Midnight Sin by Alina Sullivan

Midnight Sin by Alina Sullivan takes inspiration from the fairy tale classic, Cinderella, and was my first book by the author. I was intrigued by the story and thought that Alina Sullivan had a lot of potential and was impressed with her writing, especially since this was her debut release. While I enjoyed the smut, I felt that Rina and Damien could have benefited from further character development and tension between the two. I wasn't completely convinced of their chemistry and relationship because everything was happening too fast. I would have been more invested in their romance if I had further context or background knowledge about who they were as individuals such as their dreams, motivations, aspirations, and etc. The characters also made questionable decisions that frustrated me. I did not understand why Rina accepted her fate so easily and allowed her stepmother and stepsisters to torment her when she was old enough to leave. Damien similarly allowed his father to dictate his life and engagement when he was in his 30s. It would have been more believable if Rina and Damien were younger.

"In this forbidden love, we had found solace and comfort, and now, it seemed, we were destined to build a future together."

In the end, I enjoyed this book and thought that Rina and Damien were really cute together. Although I wanted more from these two, I was content with what we got. The intimate scenes were sexy and there was a slight hint of the ddlg kink as well, which surprised me. I wish we got more of that because I can see the author excelling in this particular sub-genre. I also felt as though the antagonists got off easy and many moments were left "off the book"—meaning we didn't get to know what really happened, which left me disappointed. Rina and Damien's story does end in a happy note but we're also left with questions as to what happened to Tatiana, Rina's best friend. It looks like Alina Sullivan will be writing a book for her in the future called Year of Sin. Fans of Cinderella retellings and instalove romance will most certainly enjoy this one.

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

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Blog Tour: Kisses Like Rain by Charmaine Pauls

I gave him my innocence and my virtue. 

I gave him my love and my hate.

 Is there anything left to give?

Kisses Like Rain, an arranged marriage, enemies to lovers romance, and the highly anticipated fourth book in the dark mafia Corsican Crime Lord Series from USA Today Charmaine Pauls, is available now!

Angelo Russo came like a storm into my life and left destruction in his trail. The man who hates me beyond measure is the man who put a ring on my finger and gave me his name. My husband is my worst enemy.

There’s nothing left to salvage from the wreckage of our lives. He married me to destroy me, and he did an outstanding job. He took my innocence and my virtue. I gave him my love and my hate. And just when I think there’s nothing else to give, I realize how wrong I am. What Angelo wants most is the promise of life I carry inside my body. When he’s taken that last piece of me, he’ll crush me with a smile on his beautiful face and wipe my existence from his memory forever.

Note: Kisses Like Rain is the 4th and final book in the Corsican Crime Lord series and concludes Sabella and Angelo’s story. You must read Love Like Poison (Book 1), Hate Like Honey (Book 2), and Tears Like Acid (Book 3) first. The story contains scenes not recommended for sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Start reading today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QAlEtX   

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/kisseslikerain   

Apple Books: https://apple.co/49xaajH 

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ued5O6 

Kobo: https://bit.ly/46bVMuq 

Nook: https://bit.ly/46c9ywU 

Audiobook: https://bit.ly/45BmSv3 

Discreet Cover Paperback: https://mybook.to/KissesLikeRainDP

Discreet Cover Hardcover: https://mybook.to/KissesLikeRainDH

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ZKydXX  

*Please note that Kisses Like Rain will be available wide for ONE WEEK ONLY after the release date before going into Kindle Unlimited.

Start the series now with Love Like Poison Book 1, Available in KU →

https://mybook.to/LLPKU

Hate Like Honey Book 2 (Available in KU) → 

https://mybook.to/HateLikeHoneyKU

Tears Like Acid, Book 3 (Available in KU) → 

https://mybook.to/tearslikeacid

Read an excerpt from Kisses Like Rain →

https://bit.ly/45BmSv3

For more information about Charmaine Pauls and her books, visit her website:

https://charmainepauls.com

Release Blitz: Kisses Like Rain by Charmaine Pauls

I gave him my innocence and my virtue.

 I gave him my love and my hate. 

Is there anything left to give?

Kisses Like Rain, an arranged marriage, enemies to lovers romance, and the highly anticipated fourth book in the dark mafia Corsican Crime Lord Series from USA Today Charmaine Pauls, is available now!

Angelo Russo came like a storm into my life and left destruction in his trail. The man who hates me beyond measure is the man who put a ring on my finger and gave me his name. My husband is my worst enemy.

There’s nothing left to salvage from the wreckage of our lives. He married me to destroy me, and he did an outstanding job. He took my innocence and my virtue. I gave him my love and my hate. And just when I think there’s nothing else to give, I realize how wrong I am. What Angelo wants most is the promise of life I carry inside my body. When he’s taken that last piece of me, he’ll crush me with a smile on his beautiful face and wipe my existence from his memory forever.

Note: Kisses Like Rain is the 4th and final book in the Corsican Crime Lord series and concludes Sabella and Angelo’s story. You must read Love Like Poison (Book 1), Hate Like Honey (Book 2), and Tears Like Acid (Book 3) first. The story contains scenes not recommended for sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Start reading today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QAlEtX   

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/kisseslikerain   

Apple Books: https://apple.co/49xaajH 

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ued5O6 

Kobo: https://bit.ly/46bVMuq 

Nook: https://bit.ly/46c9ywU 

Audiobook: https://bit.ly/45BmSv3 

Discreet Cover Paperback: https://mybook.to/KissesLikeRainDP

Discreet Cover Hardcover: https://mybook.to/KissesLikeRainDH

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ZKydXX  

*Please note that Kisses Like Rain will be available wide for ONE WEEK ONLY after the release date before going into Kindle Unlimited.

Start the series now with Love Like Poison Book 1, Available in KU →

https://mybook.to/LLPKU

Hate Like Honey Book 2 (Available in KU) → 

https://mybook.to/HateLikeHoneyKU

Tears Like Acid, Book 3 (Available in KU) → 

https://mybook.to/tearslikeacid

Meet Charmaine

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to Chile with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published over twenty novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles. Two of her shorts have been selected by the International Literary Society for an anthology from across the African continent.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in France with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Connect with Charmaine

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

AMAZON

GOODREADS

TWITTER

BOOKBUB

INSTAGRAM

Sealed With A Kiss by Willow Winters & Amelia Wilde

Sealed With A Kiss by Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde packs an emotional punch and will leave readers satisfied with the angsty romance between Graham Maxwell and Madelyn Cunnigham. I never saw this writing duo coming and I completely devoured this book. Graham and Madelyn's story was a unique and refreshing take on the landlord/tenant with benefits and damsel in distress tropes. Graham was Madelyn's hero and knight in shining armor—even if it did take him a while to realize that. Their relationship was incredibly sexy, heartbreaking at times, but also forbidden because it wasn't considered normal by any standards. While I would have preferred more character development for Graham and Madelyn, I was still invested in them and their relationship. I also found Madelyn to be a relatable and endearing character because despite her bad situation, she was a hopeless romantic and had an optimistic outlook on life. Graham was intriguing, handsome, and mysterious, a combination that was deadly for Madelyn. Their first encounter with each other was electric—you could feel the tension and chemistry between them.

“I think I've loved you since the first moment I saw you, my little temptress.”

In the end, I enjoyed this steamy billionaire romance between two people who were always destined to be with each other. While their relationship started out unconventional, it didn't take long for it become more. There was also the taboo/forbidden aspect, which had the potential to be yikes but it just somehow worked for Maddie and Graham because they both wanted it and had been attracted to each other since the beginning. No cheating whatsoever, unless you count Maddie's ex-fiancé being the scumbag who cheated. Thankfully with him out of the way, Graham was more than happy to take his place. I really love their relationship, especially how angsty it got. This book also takes place in the world of Tell Me You Want Me, Suzette and Adrian's story, which really surprised me. Fans of Willow Winters and Amelia Wilde will love this book and I highly recommend Graham and Maddie's story to anyone who is looking for an angsty and sexy unique take on the strangers with benefits trope between a heroine who wears her heart on her sleeve and a workaholic hero who comes to the realization that he cannot live without her.

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

Rating: ★★★★★

Kisses Like Rain by Charmaine Pauls

Charmaine Pauls concludes one of her most intense and heartbreaking stories to an outstanding finish and brings the story full circle with themes of redemption, forgiveness, survival, betrayal, and most importantly—love. There is a fine line between love and hate and Sabella's relationship with Angelo has always captured this to perfection. Sabella and Angelo's intense love and story will forever be etched on my heart, which is truly a testament to the author's ability to create characters and write stories that leave such a lasting impression on her readers. Angelo's obsessive love for his wife has often blinded him to many things and left so much destruction in his path because of it but he is finally able to realize the one person he cannot live without—Sabella. I didn't think he would be able to redeem himself but certain events made them realize that there was more to life than hatred, pride, and revenge. Despite everything that happened, Sabella's love for Angelo never faded. In many ways, she was able to tame her monster and seize her happiness once and for all.

“Because I can’t live without you. Because everything has always been about you. Everything I think, dream, breathe, and feel are you. If you leave me, I’ll have nothing.”

In the end, I loved this series and I can't highly recommend it enough. Even though their story was incredibly devastating and brutal to read at times, especially when you think about how much time Sabella and Angelo had lost because they were too stubborn to realize their love for each other, it was all worth it. Sabella and Angelo have gone through tremendous character growth but there has always been one thing that will never change—his deeply, madly and obsessive love for her. The epilogue brought tears to my eyes and I love that Angelo and Sabella were able to move on from their past together. Two characters that I am keeping my eyes on and hope Charmaine Pauls will write stories for them in the future are Johan and Sophie, Angelo's young and impressionable nephew and niece. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a heartbreaking and powerful love story between a tortured and broken anti-hero who desperately loves his resilient and formidable heroine.

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

Rating: ★★★★★