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Deception Trilogy #2
Tempted by Deception
My husband. My villain.
We started with death and blood.
We started with games and carnal pleasure.
Adrian and I shouldn’t have been together.
He’s wrong. I’m wrong.
What we have is the epitome disaster.
Yet, it’s impossible to stop.
My husband will either destroy me or I’ll destroy him.
This book is part of a trilogy and is not standalone.
We started with death and blood.
We started with games and carnal pleasure.
Adrian and I shouldn’t have been together.
He’s wrong. I’m wrong.
What we have is the epitome disaster.
Yet, it’s impossible to stop.
My husband will either destroy me or I’ll destroy him.
This book is part of a trilogy and is not standalone.
346 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2021
About the author
Rina Kent
65 books75.2k followersRina Kent is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 bestselling author of all things dark romance.
Better known for writing unapologetic anti-heroes and villains, Rina weaves tales of characters you shouldn’t fall for but inevitably do. Her stories are laced with a touch of darkness, a splash of angst, and just the right amount of unhealthy intensity.
When she’s not busy plotting mayhem for her ever-expanding Rinaverse, she leads a private life in London, travels, and pampers her cats in true Cat Lady fashion.
You can find her below:
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Better known for writing unapologetic anti-heroes and villains, Rina weaves tales of characters you shouldn’t fall for but inevitably do. Her stories are laced with a touch of darkness, a splash of angst, and just the right amount of unhealthy intensity.
When she’s not busy plotting mayhem for her ever-expanding Rinaverse, she leads a private life in London, travels, and pampers her cats in true Cat Lady fashion.
You can find her below:
Website
Newsletter
Bookbub
Amazon
TikTok
Reader Group
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,982 reviews
June 1, 2024
This trilogy is screwing with my brain in the best way. Because WHAT?! Fair warning this book is toxic as hell and if you get annoyed easily by a constant push and pull between a couple then this probably won’t be for you…. And typically this is something I hate but for whatever reason it was for me. Adrian is PSYCHOTIC and I hate how much I love it. Adrian and Lias story has a chokehold on me and I NEED them to be okay!!!
August 3, 2024
just gonna be explaining my rating with a series of quotes (spoiler alert!!)
“Would you rather I go back to Kristina and marry her?”
“W-what? What does she have to do with anything?”
“It’s either you or her, and if you play stubborn and say I should go to her, I’m going to make you watch me marry her, then fuck her to put an heir inside her.”
my reaction: 😲😲😲
i hated the fact that he had a fiancée anyway but the fact that he threatened this?? especially after the way he previously acted like he didn’t know her in front of kristina?? i’m revolted. i feel so repulsed.
The question must be written all over my face, because Adrian grabs my hand and leans over to whisper in harsh words, “Go ahead, Lia. Make the foolish choice if you’re ready to bear the consequences. But understand this, I’m never letting you go. I’ll make you watch me with Kristina every night before I fuck you. She’ll have to adopt your child as hers, too, because I will not allow my offspring to be treated as a bastard. So what’s it going to be? A wife or a mistress?”
i wanna kill adrian right fucking now. i’m never gonna forgive him or like him because he said this.
“You are my wife, Mrs. Volkov, and I will whip and fuck that fact into your body until you act like it.”
Swish. Slap.
Swish. Slap.
if i don’t hear another “swish, slap” in my life i’ll be happy.
“After that, I will keep you in a room and use you as my fucking slut. Is that what you want?”
shut the fuck up, man. the fact that he called her “whore” and “slut” so many times makes me question so much.
“If you do, if I find out you’re so much as entertaining that idea, I will lock you up in a fucking cell and forbid you from seeing Jeremy ever again. He’ll be raised by someone else and you’ll lose all access to him.”
“No…no…” I sob. “Not that…don’t take away Jeremy. He’s my only light.”
what the fuck is wrong with him. i’m never gonna forget the fact that he actually threatened her with taking away her baby.
They despise me because I took Kristina Petrov’s rightful place. They think I tricked Adrian into marrying me by getting pregnant, that I’m a shameless gold digger and without any notable origins. Adrian has never negated that, and I don’t have the state of mind to defend myself when no one believes me.
ADRIAN NEVER DEFENDED HER EVEN AFTER THEY GOT MARRIED? and he “loves” her? oh adrian. you fucked up bad. especially after the whole cheating plot (where lia pretended to cheat) because i was just scoffing out loud at that point.
and just one (1) good quote i found from the hoards i collected:
“And don’t smile at her.”
“That would be impossible. I’m not you, Boss. I can’t stop myself from smiling when she does it…” he trails off when I glare at him. “But I will try.”
yan is so precious i adore him. he made this book for me (along with baby jeremy)
to sum up: this entire book was pointless and unnecessary. i hated it.
“Would you rather I go back to Kristina and marry her?”
“W-what? What does she have to do with anything?”
“It’s either you or her, and if you play stubborn and say I should go to her, I’m going to make you watch me marry her, then fuck her to put an heir inside her.”
my reaction: 😲😲😲
i hated the fact that he had a fiancée anyway but the fact that he threatened this?? especially after the way he previously acted like he didn’t know her in front of kristina?? i’m revolted. i feel so repulsed.
The question must be written all over my face, because Adrian grabs my hand and leans over to whisper in harsh words, “Go ahead, Lia. Make the foolish choice if you’re ready to bear the consequences. But understand this, I’m never letting you go. I’ll make you watch me with Kristina every night before I fuck you. She’ll have to adopt your child as hers, too, because I will not allow my offspring to be treated as a bastard. So what’s it going to be? A wife or a mistress?”
i wanna kill adrian right fucking now. i’m never gonna forgive him or like him because he said this.
“You are my wife, Mrs. Volkov, and I will whip and fuck that fact into your body until you act like it.”
Swish. Slap.
Swish. Slap.
if i don’t hear another “swish, slap” in my life i’ll be happy.
“After that, I will keep you in a room and use you as my fucking slut. Is that what you want?”
shut the fuck up, man. the fact that he called her “whore” and “slut” so many times makes me question so much.
“If you do, if I find out you’re so much as entertaining that idea, I will lock you up in a fucking cell and forbid you from seeing Jeremy ever again. He’ll be raised by someone else and you’ll lose all access to him.”
“No…no…” I sob. “Not that…don’t take away Jeremy. He’s my only light.”
what the fuck is wrong with him. i’m never gonna forget the fact that he actually threatened her with taking away her baby.
They despise me because I took Kristina Petrov’s rightful place. They think I tricked Adrian into marrying me by getting pregnant, that I’m a shameless gold digger and without any notable origins. Adrian has never negated that, and I don’t have the state of mind to defend myself when no one believes me.
ADRIAN NEVER DEFENDED HER EVEN AFTER THEY GOT MARRIED? and he “loves” her? oh adrian. you fucked up bad. especially after the whole cheating plot (where lia pretended to cheat) because i was just scoffing out loud at that point.
and just one (1) good quote i found from the hoards i collected:
“And don’t smile at her.”
“That would be impossible. I’m not you, Boss. I can’t stop myself from smiling when she does it…” he trails off when I glare at him. “But I will try.”
yan is so precious i adore him. he made this book for me (along with baby jeremy)
to sum up: this entire book was pointless and unnecessary. i hated it.
March 3, 2023
4.5 stars
*Thinking I won’t write a review after finishing the book* Also me:
"You asked when I’d be done. The answer is never. I’ll never be done with you, Lenochka."
"Who’s who? " Was clearly the mantra for the second, twisted book in the Deception Trilogy. Whereas the previous book in this mad series was kind of gory and giving a paranormal atmosphere, this one took a soft/ less-scary path..?considering RK usual style it was drawn as a normal romance .
The book retraced Adrian’s and Lia 6 —eventful— years of marriage from their very first encounter until the point of origin that collapsed Adrian’s steady house of cards and brought Winter —the homeless doppelganger— in the picture.
"Why was your mother the villain?”
“Villains don’t need reasons. "
Thankfully all the questions left behind in the first book were answered! But I still have mixed feelings toward Adrian’s sociopath behavior. Admittedly, he is painted as a strategist, but his weakness was Lia, so he acted like a spoiled child at times. I don’t consider it as a contradicting aspect of the storyline, but some things he did and said should have been more questioned and harshly judge by me.but here I’m defending him He had an ugly childhood featuring a tyrannic mother and a self-centered father. I’m giving him the benefits of the doubt and see how he behaves in the last book.
" I love him.
I fell in love with the devil despite his monstrous nature “
Ah Lia… My poor Lia, she was already facing a lonely existence tied with a chronic depression even before she lined her life with a mafia member, who was accessory obsessed with her.
She put up with a lot, learned a lot and the final revelation broke her but she was a warrior through and through, just for her child; she fought tooth and nails. Sadly it was irrevocable, she bounded her life to a devil,how could she even thought about freeing herself from his hold and his cruel world without paying the price?
"This is the first time I’ve felt like I have a family again.
Lia and Jeremy.
If I have to destroy the world and everything in it to keep them safe, so be it."
I’ll surely repeat myself but I’m genuinely impressed with how well orchestrated the chronology of the events is! And how every shadowed thoughts and question marks from the previous book were properly clarified. We have glimpses of the truth here and there, it was an addicted and twisted read, I cried a lot! But I’m intrigued and kinda excited for the final part.
"What does that mean?”
“What does what mean?”
“Lenochka?”
“Bright light.”
My lips part, not believing he just called me that. Surely, it must be a play of my imagination. “You think I’m a bright light?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But you think I’m lonely.”
“That doesn’t make you gloomy. A rose shines brighter alone than when it’s in a field. "
*Thinking I won’t write a review after finishing the book* Also me:
"You asked when I’d be done. The answer is never. I’ll never be done with you, Lenochka."
"Who’s who? " Was clearly the mantra for the second, twisted book in the Deception Trilogy. Whereas the previous book in this mad series was kind of gory and giving a paranormal atmosphere, this one took a soft/ less-scary path..?
The book retraced Adrian’s and Lia 6 —eventful— years of marriage from their very first encounter until the point of origin that collapsed Adrian’s steady house of cards and brought Winter —the homeless doppelganger— in the picture.
"Why was your mother the villain?”
“Villains don’t need reasons. "
Thankfully all the questions left behind in the first book were answered! But I still have mixed feelings toward Adrian’s sociopath behavior. Admittedly, he is painted as a strategist, but his weakness was Lia, so he acted like a spoiled child at times. I don’t consider it as a contradicting aspect of the storyline, but some things he did and said should have been more questioned and harshly judge by me.
" I love him.
I fell in love with the devil despite his monstrous nature “
Ah Lia… My poor Lia, she was already facing a lonely existence tied with a chronic depression even before she lined her life with a mafia member, who was accessory obsessed with her.
She put up with a lot, learned a lot and the final revelation broke her but she was a warrior through and through, just for her child; she fought tooth and nails. Sadly it was irrevocable, she bounded her life to a devil,
"This is the first time I’ve felt like I have a family again.
Lia and Jeremy.
If I have to destroy the world and everything in it to keep them safe, so be it."
I’ll surely repeat myself but I’m genuinely impressed with how well orchestrated the chronology of the events is! And how every shadowed thoughts and question marks from the previous book were properly clarified. We have glimpses of the truth here and there, it was an addicted and twisted read, I cried a lot! But I’m intrigued and kinda excited for the final part.
"What does that mean?”
“What does what mean?”
“Lenochka?”
“Bright light.”
My lips part, not believing he just called me that. Surely, it must be a play of my imagination. “You think I’m a bright light?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But you think I’m lonely.”
“That doesn’t make you gloomy. A rose shines brighter alone than when it’s in a field. "
June 28, 2021
4 Stars...
And reserving the right to possibly upgrade later...lol...
I really enjoyed this. The stuff that was confusing about book one was explained in this book and things started to come together and make sense...well, mafia romance book sense, anyway.
More than anything, though, I just love Adrian and how completely obsessed he is with Lia. It's one of my favorite unhealthy relationship dynamics and I am so here for it.
Already started book three...
And reserving the right to possibly upgrade later...lol...
I really enjoyed this. The stuff that was confusing about book one was explained in this book and things started to come together and make sense...well, mafia romance book sense, anyway.
More than anything, though, I just love Adrian and how completely obsessed he is with Lia. It's one of my favorite unhealthy relationship dynamics and I am so here for it.
Already started book three...
March 10, 2025
“deception trilogy is her best plot”...
the plot??? in question:
the plot??? in question:
April 2, 2021
Back to the beginning!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😌🤓😤😳🤯
The heroine: Lia - Adrian’s wife. She somehow lost her memory and became a different person. She has nightmares of being trapped in a small dark place and she can’t seem to overcome her past. She was a ballerina prior to marrying Adrian.
The Hero(es): Adrian - He is a Bratva King and answers only to Sergio, the Pakhan. Lia saw him commit murder and is afraid of him. He is ruthless and immoral and can’t seem to keep his mind off Lia. He is in the information business for the Mafia. He has a network of hackers and spies that can get him all the information he needs on his enemies, his partners and also on Lia.
The Love Story: This book goes back to the beginning, before Winter became Lia. It has flashbacks to both Adrian and Lia’s childhoods, but begins just prior to their first meeting. Both of them are damaged by their pasts.
This was the steamiest book so far and I love that some of the intimate scenes are told from Adrian’s point of view. I like it when we get to hear the innermost thoughts of both of the main characters, especially during love scenes. This book had some huge reveals as usual in Rina Kent books. Many came out of left field and I do love when a book is not predictable.
Adrian is a bit overbearing in this book but I like how Lia fights back when he is that way about something important to her. She shows that she is not about to let him trample over her. She is a ballerina so she is small, thin and delicate compared to his tall muscular stature, but she is strong willed and smart.
The various storylines were so good. I sometimes find it hard to believe how well some authors can end up merging many different story arcs to end up flowing so well into one conclusion that melds them all together seamlessly. Rina Kent does it so well and is able to add plenty of steam into the mix to make a book that has everything you could want.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
“There’s also a nook in her bedroom, right over her vanity, where it would be the perfect spot to insert a surveillance camera.
She’s right. I am a stalker.”
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😌🤓😤😳🤯
The heroine: Lia - Adrian’s wife. She somehow lost her memory and became a different person. She has nightmares of being trapped in a small dark place and she can’t seem to overcome her past. She was a ballerina prior to marrying Adrian.
The Hero(es): Adrian - He is a Bratva King and answers only to Sergio, the Pakhan. Lia saw him commit murder and is afraid of him. He is ruthless and immoral and can’t seem to keep his mind off Lia. He is in the information business for the Mafia. He has a network of hackers and spies that can get him all the information he needs on his enemies, his partners and also on Lia.
The Love Story: This book goes back to the beginning, before Winter became Lia. It has flashbacks to both Adrian and Lia’s childhoods, but begins just prior to their first meeting. Both of them are damaged by their pasts.
This was the steamiest book so far and I love that some of the intimate scenes are told from Adrian’s point of view. I like it when we get to hear the innermost thoughts of both of the main characters, especially during love scenes. This book had some huge reveals as usual in Rina Kent books. Many came out of left field and I do love when a book is not predictable.
Adrian is a bit overbearing in this book but I like how Lia fights back when he is that way about something important to her. She shows that she is not about to let him trample over her. She is a ballerina so she is small, thin and delicate compared to his tall muscular stature, but she is strong willed and smart.
The various storylines were so good. I sometimes find it hard to believe how well some authors can end up merging many different story arcs to end up flowing so well into one conclusion that melds them all together seamlessly. Rina Kent does it so well and is able to add plenty of steam into the mix to make a book that has everything you could want.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
October 14, 2024
— ( ♟️ ) 3.5 stars ⊹
live laugh love adrian volkov
live laugh love adrian volkov
April 20, 2026
ꕮ . ✉️ [ 4.25 stars ] ⟢ #rinaverse
⤿ now playing — my tears ricochet by taylor swift ᝰ.ᐟ
# pre - read. after finishing the first book of the trilogy, I couldn't help but continue! even though I'm not crazy about all of rina's books, I'm loving these by adrian and lia <3
⤿ now playing — my tears ricochet by taylor swift ᝰ.ᐟ
the relationship between adrian and lia is a whirlwind of dark emotions that defies all logic, representing the very essence of "dark romance." their dynamic is a dangerous psychological game where the line between love and obsession completely vanishes, leaving room for a visceral and indissoluble bond. despite the foundations of their relationship often being based on deception and manipulation, deeply loved this couple for the magnetic intensity they release in every single scene.
adrian and lia do not live a conventional love: it is a collision between a predator who doesn't know how to let go and a woman who, despite everything, finds the strength to reflect herself in that darkness. the way their souls fit together, between devastating secrets and a destructive passion, makes their bond irresistible for the reader. even though many of their behaviors are objectively wrong and toxic, it is impossible not to be fascinated by their chemistry: they are two halves of a broken puzzle who choose to stay together even at the cost of destroying each other.
# pre - read. after finishing the first book of the trilogy, I couldn't help but continue! even though I'm not crazy about all of rina's books, I'm loving these by adrian and lia <3
April 7, 2021
The book seems so unrealistic.Honestly,the last book was very abusive,but as we saw that Lia lost her memory and seemed to enjoy when Adrian beat the shit out of her with belt,I thought may be they had a very happy and kinky marriage in past and Adrian was just trying to bring her memories back.
No that's not the case.From the 2and book it's clear that their relationship was always based on abuse and blackmail.He treats her like a pet,forces himself on her life and when she fights back he beats her and they have sex.
And the Heroine is so dumb and annoying.I hate sex crazed nymphs who completely throws their brain out of the window when she sees an attractive man no matter how dangerous he is.But here she was not even attracted to Adrian,she was shit scared of him.That made it so stupid that she was soooo ready to stop sleep with him when he was blackmailing her to be with him by threatening to kill her every 10 seconds.
If you want to show that A girl will want to sleep with a monster who killed a person with his bare hand in front of her and told her he will kill her if she talks about it and kept stalking her,then you will have to make it realistic by giving build up.And In stories of Villains they will have to have at least some redeeming qualities,at least for the Heroine's sake.But Adrian remains same from the beginning to end.He keeps treating Lia like shit and everything has to be how he likes.He neither cares about lia,nor loves her.He only wants to keep her.
No point of showing his childhood when he treats her wife the same way.And isn't it so hot to beat the shit out of your wife with a belt regularly when she is pregnant?
May 14, 2021
DNF at 70%
So... my problem with this book was the hero. If you read my review for the previous book, I was super excited to read book 2, but I couldn't even finish it.
Adrian (the hero) was so mean! all the time saying ''you're mine''. I don't mind that, but in this book, there were times where she was crying and he was forcing her to say that she was his. The part where I dnf she was so sad for the way he treated her, and you know what he did? he wiped her until she said she was his, and she didn't so he kept wiping her, even though she was CRYING the whole time.
So... my problem with this book was the hero. If you read my review for the previous book, I was super excited to read book 2, but I couldn't even finish it.
Adrian (the hero) was so mean! all the time saying ''you're mine''. I don't mind that, but in this book, there were times where she was crying and he was forcing her to say that she was his. The part where I dnf she was so sad for the way he treated her, and you know what he did? he wiped her until she said she was his, and she didn't so he kept wiping her, even though she was CRYING the whole time.
August 31, 2026
“I’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, Lenochka.”
I’m sitting on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is happening and what happened??? They should have talked to each other. It’s so painful to read from their POVs, especially Lia’s, and how fast she became mentally ill and depressed. I’m going to dive into the next book ASAP.
I’m sitting on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is happening and what happened??? They should have talked to each other. It’s so painful to read from their POVs, especially Lia’s, and how fast she became mentally ill and depressed. I’m going to dive into the next book ASAP.
Read
February 1, 2021TEMPTED BY DECEPTION IS LIVE!
Dark Marriage Mafia Romance.
AMAZON US ➜ https://amzn.to/3b2jQq2
INTERNATIONAL ➜ https://smarturl.it/TBDBuy
AUDIOBOOK ➜ https://amzn.to/3dN1mKy
This book is part of a trilogy and is not standalone.
Deception Trilogy:
#0 Dark Deception
#1 Vow of Deception
#2 Tempted by Deception
#3 Consumed by Deception
Dark Marriage Mafia Romance.
AMAZON US ➜ https://amzn.to/3b2jQq2
INTERNATIONAL ➜ https://smarturl.it/TBDBuy
AUDIOBOOK ➜ https://amzn.to/3dN1mKy
This book is part of a trilogy and is not standalone.
Deception Trilogy:
#0 Dark Deception
#1 Vow of Deception
#2 Tempted by Deception
#3 Consumed by Deception
August 3, 2024
some boys
take a beautiful girl and
hide her away from the rest of the world💔
this was absolutely the worst, i know in my darkest nightmares adrian will come at me and say “that’s one, lia” and then start spanking😃
take a beautiful girl and
hide her away from the rest of the world💔
this was absolutely the worst, i know in my darkest nightmares adrian will come at me and say “that’s one, lia” and then start spanking😃
January 4, 2022
3.2 stars
Okay I'm sorry. I promised myself I'll take a break from complaining for just one damn second. I said I will not be the stingy shit who focuses on one little detail.
BUT LENOCHKA IS NOT LIA.
Pardon the outburst. Anywho Lenochka is the diminutive way of saying Elena (Lena for short).
And meanwhile the name Elena does signify bright light, it still has nothing to do with Lia🙂. It is not a nickname you can give just anyone. Dude basically renamed her.
Could easily confirm that the names in this series are a disaster (to my Russian ears).
With that in mind -I am saying this as a person who can't bother giving a shit about 99% of heroes- Adrian can call me by any damn name he pleases and I'll run to him on all fours🐶
Okay I'm sorry. I promised myself I'll take a break from complaining for just one damn second. I said I will not be the stingy shit who focuses on one little detail.
BUT LENOCHKA IS NOT LIA.
Pardon the outburst. Anywho Lenochka is the diminutive way of saying Elena (Lena for short).
“What does that mean?”
“What does what mean?”
“Lenochka?”
“Bright light.”
And meanwhile the name Elena does signify bright light, it still has nothing to do with Lia🙂. It is not a nickname you can give just anyone. Dude basically renamed her.
Could easily confirm that the names in this series are a disaster (to my Russian ears).
With that in mind -I am saying this as a person who can't bother giving a shit about 99% of heroes- Adrian can call me by any damn name he pleases and I'll run to him on all fours🐶
“You asked when I’d be done. The answer is never. I’ll never be done with you, Lenochka.”
November 4, 2024
"It's either you or her, and if you play stubborn and say I should go to her, I'm going to make you watch me marry her, then fuck her to put an heir inside her."
“You are my wife, Mrs. Volkov, and I will whip and fuck that fact into your body until you act like it.”
And they say romance is dead....This is the way to a woman's heart if anyone out there wanted inspo. Adrian is absolutely the blueprint for a desirable man (sarcasm btw) 😑
You cannot convince me that he seriously loves her, in fact I fully believe he gives zero shits about her because no man behaves that way with the woman he loves or even if he had any kind of positive feelings towards her. If you ask me, I would say that he barely even cares about his own son.
September 24, 2024
the angst and miscommunication had me screaming.
May 16, 2021
Damn, just from looking at the book cover I knew I was getting myself into something crazy look at Adrian’s eyes
,
Tempted by Deception takes us back in time to where Lia & Adrian first met as we see the beginning of their relationship…. I wish that I could say that this book was told in dual POV…. It’s mostly told in Lia POV, I wish at times we could get more of Adrian’s thoughts
We see another side of Adrian… there are so many secrets & so many lies told in this installment, but one thing for sure is, that we got, small glimpse into Adrian’s childhood & what we seen was no laughing matter, no it was scary as hell
Holy guacamole there are so many twists and turns that only made me want the next book even more
Another Cliffhanger:!
Man holding match
Deception Trilogy: Reading Order
#0.5 Dark Deception
#1 Vow of Deception
#2 Tempted by Deception
#3 Consumed by Deception
⬇Always remember⬇
📚 💖 Hope you enjoy this read 💖& also always keep in mind this is just my opinion+ Also I wouldn’t never discourage anyone from reading this book.
June 23, 2023
Kirill would never
March 20, 2026
゛♟️ ⤿ 3.25 stars ִ.𓂃 ࣪ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
𐔌⋆.˚spoilers 𐦯
⋆.˚« ”i’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, lenochka.” »
⧽ to villains.
⋆.˚« ”a villain is the hero in his own story, ...” »
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ i. thoughts and plot ˎˊ˗
tempted by deception is the second book of the deception trilogy by rina kent.
SPOILERS AHEAD ! don’t read further if you’re thinking about starting the series.
read my review of vow of deception if you want an insight into the trilogy.
the second book follows the story before the first book and what happened between lia and adrian.
unfortunately, i wasn’t as hooked as i was with the first book. the middle part was utterly tedious while the last 20% had me almost bawling my eyes out due to the angst.
i wish there had been more of that.
⋆.˚« ”you asked when i’d be done. the answer is never. i’ll never be done with you, lenochka.” »
゛🧸 ⤿ ┆ ii. characters ˎˊ˗
⊹ lia morelli ── my poor, poor girl has been through so much. even before she met adrian. she lost her dream of being a ballerina and then was forced into the brotherhood.
at the start of the book she was a tad naive but in the end, i admired her for finding the courage to leave adrian.
⊹ adrian volkov ── oh he pissed me off BAD. the comments he made and things he said? ugh i was so mad at him. if he doesn’t grovel in the third book, i’ll be furious.
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ iii. romance ˎˊ˗
i hope their relationship gets more depth in the last book, it was (again) too lusty. i need the angst, please, the setting is too good for not having any angst in it 🥹.
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ iv. conclusion ˎˊ˗
i hope the third and last book will do them justice.
‧₊˚🖇️quotes ༘⋆
゛”a hero is the last thing i want to be. selflessness has never been my thing.” ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛i know he’ll come back, and this time, my life will be blown to pieces. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛he’s the type of beauty one should only admire from afar. whenever anyone gets close, he’ll snuff them out like a deadly exotic animal. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛for the first time in his life, the meticulous adrian volkov is letting a woman close. if that’s not a weakness, i don’t know what is. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛lia isn’t the other woman. she is the woman ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
⧽ deception trilogy
1. vow of deception
2. tempted by deception
3. tbc
⸝⸝ started: march 20
ended: march 21 ˎˊ˗
→ ༘⋆pre-read˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚
here i am with another rina kent book and i’m already a hundred pages in… 🧘🏼♀️ probably going to finish the trilogy this weekend.
𐔌⋆.˚spoilers 𐦯
⋆.˚« ”i’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, lenochka.” »
⧽ to villains.
⋆.˚« ”a villain is the hero in his own story, ...” »
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ i. thoughts and plot ˎˊ˗
tempted by deception is the second book of the deception trilogy by rina kent.
SPOILERS AHEAD ! don’t read further if you’re thinking about starting the series.
read my review of vow of deception if you want an insight into the trilogy.
the second book follows the story before the first book and what happened between lia and adrian.
unfortunately, i wasn’t as hooked as i was with the first book. the middle part was utterly tedious while the last 20% had me almost bawling my eyes out due to the angst.
i wish there had been more of that.
⋆.˚« ”you asked when i’d be done. the answer is never. i’ll never be done with you, lenochka.” »
゛🧸 ⤿ ┆ ii. characters ˎˊ˗
⊹ lia morelli ── my poor, poor girl has been through so much. even before she met adrian. she lost her dream of being a ballerina and then was forced into the brotherhood.
at the start of the book she was a tad naive but in the end, i admired her for finding the courage to leave adrian.
⊹ adrian volkov ── oh he pissed me off BAD. the comments he made and things he said? ugh i was so mad at him. if he doesn’t grovel in the third book, i’ll be furious.
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ iii. romance ˎˊ˗
i hope their relationship gets more depth in the last book, it was (again) too lusty. i need the angst, please, the setting is too good for not having any angst in it 🥹.
゛♟️ ⤿ ┆ iv. conclusion ˎˊ˗
i hope the third and last book will do them justice.
‧₊˚🖇️quotes ༘⋆
゛”a hero is the last thing i want to be. selflessness has never been my thing.” ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛i know he’ll come back, and this time, my life will be blown to pieces. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛he’s the type of beauty one should only admire from afar. whenever anyone gets close, he’ll snuff them out like a deadly exotic animal. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛for the first time in his life, the meticulous adrian volkov is letting a woman close. if that’s not a weakness, i don’t know what is. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
゛lia isn’t the other woman. she is the woman ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
⧽ deception trilogy
1. vow of deception
2. tempted by deception
3. tbc
⸝⸝ started: march 20
ended: march 21 ˎˊ˗
→ ༘⋆pre-read˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚
here i am with another rina kent book and i’m already a hundred pages in… 🧘🏼♀️ probably going to finish the trilogy this weekend.
October 2, 2024
4.5 stars
“Destroyed by Deception” is a more fitting title for this book. This book perfectly encapsulates the raw intensity of Adrian and Lia’s story. Six years ago, Lia witnessed Adrian commit a cold-blooded murder, an event that not only revealed his darkest side but also marked her as the object of his relentless obsession. The story explores the devastating power of deception, obsession, and the inescapable pull between two deeply flawed souls.
The previous book was hauntingly beautiful, but this one was sheer heartbreak. The first half explores the growing desire and love between Adrian and Lia from when they met six years ago, while the second half plunges right into a whirlwind of angst, heartbreaks, and intense, raw emotions. I was crying throughout the last pages and seeing how much Lia was hurting by staying with Adrian. The plotline of this trilogy is truly perfect. It’s hands down my top favourite dark romance ever, and I love that every single character is flawed and morally grey. Rina masterfully orchestrated the events of the past by aligning them with the present. Some scenes were parallel to the previous book, and it made me understand Adrian and Lia better.
Lia Morelli is a ballerina. She built her entire life around ballet as a way to escape her haunted and broken past and to cope with her depression. It became her anchor in the midst of her pain. She lived for ballet, but the moment she saw Adrian, she knew her life was over. My heart was breaking for her on every page. She didn’t deserve any of it, and I wish Adrian had been more attentive to her mental illness. She didn’t want to be a part of his lethal world, but she never had a choice because she craved Adrian as much as he craved her and was bound to him for life. Lia is strong in her own way—she did try to resist the Devil, and she fought tooth and nail for her and Jeremy’s freedom. She tried to live for Jeremy after she gave birth to him, but no one can escape a devil like Adrian, I guess?
“I love him. I fell in love with the devil despite his monstrous nature.”
Adrian Volkov, the ruthless mafia man, the unfeeling monster, the devil. Adrian showed his most unhinged, obsessive, and cold side in this book. But he also showed how much he cares for Lia and Lia only, in his own ways, how much she means to him even though he can’t express it in proper words to her. His obsession with Lia knows no boundaries, and it’s strangely endearing how she is the only one who makes him feel something, makes him smile. He wanted to own her, and he did, but he also pushed her too far away by not explaining anything to Lia from the start, by forcing her to live in his world. He always wanted to protect her from his world, but he is also the major reason for her spiralling chronic depression. His past helped me understand his cold personality better, and he didn’t deserve it as a child. I believe that he can and will redeem himself in the next book. Nothing can stop me from loving and defending this man.
“Scars mean you are alive and strong enough to survive.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, Lenochka.”
Adrian and Lia are so wrong for each other but so right. Lia is the light to Adrian’s dark world, and they are perfect together, but Adrian’s world destroyed their relationship. Their past is entwined in a web of violence and obsession that shaped their lives and present. The more their lives intertwined, the closer they were drawn together by a delicate web of lies, deception, and toxicity, the more Adrian became obsessed with Lia. They always had physical chemistry, and it’s sizzling throughout this trilogy, but it was comforting to see them emotionally connect in this book, how Lia shared all her vulnerable moments with Adrian and how much he helped her in her darkest times.
I mostly blame Adrian for destroying their marriage, but Lia was also wrong. They are so bad at communicating their true feelings to each other, and it only created a big clusterfucking mess in the end. I was torn apart when they purposefully hurt each other, and I really need to see them working on their marriage and starting to communicate to develop a solid foundation of trust between them. Jeremy was my only form of comfort in the second half. I adore this boy so much, and I need more of their family moments together to heal my broken heart.
The cliffhanger at the end was illegal. Rina peaked with this series and Adrian and Lia. I’m so eager to see where the next book will take me!
———————
5 am and i am going to sleep now with fucking tears in my eyes. Rina made me sob? with her books? rtc bcs i have lots to say!
———————
I NEED ANSWERSS
“You asked when I’d be done. The answer is never. I’ll never be done with you, Lenochka.”
“Destroyed by Deception” is a more fitting title for this book. This book perfectly encapsulates the raw intensity of Adrian and Lia’s story. Six years ago, Lia witnessed Adrian commit a cold-blooded murder, an event that not only revealed his darkest side but also marked her as the object of his relentless obsession. The story explores the devastating power of deception, obsession, and the inescapable pull between two deeply flawed souls.
The previous book was hauntingly beautiful, but this one was sheer heartbreak. The first half explores the growing desire and love between Adrian and Lia from when they met six years ago, while the second half plunges right into a whirlwind of angst, heartbreaks, and intense, raw emotions. I was crying throughout the last pages and seeing how much Lia was hurting by staying with Adrian. The plotline of this trilogy is truly perfect. It’s hands down my top favourite dark romance ever, and I love that every single character is flawed and morally grey. Rina masterfully orchestrated the events of the past by aligning them with the present. Some scenes were parallel to the previous book, and it made me understand Adrian and Lia better.
Lia Morelli is a ballerina. She built her entire life around ballet as a way to escape her haunted and broken past and to cope with her depression. It became her anchor in the midst of her pain. She lived for ballet, but the moment she saw Adrian, she knew her life was over. My heart was breaking for her on every page. She didn’t deserve any of it, and I wish Adrian had been more attentive to her mental illness. She didn’t want to be a part of his lethal world, but she never had a choice because she craved Adrian as much as he craved her and was bound to him for life. Lia is strong in her own way—she did try to resist the Devil, and she fought tooth and nail for her and Jeremy’s freedom. She tried to live for Jeremy after she gave birth to him, but no one can escape a devil like Adrian, I guess?
“I love him. I fell in love with the devil despite his monstrous nature.”
Adrian Volkov, the ruthless mafia man, the unfeeling monster, the devil. Adrian showed his most unhinged, obsessive, and cold side in this book. But he also showed how much he cares for Lia and Lia only, in his own ways, how much she means to him even though he can’t express it in proper words to her. His obsession with Lia knows no boundaries, and it’s strangely endearing how she is the only one who makes him feel something, makes him smile. He wanted to own her, and he did, but he also pushed her too far away by not explaining anything to Lia from the start, by forcing her to live in his world. He always wanted to protect her from his world, but he is also the major reason for her spiralling chronic depression. His past helped me understand his cold personality better, and he didn’t deserve it as a child. I believe that he can and will redeem himself in the next book. Nothing can stop me from loving and defending this man.
“Scars mean you are alive and strong enough to survive.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, Lenochka.”
Adrian and Lia are so wrong for each other but so right. Lia is the light to Adrian’s dark world, and they are perfect together, but Adrian’s world destroyed their relationship. Their past is entwined in a web of violence and obsession that shaped their lives and present. The more their lives intertwined, the closer they were drawn together by a delicate web of lies, deception, and toxicity, the more Adrian became obsessed with Lia. They always had physical chemistry, and it’s sizzling throughout this trilogy, but it was comforting to see them emotionally connect in this book, how Lia shared all her vulnerable moments with Adrian and how much he helped her in her darkest times.
“What does that mean?”
“What does what mean?”
“Lenochka?”
“Bright light.”
My lips part, not believing he just called me that. Surely, it must be a play of my imagination. “You think I’m a bright light?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But you think I’m lonely.”
“That doesn’t make you gloomy. A rose shines brighter alone than when it’s in a field.”
I mostly blame Adrian for destroying their marriage, but Lia was also wrong. They are so bad at communicating their true feelings to each other, and it only created a big clusterfucking mess in the end. I was torn apart when they purposefully hurt each other, and I really need to see them working on their marriage and starting to communicate to develop a solid foundation of trust between them. Jeremy was my only form of comfort in the second half. I adore this boy so much, and I need more of their family moments together to heal my broken heart.
“This is the first time I’ve felt like I have a family again. Lia and Jeremy. If I have to destroy the world and everything in it to keep them safe, so be it.”
The cliffhanger at the end was illegal. Rina peaked with this series and Adrian and Lia. I’m so eager to see where the next book will take me!
———————
5 am and i am going to sleep now with fucking tears in my eyes. Rina made me sob? with her books? rtc bcs i have lots to say!
———————
I NEED ANSWERSS
July 18, 2024
જ⁀➴
3.25 stars
SOMEONE HELP PLSS IM SO CONFUSED I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON????
these cliffhangers are getting so frustrating.
im starting a new club js for adrian volkov !!!!!! #adrianvolkovhateclub
SOMEONE HELP PLSS IM SO CONFUSED I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON????
these cliffhangers are getting so frustrating.
im starting a new club js for adrian volkov !!!!!! #adrianvolkovhateclub
March 19, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
It feels like I’ve sold my soul to the devil. Worse, I actually married him.”
Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : YESSS
Hero : Adrian Volkov
Heroine : Lia Morelli
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 7/10
Heat Rating : 9/10
Triggers Involved : *will update after release because of spoilers
Plot Summary :
Adrian and Lia are back!!! I won't say anything about what happened in this book at the risk of giving away any spoilers but holy shit, no one is prepared for this book. Seriously, no kidding, it's absolutely Marvelous.
Overall Opinion :
Ohh God , the amount of digging I have done for this series so that I could figure out what the hell is going on, I could solve real life mysteries by now. You thought that the first book was a mess???!!! Haha babe, you have literally no idea what is coming your way. No other series has consumed me this much!! I completed this book about 2 days ago but I needed some time to actually digest, what did I just read?!!!!
Also, you guys thought that Jonathan was kinky?? I will give you some hints here for you to decide who is the new king in town now-
“Yes…”
“And they always will be.”
“Yes…”
It's an utter mindfuck. By the starting you'll be like, am I reading the same series as before?! By somewhere in the middle you'll be like - I finally have some answers and by the end those 'answers' will be in the flush and you'll be back to square one. Confused as fuck that is. Also, the cliffhanger in this book? I won't say anything but pray for your well being when you encounter that ending.
Rina said that we'll be needing her 'all the best' to get through this book but nahhhh, this time you're gonna need shit load of prayers to get through this book. To actually accept that what you read just happened and still, no matter what you do, the ending will leave you absolutely dumbfounded.
From the moment I finished this book, the only thing on my mind has been I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!! I kid you not, I even tried meditation to get my mind off it, but damn. I am totally gone for this series. I absolutely loved Royal Elite. Those characters are my babies, but ADRIAN?! I think the Deception trilogy just became my Top favorite read by rina! Even above the ‘Royal elite’ series that is!
The storyline is absolutely phenomenal. Rina will give you crumbs of hints of what is happening and by the time you think you have it all figured out, she will pull the rug from beneath your feet again. So yeah, my blessings are with you when you read this book, because YOU WILL NEED THEM!!!!
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April 8, 2021
3.5 ✨
Thank u so much Natasha for reading this with me 🖤 (who was my first Buddy Read too) Unfortunately this book wasn't what we expected and we're still confused 😵
I really liked the first book, this one was a bit repetitive and disappointing, I enjoyed it, but still doesn't answer my doubts about Winter / Lia mystery. In this second book we know how Lia and Adrian met and their story before what happened in the first book in this series.
FRTC.
Thank u so much Natasha for reading this with me 🖤 (who was my first Buddy Read too) Unfortunately this book wasn't what we expected and we're still confused 😵
I really liked the first book, this one was a bit repetitive and disappointing, I enjoyed it, but still doesn't answer my doubts about Winter / Lia mystery. In this second book we know how Lia and Adrian met and their story before what happened in the first book in this series.
FRTC.
May 31, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6th reread)
Adrian in a nutshell according to Lia:
‘’He’s cold to the world, but not to me’’
Safety gang:
- No cheating
- OM drama (H thinks it)
- OW drama (barely)
- Dub con
- R*pe scene (this is again a dream the h has that never happened or happens)
- S*icidal thoughts
- Mental illness
- Unexpected pregnancy
- Mention of child loss
- Mention of child abuse
- Violence/d*ath
- Cliffhanger
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
This entire book is 100 percent concentrated on their past. How they met, how they got married, how Jeremy came to be, why they are so distant, why Lia decided to switch lives with Winter and much more.
''You called me a disaster, but this is the true disaster, Lia. You and me''
A lot of the mystery of book 1 is explained and fleshed out in this book.
We are introduced to Lia the prima ballerina. Not the homeless woman who we grew to know. I honestly liked the way Adrian and Lia ‘’met’’. He murders someone and she’s there by accident. We also find out the real reason why he wanted to for quite some time in the beginning get answers from her. Her father. The Don. Holy twist. I remember the first time I read this book on how insane I found that, I just assumed Luca was the connection Adrian needed to find out about but no – Lia is the Don’s illegitimate heir.
''I'll worship each of your scars until you're able to face them, Lenochka''
Despite whom Lia is, Adrian still wanted her for reasons beyond her connections to the Italian mob boss. You witness his sweet and caring moments and how much he is obsessed over her and how her safety is so important to him. How he would BURN the world before anyone hurts her.
''Lia isn't the other woman. She's the woman.''
He went as far as losing some of his power he holds in the Bratva after marrying her and rejecting Igor’s daughter. That engagement was not at all one of love or desire. He agreed to it before he ever met Lia and was only doing it to unite more power and because the Pakhan wanted it. Once he found Lia he made a plan to get out of it and he did BUT that scene where she finds out is heart-breaking. You also get his POV right after and how badly he wanted to run after her but couldn’t make her interesting for everyone and in order to protect her he would be indifferent to her and that keeps her out of reach of prying eyes and questions that might arise. Also, because if they dug deep enough they would know who her father is.
''Have you ever loved me, Adrian?
because I loved you. And it's killing me every day''
A lot happens in this book and there is so much to dissect. Once thing we do know is that despite their strained marriage they never stopped wanting each other in the darkness of their bedroom. Lia admits to being in love with him, but she believes he doesn’t love her especially after the first escape attempt when Jeremy was just born. Despite what she believes Adrian is absolutely without a doubt faithful to his wife. He also believes she does not love him; he doesn’t say he loves her, but you know he does. Even Yan says they are both blinded.
''He'll never look at me the way I secretly look at him when he's not paying attention. And that hurts more than I care to admit''
She tells him she cheated (a lie) after she found out the truth about his initial interest in her and tells him she cheated on him and Adrian loses his mind. They spend weeks apart (same house but he doesn’t touch her). He is hurt and heartbroken that she would cheat on him BUT his solution isn’t ‘’Oh let me go and cheat on her to get back at her’’ nope, it’s ‘’I’m going to find him and kill him then f*ck you in his blood’’.
Also, fun fact about the BIG document ‘’Winter’’ gets in book 1 to study about the Bratva was revealed to have been created by Lia back when she got married and she created it with the help of Ogla in order to not embarrass Adrian at events.
Adrian in a nutshell according to Lia:
‘’He’s cold to the world, but not to me’’
Safety gang:
- No cheating
- OM drama (H thinks it)
- OW drama (barely)
- Dub con
- R*pe scene (this is again a dream the h has that never happened or happens)
- S*icidal thoughts
- Mental illness
- Unexpected pregnancy
- Mention of child loss
- Mention of child abuse
- Violence/d*ath
- Cliffhanger
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
This entire book is 100 percent concentrated on their past. How they met, how they got married, how Jeremy came to be, why they are so distant, why Lia decided to switch lives with Winter and much more.
''You called me a disaster, but this is the true disaster, Lia. You and me''
A lot of the mystery of book 1 is explained and fleshed out in this book.
We are introduced to Lia the prima ballerina. Not the homeless woman who we grew to know. I honestly liked the way Adrian and Lia ‘’met’’. He murders someone and she’s there by accident. We also find out the real reason why he wanted to for quite some time in the beginning get answers from her. Her father. The Don. Holy twist. I remember the first time I read this book on how insane I found that, I just assumed Luca was the connection Adrian needed to find out about but no – Lia is the Don’s illegitimate heir.
''I'll worship each of your scars until you're able to face them, Lenochka''
Despite whom Lia is, Adrian still wanted her for reasons beyond her connections to the Italian mob boss. You witness his sweet and caring moments and how much he is obsessed over her and how her safety is so important to him. How he would BURN the world before anyone hurts her.
''Lia isn't the other woman. She's the woman.''
He went as far as losing some of his power he holds in the Bratva after marrying her and rejecting Igor’s daughter. That engagement was not at all one of love or desire. He agreed to it before he ever met Lia and was only doing it to unite more power and because the Pakhan wanted it. Once he found Lia he made a plan to get out of it and he did BUT that scene where she finds out is heart-breaking. You also get his POV right after and how badly he wanted to run after her but couldn’t make her interesting for everyone and in order to protect her he would be indifferent to her and that keeps her out of reach of prying eyes and questions that might arise. Also, because if they dug deep enough they would know who her father is.
''Have you ever loved me, Adrian?
because I loved you. And it's killing me every day''
A lot happens in this book and there is so much to dissect. Once thing we do know is that despite their strained marriage they never stopped wanting each other in the darkness of their bedroom. Lia admits to being in love with him, but she believes he doesn’t love her especially after the first escape attempt when Jeremy was just born. Despite what she believes Adrian is absolutely without a doubt faithful to his wife. He also believes she does not love him; he doesn’t say he loves her, but you know he does. Even Yan says they are both blinded.
''He'll never look at me the way I secretly look at him when he's not paying attention. And that hurts more than I care to admit''
She tells him she cheated (a lie) after she found out the truth about his initial interest in her and tells him she cheated on him and Adrian loses his mind. They spend weeks apart (same house but he doesn’t touch her). He is hurt and heartbroken that she would cheat on him BUT his solution isn’t ‘’Oh let me go and cheat on her to get back at her’’ nope, it’s ‘’I’m going to find him and kill him then f*ck you in his blood’’.
Also, fun fact about the BIG document ‘’Winter’’ gets in book 1 to study about the Bratva was revealed to have been created by Lia back when she got married and she created it with the help of Ogla in order to not embarrass Adrian at events.
October 21, 2024
My brain is in a state of haywire🤯😩😭I need ANSWERS.
March 16, 2024
2.5 stars
literally just bully romance atp 😭
literally just bully romance atp 😭
April 15, 2024
This series honestly feels RKs best work
July 21, 2021
Trigger Warnings:
Well damn, this book wasn’t as crazy as the last book, it’s a lot slower but things really pick up near the end. I can’t really get into detail since it’ll spoil the first book but you will have to read the first book in the series to read this (it’s not a standalone series). The first book is Vow of Deception, this book follows what happens in the first book, well kinda (I can’t say much cuz spoilers). It’s a lot more depressing and this book isn’t as exciting as the first book IMO. I would give this 3.75-4 stars. I am super thankful to Apoorva for recommending this series because it is definitely bloody amazing, I was just frustrated while reading this. This series is a dark mafia romance series so there is a lot of disturbing content that isn’t for everyone, so avoid this if that stuff bothers you. It didn’t bother me as much since the characters were tolerable, I don’t find it as dark as other mafia books I’ve read but then again, I haven’t read many mafia romance books. There are a lot of miscommunication problems in this book and I know that can be a pet peeve for many so again, if that bothers you, avoid this book. But other than that, I highly recommend this series even if the second book isn’t that great. The twists and turns are bloody crazy.
I wanna jump into spoilers now
Anyway, that is all, I am off to read the next book! Stay safe folks!
Well damn, this book wasn’t as crazy as the last book, it’s a lot slower but things really pick up near the end. I can’t really get into detail since it’ll spoil the first book but you will have to read the first book in the series to read this (it’s not a standalone series). The first book is Vow of Deception, this book follows what happens in the first book, well kinda (I can’t say much cuz spoilers). It’s a lot more depressing and this book isn’t as exciting as the first book IMO. I would give this 3.75-4 stars. I am super thankful to Apoorva for recommending this series because it is definitely bloody amazing, I was just frustrated while reading this. This series is a dark mafia romance series so there is a lot of disturbing content that isn’t for everyone, so avoid this if that stuff bothers you. It didn’t bother me as much since the characters were tolerable, I don’t find it as dark as other mafia books I’ve read but then again, I haven’t read many mafia romance books. There are a lot of miscommunication problems in this book and I know that can be a pet peeve for many so again, if that bothers you, avoid this book. But other than that, I highly recommend this series even if the second book isn’t that great. The twists and turns are bloody crazy.
I wanna jump into spoilers now
Anyway, that is all, I am off to read the next book! Stay safe folks!
August 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐
OMG OMG OMG!! I'm SO invested in the story, guys...this book has devastated me, but I know it's necessary for the next and final one. I love Adrian and Lia with all my heart, I can't wait to read the last book! 🤭
OMG OMG OMG!! I'm SO invested in the story, guys...this book has devastated me, but I know it's necessary for the next and final one. I love Adrian and Lia with all my heart, I can't wait to read the last book! 🤭
January 7, 2024
3 stars
I want to give Lia a big hug because she suffered so much! I thought I'd hate her, and even though I do prefer the Winter version of Lia, she freaking broke me! I nearly sobbed because she suffered so much! This book is way too toxic, and It revolves around the past events.
• Adrian and Lia first met when she saw him killing someone, and he immediately became obsessed with her. He pursued her, and out of fear, she let him enter her life. Everything was going okay, and they went into a routine together until Lia got injured and lost her career as a ballerina!
PAST SCENE (age 24-30)
I truly like Lia, the way she cowered from Adrian at first makes sense, but when she found out that he's engaged, she still gave in to him. I mean, he started fucking her, and she gave in, but she could've let her anger rule over her lust! When she fell and broke her Tibia and lost her career, I swear I felt pity for her. It was haunting, considering what she suffered, and she decided to end her life. I actually like how Adrian was there to stop her, and she took his hand. He took care of her for weeks, was patient and nice with her. He even broke off his engagement.
Everything was going great. Adrian was still hot and cold in the past scenes. I felt bad for him because of his past and obvious traumas, but it all went downhill, and I became so mad when he forced Lia to marry him while she was barely recovered and even found out that SHE'S PREGNANT! He wanted to make her pregnant just so he could marry her, and it was messed up. I didn't even feel mad at Lia because she was completely numb and was slowly dissociating from her life, and Adrian manipulated her so much at that moment!
Lia still gave him the cold shoulder and silent treatment. Rebelled in the only way she knows, and he was still ruthless. He did care for her and went over the top with his aftercare methods or protecting her, but he was suffocating her. He tried to make her comfortable, but she was in depression because Adrian was still closed off, and she was always a depression patient.
❝You’re torturing each other and it’s painful to watch.❞
❝How can I torture him when he doesn’t care?❞
There's enough miscommunication to last a lifetime, and after Jeremy was born, I just still couldn't with their POVs. Adrian felt left out and obviously thought of himself as right. He thinks he's protecting Lia, and even though he can't care for her the way she wants, he's still doing everything. But when she attempted to escape, he just lost it and closed off. Something between them was ruined that day.
4 years later (Age 28 - 34)
Things went too bad, Lia's mental health became bad, and she just wants Adrian close, but he wasn't giving in to her. He just became cold, and Lia was spiraling out of control slowly! Adrian knew she's unhappy, but he wasn't doing anything and still made sure she's scared enough that she never leaves him. That is until she got so frustrated she told him that she cheated on him, and he completely distanced himself. He acted like he didn't care, and though during every conflict, they still had a sexual attachment, he just stopped caring for her like he used to before. But he obviously protected her. AND NOW THAT IS, UNTIL SHE ESCAPED AGAIN AND JUMPED OFF THE CLIFF.
I'm super mad at Adrian, and I thought hating Lia would be easy because she's kind of a doormat, but ffs she's not! She obviously has super mental health issues, and Adrian cared for her in his ways because he wanted her close, but they just have so much miscommunication that everything went bad! Too bad, and they both lost many years! I hate Adrian for suffocating Lia and manipulating her so much! She's not wrong to think that because of him, Jeremy's life is in danger, and it's obvious she just couldn't cope with his world! 😭
I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY, BUT AAAHH, I'M FREAKING SAD FOR LIA. THIS BOOK MADE ME SOB TOO MUCH, AND IT'S REALLY FREAKING BREAKING! Jeremy's scenes are cute, and I really enjoyed his scenes, but now I truly understand why he called Lia a ghost!
Ahhh, felt bad for Lia in this scene, truly. 😭✋🏻
I just want Adrian to become better in the next book and give Lia everything! He shouldn't be closed off.
RATINGS:
• Vow Of Deception – 4 stars
• Tempted By Deception – 3 stars
• Consumed By Deception – 3.5 stars
❝I took your hand before, Adrian, and you smothered me with it. I’d rather die quickly than slowly.❞
I want to give Lia a big hug because she suffered so much! I thought I'd hate her, and even though I do prefer the Winter version of Lia, she freaking broke me! I nearly sobbed because she suffered so much! This book is way too toxic, and It revolves around the past events.
• Adrian and Lia first met when she saw him killing someone, and he immediately became obsessed with her. He pursued her, and out of fear, she let him enter her life. Everything was going okay, and they went into a routine together until Lia got injured and lost her career as a ballerina!
PAST SCENE (age 24-30)
I truly like Lia, the way she cowered from Adrian at first makes sense, but when she found out that he's engaged, she still gave in to him. I mean, he started fucking her, and she gave in, but she could've let her anger rule over her lust! When she fell and broke her Tibia and lost her career, I swear I felt pity for her. It was haunting, considering what she suffered, and she decided to end her life. I actually like how Adrian was there to stop her, and she took his hand. He took care of her for weeks, was patient and nice with her. He even broke off his engagement.
❝I’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, Lenochka.❞
Everything was going great. Adrian was still hot and cold in the past scenes. I felt bad for him because of his past and obvious traumas, but it all went downhill, and I became so mad when he forced Lia to marry him while she was barely recovered and even found out that SHE'S PREGNANT! He wanted to make her pregnant just so he could marry her, and it was messed up. I didn't even feel mad at Lia because she was completely numb and was slowly dissociating from her life, and Adrian manipulated her so much at that moment!
Lia still gave him the cold shoulder and silent treatment. Rebelled in the only way she knows, and he was still ruthless. He did care for her and went over the top with his aftercare methods or protecting her, but he was suffocating her. He tried to make her comfortable, but she was in depression because Adrian was still closed off, and she was always a depression patient.
❝You’re torturing each other and it’s painful to watch.❞
❝How can I torture him when he doesn’t care?❞
There's enough miscommunication to last a lifetime, and after Jeremy was born, I just still couldn't with their POVs. Adrian felt left out and obviously thought of himself as right. He thinks he's protecting Lia, and even though he can't care for her the way she wants, he's still doing everything. But when she attempted to escape, he just lost it and closed off. Something between them was ruined that day.
4 years later (Age 28 - 34)
Things went too bad, Lia's mental health became bad, and she just wants Adrian close, but he wasn't giving in to her. He just became cold, and Lia was spiraling out of control slowly! Adrian knew she's unhappy, but he wasn't doing anything and still made sure she's scared enough that she never leaves him. That is until she got so frustrated she told him that she cheated on him, and he completely distanced himself. He acted like he didn't care, and though during every conflict, they still had a sexual attachment, he just stopped caring for her like he used to before. But he obviously protected her. AND NOW THAT IS, UNTIL SHE ESCAPED AGAIN AND JUMPED OFF THE CLIFF.
I'm super mad at Adrian, and I thought hating Lia would be easy because she's kind of a doormat, but ffs she's not! She obviously has super mental health issues, and Adrian cared for her in his ways because he wanted her close, but they just have so much miscommunication that everything went bad! Too bad, and they both lost many years! I hate Adrian for suffocating Lia and manipulating her so much! She's not wrong to think that because of him, Jeremy's life is in danger, and it's obvious she just couldn't cope with his world! 😭
I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY, BUT AAAHH, I'M FREAKING SAD FOR LIA. THIS BOOK MADE ME SOB TOO MUCH, AND IT'S REALLY FREAKING BREAKING! Jeremy's scenes are cute, and I really enjoyed his scenes, but now I truly understand why he called Lia a ghost!
❝Going somewhere, Lia?❞
Ahhh, felt bad for Lia in this scene, truly. 😭✋🏻
I just want Adrian to become better in the next book and give Lia everything! He shouldn't be closed off.
RATINGS:
• Vow Of Deception – 4 stars
• Tempted By Deception – 3 stars
• Consumed By Deception – 3.5 stars
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