What a WILD ride! Geissinger’s books are always addictive, and her mafia romances have been particularly compelling – with this being no exception. These two were FIRE together, and I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. I’ll openly admit that I had a little more trouble than usual getting behind this particular couple, not because they don’t have exquisite banter and sizzling chemistry (they definitely DO!), but because the brand of steam in this one just isn’t my flavor (we’ll talk about that in a minute). But that is really my only complaint. The rest of this was so completely engrossing, I was perfectly fine with skimming through a couple of scenes that weren’t my cup of tea. I binged this in one sitting, and stayed up way too late reading. And the audio? Well worth the wait.
Yes, this will technically read as a standalone. Do I recommend that? No, because the other books are fantastic. They’re also somewhat interconnected, and I can’t say how well this would read out of order. This story follows Declan and Sloane, two people brought together by… unusual circumstances. Declan has taken Sloane captive on the order of his mafia boss, and now they’re stuck together – and neither one is excited about it. Declan is a broody and moody, coldblooded killer, and Sloane is a fierce and feisty, resilient woman. She probably should be afraid of the man (okay, she definitely should be), but Sloane refuses to cower. Her bubbly energy and upbeat attitude throw Declan off-kilter, and it’s not long before she’s getting under his skin. But Declan is a man who is always in control, and he’ll have it one way or another.
So, let’s get the part that I didn’t like out of the way – the steam. Geissinger’s books are ALWAYS smoking hot and the scenes aren’t typically vanilla, but this story has a more pronounced submission aspect. There’s a lot of “sir” and “master” talk, with one mildly disturbing steamy scene involving a tampon that I could not for the life of me find sexy. But, hey, different strokes for different folks, right? There were probably only about 25 pages in the whole book that weren’t for me, and the rest was outstanding. It’s definitely got an instalove feel, but it worked here since the chemistry is very, very obvious. I LOVED all of the banter, and there is such a playful feel to this otherwise dark (and potentially triggering) romance. Declan makes a great antihero, with a stern exterior and a secret marshmallow heart; the opposites attract vibe really worked for these two. This hits the ground running from the first page, and it kept me hooked from start to finish. And you can bet that I’m extremely impatient for the next couple in this series.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mCFeaf
🎧 Audio note: The audio is great! It’s got duet narration that is extremely well done, with both voices in every chapter. Loved that. The female narrator does a good job, but Troy Duran steals the show with his accent and deep voice. Sometimes I have trouble with accents in audiobooks, but this one was just sexy. And there’s a lot of steam in this, so it’s a scorching listen. DEFINITELY not safe for work, lol. Nope. The runtime is ideal though, under 10 hours and perfect for a one-day listen – which is good, because there was no way that I was going to sleep without finishing. The audio takes this story up another notch, and it’s one that I’d recommend without hesitation. Just make sure that you have headphones in, because, yeah, it’s blush-inducing.
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3mkiICz
Blurb:
Carnal (adjective):
1) Relating to the pleasures of the body
2) Given to sensual indulgence
3) The man who kidnapped me
The devil has blue eyes, an Irish accent, and a hatred for me that runs deep.
He blames me for starting a war. Consorting with his enemies. Getting his men killed. Though I’m innocent on all charges, he wants his pound of flesh. With an eye on revenge, he makes me his captive.
But as we’ll both soon discover, there are more powerful urges than that for revenge.
When the devil meets his match but she’s his sworn enemy, that’s when the real war begins.
Author’s Note: Readers requiring trigger warnings about any kind of naughty things two consenting adults might do to each other in bed (and out of it) should not read this book.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mCFeaf
Coming Soon!
Blurb:
Savage (adjective):
1) Not domesticated; wild and untamed
2) A brutal or vicious person
3) Malek Antonov
When my older sister calls out of the blue to announce she’s getting married, it’s a shock. She’s not the settling-down kind, and we haven’t spoken in almost three years.
Even more of a shock? Sloane wants me to visit her and meet her new fiancé. Curious, I decide to take her up on the offer.
I should’ve known something was wrong when she wouldn’t tell me where I’d be going. I should’ve known things were odd when she sent a private jet to pick me up. But there’s no way in hell I could’ve ever guessed what would happen when I finally meet her fiancé.
Declan O’Donnell.
Head of the Irish Mob.
Target of a savage Bratva assassin who wants revenge for the murder of his brother.
Now, I’m thousands of miles from home, I’m smack in the middle of a mafia war, and I’ve got a Russian assassin who’s decided he likes the looks of me.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
They never met Malek Antonov.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39SUTMA
Start the series today!
Blurb:
An explosive new novel of love, lust, and obsession from bestselling author J.T. Geissinger.
Five years ago, my fiancé disappeared. He left me with a wedding dress I’d never wear. Left me with the kind of scars that can’t be healed. The man I built my future on vanished like a ghost. All that remained was my broken heart and a million unanswered questions.
Until a mysterious stranger arrives in town.
Tall, dark, and dangerous, Kage is as full of secrets as he is sex appeal. Though I know he’s hiding something, I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame.
The intensity of our connection is addictive, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Heat crackles between us with every look, desire flares into passion, and I fall hard, helpless to resist.
But when I discover how he’s tied to my fiancé’s disappearance, I learn what happens when you fly recklessly into fire:
You get burned.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NvbiPi
Read my review here
Want to really dive in? Start with Beautifully Cruel or go back even further!
If you really want to get immersed in this world, Beautifully Cruel is a great place to start. Some of the characters in that book will tie into the overall story of Carnal Urges, but not in a major way. You can grab it on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2zO7SA4, and my review is the first one to show up.
You want to go even further back than that? I’ll try to explain. Again, these are absolutely not required reading for Savage Hearts, but this is the order you would go in. The Bad Habit series is the least important. The Bad Habit rock star series (mega steamy and super angsty) is some of Geissinger’s earliest work. It introduces the hero (as a side character) who stars in the Dangerous Beauty trilogy (suspenseful and dark). Characters from Beautifully Cruel are introduced in the Dangerous Beauty trilogy. You won’t miss anything major if you don’t read the Dangerous Beauty trilogy first, but you’ll have more insight into the antiheroes of Beautifully Cruel and Cruel Paradise if you do.
Links to Amazon
Bad Habit Book 1: https://amzn.to/2RnAppE
Dangerous Beauty Book 1: https://amzn.to/2S5VMvs
Beautifully Cruel Book 1: https://amzn.to/2zO7SA4
Ruthless Creatures: https://amzn.to/2NvbiPi
About the Author:
J.T. Geissinger is a bestselling author of emotionally charged romance and women’s fiction. Ranging from funny, feisty rom coms to intense, edgy suspense, her books have sold more than one million copies and been translated into several languages.
She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®. She has also been a finalist in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.
Her first novel was published in 2012. Since then she’s written eighteen more novels. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking wine, surfing the internet, and daydreaming about all the things she’s going to be when she grows up. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles with her husband and deaf/demented rescue kitty, Ginger.
Connect with J.T. Geissinger:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/37Iv1zU
Twitter: http://bit.ly/36vTFDC
Instagram: http://bit.ly/35v6fBu
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2upzIQI
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2NaBT2c
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2oAkodD
Join Geissinger’s Gang Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Oj7iMg
Stay up to date by joining J.T.’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/39KRQol
Website: http://www.jtgeissinger.com
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