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The Diavolo Crime Family #2
Devil You Know
They call me “The Devil.”
Deranged and violent.
Gorgeous but frightening.
I’m in the business of making money and when a man offers me his fiancé in exchange for a debt settled I figure it will be a quick sell.
My repayment comes in the form of a beautiful but haunted young woman.
The light in her tempts the darkness inside of me.
I want to hurt her.
I want to break her.
I want to keep her.
Lucky for Celia she fails to see that there is no goodness in me and when she attempts to draw me in with her innocence, and heart I thrive to show her the cruel monster I am.
Deranged and violent.
Gorgeous but frightening.
I’m in the business of making money and when a man offers me his fiancé in exchange for a debt settled I figure it will be a quick sell.
My repayment comes in the form of a beautiful but haunted young woman.
The light in her tempts the darkness inside of me.
I want to hurt her.
I want to break her.
I want to keep her.
Lucky for Celia she fails to see that there is no goodness in me and when she attempts to draw me in with her innocence, and heart I thrive to show her the cruel monster I am.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2021
594 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Beck
237 books7,152 followersJ.L. Beck is the USA Today Best Selling author of unapologetic romance. She lives in WI with her husband, two kids, and four dogs. She enjoys writing and recently starting a literary agency to help represent authors in the industry.
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
To learn more about her books or interact with her go here: https://linktr.ee/jlbeckbooks
J.L. Beck xoxoxo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
June 20, 2021
Oh Brother!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻
The heroine: Celeste Ricci (a.k.a. Celia) - her mafia father was about to marry her off to someone she hated when she was kidnapped by Nic.
The Hero(es): Nicolo Diavolo (a.k.a. Nic) - His parents and older brother were murdered in front of him and his younger brother Luca when they were kids. His revenge against the Ricci family is to sell Celia in an auction to the highest bidder.
The Story: I didn’t expect Nic to go through with the auction in book one but was surprised when he did. However, after Celia was auctioned of, things didn’t quite go as Nic planned and Celia is in the hands of someone she feared.
I liked the storylines and the book was definitely sizzling hot, but I couldn’t tell if I liked Nic at all. He is into BDSM a bit and is all possessive alpha male, but I found it hard to really like him because he wasn’t just dominant, he was indifferent to what Celia wanted and seemed to see her as something he owns and he would bend her to his will.
I mean it is one thing to be possessive and say “you’re mine” which is sexy when it is in the way that you are mine and I am yours. But at first he was truly of the mind that she belonged to him like he owns her. Though part of his definition of that was that he would care for her, as in making sure she eats, and helping her wash in the shower, and brushing her hair afterwards.
Nic was gentle with Celia after they were intimate, but he did things like tying her to the bed overnight because she wouldn’t say what he wanted. Of course as in many romance novels he goes from being the cruel master to the loving partner by the end of the book, which shouldn’t be a spoiler to anyone.
It sure held my attention throughout. Also there was the family drama since Celia’s father killed Nic’s family and him wanting revenge. I don’t know why Celia would feel any loyalty at all for her parents since they were basically strangers to her and willing to marry her off to cement an alliance. Plus her father is just an all around bad guy.
The supporting characters were great also. Luca, the brother, was an interesting guy and quite the dark horse. Soo, who was Nic’s bodyguard/second-in-command/fixer was stoic and reasonable when Nic would fly into a rage. So I liked him as well. All in all, I really liked it, It was a dark romance so I can forgive Nic for his overbearing chauvinist way of thinking and I loved the way he cared for Celia.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻
The heroine: Celeste Ricci (a.k.a. Celia) - her mafia father was about to marry her off to someone she hated when she was kidnapped by Nic.
The Hero(es): Nicolo Diavolo (a.k.a. Nic) - His parents and older brother were murdered in front of him and his younger brother Luca when they were kids. His revenge against the Ricci family is to sell Celia in an auction to the highest bidder.
The Story: I didn’t expect Nic to go through with the auction in book one but was surprised when he did. However, after Celia was auctioned of, things didn’t quite go as Nic planned and Celia is in the hands of someone she feared.
I liked the storylines and the book was definitely sizzling hot, but I couldn’t tell if I liked Nic at all. He is into BDSM a bit and is all possessive alpha male, but I found it hard to really like him because he wasn’t just dominant, he was indifferent to what Celia wanted and seemed to see her as something he owns and he would bend her to his will.
I mean it is one thing to be possessive and say “you’re mine” which is sexy when it is in the way that you are mine and I am yours. But at first he was truly of the mind that she belonged to him like he owns her. Though part of his definition of that was that he would care for her, as in making sure she eats, and helping her wash in the shower, and brushing her hair afterwards.
Nic was gentle with Celia after they were intimate, but he did things like tying her to the bed overnight because she wouldn’t say what he wanted. Of course as in many romance novels he goes from being the cruel master to the loving partner by the end of the book, which shouldn’t be a spoiler to anyone.
It sure held my attention throughout. Also there was the family drama since Celia’s father killed Nic’s family and him wanting revenge. I don’t know why Celia would feel any loyalty at all for her parents since they were basically strangers to her and willing to marry her off to cement an alliance. Plus her father is just an all around bad guy.
The supporting characters were great also. Luca, the brother, was an interesting guy and quite the dark horse. Soo, who was Nic’s bodyguard/second-in-command/fixer was stoic and reasonable when Nic would fly into a rage. So I liked him as well. All in all, I really liked it, It was a dark romance so I can forgive Nic for his overbearing chauvinist way of thinking and I loved the way he cared for Celia.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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May 17, 2021
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Style: Dark Mafia Romance
Story: 3.5/5
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Dark Level: 1.5/5
Sexual Level: SEX-CITINGLY GOOD
Triggers: Yes
Violence: Yes
Male: Crime Boss & Possessive
Series: Book 2
Pages: 249
Audio: N/A
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
This is the continuation of The Devil You Hate, book one. So the story definitely picked up from where it left off, and I found Nic ruthless in book one, however, in book two, Nic is more obsessed and possessive. That ruthlessness that got me wet was missing a tiny bit. DON’T get me wrong, I love his obsessive and possessive behavior and his character’s evolution because he seems more human, but I didn’t find it as intense as book one. That passion for revenge didn’t hit hard until towards the end. Celia, she has been through it, but she definitely kept you interested throughout the story.
CHEMISTRY:
I give this story 3.5 but sexually, I give Nic and Celia 5/5. Their sex scenes were intense and could be a trigger for some. I did look forwarded to their scenes.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
In book one, I got attached to Soo and even Lucas.
Soo- I just need to know if there will be any more books following this duet as I really am still interested in Reya and Soo. Will that be a thing or that was just a random thing from book one?
Lucas- I also feel as though Lucas needs his own book. Angry as hell. That makes for a good read.
OVERALL, I found the continuation of the story likable, sexually, good and hope to see more of the other secondary characters.
✰✰TRIGGERS: sex scenes can and might be trigger for some.
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Style: Dark Mafia Romance
Story: 3.5/5
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Dark Level: 1.5/5
Sexual Level: SEX-CITINGLY GOOD
Triggers: Yes
Violence: Yes
Male: Crime Boss & Possessive
Series: Book 2
Pages: 249
Audio: N/A
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
This is the continuation of The Devil You Hate, book one. So the story definitely picked up from where it left off, and I found Nic ruthless in book one, however, in book two, Nic is more obsessed and possessive. That ruthlessness that got me wet was missing a tiny bit. DON’T get me wrong, I love his obsessive and possessive behavior and his character’s evolution because he seems more human, but I didn’t find it as intense as book one. That passion for revenge didn’t hit hard until towards the end. Celia, she has been through it, but she definitely kept you interested throughout the story.
CHEMISTRY:
I give this story 3.5 but sexually, I give Nic and Celia 5/5. Their sex scenes were intense and could be a trigger for some. I did look forwarded to their scenes.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
In book one, I got attached to Soo and even Lucas.
Soo- I just need to know if there will be any more books following this duet as I really am still interested in Reya and Soo. Will that be a thing or that was just a random thing from book one?
Lucas- I also feel as though Lucas needs his own book. Angry as hell. That makes for a good read.
OVERALL, I found the continuation of the story likable, sexually, good and hope to see more of the other secondary characters.
✰✰TRIGGERS: sex scenes can and might be trigger for some.
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 28, 2021
Devil You Know by JL Beck and C.Hallman is book 2 in The Diavolo Crime family series and what a bloody pulse pounding conclusion it is.
This series is definitely not for the faint hearted it's extremely dark and a little disturbing which is all at the hands of Nic Diavolo the hot, obsessive, chauvinistic Mafia boss.
The secrets and the twists continue from book 1 but also come to a nerve racking end, which leaves us with a steamy happy ever after.
I definitely recommend this dark and disturbing series 📖
This series is definitely not for the faint hearted it's extremely dark and a little disturbing which is all at the hands of Nic Diavolo the hot, obsessive, chauvinistic Mafia boss.
The secrets and the twists continue from book 1 but also come to a nerve racking end, which leaves us with a steamy happy ever after.
I definitely recommend this dark and disturbing series 📖
May 21, 2021
Book 2 picked up right where book 1 left off.
Celia has her own personal devil and he is hot! Dirty and possessive alpha.
A action packed conclusion to a dark and gritty duet.
Nic and his 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 had the best chemistry. I wasn't very fond of him for most of book 1, but I loved seeing the caring and protective side of him come out throughout this book. He was still broody and gruff. Didn't allow for any back talk, but when he punished... it was with immense pleasure as well.
Celia was feisty and driven. She knew what was in store for herself when she pushed Nik and was okay with what she got from him.
She got a part of him that no one else got to see. She saw love, she saw his heart in action... she got every little piece of him.
If you like your men filled with darkness, then you need to meet the Diavolo brothers!
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Celia has her own personal devil and he is hot! Dirty and possessive alpha.
A action packed conclusion to a dark and gritty duet.
Nic and his 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 had the best chemistry. I wasn't very fond of him for most of book 1, but I loved seeing the caring and protective side of him come out throughout this book. He was still broody and gruff. Didn't allow for any back talk, but when he punished... it was with immense pleasure as well.
Celia was feisty and driven. She knew what was in store for herself when she pushed Nik and was okay with what she got from him.
She got a part of him that no one else got to see. She saw love, she saw his heart in action... she got every little piece of him.
If you like your men filled with darkness, then you need to meet the Diavolo brothers!
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
June 7, 2021
Didn't work for me
Good thing first, the sex was hot and the book is well written.
However, there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. First that the heroin is a complete pushover (she improves a little in the second half of the book). She's content to sit and read all day (I mean, I would happily do that, but I want my heroin to be more proactive than me...).
This is a mafia book, but except for the last scene, there's no mafia action.
I like my heros jealous and possessive, but Nic is so to a degree of just creepy. And I can't get over the fact that he sold an innocent woman at an auction to be a sex slave. His reasoning doesn't justify the action.
Good thing first, the sex was hot and the book is well written.
However, there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. First that the heroin is a complete pushover (she improves a little in the second half of the book). She's content to sit and read all day (I mean, I would happily do that, but I want my heroin to be more proactive than me...).
This is a mafia book, but except for the last scene, there's no mafia action.
I like my heros jealous and possessive, but Nic is so to a degree of just creepy. And I can't get over the fact that he sold an innocent woman at an auction to be a sex slave. His reasoning doesn't justify the action.
January 10, 2021
Something dark is coming.... ;)
August 10, 2021
Meh... hero didn't grovel and he should have. But the heroine kept her backbone and I liked that.
Slightly less dubcon than the previous one but it is still rampant.
4/5 stars
Slightly less dubcon than the previous one but it is still rampant.
4/5 stars
May 25, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Nic
Heroine : Celia
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 6/10
Triggers Involved : Dub Con
Review :
The book picks off right where the first one ended. We get to see a lot of character development in this one and I loved it a lot. There were parts in book 1 where I didn't like Nic because of his indifferent behavior but I loved him in this one because he really showed his protective and tender side!
The storyline was amazing and I liked that these two authors give us everything we want in a book. That is It's both dark and tender. It has those chilling as well as swoony moments which made this book perfect for me!
The ending was amazing and I want more from these characters. I would definitely recommend this duet to all the dark romance loving people. Please keep in mind that this duet has a lot of triggers like slavery and a dubcon so check those before picking this up! It's a ride you'll definitely enjoy!
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May 31, 2021
Let’s be real. I read this because of the cliffhanger.
May 14, 2024
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, but it was still addictive.
July 3, 2021
Wow! This conclusion, non-stop drama from beginning to end. In this mafia saga, Nic remains the character you love to hate but, in the end, you are drawn to his dominance and darkness so much, so it makes a girl crave it and Cecila never stood a chance against it. Even when that man was bullying and demanding, dominating and possessing, and even when she hated him, Ceclia remained in a constant state of arousal around the man. A love to hate relationship and ownership turns into so much more. Talk about hot and sexy scenes, this conclusion had them in spades.
Overall, we enjoyed the conclusion. These characters were filled with a ton of pain and revenge, and in the end, Cecila had more in common with both Nic and Lucas than she ever dreamt possible. As Soo kind of let that cat out of the bag and one mystery surrounding Ceclia's past started to unravel, it was the kind of secret coming to light we never saw coming but, one we're surmising might be indeed possible. We loved how Ceclia never gave up on Lucas, in our eyes she will end up being his savior. Yet again, the authors kept you on edge the entire time with that constant fear and anxiety about what was going to happen next. The characters were great, both good and evil and Ceclia ended up being our favorite we loved that mouth on her no matter her situation she would not go down without fighting she held the true power in her in Nic's relationship she just needed to harness it to get what she craved she had more power over the man than she thought even though the situation looked the complete opposite. This tale was full of surprises, and we just loved that.
Overall, we enjoyed the conclusion. These characters were filled with a ton of pain and revenge, and in the end, Cecila had more in common with both Nic and Lucas than she ever dreamt possible. As Soo kind of let that cat out of the bag and one mystery surrounding Ceclia's past started to unravel, it was the kind of secret coming to light we never saw coming but, one we're surmising might be indeed possible. We loved how Ceclia never gave up on Lucas, in our eyes she will end up being his savior. Yet again, the authors kept you on edge the entire time with that constant fear and anxiety about what was going to happen next. The characters were great, both good and evil and Ceclia ended up being our favorite we loved that mouth on her no matter her situation she would not go down without fighting she held the true power in her in Nic's relationship she just needed to harness it to get what she craved she had more power over the man than she thought even though the situation looked the complete opposite. This tale was full of surprises, and we just loved that.
June 1, 2021
Picking up right where "Devil You Hate" left us, we see Nic, finally coming to the realisation that maybe - just maybe- he doesn't want to sell Celia after all! Well duh!
The problem is.... The sale has been done, payment has been sent, and when he goes to retrieve her from the locked room..... She's gone.
But Soo soon discovers who has her. But finding them is another matter. Plans have been put in advance ahead....
Nic is almost like a totally different person in this second half and it's kinda great to see him admit his feelings and watch his heart thaw. From wanting Celia to enjoy their sex, to wanting to give her happy moments, then to giving her a good wedding and to wanting to have children with her.
But her father is still alive. But it's now not just Nic that has a reason to want him dead. Lucas too. And now, even celia has seen how callous he is.
Nic has to impress the five families into following him, rather than Ricci which is where the key lies.
Then its a matter of finding Ricci..... Before he finds them...
A great ending to a duet! This second half was much more positive (obviously I guess!) and more pleasant to read but still saw Nic keeping his cool head when in his office hours! Celia does great at knowing and learning when she can stand up for herself and what she can push and when. It shows her as a strong female and a good match for Nic.
I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review
The problem is.... The sale has been done, payment has been sent, and when he goes to retrieve her from the locked room..... She's gone.
But Soo soon discovers who has her. But finding them is another matter. Plans have been put in advance ahead....
Nic is almost like a totally different person in this second half and it's kinda great to see him admit his feelings and watch his heart thaw. From wanting Celia to enjoy their sex, to wanting to give her happy moments, then to giving her a good wedding and to wanting to have children with her.
But her father is still alive. But it's now not just Nic that has a reason to want him dead. Lucas too. And now, even celia has seen how callous he is.
Nic has to impress the five families into following him, rather than Ricci which is where the key lies.
Then its a matter of finding Ricci..... Before he finds them...
A great ending to a duet! This second half was much more positive (obviously I guess!) and more pleasant to read but still saw Nic keeping his cool head when in his office hours! Celia does great at knowing and learning when she can stand up for herself and what she can push and when. It shows her as a strong female and a good match for Nic.
I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review
June 12, 2021
This second installment of the Diavolo Crime Family Series was thrilling.
While I had a little difficulty to connect with the main protagonists in the first novel, this second one showed more of their internal battles which made me appreciate them more. Nicolo was certainly more open about his growing feelings for Celia, even if they were conflicting at first. Under all his viciousness, he demonstrated signs of possessivenes and affection toward Celia. That heroine was less annoying to me and finally found a back bone, sometimes sparing fiercely with her dangerous captor despite his dark aura. The steamy scenes were aplenty and HOT! The suspense was omnipresent!
Devil You Know was a very good conclusion to this dark and sexy duet! I would be really happy to read a novel about Soo, that man is so mysterious!
While I had a little difficulty to connect with the main protagonists in the first novel, this second one showed more of their internal battles which made me appreciate them more. Nicolo was certainly more open about his growing feelings for Celia, even if they were conflicting at first. Under all his viciousness, he demonstrated signs of possessivenes and affection toward Celia. That heroine was less annoying to me and finally found a back bone, sometimes sparing fiercely with her dangerous captor despite his dark aura. The steamy scenes were aplenty and HOT! The suspense was omnipresent!
Devil You Know was a very good conclusion to this dark and sexy duet! I would be really happy to read a novel about Soo, that man is so mysterious!
May 22, 2021
Another awesome book from these 2 amazing authors. I swear anytime I see there name I know its going to be great and this duet was no different. From start to finish I couldn't put it down! Its full of drama and steam 2 things I love in a book. If you haven't started this you are definitely missing out go grab it today!
May 14, 2021
Loving this series
Dark broken intense twisted heartstopping love story of Nic and Celia
Grabbed my heart and Squeezed need Luca
Dark broken intense twisted heartstopping love story of Nic and Celia
Grabbed my heart and Squeezed need Luca
May 24, 2021
Just as boring as the first book....
There is a lot of inner monologue in this duet/series, and I found myself skimming and skipping quite a lot (more so in the second book than in the first). In book 2, Celia is trying to find her place with Nicolo...sort of. Trying to decide who she wants to be and where her place is in life. But it's still a continuation of the first book and it's just Celia being a captive and being used by Nic in his home. But now, he's fallen for her and has to convince her (of what he thinks he knows) which is that she loves him too. Once you find out their history, it's kind of an 'awe that's cute' moment, but still doesn't explain why he was so mean to her (I mean other than what her father did to his family, but this is a. mafia story and he should know just as well as any other mobster, that the world is cruel and people do crappy things)...nonetheless he treats her like crap, but with their history he should be treating her like gold.
A low level of chaos ensues...yadda yadda...lots of filler...BOOM - HEA. ::insert eye roll at the cliche-ness of it all::
In the end, Nic and Celia fall in love (obviously it's an HEA kind of story, which I'm not mad at). But this well and truly could've been a standalone read. Most of the second book was filler, just to amp up to the ending...in my opinion. The first book, if I remember correctly, was an 8 hour read for me and the second book was a 4 hour read for me. That's kind of strange.
--Rating - somewhere just a smidge over 2 stars - I was bored.
--Steam - 3 stars - decently written sex scenes, chemistry building was weird, a lot of forced stuff (that Nic swears he knew Celia wanted, which ultimately she did, but still it's forced at many times)
--Storyline - 2 stars - slow
--Plot Twists - 4 stars - okay, this was interesting, there were some actual plot twists that were shocking, but that doesn't negate the slow read.
--Emotional Pull - 1 star - no rollercoaster here: no giggling, no crying, no anger...just baseline monotonous
--Writing - 2 stars - the parts that weren't filler or extensive inner dialogue were comfortable to read.
--Denouement - 4 stars - I mean, yeah, everything gets wrapped up neatly.
--Cliffhanger? - No, but I almost thought there would be with the amount of time left in the book and the climax still hadn't happened. We were still looking for answers with like 8 minutes left.
--HEA? - Yea
There is a lot of inner monologue in this duet/series, and I found myself skimming and skipping quite a lot (more so in the second book than in the first). In book 2, Celia is trying to find her place with Nicolo...sort of. Trying to decide who she wants to be and where her place is in life. But it's still a continuation of the first book and it's just Celia being a captive and being used by Nic in his home. But now, he's fallen for her and has to convince her (of what he thinks he knows) which is that she loves him too. Once you find out their history, it's kind of an 'awe that's cute' moment, but still doesn't explain why he was so mean to her (I mean other than what her father did to his family, but this is a. mafia story and he should know just as well as any other mobster, that the world is cruel and people do crappy things)...nonetheless he treats her like crap, but with their history he should be treating her like gold.
A low level of chaos ensues...yadda yadda...lots of filler...BOOM - HEA. ::insert eye roll at the cliche-ness of it all::
In the end, Nic and Celia fall in love (obviously it's an HEA kind of story, which I'm not mad at). But this well and truly could've been a standalone read. Most of the second book was filler, just to amp up to the ending...in my opinion. The first book, if I remember correctly, was an 8 hour read for me and the second book was a 4 hour read for me. That's kind of strange.
--Rating - somewhere just a smidge over 2 stars - I was bored.
--Steam - 3 stars - decently written sex scenes, chemistry building was weird, a lot of forced stuff (that Nic swears he knew Celia wanted, which ultimately she did, but still it's forced at many times)
--Storyline - 2 stars - slow
--Plot Twists - 4 stars - okay, this was interesting, there were some actual plot twists that were shocking, but that doesn't negate the slow read.
--Emotional Pull - 1 star - no rollercoaster here: no giggling, no crying, no anger...just baseline monotonous
--Writing - 2 stars - the parts that weren't filler or extensive inner dialogue were comfortable to read.
--Denouement - 4 stars - I mean, yeah, everything gets wrapped up neatly.
--Cliffhanger? - No, but I almost thought there would be with the amount of time left in the book and the climax still hadn't happened. We were still looking for answers with like 8 minutes left.
--HEA? - Yea
October 12, 2022
Of course he’s the long lost best friend as if we didn’t see that coming from a mile away. 🤮
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
JL Beck et C Hallman sont de retour pour nous offrir le dénouement de leur duologie. Nos héros sont plongés dans la résolution de leur déboire et cette dark romance n'a pas fini de nous retourner le cerveau.
un deuxième tome qui a su répondre à toutes mes questions et qui saura nous surprendre au bon moment. JL Beck et C Hallman nous offre un dénouement digne d'une bonne dark romance. Les héros sauront nous rallier à leur cause et nous retiendrons notre souffle jusqu'au bout.
Avis en ligne sur : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
un deuxième tome qui a su répondre à toutes mes questions et qui saura nous surprendre au bon moment. JL Beck et C Hallman nous offre un dénouement digne d'une bonne dark romance. Les héros sauront nous rallier à leur cause et nous retiendrons notre souffle jusqu'au bout.
Avis en ligne sur : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
December 11, 2022
The first book was pretty exciting and jumped right in following the cliffhanger. Overall, I'm very disappointed with how rushed the ending was. It seemed like the authors just wanted to wrap things up and be done with this story. I usually have a very high tolerance for grammatical errors because no matter how many times things are reviewed, things slip by. It wasn't so much typos, but the shear number of sentence fragments was next level. Another indicator that the authors just wanted to be done with this. Unfortunate end for such a solid start.
Soo MVP.
Soo MVP.
June 3, 2021
*Read with KU
Devil You Know is the last book between Nic and Celia and will give you the happy ever after you are waiting for. Nic is a total a** and that does continue on to this book, so don't expect that to change overnight. He does however realize that he wants Celia all to himself and he will have to figure that one out. Celia on the other hand doesn't trust anyone especially Nic because he has already tried selling her to the highest bidder and who can trust a man that does that.
There is a reason these two books are called dark and go on to being dark romance. That means what the main characters do, you probably aren't going to like in real life. But that is why we read these books. Nic isn't someone anyone would love in real life. But he does grow over the books. Celia is a soft woman, to begin with, but becomes a strong woman and learns to depend on herself throughout them. Watching these two grow and become a couple is what makes a good romance novel.
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Devil You Know is the last book between Nic and Celia and will give you the happy ever after you are waiting for. Nic is a total a** and that does continue on to this book, so don't expect that to change overnight. He does however realize that he wants Celia all to himself and he will have to figure that one out. Celia on the other hand doesn't trust anyone especially Nic because he has already tried selling her to the highest bidder and who can trust a man that does that.
There is a reason these two books are called dark and go on to being dark romance. That means what the main characters do, you probably aren't going to like in real life. But that is why we read these books. Nic isn't someone anyone would love in real life. But he does grow over the books. Celia is a soft woman, to begin with, but becomes a strong woman and learns to depend on herself throughout them. Watching these two grow and become a couple is what makes a good romance novel.
Blog: http://myfantasylandblog.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fantasylandblog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fantasylandblog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fantasyland...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/27664...
September 7, 2024
Super dark, broody, and savage story — but really really good! You hate the MMC through so much of the story, but the twist at the end sends you straight to book two where he does redeem himself. The FMC is slightly annoying because she has no backbone, but also — you understand it. It’s relatively predictable in book two, but I felt It was a really quick slow burn duet that is well written and enjoyable!
November 23, 2022
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Excellent, hard hitting, sexy and dark , Mafia romance.
Just brilliant start and writing.
💋💋💋
Excellent, hard hitting, sexy and dark , Mafia romance.
Just brilliant start and writing.
May 22, 2021
Devil you know
Devil You Know, Book 2 by @authorjlbeck @cassandra_hallman
.............
“I can smell myself on your skin. Taste myself. And yet, I want more.”
.............
What I can say about this duet is that is hot 🥵! Book 1 was amazing and that cliff hanger had me signing up for this One immediately! We get all of our questions answered and the perfect ending!
...............
“I suspect, if you were a sex doll, you’d be putting up significantly less fight, and you’d be a lot more fucking quiet.”
.............
GAH I love Nic! He is such a hot character and the tension between him and Celia is top notch. He’s still controlling as ever and they fight all the time but that’s why we love them! After the ending of book 1 I wasn’t sure what was going to go down in book 2 but I was not disappointed! This was my first series by these authors and I’m in love!
...............
“My eyes catch on his, and the flickering of rage in them tells me I need to get him away from this man before he murders him and fucks me in a puddle of his blood just to prove a point.”
..............
If these quotes don’t sell you on this duet, here’s what will:
Mafia Romance
Kidnapped heroine
Hot AF Mafia boss
Punishment
HEA
Devil You Know, Book 2 by @authorjlbeck @cassandra_hallman
.............
“I can smell myself on your skin. Taste myself. And yet, I want more.”
.............
What I can say about this duet is that is hot 🥵! Book 1 was amazing and that cliff hanger had me signing up for this One immediately! We get all of our questions answered and the perfect ending!
...............
“I suspect, if you were a sex doll, you’d be putting up significantly less fight, and you’d be a lot more fucking quiet.”
.............
GAH I love Nic! He is such a hot character and the tension between him and Celia is top notch. He’s still controlling as ever and they fight all the time but that’s why we love them! After the ending of book 1 I wasn’t sure what was going to go down in book 2 but I was not disappointed! This was my first series by these authors and I’m in love!
...............
“My eyes catch on his, and the flickering of rage in them tells me I need to get him away from this man before he murders him and fucks me in a puddle of his blood just to prove a point.”
..............
If these quotes don’t sell you on this duet, here’s what will:
Mafia Romance
Kidnapped heroine
Hot AF Mafia boss
Punishment
HEA
May 27, 2021
Celia is kidnapped by Lucas who tells her that he is her half brother and that he wants to kill her father.
Nik finally finds Celia and takes her back home, although she is not very happy to return to her gilded cage and especially with the man who sold her.
But Nik has decided that she belongs by his side, even though she has a hard time getting in the same page as him.
The passion between these 2 is immense, and, little by little, Nik is winning over Celia, but that does mean that he has forgotten about his revenge on Celia’s father for kill his family all those years ago.
Nik, Lucas and Celia wants Celia’s father dead, but who will put the trigger?
Another great book by these authors, very entertaining and 🔥.
Nik finally finds Celia and takes her back home, although she is not very happy to return to her gilded cage and especially with the man who sold her.
But Nik has decided that she belongs by his side, even though she has a hard time getting in the same page as him.
The passion between these 2 is immense, and, little by little, Nik is winning over Celia, but that does mean that he has forgotten about his revenge on Celia’s father for kill his family all those years ago.
Nik, Lucas and Celia wants Celia’s father dead, but who will put the trigger?
Another great book by these authors, very entertaining and 🔥.
May 28, 2021
In Devil You Know Nic does a one eighty.
Once the auction is over his mind revolts at the thought of having another man touching Celia.
He’s now determined and set to keep her for himself.
Nic’s obsessive/possessive side is now front and center.
And the bullseye is Celia.
While he has a caveman mentality towards her he also has the need to care and nourish her as well.
Celia is trying to balance and come to terms with this other side of Nic.
She’s also trying to adjust to the fact that she is uttering drawn to him.
She can no longer deny her feelings for him.
But that doesn’t mean she backs down or give in easily.
She’s still feisty and sassy.
A great conclusion to Nic and Celia’s journey.
Once the auction is over his mind revolts at the thought of having another man touching Celia.
He’s now determined and set to keep her for himself.
Nic’s obsessive/possessive side is now front and center.
And the bullseye is Celia.
While he has a caveman mentality towards her he also has the need to care and nourish her as well.
Celia is trying to balance and come to terms with this other side of Nic.
She’s also trying to adjust to the fact that she is uttering drawn to him.
She can no longer deny her feelings for him.
But that doesn’t mean she backs down or give in easily.
She’s still feisty and sassy.
A great conclusion to Nic and Celia’s journey.
May 23, 2021
It was a shocker when the person from the cliffhanger was revealed. I didn’t expect that at all. Celia and Nic relationship actually took another level because we all knew Nic loved her as much as he tried hiding it. Little by little Celia started warming up to him but it wasn’t easy. She tried to hate him but deep down we knew that wasn’t happening even though her feelings weren’t changed overnight. Slowly they started being more of a couple and being in love. And then the shocker!!! Omg!!! Her father is a terrible person and in this situation you see the bond between Celia and Nic and how they have each other’s backs. The little secret Nic had I figured it was that and everything came full circle.
May 13, 2021
The conclusion of Nic and Celia’s story is nothing short of what you would expect. This book picks up exactly where the last book left off. This conclusion was satisfying and enjoyable.
Nic has decided that he wants to keep Celia despite having sold her. Nic is a lot more palatable in this book. This book wasn’t as dark as the first one, and their HEA was well deserved and wrapped up beautifully.
Nic is still an uncompromising H, if you thought him wanting to keep her would make him less of a jerk you’d be wrong. The turn he took, while sudden, might have made him more likable he was still true to himself. An arrogant, entitled alpha hole through and through.
Celia and Nic had undeniably hot chemistry. It was a relief to see his softer side after the cruelty he dealt out in the first book. Seeing Celia find her groove was satisfying. She knew her father wasn’t a good man but coming to terms with the depths of his depravity was a hard pill to swallow for her. Despite all his manipulations and unwillingness to bend she managed to come to this conclusion with the grace you’d expect from a mafia queen.
Honestly, Nic’s transformation from sadistic, cruel man so hellbent on his revenge he’s willing to sell an innocent woman into slavery for his own benefit to a man who wants to protect and care for her was a bit hard to process. He flipped that switch like it was nothing. That did detract from the story for me, personally. I would have liked it yo happen more gradually starting in book one. You get hints and snippets about him seeing and treating her differently but it doesn’t stop him from selling her at auction. If he hadn’t gone through with it his change would have been less jarring.
Overall, I’d recommend this duet. It’s got so many delicious elements of dark romance it hits the spot to satisfy those twisted cravings of dark romance lovers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nic has decided that he wants to keep Celia despite having sold her. Nic is a lot more palatable in this book. This book wasn’t as dark as the first one, and their HEA was well deserved and wrapped up beautifully.
Nic is still an uncompromising H, if you thought him wanting to keep her would make him less of a jerk you’d be wrong. The turn he took, while sudden, might have made him more likable he was still true to himself. An arrogant, entitled alpha hole through and through.
Celia and Nic had undeniably hot chemistry. It was a relief to see his softer side after the cruelty he dealt out in the first book. Seeing Celia find her groove was satisfying. She knew her father wasn’t a good man but coming to terms with the depths of his depravity was a hard pill to swallow for her. Despite all his manipulations and unwillingness to bend she managed to come to this conclusion with the grace you’d expect from a mafia queen.
Honestly, Nic’s transformation from sadistic, cruel man so hellbent on his revenge he’s willing to sell an innocent woman into slavery for his own benefit to a man who wants to protect and care for her was a bit hard to process. He flipped that switch like it was nothing. That did detract from the story for me, personally. I would have liked it yo happen more gradually starting in book one. You get hints and snippets about him seeing and treating her differently but it doesn’t stop him from selling her at auction. If he hadn’t gone through with it his change would have been less jarring.
Overall, I’d recommend this duet. It’s got so many delicious elements of dark romance it hits the spot to satisfy those twisted cravings of dark romance lovers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2021
This book is the second in The Diavolo Crime Family Series and it was a great conclusion to the story. You must read the first book first because the story follows on. This book is a dark mafia romance story that is an awesome read.
After what Nic did to Celia in the beginning she is extremely mad and confused about how she is feeling and after the revelation of Lucas everything feels all over the place for her. So when she sees Nic again standing there she doesn't know what to think just that she hates him more than ever. Nic realizes a bit late in the day that what he is feeling is real and no one he means no one is taking what is his.
I enjoyed reading this mafia romance duet and I liked how these authors have written the characters and the secondary characters tool. I loved how the story follows on and how the story flows throughout. I love the chemistry that they has but sometimes I just wish Celia would stand up for herself a tad because she is a strong woman although she does put Nic in his place a lot which oi loved and getting her revenge on her terrible father. I enjoyed reading this dark Romance book and I loved the twists that these authors put in this was a great read.
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#newrelease #devilyouknow #thediavalocrimefamilyduet #jlbeck #challman #availablenow #mafiaromance #darkromance
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After what Nic did to Celia in the beginning she is extremely mad and confused about how she is feeling and after the revelation of Lucas everything feels all over the place for her. So when she sees Nic again standing there she doesn't know what to think just that she hates him more than ever. Nic realizes a bit late in the day that what he is feeling is real and no one he means no one is taking what is his.
I enjoyed reading this mafia romance duet and I liked how these authors have written the characters and the secondary characters tool. I loved how the story follows on and how the story flows throughout. I love the chemistry that they has but sometimes I just wish Celia would stand up for herself a tad because she is a strong woman although she does put Nic in his place a lot which oi loved and getting her revenge on her terrible father. I enjoyed reading this dark Romance book and I loved the twists that these authors put in this was a great read.
#bookreview #ReviewsHelpAuthors #bookblogger #devilyouhate
#newrelease #devilyouknow #thediavalocrimefamilyduet #jlbeck #challman #availablenow #mafiaromance #darkromance
My BLOG
https://www.facebook.com/VickisMagica...
December 4, 2023
Again, there were parts I absolutely loved and a few things I didn't or couldn't.
For a while, I was worried the characters can't grow into what they should, but the last third or so of the book was great, if only it'd have been a little longer. A glimpse into Celia and Nic's childhood friendship was missing for me, that'd have been such a sweet addition and it'd have helped convince me their relationship is about more than just sex.
The story continues with the night of the auction, Celia is taken - as it turns out, by Lucas - and it takes Nic about two minutes to regret his decision and goes after Celia just to find her to be already taken.
From that on, Nic is determined to keep and take care of her, forever, earn her heart and soul, even if he can only offer her trust and loyalty.
To me, Nic lost a bit of his intensity and as I hinted, for a long time it seemed they were all about sex and nothing else. Getting to know each other, learning each other's likes and dislikes, and to care for one another was kind of missing, but the ending was still great.
I'm left wondering if any of the side characters has their own story?
For a while, I was worried the characters can't grow into what they should, but the last third or so of the book was great, if only it'd have been a little longer. A glimpse into Celia and Nic's childhood friendship was missing for me, that'd have been such a sweet addition and it'd have helped convince me their relationship is about more than just sex.
The story continues with the night of the auction, Celia is taken - as it turns out, by Lucas - and it takes Nic about two minutes to regret his decision and goes after Celia just to find her to be already taken.
From that on, Nic is determined to keep and take care of her, forever, earn her heart and soul, even if he can only offer her trust and loyalty.
To me, Nic lost a bit of his intensity and as I hinted, for a long time it seemed they were all about sex and nothing else. Getting to know each other, learning each other's likes and dislikes, and to care for one another was kind of missing, but the ending was still great.
I'm left wondering if any of the side characters has their own story?
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