From USA Today Bestselling Author Cora Kenborn comes a steamy enemies to lovers romance full of sharp banter, cold revenge, and unexpected twists.Loyalty is the deadliest sinEverything has been one elaborate lie. My name. My identity. My entire existence. Crafted by one man and revealed by another. Brody Harcourt exposed me as a fraud, turning me from a queen into a pariah. Now … a fraud, turning me from a queen into a pariah.
Now there will be hell to pay.
But I’m back for more than revenge. More than blood.
My eye is on the prize.
The Carrera throne.
I’ll win the kingpin’s trust at any cost, even if it means crossing enemy lines with Houston’s political pin-up boy. Brody’s chiseled chest and cocky smirk won’t distract me.
But things don’t always go as planned.
Sometimes a queen has to steal her crown.
And the one man she should never want…
…is the only one she does.
*The Carrera Cartel books are all standalones and can be read out of sequence. However, for maximum enjoyment, it’s recommended that you read them in order.
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The backstory to this enemies to lovers story is heartbreaking. Adriana’s life is upended and completely unraveled by a devastating secret – one she blames Brody for revealing. And now she wants her revenge, and her rightful place in the Carerra cartel – no easy task on either front. Brody’s life has spiraled out of control recently, and he finds his only solace at the bottom of a bottle, until he meets Adriana. Except she’s the enemy, and more than that, she’s forbidden fruit. But they are forced to work together to prove their loyalty to the Cartel and take care of the threats that have been looming from an unknown enemy to them all.
Their banter is excellent, snarky and sexy. Adriana is no stranger to the cartel life, she’s a complete bada$$ in her own right, and she doesn’t let Brody forget it. And Brody, despite his recent lieutenant status in the Carrera cartel, is completely dejected and miserable – his inner dialog as he grapples with his feelings for Adriana is quite amusing at times. And their explosive chemistry, when they finally can’t fight it anymore, well, it’s definitely highly charged. Despite their apparent hate for each other, they develop a strong bond that neither of them realizes until it’s too late, and there’s no going back. There’s deep passion – of every kind, and they sizzle together.
The narration is excellent. Stacy Gonzalez is perfect as Adriana — she has the absolute right voice for the character. And Alan Carlson brings Brody and all his turbulent emotions to life beautifully.
This one hit me in all my emotions. Each chapter had me feeling a different way. What an experience! Adriana’s whole life has been a lie. She went from being a mafia princess to being the enemy to the cartel that raised her. Now she has to prove her loyalty or get her revenge for her life being turned upside down. Brody is a double agent. He worked with the police force but he also works with cartel. Adriana and him are a dangerous mix together. But they have no choice as they need each other to get rid of the danger over both their heads and to survive. Talk about epic dark romance. I won’t give too much away. This story has so many shockers. But it’s a ride worth taking. I loved it! These narrators were the perfect Adriana and Brody. I didn’t want it to end!
Audiobook Review:
Brody and Adriana’s story was everything I wanted and more. It was full of surprising twists and turns. Mind blowing secrets. And of course the sexy romance and love I crave.
I loved how tough and confident Adriana was while also being vulnerable and having a hard life. Brody has developed so well over the series and by the end of this book I was rooting for him and so happy he found love.
Stacy Gonzalez and Alan Carlson hit it out if the park with the narration on this one. Both of them really nailed it in my opinion with the accents. And their performance through out was so energetic and thrilling that it keep me listening and not wanting to stop.
I can’t wait to get more from this author and both the narrators.
The Flock
THE COUNSELOR & HIS PRINCESA
I’ll be honest …while reading the first two books in this series, I had a hard time getting a read on Brody Harcourt….I liked him…I had a crush on him…but …was he an assistant district attorney?? Was he a lieutenant in the Carrera Cartel?? Was he both?? Was he working for law enforcement?? Was he a mobster?? Again, was he both?? It really made for an interesting dynamic….And, as we know, not everything is black and white…..especially in the cartel life….and Brody is a perfect example of the gray areas….Brody seems to have a continuous internal battle between the black and the white…..but he picks his side…and it’s firmly in the gray…
Brody Harcourt wasn’t born into the Carrera family,, but he was born to be a lieutenant in the cartel…. and he has proved his loyalty more than once to the Carrera family……And Brody was rewarded by being appointed a Carrera lieutenant, but he’s playing a dangerous game keeping secrets from his boss, Valentin Carrera…When Brody finds proof that Val’s little sister, Adriana, is alive and has been living as his enemy’s daughter, Val puts Brody in charge of “babysitting” Adriana to make sure she isn’t still trying to bring down the Carrera Cartel……
After being kidnapped as a baby, Adriana Carrera lived twenty four years as Marisol Muñoz, daughter of Esteban Muñoz, head of the Muñoz cartel…She was trained from the beginning to hate and destroy their enemies, aka the Carreras, and she spent her life trying to fulfill that legacy….but everything isn’t always as it seems…and when Adriana decides to reclaim her birthright, Brody Harcourt is one of the few men who aren’t intimidated by her…but he also can’t control her…She’s a wild card….she’s a pain in Brody’s @$$….And she may be exactly what he never knew he wanted….Brody and Adriana are a perfect match…..Neither believe marriage and kids are in their futures…Neither give anyone a chance to get close enough to hurt them…..Neither are good at taking orders or backing down from anyone…no matter how scary….They really are so much alike…
The Carrera Cartel Series is a good, dark mafia series with real all alpha men, strong women, lots of twists and turns and a hea…This may be a dark series, but I really like that the author didn’t “water down” the mob life so we would like the characters more….I never understand authors doing that…Don’t they know, we LOVE the @$$#oles??
I loved EVERYTHING about this book, Brody has always fascinated me and now I’ve read his story he gives Mateo a run for his money as my favourite character from the series. The Good DA turned Bad….GAH!! I bloody love him.
If you love a good Cartel series then this Trilogy is a must read. It’s explosive from start to finish, full of danger with twists and turns, lies and deceit, violence and mayhem.
It’s impossible not to get sucked into the deadly and seductive world of the Carrera Cartel.
I absolutely loved Adriana she’s fiercely independent and strong but I loved the way Brody seen beneath her walls to the woman underneath. I just adored these two together their scorching chemistry, constant bickering and flirting was thrilling and addictive. I was completely enthralled with these two and their volatile unpredictable love story, just an amazing read from start to finish. I’m gutted it’s over.
Oh man, this book was worth the wait, so good..so so good, the twist with Adriana was darn suspenseful and of course I loved and wanted more with Brody and I was not disappointed!! The Carrera Cartel books are fantastic and worth reading!
Wow just wow. This was my first book by Cora and holy hell i absolutely loved it. Brody and Adrianna are pure chemistry. I felt everything that they felt. It was just explosive. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series by her. Amazing book and characters.
Love all the twist and turns Brody and Adriana went through to find their happiness with each other.
Favorite quote: “The phoenix didn’t wait for death to come. It took control of its own destiny and built its own funeral pyre. Igniting it with a single clap of its wings, it self- destructed in a blaze of glory only to rise from the ashes.”
DBL is the ultimate finale to the Carrera Cartel trilogy! These books are standalones, but they wrap around each other so seamlessly! I loved Adriana and Brody! Adriana was a brass balls, kicka$$ woman, and Brody was the perfect slow simmer to fiery burn hot alpha! The whole Carrera Clan was in on this story, and its high-octane plot kept me wildly cheering and cringing right and left. The lies and backstabbling, the broken trust, the hate and revenge, and the love and loyalty all factored into making this such an amazing finish !And don’t forget the bawling tearjerker moments! From beginning to end, DBL was one fabulously wild ride!
I loved this story between Adriana and Brody. Sorry to see the trilogy end but it was such a good ending.
This read was FULL of surprises and unexpected turns in the plot or whole course that this book was going to.
Marisol Muñez/Adriana Carrera is a woman that had one aim – destroy the cartel that was hated by her own family, but with everything that was going on we had nothing to keep on, as nothing was sure, but maybe until it isn’t? She wants/needs vengeance, but will she manage to do so?
Brody Harcourt, he was supposed to be just a pawn, but… what when the pawn becomes something a lot more? But he will arise from this and will want everything from Adriana.
Those two are great love-hate relationship and push-pull one – it was bringing us a twist of fire, and the spark of emotions. They are the power to be reckoned with!
Never underestimate Carrera Family! This book is a standalone addition to the series.
Wow!!! Once again Cora Kenborn has given us a fabulous dark and twisted read with all the feels. How she creates these characters and gives them such life that you can imagine yourself in the story with them and going through all the struggles they are is amazing. Cora saved the best story for last in this enemies. to lovers dark and dirty mafia romance.
Brody and Adriana have a chemistry that will set the pages on fire and make you hot and sweaty. Once these two get all the past straight they are the couple who everyone will desire to be. Adriana is the Queen who can handle anything and anyone who stands in her way of having what she lost and desires to get back. She is the strong woman we all want to be. Brody is the man who is an alpha through and through, who is sexy, smart and sticks to his guns with what he wants and plans on having.
This story has everything love, hate, indifference, hot steamy sex, a sassy woman and the big, bad alpha male. This is the one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year.
Brody and Adriana give new meaning to the phrase “they deserve each other.” I love a heroine who isn’t “strong” or “sassy” but will straight up cut you. Adriana is a cartel princess and she is not about to put up with Brody’s All-American smarm. Yep, I said it. He’s smarmy.
Two people who’d gladly kill each other have to work together instead. Chaos ensues; they can’t keep their hands off each other (or themselves, as the case may be); and mafia stuff goes down. There are some sexy laughs (and gasps), but also ruthless bad guys, kidnapping, mayhem, and murder. And at least one of them isn’t showing all their cards…
The last in the Carrera Cartel Trilogy, Adrianna and Brody’s story is epic! A deep dark fantastic journey. Adrianna and Brody both have a messed up past, but together they are explosive.
It can be a stand alone, but make sure to read the whole series! The men in this series know how to love hard, but Brody definitely surprised me and came out on top. Adrianna is mysterious but can definitely handle her own. So much I want to say, but you need to enjoy all the twists and turns that Cora knows how to keep us on edge.
Another great book by Cora Kenborn
The 3rd book in the Carrera Cartel books, Drawn Blue Lines…what can I say about this other than, Why are you reading this review and not READING the BOOK?!
Who knew that these books could keep getting better? Brody and Adriana have an absolutely amazing tale to tell and you don’t want to miss it. The mischief, mayhem, secrets, and lies, of course, you will never be disappointed with steamy scenes either – I literally think I melted…gimme a fan.
This author knows how to draw you in and keep you engaged. This is a page-turner to the top degree. It’s a rollercoaster ride that you won’t want to get off. Enjoy it!
Wow what a sexy dark ride of this final book in the Carrera Cartel Trilogy. Their is so much humor and steamy sex that will have you on a dark ride through out the twists turns of the Electricity between the two characters and how they collide that will give you the excitement of the story this is an amazing story that will blow your way and have you hooked to every page till the very end this book was very hard to put down is a must read hot trilogy that you should read.electricity between the two characters and how they collide that will give you the excitement of the story this is an amazing story that will blow your way and have you hooked to every page till the very end this book was very hard to put down is a must read hot trilogy that you should read
Explosive!
A storyline that is so intricate. There are so many twist that you don’t see coming.
Mystery, intrigue, lies, deception, betrayal..Drawn Blue Lines has it all.
I could read it as a stand-alone but I highly recommend you read the first two. It makes it so much better!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~Sexy AF
Series~ Stand-alone
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
What a way to end this wonderful series! Each book in this series can be a stand alone but bring Val, Mateo and Brody together and things get explosive!
I screamed, cried and just got plain pissed during this book… Cora.. you really shined in this book!! Congratulations!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Drawn Blue Lines is the third book in the Carrera Cartel series and can be read as a standalone. That being said, I am not usually one who reads books out of order in a series. I feel like I am always missing pieces of the story, even when it’s a standalone novel. The same thing goes for this one. Although Brody and Adriana’s story is their own, I felt like I was missing things out of their backstory that would have helped me with this novel that much more.
I am planning on going back and reading the first two books in the series because I don’t like having missing pieces.
Brody and Adriana are two sparks that do nothing but ignite when they come together. The tension between them is undeniable and full blown HOT! The banter and dynamic between these two characters has you on the edge of your seat, wanting them to just take it to the next level already because it was just that UNDENIABLE!
When they do finally admit to themselves and each other how they feel, its so hot that the fire that comes from them is as hot as molten lava. The BEAUTIFUL chemistry between them makes it so much hotter.
If you do decide to dive in to this book, I would suggest reading the first two books but you don’t have to. This is a personal preference on my part but I really feel as though their story will be that much hotter and intense than it already is!
This dark and twisted enemies to lovers tale had me hooked from the start. Adriana’s sharp tongue and sarcastic snark pushes all Brody’s buttons. They both struggle to maintain control as their forbidden spark ignites a love/hate fire within them as they venture into enemy territory to uncover a deadly threat and earn their way back into the Carrera fold. Another 5 star must read by this talented author.