CallaI’ve never known pain like when I lost my husband, never known the fear that came with wondering how I would suddenly support my two kids. So when an anonymous benefactor stepped forward on my husband’s behalf, I never questioned it.And then Ryker comes from the shadows to show me the truth, determined to show me what his brand of love can be. He demands everything from me, my heart, my … me, my heart, my soul, my body.
And he won’t stop until he’s taken everything.
Ryker
For years, I watched my Sunshine from the shadows, letting her live out her simple life with the man who didn’t deserve her. My loyalty to the Bellandis demanded nothing less, but when her husband is shot down in a drug deal gone bad, there’s nothing that will stop me from stepping in and claiming Calla and the kids as my own.
I give her one year to grieve, to adjust to life without him. But when the year is up, rising tensions in my world threaten to steal her away from me. I won’t let anything come between us.
Not even Calla herself.
Grieved Loss is a full-length standalone novel with an HEA, but the series presents a better reading experience when following the suggested reading order.
This series contains dark elements, including an over-the-top antihero who does as he pleases, and references to previous abuse in childhood. Please read at your own discretion.
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This is an epic love story between an alpha mafia enforcer, Ryker, and the widow of two young children, Calla. Through a series of tragic events Calla is left to care for her two young children alone, or so she thinks. Little does she know she has a ‘shadow’ that has been watching her for years.
Calla becomes the recipient of a generous anonymous benefactor that gives her 1 year to mourn the loss of her husband without worry of how she will pay her bills. Once this year is up Calla gets to meet this mystery man and is swept away against her will.
This is their story. The push and pull of undeniable attraction, lust, and maybe even love. Although it’s not the traditional way to court the woman you love, Ryker is bound and determined to win her heart and protect her from the evils of the world at any cost.
Will Calla be able to understand Rykers unconventional methods of showing love and concern, or will his past and his job with the mafia be too much for her? Will Ryker finally get the family he has dreamed and longed for all these years?
This is the third novel in Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book series by Adelaide Forrest, but can be read as a stand alone novel. There are characters from the previous novels, Bloodied Hands and Forgivable Sins, but their backstories are sufficiently explained to follow along.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
Bellandi Crime Syndicate series / Grieved Loss I definitely recommend reading this book/ series. I really thought their was no hope for Ryker because he was stone cold crazy. This was entertaining, well written and a page turner. I love Calla and Ryker characters and this book. I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Adelaide Forrest does it again with book #3 to her Bellandi Crime Syndicate series!
Having already read books #1 (Bloodied Hands) & #2 (Forgivable Sins), and falling in love with her Alpha male heroes and their female counterparts, I was thrilled to get a chance to read into Ryker and Calla’s love story. I thought it was going to be tough to beat Lino and Samara (Book 2) for my favourite couple in this series, but I will say, Ryker and Calla gave them a run for their money.
A word of caution – these are ALPHA males – they take what they want, when they see it. They are not above using whatever means necessary to get their women, so if you’re not one for dominate male behaviour, these are not the books for you. Thankfully for me, I am an Alpha male lover and enjoyed this series.
Ryker and Calla have a chance meeting early on in the book, although she has no idea of who he is, and he is following orders to keep an eye on her. His interest soon crosses the boundary of professional interest, and he begins to watch her – biding his time until her husband is no longer in the picture. Soon, Calla is grieving her recently deceased police officer husband, who unknowingly to her is a crooked cop who was working with the Bellandi’s. Of course, Calla is completely innocent of the double life her husband was leading, and she has two young kids to support, but is surprised when she ends up receiving monetary help from an anonymous benefactor (enter Ryker). After giving her “sufficient” time to grieve, Ryker reveals himself and stakes his claim and boy oh boy – Ryker is the definition of Alpha if there ever was one.
Ryker is a complex hero in his story – an executioner, a hardened criminal, a man who spends a lot of his time with blood on his body – most of which is not his own. But somehow, Adelaide brings a softness and a human side to this man who has seen his fair share of trauma early on in his life. When you hear of his past, you get an insight into how he became the man more comfortable flaying flesh and slitting throats. How she is able to bring such believable softness to his personality, showing him as a devoted and loving father figure and a husband most women would die for.
I’ve now read this book several times in the past week, and each time I read it, I feel like I get a little bit more from it each time. I hope you pick up this book and enjoy this couple as much as I did – and then when you’re done, don’t forget to pick up the first two. You won’t regret it. It’s a tough choice to make between these couples and once you’ve read one, you gotta read them all.
WOW, SIMPLY AMAZING STORY!!Adelaide has done it again with this story!!! This book is sexy, raw, emotional, and will keep your attention the whole time!!! I could not put this book down, and I definitely know I will reread it again and again!! I love the beautiful raw connection and chemistry between Ryker and Calla!!! Ryker is this powerful, emotional, scary, loving, flipping hillarious,determined man who before he meets Calla is dead inside. When he meets her, Calla brings Ryker back to life, that he begins to remember what being human is all about. Calla is his light through his dark, barren existence!!!! HE WON’T STOP UNTIL HE’S IMPRINTED HIMSELF ON YOUR SOUL AND RUINED YOU. This quote about Ryker, to me reveals his love, dedication, fierce determination, and strength that he has to be with his love, his Sunshine, his Tesoro, his Calla. Calla on the other hand is this AMAZING, strong, fiercely loyal, loving mother. Calla does not even begin to understand the depths Ryker will go through to get and keep his Sunshine… her!!! Calla is not at all intimidated by Ryker’s overwhelming and powerful personality, she definitely puts Ryker in his place, and can hold her own! She even calls him Meatball and the Hulk!! I just love everything about this story, from Ryker and Calla’s relationship, Rykers love for Calla’s children (Ryker will melt your heart with how much he truely loves the kids Axel and Ines), to the AWESOME support characters (love the whole gang!!). I highly recommend this book, it is my new favorite of this series! Thank you Adelaide for letting me experience this Belandi series and this book!!!
10 out of 10
Received this book as an arc and having read the first 2 books in the Bellandi series I couldn’t wait for Ryker and Callas story and it didnt fail to deliver,a strong alpha male who saw the woman he wanted and when the time was right moved in and took her and her children,a broken violent man who claimed a family and smothered them with love,
Amazing. It’s hard for me to explain everything I love about this book without giving away spoilers! I love Ryker’s unapologetic ruthless streak, and I love how Calla is just not afraid to stand up to him. Calla is no wallflower and fights for the things that she wants and needs in her life. The chemistry between the two characters is just off the charts hot!
Lino will always be my first love, but Ryker is a close second!
(and I wasn’t that excited when it was announced Ryker was next)
I have been a huge fan since the beginning of this series, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I took a quick look at some of the other reviews – you should start with Bloodied Hands (#1).
Ryker Fiore lives and thrives in the shadows, but a chance assignment to watch Calla Latour forces him to into her light. He’s obsessive. He’s a stalker. He knows exactly what he wants, and he’ll stop at nothing to make Calla his when it’s the right time. When Calla becomes a widow with two small children, Ryker gives her one year to grieve that loss. However, Calla doesn’t know that her shadow has had enough waiting, and time’s up.
The book starts out a little slow, but just keep up with it, and it’ll be worth the wait. I was a little concerned that as a third book, this wouldn’t live up to the hype. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Ryker is everything that we could ever want in a j/p hero. He’s domineering in all the right ways!! Yes, we’ve met Ryker before, but there’s so much more to him than just the enforcer. He’s funny and charming, and you can’t help but fall in love with him.
My favorite parts though are the family scenes. We still get to visit with some of our favorites as the story intertwines new and old characters. Ivory and Matteo. Lino and Samara. Scar. Sadie…. the gang’s still going strong, and Adelaide only gets better with each story.
Let me just start with WOW. You do not have to read the previous books in this series but you really should to get a better understanding of the Bellandi men and their family. This is hard to put into words but Ryker is the type of man that you love and hate at the same time. He is that bad boy that you root for because you cant help but love him. His devotion to his Sunshine/Calla and their kids was beautiful. His stalker ways is creepy but beautiful all at the same time. He is a man that knows what he wants and he takes it. I loved how he was gentle and soft with them and was a great romodel for them. He showered them with love and devotion while trying to keep them safe from the criminal side of him. Calla didnt stand a chance for not falling in love with him. This story was absolutely amazing. I cant wait to see what comes next from the author. Adelaide Forrest is one of the best authors. She puts emotion behind each word she writes and you cant help but feel the emotions as you are reading her stories. You grow attached to Adelaide’s characters because you cant help but fall in love with them no matter how much of a bad guy or girl they are.
Everyone needs a Ryker in their lives! He is totally book husband material. Every time I think this series can’t get any better, it does! I can’t wait for the next couple, I’m really excited about them!