Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

It took me awhile to read this—not because it was bad but because I had to mentally prepare myself for these types of stories. The heroes are often cruel to their heroines and Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling is no exception. The story takes place in the Midnight Dynasty world and once again, we dive right back to the vengeful and dynastic family feud between the Constantine and Morelli families. Tiernan Morelli and Bianca Belcante are the key players this time around and their relationship was taboo, not only because of their age gap but also because of his secret and intent on using her for revenge. I was initially uncomfortable with the idea of them together because he had a sexual relationship with her mother. However, this was intentional as Tiernan's dark secret starts to unravel one by one and we begin to realize the full extent of his revenge. I was quite fascinated with him because although Tiernan was cold, ruthless, and cruel, there was also another side to him that he was keeping from Bianca. Despite his attitude, he felt something for her because she was different. Adding to the fact that he was beyond tempted by her, despite his revenge, and we have a rather dark, steamy, and dirty dynamic between the two.

"I wasn't the kind of man you went to for help unless it involved violence or retribution."

The push and pull between Tiernan and Bianca was my favorite part of the book and Giana Darling did an exceptional job illustrating that. I could feel Bianca's frustration, anger, sadness, and undeniable attraction whenever she was near Tiernan. He was an enigma to her—someone who was mysterious, alluring, and her complete opposite. She was attracted to him and hated herself for it. The same can be said about Tiernan himself who also has complicated feelings of lust and possessiveness for Bianca. He knows what he wants to do with her but there is a part of him that feels guilty for it, which I completely understand because I'm still confused and perplexed over his motives and end goal. There is a lot more to him than meets the eye. If you thought Leo or Lucian Morelli was the "black sheep" of the family, you haven't met Tiernan Morelli. I feel like his story also had a Beauty and the Beast vibe to it as well because he was scarred despite his handsome appearance. On the other hand, Bianca herself is no pushover. She fights back against Tiernan and isn't afraid of him. For someone so young, I loved that she had a backbone of steel and was so mature for her age.

"You are mine, Bianca, and the only man with the right to hurt you is me."

In the end, I was extremely impressed by Giana Darling's writing—specifically her characters' motivations and desires while building upon the already established world of the Midnight Dynasty. Although her characters share similar characteristics to previous characters in this world, they also feel special and unique. Tiernan is more than his cruelty and violence. Just like his brothers, he is broken, lonely, and vengeful against those who have wronged him. He uses his charisma, wealth, and physical characteristics to ensnare others. Bianca is more than a damsel in distress. She has always relied on herself and would rather take action than stand back. I'm excited to see how this story will end for these two. For now, we will have to wait. I have been interested in Giana Darling's books for some time now and this was the perfect introduction to her writing style. Fans of the age-gap and enemies-to-lovers trope will absolutely love this book because it was intense, highly erotic, and entertaining. Tiernan and Bianca come from two different worlds but they have more similarities than one may think.

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

Rating: ★★★★☆