The Luminara Series.
Box Set – Volume 1
Books 1 – 3
Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust
Dark. It’s all dark. Darker than you could ever possibly imagine. Not even a candle can flicker an incandescent light in front of me. Even now, years after I escaped, I’m still living in darkness. I’m still running.
I’ve spent my entire life gazing at the stars, wondering if I’ll ever get to live in the … I’ll ever get to live in the light. It must be dazzling and wonderful.
You’ve read about tortured souls, but you’ve never read about mine. I was taken before I was even born. It was my destiny and written in my stars.
My soul’s not just tortured, it’s unrepairable and hollow. I left part of it back in Hell, and I can’t go back. I won’t go back. Not ever.
You think you’ve read it all?
You haven’t.
And sadly … it’s all true. It happened to me. And I hate that it’s my life.
I shouldn’t be alive. Life was never my own. Nothing was given to me and everything was taken from me. I ran. I fought. I stayed alive. Well, my body survived, my mind didn’t.
I’m damaged beyond repair. I live on my nerves. I feel emotions bigger than myself, and I am many things.
Vulnerable
Anxious.
.
Paranoid.
Guarded.
.
Ashamed.
Dirty.
Exposed.
And I feel alone.
I pray that one day I will be free. But that means placing trust and letting someone in.
Would they make me brighter? Would they make me believe? Would I make them dark?
I’ve never wanted to feel for someone else because I’m far too broken and deep. It scares me. I don’t trust easily. I’m curious, but I’m nervous.
I’ve never felt lust, or love, or light.
Until now.
I feel Lucca Caruso, and everything he symbolises.
He desires me. He wants me. He worships me. He loves me. He protects me. He makes me feel alive. He sets my body on fire. He melts my heart. He gives me him. All of him.
He is lust.
He is love.
He is light.
I trust him.
I want him.
I need him.
He is everything I have fought my entire life to avoid. He makes me feel.
He is taking me places I never imagined could be possible. He is giving me new life. He is keeping me in his light. He is giving me his heart, body, mind, and soul. I love it … I love him. And there is no other place I want to be other than in his arms.
With Lucca … I feel like I can breathe. I’m alive. I need him to keep me here.
I’m Lexi and this is my story about a world of darkness and a journey towards the light.
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*This book contains adult content.
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The Luminara Series (Boxset Books 1-3) by SJ Molloy was a great read! This series was dark, full of suspense, drama, romance and drama. This was an enthralling series that had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. It was so easy to get lost in the scenery and imagery in this series I felt like I was right there where the characters were located. My only complaint for this series was all the sex scenes. I feel like they made the story drag on, and that without some of them you wouldn’t get as lost in the story. Or at least I felt like I kept getting lost from all the sex scenes. Besides that if you’re interested in a dark, sexy romance, this series is for you! This series definitely contains content for ages 18+.
May I say……… Oh Lucca!!!! These books are so full of pure raw emotion. Lucca makes my heart swoon! The love between Lucca and Lexi cannot be denied. The emotional roller coaster ride that Lexi went through, especially as a child growing up, just tore at me. Her strong, sheer determination to get through is just wow! I am very excited to see what happens next. If you are looking for love, lust, twists and a strong story, this series is for you!
This book is only suitable for those over 18 as it contains adult themes and content which could trigger some readers.
Lexi is a woman who has been to Hell and back again, but the things she experienced there have broken her in more ways than one and she is mired in darkness, but she is also afraid of her own shadow, afraid that she will be dragged back to Hell and she is terrified of what will happen if she is. At night when she sleeps, she has nightmares where she relives everything she has been through, she is closed off and anxious about everything and uses her medication and therapy to try and just survive her everyday life, but when Lucca walks into her life out of the blue, things will never be the same again.
Lexi is preparing for a girls holiday away with her best friend, but before she can get home to pack, she has to finish unpacking the moving boxes in her new physiotherapy office in a leisure centre, the lease has just been agreed and she needs to prepare everything for her business partner when he opens up while she is away. She is also trying to field messages and phone calls from her other friends and family, but she hasn’t got the time or energy to deal with all that drama as well as everything else, however when she does acknowledge them, it leads her into a panic attack and just as she is going full pelt into it there is a knock at the door. She jumps up in shock and turns her back on the Italian voice she hears, but he ignores the request to give her a moment and comes straight over, lifting her chin up to look at him and asks again if she is ok. As she slowly raises her eyes, she cannot help but admire his physique, he is tall, muscly, domineering and very masculine, but the moment that their eyes meet she cannot look away, he is gorgeous and has a warm aura, but the intensity is off the charts, never mind the sex appeal.
After he introduces himself as Lucca, it turns out that he is there for a consultation as his back is hurting him, but she is finding it so hard to concentrate, as she hasn’t been affected in this way by anyone in this way before, however, she manages to get through the consultation, despite trying to ignore the fact that he is most definitely aroused and that it is affecting her in the same way and it terrifies her, especially when he asks her to dinner, but she refuses and just about maintains her professionalism until he leaves. When she eventually finishes work and she goes home and discusses it with her girls, they are all happy that this has happened and help her to get to grips with the feelings, she also deals with her family and the news they have for her, then she focuses on her girls night in and preparing for her holiday the next day.
The next day dawns early and she finialises her preparation, she is looking forward to the three weeks away she has planned, when she does set off on the journey, she is nervous, but excited, especially when they are traveling through the countryside and see the hotel for the first time. They are warmly welcomed with food and drinks and given time to freshen up before heading down for dinner with the other people who are staying there, however, when she entered the room and sees Lucca, her brain goes into panic mode, fight or flight sets in and she does what she always does and runs away. She feels like she is being stalked and just wants to go straight home, however she finds out that it is an accident and that it is actually the hotel owner’s grandson. It turns out that he wants to see her and apologise for the shock, she reluctantly agrees and is happy when her friend supports her with the decision, but when she finds that she finds comfort in his touch and is not acting in her usual way she is shocked, but when she starts to open up and agrees to spend some time with him to get to know him because he is persistent in his requests and this is the start of something neither of them is prepared for.
Will Lexi be able to spend time with Lucca and feel comfortable doing it, will she spurn his advances or will she let her walls down and allow him to see her and everything which she is holding behind those walls and will Lucca be able to accept her as she is, baggage and all, or will this just be something to break out of her shell? This is a story of trauma, emotions, love, acceptance and finding light in the darkness which will pull you into their lives and keep you there as you go on their journey with them.
This is a collection of 3 books that follows the story if Lexi and Lucca. It is a dark romance that keeps you gripped from the first book. The characters are so well written that you can help feeling like your going through every emotion with them. Parts of the story are hard to read due to Lexi’s abusive past but really well written.
Lexi has had a terrible past which has now made her an adult that is untrusted, suffers bad with anxiety and she can’t see any way she will let another man near her.
That is until Lucca comes into her life. The attraction is instant but she is so scared of what could happen between them.
Can Lucca be her light out of the darkness she has been living in? Can Lucca help her overcome her past and open herself to love? Or will Lexi push him away and not give him the chance to prove he can be trusted?
50 Shades of Gray…. with some Italian sexiness.
This is the first time I’m reading something by S.J. Molly, she brought an interesting new take on the dominant and submissive nature of some relationships. I was really intrigued by their backstories especially because they first met outside their therapists office.
The characters are well developed and I liked the different perspectives of the story. My only critique is that some of the dialogue was a bit repetitive. I also wish that the 4th book was also in the series.
When your whole life has been in darkness can a light seep through the cracks and blast through the darkness, that’s the hope Lexi is looking for.
Lexi has had a dark past, full of hurt and evil but as she is trying to piece her life together she stumbles upon someone who could ignite to spark that has been buried so deep she feels she may have lost forever. Until Lucca walks into her office and then all bets are off.
Lucca is not particular looking for the one but when he walks into the physiotherapists office that day he did not know that it would change his life forever and meet the woman of his dreams.
This series is in three stages like a play, the first book introduces us to Lexi and the hideous life she has been through until this time and you truly cry inside for this woman, with her feeling so closed off and existing not living until one day Lucca walks in and then her feelings change. The story is pretty fasted pace from then, there relationship is in warp speed and very sexual which was a joy to read.
The stories were well written and I am glad I got to read them one after the other and fully appreciate the chemistry burning between these two character was a pleasure to read. As each book progress you get to see more into this beautiful couple and slowly see the boundaries that Lexi had built up breakdown with each confidence and trust she has with Lucca. I also loved that although through the first two books we see it from the prospective of Lexi the third book is written in Lucca’s prospective and is a brilliant counter to the thoughts and feelings you read within the page of the first two books.
This is the first books I have read from this author and would love to read more of them in the future
The Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust by SJ Molloy is the first 3 book in the Luminara series. These books follow the story of Lucca and Lexi and it is a story you will really find yourself hooked on. There is such a raw and intense connection between Lucca and Lexi, it can felt in absolutely everything. You cannot help but connect with them yourself and feel everything about their journey.
I was a little less taken with the overall story – it was good and I enjoyed it but I didn’t quite connect with it in the same way. I thought it was a great bonus that the third book is Lucca’s POV. I prefer books that are dual POV so to get his was something I really liked. This is an overall great series and I am looking forward to the next ones!
The Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust by SJ Molloy is delightfully dark and erotic. There are three books in this box set which is one of the reasons I love box sets is because you don’t have to wait for the next book. There are some stark themes in these stories with abuse, kidnapping and imprisonment which some readers may need to be aware of and be careful with. The first book starts out as little fluffy but as it goes on the writing gets stronger and more fulfilling. SJ’s descriptive writing gives us something that is gut wrenching, heart pumping and edge of the seat intense.
Together can they put the dark and harmful past behind and forge ahead into the light and sunshine of love and life?
This is a dark romance box set that I enjoyed. This is a collection of three stories about Lexi and her journey from dark to light. Each book is well written, engaging and page turners. Lexi is a character that is connectable but also she brought the stories to life for me. The story was an emotional roller coaster but that just added to the stories. Lucca is everything she thinks she needs and wants but is he really that good for her? I highly recommend this box set. I am glad I picked it up and so will anyone who enjoys dark romance stories.
If you like super descriptive books with instant romance plotlines and a trauma filled background then this book is right up your alley. I, however, found this series very difficult at times to get through and I did take some breaks and keep coming back to it. I understand that this is supposed to be a tale of romance and lust however I found some parts of Lexi and Lucca’s romance unrealistic and at times cringey. This is down to personal preference however, and some may enjoy this style of writing.
TRIGGER WARNING. This series has content that is not suitable for people dealing with certain traumas.
SJ Molloy is an extremely talented author, and her descriptive writing truly makes you feel as though you can see the characters come to life. This series is not what I expected, however. I will admit that I was a bit put off that the relationship between the two MCs developed as quickly as it did because it seemed unrealistic. Someone who dealt with the level of abuse that Lexi did would likely not put her faith and trust into someone so quickly. I was, however, enamored with the love story itself – even if I wish it had been more of a slow-burn. The first book was a bit rushed in my opinion as far as the timeline goes, but the second book seemed to make up for some of that. It was slower going and allowed a deeper delve into the families and friends that surround both Lexi and Lucca. The third book, written in the POV of Lucca, was a welcome change of pace. It was interesting to see things unravel from his perspective and to shine a bit of light (wink) on things that did not make sense from Lexi’s POV. All in all, it was a good read and I am glad to have been introduced to this writer.
3 Stars
The Luminara Series: Box Set – Volume 1 (Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust) by SJ Molloy.
This boxset contains the first three books in The Luminara Series: Lussuria (Book #1), L’amore (Book #2), and Lucca’s Lust (Book #3).
I was drawn to the series by the beautiful covers and the promise of a “an emotional erotic heart wrenching story of lust, love and light.” Seeing that there were more books in the series, either published, or soon to be released, I snapped up a copy and dove in.
I love a great series you can sink your teeth into and get lost in- and that’s what I was hoping for here. But I am so sorry to say that I felt a little disappointed in the end. While the story was okay- it didn’t pack the ‘punch’ I was hoping for – and for me it just didn’t live up to the promise or expectation.
I really wanted to love this book/series so hard- but just couldn’t connect with the characters and their story in the way I had hoped. I also felt that the story was really drawn out and could have been condensed into one or two books. For the size of the books/boxset and all the words- there isn’t a great deal of development or the substance I would have expected- so I was left feeling disappointed. If the story had been condensed a little and had some ‘meatier’ development- then this could have been a really stellar read. There is a lot of potential here- but just failed to hit the mark for me.
Added to that, some of the dialogue/situations really felt forced, awkward, and stilted- they didn’t flow well or seem ‘natural’- which made for a bit of an unsettling read. I also note that there has been nearly six years between the previous books’ release and the pending new release. That’s a LONG wait between books- so I am very glad that I didn’t start this series sooner.
The story/series did get a bit better the further in to it I got- so I am holding out hope for the next books- and yes, I will be finishing the series- I always finish what I start. So fingers crossed.
I really did want to love this series so much more than I have (so far) and I am sorry but I just didn’t connect- but maybe it’s just me. Maybe next time I will?
Thank you, S.J. Molloy!