Coerced Kiss by Charmaine Pauls

Charmaine Pauls returns with an exciting and highly anticipated brand new trilogy featuring a charismatic and ruthless killer and the wary but naive young woman who threatens his control at every turn. I was completely enthralled by Saverio and Anya's cat and mouse relationship. While this series is not as dark as the Corsican Crime Lord series, it is still very much a dark romance where the hero will try to threaten and control his heroine. Saverio is incredibly possessive towards Anya and their relationship is one that is morally gray with "touch her and die" vibes. He is keeping her alive for the sake of his "freedom" but his actions often speak louder than words. Like most of the author's heroes, Sav is a contradictory character. Although he can be a cold and cruel sociopath, he can also be incredibly sweet and caring—but only towards Anya. Like a dragon hoarding its most beloved treasure, Anya is Sav's precious treasure and he will stop at nothing to possess and keep her.

“Only she can do this to me. No one else. That’s what I always wanted. Someone who belongs to me. To me alone. A beautiful, innocent treasure to corrupt and worship.”

In the end, this was an incredible start to Saverio and Anya's story. I loved everything about their relationship and Sav's contradictory nature towards Anya was so addicting to read about. I don't think anybody can ever top Angelo Russo's type of crazy but Saverio De Luca does not play around either. I can't wait to see what Charmaine Pauls has in store for these two, especially with the mysterious key and Anya's life in constant peril. I also want to add that the story has a unique and unconventional trope where the heroine is pregnant prior to meeting the hero. It was heartwarming to read that Saverio thought nothing of it and was still obsessed and overprotective of Anya—going so far as to claiming ownership of her and the baby. Fans of Charmaine Pauls will not want to miss out on this trilogy as it features several incredible tropes such as enemies to lovers, touch her and die, MMC falls first, and fake relationship. I'm so excited to read more of this trilogy and highly recommend it! Saverio and Anya's relationship will absolutely steal your hearts.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★

Royal Flush by Piper Stone

Royal Flush is the sequel to Royal Mistake and it features Braxton Royal and Jasmine Sinclair. Piper Stone returns to the Royal Players Club series with the second Royal brother to fall in love and while I was initially excited for his story, it fell flat for me because of the overdramatic kidnappings, mafia murder side plot, and lack of communication between Braxton and Jasmine. I wanted the author to focus more of the romance between these two because they had such strong personalities and both were a force to be reckoned with. The banter and chemistry between these two had so much potential but I quickly got frustrated by their arguments and lack of trust. Neither of them wanted to compromise until it was too late. It made matters worse when Jasmine's life was in danger but she kept running away from the one person who could save her.

“He was my savior. My protector. My lover. And my everything.”

In the end, I enjoyed Braxton and Jasmine's story but it wasn't my favorite. It took me some time to read their book because I was so annoyed by the miscommunication, lack of trust, and arguments between the two. However, there is no denying that Piper Stone excels at writing the steamy scenes. The prologue was able to capture my attention and I wanted to know what happened and how Braxton and Jasmine reached that stage in their relationship. The ending did satisfy my curiosity and I was pleased to see that our main couple was able to solve their issues and be together in the end. Braxton's little nickname for Jasmine was adorable—she was his "little koala." While this book didn't work for me, it might work for other readers who love a sassy heroine who follows her own path and a dominant hero who can't help but want to keep her as his own forever.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Cover Reveal: Coerced Queen by Charmaine Pauls

Title: Coerced Queen

Series: New York Underworld #3

Author: Charmaine Pauls

Genre: Dark Mafia Romance

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Touch Her and Die

Fake Relationship/Forced Proximity

Cover Design: Dark City Designs

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Release Date: December 16, 2024

BLURB

My husband will never love me, but I’m in this now until death do us part.

The man who threatened to carry me over his shoulder down the aisle and marry me at knifepoint is both my captor and my liberator. He makes me weak and strong at the same time.

Before, he didn’t give me an option. Now, there’s a choice. But he’s determined to push me away.

If I’m wise, I’ll take that freedom and run for my life. Because the heart of the man who captured and saved me will always belong to the woman who broke it. The man who calls himself my husband will never be mine.

Only, there is no choice for me any longer. It’s way too late to walk away.

I’m in this war now … until death do us part.

GOODREADS

BOOKBUB

PRE-ORDER LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY / UNIVERSAL

EXCERPT

He turns, facing me squarely. “Everything I do and everything I’ve done are for selfish reasons. If I’m watching out for you or taking care of you, it’s because I like the way you make me feel. You have an effect on me no other woman has. You make my cock hard every fucking time I look at you, even when I’ve just come the hardest in my life and it should be physically impossible. So when I tell you that I’m doing it for me, I’m not lying.”

His words hurt, slicing right through me like he almost did with the blade of his knife. Yet that’s not the truth I see when I look at his actions. That’s not the hope I hold on to when I close my eyes at night and shed lonely tears with him right beside me in bed. 

Swallowing back those tears that burn at the back of my eyes, I lift my chin. “You’re wrong, Sav. A man who does everything with his own self-interest in mind won’t give his life to save me and my baby.” 

The statement pierces him like a sword. I see it in the way he winces as he’s forced to face the simplest of truths when all his arguments are exhausted and only his considerate behavior is left to speak for itself. 

We face each other like pieces on a chess table. It’s a checkmate move. It’s playing dirty. I admit that. Pushing him into a corner to confess something I desperately need to hear isn’t honorable. But I don’t know how else to open his eyes to something he won’t allow himself to believe. Maybe he thinks it will be a betrayal of his love for Rachele. But people can love more than one person. They can get hurt and trampled and find happiness again. He lost his first love, but he’s my first love. If he gives us a chance, we can be so much more than lust and sex. 

He turns away with that wounded look on his face, running away from the future we could’ve had. And I’m still thoroughly and utterly ruined, a silly, opportunistic woman who put her heart on the line in a gamble she lost.

ALSO COMING SOON

Releasing October 21

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY / UNIVERSAL

Releasing November 18

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY / UNIVERSAL

AUTHOR BIO

Charmaine loves to write dark and edgy romance that will melt both your e-reader and your heart. She's a mom of two teenagers, an adorable dog, and a dominant cat. Her country of birth is South Africa where many of her stories play off. Her French husband kidnapped her to the south of France where she currently lives with her family. When she's not writing, you'll find her in the kitchen baking cakes or in the gym lifting weights (because ... all those cakes!).

AUTHOR LINKS

NEWSLETTER

FACEBOOK GROUP

WEBSITE

AMAZON

BOOKBUB

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

X (TWITTER)

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz: Diamond Kisses by Pepper Winters

DIAMOND KISSES IS LIVE & RUBY TEARS IS FREE!

The final book in this dangerously dark romance is available to read on KU and the best part is—if you haven’t started this series yet—you can start for FREE with Ruby Tears (only for a couple of days so grab it now!)

START HERE WITH RUBY TEARS (Free!)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9W1ZCZL

Amazon.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C9W1ZCZL

Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C9W1ZCZL

Amazon.au: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C9W1ZCZL

END HERE WITH DIAMOND KISSES

(Out now and no more waiting for cliffhangers!)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9W5G2Z5

Amazon.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C9W5G2Z5

Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C9W5G2Z5

Amazon.au: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C9W5G2Z5

 

WANT A SIGNED SPECIAL EDITION?

(These come with all the bells and whistles and only available for 4 weeks!)

https://pepperwinters.com/product/exclusive-website-edition-the-jewelry-box-omnibus-dark-romance/

“I met a man I hoped could be the one. But he turned out to be the beast who ruins me…”

I’m the illegitimate son of a monster.

I truly have the devil inside.

I try to be good.

To ignore the deep, dark, despicable urges.

But every day, it gets harder.

To prove to myself that I’m not completely damned, I attempt to infiltrate a trafficking ring to save all those trapped within it.

Only problem is, I meet her on the night of my initiation.

I’m given a task to take her, steal her, train her.

She sparkles like diamonds, bleeds like rubies, and bruises as deep as emeralds.

She’s mine to break.

I can’t refuse.

I beg her to play along with me.

To help me stay human.

To act with me in a performance where we both might survive.

Yet the more we pretend, the more real it becomes, and I have a horrible feeling the only one who will be breaking…is me.

Triggers on every warning possible.

This is dark, explicit, and will push every boundary that exists.

Be warned....

To all those dark souls out there...welcome to The Jewelry Box

Royal Mistake by Piper Stone

Piper Stone returns with a brand new series featuring two incredibly fun and sexy characters—Valerio Royal and Selena Michaels. I absolutely loved these two. They had a rather unconventional beginning to their relationship but it didn't take long for "The Lone Ranger" and his "Cupcake" to realize that they were always meant to be with each other. Their first meeting was delicious and by the end of their date, they were hooked on each other. This book had ALL of the heat and even a bit of suspense and mystery as well. I liked that Valerio and Selena's story wasn't as dark or discipline-heavy compared to the author's previous works. They loved teasing and laughing with each other—which was perfection in my eyes. Their relationship had everything I wanted and more! It was incredibly sexy and spicy with some angst thrown into the mix. I loved that Valerio couldn't get Selena out of his head after one taste. He actually had to work for her—which made all the difference in my eyes.

“You are the breath of my life, the light of my world, but never forget, husband of mine. You actually belong to me.”

In the end, I absolutely loved Valerio and Selena's story and can say that it's my favorite Piper Stone book to date. Their story was so fun, addicting, and sexy. Valerio had such a filthy mouth but Selena matched his freak. She was a natural submissive to his dominant tendencies. Despite some hesitation from her in the beginning, Valerio eventually wore her down with his charm and dirty talk. This was a strangers to lovers with an unexpected enemies to lovers twist. Valerio and Selena's families were supposedly rivals in the media business so it was a surprising moment when they both found out the truth about their identities. A wrong text message forever changed the course of their lives forever but it also led them to each other. I can't wait for Valerio's brothers—Gage and Braxton, to get their own happy endings as well. If you are looking for a fun and sexy summer read, I highly recommend checking this one out!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★