Bonkers, totally bonkers – and that’s a compliment. I’m not even going to pretend that the story was anything other than ludicrous, but I had SO much fun reading it. I flew through the pages so fast that none of the outlandish plot points (or plot holes) tripped me up, and it was an unpredictable, tension-filled, SPICY ride from start to finish. A truly, deliciously entertaining read. I loved that I never quite knew where the story was going to go next, I loved the smokin’ hot chemistry between the characters, and I loved the uncertainty that came from knowing our heroine was literally dying. That makes her act in ways she typically wouldn’t, and it added a whole other level of complexity to the storyline. Have no fear though, as the blurb states – it all works out in the end (HEA included!), and it was such a sexy time getting there.
The story follows Tempest (24) a woman whose 18-year-old relative is being forced into a mafia-adjacent marriage to a man their family has messy history with. Dante (34) isn’t overly enthusiastic about the prospect either, but no one is interested in his side of the story. However, the last thing he expects is a last-minute change in brides. When Tempest steps in and cons her way into a marriage to Dante, it stirs up all sorts of trouble. They’re both determined to keep feelings out of the equation, but it’s impossible to deny the chemistry that sparks between them. Tempest stirs up something inside Dante, and that’s sure to be a problem… since a liver disease is likely to end her life within the next six months.
I love reading an over the top mafia romance once in a while to keep things interesting, and this certainly did that. I was immediately intrigued by the concept, but it was the sexual tension and mystery that kept me turning the pages. Dante and Tempest were absolute FIRE together, heating up the pages with the frequent spice. I’m not the biggest fan of Dante’s profession, but that’s personal preference and was handled well. It’s definitely the spiciest book I’ve read recently, mostly because of the intensity. These two walk a fine line, and it was interesting to see some of the concepts that were explored. Beyond the obvious – Tempest is dying – the story also contains several (major) dark, potentially triggering elements, especially relating to her past SA and the general “mafianess” of the book. Every time I thought it was going too far, Cole turned things around for me. It was actually a great introduction to this new-to-me author, even if I could tell that a few things were clearly written by a man in an lol kinda way. I could also pick apart several things about the storyline if I really wanted to, but I don’t. This delivered everything I wanted from it and more, and I’m excited to check out more from the author.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tMElDz
Blurb:
A blisteringly steamy, Dark Mafia, Enemies to Lovers, Marriage of Convenience standalone romance by bestselling author, Jagger Cole.
I tried to outsmart the King of Sin. Now, I’m his.
Brutal, cold, and illegally gorgeous, Dante Sartorre isn’t just mafia royalty. He’s also the tyrant owner of the infamously deviant and members-only Club Venom.
He’s also my new husband.
In my defense, I wasn’t supposed to be the bride. But I sealed my fate when I saved my friend: by signing the Venom Devil’s marriage contract myself.
Now, he owns me. All of me…
Dante thinks I’ll play the part of the obedient little bride he needs in order to keep his club. He swears he’ll bring me to my knees if I don’t.
But little does he know, this marriage has an expiration date.
And so do I.
You see, it’s not just the simmering heat between us that’s toxic. It’s my blood and the secret sickness inside of me that’s poisonous, too.
So if you choose to know our story, you must know three things:
This is not a fairytale.
Dante is the Anti-Prince Charming.
And my name is Tempest Black, and I die at the end.
Toxic Love is a standalone dark mafia, marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers romance with a smart, untamable heroine, and an ultra possessive hero with “look at her and I’ll unalive you” energy. This is the explosive start to the Venomous Gods mafia series. Readers are advised to read the TW inside. No cliffhanger; HEA included.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tMElDz
About the Author:
A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.
Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.
When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.
You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com
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