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Bellandi Crime Syndicate #1
Bloodied Hands
She’s an innocent. /b>
Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
My Angel is the one who got away—the only person in the world I love. When she is caught in an unsanctioned bank robbery in my territory, only my reputation protects her.
She should have stayed away.
Instead, she charges back into my life like a shining beacon in my otherwise bleak existence. She has no place in my world where hardened criminals toy with the lives of the innocent.
A better man would let her go — again.
There’s no white picket fence in life with a Bellandi, and she deserves so much more. I pushed her away once, but now that she’s back I won’t let anything else come between us.
Not even Ivory herself.
Bloodied Hands is a full-length standalone novel with an HEA, but the series presents a better reading experience when following the suggested order. This series contains dark elements, including an over-the-top antihero who does as he pleases. Please read at your own discretion.
9 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 30, 2022
2047 people are currently reading
11540 people want to read
About the author
Adelaide Forrest
29 books3,121 followersAdelaide fell in love with books at a young age and quickly discovered her love for writing soon after. Since then, she’s become a self-professed plot hoarder of over 300 book concepts.
After receiving her degree in Psychology, Adelaide went on to work in a therapeutic riding facility. When her daughter was born, Adelaide traded out her boots to be a stay-at-home mom. In 2019, she added author to those job duties after a lifetime of dreaming about it.
She lives in New York with her husband, two children, and their dog and cat who all make up the center of her world.
For updates, please visit www.adelaideforrest.com or follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideForr...
or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelaidefor...
After receiving her degree in Psychology, Adelaide went on to work in a therapeutic riding facility. When her daughter was born, Adelaide traded out her boots to be a stay-at-home mom. In 2019, she added author to those job duties after a lifetime of dreaming about it.
She lives in New York with her husband, two children, and their dog and cat who all make up the center of her world.
For updates, please visit www.adelaideforrest.com or follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideForr...
or instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelaidefor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,147 reviews
June 4, 2021
before you use my review to advertise your book, at least ask for permission first. god, i really regret the hours i spent reading this.
February 23, 2021
Spoilers ahead
Over a decade before high schooler Ivory fell in love with Matteo Bellandi and gave him her virginity. One week later he publicly humiliated her and broke her heart. Years later during a robbery the robber shockingly recognises her and says to tell Belandi he didn't hurt her or know. Ivory decides to confront Matteo to find out why such a thing would occur. She finds her high school love to be a completely different man.....one who refuses to let her go
***********
My favorite type of hero is a J/ P Alpha, he can be a bad guy but absolutely never hurt his woman. He WILL kill, maim or torture to protect his woman and/or keep her safe. He WILL absolutely never want another woman when he has his and he'll make this clear. Given all that Matteo Bellandi should've been sent from the book God's especially for me......ummmmm not quite.
1) I like Alpha, I've got an issue with a controlling and domineering H who refuses to give the h a choice in ANYTHING! Matteo left bossy in the distance and crossed firmly into girlrunfromthatcrazy town. He inserts himself into her life after a decade long separation as if nothing had happened, he refused to accept any more time apart and that was the end of that.
2)He replaced her birth control pills with a placebo ......ummmm nuff said
3)From the beginning and almost to the bitter end he gave her no opportunities to have a say, her no to him meant nothing because he did what he wanted anyway.
4)Matteo off course gave up Ivory for her own good, then proceeded to fuck EVERY woman that looked like her! We get a lovely scene with a bj with one of these women (before h/H reunite) and little references to it later on. Ivory thankfully wasn't celibate but ugh that was disgusting.
Had things not been so OTT extreme I really could've loved this one but instead I had to slot this H into the overdone category and leave him there.
Matteo was so intense I'm not even sure how I feel about Ivory, she was foolish sometimes, suffered from the dreaded BBS all the time and tried to stand up for herself at times.
All in all this didn't work for me but I'm intrigued enough by some of the secondary characters to try a next book
******I can't stand h's who act shocked when they find out what their guy does. I mean you've seen evidence of this man's power and reach WTF did you think he did for a living? Run a unicorn farm??? Dumbass
*****Matteo actually having sex with his ex fb before and after Ivory was just as disgusting as his sexual practises in the years after
******WTF is that extended epilogue that I had to sign up for????? Stupid!
Second chance
H was a huge manwhore during the separation
h dated and had sex
H was very controlling and domineering
He was deliciously dedicated after they reunited
Over a decade before high schooler Ivory fell in love with Matteo Bellandi and gave him her virginity. One week later he publicly humiliated her and broke her heart. Years later during a robbery the robber shockingly recognises her and says to tell Belandi he didn't hurt her or know. Ivory decides to confront Matteo to find out why such a thing would occur. She finds her high school love to be a completely different man.....one who refuses to let her go
***********
My favorite type of hero is a J/ P Alpha, he can be a bad guy but absolutely never hurt his woman. He WILL kill, maim or torture to protect his woman and/or keep her safe. He WILL absolutely never want another woman when he has his and he'll make this clear. Given all that Matteo Bellandi should've been sent from the book God's especially for me......ummmmm not quite.
1) I like Alpha, I've got an issue with a controlling and domineering H who refuses to give the h a choice in ANYTHING! Matteo left bossy in the distance and crossed firmly into girlrunfromthatcrazy town. He inserts himself into her life after a decade long separation as if nothing had happened, he refused to accept any more time apart and that was the end of that.
2)He replaced her birth control pills with a placebo ......ummmm nuff said
3)From the beginning and almost to the bitter end he gave her no opportunities to have a say, her no to him meant nothing because he did what he wanted anyway.
4)Matteo off course gave up Ivory for her own good, then proceeded to fuck EVERY woman that looked like her! We get a lovely scene with a bj with one of these women (before h/H reunite) and little references to it later on. Ivory thankfully wasn't celibate but ugh that was disgusting.
Had things not been so OTT extreme I really could've loved this one but instead I had to slot this H into the overdone category and leave him there.
Matteo was so intense I'm not even sure how I feel about Ivory, she was foolish sometimes, suffered from the dreaded BBS all the time and tried to stand up for herself at times.
All in all this didn't work for me but I'm intrigued enough by some of the secondary characters to try a next book
******I can't stand h's who act shocked when they find out what their guy does. I mean you've seen evidence of this man's power and reach WTF did you think he did for a living? Run a unicorn farm??? Dumbass
*****Matteo actually having sex with his ex fb before and after Ivory was just as disgusting as his sexual practises in the years after
******WTF is that extended epilogue that I had to sign up for????? Stupid!
Second chance
H was a huge manwhore during the separation
h dated and had sex
H was very controlling and domineering
He was deliciously dedicated after they reunited
January 17, 2022
So here we have another case of 'I'll put up with anything as long as the H gives me a good dicking'.
This whole book, the h Ivory, was a doormat for Matteo. He moved her out of her house, microchipped her, and replaced her birth control pills with placebos yet after a token angry spat, Ivory would spread her legs for her obligatory dicking because 'the body wants what it wants' and it's inevitable. Pfft.
So I have to go back to the beginning here.
The whole premise for the book is total bullshit!!
You really expect me to believe that the head of this mafia organization was so besotted and obsessed with his high school girlfriend and must have talked about her and described her to everyone in such detail, that a much lower tiered fringe group of bank robbers would recognize Ivory based on stories of her and be scared that she would tell Matteo that they had dared to rob the bank with her in it? Now other guards and staff, they didn't recognize her. Instead they thought she was just another of Matteo's Ivory look-a-like fuck toys, but these bank robbers did. Which lead to Ivory reaching out to Matteo after 12 years.
Now the only description of Ivory we have is Brown hair, green eyes, and plump dick sucking lips. That's not all that unique. Like maybe if she had a weird mole or birthmark or some shit I might have believed it.
Also Matteo's excuse for his humiliating dumping of Ivory after popping her cherry was to protect her so his enemies wouldn't know how much she meant to him. Yet somehow everyone in their world knew about "The Ivory" and what she looked like, so it really invalidates his whole reasoning for not being able to be in a relationship with her.
Then to stretch incredulity to a whole new level. Matteo was so possessive and obsessed with Ivory but yet in all the 12 years apart he never looked into her, checked up on her, or even fucking facebook stalked her. Like, what?! Really?
This shit was stupid. Ivory was a dickmatized doormat. Matteo was a psycho but I'm down with his crazy. I wouldn't mind some sexy badass come and move me into his mansion to be waited on hand and foot while he spoils me and gives me the good dick?
This whole book, the h Ivory, was a doormat for Matteo. He moved her out of her house, microchipped her, and replaced her birth control pills with placebos yet after a token angry spat, Ivory would spread her legs for her obligatory dicking because 'the body wants what it wants' and it's inevitable. Pfft.
So I have to go back to the beginning here.
The whole premise for the book is total bullshit!!
You really expect me to believe that the head of this mafia organization was so besotted and obsessed with his high school girlfriend and must have talked about her and described her to everyone in such detail, that a much lower tiered fringe group of bank robbers would recognize Ivory based on stories of her and be scared that she would tell Matteo that they had dared to rob the bank with her in it? Now other guards and staff, they didn't recognize her. Instead they thought she was just another of Matteo's Ivory look-a-like fuck toys, but these bank robbers did. Which lead to Ivory reaching out to Matteo after 12 years.
Now the only description of Ivory we have is Brown hair, green eyes, and plump dick sucking lips. That's not all that unique. Like maybe if she had a weird mole or birthmark or some shit I might have believed it.
Also Matteo's excuse for his humiliating dumping of Ivory after popping her cherry was to protect her so his enemies wouldn't know how much she meant to him. Yet somehow everyone in their world knew about "The Ivory" and what she looked like, so it really invalidates his whole reasoning for not being able to be in a relationship with her.
Then to stretch incredulity to a whole new level. Matteo was so possessive and obsessed with Ivory but yet in all the 12 years apart he never looked into her, checked up on her, or even fucking facebook stalked her. Like, what?! Really?
This shit was stupid. Ivory was a dickmatized doormat. Matteo was a psycho but I'm down with his crazy. I wouldn't mind some sexy badass come and move me into his mansion to be waited on hand and foot while he spoils me and gives me the good dick?
February 12, 2020
My burning question. So did he actually sleep with Shauna again after he broke up with h? I hate it when a book doesn’t have answers like this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
HE MICROCHIPPED HER LIKE A CAT
February 4, 2021
DNF. Not safe. Hero not only dumped her in a manner that was cruel in front of the whole school. He was a nasty manwhore during their separation.... but it was women who looked like her so that makes it better, right 🙄🙄🙄
This could have been a good story with the OTT tendencies he displayed but it was ruined.
This could have been a good story with the OTT tendencies he displayed but it was ruined.
July 13, 2021
This hero made some CHOICES.... but I'm a twisted girl and I liked it. Haha!
4.5/5 stars
4.5/5 stars
March 26, 2021
2.5 "Angel" is as cringe worthy as "baby" stars.
I almost DNF this at 30% but pushed through and it did pick up a bit and I enjoyed elements of it. I do love a steamroller H who takes away choices and just takes over the h's life but that can only get you so far and I found that Matteo was more talk than action as far as being a badass mob boss which is a big let down.
Ivory started off great but then she fell into the old "h doing dumb shit to add drama to the story" trope and it was a bit predictable.
Something about the writing just didn't flow for me either.
Not writing this author off though as I keep getting recommended her books so obviously there is something there and this book wasn't terrible but it just wasn't a mafia book I'll remember or re-read.
I almost DNF this at 30% but pushed through and it did pick up a bit and I enjoyed elements of it. I do love a steamroller H who takes away choices and just takes over the h's life but that can only get you so far and I found that Matteo was more talk than action as far as being a badass mob boss which is a big let down.
Ivory started off great but then she fell into the old "h doing dumb shit to add drama to the story" trope and it was a bit predictable.
Something about the writing just didn't flow for me either.
Not writing this author off though as I keep getting recommended her books so obviously there is something there and this book wasn't terrible but it just wasn't a mafia book I'll remember or re-read.
March 8, 2020
One word: twat.
September 17, 2021
I really wanted to like this book but there were some things that just didn't hit the mark.
So Ivory is supposed to be this big blogger but after Matteo comes back into her life, she doesn't really do much blogging? Like damn, can't we get strong independent women in dark romances who don't abandon their careers the second they meet the MMC😩
All Ivory and Matteo do is fight, have sex, fight, have sex, fight. Where's the flavor? Where's the building of the relationship? WHY do they love each other? What does Ivory have that has Matteo going gaga over her? WHY does Ivory love Matteo if all she does is start fights with him when he does something wrong?
Don't get me wrong, I loooove me some smut but I also want to see the relationship grow.
SPOILER WARNING:
Also, I love that Matteo put a microchip in her to "protect her" and she literally screamed and begged and pleaded for him not to and them said "I will never forgive you", yet 2 days later they're fucking. THEN they go to one of his clubs and she tries to get him to cheat on her and she dances with some random. Matteo obviously gets enraged and possessive. Ivory then ends up crying about not wanting to be like every other woman Matteo has been with??? Im so confused. Then the microchip is NEVER discussed. They get engaged and she never brings it up? She's so hurt by him putting the microchip but still forgets about it basically an hour later????
Also it's no secret that Matteo's family is not on the right side of the law but why is Ivory *so* shocked when he starts telling her shit? Like BRO why do you think your 2 best friends did not want you to get with him? (Other than him breaking her heart in school).
'"This is why you left me, isn't it? You need a good little Italian wife to make your mob happy. Fuck, I'm so stupid," I winced."
Yes Ivory, yes you are😭😭😭 literally all the signs were there so how did you miss them🥴🥴. He has bodyguards 24/7. What night club owner needs bodyguards 24/7 unless they also have some shady shit going on🤡🙃
END OF SPOILERS
I-
I'm sorry but this was a mess. This wasn't everything that annoyed me but I don't have the energy for more. I was truly looking forward to this book and I'm so disappointed that it didn't work for me😭
So Ivory is supposed to be this big blogger but after Matteo comes back into her life, she doesn't really do much blogging? Like damn, can't we get strong independent women in dark romances who don't abandon their careers the second they meet the MMC😩
All Ivory and Matteo do is fight, have sex, fight, have sex, fight. Where's the flavor? Where's the building of the relationship? WHY do they love each other? What does Ivory have that has Matteo going gaga over her? WHY does Ivory love Matteo if all she does is start fights with him when he does something wrong?
Don't get me wrong, I loooove me some smut but I also want to see the relationship grow.
SPOILER WARNING:
Also, I love that Matteo put a microchip in her to "protect her" and she literally screamed and begged and pleaded for him not to and them said "I will never forgive you", yet 2 days later they're fucking. THEN they go to one of his clubs and she tries to get him to cheat on her and she dances with some random. Matteo obviously gets enraged and possessive. Ivory then ends up crying about not wanting to be like every other woman Matteo has been with??? Im so confused. Then the microchip is NEVER discussed. They get engaged and she never brings it up? She's so hurt by him putting the microchip but still forgets about it basically an hour later????
Also it's no secret that Matteo's family is not on the right side of the law but why is Ivory *so* shocked when he starts telling her shit? Like BRO why do you think your 2 best friends did not want you to get with him? (Other than him breaking her heart in school).
'"This is why you left me, isn't it? You need a good little Italian wife to make your mob happy. Fuck, I'm so stupid," I winced."
Yes Ivory, yes you are😭😭😭 literally all the signs were there so how did you miss them🥴🥴. He has bodyguards 24/7. What night club owner needs bodyguards 24/7 unless they also have some shady shit going on🤡🙃
END OF SPOILERS
I-
I'm sorry but this was a mess. This wasn't everything that annoyed me but I don't have the energy for more. I was truly looking forward to this book and I'm so disappointed that it didn't work for me😭
no-way
July 19, 2020Soooo.. this is second chance romance? They were high school sweethearts, he dumped her, heroine thought he wanted to fuck around (broke her heart, OW drama that hurt heroine (like his ex fuck buddy, who he fucked before and AFTER heroine..) and she believed worst of him for over a decade.. ). Hero does fuck around (at least heroine is not celibate also), even when he LOOVES heroine so much (heroine thought he is a SOB, so good for her not being celibate). The minute they meet again heroine falls at his feet with her betraying body...
Edit: He did all above that, fuck around etc and heroine believed he dumped her because he is a bastard, but it seems he did it to protect heroine from his family.. sigh
Edit: He did all above that, fuck around etc and heroine believed he dumped her because he is a bastard, but it seems he did it to protect heroine from his family.. sigh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2020
"I zipped up my slacks, turning away from the pouty expression on the freckle free face of Jessica, staring up at me from where she'd knelt to suck me off. Or was it Jennifer?"
Oh, howcringy sexy is that? The H's POV starting w him kicking out a girl who just sucked him off and even swallowed, but he can't be bothered to remember her name let alone return the favor *swoon*
"Sorry, didn't think you were so dumb you couldn't tell I was done with you. I don't do seconds. I came, I'm done. That's all you’ll get from me."
"Women, am I right?"
I am all for assholes in my romance book but why do authors think that making the H act disrespectful towards some other women is sexy? Is it supposed to show his "faithfulness" to the h? bc NO, it absolutely doesn't. All it does is makes me think that if he is such a jerk to one woman, it could easily be the h that he uses and discards. Gah, what a turn-off.
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"
Oh, how
"Sorry, didn't think you were so dumb you couldn't tell I was done with you. I don't do seconds. I came, I'm done. That's all you’ll get from me."
"Women, am I right?"
I am all for assholes in my romance book but why do authors think that making the H act disrespectful towards some other women is sexy? Is it supposed to show his "faithfulness" to the h? bc NO, it absolutely doesn't. All it does is makes me think that if he is such a jerk to one woman, it could easily be the h that he uses and discards. Gah, what a turn-off.
[image error]
" 
avoid
July 12, 2023Self note
H dumped the h in high school after taking her virginity, because of his mafia dad.
The day he dumped her, he went and fucked his ex fuck buddy.
They reunite 10 plus years purely by accident.
He never went looking for her, nor did he keep tabs on her.
He became a manwhore, sleeping with her lookalikes.
She had boyfriends but had bad sex with all of them.🙄
Avoiding.
H dumped the h in high school after taking her virginity, because of his mafia dad.
The day he dumped her, he went and fucked his ex fuck buddy.
They reunite 10 plus years purely by accident.
He never went looking for her, nor did he keep tabs on her.
He became a manwhore, sleeping with her lookalikes.
She had boyfriends but had bad sex with all of them.🙄
Avoiding.
April 18, 2022
The heroine!!! The hero literally kicks her out of his life, comes back and forces her into his life 12 years later, takes complete control over her life, doesn't take no for an answer, switches out her birth control pills, chips her like an animal, has a shitty reason for leaving her in the past but can't explain his dicking around since then..only for the heroine to greet him with her legs wide open every chapter. Yay! My favourite kind of spineless heroine right here. 😒
Again, don't buy books that are free on Kindle.
Again, don't buy books that are free on Kindle.
February 28, 2020
For someone who broke your heart, practically emberassed the hell out of you, ruined your life, left you feeling empty for 12 years you forgave extremely quickly. Calling yourself a killer after a self-defense stunt is also pretty far fetched.
I wasn't feeling any of it.
I wasn't feeling any of it.
November 23, 2021
I’m slightly conflicted with this one I definitely liked some parts of it more than others but there things here that slightly irritated me as well mostly Ivory herself.
The girl was so bloody indecisive and had practically no backbone either at least Matteo was consistent in his obsessive bulldozer stalker psycho persona.
He knew what he wanted and wasn’t shy about expressing it. He didn’t like to compromise had never needed to before his Angel.
But Ivory well she ran hot and cold throughout she didn’t seem to know what she wanted or even realise the danger she was in and it annoyed me that she placed others in harm's way as well choosing to bury her head in the sand about just what Matteo was capable of if he considered it a threat to there bond. Surely no one could be that naive.
I wouldn’t have minded her making a stand but she never stuck to her guns always caving so what was the actual point.
This was a Mafia romance Matteo and Ivory were a thing in school until he publicly and brutally broke her heart.
At the time he thought he was protecting her letting her go was the hardest thing he’s ever done but now when their paths cross again Matteo is prepared to do whatever it takes to reclaim his girl.
Matteo’s obsessive and controlling and refuses to take no for an answer forcing himself into every aspect of ivory’s life.
His possession also causes outside danger for Ivory pulling her further into his dangerous world.
I didn’t find this one especially dark despite the mafia element there’s obviously questionable stuff but the romance was more of an all-consuming passion with a stalkerish element.
Overall this was an ok read and despite Matteo being a bit of a control freak I actually liked him a lot more than Ivory.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
February 10, 2022
Ivory se enamoró de Matteo en el instituto. Todo iba muy bien hasta que él le rompió el corazón y la humilló en público. Ahora, 12 años después todavía no lo ha perdonado pero tampoco lo ha dejado de amar. Sus relaciones nunca funcionan porque siempre busca a Matteo en los demás... Hasta que lo encuentra. Un robo en un banco en el que se ve atrapada saca a relucir su nombre empujando a Ivory a investigar lo que la llevará de vuelta a sus brazos, quiera ella o no.
La verdad es que empecé este libro muy emocionada porque la sinopsis atrae mucho y tenía ganas de algo de mafia. Peroooooo y vamos con mis peros.
Matteo me da repelús. Tengo una relación amor/odio con él. Quiere gustarme en ciertos aspectos pero lo odio en sus otras facetas. Ya he leído muchas veces libros en los que el hombre dice tu eres mía y todo eso pero bueno al menos el tipo se esfuerza por conquistarla y hacer que lo ame. Este? Para nada. Simplemente coge lo que quiere y si te parece bien, genial. Si no, pues también.
En cuanto a Ivory, bueno la verdad es que empezó gustandome que por una vez la protagonista fuese capaz de mantener la compostura ante un viejo amor. Que no fuese de estas típicas que en cuanto ven a su amor se le caen las bragas al suelo. Pero tonta de mí... Esto duró muy poco. Sí, ella se cabreaba y montaba en cólera pero literalmente desvariaba ella sola y acababa perdonandole todo. Al final incluso él hizo algo que lo mismo me recuerda a lo que hizo Jesse en la saga Mi hombre y que odié y considero una falta de respeto y algo muy fuerte decidir sobre lo que una persona o no puede hacer con su cuerpo. Así que ella se enfada, con toda la razón, y le sucede algo muy fuerte y a cuenta de eso le perdona lo otro. MIRA NENA UNA COSA NO TIENE QUE VER CON LA OTRA. Maravilloso que te haya salvado pero no quita que hizo lo que hizo y lo hizo a tus espaldas manipulandote como si fueras un objeto a conseguir. Mira de verdad me desesperaba con ellos dos porque son de lo peor.
Aún así, y con todo, los momentos en los que no los odiaba (que fueron pocos, pero fueron algunos) la historia engancha, y está muy bien. Además que siempre quedas con la curiosidad de quién se va a liar con quién y todo eso.
En fin, que realmente me esperaba muchísimo más de esta historia. No puedo decir que no la recomiendo pero tampoco os la recomiendo 🤣 os lo dejo a vuestra elección.
La verdad es que empecé este libro muy emocionada porque la sinopsis atrae mucho y tenía ganas de algo de mafia. Peroooooo y vamos con mis peros.
Matteo me da repelús. Tengo una relación amor/odio con él. Quiere gustarme en ciertos aspectos pero lo odio en sus otras facetas. Ya he leído muchas veces libros en los que el hombre dice tu eres mía y todo eso pero bueno al menos el tipo se esfuerza por conquistarla y hacer que lo ame. Este? Para nada. Simplemente coge lo que quiere y si te parece bien, genial. Si no, pues también.
En cuanto a Ivory, bueno la verdad es que empezó gustandome que por una vez la protagonista fuese capaz de mantener la compostura ante un viejo amor. Que no fuese de estas típicas que en cuanto ven a su amor se le caen las bragas al suelo. Pero tonta de mí... Esto duró muy poco. Sí, ella se cabreaba y montaba en cólera pero literalmente desvariaba ella sola y acababa perdonandole todo. Al final incluso él hizo algo que lo mismo me recuerda a lo que hizo Jesse en la saga Mi hombre y que odié y considero una falta de respeto y algo muy fuerte decidir sobre lo que una persona o no puede hacer con su cuerpo. Así que ella se enfada, con toda la razón, y le sucede algo muy fuerte y a cuenta de eso le perdona lo otro. MIRA NENA UNA COSA NO TIENE QUE VER CON LA OTRA. Maravilloso que te haya salvado pero no quita que hizo lo que hizo y lo hizo a tus espaldas manipulandote como si fueras un objeto a conseguir. Mira de verdad me desesperaba con ellos dos porque son de lo peor.
Aún así, y con todo, los momentos en los que no los odiaba (que fueron pocos, pero fueron algunos) la historia engancha, y está muy bien. Además que siempre quedas con la curiosidad de quién se va a liar con quién y todo eso.
En fin, que realmente me esperaba muchísimo más de esta historia. No puedo decir que no la recomiendo pero tampoco os la recomiendo 🤣 os lo dejo a vuestra elección.
February 13, 2020
I love jealous and possessive heroes. They are my kryptonite and so needless to say I am happy that Matteo is one and that he let it show.
The story kept my interest. At no time was I bored.
I found myself getting mad at Matteo for being a jerk and at Ivory for at times acting like a doormat. I wanted Ivory to be more of a challenge but she wasn't. She folded fairly easily and let Matteo control her. Also I disliked it that Ivory was the one to end the separation as opposed to Matteo. She approached Matteo as opposed to the other way around. He caused the separation so the least he could do was end it.
It was unnecessary for OW give bj Matteo at the beginning of the book and added nothing to the story. Also I disliked that Matteo was a manwhore during the separation but least Ivory moved on as well. It would have really irritated me if Ivory was a sexual deep freeze but the readers are told that is not the case. I cannot stand that sexist double standard that is too prevalent in romance books. The heroes are man hoeing it up while the heroines are in sexual deep freeze because heaven forbid that a heroine have a sex life post hero. Only the hero is the one to move on. I was very glad to read that was not the case here.
I reviewed this book at the request of the author. I am sure that it is apparent that I am not a professional reviewer. Merely a reader who reads too many romance books and is always honest in her reviews.
The story kept my interest. At no time was I bored.
I found myself getting mad at Matteo for being a jerk and at Ivory for at times acting like a doormat. I wanted Ivory to be more of a challenge but she wasn't. She folded fairly easily and let Matteo control her. Also I disliked it that Ivory was the one to end the separation as opposed to Matteo. She approached Matteo as opposed to the other way around. He caused the separation so the least he could do was end it.
It was unnecessary for OW give bj Matteo at the beginning of the book and added nothing to the story. Also I disliked that Matteo was a manwhore during the separation but least Ivory moved on as well. It would have really irritated me if Ivory was a sexual deep freeze but the readers are told that is not the case. I cannot stand that sexist double standard that is too prevalent in romance books. The heroes are man hoeing it up while the heroines are in sexual deep freeze because heaven forbid that a heroine have a sex life post hero. Only the hero is the one to move on. I was very glad to read that was not the case here.
I reviewed this book at the request of the author. I am sure that it is apparent that I am not a professional reviewer. Merely a reader who reads too many romance books and is always honest in her reviews.
unsafe-not-to-be-read
April 23, 2024self note: this is a second chance romance where the H breaks up with the h in HS with a lame ass excuse and a public humiliation (why get with her if you knew your life was dangerous and that you're in the mafia?). that would've been fine and dandy and somewhat bearable. except for the fact that he's a manwhore during the time that they're apart and fucks OW + there's a scene in the book where he gets a BJ from the OW before reuniting with the h. i'm no published author but i have written a second chance mafia romance on wp where the H stays celibate but the h moves on because the hero was the one who hurt her - that's the typa shit i wanna read. not this sheesh. imma stay away from it fosho.
October 5, 2021
Hum,
Nor bad nor good.
I believe it’s a case of “it’s not you it’s me”. The story is okay but very predictable and kinda boring. I thought it’ll be a series following the same couple and it’s not the case, (the following books are about side characters) therefore it’s very hard to connect with the characters and their love story. I would’ve like to have some glimpse of them together when they were younger, it would’ve made this second chance romance much more powerful and believable. The writing is okay, and I did enjoy Matteo Alphaholness but Ivory is plain boring and extremely dumb tbh.
1.5 stars ⭐️⭐️
1 of 28 on my road of out-of-my-comfort-zone books for the month of October!
Nor bad nor good.
I believe it’s a case of “it’s not you it’s me”. The story is okay but very predictable and kinda boring. I thought it’ll be a series following the same couple and it’s not the case, (the following books are about side characters) therefore it’s very hard to connect with the characters and their love story. I would’ve like to have some glimpse of them together when they were younger, it would’ve made this second chance romance much more powerful and believable. The writing is okay, and I did enjoy Matteo Alphaholness but Ivory is plain boring and extremely dumb tbh.
1.5 stars ⭐️⭐️
1 of 28 on my road of out-of-my-comfort-zone books for the month of October!
November 12, 2021
I’m all here for toxic morally grey mcs but this dude???? The worst omg he had no redeeming qualities and the plot was so bad I ended up skimming like 65% of the book.
December 14, 2024
Matteo,Matteo,Matteo, he as the attributes I normally like in possessive males, but he is annoying.
The fmc only stood up for herself in her mind. In reality, Matteo called all the shots.
I really enjoyed reading obsessive possessive alpha hole but give the girl some choices, DAMN....
He demanded he get married and pick the date. He moved her out from the previous home, and she didn't even realize. There are so many more other things that he did without ever communicating or just tried asking her even though she was also infuriating, too.
Probably it is the writing because I enjoyed books with similar MMC's.
The fmc only stood up for herself in her mind. In reality, Matteo called all the shots.
I really enjoyed reading obsessive possessive alpha hole but give the girl some choices, DAMN....
He demanded he get married and pick the date. He moved her out from the previous home, and she didn't even realize. There are so many more other things that he did without ever communicating or just tried asking her even though she was also infuriating, too.
Probably it is the writing because I enjoyed books with similar MMC's.
November 13, 2021
Ott j/p and controlling! Loved Matteo!
Matteo was extremely controlling and protective of Ivory and I loved it . These type of alpha males are not for everyone but the more jealous and possessive the better to me . This is a second chance love story . Matteo dumped Ivory in high school and over a decade later they meet again . I’m excited to read the other books in this series as they become available!
Matteo was extremely controlling and protective of Ivory and I loved it . These type of alpha males are not for everyone but the more jealous and possessive the better to me . This is a second chance love story . Matteo dumped Ivory in high school and over a decade later they meet again . I’m excited to read the other books in this series as they become available!
May 27, 2021
Not for me.. like,
at all.
So many things I thought I would be alright with but ended up turning me all the way off..
So many questionable actions, poor decisions and overall dumb reactions, why have I ended up finishing this?
I. HAVE. NO. IDEA. 😶
at all.
So many things I thought I would be alright with but ended up turning me all the way off..
So many questionable actions, poor decisions and overall dumb reactions, why have I ended up finishing this?
I. HAVE. NO. IDEA. 😶
February 7, 2021
"Bloodied Hands" is the story of Ivory and Matteo.
I got this book because a one star review was posted in a group and intrigued me. It was my first from this author and I enjoyed it in parts.
So being a dark romance, I expected it to have many unethical elements. I didnt have any issues with those.
The plot has a manwhore hero, who abandons heroine after taking her virginity for her "own good". He is a mob boss who then screws anything in sight, she moves on with OM (but not really).
Years later, during a bank robbery she realizes she is under the hero's protection. Goes to confront him only to realize he has been keeping tabs on her, and he decides to finally claim her.
Be it keeping her against her will, microchipping and breeding her, having insane bursts of jealousy or sexing her 69 ways, the hero does it all. He is also obsessed with the heroine.
It however didn't have that insanity and kink I crave. I want it to be more!
Unsafe
3/5
I got this book because a one star review was posted in a group and intrigued me. It was my first from this author and I enjoyed it in parts.
So being a dark romance, I expected it to have many unethical elements. I didnt have any issues with those.
The plot has a manwhore hero, who abandons heroine after taking her virginity for her "own good". He is a mob boss who then screws anything in sight, she moves on with OM (but not really).
Years later, during a bank robbery she realizes she is under the hero's protection. Goes to confront him only to realize he has been keeping tabs on her, and he decides to finally claim her.
Be it keeping her against her will, microchipping and breeding her, having insane bursts of jealousy or sexing her 69 ways, the hero does it all. He is also obsessed with the heroine.
It however didn't have that insanity and kink I crave. I want it to be more!
Unsafe
3/5
August 6, 2022
Este libro es enfermo. ENFERMO. EN FER MO.
Yo no les puedo explicar lo retorcido que es esto. Lo enfermo y repulsivo que es.
Ivory es una mediocre y Matteo es un ser totalmente repugnante.
Las cosas que hizo este tipo con Ivory es todo lo detestable que hay en el mundo.
La IMPOTENCIA que me generaba leer este libro, dios mío. Me dolía los nervios y lo ansiosa que me ponía el solo pensar que más iba Matteo hacerle a ella. Me daba miedo, de verdad, miedo. Me daba mucha impotencia, mucho terror tan siquiera pensar en ponerme o estar en su situación.
Podría seguir y seguir pero lo juro, ya no aguanto más la sensación de ASCO que me dejó leer esta mierda de basura. No puedo más. Dejaré de escribir esto y haré como que jamás en mi maldita vida leí está mierda. No puedo más con lo enfermo que fue todo.😭😭😭😭
Yo no les puedo explicar lo retorcido que es esto. Lo enfermo y repulsivo que es.
Ivory es una mediocre y Matteo es un ser totalmente repugnante.
Las cosas que hizo este tipo con Ivory es todo lo detestable que hay en el mundo.
La IMPOTENCIA que me generaba leer este libro, dios mío. Me dolía los nervios y lo ansiosa que me ponía el solo pensar que más iba Matteo hacerle a ella. Me daba miedo, de verdad, miedo. Me daba mucha impotencia, mucho terror tan siquiera pensar en ponerme o estar en su situación.
Podría seguir y seguir pero lo juro, ya no aguanto más la sensación de ASCO que me dejó leer esta mierda de basura. No puedo más. Dejaré de escribir esto y haré como que jamás en mi maldita vida leí está mierda. No puedo más con lo enfermo que fue todo.😭😭😭😭
May 1, 2020
Ugh. Besides the abundance of grammatical errors, the author really liked to abuse the punctuation too. Let's jump right to it, eh? The h was a doormat and the H was the biggest piece of shit ever. He had no redeeming qualities. He intentionally stomped on her heart 12 years earlier (apparently to protect her but that was never fully explained, nor properly apologized for) and then was this awful controlling abuser the entirety of the book. The worst part? Everyone acted like it was totally normal and acceptable behavior. He took all her choices away from her and other people were all *swoon! He's so romantic!!*. She continuously said no and whether it was the hired help, her friends, or her own freaking family, no one listened to her. She was not treated as a human being, she's chattel. She reached out to her uncle for help because H basically kidnapped her and moved her into his house and what does the uncle do? Just goes along with it and says, "He loves you and just wants what's best for you!". She would fight him at every turn (which you damn well should when someone tries to take your freedom away) but then would cave in and sleep with him two paragraphs later. What. The. Fuck. This story was so fucked and I could rant about it for days but I won't waste more of my time. I'm all for a good smutty romance for a bit of escapism but this was too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2020
This girl gave me whiplash. She hated him for controlling her and was then having sex with him the next minute. She was in a relationship with him but then tried dating some poor guy - clearly selfishly putting the dude at risk of being murdered. She was the most annoying h I have read in a long long time. Character development wasn’t consistent. We ticked every mafia box with this book. What makes this well told trope readable should be the characters and these felt quite one dimensional.
Having said that, I understand this is the author’s debut and I think she’s got potential. Would probably read another of her books in about 3 years.
Having said that, I understand this is the author’s debut and I think she’s got potential. Would probably read another of her books in about 3 years.
September 18, 2021
Alphahole perfection!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: second chance
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: none
If super over the top alphaholes are your jam, then this is the book for you! Matteo is just perfect as he employs every underhanded trick to reclaim the woman he loves ❤.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: second chance
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: none
If super over the top alphaholes are your jam, then this is the book for you! Matteo is just perfect as he employs every underhanded trick to reclaim the woman he loves ❤.
Read
June 4, 2021horrible.
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