Review: Sinners Condemned: An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance by Somme Sketcher

About the Book

No good ever comes from a red-head in a stolen dress with her worldly possessions at her feet.

I should have known she was trouble when smoke and sin followed her into my bar and she challenged me to a game.

She may have won my watch, but she started a war.

As she slipped my Breitling off my wrist and onto her own, she gleefully announced she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Yeah, lucky to everyone but me.

Because the moment her muddy boots stomped down the stairs and up my spine, my empire started to crumble.

My cashmere charm is wrinkling.

My gentlemanly facade is cracking.

My enemies are closing in.

Maybe the fortune teller was right:

The Queen of Hearts will drag me down to hell.

At least it’s wonderfully warm among the flames.

DARK MAFIA ROMANCE - ENEMIES TO LOVERS - AGE GAP - SLOW BURN

***
SOMME’S NOTES:

Sinners Condemned is part one of a duet, and because of this, it ends on a cliffhanger. Rafe & Penny’s story continues in Sinners Consumed.

For a better reading experience, please read Sinners Anonymous before reading Sinners Condemned.

You should know that I write dark romance, and my stories–including this one–aren’t for the faint of heart. They contain several triggers, so aren’t suitable for everyone.

Revoew

I realized very on that I’m very much someone who is too soft to read dark romances, even mafia romances in general. That genre is something that I don’t gravitate towards. However, I will admit that seeing one quote on the internet can make me buy a book within seconds. And that’s exactly that happened to me with Sinners Consumed. I originally started reading this series in November and although I enjoyed the first book --- Sinners Anonymous, I was extremely excited for Sinners Condemned, since that was the couple that everyone enjoyed the most. The hype for Sinners Consumed was well deserved. And since last year I have read this book three times.

I wouldn’t classify the Sinners Anonymous series as dark romance. There are definitely books darker, and this series although sometimes heavy on the mafia part, would be a good introduction to anyone wanting something a little lighter in terms of dark romance stories.

In summary, this story is about a mafia billionaire and a swindler who try not to fall in love. Penny believes that she is lucky; however, since meeting her, Rafe has had a string of bad luck. She’s also bad luck to his gentlemen persona that he’s been holding on to for years.

It’s an interesting and entertaining duo who have some of the best chemistry that I’ve had the pleasure of reading about. The banter is off the charts considering Penny and Rafe didn’t necessarily like each other at first. And there is so much tension between them. But somehow, that despite their distain they couldn’t not bother each other. Both of them enjoyed rallying each other up, and creating these wagers against each other. And no matter how many times, I read their relationship developing, I always have a good time, and spend most of the book with a smile on my face. I don’t mind that this book might be considered slow burn and that they don’t officially get together or even kiss in this book. None of that matters to me. Rafe and Penny are just that good, and have created this long lasting hold on me.

Final Thoughts

Sinners Condemned is a standout within this series, and only is bested by the next book in the series—Sinners Consumed. However, both books revolve around the incredibly magically romance between Rafe and Penny. Penelope Price is a great female main character and, in my opinion, deserves to be listed amongst the greats. 

Review: Eye of the Beholder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Summary

One girl. One boy. One bargain…

Mina
Look, I’m no social butterfly. I don’t care what the extroverts say; talking to people is scary. I’d rather hang out with my books than actual human beings. Books don’t call you names or dump water over your head in the cafeteria.
But high school is almost over, and I’m realizing I have nothing to show for it but good grades. I need to come out of my shell if I want to get the attention of a certain football player, and I’m going to need help. My neighbor Cohen is the man for the job. Sure, his attractiveness makes me nervous, and yes, he smells obnoxiously good all the time, but it’s fine. I’ve got this.
I mean, probably.
I’ve probably got this.

Cohen
Mina’s got a thing for my buddy Jack. I’ve got a thing for getting into a good college. My plan is simple: I’ll help Mina get Jack’s attention if she’ll tutor me for the ACT. No big deal, right? But working with Mina isn’t going to be easy. Her social skills are iffy at best, and don’t get me started on her (lack of) flirting skills. It’s a good thing she makes me laugh, because we’re going to be spending a lot of time together…

Review

Eye of the Beholder felt like a wholesome, very cliché Hallmark movie. In summary, it’s a story of a high school boy and girl making a deal to help each other achieve a goal. And while trying to accomplish that goal, they begin to crush on each other. Despite Mina's main goal being to catch the eye of Cohen’s best friend. Like mentioned before, it felt all every cliché because of course Cohen recognized how special Mina was without her having to change herself completely, and of course the main guy she was crushing turns out to not be so great. Mina and Cohen were fine characters. They had their cute moments. They both were genuinely good people, and their concerns about ACTs and family felt real for someone their age.

Final Thoughts

Eye of the Beholder was a cute and clean romance. Although it can be cliché at times, I was entertained most of the time. 

Review: The Lilac House by Barbara Josselsohn

The Lilac House, the first book in the Lake Summers series by Barbara Josselsohn, is a beautiful novel about finding yourself, love and moving on. 

Anna Harris, not too long ago, lost her husband, Greg. They shared two beautiful kids together and their summer escape to Lake Summers is something that they always cherished. After a loss, the first time without your loved one is hard but with her children at her side, coming back to one of her favorite places, she’s determined to make new memories and rebuild her their lives.

Coming back to Lake Summers, trying to adjust has brought back many memories. Diving into this small town and helping her aunt’s store has renewed a passion within her that’s made her start to feel herself again. Going through the emotions and memories surrounding them, having her aunt there has made life easier to get through. 

Then as people show up in your life right on time, she meets a consultant, Aidan, who helps the local businesses in the area. Initially, getting advice to help her aunt, they find themselves growing towards each other from their common shared loss and things that seem to bond them together.

As everything seems to fall into place, not expecting to feel this way again, two things happen. One, she discovers something about Greg and his death that changes everything. Also, Aidan has been holding back a secret as to what brought him to Lake Summers that could put everything he has worked for at risk.

While these two broken hearts may have found each other, will this close the door for a chance for happiness?

The Lilac House had many layers to the book that interwove a beautiful story. Loss is such a hard thing to deal with, but I loved the story that evolved from Anna and Aidan finding each other and maneuvering their way into each other’s lives. Their shared experiences, finding a common bond delicately captures the sentiment that even though they lost their loves, it’s never too late for someone else to come into your life and capture your heart. Either friendship or romance, moving on and letting love in, this was a nice storyline.

Hope was complex but had a voice that will resonate with you. She was overcome with guilt for herself for not being the person she wanted to be for herself or to her family. Having secrets of her own that affected her relationship with Anna, when discovered, allowed her to heal from her own loss and let herself to be loved and worthy. 

Overall, this story that deals with love, loss and moving on was a wonderful read. All the characters in the book brought a realness and insightful perspective that collectively came together sharing experiences of the heart of community and the importance of familial support. I would’ve loved to get a conclusion on what transpired in their lives after, but it was a nice ending. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series.

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Review: The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

The Christmas Village by Annie Rains is the second book in her Somerset Lake series. In this book, we follow the story of Lucy Hannigan and Miles Bruno.

Lucy and Miles go way back. Sadly, Miles broke her heart and perhaps with their story as it unfolds can be summed up to the right person, wrong time. Only this time, he’ll have to convince her, even though time has passed, that he’s worth a second chance.

Upon return to Somerset Lake, with the death of her mother lingering in the back of her mind, Lucy Hannigan is trying to sort things out approaching the first holidays without her. Luckily after joining a book club, with the support of some wonderful girlfriends, being alone has been easier to deal with. As her mother’s financial woes continue to reveal themselves, her advertisement for a renter had gone unnoticed until an unfortunate situation happened to someone that became the answer to her dilemma. Only one problem, her only candidate was none other than Miles Bruno.

Alright, there’s more to the story about him breaking her heart before you hate him from the start. To begin with, considering currently her financial status, she can’t be selective. It’s not that they are enemies, just friends at a distance. He’s a great guy who thought he was doing the right thing before considering his circumstances then. When Lucy agrees to the rental, she lays down some rules to guard her heart and their peace. While it’s easy to forgive, she can’t forget their past. Little does she know; he wants to do all in his power to make it up to her.

When an unexpected visit from the HOA brings bad news, Lucy is overwhelmed with the possibly of losing all that she has left. With the holidays coming up, not feeling the spirit, Lucy decides she’s not up to continuing her family tradition of decorating her home. Every year her mother entered the competitive Merriest Lawn decorating contest. When it’s discovered that the winner gets a cash prize, Miles convinces her that is the answer to all her problems and is determined to help her win. As she starts to warm up not only to the holiday but opening her heart to the possibilities, will Lucy allow heart to be open for a second chance?

The journey between these two really was emotional and embodies everything about getting it right the second time around. They were the right people at the wrong time. The ups and downs, revelations and forgiveness of the past made their story worth the read. I love the friends in this series because with these two, they are very supportive and make you feel good. You just want to be friends with them also. There is always something nostalgic about the holidays and when love finds you again, there’s a pure joy in the sentimentality a redemption love story. It concludes with a sweet hea and fun epilogue.

Just on a side note, this can be read as a standalone but for continuity, I would read in order. In case you haven’t found this wonderful series, start with The Summer Cottage then move unto this book, The Christmas Village which is the second book in The Somerset Lake series. Please make sure to continue with the next book, The True Love Bookshop.

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Review: Perfect Strangers by J.T. Geissinger

About the Book

“These kisses of his...they're demanding and possessive. They're hungry and deep. They're the kisses of a man who wants more of a woman—who wants everything—and isn't going to stop until he gets it."

Author Olivia Rossi hasn’t been able to write a word since tragedy struck two years ago and ripped her world apart. Heartbroken and still haunted by the past, she accepts an offer to spend the summer at a friend’s apartment in Paris in search of healing and her lost muse.

What she finds instead is James, an enigmatic stranger who ignites in her an unexpected and all-consuming passion.

Agreeing to tell each other nothing more than their first names, Olivia and James embark on a torrid affair. But the more time they spend together, the more Olivia begins to realize her summer fling is turning into a powerful connection…and that the magnetic man she’s falling in love with might not be what he seems at all.

 Review

Perfect Strangers was wow, it was wow, and I can’t really describe it without breaching spoiler territory. This book is best if you go in blind and appreciate the twist and turns as it comes along. In summary, Olivia Rossi is struggling with writer’s block after suffering a tragedy. She accepts an offer to stay in Paris for three months with the hope that it’ll heal her broken heart. She doesn’t expect to meet the perfect stranger—James Blackwood. And nor she does expect to enter a sexy affair with him.

Olivia and James interactions were filled with passion, and it felt at times too good to be true. Especially, when they both decided to not get personal with each other. Despite how much at times they wish too.

I can’t elaborate much, but the twist hit me hard. Like completely speechless to the point where I had to go back and re-read what I had read because I was devastated and in shook. This book was an entertaining and emotional experience, and I thought with the last twist, nothing else would happen, but I was completely wrong. And when I finished the book, the only thing I could do is nod and wonder if I was an idiot and had missed any signs for how this would end.

Final Thoughts

Perfect Strangers was an absolutely steamy book with wild twists and turns that will leave your jaw on the ground. 

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Review: The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains

I'm not sure if this will be the concluding book in the series but The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains is book four of her Somerset Lake series. If you haven't read the series, you must go back and read. Ideally, they could be read as a standalone but I wouldn't recommend it. I would read the book in order for continuity because there are little tidbits here and there that blend well together from the preceding books. Depending on where you are with this book, this centers around Moira and Gil.

In case you aren't familiar with Moira Green, she is one tough cookie. She is independent, loves her job, has an amazing group of supportive girlfriends that get together once a week to chat at their book club. Her life gets thrown upside when a proposed plan to improve one of the town's biggest problems is solved but at the expense of demolishing her mother's beloved bakery. With fierce determination and humility, she goes straight to the person that potentially has the power to fix all this, Gil Ryan hoping he can help save the building.

Moira and Gil aren't the friends they used to be. Their budding friendship changed one night when a series of events affected their longtime friendship. After realizing that the decision is to be done and nothing will alter the inevitable, Moira decides to take matters into her own hands and decides to run against him.

As the temperature gets turned up for the election, a shift in temperature happens between the two that shifts their friendship. What had been just one side admiration from Gil, begins to evolve a warmer temperament building an attraction that becomes hard to deny.

With all of her girlfriends getting their second chance at love and being all happy and bliss, will she complete them by finally letting love in?

If this concludes the series then I'm glad it ends with these two. I love the type of characters that come together the way they did. It makes their journey all the much sweeter to their hea. I will admit that Moira has sort of irked me a little bit because of her cold temperature to Gil. She's lucky he didn't get snatched up by someone else but I doubt that would've happened because it seemed like he would've subconsciously waited forever for her. We waited long enough for her to open her eyes and see what was in front of her. Their storyline had some sad moments that were unveiled but it redefined their friendship/relationship that allowed her move forward but finally open her eyes.

Besides, their journey to each other, one of my favorite moments in the book is the character Doug. If people took the time to get to know or gave people like Doug a chance, they would thrive. Just because he had down syndrome, doesn't mean that he doesn't have the same hopes and dreams that everyone has. I loved his relationship with Gil and how he respected him and treated him as a person in spite of his physical challenge. He just made my heart smile.

As usual, my favorite girls were back. It was nice getting to see everyone again. Even though Reva and her blog drove me crazy throughout this series, it was nice her little tidbits of wisdom that each one got. If this is goodbye, then Somerset Lake was such a wonderful little town to visit and I'll miss the people. If you haven't checked out the series, go back and add this to the reading list.

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