Cruel Paradise

Beautifully Cruel #2

by J.T. Geissinger

Anti-hero (noun):
1) A powerful and charismatic man lacking moral character
2) A magnificent bastard
3) Killian Black

You don’t know me.
You think you do, but you don’t.
The only thing you know is my name, and even that’s a lie.

I’m king of Boston, lord of criminals, ruler of an underworld empire. Or am I?

Only one thing’s for sure: I operate alone.

Until I cross paths with a brazen little thief who sets my whole kingdom on fire.

Just as two wrongs don’t make a right, two villains don’t belong together. Especially since she’s the daughter of my most deadly enemy.

Taking her would start a war.
Keeping her would be suicide.
Making her mine would break every code of honor and defy all common sense.

Then again, where’s the fun in following the rules?

Genres: Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

J.T. Geissinger is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty-five novels and novellas. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over twenty million copies and been translated into more than two dozen languages.

She is a three-time nominee in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.

Newsletter ➡️ http://bit.ly/1IbgZZI
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Reviews

[Anovelqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

Reread November 17, 2021

Killian: “ Watching Juliet sleep, I realize that my entire life leading up to this moment has been prologue. I’ve been waiting for the first act to begin. I had to find her before I could really start living.”

I absolutely freaking loved Killian Black. He was everything that I thought he would be and more. Head of the Irish mob Killian is a man of mystery and he knows exactly what and who he wants: Juliet. His single focus is getting her to trust and love him. I love how these Black twins fall hard so fast.

Juliet took a little warming up to. Although I understood her reticence I found her a little frustrating and difficult to take. But the chemistry between these two was off the charts hot, hot, hot.

If you are looking for a couple of badass alphas I highly recommend this series!

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

DNF @ 40%...

...for now anyway.

This really bums me out. I really enjoyed book one and was really looking forward to devouring this one; however, I am just plain bored. Killian is very beta and I am just not feeling it. Something else I am not feeling?

The extreme insta-love.

I mean, I can get on board with IL when it's done well...but it just wasn't here and I wasn't buying it. As a result, the relationship between Juliet and Killian felt completely staid. Meaning: ZERO chemistry.

And the whole Romeo & Juliet theme?



So tired.
So overdone.
So sad about this.

Oh well. Maybe I'll attempt it again another time. Maybe not. Either way...onward!

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t be yourself. Be Ryan Reynolds!”



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜🖤💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎 🌎
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤

The setting: Boston

The Hero: Killian Black- He is twin brother to Liam Black who is the head of the Irish Mob in Boston. However, Killian goes by the name Liam Black. The real Liam is off somewhere married to the love of his life who is pregnant with their child.

The heroine: Juliet Moretti – daughter of at Italian Gangster, her mother was killed by a bomb meant for her father when she was young. She is determined not to make the same mistakes as her mother did. Juliet and her two friends left their dangerous fathers after graduating from boarding school and are hiding out under assumed last names. They steal from bad guys and give the proceeds to the poor.

The Love Story: Juliet and her friends steal a truckload of diapers from one of Liam Blacks legitimate businesses and give them away to a charity. This intrigues Killian and he decides he has to meet Juliet. He falls for her quickly but she wants nothing to do with a mobster like her father. She doesn’t want to end up like her mother.



Killian is a hot as heck mobster and I liked him from the beginning. He is very protective of Juliet which makes him even sexier. Their relationship is quite steamy and the book was a fun one. I especially liked the scenes between Juliet and her two best friends Fin and Max. Those three girls together are hilarious. Fin and Max bicker like a married couple, but sound like they are fun to be around. Fin is a lesbian but I would like to see Max get together with Killian’s right hand man, Declan.

I absolutely loved Killian. He is a great guy for a mafia kingpin. I didn’t read the first book (YET) but I certainly will as soon as I can. I probably would have known Killian’s secrets if I would have. But I am kind of glad I didn’t know and I can’t wait to read Liam’s story.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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[Dilek VT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HATED Killian in Dangerous Beauty series, where he was a side character and beat the heroine.

I LIKED him A TINY BIT in Beautifully Cruel. But only a teeny-tiny bit.

So why did I read his book?

Because I thought if a writer can change my mind about a character from hate to love or vice versa, it is Ms. Geissinger and I wanted to see if she could erase my hatred for Killian and make me love him.

Now that I have read it, I once again see why J.T. Geissinger is my favorite writer. She has magically changed all my feelings about Killian. He is not what I thought he was. He is a completely different guy and a swoon-worthy one. I can go ahead and even say that he is now among my favorite book boyfriends.



In this book, I read how much Killian regrets beating the heroine in the previous series. He explains that he was sure she was human trafficking - selling girls, children. He had gotten a wrong tip. When he understood his mistake, he couldn’t forgive himself. He was so furious and so upset about it. He killed the man who lied to him and apologized to the woman and saved her life many times.

He still regrets that it happened and tells our heroine in this book that it was the only time he hurt a woman in his life and he is really so very sorry and regretful about it.

Now he is friends with her and her husband and sometimes looks after their children.

*********************************************

After he redeemed himself in my eyes and I forgave Killian for what he did, I enjoyed the book immensely.

Now, let me talk about the book.



First of all, if you need an action-filled dark mafia book, this is NOT it.

This is a highly emotional and passionate love story of two people who are connected to mafia in different ways.

The book is all about her denial of her feelings for him (because she believes he is one of the bad guys) and him trying to make her see that they are destined to be together.

There are lovely Romeo-Juliet references in the book.

*********************************************

As in all her books, the quality of writing is perfect. It flows and it is addicting – I never wanted to leave the book before finishing it. It makes you feel. When J.T. Geissinger writes, it is impossible not to feel.

It is written in dual point of view, which is my favorite style.

One small criticism: Juliet's chapters outweigh those of Killian's and I needed more Killian chapters.

*********************************************

In this book I loved the hero more than I loved the heroine. She sometimes annoyed me when she denied her feelings but let’s be honest, I would do the same in real life, so I understand.

Killian is an “out of this world” beautiful character. I still can’t believe how I went from hating him to swooning for him. He is a delicious combination of “alpha and softie”. He is both passionate and romantic. He is everything I would expect from a perfect hero.



The book doesn’t have much action. What keeps you hooked is their delicious banter and explosive chemistry. It is a real page-turner.

The book is both fun and hot but it is also emotional. That's my favorite combination: Hot, fun and emotional!



Tru and Liam from Book 1 make an appearance, which was nice – especially the conversations between the two brothers, Liam and Killian were awesome.

The side characters, Juliet’s friends, Max and Fin are also so very funny. I would love to read their books if Ms Geissinger writes them. They contributed so much to the fun in the book.

*********************************************

I loved everything about the book but the Epilogue and the ending. I am deducting 0.5 point for that but for the love of Killian, I can’t give anything but 5 stars to this book.

As for the Epilogue, it is about the family gathering, Liam, Tru, their new-born baby, Killian and Juliet are all together, blah bla... I would have preferred a more romantic/interesting one; that was just a waste of an Epilogue.

And the ending feels lacking… It ends really abruptly. I turned the page over, so sure it didn’t finish and saw that it was the end and there was no more. I checked twice but nope, it was "The End".

Why would you end such an awesome book so abruptly Ms. Geissinger? I would kill for a bonus Epilogue now…

*********************************************

Well, for readers who are interested in safety, it is a safe book, no OW or OM drama, no cheating.

*********************************************



Let me now leave you with some amazing QUOTES from the book now.



He stares at my profile for a moment, then says suddenly, “You’re not afraid of me.”

He says it like he just discovered the lost city of Atlantis. With surprise and wonder and—weirdly—a touch of pride.

“Let’s just say I have a healthy respect for your ability to make people dead. Now let me go.”

***

“You have to call him and apologize.”

I wait for the punchline. When I realize she’s not joking, I scoff.

“Oh, good plan, Einstein. I’ll just call Gangster 4-1-1 and get his phone number, then say sorry we stole your stuff, please don’t kill us.”

***

“I want to see you.” His tone has lost all its softness. It’s still low, but now it’s tense, too, filled with a dark need that makes my panic skyrocket. All the breath leaves my lungs.

Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I whisper, “Why?”

His voice thick, he says, “You know why.”

God help me, I do. And it’s not because he wants to kill me.

***

“I’m not trying to choke you, lass.” It’s true, the pressure of his hand on my throat is gentle, but still.

“Then what the hell are you doing?”

He slides his thumb back and forth over the throbbing vein in my neck. “Feeling your pulse.”

Heart hammering, I stare at him. “Why?”

“Because I want to see how fast it gets when I kiss you.”

***

His voice turns husky. “God, you’re sexy when you’re threatening me. I like it even more than when you’re stealing things I own.”

We’re two feet apart and not touching, but we might as well be naked in bed with him on top of me and thrusting between my spread thighs for how intimate this feels, all this heat and friction and heavy breathing. I’m breaking out in a sweat.

***

After a moment of silence, Max says, “That’s Shakespeare.”

“Yep. It’s the first line of Romeo and Juliet.”

Her gasp is low and thrilled. “He’s sending you quotes from the most romantic love story ever written? Oh god. My heart.”

“Don’t sound so swoony, idiot! Romeo and Juliet isn’t a romance, it’s a tragedy! Six people die over the course of four days because of two stupid teenagers!”



I say, “This is very strange.”

“Aye.”

“Like, beyond strange. Like UFOs and haunted houses strange. Like supernatural.”

“Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen.”

“But it shouldn’t happen. It can’t happen. I’m me, and you’re you.”



“She’s perfect. She can hardly stand the sight of me, and she doesn’t trust me for shit, and she mocks me every bloody chance she gets…” My sigh is heavy and hopeless. “And she’s perfect.”

“Good god,” says Liam, alarmed. “Who the hell am I talking to? You sound like an actual human being!”

“I know. It’s awful. Help.”



He says softly, “You wore that dress to punish me, too, didn’t you? That dress with no bra underneath so I can see exactly what I can’t have. What you know I want but you’re unwilling to give me.”

I close my eyes. My hands are beginning to shake. “Stop it.”

He continues, his voice still that gentle caress. “I know you did. And I’ll take it. Whatever punishment you need to dispense, I’ll take all of it, lass. Because I know that once we get past the anger and you give me all of you, it will have been worth every pint of blood you needed to extract.”



“What if I asked you to do that? To give up the life you have? Would you do that for me?”

He answers without hesitation, his voice husky. “I would if you said you trusted me. I would if you gave me your whole heart. If you stopped holding back.” His throat works. He moistens his lips. His voice drops to a whisper. “If it meant I could have you for good, I’d light my whole life on fire and walk away from the ashes.”



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[Isabella. R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Beautiful Thief Stars ⭐

Surely, it's love if your man would kill not one but many for you? It's kind of romantic in its special kind of way, right?! So be prepared for this hot damn gangster to steal your heart…

"Don’t look at his ass, idiot. He’s the devil, remember?"

This time around, Jules and her two thieving comrades picked the wrong target. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor may be their life's mission, but stealing from the Irish Mob, one serious fuckup...

Killian Black wonders why anyone would steal a truckful of diapers, especially from him. And for this reason, he goes to great length to solve that mystery which leads him to Jules. And what he finds, he likes.

"God, you’re sexy when you’re threatening me. I like it even more than when you’re stealing things I own."

However getting Jules to like him in return is tricky no matter how persuasive he tries to be. Between their secrets and mafia lineage, any possible tryst between them would be disastrous. Yet Killian's not backing off and Jules is being swept off her feet against her better judgement.

"Okay, that’s just…wow. Your ego needs its own zip code.”

He chuckles softly. "That’s not the only part of me that needs its own zip code, lass."

The more Killian persists, the more resistant Jules wants to be. Their battle of wills is scorching because you know when they finally cave in, it will be explosive.

"There are some things I don’t know about you."

I say tartly, "Like what? Which utensil I’d most like to gouge out your eyes with?"

He stares straight into my eyes. "Like how you sound when you come."

The push and pull was real since being together would be a terrible idea. It all came down to trust. But how do you trust the enemy when it's everything you stand against? Nevertheless, if fate has your number, it's just a matter of time.

Cruel Paradise was everything I adore in a story since I couldn't put it down. I found it to be entertaining, it had characters I adored and side characters that had me snorting out loud. And that Irish brogue, ooh I loved! This author has a way with words which are simply marvellous.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Paradise is the second book in the Beautifully Cruel series by J.T. Geissinger. This is Killian’s book. I’ve been in love with Killian since I first met him in the Dangerous Beauty series. I was beside myself when I learned he would get his own book. And hold on to your panties, ladies, because Killian is every bit worth the wait.



Killian Black aka Liam Black is head of the Boston Mafia, the head of the underworld. He’s a gangster, a mobster, a killer. He lives alone in his penthouse apartment. No one would ever dare to cross him, to steal from him. Until the night a trio of women broke into one of his warehouses. And what they took is even more of a mystery.

Juliet Moretti, daughter of the infamous head of the Italian mob, wants nothing to do with her father. Juliet lives in Boston with her two best friends, Fin and Max. All three of these women have day jobs. But they also have their own little crime ring going on. They just never counted on what came next after the night they broke into that warehouse.

“Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“This. You know. Alpha.”
“Of course.”



Killian couldn’t look away from the woman that stole from him. It was instant everything. All he knew was that he had to get to know her better. But once he found out who she was, the daughter of his enemy, he knew he had his work cut out for him. She had walls built a mile high around her heart.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d describe Killian Black as a gentleman. A beautiful, dangerous, unconventional gentleman who can sear holes through a woman’s body with the heat of his eyes.”



Killian is nothing if not dedicated to his pursuit of Juliet. But to Juliet, he represents everything she hated growing up. He’s a bad guy. She needs to stay as far away from him as she can. Only that soon seems an impossible task.

“How do you always know where to find me?”
“The same way a compass knows how to find the true north.”



This book had everything. Intense, scorching, steamy scenes, the couple was sweet, strong, the attraction between them leaping right off the page with their chemistry. I loved that big bad Killian was brought to his knees by this woman. As she was by him. And I loved her snark. This book had everything I love, I was on the edge of my seat, turning the pages as fast as I could. I haven’t read a book by J.T. Geissinger yet that hasn’t completely amazed me. Now we can add Cruel Paradise to that list. Killian was everything and more I hoped he would be. Thank you again to this author for all her fabulous words.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

Do you always talk like you ate a dictionary for breakfast?” He puts his mouth close to my ear and lowers his voice. “No. Sometimes I talk like I fuck: dirty.”

You all don't even understand the level of addiction that I have for Geissinger's alpha males. The woman has created not only some of my most favorite and memorable heroes, but she can write a sharp witted and kickass heroine like no one else. I thought I died for her Wicked Games series, but that was nothing compared to her Beautifully Cruel series.

Now if you're like me and have also read the Dangerous Beauty trilogy then you definitely remember Killian Black as one of the most dynamic secondary characters and have been slowly dying for him to get his own book. And if you haven't read that trilogy, it's an absolute must read.

Having said that, I do not recommend reading Cruel Paradise without having first readBeautifully Cruel. There are too many details and slight nuances that would be lost on you if you don't read that first. And besides, that book was another HUGE 5 stars for me, so it's worth the read for that alone.

There are some things I don’t know about you.”
I say tartly, “Like what? Which utensil I’d most like to gouge out your eyes with?”
He stares straight into my eyes. “Like how you sound when you come.”

Nothing can prepare you for the full force of Killian Black as the leading character. NOTHING. The man is potent with a capital P. And if you're not reading the double entendre there, then you clearly don't know me *evil grin*. But enough about me, let's talk about this book. Because this book? This book was EVERYTHING. It was worth every agonizing minute, hour, and month of waiting because Killian Black is jumping straight to my number one.

If you're a fan of sassy and sharp witted heroines, Juliette is going to be a favorite too. The woman is tough as nails and is full of sharp barbs and witty zingers. The banter between these two was some of the best I've read in a while. Killian is single focused on having her and she's intent on resisting. The chemistry is utterly incendiary.

Cruel Paradise was a slow burn full of heat, suspense, and so much chemistry I thought my kindle would set on fire.

If it meant I could have you for good, I’d light my whole life on fire and walk away from the ashes.”

Killian is the head of the Irish mafia, but he's not at all what he seems. And if you've read the first book, then you already know that. You know this man has secrets that run deep and a past that's riddled in pain and shadows. Juliette is a bit of a female robin hood. She and her merry band of sassy girlfriends steel from the rich and morally corrupt and give to the poor. But when they steel from Killian, he's not about to let it go. And when he sees who his little thief is, he knows he has to have her and pursues her with a singleminded intent to wear her down.

This book was completely unputdownable. The chemistry, the utter dominance that oozes from Killian was addictive as all get out. I couldn't get enough of the man. Juliette definitely puts up a fight in her feelings and at times it almost grated on me, but I simply couldn't care less because I was so riveted and invested in their story. I lived for these characters. I died for their romance. I couldn't get enough of it. And I swear on all things holy if JT Geissinger doesn't prolong this series by giving Fin, Max, and Diego a book, I will die. DIE I tell you. And I don't even care if I'm being dramatic. I need it.

And as for this book? Cruel Paradise is a must read if you love a protective and possessive uber alpha and a sassy heroine that loves to give him hell! Read it. Thank me later.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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[Phuong ✯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

– 2.5 stars

I call this "Second-Book-Syndrome" when you're still riding the high of the first book and nothing that happens in the second book can compare. That doesn't happen often since I feel like most of the first books in a series are pretty meh and the second/third book is where it's really at.



✩⡱ PLOT

Juliet (a.k.a. Jules) is stealing a truck with thousands of diapers with her friends Max and Fin. The truck belongs to one of Killian's companies. Killian seeks Jules out after he finds out that she donated all the boxes with diapers to a distribution hub, because he finds her intriguing for the Robin Hood stunts she and her friends pulled. Turns out that Jules is the estranged-daughter of one of Killian's biggest enemy, the Italian mob boss. Most of this book is Killian trying to pursue Jules and her rejecting him, because she doesn't trust him and thinks that Killian is bad like her father.

࿐୨୧ everything from here contains spoilers for book 1 ࿐୨୧

*
*
*

So Beautifully Cruel ended with Killian taking over Liam's empire and acting as his twin. So everyone thinks Killian is the "Liam Black". One reason why I couldn't connect to the characters was because of that "twin switch". It sounds irrational, but when I'm in Jules POV and read things like "Liam is on top of me" or "Liam looks at me like he wants to devour me" I can't help but feel BETRAYED. It feels like Liam is cheating on Tru or something even though I KNOW it's Killian pretending to be Liam. It still really bothered me ... in my head every time Jules thought "Liam" wanted to kiss her.. I was automatically thinking "Nah Liam would never.. his obsession is waiting for him at home pregnant!" I couldn't turn that thought down and it was fucking with my head. It got a lot better once Killian told Jules to call him 'Killian', but the damage was already done and I still didn't really care about them that much.

"It's not inexplicable. I like you the way Newton liked gravity."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Once he found it, everything else in the universe made sense."

In many ways Killian and Jules were like Liam and Truvy and I should love them together. Same alpha Hero who is crazy obsessed with the heroine, the h being sassy and not taking any shit from the H, Killian and Jules had some fun banter, even some of their scenes where super similar like how Jules threw her shoes after Killian etc... BUT the problem is that I saw TOO MANY parallels between these characters that Killian and Jules were like a bad copy of Liam and Truvy. I'd rather prefer the original.

The highlights of the book were the Liam and Tru cameos. Killian and Liam's phone conversation had me howling. Liam making fun of Kill when he's asking about courting advise and being obsessed with a women as if Liam was ANY better. What a fucking dumbass. The idiot energy the Black men exude in that conversation. Unmatched.

"There's a woman."
Silence. Then, flatly: "You're joking."
"No."
More silence. Somewhere off in the distance, a dog howls at the moon. I know exactly how the poor creature feels.
Liam says, "Thank you for waiting while I picked my jaw up off the floor. How bad is it?"

Liam, sir——- stop being so annoying! No one gave you the right to be like this. 😭

"Now fucking tell me how you got Tru to fucking fall in love with you."
"All right, calm down. If you must know, I kidnapped her."
It's my turn to be stunned into silence.
Sounding defensive, he says, "It's not ideal, I know."
"You're serious."
"I am."
"And it worked?"
"She's sleeping besides me. Wearing my ring. Carrying my child. I'd say it worked."

Puuuuhhhh-leasseee- that whole chapter 14 is comedy. Liam and Killian the comedy duo, I didn't know I needed. Reading this conversation out of context is probably not half as funny as I make it out to be, but this is how it is:

Liam: *breathes*
Me: ahahaahahhah, why are you so funny!!! <3<3<3


Here is a perfect description of Liam and Killian Black:

"For such alpha wolves, they're just marshmallows when it comes to their women."

What else that wasn't too shabby:

☆ Jules, Max and Fin being the girl gang of criminals. Stealing from rich bad people and giving it to others who need it more. I love how they all came from criminals and trying to "counteract" the bad actions by their fathers by doing what they do. Besides Liam and Tru, my next favorite character in this book is probably Max. Her and Fin's bickering was fun to read.

Fin says, "Don't make me have to smack the extra chromosome out of you."
Max says, "Bite me."
"I would, but I don't want to have to get a tetanus shot."
I say brightly, "Okay. That was fun. Is everyone ready to go back into their cages now?"
Max sticks out her tongue at Fin, who looks at the ceiling, shaking her head.

☆ the epilogue was soooo cute!!! Only because it had Liam, Tru and baby Maribel in it lol. Basically every scene that had Liam and Tru in it was the highlight for me and made reading this book somehow worth it. The rest was pretty boring and I didn't care much about Killian, Jules or their romances.

┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL SERIES

#1 Beautifully Cruel – 4.5 stars ✯ my review ✯
#2 Cruel Paradise – 2.5 stars
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Spoiler*

I could maybe forgive the unconvincing motivation behind Juliet’s heist of Killian’s diapers (lol, don’t ask), however, what really presses my eye-roll button is the insta-love and the fact nothing happened to move the plot forward. We were all like hamsters, chasing Killian as he in turn chased Juliet. Le sigh

DNF @36%

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - rounded up for Killian.
What this book lacks in plot it makes up for in banter and sass. The two protagonists were hilarious and hot together and Killian made multiple quips that had me laughing out loud.
The story itself wasn’t much. It was a cat and mouse game between the two love interests and it went on way too long. He’d chase her, smoulder, they’d exchange witty banter, she’d run and he’d let her go. Rinse and repeat about ten times. The big crisis of plot was that Juliet didn’t want to be with a gangster, but if you’ve read the first book, Beautifully Cruel, you know the truth of his backstory, so it just ends up being kind of frustrating. Neither gives in until the very end. Other than that there is no other plot or intrigue in this thing. The first book was a much better story, this one was not as good, and yet it’s still worth a read because it’s funny and hot. The narration is fire with the same two narrators as the first book, done in dual narration. Troy Duran is a talented guy and has a voice that could make anything sound sexy. I’d listen to him read me an instructional manual and still be entertained.

[❀ Rose ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, with what I’ve been reading recently, I think y’all can tell that I got Kindle Unlimited just last month🤣

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Beautifully Cruel, I was dying to get my hands on Cruel Paradise and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. There is so much push and pull in this book that will blow you away and keep you on your toes. It sizzles but it is also heartbreaking. I loved how much Jules made Killian work for everything. There was an animalistic passion about these two but I love how she made him wait. How she played at his game too. There are a lot of moments that broke my heart for these two. Because of being so guarded over the past.
SOOO much happens in this book that honestly, I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the fact it was a real slow burn that will have you spinning with that underlying sizzle that these two have. The concept behind it made me giggle at times as well with everything Jules was up to with her partners in crime. Honestly could not get enough of these two.

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ❤️🔥🤔🌟s ❣️

The Black brothers were awesome!!! To die for!!! 💗💗💗
Cruel Paradise was Killian’s story, Liam’s brother from the previous book.

Juliet and Killian were perfect for each other, with their witty banter and their really explosive chemistry!

The first and last few chapters were great, filled with romance, suspense and action. However, the plot in between was full of steamy scenes, push & pull and the emotional element was deficient.

Regardless, it was very well written and kept my interest.

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the 1st book and rated it 5 stars but OMFG this one was soooo much better than that. I enjoyed it very much. Lately I was giving 3 or 4 stars to the books but my god, this story totally changed my mood. I quite had a wonderful time with Killian & Juliet. <3 And I have to say this book is one of my favorites now. (^_^)

Ps. I highly recommend J.T. Geissinger's books to you. Trust me you're missing too much if you haven't read her books, yet. ;)

***ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR.

[Flor ❁ (HIATUS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2✨

I didn't love it like the first book. My big issue was Juliet, she was so annoying and stressful the first 50% of the story.

Things that I liked :

•‌Killian 🥺 I felt like he didn't deserve a heroine like Juliet. I would have enjoyed the story if we had more of his POV'S.

•‌Tru / Liam Crumbs.

•‌Killian / Liam relationship, especially THAT call.

•‌Romeo and Juliet references.

•DECLAN.

*I want to know if Declan and Diego will have their story because I'm really intrigued about their lives 👀*

[Huda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
3/5🔥

THIS WAS SOO MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK!!!

Firstly, Liam Black will always have a special place in my heart, but Killian is close to that line too. It had little plot, but the angst, the SPICE!, AND DON'T EVEN START ON THAT BANTER ✋😭

Juliet and her friends steal a truckload of diapers (yup I know) from one of Kilian's legitimate organizations and donate them to a charity organization. Killian finds out and decides he must meet Juliet.
Despite her desire to avoid a mafia like her father, he falls for her instantly. But she rejects him 'till the end of the book, which was soo frustrating at times, but it was cool ig cz what happened to her mother scared her off.

I was so done with her in the last part of the book. I was SCREAMING for her to just kiss him already 😭 ifykyk why I'm SAYING that. And when they finally did wooh! Things got messier.....if you know what I mean.😏

LIKE MISS GURL just look at him FIRSTLY He quotes Shakespeare and is a genius in everything especially in coding NOT FAIR

The mouse and cat game they played was also annoyingly enjoyable. But just like the first book there was lack of plot and action, but I didn't mind cz their story and chemistry made up for me🤷🏼‍♀️😁.

My favorite characters were Max and Fin, oooh I loved them so much, it was like a déjà vu for me reading their bickering and love between them.🥺💖
The scene where Liam and Killian talk over the phone was everything 😂. I WAS CACKLING ON THE FLOOR

I didn't want Diego to take over the Irish mafia 😭 IDK I wanted Declan to be the one, but ig I've to live with that!. AND LIAM AS A DAD, MY HEART WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE

I couldn't put Cruel Paradise down, since it was almost everything I love in a book. It featured characters I adored and side characters who made me snort out loud, so I found it to be amusing.

----------
“It’s not inexplicable. I like you the way Newton liked gravity.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Once he found it, everything else in the universe made sense.”

“If it scares you, that’s the thing you should run fastest toward, because that’s where real life is. In the scary parts. In the messy parts. In the parts that aren’t so pretty.”

“I think god actually created woman first, then created man after deciding we needed something to vex us, so we didn’t die of boredom in the Garden of Eden.”

“You make me want to live a different kind of life. You make me want to be a different kind of man. Juliet. Juliet. You are why every love song was ever written.”

"Okay, that’s just…wow. Your ego needs its own zip code.”
He chuckles softly. "That’s not the only part of me that needs its own zip code, lass."

[❤️Emma Book Lover ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

🖤Follow me on Instagram for more edits🖤


I enjoyed this book,it had some hilarious banter and steamy scenes but that's about it. I also had no idea , just after I ve read in other reviews, that Killian beats violently the heroine, Eva, from Dangerous Beauty. I have to say, I was not even slightly bother by this, because I haven't read that series, nor am I interested to do so now. So yeah, that tidbit of info didn't deter me in the sightless for reading about him. In my mind his character life began in the previous book of this series🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️.

Killian Black was a real gentlemen. He is charismatic, funny , powerful alpha male with a dose of arrogance to complete the package.Oh! and the accents! swoon.
Juliet on the other side, was... plain. I think this is a rare case when I don't like the heroine in ms Geissinger's book. She wanted to give this air of independent, sassy woman, but for me she was just bitchy and mean sometimes. Although I understand her reasoning here and there, I still don't agree with the fact she basically forced Killian in being her fuckbuddy for a week, and then bam, thank you man. Of course he wants to have sex with her, he is a man at the end of the day, but I think, if he would have proposed the same thing to her, she would have felt very "pretty woman".
Also the Robin Hood complex! how can you judge someone for doing their thing, when you are doing the same🙄🙄🙄.
The insta-lust/love came as no surprise, because its always like this in this author books, so I don't mind it.
The epilogue, a big MEH. Very rushed, very neatly packed and convenient and also very unrealistic.

"He reaches out and gently brushes his knuckles over my cheek. His gaze follows the path of his touch. He says softly, “It’s not inexplicable. I like you the way Newton liked gravity.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Once he found it, everything else in the universe made sense.”

🖤🖤

"Liam’s tone turns dismissive. “Then she’s daft.”
“She’s not daft. She’s perfect. She can hardly stand the sight of me, and she doesn’t trust me for shit, and she mocks me every bloody chance she gets…” My sigh is heavy and hopeless. “And she’s perfect.”
“Good god,” says Liam, alarmed. “Who the hell am I talking to? You sound like an actual human being!”
“I know. It’s awful. Help.”

🖤🖤

"I drag a hand through my hair, struggling for the words to describe it. “This one is dierent. I feel like I’ve been electrocuted. Like I’ve been set on fire. Like I’ve got cancer and only have a few weeks left to live. I’m terminal. I’m fucking desperate. It’s the worst.”

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

WooHoo!!! We’ve got Killian!!! And oh my gosh, he was so much more than I expected!!!

Killian is the anti-hero that had to be written. Once he was introduced, everyone I knew that had read the Dangerous Beauty series and Beautifully Cruel, as well as myself, began to demand more of him. What I didn’t expect was to learn what a strong romantic streak he had running through him. Watching him fall in love was exactly why I read romance. He was tormented and his behaviors and reactions to Jules, and the situation he found himself in, was at times heart melting and at others laugh out loud.





As for Jules, she was quite a heroine in her own right. I loved what she did on the side, how she interacted with her friends and most of all her ability to drive Killian absolutely crazy. She had some baggage from her youth and yet it was completely understandable why she held tight to it while dealing with Killian.






When together, this couple had a chemistry that is the very thing I look for in a hero and heroine. The banter between them was perfection and showcased their perfection for each other. Their conflict kept me turning the pages and when they really came together, they set this book on fire!





I was pulled into this story from the first page and throughout all the drama, action and humor, I refused to stop reading or set this book aside for any reason whatsoever. Ms. Geissinger listened to her fans when they demanded more Killian and she surpassed all that we could have asked of her. Not only did she give us more of everything that made us fall in love with Killian, but she ensured he had a heroine that could handle him while putting him in his place. Well done Ms. Geissinger, well done.

Dual POV but more heroine than hero
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H not made out to be a player
Triggers no apparent triggers

[aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

I never thought I would rate JT Geissinger's book so low, but this one was hard for me to read. Mainly because it was kind of boring. I usually reach for this author when I want to read a funny and sometimes ridiculous stories as I always get a good laugh reading them. Unfortunately, even though I had fun reading it at times, I almost forced myself to finish it.

While I liked the characters and the fact that the heroine had some backbone, the plot didn't sucked me in at all. Killian had some good and swoon worthy moments though. This man just knew what to say.

"He says softly, “It’s not inexplicable. I like you the way Newton liked gravity.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” “Once he found it, everything else in the universe made sense.”

Their banter was entertaining too.

“If you try to unzip your pants right now, mister, I’ll punch you in the throat.”
His voice turns husky. “God, you’re sexy when you’re threatening me. I like it even more than when you’re stealing things I own.”

There were moments that I laughed at the lines in this book, because I didn't know if it was written seriously, or to make the reader laugh. The example.

"Between my legs, Killian makes animal grunts of approval."

Animal grunts? Was he barking or what?


I regret to say that I liked the first book more. At least a year ago. I don't know if I would like this book now. However, that doesn't change the fact that I will continue to read this author's books. Some of them are amazing.

Beautifully Cruel series
1. Beautifully Cruel 4 stars
2. Cruel Paradise 2.5 stars

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was EVERYTHING. I loved the first book and I loved this book equally. They both just consumed me. If you were to ask what I love about a book, I'm just going to point you to this series.

I'm not sure I have felt equally as strong about two books in the same series before. The author brought us twin brothers with their own book, gave them different personalities, different woman, different storylines, and both are equally brilliant.

The intensity, the heat, the sparks arcing between Killian and Juliet was completely enthralling. Their attraction to each other is everything I'm looking for in my reads. Some will see this as an instant love story and I guess you could say that, but I felt like it was so much more.

I'm already gushing shamelessly so I might as well keep it up and say they felt like two souls who recognized each other immediately. What followed was a mating dance like no other. .

Killian started out as a side character in the Dangerous Beauty series. He was so charismatic and had such a big presence that me and many other readers were begging the author to give him his own book. He did not disappoint. He's that anti-hero you crave.

Juliet was a sassy, funny and an honorable mafia princess. She was contradictory in all the right ways. I adored her sass. I adored her friendship with her best friends and she was the perfect fit for Killian. Their back and forth was wildly entertaining and had me smiling so much.

I want to say you need to rush out and read this book ASAP, but...you really need to read book 1 first if you haven't already. You will understand Killian position so much more if you start with Liam's book. If you have already read book one, then you are already anxiously waiting for this one. You will not be disappointed.

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead


This review is PAINFUL!!!! Why?? I loved book 1 so hard and I was really,really, REALLY looking forward to Killian's story but I unfortunately didn't like this one.

Random thoughts
1) I don't know if I missed it because I skimmed quite a bit but for me what caused a massive issue for me was the first meet. Now in book 1 Liam saw her and we could understand how things progressed from there....here Killian went ALL out for this woman and I just couldn't get it! Why?!! what's so special about her?!! I mean when they met we're actually told about her two gorgeous friends so why'd he choose her out of the trio? We didn't get that initial neet from his POV and from there things went downhill for me. I actually like instalove.....when it's donw well not this craziness. Absolutely no chemisty between the mcs further bummed me out because the mcs in book 1 lit that book on fire!


2)The h and her 2 friends all have bad guys for dads, so in a bid to even things out they steal from bad guys and give to different charities. Now this was cute, and unusual but also kinda ridiculous the longer it went on

3) I could list other issues I had but my biggest problem was the h, I hated her and Killian deserved better. She wasn't funny or sassy, she was annoying and cringe worthy. Acting like her shit didn't stink....ugh! Whyyyyyyyyy was he so obsessed with her, I love a devoted hero but this was ridiculous. She pushed him away so many times and he just went back for more! Noooooooo why'd you do him like that author!????


Is it just me or Diego taking over was just cringey(why am I using that word so much ugh)


No cheating
Absolutely devoted H
Lots of pushing away from the bitch, I mean the h

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

what a letdown after book one..
I don't mind insta love but here just didn't work...
it was all over the place, couldn't care less and I skimmed after 40% ... a lot!!

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars



I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There was action, drama, humor, and romance. Killian Black is the arrogant, sexy, mysterious alpha in the story who is a romantic at heart despite his ruthless demeanor. He’s in a complicated situation. (If you had read Beautifully Cruel then you know his predicament.) Being the head of the Irish mafia is no easy task and it requires most of his time. So when a certain sassy, quick witted “little thief” captures his attention, Killian goes full throttle to win her heart. But Juliet Moretti is hiding a secret and she knows that getting involved with the ruthless Mr. Black is not in her best interest.

There is a fun and playful and sexy cat and mouse game Killian and Juliet play. I found the banter between the two sassy and saucy and spot on. Juliet goes toe to toe with Killian and I love that she is guarded yet feisty. And then throw Juliet’s two best friends (who are hot messes) and Liam and Tru into the mix and the story’s banter is all the more engaging and entertaining.

There was one thing for me. I found the insta-love way to insta. Killian met Juliet and he was instantly in love. If there had just been more of a backstory between the two I would have bought the connection more. It’s not to say that I didn’t love the story, it just was one of those things for me, and I would still recommend this book.

*advanced copy provided by Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review*

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 COSY STARS

Killian Black, twin brother to Liam Black has taken over Liam's identity and now heads the Irish Mob in Boston, what he doesn't expect in his new role is too fall for the thief who stole from him. Juliet Moretti – daughter of at Italian mob boss is determined not to make the same mistakes as her mother. Juliet with her two friends left the world of their dangerous fathers after graduating and with new identities try to atone for the sins of their fathers. They steal from bad guys and give the proceeds to the poor.

Most of the book is from Juliet's POV, wish more of Killian's POV had been included.

I have to say given all that was said bout Juliet's dad I was expecting him to be more sinister and for Killian's interactions with him to take a different trajectory.

Have to say the ending felt a little abrupt and unfinished, wanted way more.

Overall a nice read, plenty of moments that had me smiling some, but it's not left me wanting to re-read like book 1 and the ending was just not what I was hoping for.

Acquired via KU.

[TJ ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booooo this was not what I wanted at alllll 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽

......but it was still really great 😏



The plot was kind of a mafia Romeo/Juliet retelling and honestly, I wish the author had gone in a different direction. When we left Killian in Dangerous Games, he was a very mysterious, badass, enigmatic character and I felt like there was a lot more there to explored (the Pakhan tattoo thing, the spy thing) so when he took over as Irish mob boss I was pretty disappointed bc that's all pretty 'been there done that.' There could've been a more creative plot here, especially bc he's a character who prides himself on o r i g i n a l i t y 💁🏽‍♀️ But alas, I am not an ungrateful person and I take what I'm given. I liked Juliet a lot, she got some really good disses in and I loved their nicknames for each other (thief/gangster) which was good bc the nick names in the last book were pretty cringe. These two honestly were really cute ✨🤗

"God, you're sexy when you're threatening me. I like it even more than when you're stealing things I own."

His tone deadly soft, he says, "Oh, I'm crystal clear on my sexual preferences, little thief. I'd give you a demonstration if I didn't already know how much you'd love it."



"She can hardly stand the sight of me, and she doesn't trust me for shit, and she mocks me every bloody chance she gets..." My sigh is heavy and hopeless. "And she's perfect."
"Good god," Liam says, alarmed. "Who the hell am I talking to? You sound like an actual human being!"
"I know. It's awful. Help."

He drags me off my barstool, onto his lap, and into his arms. "Let me in. Let me take care of you. Give me your trust, and I'll give you the world. I'll give you anything you ask for."



The side characters in this were also all shining stars in their own right. Declan was amazing as usual, but Max and Fin really stole the show. I loved the Charlie's Angels, Totally Spies, Badass Girl Gang thing the three of them had going on. I'd read a whole book just about their shenanigans and being the worst criminals ever.

"Between the three of us, I figure we've got half a brain. So I need your help figuring out something. What do these things add up to? Secrets. Charisma. Surveillance skills. Undetectable access into buildings and rooms."
Max says, "Me."
Fin says, "Me."



"I think... it's possible I might have insulted him."
After a beat, Fin turns to Max. "She thinks she insulted him."
Max turns to Fin. "The head of the Irish mafia."
"She insulted the head of the Irish mafia so badly, he forgot to kill her."

Lollll overall this was a really great read and I wouldn't be mad if Declan and/or Max got a book too just sayinnnn 👀

[Mahima · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the major disappointment of this year and it's only the beginning of February 😓.
After reading Liam's story I was so curious about Killian coz he sounded more intelligently cruel yet with a heart at the same time. Which I thought would be lethal combination!!
But okay let's see:
◾ Lackluster chemistry between Killian and Jules.
◾I didn't really like the heroine.
◾The beginning was so unexpected which lead to even more disappointment by the time I reached the middle.
◾The mafia familis were so annoying. I mean come out of the bloody cliches already!!

I'm literally done with the mafia stories for now. It will be a good long time when I'll get back to them or a really really good book which can tempt me to them again.

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 18%. Why do I rate it? Cuz of my crushed hopes. And also cuz of below:

* The insta-lust was not explored well, unlike Book 1, with my Wolfie.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I literally have no idea how the H picked the h out of a trio of attractive thieves. Why HER? Don't know.

* The premise is really shaky. And at 18% I was really not at all engaged. I just thought the 3 women were stupid and silly. The humor slapstick instead of sly like other books by this author, who admittedly, always worries me when I read her books bc it's either HIT or MISS.

This one is a miss. I don't even feel the attraction between the MCs, just him brooding, her lying to herself.

Whatevs. Can't keep wasting time.

[~*~Princess Nya Vasiliev~*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just going to say, NOPE.

Killian should have gotten a Novella and not a novel. J.T. should have stuck to her guns and not written a Novel about him, because fans demanded it.

Too many things here felt contrived. Forced. And I don't like that. I too, wanted a book about Killian. BUT I wanted it to be good. To blow me away the way book 1 of this series did, if not more. A character like Killian who apparently has appearances in at least 3 series or more, his character is better served with a Novella and with a heroine not so.. Neurotic, like his heroine here, to the point of frustration in the face of clear facts and emotions.

I for one was rooting for Jules, and trying my hardest to see her reasoning. But then she pulls what she pulled in the last 3 chapters and nope all of that went out the window for me...

I wish a different plot device was used to bring forth the full truth for her, regarding Killian than what we got. Cause come on!😤 J.T. if you were trying to tick me off with that, then mission accomplished 😂

This one got 3 stars cause there were certain elements here that I loved. But overall it just all couldn't come together for me the way I hoped. And I'm really butt hurt about it.

I love Killian, just not all things that occurred in his own story. How sad is that? 😢

Still, I would recommend this series. But honestly, so that the magic isn't taken from you, don't read this 2 book series, till after you've read the first 2 books in the Queens and Monsters series.

You've been warned.

[Warda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The banter/dialogue was great, but this missed the emotional mark for me. At some point, the cat and mouse game just needed to end. It took too long for them to act grown and just. Be. Honest.

Killian was sorta mesmerising but Juliet got on my nerves after a while. She did too much. The author did too much.

[Lisa the book CREEP · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st book boyfriend/husband of this year 🥵