#Review ~ Emerald (Colors of Crime, Book 5) by Sophie Lark

ASIN : B0838R9XKZ
Print Length : 207 pages
Word Wise : Enabled
Publication Date : February 12, 2020
Purchase Link: Amazon

About the Book:

She Tried To Kill Me...

She crept into my room with a syringe full of poison.

Now she’s my prisoner.

She refuses to tell me who sent her or why.

But I’ll get every last secret out of her. Through pleasure or through punishment.

I captured her and now she belongs to me…

“Emerald” is a dark and dominating mafia romance, Book 1 in the Colors of Crime series. It’s a stand-alone novel, full of intrigue, danger, and sexy bedroom scenes. Contains spanking, so if such material offends you, do not read.

Review:

Don't let the synopsis of Emerald fool you. Ivan may be a tough Bratva leader with men that cower at his size, demands, and show of force but Sloane is not one of his men. She is an assassin sent to kill him. They payout is huge and, even as she eyes his sexy, sleeping form, she knows she has to fulfill her contract. That is, until he captures her and holds her in a cell in the basement. Based on Ivan's MO, Sloane should be dead, not sitting almost naked in front of him, leaning into his touch and wanting more. 

Sloane's character is great. She's mouthy, insolent, and when it comes right down to it, can hold her own. She's been an assassin for years and until Ivan, able to get in, do her job, and get out. By the time they find the body, she's only a fleeting memory, one people never associate with dead body. Sloane knew going into this job that Ivan wasn't going to be easy to take down. He's much larger and stronger than she so convention wasn't going to work. Ivan catching her and not immediately killing her allowed for one of the sexiest romances to bloom. They both have a maniacal mafia overlord breathing down their necks, each for a different reason, but if they work together, Ivan and Sloane may just take him down. 

Sloane is Ivan's match in almost every way, making this a book about partnership, exploration of unfamiliar feelings, and being ready to risk it all for the one you love. The book is filled with suspense, action, and thrilling moments. I love the characters in the Colors of Crime series. They are written well and are realistic. The suspense and twists in the story keep me on the edge of my seat.  Lyrically, the author is a star. Her use of descriptive language, metaphors, and vivid imagery take this book to the next level. Emerald hits all of positives for story, character development, world building, passion, and suspense. I look forward to getting my hands on the next book.

I was provided a copy of the book to read.

Book Review ~ Crimson (Colors of Crime, Book #4) by Sophie Lark

Book Details:

Print Length: 241 pages

Publication Date: January 15, 2020

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

ASIN: B081ZJHRP1

Purchase Link: Amazon

About the Book:

Seduce An Enemy To Control An Empire…

Nadia is a mafia princess, come to Moscow to solve an old mystery from her mother’s journal.

Nikolai is the heir to the rival Markov empire. He’s about to secure his family’s fortunes once and for all. There’s just one thing standing in his way...

He needs a wife. And not just any wife — he needs Nadia Lebedev. Their families have been enemies for generations. The bloodshed and betrayal goes back two hundred years.

Nikolai must end the feud by taking possession of Nadia. He will tame her. Own her. And make her his forever…

“Crimson” is a blazing hot Dark Mafia Romance, full mystery and intrigue. It’s Book 4 in the “Colors of Crime” series. It’s a stand-alone novel, complete with HEA and no cliffhangers. 

Contains explicit scenes, including spanking.

My Review:

Crimson moves further away from the themes in books one and two and becomes fully engulfed in the Russian mafia. There will be spoilers from Violet, book 3 in the Colors of Crime series. 

Nadia Lebedev lost her mother Samara in Violet, the previous book in the series. Crimson begins at Samara’s funeral. Not really having a relationship with her mother, Nadia is sad for the what-could-have’s that she’ll be missing out on. In an effort to try and connect with her mother, Nadia leaves Paris and ventures to Moscow to her grandfather’s estate, bringing along her boyfriend, Maxim. There, Nadia attempts to translate a journal given to her before leaving Paris, one that paints a picture starkly different than the woman Nadia grew to know. Nadia also attempts to get closer to her mother by staying in her old room and travelling to all her mother’s former haunts. 

After ditching Maxim, the dude was monster anyway, she finds herself gravitating toward Nikolai Markov. The two families have an ongoing feud that has lasted many, many years. The two families reuniting now is suspicious, but Nadia knows her feelings for Nikolai are real and growing stronger every day. When the truth is revealed, Nadia and Nikolai may very well end up like their parents. My only complaint is the ending. I would have loved another chapter to see how Nikolai’s father would have reacted to Nadia’s revelation. 

I love the characters in the Colors of Crime series. They are written well and are realistic. The suspense and twists in the story keep me on the edge of my seat. The mystery unfolding in Nadia’s mother’s journal is engaging and kept me reading, wanting to know more. Lyrically, the author is a star. Her use of descriptive language, metaphors, and vivid imagery take this book to the next level. Crimson hits all of positives for story, character development, world building, passion, and suspense. I look forward to getting my hands on the next book.

Please note this book does contain light BDSM and sex.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Book Review: Violet (Colors of Crime, Book #3) by Sophie Lark ~ #Mafia #Romance

Book Details:

Print Length: 219 pages

Publication Date: December 18, 2019

ASIN: B081819P9G

Amazon

About the Book:

He Knows Her Secret…

Violet Black is a talented singer and songwriter, but she’s barely scratching a living in London, working at a seedy club run by the Russian mafia.

Standing onstage, Violet locks eyes with a massive, brutal-looking Bratva. Anton Vasilev is second-in-command to the biggest boss in Paris. He’s intelligent, ruthless, and completely fixated on Violet.

He wants something from her, but Violet doesn’t know what. Until he abducts her from her bed in the middle of the night.

The Bratva have a plan for Violet. They know a secret about her… Something she doesn’t even know herself...

“Violet” is a dark mafia romance, full of danger, forbidden love, and bloody retribution. It’s Book 3 of the Colors of Crime series — a standalone novel, complete with HEA and no cliff hangers. Intended for mature readers who love steamy sex scenes, and men who will do anything to protect their women.

My Review:

Violet Black is a poor but aspiring singer, songwriter, and performer in some of the seedier locations in London. One evening during a gathering of the Russian mafia heads at the club she works for, Violet finds herself in the crosshairs of an older gentleman and his second-in-command. Violet is enthralled by the second-in-command who is introduced as Anton. As quickly as their connection sparks to life, the group is gone from the club. Anton doesn't leave Violet's mind, however.

When Violet goes to sleep one evening in her apartment but awakens on a boat with Anton in the middle of a channel, she knows the feelings she had about Anton are true. He want something from her or knows something about her. An effort to escape Anton fails and Violet finds herself standing face-to-face with one of the Bratva's powerful leaders.  

Violet is a darker installment of the Colors of Crime series by Sophie Lark. The introduction to the Russian mafia was a nice twist for the series. This is definitely as stand-alone story in the series, though we do get a glimpse of Violet's brother and sister. The chemistry between Violet and Anton is off the charts, believable, and evident from the first time they locked eyes. The situation involving the abduction and reasons thereof, as presented in the story, was too easily accepted by Violet, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. 

I love the characters. They are written well and are realistic. The suspense and twists in the story keep me on the edge of my seat. Lyrically, the author is a star. Her use of descriptive language, metaphors, and vivid imagery take this book to the next level. Violet hit all of positives for story, character development, world building, passion, and suspense. I look forward to getting my hands on the next book. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Book Review: Sapphire (Colors of Crime, Book #1) by Sophie Lark ~ #RomanticSuspense

Book Details:

Print Length: 187 pages

Publication Date: October 16, 2019

ASIN: B07YGKZ72B

Purchase Link:

Amazon

About the Book:

Will She Choose The Thief, The Detective, Or The Sapphire?

Lex Moore is a thief and a heart-breaker. She takes whatever she wants from men, especially when it’s expensive…

She picked the wrong target in Detective Byron Black. He’ll hunt her down, to make her pay for destroying his career and stealing his heart...

Luca Diotallevi is in deep with the Italian Mafia. He’s got to pull off an impossible heist, but Lex keeps getting in his way. He can’t let her take the sapphire, but he also can’t keep his hands off her…

Will Lex submit to the detective that chased her across the world? Or will she choose the one thief she can’t outwit?

Sapphire is a romantic suspense novel that takes place across the pond. Lex is an expert thief, stealing art, figurines, and the hearts of men. When she breaks the heart of Detective Byron Black, he scours the globe trying to find her. When Lex gets involved in a heist for the same object as another thief, Luca, a member of an Italian mafia, she finds herself on the run. The double-crossing of Lex by a supposed friend leaves her infuriated and set on seeking him out. A day late and a dollar short, Lex finds herself in the sights of the mafia boss who sends Luca and Roma to collect the object by any means possible. Luca, drawn to Lex, doesn't allow anything to happen to her....until she finds herself in the crosshairs of none other than Detective Black. 

Lex, Luca, and Byron are excellently written characters. Each character is smart and personable, with emotions and layers making them 3-dimensional. The story is unique and the love triangle is settled nicely. Without revealing her choice I'm just going to say that I'm glad it ended the way it did. She's not good enough for the guy she left behind. Lyrically, the author is a star. Her use of descriptive language, metaphors, and vivid imagery take this book to the next level. The only complain I have is the use of the "c" word during the sex scene on the train. The word is typically used in a derogatory manner and is a huge turn off for me when used during a passionate love scene. Other than that, Sapphire hit all of the positives for story, character development, world building, passion, and suspense. I look forward to getting my hands on the next book.

I purchased my copy of this book from Amazon.

My Rating: