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Unholy Trinity #5
Arianna: "In Love & War Duet"
To the outside world, I look like royalty—a stunning and spoiled mafia princess with a cold heart and a mind of steel.
The Consigliere’s firstborn.
The blood that runs through my veins is not blue but the color of coal and the crown that sits on top of my head is made of painful thorns. For years, I was stripped of my voice and free will until I learned the hardest lesson of all.
No one will save me.
No one at all.
In this tragic tale of heartbreaking betrayals and regrets, no dashing prince will come to save me from torment.
Fairytales are not real.
But he is.
A man with a dead heart and a soul as black as my own, or so I thought.
Sebastian Ambrose Kenton.
The future president of the United States of America is the man responsible for stripping me of all I’ve ever known and shattering the only dream I reached for.
Freedom.
He started this war inside of me the moment he accepted my father’s offer.
I no longer hold the title of Principessa.
But mafia princess or not, I am no one’s prey.
Arianna Luna Parisi is my name.
A name his world will never forget.
The Consigliere’s firstborn.
The blood that runs through my veins is not blue but the color of coal and the crown that sits on top of my head is made of painful thorns. For years, I was stripped of my voice and free will until I learned the hardest lesson of all.
No one will save me.
No one at all.
In this tragic tale of heartbreaking betrayals and regrets, no dashing prince will come to save me from torment.
Fairytales are not real.
But he is.
A man with a dead heart and a soul as black as my own, or so I thought.
Sebastian Ambrose Kenton.
The future president of the United States of America is the man responsible for stripping me of all I’ve ever known and shattering the only dream I reached for.
Freedom.
He started this war inside of me the moment he accepted my father’s offer.
I no longer hold the title of Principessa.
But mafia princess or not, I am no one’s prey.
Arianna Luna Parisi is my name.
A name his world will never forget.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2023
42 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
Adriana Brinne
33 books359 followersAdriana Brinne, is a new author who fell in love with reading from a very young age but never felt brave enough to share her words with the world. Born and raised on the enchanting island of Puerto Rico, Adriana’s tropical upbringing imbued her with a deep appreciation for beauty and storytelling. By day, she navigates the world of computer science as a full-time tech, but when she’s off the clock, she indulges in her favorite contemporary romances written by her favorite authors and binge-watches The Big Bang Theory.
Adriana’s writing is characterized by her love for sweet and spicy romance, soft yet strong female protagonists, and grumpy heroes who secretly adore them. While she delights in exploring a variety of romantic tropes, she steers clear of themes involving cheating or death, preferring to craft stories that evoke all the feels without those heavy dark elements.
You can connect with Adriana on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adrianabrinne or join her reader group, Adriana’s Unholy Ground, at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11054...
Adriana’s writing is characterized by her love for sweet and spicy romance, soft yet strong female protagonists, and grumpy heroes who secretly adore them. While she delights in exploring a variety of romantic tropes, she steers clear of themes involving cheating or death, preferring to craft stories that evoke all the feels without those heavy dark elements.
You can connect with Adriana on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adrianabrinne or join her reader group, Adriana’s Unholy Ground, at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11054...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 29, 2023
it’s so boring. also, why this looks like a fanfic written by a teenager??
March 23, 2023
“I never understood why my mother insisted that we look at the full moon every December. I didn't find anything special. But now… now, I know why. Because there is no more beautiful phenomenon than the full moon. Light up the darkest night with its rare beauty. Just like you did with me.
.
🤍Arianna🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
.
Here we go Arianna is the fifth book in the Unholy Trinity series and the first part of the In Love & War duo I since it first appeared in Andrea has become my favorite so believe me when I say I've been expecting more from anyone for this book. And it was more than I had imagined.
.
In this book we continue with Arianna, we get a glimpse of her as a bad girl and from there to little bits that tell us that all was not as it seemed and finally it was time to learn her side of the story, proving that she is not. only the cold queen who has been projecting that it has been her armor so as not to sink into the life that has touched her and that made me love her so much, want to protect her and above all feel proud when she achieves her dreams, she is a woman who, despite projecting security and confidence inside, she was vulnerable, afraid to love so as not to end up hurt, but once she did, she loved with all her heart, especially the girl who had her heart with a look 🤍.
.
On the other hand, we have my man Sebastian Keaton, a dark politician who, like Arianna, could be considered a villain, but since he has shown that not everything is black and white, Sebastian has layers that could have a cold exterior to everyone. Except for the little world of him, he might be the sweetest, most detailed man you'll ever read.
.
And just as important we have 2 characters who conquer your heart with their appearances, one of them is little Ellaiza, she not only had Arianna and Bastian on her knees, but also me because of how sweet she was and the bond she had with Arianna . . they made me sigh at all times, on the other hand we have benjamin, he was not only arianna's bodyguard but he became the best friend that she did not expect but it was what she needed
.
I can't wait for all of you to read this book! It is very easy to fall in love with Arianna and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do. You can read it as a duet or side by side. I really recommend reading the first books in the series because they are worth it.
.
Thank you very much for the opportunity and I can't wait to read what you have in store for the second part.
.
.
🤍Arianna🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
.
Here we go Arianna is the fifth book in the Unholy Trinity series and the first part of the In Love & War duo I since it first appeared in Andrea has become my favorite so believe me when I say I've been expecting more from anyone for this book. And it was more than I had imagined.
.
In this book we continue with Arianna, we get a glimpse of her as a bad girl and from there to little bits that tell us that all was not as it seemed and finally it was time to learn her side of the story, proving that she is not. only the cold queen who has been projecting that it has been her armor so as not to sink into the life that has touched her and that made me love her so much, want to protect her and above all feel proud when she achieves her dreams, she is a woman who, despite projecting security and confidence inside, she was vulnerable, afraid to love so as not to end up hurt, but once she did, she loved with all her heart, especially the girl who had her heart with a look 🤍.
.
On the other hand, we have my man Sebastian Keaton, a dark politician who, like Arianna, could be considered a villain, but since he has shown that not everything is black and white, Sebastian has layers that could have a cold exterior to everyone. Except for the little world of him, he might be the sweetest, most detailed man you'll ever read.
.
And just as important we have 2 characters who conquer your heart with their appearances, one of them is little Ellaiza, she not only had Arianna and Bastian on her knees, but also me because of how sweet she was and the bond she had with Arianna . . they made me sigh at all times, on the other hand we have benjamin, he was not only arianna's bodyguard but he became the best friend that she did not expect but it was what she needed
.
I can't wait for all of you to read this book! It is very easy to fall in love with Arianna and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do. You can read it as a duet or side by side. I really recommend reading the first books in the series because they are worth it.
.
Thank you very much for the opportunity and I can't wait to read what you have in store for the second part.
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2023
This book made me a single parent trope truther.
Arianna was a FANTASTIC female character. I loved that we got to see her experience regret and embarrassment for her actions in previous books without sacrificing her character. I loved that we got to see how loving and how caring she is. Her relationship with Ella was OUTSTANDING. Loved every second of it.
Bastian oh Bastian. What a hero you are. Hot, powerful and respectful is the holy trio and Bastian has every one of those in spades. I loved watching his feelings for Arianna grow and the way he was helpless to fight them.
Arianna and Bastian are the definition of a power couple and I cannot wait for their reunion in the second book because that ending left me a bit unhinged.
Arianna was a FANTASTIC female character. I loved that we got to see her experience regret and embarrassment for her actions in previous books without sacrificing her character. I loved that we got to see how loving and how caring she is. Her relationship with Ella was OUTSTANDING. Loved every second of it.
Bastian oh Bastian. What a hero you are. Hot, powerful and respectful is the holy trio and Bastian has every one of those in spades. I loved watching his feelings for Arianna grow and the way he was helpless to fight them.
Arianna and Bastian are the definition of a power couple and I cannot wait for their reunion in the second book because that ending left me a bit unhinged.
January 24, 2023
This was fantastic. Mafia, enemies to lovers, single dad, amazing. The writing was different from what I'm used to. The pace was slow but felt fast because of the flow. The emotions were brutal. Sebastian is an absolute a-hole but the glimpses to his soft side especially his POV made me fall in love. Arianna is so strong and beautiful and deserves to be loved. Ellaiza is an absolute sweetheart and I adore her. I was not expecting that cliffhanger and will be tortured until the next one comes out. I actually thought it was complete lol.
January 6, 2024
Arianna is one of my favourites characters of all time, she´s so strong and beautiful.
She was also loving, caring and a lot of things, but one of my favourite things about her is the way that she was with Ellaiza.
Bastian was powerful hero and he is everything.
This is one of my favourites books of her.
She was also loving, caring and a lot of things, but one of my favourite things about her is the way that she was with Ellaiza.
Bastian was powerful hero and he is everything.
This is one of my favourites books of her.
December 20, 2023
This book was Alpha read for an Honest Review.
My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance: 🤍🤍🤍🤍
Steam: 🌶🌶🌶
“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
Tropes:
💍 STANDALONE Enemies to Lovers Romance
🐻 Single Dad
❄️ Rich af politician/Ex-mafia princess
🐺 Possessive & swoon worthy hero
🌚 Grumpy-Grumpy
————————————————————————
It was a beautiful, emotional angsty, romantic roller coaster between two characters navigating experiences that they’ve never experienced before. First time romance, emotions, bonds, and so much more.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.” ❄️
When I met Arianna in Andrea, I knew their was more to her than shown. Getting to know her full story and watching her character development really made me love her even more than I did before. She’s not just this mean, cold, stand-off ice princes that she was introduced as. There’s more to her. She has layers. She can be vulnerable. She can be nice. She can love.
Growing up the way she did. Her father not accepting her being born a female, her mother not really there, and the abuse. She became closed off due to all of that. She wanted to protect herself from being hurt all over again. She had to leave her sisters behind due to all the pain. When you read this book you’ll see her just as Bastian sees her. Arianna is not just black nor white, she’s not just the sun nor the moon. Their something of both in her. She’s all and above. A villain with a heart.
“ 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴.” 🐺
Sebastian (Bastian) Kenton. Our cold, dark, politician. Bastian is a villain, but just like Arianna he’s a villain in his own right and has reasons being that way. Bastian is not the type to show emotion or romantic feelings towards someone, but for Arianna he does. She’s his perfect match. Their each other’s person who bring out different sides to each other and I love that so much about their relationship.
“𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘢. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘺𝘦𝘴 ? ”
Sweet, adorable, and Arianna and Bastian’s little star Ellaiza. This little girl captured my heart just as much as these two did. Bastian fell in love with his baby girl from the moment he first saw her. He can’t be a villain when he’s around her, and getting to read his moments with her was the cutest thing ever. Bastian just in his suit feeding baby Ellaiza. My heart melted.
Ellaizas is definitely a daddy’s girl don’t get me wrong, but she’s also Arianna’s mini me. Getting to read her and Arianna’s bond was so cute and beautiful. Bastian is not the only one who brings out a certain side to Arianna. Ellaiza does too.
The direction taken for this book was just perfect. You see astrology, politics, and so much more. After the darkness that Arianna went through, her story deserved this soft and light aspect.
Thank you so much Adriana for allowing me to read part one of Arianna and Bastians story. With the ending you get in part one, I can’t wait to read part two and see the grown up versions of Bastian and Arianna.
This book is a interconnected-standalone and can be read as a duet, but I highly recommend reading the first 4 books in this series and the novella to get to know more about other characters. Trust me that their all just as beautiful and amazing.
0.5. The Holy Trinity Diaries
1. Andrea “The Beginning “
2. Lucan “The End”
2.5. Unholy Night “The Novella”
3. Fallon “The Madman”
4.Cara “The King”
My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance: 🤍🤍🤍🤍
Steam: 🌶🌶🌶
“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
Tropes:
💍 STANDALONE Enemies to Lovers Romance
🐻 Single Dad
❄️ Rich af politician/Ex-mafia princess
🐺 Possessive & swoon worthy hero
🌚 Grumpy-Grumpy
————————————————————————
It was a beautiful, emotional angsty, romantic roller coaster between two characters navigating experiences that they’ve never experienced before. First time romance, emotions, bonds, and so much more.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.” ❄️
When I met Arianna in Andrea, I knew their was more to her than shown. Getting to know her full story and watching her character development really made me love her even more than I did before. She’s not just this mean, cold, stand-off ice princes that she was introduced as. There’s more to her. She has layers. She can be vulnerable. She can be nice. She can love.
Growing up the way she did. Her father not accepting her being born a female, her mother not really there, and the abuse. She became closed off due to all of that. She wanted to protect herself from being hurt all over again. She had to leave her sisters behind due to all the pain. When you read this book you’ll see her just as Bastian sees her. Arianna is not just black nor white, she’s not just the sun nor the moon. Their something of both in her. She’s all and above. A villain with a heart.
“ 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴.” 🐺
Sebastian (Bastian) Kenton. Our cold, dark, politician. Bastian is a villain, but just like Arianna he’s a villain in his own right and has reasons being that way. Bastian is not the type to show emotion or romantic feelings towards someone, but for Arianna he does. She’s his perfect match. Their each other’s person who bring out different sides to each other and I love that so much about their relationship.
“𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘢. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘺𝘦𝘴 ? ”
Sweet, adorable, and Arianna and Bastian’s little star Ellaiza. This little girl captured my heart just as much as these two did. Bastian fell in love with his baby girl from the moment he first saw her. He can’t be a villain when he’s around her, and getting to read his moments with her was the cutest thing ever. Bastian just in his suit feeding baby Ellaiza. My heart melted.
Ellaizas is definitely a daddy’s girl don’t get me wrong, but she’s also Arianna’s mini me. Getting to read her and Arianna’s bond was so cute and beautiful. Bastian is not the only one who brings out a certain side to Arianna. Ellaiza does too.
The direction taken for this book was just perfect. You see astrology, politics, and so much more. After the darkness that Arianna went through, her story deserved this soft and light aspect.
Thank you so much Adriana for allowing me to read part one of Arianna and Bastians story. With the ending you get in part one, I can’t wait to read part two and see the grown up versions of Bastian and Arianna.
This book is a interconnected-standalone and can be read as a duet, but I highly recommend reading the first 4 books in this series and the novella to get to know more about other characters. Trust me that their all just as beautiful and amazing.
0.5. The Holy Trinity Diaries
1. Andrea “The Beginning “
2. Lucan “The End”
2.5. Unholy Night “The Novella”
3. Fallon “The Madman”
4.Cara “The King”
February 28, 2023
I loved this book with all my heart. Arianna is amazing, I love this woman so much, she is so strong, intelligent and beautiful. Arianna and Sebastian were the best, I really loved all of their scenes and they had so much chemistry, it was amazing!
January 18, 2023
When I tell you, I've been WAITING for this book and I can't believe it's finally here😭
Arianna is my favorite since the first book and I was so excited to finally look inside her head and see her own journey. Of course I know she's not everyone's favorite because of some stuff that happened in the previous books but I couldn't help but fall in love with her. Her character development is insane and it shows especially when she's around certain people🤭
Her relationship with Ella was the cutest and one of the purest bond's in this entire series. Their moments (and ofc Ella's moments with Bastian) were (for me) one of the highlights of the book. They both bonded instantly and it was precious to see how this little girl could melt Arianna's (and everyone else's) heart🥹
Bastian is THE MAN. I can't even explain what kind of man he is, he's just Senator Bastian Kenton🥵 and he has my heart. He really is my favorite out of all of Adriana's male characters.
Arianna and Bastian fit together so well even tho it took them a while to realize that.
Their whole relationship didn't feel forced especially because they don't get together immediately and it takes them some time to truly get to know each other.
Bastian's move at the very end wasn't necessary at all but like every good book we need DRAMA and of course a good cliffhanger. And we definitely got that.
Now I CAN'T wait for part 2 to release!
Adriana's writing gets better with every release and I'm so proud of her!!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its release! I really appreciate it.
*Arc received for an honest review
Arianna is my favorite since the first book and I was so excited to finally look inside her head and see her own journey. Of course I know she's not everyone's favorite because of some stuff that happened in the previous books but I couldn't help but fall in love with her. Her character development is insane and it shows especially when she's around certain people🤭
Her relationship with Ella was the cutest and one of the purest bond's in this entire series. Their moments (and ofc Ella's moments with Bastian) were (for me) one of the highlights of the book. They both bonded instantly and it was precious to see how this little girl could melt Arianna's (and everyone else's) heart🥹
Bastian is THE MAN. I can't even explain what kind of man he is, he's just Senator Bastian Kenton🥵 and he has my heart. He really is my favorite out of all of Adriana's male characters.
Arianna and Bastian fit together so well even tho it took them a while to realize that.
Their whole relationship didn't feel forced especially because they don't get together immediately and it takes them some time to truly get to know each other.
Bastian's move at the very end wasn't necessary at all but like every good book we need DRAMA and of course a good cliffhanger. And we definitely got that.
Now I CAN'T wait for part 2 to release!
Adriana's writing gets better with every release and I'm so proud of her!!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its release! I really appreciate it.
*Arc received for an honest review
Read
April 19, 2023Dnf at 67%
Too many thoughts and too much description for my taste
Too many thoughts and too much description for my taste
August 11, 2023
Definitivamente no era lo que esperaba según lo que recordaba de los libros anteriores :v, pero puede ser porque ya ha pasado mucho tiempo.
May 10, 2023
It's boring
July 31, 2025
since the moment i first met Arianna in Andrea"The Beginning" she was my favourite character. I loved how real she was despite her actions in that book and finally we get to her story now and it was so worth it.
this is a story of a girl who has only knows cruel life. she forged herself in the way she thought she would survive. Arianna is a survivor. That's the most admirable thing about her. She always finds a way to survive and will get back on her feet, no matter the situation. she was a betrayed ex mafia princess, who is wary of every kind act by anyone because she has never known kindness all her life. she was just a princess in the name but her home life was heartbreaking. she tried to protect her sisters as much as she can but turned herself cold when she couldn't no more.
the story starts off with her father, gabriel parisi, selling her off to Sebastian Kenton, the current senator of chicago who has plans to run for presidency. but sebastian has his own intentions and reasons for going along with it. he is a man of different masks. and two sides of the same coin. he is a moral man, yet a corrupt ruthless wolf who would do anything to win the game. his word does not always mean much. he doesn't hesitate to go back on his promises, except if they are made to certain people. basically, you can never trust him but no one ever learns that lesson.
for all the thoughts i alloted to aribastian in the two years since they were teased, i never quite expected them to have such a interesting dynamic. they are TWIN FLAMES. bastian maybe two sides of the same coin, but so is arianna. bastian helps arianna grow. he lets her grow her wings and fly, which was so unexpected and beautiful 🥺as the book progresses, we see arianna grow into this beautiful strong take over the world woman she can be and i was so emotional. her journey was so natural, so right, so deserved, i definitely teared up. Bastian and Arianna's relationship was a slow burn because these are two people who needed to trust eachother before anything. and the bridge to that was none other than,Elliaza, bastian's daughter.
this girl was such a queen i- no seriously she's so iconic and she's just two years old. she was definitely daddy's girl, but arianna saw so much of herself and her sisters in her, she couldn't not get attached.and Ella loved Arianna to the moon and back, my heart was so full reading their scenes. considering her relationship with her father, arianna softened a bit towards bastian, seeing his love for Ella. not that she ever forgot to put him in his place🤣
aribastian are everything i expected and more. they are the grumpy×grumpy power couple excellence i always craved and adriana delievered it in spades. arianna may have lost her family after her betrayal, but the family she made for herself with bastian, Ella and Banning, treated her like the queen she deserves to be treated as.
that cliffhanger though-- i was so heartbroken and crying even though i knew it was coming after the happiness in paris trip and everything. bastian gave her everything only to snatch it all away 😭😭💔 i just cannot wait for second book???? the great war by taylor swift is gonna be the theme song for it, because arianna is gonna show him hell and he better buckle up because she knows all about his tricks and he thought her how to WIN the game. little did he know, she would use it against HIM.
thank you so much for the ARC copy Adriana, i am so thankful to you for doing complete justice to arianna and i can't wait to see you dwelve deeper into arianna and bastian in his self titled book.
shoutout to banning for being the best side character EVER. and can I just say i am already excited for the second generation of this series👀THE GLIMPSES OF RELATIONSHIP WE GOT OF ARIANNA AND MILA HAD ME IN SHAMBLES😭 and the way kadra and arianna care for each other in their own quiet way. I NEED THE REUNION OF THE SISTERS.
Adriana's writing improved so much and I'm so happy for her. i will never shut up about this book igdaf
immediate review:
nothing can bring me down from the high of this book idgaf this is literature. shakespear could have never written aribastian
RTC
this is a story of a girl who has only knows cruel life. she forged herself in the way she thought she would survive. Arianna is a survivor. That's the most admirable thing about her. She always finds a way to survive and will get back on her feet, no matter the situation. she was a betrayed ex mafia princess, who is wary of every kind act by anyone because she has never known kindness all her life. she was just a princess in the name but her home life was heartbreaking. she tried to protect her sisters as much as she can but turned herself cold when she couldn't no more.
the story starts off with her father, gabriel parisi, selling her off to Sebastian Kenton, the current senator of chicago who has plans to run for presidency. but sebastian has his own intentions and reasons for going along with it. he is a man of different masks. and two sides of the same coin. he is a moral man, yet a corrupt ruthless wolf who would do anything to win the game. his word does not always mean much. he doesn't hesitate to go back on his promises, except if they are made to certain people. basically, you can never trust him but no one ever learns that lesson.
for all the thoughts i alloted to aribastian in the two years since they were teased, i never quite expected them to have such a interesting dynamic. they are TWIN FLAMES. bastian maybe two sides of the same coin, but so is arianna. bastian helps arianna grow. he lets her grow her wings and fly, which was so unexpected and beautiful 🥺as the book progresses, we see arianna grow into this beautiful strong take over the world woman she can be and i was so emotional. her journey was so natural, so right, so deserved, i definitely teared up. Bastian and Arianna's relationship was a slow burn because these are two people who needed to trust eachother before anything. and the bridge to that was none other than,Elliaza, bastian's daughter.
this girl was such a queen i- no seriously she's so iconic and she's just two years old. she was definitely daddy's girl, but arianna saw so much of herself and her sisters in her, she couldn't not get attached.and Ella loved Arianna to the moon and back, my heart was so full reading their scenes. considering her relationship with her father, arianna softened a bit towards bastian, seeing his love for Ella. not that she ever forgot to put him in his place🤣
aribastian are everything i expected and more. they are the grumpy×grumpy power couple excellence i always craved and adriana delievered it in spades. arianna may have lost her family after her betrayal, but the family she made for herself with bastian, Ella and Banning, treated her like the queen she deserves to be treated as.
that cliffhanger though-- i was so heartbroken and crying even though i knew it was coming after the happiness in paris trip and everything. bastian gave her everything only to snatch it all away 😭😭💔 i just cannot wait for second book???? the great war by taylor swift is gonna be the theme song for it, because arianna is gonna show him hell and he better buckle up because she knows all about his tricks and he thought her how to WIN the game. little did he know, she would use it against HIM.
thank you so much for the ARC copy Adriana, i am so thankful to you for doing complete justice to arianna and i can't wait to see you dwelve deeper into arianna and bastian in his self titled book.
shoutout to banning for being the best side character EVER. and can I just say i am already excited for the second generation of this series👀THE GLIMPSES OF RELATIONSHIP WE GOT OF ARIANNA AND MILA HAD ME IN SHAMBLES😭 and the way kadra and arianna care for each other in their own quiet way. I NEED THE REUNION OF THE SISTERS.
Adriana's writing improved so much and I'm so happy for her. i will never shut up about this book igdaf
immediate review:
nothing can bring me down from the high of this book idgaf this is literature. shakespear could have never written aribastian
RTC
January 19, 2023
“Whose heart is this, darling?”
“Yours.”
Arianna is the first installment in Love and War duet by Adrianna Brinne. This duet is part of the Unholy Trinity series, although it can be read as a standalone.
Cold. Calculating. Cunning. Arianna Parisi is the firstborn daughter of the Parisi boss. She has all the requirements to survive in a world such as hers, except one; she’s not the boy her father desperately wanted. Arranged to marry Senator Sebastian Kenton of Chicago, she prepares herself to exchange one cage for another.
Arrogant. Powerful. Ruthless. Bastian Kenton is as dangerous as they come. He has no qualms about getting what he wants; if having a wife is what it takes to save his political career and change his playboy image, then that is what he will do. He just never expected her to turn out the way she did.
- Arianna:
Where do I even begin to describe her? Arianna is a goddess, an icon of strength. Reading her backstory was painful, but in the end, you couldn’t help but admire how she overcame it all. For someone so young, she experienced so many awful things, and still dared to face everyone head-on, to dream, to laugh.
Another side of her that was refreshing to read about was her sarcasm. She was witty and sometimes unintentionally funny, which made reading her POV even more enjoyable.
“The title of princess is beneath me, really.”
- Bastian:
Bastian Kenton, the man that you are. Was there ever a more tyrannical yet swoon-worthy mmc? He was ambitious and could even be selfish at times, but when it came to Arianna and his daughter, Ella, he would always put them first. Bastian helped Arianna to dream again when she had no hope for the future.
“He gave me my wings back.”
Relationship:
Do we love a good fluff with a healthy dose of smut, or what? Because this story had it all. Bastian and Arianna are intellectuals; their conversations were deep, their romantic gestures full of meaning, and their chemistry raving up the page.
“Are you mine?”
“There could never be anyone else…”
Honorary mentions:
- Ella:
She’s Bastian’s, Arianna’s, and my precious baby. The love each of them had for the other was fierce and true and so, so sweet to read about. I hope they can finally get the happy ending they deserve.
Also, this is what I call a supportive mother:
“Ellaiza pays her no mind when the woman tries to talk to her. Such a good girl, my Ella. Very clever of her to spot a bitch at such an early age.”
- Banning:
I love you, you overgrown proud mother hen. But it’s time to settle down now…
Overall, this book deserves every single one of the 5 stars it got. If you haven’t grabbed it yet, what are you waiting for?
Note that Arianna ends with a cliffhanger. To understand the full story, you need to read part two, Bastian, as well.
*Arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
“Yours.”
Arianna is the first installment in Love and War duet by Adrianna Brinne. This duet is part of the Unholy Trinity series, although it can be read as a standalone.
Cold. Calculating. Cunning. Arianna Parisi is the firstborn daughter of the Parisi boss. She has all the requirements to survive in a world such as hers, except one; she’s not the boy her father desperately wanted. Arranged to marry Senator Sebastian Kenton of Chicago, she prepares herself to exchange one cage for another.
Arrogant. Powerful. Ruthless. Bastian Kenton is as dangerous as they come. He has no qualms about getting what he wants; if having a wife is what it takes to save his political career and change his playboy image, then that is what he will do. He just never expected her to turn out the way she did.
- Arianna:
Where do I even begin to describe her? Arianna is a goddess, an icon of strength. Reading her backstory was painful, but in the end, you couldn’t help but admire how she overcame it all. For someone so young, she experienced so many awful things, and still dared to face everyone head-on, to dream, to laugh.
Another side of her that was refreshing to read about was her sarcasm. She was witty and sometimes unintentionally funny, which made reading her POV even more enjoyable.
“The title of princess is beneath me, really.”
- Bastian:
Bastian Kenton, the man that you are. Was there ever a more tyrannical yet swoon-worthy mmc? He was ambitious and could even be selfish at times, but when it came to Arianna and his daughter, Ella, he would always put them first. Bastian helped Arianna to dream again when she had no hope for the future.
“He gave me my wings back.”
Relationship:
Do we love a good fluff with a healthy dose of smut, or what? Because this story had it all. Bastian and Arianna are intellectuals; their conversations were deep, their romantic gestures full of meaning, and their chemistry raving up the page.
“Are you mine?”
“There could never be anyone else…”
Honorary mentions:
- Ella:
She’s Bastian’s, Arianna’s, and my precious baby. The love each of them had for the other was fierce and true and so, so sweet to read about. I hope they can finally get the happy ending they deserve.
Also, this is what I call a supportive mother:
“Ellaiza pays her no mind when the woman tries to talk to her. Such a good girl, my Ella. Very clever of her to spot a bitch at such an early age.”
- Banning:
I love you, you overgrown proud mother hen. But it’s time to settle down now…
Overall, this book deserves every single one of the 5 stars it got. If you haven’t grabbed it yet, what are you waiting for?
Note that Arianna ends with a cliffhanger. To understand the full story, you need to read part two, Bastian, as well.
*Arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
August 10, 2023
PT
5✨
Em primeiro lugar, muito obrigado à escritora por me deixar ler esta história antes de ser lançada! 🫶🏻
Eu não li os primeiros livros da série (ainda), mas vou de certeza ler porque depois de ler este, preciso de mais!
Tem de tudo o que eu adoro num livro! Amor, máfia, age gap, pai solteiro, enemies to lovers, e ambos são mal-humorados!
O começo do livro irritou-me profundamente! Deixou completamente no limite! Não gosto nada da família de Arianna, mas acho que há uma razão para tudo aquilo ter acontecido e alguns deles só queriam protegê-la (embora tenham feito isso da pior forma).
É um slow burn. Sem dúvida! Mas tinha que ser assim para fazer sentido. O Bastian nunca teve a intenção de a magoar! Mesmo sendo filha do inimigo, ele protegeu-a e até se apaixonou por ela!🥹
Quase chorei no final do livro porque entendo porque aconteceu, mas não queria que acontecesse! Eu só queria atirar o meu telefone contra a parede porque estava mega irritada! (Mas meu telefone é muito precioso então não aconteceu! ahaha)
O que posso dizer? Adorei o livro e estou muito ansiosa para ler a história de Bastian e também para ler os livros anteriores a este!
Se vocês ainda estão em dúvida, SIM, RECOMENDO A LEITURA DESTE LIVRO!
PS: A Ellaiza é simplesmente a criança mais fofa deste mundo! Banning é incrível! Eu quero um homem assim na minha vida (ou como o Bastian ehehe)!
ENG
5✨
First of all, big thanks to the author for letting me read this story before it was released! 🫶🏻
I haven't read the first books in the series (yet) but I will because after reading this I need more!
It has everything I love in a book! Love, Mafia, Age Gap, Single Dad, Haters of Lovers, and they´re both Grumpy!
The beginning of the book really pissed me off! It left me completely on edge! I don't like Arianna's family at all, but I think there's a reason why that happened and some of them just wanted to protect her (although they did it in the worst way).
It's a slow burn. Undoubtedly! But it had to be that way to make sense. Bastian never meant to hurt her! Even though she was the enemy's daughter, he protected her and even fell in love with her!🥹
I almost cried at the end of the book because I understand why it happened, but I didn't want it to happen! I just wanted to throw my phone against the wall because I was so angry! (But my phone is too precious so it didn't happen! ahaha)
What can I say? I loved the book and I'm really looking forward to reading Bastian's story and also to read the books before this one!
If you are still in doubt, YES, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THIS BOOK!
PS: Ellaiza is simply the cutest child in this world! Banning is amazing! I want a man like this in my life (or like Bastian ehehe)!
5✨
Em primeiro lugar, muito obrigado à escritora por me deixar ler esta história antes de ser lançada! 🫶🏻
Eu não li os primeiros livros da série (ainda), mas vou de certeza ler porque depois de ler este, preciso de mais!
Tem de tudo o que eu adoro num livro! Amor, máfia, age gap, pai solteiro, enemies to lovers, e ambos são mal-humorados!
O começo do livro irritou-me profundamente! Deixou completamente no limite! Não gosto nada da família de Arianna, mas acho que há uma razão para tudo aquilo ter acontecido e alguns deles só queriam protegê-la (embora tenham feito isso da pior forma).
É um slow burn. Sem dúvida! Mas tinha que ser assim para fazer sentido. O Bastian nunca teve a intenção de a magoar! Mesmo sendo filha do inimigo, ele protegeu-a e até se apaixonou por ela!🥹
Quase chorei no final do livro porque entendo porque aconteceu, mas não queria que acontecesse! Eu só queria atirar o meu telefone contra a parede porque estava mega irritada! (Mas meu telefone é muito precioso então não aconteceu! ahaha)
O que posso dizer? Adorei o livro e estou muito ansiosa para ler a história de Bastian e também para ler os livros anteriores a este!
Se vocês ainda estão em dúvida, SIM, RECOMENDO A LEITURA DESTE LIVRO!
PS: A Ellaiza é simplesmente a criança mais fofa deste mundo! Banning é incrível! Eu quero um homem assim na minha vida (ou como o Bastian ehehe)!
ENG
5✨
First of all, big thanks to the author for letting me read this story before it was released! 🫶🏻
I haven't read the first books in the series (yet) but I will because after reading this I need more!
It has everything I love in a book! Love, Mafia, Age Gap, Single Dad, Haters of Lovers, and they´re both Grumpy!
The beginning of the book really pissed me off! It left me completely on edge! I don't like Arianna's family at all, but I think there's a reason why that happened and some of them just wanted to protect her (although they did it in the worst way).
It's a slow burn. Undoubtedly! But it had to be that way to make sense. Bastian never meant to hurt her! Even though she was the enemy's daughter, he protected her and even fell in love with her!🥹
I almost cried at the end of the book because I understand why it happened, but I didn't want it to happen! I just wanted to throw my phone against the wall because I was so angry! (But my phone is too precious so it didn't happen! ahaha)
What can I say? I loved the book and I'm really looking forward to reading Bastian's story and also to read the books before this one!
If you are still in doubt, YES, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THIS BOOK!
PS: Ellaiza is simply the cutest child in this world! Banning is amazing! I want a man like this in my life (or like Bastian ehehe)!
March 2, 2023
I have waited so long for this small family and Adriana didn't disappoint in any way. From showing both AriannaSebastian stubbornness, strength, love, protectiveness to their vulnerability every thing in this book had me on chokehold.
While we know Parisi treament towards the sisters reading from Ariana POV made it more painful and all I wanted to do is hug her so tight.
The last chapter where Ariana wishes Ella reaches high and sees everything in this world god that is so beautiful and precious moment. Bastian admiring his girls from far and later deciding to give Ari her freedom so that she can come back to him without regrets *cue ugly crying*
Spring needs to come fast and give me book 2 soon !!!!
While we know Parisi treament towards the sisters reading from Ariana POV made it more painful and all I wanted to do is hug her so tight.
The last chapter where Ariana wishes Ella reaches high and sees everything in this world god that is so beautiful and precious moment. Bastian admiring his girls from far and later deciding to give Ari her freedom so that she can come back to him without regrets *cue ugly crying*
Spring needs to come fast and give me book 2 soon !!!!
October 7, 2021
hi there my favorite book !! come faster babe .
Read
January 3, 2023Read as editor.
I'll add a review + rating after the book is published.
For now, I'll just say I adore these three to bits and I can't wait to get more of them.
I'll add a review + rating after the book is published.
For now, I'll just say I adore these three to bits and I can't wait to get more of them.
December 24, 2024
Book Review: Arianna by Adriana Brinne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥 Smut: 5/5
Arianna is the fifth book in the Unholy Trinity series and the first installment of the In Love & War duo. While I read it as a standalone without diving into the first four books, I still found it an enthralling and emotionally charged read.
Adriana Brinne delivers an engaging narrative that focuses on Arianna, a character who initially comes across as a cold, unapproachable “bad girl.” However, as the story unfolds, we are given a deeper understanding of her complexities. Arianna is not just the fierce queen she appears to be—her strong exterior hides vulnerability, fear, and a heart that loves deeply once she dares to open it. Her journey is inspiring, and as she achieves her dreams, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for her resilience and growth.
Then there’s Sebastian Keaton, Arianna’s match in every sense of the word. A dark and morally ambiguous politician, Sebastian is a character of fascinating contrasts. While his cold exterior dominates his interactions with most, his softer, tender side shines through in his relationship with Arianna. The layers of his personality make him a captivating hero, blurring the lines between villain and lover.
The supporting characters are just as impactful. Little Ellaiza, with her innocent sweetness, creates a heartwarming bond with Arianna that tugs at your emotions. Benjamin, Arianna’s loyal bodyguard and unexpected confidant, adds depth to the story as her much-needed friend. Both characters bring warmth and humanity to a tale that balances passion and emotional intensity.
The smut in Arianna is off the charts—Brinne knows how to write steamy scenes that sizzle while also carrying emotional weight. It’s an art to balance the intimate moments with the overarching story, and she does it masterfully.
While Arianna works as a standalone, I recommend starting from the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the intricate connections and backstories. That said, this book delivers on its own, offering romance, vulnerability, and character growth that are impossible to resist. Fans of strong, layered heroines and smoldering antiheroes will fall hard for this one.
Highly recommended for readers who love dark, emotional romances with a perfect blend of steam and heart!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥 Smut: 5/5
Arianna is the fifth book in the Unholy Trinity series and the first installment of the In Love & War duo. While I read it as a standalone without diving into the first four books, I still found it an enthralling and emotionally charged read.
Adriana Brinne delivers an engaging narrative that focuses on Arianna, a character who initially comes across as a cold, unapproachable “bad girl.” However, as the story unfolds, we are given a deeper understanding of her complexities. Arianna is not just the fierce queen she appears to be—her strong exterior hides vulnerability, fear, and a heart that loves deeply once she dares to open it. Her journey is inspiring, and as she achieves her dreams, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for her resilience and growth.
Then there’s Sebastian Keaton, Arianna’s match in every sense of the word. A dark and morally ambiguous politician, Sebastian is a character of fascinating contrasts. While his cold exterior dominates his interactions with most, his softer, tender side shines through in his relationship with Arianna. The layers of his personality make him a captivating hero, blurring the lines between villain and lover.
The supporting characters are just as impactful. Little Ellaiza, with her innocent sweetness, creates a heartwarming bond with Arianna that tugs at your emotions. Benjamin, Arianna’s loyal bodyguard and unexpected confidant, adds depth to the story as her much-needed friend. Both characters bring warmth and humanity to a tale that balances passion and emotional intensity.
The smut in Arianna is off the charts—Brinne knows how to write steamy scenes that sizzle while also carrying emotional weight. It’s an art to balance the intimate moments with the overarching story, and she does it masterfully.
While Arianna works as a standalone, I recommend starting from the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the intricate connections and backstories. That said, this book delivers on its own, offering romance, vulnerability, and character growth that are impossible to resist. Fans of strong, layered heroines and smoldering antiheroes will fall hard for this one.
Highly recommended for readers who love dark, emotional romances with a perfect blend of steam and heart!
January 24, 2024
Okay so this blurb made Arianna sound like a mature, independent and smart woman but she was just a teenager who had immense amount of childhood trauma and acted like any other naive eighteen year old would. I'm not gonna lie, I started to enjoy this book after some 50% because by that point, Ariana & Sebastian had barely interacted and the way he called her words like "child", "little girl" and "princess" made me cringe lol. The second half was a lot better and I loved the interactions between Arianna & Ellaiza. They were adorable together and there was some development between her & Sebastian too. The ending however was illogical and this could've been a single standalone rather than a duet if things wrapped up on a good note in this book. The first half was filled with long, poetic monologues which I felt were repeatitive and boring and made the book feel unnecessarily long. I'm still going to continue reading this series to see what happens next though because I have a feeling that Arianna will emerge stronger in the next one.
September 8, 2024
3.5
Arianna and Sebastian have great chemistry and banter, and I really enjoyed their story.
It kind of bothered me that after meeting each other, Sebastian went a dated other people while Arianna stayed behind on his beach house with a bodyguard, and then they do not see each other for two years, I understand he was uncomfortable because of their age gap, but still this was a slow burn and they do not get together until we are 70% in.
There were some very sweet and romantic moments, but because this is the first part of the duet, there has to be a break up/cliffhanger at the end, which I didn't like, in some ways I get why Sebastian did what he did, especially after hearing the conversation between Arianna and Ella, but I still hate it when they break up because they think they know better and are trying to "help and save" the other person.
I do hope there's a lot of groveling in the second part.
Arianna and Sebastian have great chemistry and banter, and I really enjoyed their story.
It kind of bothered me that after meeting each other, Sebastian went a dated other people while Arianna stayed behind on his beach house with a bodyguard, and then they do not see each other for two years, I understand he was uncomfortable because of their age gap, but still this was a slow burn and they do not get together until we are 70% in.
There were some very sweet and romantic moments, but because this is the first part of the duet, there has to be a break up/cliffhanger at the end, which I didn't like, in some ways I get why Sebastian did what he did, especially after hearing the conversation between Arianna and Ella, but I still hate it when they break up because they think they know better and are trying to "help and save" the other person.
I do hope there's a lot of groveling in the second part.
August 24, 2023
This one fell a little flat for me
I liked Arianna and Bastian, I think they fit each other so well and their banter was a lot of fun to read. This is definitely more of a slow burn, they barely interact for quite a bit of the book If I didn’t know better I would’ve thought she’d end up with Banning lol but I do love the friendship she has with him!
I think the characters were solid but this book should not have been this long. 80% of this book was fluff and filler to me. There’s just very long descriptions and monologues and it just felt like it dragged on.
For it being a long book too the way the ending happened was just so rushed, it also felt way too abrupt? I know this is part one of a duet so obviously we get more into it in the next book but I feel like the pacing of this one was just a little off.
I do love the little girl Ella though she was a sweetheart
I liked Arianna and Bastian, I think they fit each other so well and their banter was a lot of fun to read. This is definitely more of a slow burn, they barely interact for quite a bit of the book If I didn’t know better I would’ve thought she’d end up with Banning lol but I do love the friendship she has with him!
I think the characters were solid but this book should not have been this long. 80% of this book was fluff and filler to me. There’s just very long descriptions and monologues and it just felt like it dragged on.
For it being a long book too the way the ending happened was just so rushed, it also felt way too abrupt? I know this is part one of a duet so obviously we get more into it in the next book but I feel like the pacing of this one was just a little off.
I do love the little girl Ella though she was a sweetheart
May 30, 2023
I want to thank the author for creating this MASTERPIECE.
Ariana is an amazing female lead, not your typical mafia wife material that all other stories portray. I really liked the development of the character.
As for Bastian, oh man, this one really got me.
The ending was a little shocking. However, this is one of the best books I have read in this genre. I have already read the next book, but I wanted to write a review after finishing it too.
Love it and definitelly adding them to my fav books.
Ariana is an amazing female lead, not your typical mafia wife material that all other stories portray. I really liked the development of the character.
As for Bastian, oh man, this one really got me.
The ending was a little shocking. However, this is one of the best books I have read in this genre. I have already read the next book, but I wanted to write a review after finishing it too.
Love it and definitelly adding them to my fav books.
November 24, 2023
I knew arianna’s story would be good. I love her character. Even though towards the end it got OOC.
Sebastian is best H in this series.
I love the vibe of Paris, winter, snow, age gap, cold h who is soft for a baby, the term “darling”, it reminded me a lot of Rose and Connor from the Calloway sisters.
The only problem I have with book is I feel like the author forgets what she wrote previously. Some storylines and information doesn’t add up.
But I love the constancy of arianna disliking Andrea 😂
Ps : the cover is hideous
Sebastian is best H in this series.
I love the vibe of Paris, winter, snow, age gap, cold h who is soft for a baby, the term “darling”, it reminded me a lot of Rose and Connor from the Calloway sisters.
The only problem I have with book is I feel like the author forgets what she wrote previously. Some storylines and information doesn’t add up.
But I love the constancy of arianna disliking Andrea 😂
Ps : the cover is hideous
October 3, 2023
Loved this book for a few different reasons. With a lot of age gap books she just turns 18 and the guy is almost 30 and they get together but he waited until she was 20 something to be with her. Arianna and Bastian had a lot of things to work out but loved them and there little girl. Oh but the end! F Bastian.
May 10, 2023
Was fast where it should be slow and slow where it should be fast and the ending of why he let her go stupid just stupid the romance was fast where it should be slow and slow where it should have been fast so I am dissatisfied and duet is so unnecessary ughhhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2024
I hated Arianna at first for what she did to Andrea...but then I realised it was the world she grew up in...omg my heart opened and soared for Sebastian and Arianna then my heart broken for Arianna...I understood why Sebastian did it, but I still didn't like it...looking forward to Sebastian's book
March 18, 2023
first of all I did not know that there was gonna be a second book 😭
after reading Adrianna Brinne’s book for a while now and realized that I have rated almost all of her books 3 starts
I realized why
I love her writing, the small details and everything she puts into her writing is amazing but at the same time it causes the book to be very slow. And I love slow burn books but this is way too slow. It’s so slow that nothing happened, plot and romance wise
after reading Adrianna Brinne’s book for a while now and realized that I have rated almost all of her books 3 starts
I realized why
I love her writing, the small details and everything she puts into her writing is amazing but at the same time it causes the book to be very slow. And I love slow burn books but this is way too slow. It’s so slow that nothing happened, plot and romance wise
June 13, 2023
ml emphasising her age was such an ick
July 31, 2023
“If you ever feel the need to run away again…” Sebastian pulls away from me. “Run to me.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews