Leverage

Zaragoza Cartel #1

by Lilian Black

I was his pawn. Ripped into the war his family has been waging for years.
She was my leverage. A pretty, little thing I didn’t mind using to further the family business.

Darya
I was kidnapped by a ruthless monster— a murderer devoid of human emotion.
When the Zaragoza Cartel set its sights on my father, I was the only crack in his perfectly crafted life and quickly became Yuri’s pawn.
He wanted to use me in his ambitious plan,
But I was done bending and begging.
By the time I realized my stubbornness drove him wild,
I couldn’t leave him— even if I wanted to.

Yuri
She called me a monster. Oh, how proud I was that she recognized me.
She was nothing more than a means to an end,
Until her defiance became a little too tantalizing, too tempting.
Despite every attempt to stay away, I just couldn’t control myself.
By the time I realized I couldn’t keep her,
She was already mine— body and soul.

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

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[Breanna Stanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book made me so mad. I was so close to DNFing. I had so much hope for the FMC. She started off really strong and resilient and honestly, I really liked how she tried to starve herself in order to spite his plans. I live for that energy. But she crumpled, she crumpled hard and fast. I read a lot of books that are dark and a lot that involve one of the main characters being kidnapped by the other, so a tricky dynamic to navigate from the get go, but this was on another level. I was with them. I was with the couple for the most part even despite how back and forth the MMC was. I was irritated with how he would be an asshole and she would swoon and forgive him because he’s sexy. Not my vibe. But I completely fell off the bandwagon when he fucking assaults her. He got scared and tried to push her away because couldn’t deal with his big feelings and assaulted her. He manipulated her and emotionally and sexually abused her. In the scene I’m talking about, the consent was dubious at best. Major trigger warning. And after he finished, he immediately apologized and said he’d fix it while she’s actively sobbing. She has been so isolated and I loved her entire life that she was so susceptible to the Stockholm syndrome. He would completely mistreat her and turn around and provide her comfort and it was just so sad. He knew and acknowledged that he was manipulating her this way. She was so vulnerable to this that seconds after the assault, she was reaching for his comfort and for him to put her back together. She convinced herself constantly throughout the book that he had reasons for doing what he was doing and she actively let him verbally and emotionally abuse her because he “was suffering”. It was infuriating to read. I absolutely do not forgive him at all, no matter what he did at the end with his family and hers.

This book was so fucking infuriating and disappointing because the actual plot, how little of it there was, could’ve been great. The FMC could’ve been so much more. Absolutely do not recommend.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leverage is the first installment in the Zaragoza Cartel series. This five star dark cartel romance is brimming with action, danger, turmoil, and slow-burn delicious tension that will captivate readers. Be prepared to fall in love with the villain of this story!

Darya Munro is a young, beautiful, and strong-willed college student. She has endured emotional abandonment throughout her life by the people that were most important to her. Darya has crafted a barrier surrounding her heart for protection and she is a stubborn, take-charge, and fierce heroine. The author did a fabulous job connecting the reader to Darya and her perseverance was refreshing.

Yuri Zaragoza is a savage capo that leads his family’s criminal empire violently and mercilessly. His duty to his family will always come first. When politicians hinder the smuggling of drugs across the border with new policies, Yuri doesn’t hesitate to order the kidnapping of the McAllen mayor’s daughter to use as leverage. He needs Jameson Clark to do his bidding so he can ensure his legacy is one to remember. Except Yuri didn’t expect to feel a strong connection to his captive which muddles his entire plan.

This book is primarily in Darya’s POV but we do get several chapters of Yuri’s POV. I am so glad the author gave readers insight into Yuri’s complicated emotions, family connections, and history. He was a villain that readers will hate-to-love but love nonetheless. Darya was such a powerful heroine that was much stronger than anyone could have predicted. She was already a broken soul and there wasn’t much else for Yuri and his men to break.

The building tension and chemistry between Darya and Yuri is palpable. They were both conflicted about how they felt toward each other and readers get to go through all of the emotions right along with them. I squealed with delight when both of their barriers broke and they stopped fighting their attraction. The spicy scenes were explosive and oh so yummy! Yuri did hurt Darya in a way that was unforgivable and I wish he groveled a lot more than he did, but his actions proved he was genuinely remorseful. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. By the end of the book, I was madly in love with Yuri and felt like he redeemed himself.

There is a “happy-for-now” ending with a cliffhanger. I am excited to read the second installment and have already pre-ordered the book! The author has constructed such a complex world with lovable characters that I am hopeful we will get many more installments featuring the supporting characters.

Tropes: Dark romance, erotic romance, captivity, enemies-to-lovers, virgin heroine
Heat: 3/5

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 65%

[Charmmy · Rating 1 out of 5]

it started off great but then it just didn’t do it for me. she forgave him way too easily and fast. like lady he took your v card then left you for days, takes you to “punish” you, and says horrible stuff and you just cave in and cry in his arms???? i loved her in the beginning because she starved herself just to ruin his plans and then it’s like her fight disappeared. i mean of course taking in account of the fact she quite literally got kidnapped but still she was a fighter even then. so i don’t really get why she went “soft”.

[Sydney Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Dark romance ✔️
Drug cartel setting ✔️
Kidnapping ✔️
Possessive OTP MMC ✔️
Age gap ✔️
Dual POV ✔️

I always love a good kidnapping dark romance 😍 I found this book from booktok and I’m glad I did!

You have Darya who is the daughter of a politician and the book starts with her being kidnapped for leverage against her father. However, her and her father don’t have a great relationship, so she’s already worried he won’t do what the cartel is asking in order to save her.

Enter in Yuri, the head of the Zaragoza Cartel. He becomes obsessed with Darya the moment he sees her, but tries to ignore those feelings. His feelings for her are dangerous and he knows that, but he eventually decides he doesn’t care 😈

This has spice 🔥 but it also has a storyline! My favorite 😍 this is the first book in the series and the second one comes out on November 29th. When I saw that, I was scared the finish the book because I hate cliffhangers 😭 but luckily there isn’t a cliffhanger that makes you worried about the two main characters. It’s more of a way to continue the story for a new set of main characters for book 2. And from what I’ve read about book 2 is that it can be read as a stand-alone.

This book is also on KU, so you should just read it 😋

[Amber Keehn]

Darya and Yuri 🔥🔥🔥

After Booktok suggesting this book forever I took the plunge and read this beauty in one night. So good! It’s age gap, enemies to lovers, touch her and 🔪 vibes…all the great mafia tropes! Darya was one of my favorite heroines to date…she gave no Fs and Yuri was there for it. Yuri was also a complete cinnamon roll for her only and I loved both of their characters, especially together. Their love story did not follow one straight line but had those fun twists, with plenty of adventure to keep the reader turning that page until the end. I’m pump d to check out the rest of the series!

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could barely get through it. It started out so great. The FMC was so strong and resilient, until she wasn’t (and she went from resilient to not, so fast it gave me whiplash). And I swear the MMC was so back and forth. Not to mention he assaults her, he manipulates her, he verbally abused her, he uses her weaknesses against her in the worst way. She is vulnerable and he takes advantage of her in the worst ways imaginable. I absolutely hated the MMC and I was so disappointed in the FMC (and I just pitied her).

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had little expectations going into this book because of the reviews, but I was surprised. This book was actually pretty good. There was a lot of tension and build up and because the book is less than 250 pages, it kept things moving quickly. It says this book is a stand alone and the next book can be read as a stand alone too, but there was definitely a mild cliff hanger ending, so maybe not market it as a stand alone.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO YUMMY

This is the type of cartel/mafia book I love. It was dark, suspenseful, a strong FMC, and perfect. I read this book in one sitting. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

[Cheryl Frias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a seat by my pants kind of book dark cartel yurie and ms Monroe’s story is very intense. She is out through a test and she surprises them by how defiant and strong she is. She will not break… A great read can’t wait for book 2 Zaragoza cartel

[Isabella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book, will not continue the series but would consider reading other works by the author. I liked the writing style, but the plot was a bit flimsy - very typical mafia romance though, so it's par for the genre really. I liked the background with the father of the female main character.

[Georgia Hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me so mad. The FMC was this strong badass for the first 20% then she just lost her backbone entirely and became so annoying. The MMC was also awful. And not in a im a morally grey bad guy way but in a im a dickhead way

[Lady S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt the story lacking for a cartel one. The FML was too hard headed to be a scared person held by the Mexican cartel.
Not sure I can be bothered to invest in anymore time for books 2 & 3, when I have thousands needing to be read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good dark captive romance. There was so much tension between the main characters and I loved how Darya was constantly pushing back, even though she was going against the cartel.

[kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

had potential to be great but it was absolutely terrible

[Kelsi Blichar · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ pg. 47 18%

[Alana kicklighter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really 3.5/5 stars but I rounded up

[ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, it would be 4 but that scene in the torture room with yuri and darya was literally unforgivable.

[Meagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Kortni · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

So this is my first book by Black and I really enjoyed it! Friend recommended it and I’m so glad I gave it a try! I can’t wait for the next one!

[Alejandra Valle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.8⭐️

[Pilar Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy interesante

[Megs · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good but idk if I'll continue the series

[Celfregoso · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF- not because it isnt good, but because it’s not for me

[Hennie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

This is just pure BS.

[ck8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3*

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A great Cartel dark romance. A little more world building and details, and this would have been even better!! Some of it just felt too rushed for me, and much too predictable.

[Samantha Stone · Rating 1 out of 5]

no

[Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Series For Dark Romance Lovers!!!

I have literally been scrolling through Kindle for another dark romance for weeks when this popped up the other day and I am so glad!! Leverage is great for a dark romance, and I love my romances, DARK. While this story definitely wasn't the darkest, it was still very delicious. I loved the characters and can't wait to read more about them in the coming books. On the darkness scale, I give it a good 2 out of 5.

There are no trigger warnings listed, and I personally didn't feel the book really needed them. But it isn't at all a light-hearted romance. From the beginning, I found Aria relatable and pretty normal. She wasn't a "not like other girls" type that could be annoying, but she was still pretty badass. Yari was very much the dark romance type you want when reading a book like this. Dark, mysterious, broody, and super sexy. Darya got to experience both his kindness and cruelty in delicious ways.

I'm giving this book 5 stars because I can't give a half star, but I was really confused about where the story was taking place. I assume mostly Mexico, but the descriptions of places were a bit strange. Like the white brick of the Zaragoza's house and the wood paneling of the safe house and the description of furniture and other things are not typical styles to Mexico. Maybe that's because I live here and I'm just being silly. I'm going with five solid stars because I would read the book again and hope to see a lot more from this author in the future.