5 Star Review of Rocco by Sarah Castille

by April | Jan 12, 2018 | Book Reviews

Rocco

by Sarah Castille
ISBN: 9781250104083
Published by St. Martin's Press on January 2nd 2018
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense
Pages: 350
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Mafia enforcer Rocco De Lucchi is the best in the business.

Cold, hard, and utterly ruthless, Rocco is the most dangerous of men. Feelings are a luxury he cannot afford—until a chance encounter brings him face to face with the only woman who found her way into his heart and touched his soul.

Grace Mantini has spent her whole life running from the mob. The daughter of the boss's right-hand man, she is both a prize and a target. When Rocco walks back into her life, she wants nothing to do with the man who betrayed her and broke her heart. But only Rocco can protect her from the dangerous forces that seek to destroy her family. Can they escape the hands of fate closing around them? Or will love be the kiss of death for them both?

“Castille [gives] readers the compelling romance they crave.”—RT Book Reviews

Review of Rocco by Sarah Castille

Rocco is the third novel in the Ruin and Revenge series by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille. Rocco, also known as Frankie, is a hardened and cold mafia enforcer for the Toscanis in Las Vegas. His childhood was devoid of comfort and love, and his future appeared to be heading that direction…until he met Grace, the daughter of a powerful mafia underboss, someone he has sworn to protect. Intense passion and love pulled them together and swept them into a forbidden entanglement that, while strong and fiery, was severely tested in the cruelest of ways, thus forcing them apart and spurring Grace to run.

Years pass and Grace has made a life for herself in Las Vegas, far from the horror that was inflicted upon her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Not wishing to be embroiled in the turbulent life of the Mafia like her father and brother, Grace distances herself and obtains a degree to counsel others, while her secret passion for singing is put on hold. The physical scar she carries upon her face as a result of the night that sent her fleeing and her heart breaking, is a deterrent to her in the novel whenever she finds herself longing to indulge in her passion.

While in Las Vegas, Grace and Rocco run into each other at a funeral and all the passion they have been holding at bay threatens to explode. Their encounters are filled with so much emotion and pain that you can practically feel it leaping from the pages and taking a hold of you. It is quite evident that there is still a lot they needed to say to each other and a lot of feelings they were never able to dispel. When Grace’s life is threatened once more, Rocco steps in and is once again in a position to protect her. He’s given a second chance to prove to her that he can keep her safe, that he can love her.

I loved Grace’s character. She is sweetness and strength all rolled into one. I love how she starts to come to terms with the past and is able to move past her disfigurement. Seeing Grace bring life and compassion back into Rocco, and watching as he did the same to her was a beautiful feeling. The story was a perfect blend of passion, suspense, forgiveness, and redemption. It tugs at the heart strings while steaming up the room!

Five out of five stars for Rocco!! Check it out today!!

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Review of Luca by Sarah Castille

by April | Nov 21, 2017 | Book Reviews

Luca

by Sarah Castille
ISBN: 9781250104069
Series: Ruin & Revenge,
Published by St. Martin's Press on June 27th 2017
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense
Pages: 350
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The mafia men of New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille’s Ruin & Revenge series are hard, hot, and ruthless. They show no weakness and take no prisoners. But the right woman can soften their stone cold hearts and make them come alive with dark desire.

Luca Rizzoli was nearly destroyed by a brutal betrayal that cost him his family. Now a ruthless crime boss in Las Vegas, he lets nothing touch his frozen heart...until a smoldering encounter with a beautiful stranger ignites his passion. One night isn’t enough for a man who takes what he wants—and Luca will do whatever he can to possess his mysterious temptress...

Police detective Gabrielle Fawkes lives for revenge. She lost everything at the hands of an unforgiving ruler of the Vegas underworld. Now she wants to see him six feet under. But when a near-fatal attack leads her into Luca’s arms, what was meant to be one night of unbridled passion becomes something forbiddingly more. Luca has his own agenda, but when strong, determined, kick-ass detective Gaby sets her sights on her target, Luca feels compelled to stand by her side and protect her at all costs. However, pursuing danger comes at a high price—and both Gaby and Luca must work together in order to eliminate the dark enterprise that threatens them, in Luca by Sarah Castille.

Review of Luca by Sarah Castille

Review by: April Hughes

Luca is the second novel in the Ruin and Revenge series by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille. After reading the first novel Nico, and being completed awestruck by how amazing it was, I had high hopes for the second one…and I was not disappointed. Luca continued its fascinating dive into the dark underworld of the Las Vegas mafia, with its charismatic characters and ominous rules and “guidelines”. Luca’s intensity, wickedness, and deep sense of loyalty and family made him an instant favorite of mine. In fact, I believe Mr. Luca Rizzoli- a Toscani crime boss- has the honorary position of being my current book boyfriend *sigh*

As for Gabrielle Fawkes- a narcotics (and theft) detective for the LVPD- well, I simply adored her. In fact, should I ever create a book bestie list, she would be right there near the top. Gabrielle, still recovering from the violent murder of her husband David, starts the story off by getting herself shot during her quest for revenge against the drug lord who killed him. Thankfully, this near-death experience places her in the hospital right next to the equally indisposed Luca Rizzoli. So, this cop and a mafia boss are wheeled into a hospital room…sounds like the start to a joke, right? You couldn’t be more wrong. It’s the start to an explosive, fiery, and all-consuming story of tragic loss, quests for revenge, fierce loyalty, and heart-stopping passion.

Despite being on opposite ends of the law, Luca and Gabrielle are clearly perfectly matched. Luca is feared and respected in his line of work- he has no qualms about decimating his enemies and protecting his family. Gabrielle is equally fierce about protecting those she loves- this is seen multiple times throughout the novel. She didn’t hesitate to protect her best friend from a threatening altercation with a man twice her size, and she didn’t hesitate to throw herself into a precarious situation to protect Luca (probably one of my favorite scenes in the whole book). It’s clear these two are meant to be together. They make one badass couple.

As for the rest of the novel- the secondary characters contributed wonderfully to the story. I enjoyed getting to know the unique and dynamic members of Luca’s crew. I was also intrigued by the mystery behind the drug lord Garcia, and found myself anxious to put all the pieces together with Gabrielle and the Toscani mafia.

And- I just love a good surprise ending!

All this story has done is make me hungry for the next one titled “Rocco”, which is scheduled to be released January 2^nd of 2018. Do I have this book pre-ordered? Why yes, I do.

If you haven’t read the first novel of this series, Check out my review of Nico!

Check Out “Luca” on Amazon!

Review of Nico by Sarah Castille

by April | Nov 14, 2017 | Book Reviews

Nico

by Sarah Castille
ISBN: 9781250104045
Series: Ruin & Revenge,
Published by St. Martin's Press on December 6th 2016
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense
Pages: 350
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Goodreads

A dangerous proposal

In Nico, the first book in the Ruin & Revenge series by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille, Las Vegas Mafia boss, Nico Toscani, is used to getting what he wants, whether it is having the City of Sin under his rule or a beautiful woman in his bed. But when he meets his match in the gorgeous, headstrong Mia Cordano, the daughter of a rival crime lord, all bets are off. . .

Sexy computer hacker, Mia, struggles to break free of her ruthless father’s Mafia ties...but she can’t resist the powerful and seductive Nico, who will stop at nothing to possess her. With their families locked in a brutal war for control of the city, Mia and Nico enter into a forbidden game. Will they surrender to the passion that burns between them—and risk tearing apart their families? Or will Nico be forced to betray the only woman who sets his blood on fire?

Review of Nico by Sarah Castille

Review by: April Hughes

This novel is ADDICTING!

Nico is the first novel in the Ruin and Revenge series by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille. The story follows Mia Cordano, the daughter of a violent and immoral mafia boss in Las Vegas. Unlike most of her family, Mia doe not condone the actions of her father and seeks to build a life away from that of crime. So, she becomes a hacker and starts up a business testing security systems for various legitimate and legal organizations. It is during one of these security testings that Mia meets Nico Toscani, a mafia boss for the Toscani family. Unfortunately, despite the sparks that fly between them, Mia and Nico’s families are warring due to the murder of Nico’s father.

This story may have a Romeo and Juliet feel to it, but this novel is far from that. Both main characters are strong and competent, and rather than become overwhelmed by all the obstacles stacked against them, they overcome them with clinical and strategic planning and foresight. Nico and Mia have astounding chemistry that you can practically feel leaping off the pages. Their ability to reach into the heart (metaphorically speaking, of course) of one another and see past all the hardships placed on them by their families, makes them extraordinarily compatible.

It was a thrilling journey to be sucked into the insidious underworld of the infamously glamorous Las Vegas. I have always been a fan of mafia-based stories, and was blow away by how detailed and knowledgeable the author was on the subject. The mafia families in this series are gritty, dark, sensual, dangerous, and operating from the murky gray area of right and wrong. The characters were “real” and struggled with numerous moral dilemmas.

I finished this story in less than a day. I mentally devoured it. Any spare moment that I had was filled with me snatching this book up and sticking my nose in it.

And why did there have to be an excerpt of the next novel Luca at the end?? Ugh! Now I’m going to obsess until I get my hands on him…I mean it…the book *cough*. **UPDATE** See my Review of Luca here

See Next

Review of “Full Contact” by Sarah Castille

Review of “Against the Ropes” by Sarah Castille

Pick up a copy of Nico on Amazon

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Review of “Against the Ropes” by Sarah Castille

by April | Oct 27, 2017 | Book Reviews

Against the Ropes

by Sarah Castille
Series: Redemption #1
Also in this series: Full Contact
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on 2013
Genres: Fiction, Erotica, General, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 349
Buy on Amazon//Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

"Fifty Shades of Grey meets Fight Club."-RT Book Reviews

A Publishers Weekly TOP 10 Romance for Fall

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more...

Makayla never thought she'd set foot in an elite mixed martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it's these guys. Then again, at her first sight of the club's owner, she's the one feeling breathless.

The man they call Torment is all sleek muscle and restrained power. Whether it's in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when a soft touch is required and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he's about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined...

Redemption SeriesAgainst the Ropes In Your Corner Full ContactFighting Attraction (coming Spring 2017)

More praise for Against the Ropes: "Smart, sharp, sizzling and deliciously sexy."-Alison Kent, bestselling author of Unbreakable

Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

Review of “Against the Ropes” by Sarah Castille

Review by: April Hughes

I mentally DEVOURED this novel…

Max Huntington, known in the underground fight world as “Torment”, is a millionaire business man by day and an intense, well-known fighter by night. When Makayla, a trained medic, first meets Torment- those sparks fly! Heck, they do more than that- they SIZZLE and burn! I can still remember how my heart thumped in tandem to Makayla’s daring entrance into that fight ring in the club Redemption. That moment displayed just how courageous she can be, and just how much of a challenge Torment was going to find her.

From there, the book falls into a progression of intense, hot encounters for our two main characters. However, there is more to our characters than just their inability to resist one another and their susceptibility to the others attraction. We learn that Makayla struggles daily with crippling financial issues, uncertainty about her future and goals, and troubling childhood memories. Torment also struggles with guilt from a tragic event in his teen years and a disconnect with his family. Both characters ghosts cause a lot of conflict during their passionate, tumultuous relationship.

I greatly enjoyed watching them navigate unfamiliar emotions and deal with their pasts together. I also took delight in reading about the other members of Redemption. In fact, by the end of the book, I found that I couldn’t wait to see what this group was going to do next! I cannot wait to pick up the second book in the series and continue indulging in a novel filled with alpha, tattooed fighters and strong, challenging women!

Check out New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille’s Redemption series today!

You can pick up your copy on Amazon Here.

See my review of “Full Contact” by Sarah Castille here!

Also, Check out my other reviews Here.

Review of Full Contact by Sarah Castille

by April | Oct 4, 2017 | Book Reviews

Full Contact

by Sarah Castille
ISBN: 9781402296260
Series: Redemption #3
Also in this series: Against the Ropes
on 2015
Genres: Fiction, Erotica, General, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 296
Buy on Amazon//Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

"Fifty Shades of Grey meets Fight Club."-RT Book Reviews on Against the Ropes

Ray wraps his arms around me and holds me tight as if something terrible has happened and he doesn't want to let me go.

Full Contact. This is how Ray speaks when his emotions overwhelm him. I melt into his stillness. His body is hot and hard, his breath warm on my neck. He smells of leather and sweat, sex and sin. Nothing can tear me away.

When you can't resist the one person who could destroy you... Sia O'Donnell can't help but push the limits. She secretly attends every underground MMA fight featuring The Predator, the undisputed champion. When he stalks his prey in the ring, Sia is mesmerized. He is dominant and dangerous and every instinct tells her to run.

Every beautiful thing Ray "The Predator" touches he knows he'll eventually destroy. Soft, sweet and innocent, Sia is the light to Ray's darkness-and completely irresistible. From the moment he lays eyes on her, he knows he's going to have to put his dark past behind him to win her body and soul.

Redemption Series Against the Ropes In Your Corner Full Contact Fighting Attraction (coming Spring 2017)

Praise for Sarah Castille's Redemption series: "Smart, sharp, sizzling and deliciously sexy."-Alison Kent, bestselling author of Unbreakable"Powerful. Gritty. And sexy beyond belief. Sarah is a true master!"-Opal Carew, New York Times bestselling author of His to Claim

Review of Full Contact by Sarah Castille

Full Contact is the third book in a series written by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille. Full contact follows the character Ray, A.K.A Predator, an underground fighter/private investigator, and Sia- a tattoo artist with a tortured past and a longing to be free from it. Both characters are strongly developed and just sizzle with chemistry on the pages. The Predator exudes dominance and strength, which is just what Sia needs in order to face a past she has been trying so hard to move on from and is failing at.

We eventually learn about the Predator’s ghosts from his past and his inability to move forward. Between his and Sia’s burgeoning love and Sia’s attempts at help him, the Predator also finds himself in the position of wanting to move past his own tragedies. With two strong, tortured, main characters the story finds itself riddled with passion, tragedy, grief, and joy…a veritable mix of unexpected moments. Like that scene in the alleyway beneath a deluge of rain…oh my.

From the gritty atmosphere of abandoned warehouses for underground fight clubs, to the aesthetically-appealing tattoo parlors, and the occasional bar and club, these characters will take you on a passionate journey through a darker landscape. After reading this novel you won’t be able to look at a painting easel or an ice cube the same way again…

You can get this book instantly for the Kindle on Amazon for $1.25 here.

Hi there!

I discovered my love of reading at an early age and spent a great deal of my time devouring novels from mysteries like Nancy Drew, whimsical fantasies like Harry Potter, and eventually the turbulent and passionate stories in the romance genre, I found myself engrossed in a completely different world than this one. I believe it is through my experiences and the books I read, that I have developed a keen interest in a myriad of things. For that reason, The Vagaries of Us represents multiple areas of interest

More About Me

5 Star Review of Rocco by Sarah Castille

Review of Rocco by Sarah Castille

Review of Luca by Sarah Castille

Review of Luca by Sarah Castille

Review of Nico by Sarah Castille