Nero DeLuca by Xavier Neal and Amarie Avant {a review}

 

Are you looking for another anthology to read? How about one that features mafia romance? Well then you need to go grab Savage Bloodline immediately! Here's what it is about:

Darkness lurks behind their gazes.

There’s something sinister about their smiles.

Their name incites fear in their enemies.

Their touch arouses passion in the women they love.

They are the DeLucas. In the streets and in the sheets, there’s one word that describes them best.

SAVAGE.

The men of the DeLuca family are proof that the bigger the alpha, the harder they fall… in love. Download this exclusive anthology featuring 20+ BRAND NEW mafia romances to find out which DeLuca you will fall in love with. But first, you must ask yourself one question: Are you ready to give your heart and body to a savage?

I haven't read the entire collection yet, but did read an advanced copy of Nero DeLuca's story. Oh what a story it was! Nero's story alone has me wanting to binge the entire anthology immediately. Which it is on my kindle waiting for me, but I'm going to pace myself. (or so I think!)

Nero DeLuca's story is a Cinderella retelling. Except there are no wicked stepsisters, this time they are stepbrothers. Elle and her brothers have found themselves in an undesirable situation. The only real option for Elle to get out of it is to agree to marry Nero. It would be a short marriage, but it would take care of everything.

Once again, Xavier Neal and Amarie Avant hit it out of the park with this mafia romance. From the very first page, to the end of the story, I was all in. From their fake marriage, to the beach scene, to Nero and Elle falling for each other, to the suspenseful scenes. I was curious about what was going to happen with our characters, and how things would play out. So good, highly recommend.

Now that suspenseful scene I wasn't fully expecting. I mean I should have since it is a mafia romance novella, but in the back of my mind I was just expecting conflict between our couple. But what played out, and how all of that came to a conclusion was so perfectly played. Love every moment of it.

Was there anything from the novella I wasn't fond of? Of course there was. But I wasn't expecting to love all aspects. The foot play wasn't for me. That was a bit over done. That's just my opinion, so please don't think I'm being negative about it. One scene of it would have been plenty for me.

After having read Nero DeLuca's story, I look forward to reading the rest within the collection. If you enjoy mafia romances, I hope you'll pick this one up too.

Thank you for taking time to read my brief thoughts.

Laura

Once upon a time, she was asked to put on a slipper.

Little did this princess know, the arrangement she agreed to was going to become much bloodier than the original fairy tale...

Purchase Now!

Add to your Goodreads TBR!

About the Author

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible). 

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack" and their two fur babies.

Connect with Xavier

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | TikTok | Spotify | Merch Shop

Thank you to Xavier Neal, Amarie Avant, and DS Promotions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Nero DeLuca.

Twisted Debt by Xavier Neal and Amarie Avant {a review}

Happy Tuesday my friends! Today the Once Upon A Broken Crown anthology is available for purchase. I had been hearing about this anthology for a while now, and have been following their updates on Facebook. If you are looking for fairytale retellings then you need to go grab this! It's extremely affordable, and I think you'll enjoy it. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of ONE of the stories, and I am hooked.

Here's what the blurb for the anthology has to say:

Your favorite fairytales, reimagined. What if Captain Hook was Snow White's Savior? And Belle was the Beast she feared. Maybe Red Riding Hood isn't so sweet. What if the villain got the girl? Or the Princesses we know and love had secrets so dark, their tales were better left distorted. 20+ classic tales retold from the minds of best-selling and award-winning authors. Romance like you've never imagined, spice that’ll set you ablaze, and adventure that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Everyone deserves a happily ever after—even if it's twisted.

While I have not read the full anthology yet, I definitely will be. It's sitting on my kindle just waiting for me to pick it up.

So which book did I read an advanced copy of? That would be Twisted Debt by Xavier Neal and Amarie Avant. Twisted Debt is a Rapunzel retelling, and this story captured my attention from the beginning.  

At the beginning of the story, we catch up with Mr Pierson and Elias Whittington. Mr Pierson had taken a loan from Elias, and was to be repaying that. Well he defaulted, and now Elias is here to collect the collateral. What is that collateral?  Mr Pierson's daughter, Zel.

What started as a contractual agreement without Zel's consent, quickly evolved into more.

"For the next three months, you are here to entertain me. You are to be my date when I do not wish to dine alone. Companion for the events I do not wish to attend with the accompaniment of a beautiful woman on my arm. And most importantly, mine to use for pleasure--morning, noon, or night."

Witnessing the relationship between Elias and Zel grow, and evolve was an interesting ride. It was full of steam, questioning, and falling. Every single moment of the story had me wondering what was going to happen next. Then when the moment of conflict occurred, I was starting to doubt that Elias and Zel would get a happily ever after. But I should learn to never question myself, or rather the authors, as they'll give me what I want. The journey to their reunion was not an easy one, but there was definitely someone in Zel's corner helping her out.

Loved this retelling of Rapunzel, and have high hopes for the rest of the anthology.

Thank you for taking time to read my abbreviated thoughts (Twisted Debt is a novella after all). I do hope you'll pick up the anthology, especially if you are someone who loves steamy fairytale retellings.

Laura

Once upon a time, she was asked to let down her hair.

Little did this princess know, the arrangement she agreed to was going to be much more twisted than the original fairy tale...

Purchase now!

Add Once Upon A Broken Crown to your Goodreads TBR!

Participating Authors in this anthology:

Amarie Avant & Xavier Neal, Erin O'Kane, Susana Mohel, Sade Rena, Annie James, Lark Anderson & LJ Anderson, DC Renee, Catharina Maura, Mikki Noble, Kelly N. Jane, Amanda Kimberley & P. Mattern, Alexandra Silva, Olivia Peters, Katherine L. Evans, Sarah Bale, Taya Rune, Devyn Sinclair, Emma Luna, C. Hallman and Monica Corwin, Sierra Rowan.

About the Authors

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible). 

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack" and their two fur babies.

Connect with Xavier

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | TikTok | Spotify | Merch Shop

Hosted by:

Thank you to Xavier Neal, Amarie Avant, and DS Promotions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Twisted Debt.