was intertaining with its twists and turns and lots of "Spice" thrown in. This was an author ARC and my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Nate.
24k reviews19 followers
March 28, 2019
Couldn't put this one down. Wow!! Such a good book & you know how I love my mafia books. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book via bookfunnel.
1,396 reviews7 followers
March 30, 2019
An amazing, fast-paced read with great characters and hot sexy time scenes.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Kayla Holthe.
121 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2019
Interesting and entertaining

I enjoyed this book. The story was good and kept me interested. The wife sharing is a little weird but whatever, it’s a book.
Profile Image for M Robinson .
2,418 reviews
May 9, 2019
Loved this book so much! Its fast paced n action packed from the first chapter. So much so you'll read it in one go.

Absolutely brilliant!
Profile Image for Nstefa.
3,458 reviews21 followers
May 14, 2019
Part of the series and interlacing with The knuckleheads MC this is a continuation of the story but can also be a standalone book but more enjoyable when you know the characters
Profile Image for Pearl.
1,981 reviews17 followers
May 23, 2019
El Leon

This was such a hot read! The lion is one bada$$ mofo in this story. Valerie is his sweet wife caught up in a cartel war.
Profile Image for Andrea Gillan.
2,844 reviews3 followers
October 18, 2020
Great book

Another instalment from Valerie and El Leon. A brilliant fast paced book that has you on the edge of your seat in parts.
171 reviews
June 30, 2024
Outstanding

Fast paced, sexy and full of surprises. There are parts that are NC17 but the adult ladies will love it.
Profile Image for Susanne Berglund.
17 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2019
If you are sensitive to sexual descriptions then you should not read this book.

I think it is as exellent as the others but too short. As usual, I couldn't put away the book. I understand that the next one will be about when they go to the US but I think you could have brought it in this. Now I have to wait until the next comes to find out how it goes. There is so much going on in the relationships between the different people, which means that it never gets boring to read, but you always want to continue .....

I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one.......
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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