She’s a romantic at heart, living in the most unromantic of worlds . . .Nicknamed Sweet Abelli for her docile nature, Elena smiles on cue and has a charming response for everything. She’s the favored daughter, the perfect mafia principessa . . . or was.Now, all she can see in the mirror’s reflection is blood staining her hands like crimson paint.They say first impressions are everything . . .In … impressions are everything . . .
In the murky waters of New York’s underworld, Elena’s sister is arranged to marry Nicolas Russo. A Made Man, a boss, a cheat—even measured against mafia standards. His reputation stretches far and wide and is darker than his black suits and ties. After his and Elena’s first encounter ends with an accidental glare on her part, she realizes he’s just as rude as he is handsome.
She doesn’t like the man or anything he stands for, though that doesn’t stop her heart from pattering like rain against glass when he’s near, nor the shiver that ghosts down her spine at the sound of his voice.
And he’s always near. Telling her what to do. Making her feel hotter than any future brother-in-law should. Elena may be the Sweet Abelli on the outside, but she’s beginning to learn she has a taste for the darkness, for rough hands, cigarettes, and whiskey-colored eyes. Having already escaped one scandal, however, she can hardly afford to be swept up in another.
Besides, even if he were hers, everyone knows you don’t fall in love with a Made Man . . . right?
This is a standalone forbidden romance.
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Don’t you love when you dive into a new author’s work and fall in love with their writing immediately? When you know that you’re going to love the story from the beginning? That’s what happened to me when I read The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori. I’d been searching for a good mafia romance with a crazy family involved, and within the first couple of chapters, I knew I found exactly what I was looking for!
Elena Abelli, a.k.a. The Sweet Abelli, is the daughter of one of the Don’s of New York’s Cosa Nostra. Her little sister has been promised to another Don named Nicholas Russo. Her father told Nico that his oldest daughter was not suitable for marriage, so he agreed to take the younger Abelli. Once he lays eyes on Elena though, he begins to regret that decision.
Elena is drawn to Nico right away much to her dismay. She tries to go about her life and ignore him, but that doesn’t exactly work out as planned. The spark between the two of them is undeniable. Nico can’t leave her alone, and it becomes harder and harder to ignore his desires.
Her sister is in love with someone else, but none of that matters to her father. What he says goes. Besides, the deal has been made. Neither can back out of it now without consequence. Is Elena doomed to watch her sister live out her life with the only man she’s ever had true feelings for?
The Sweetest Oblivion is a captivating mafia romance that kept me up all night long reading. It’s well written, violent, and steamy. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but the sexual tension and the payoff in the end are topnotch.
Elena and Nico have amazing chemistry! The intensity between the two of them is insane. In fact, it is so well done that it’s what stood out to me most about the book. Their feelings for each other poured off the page, and every moment between them made me feel the need to fan myself.
I adored almost the entire cast of characters in this story. Elena’s morally challenged family is probably my second favorite thing about the book, and I can’t wait to read more about them in the future. Overall, Danielle impressed me, exceeded my expectations, and now, she has a brand new fan!
Mafia romance fans, this one is for you!
4,5 platonic stars
“There comes a point in life when you know that what you want to do is wrong, and you have to decide whether to avoid the temptation or do it anyway. I was doing it anyway.”
Oh my god.
I am seriously in love with this book and with this series. I have to say that Danielle Lori has soon become one of my favourite authors at there. The world and characters she’s created are so intriguing and addictive. It almost feels like one book isn’t enough for Elena and Nico. Their chemistry is so strong and oh so undeniable, and don’t get me started on the sexual tension. I literally couldn’t help but want more and MORE. They are truly one of my favorite couples this year, if not ever.
Overall, The Sweetest Oblivion is a captivating, passionate, compelling, mafia romance filled with passion, intense characters and insanely explosive chemistry. I don’t even know what to say, except that you HAVE to read this book. Nico Russo and Elena Abelli are so perfect together and the side characters bring so much to the story. I am utterly and completely obsessed.
I highly, highly recommend this book, and this series.
4.5 Stars!
This book was so freaking good! I can’t remember a book where the sexual tension was as good as in this one. I asked myself a thousand times when and how they are going to cross the line, the anticipation was killing me! The way they were circling each other… It felt like I might burst. At 4 AM I really had to force myself to put this book away because it was just that good.
I was never a really big fan of Mafia romance but seriously, strong alpha men brought to their knees? Swoon. I loved Nico so much. I wanted more chapters from his POV and maybe an epilogue but whatever. The book was excellent and people should read it just for the sexual tension alone. If her other books are like that, I definitely have to check them out!
Nicolas Russo, if you read this, i’m free on thursday night and would like to hang out. You can push me into the pool if you want to, just hang out with me please.
Nico sweetie, is your back hurting? It must be heavy to carry the whole book on your own.
The Sweetest Oblivion taught me two lessons:
1. Expectation’s a BITCH. After all the praises I’ve seen about this book, my expectations were ginormous and that’s never a good thing. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it.
2. You need both main characters to make a good story. It doesn’t matter how obsessed you are with one of them, if the other doesn’t do it, all is lost.
I don’t have to say a lot to Nico, because let’s just agree that this motherfucker is perfect. If he shoots you in the head, it’s because you deserved it. That guy can get it. I know it, you know it and he knows it. The heroine, Elena, on the other hand is a different story. For the life of god, I couldn’t connect with her 80% of the book, but she was exceptionally annoying in the first 30%. Because I’m all about numbers at the moment: we only saw Nico’s POV 12 times, not even 12 chapters. His POV was sometimes a couple of pages between Elena’s chapters. That was not nearly enough.
Nico didn’t treat me like glass. He shattered the reflection of an empty life staring back at me. He taught me how to soar.
Never been a huge fan of sweet & docile girls who can only say yes and amen. I liked that Elena wasn’t like that with Nico. She actually talked back to him and some of their banter were good, but otherwise her personality wasn’t doing it for me. I was waiting for anything to happen in the first 30-40% and because nothing did, I had time to dissect Elena’s personality. So leaders of the Elena Abelli protection squad look away.
What’s with all the inner monologues?! Especially the ones about never falling in love bla bla bleh. I called bullshit on it from miles away. In general the first third of the book had too many monologues & stares and not enough talk. Next thing, what’s with all the “Pink” stuff?! Pink lips, pink dress, pink shoes, pink thong, pink everything. We get it girl, you’re Barbie but with black hair. What else is there to say? Oh yes, how about that Elena is probably the hottest girl in New York and every guy who looks at her has it bad. Not a single guy who can’t resist “the sweetest ass of New York”. Nico’s words, not mine. Every time I read this trope where the girl is way too beautiful that everyone loses their fucking mind around her, I want to smash my head into concrete. And lastly, the way how Elena constantly thinks that she needs to stay away from Nico because he is her sisters fiancé, but when there is the chance she’s basically throwing herself at him and lusting about him 24/7. I can’t blame her, because Nico is just that HOT and DELICIOUS, but at the same time something about that did not sit well with me. I started to warm up to her more the more the story progressed and I started to like her when she made amends with her past mistake, but it’s just not enough if you found the heroine for the majority of the book irritating.
My question is: did I not connect with Elena because she was annoying or because I want Nico for myself? The jury is still out.
Why must everything have a happily ever after? Aren’t the most memorable, poignant moments of history tragic?
My rant is over. It seems like I didn’t like the book the way how this review is going so far, but there were two things that made this book worth reading: Nicolas “Ace” Russo and the sexual tension .
Nico and Elena made the phrase “to cut the tension with a knife” their bitch. I absolutely agree with everyone that the sexual tension in this book was just something else. It was so palpable, you could touch, feel and smell it. With every interaction I was holding my breath, I didn’t know what would happen next. The cat and mouse game was strong here and kept me on my toes. And when they finally get it on omfg it was scoring hot! If Nico fucks your girlfriend, it’s on YOU and NEVER on him!
Can I say that I adore Nonna? She’s the best. I could read about her and Mama Abelli fighting all day and never get bored. Never was a mother dissing her daughter as much fun. Nonna can insult me any day and I’d say thank you.
Besides the Abelli women, I really liked all the side characters as well. I’m really intrigued about Christian and can’t wait to read the next book which is about him and Gianna. When it comes to her, I’m pretty sure there is more behind the girl who takes drugs and laughs way too loudly.
My mamma held the door open, her eyes narrowing as she examined me. “One day with the Russo and I think my daughter’s gone stupid.”
“With your genes?” Nonna muttered, walking inside. “What else did you expect?”
While this book didn’t exactly meet my expectations, I’m still glad that I read it, because it gave me Nico. Additionally it was refreshing, cause it’s not your typical arranged-marriage mafia book with a virgin heroine. Danielle Lori gets bonus points for writing angst the way she did it without including cheating. That’s how you do it.
5 stars.
Mafia books are my weakness.
My God. This book blew my mind. Elena and Niko are a hot couple. You can feel their chemistry from miles away. That tension between them. I can’t. I don’t really like books where the relationship between the characters develops very slowly, but the smooth development of the plot in this book is worth it. 50% of the book – dialogues between a couple, a few hot moments. But then. Boom.
Elena. She is so soft, kind, but the way she is treated because of her mistake broke my heart. I really love these characters, so for a reason Elena is my favorite character ever.
Niko. Can I marry him? I loved how Danielle revealed this character. His thoughts, his actions, it was all very interesting to read. The way he behaved in moments of jealousy or in moments of defending Elena.
Minor character. Danielle, how do you do it? I loved all of them. It was so interesting to read behind them. They are all individual. Especially Elena’s family. I hope that in the future many of them will get their own books or short stories.
If you haven’t read it yet, I don’t understand what you’re waiting for. I can’t wait to meet Gianna and Christian.
I did a lot of grumbling through out this book and maybe I should have given this 4 stars but ultimately the ending completely won me over. It’s one of those stories that you fight so hard to get to that happy ending that you forget all about the struggle before.
Nico is one of the hottest anti-heroes I’ve read. He was obsessed, possessed and completely consumed the heroine without claiming her for far too long. I think he is the best part about this book and yet I wanted to shake him. For all his warning of assumptions, he assumed too much.
I felt for Elena in this book but I always hate the position women endure being in a mob family. She did the best she could for the restrictions she faced. I wanted her to play harder to get and yet I wanted her to stop safe guarding her heart. Contradictory, I know.
This is a very slow burn and I’ll admit I do like things to progress a bit faster. There were some very interesting side characters that I would have liked more from but maybe there will be future books about them.
« There are three sides to every story. Mine, yours and the truth. » Joe Massino
I’ve been a fan of Danielle Lori for a while now. So when I heard she had a new book coming out I was equal parts worried and excited. Worried because it was different from her others books and excited because, well it was one of her books. All in all, she surely did deliver and did so brilliantly.
In The Sweetest Oblivion we have a dual POV : Elena Abelli, known as the Sweet Abelli for her capacity to stay polite and say the right thing in every situation since a young age, and Nicolas “Ace” Russo, don of a mafia family in NYC. Nicolas is a few weeks away from marrying Elena’s sister to secure a partnership with the Abellis. Things take an unexpected turn when the attraction between Elena and Nicolas grows.
I liked everything in this book. The writing, the characters (Benito, Gianna, Adrianna I want more of you), the plot. Each things mixed so well with the others that this story was captivating and entertaining. There was definitely more than just what meet the eyes.
I could go on and on for a while about all the great things in this book. But the best choice is for me to strongly encourage you to read it and experience it for yourself. You’re in for a ride and a treat.
« Without hope, there’s nothing to lose. With it, we’re nothing but dominos waiting to fall. »
Special mention for the cover : it looks amazing !
Your next addictive ‘mafia’ read is here!
Gosh! I was in a major book slump when I picked this one up. And that was one of the best decisions.
This book was so indulging that I pulled an all nighter to finish it. What an amazing ride this book was. I devoured it and savored it.
Our heroine Elena Abelli is known around the mafia world as ‘sweet Abelli’. She has to put up this image to survive in the ruthless Cosa Nostra. Our hero, Nicholas Russo or ‘Nico’, as he likes being called, is set to get married. To whom? Surprisingly enough, to Elena’s sister!
Then one glare changes everything.
“I wanted to fuck her and ruin her for anyone else. I wanted to crush her wings and then put them back together again so she’d become dependent on me. I wanted her to need me. That dark, possessive, and dangerous feeling crawled through me every time she crossed my path. Elena Abelli was my vice, and fuck if I’d let it kill me.”
The sexual tension is off the charts. The romance was damn near perfect. You would not want to keep the book down at costs. It’s a bit of a slow burn but that’s what gives the characters their development. I really don’t like the insta love kind of books.
The best part of the book, and I’m saying this without any bias, is Danielle’s writing. It was – in one word – BEAUTIFUL. I have read countless mafia books but the intensity that Danielle built was something else.
We got the POV’s of both our main characters which is really essential. We got to know both their stories and feelings for each other.
The side characters also complimented the story beautifully. It was fun to see the family interactions. The mafia dynamics always add a spark to the story.
The only thing that bothered me was the abrupt ending. It felt like I didn’t get a chance to enjoy their happily ever after completely.
This was my first book by Danielle and it most certainly won’t be my last. I am majorly fangirling right now. I am diving into the next one immediately!
Danielle Lori
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Can I just say that no word can describe how much I loved this book because I think the entire story is nothing but an ultimate perfection. Like seriously, I didn’t expect to fall in love with it and the book literally hits different for me. It gives me a special type of satisfaction throughout my whole reading of this book because Danielle Lori has the type of writing that can attract the readers to be drowned in her fictional world.
Now, let’s talk about Nico and Elena a.k.a my precious babies who are categorized as one of my favorite fictional couples of all time. First of all, Nicolas. This guy will make you feel obsessed with him as much as he is obsessed with Elena. He’s literally insane but that what makes his character so much irresistible than ever. His character can make any reader swoon despite his assholeness. Whereas for Elena, she is such a strong sweetheart and I extremely adore her because of it. She’s extremely caring to those who she truly loved and I’m absolutely proud of her courage to make things right.
When talking about the relationship between Nico and Elena, the only thing that I can say is that it was very intense and their interactions are nothing like I have read before. The sexual tensions that they brought into the story are so addicting and we can’t seriously deny the chemistry that they had for one another despite Nico being engaged to Adriana. Their push and pull relationship made this book so much enjoyable and I’m EXTREMELY in love with how Danielle was able to deliver their slow burn in such a great pace. Therefore, I can’t help but root for this couple throughout the entire time.
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Overall, this book got me hooked from the first page till the last page and I don’t think I could ever move on from this couple. NicoElena has a special place in my heart and I will keep on rereading this book to remind myself on how amazing this couple truly is. Also, I can’t help but give a round of applause to Danielle Lori for creating this masterpiece and I’m so glad that I had the chance to experience it. On the other hand, Danielle Lori ended up becoming one of my favourite authors because of her amazing writing skills where she is able to create unforgettable stories and characters that readers will absolutely love. I truly recommend everyone to read this book and I hope that they will enjoy it as much as I do
When I say that I’ve never read a book as amazing as tso, I MEAN IT.
talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never-the-same, totally unique, ?
I honestly have now words of my own to describe this book. i would add a few of my favourite quotes but more than 89% of the book are my favourite quotes .
i tend to be someone who requires a lot to actually fully enjoy a book and most times I find myself forcing myself to finish the book just for the sake of it. but with tso i found myself forcing myself to slow down because I didn’t want it to end, but even when it did it was bittersweet and didn’t make me feel incomplete.
i’m also a person who doesn’t really like to reread books and if i do, it’s just the few chapters like i really like but damn i want to reread this entire book for the rest of my damn life
This was the first book I read by Danielle Lori and I was blown away! I loved Nico and Elena. The chemistry between them was off the charts. I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I was glued to the pages throughout the entire book and could not put it down. There were so many little twists I didn’t see coming. I am so glad I found this series and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us!
This is the first book in the ‘Made’ series by @danielleloriwrites and OMG THIS BOOK YOU GUYS. I LOVED LOVED LOVED EVERYTHING about this. I still can’t fathom why this series isn’t more talked about because its so bloody good. Book 1 focuses on NicoElena, who are literally perfection on pages. One of my favourite couples ever; they are pure fire and compliment each other. They’re sexy, sassy and so delicious. Nico *sigh* where can I find me a Nico?? He is everything a Mafia hero should be. He’s ruthless, sexy, dangerous but I loved the moments he was soft with Elena. Boy was so obsessed with her, we love to see it! Elena as a heroine was great; she wasn’t a doormat, she had spunk to her and I loved how we saw her fall for Nico and let him in. The smut in this book was PURE SMOKING FIRE. It was so hot. I also liked that although this book was a mafia trope, that it wasn’t so in your face. This was more on the tamer side and I really liked that because we got to learn more about the characters rather than the trope. If you have yet to read this, you need to stop what you’re doing and go pick this up. You will not regret immersing yourself in this world and falling head over heels with NicoElena!
4 Pinkyyyyy Stars
THE SEXUAL TENSION WAS LITERALLY GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.
These two characters had SOOOOOO much chemistry, like how is that even possible? Just Nico and Elena making eye contact had me like
I was a little reluctant to read this book once I got to know Elena would be lusting after her sisters fiancé because such plots are normally executed in a way that the main leads only end up together when the sister is out of the picture by dying and then suddenly the guy realises “omg I was never in love with the dead sister anyway I always wanted the other one”.
And I’m like seriously?
But the good thing here was
The Sister didn’t want to get married to Nico. Loved someone else.
Nico from the very start had his eyes on Elena (Once he saw her)
Elena obviously from the start was attracted to Nico.
So I really didn’t have any issue.
Nico – “You’re enough for me.”
Elena – “I would burn the world for him. He was King of the Cosa Nostra. And he was all mine.”
And the sex. Worth the wait.
Also I loved the way Elena shamelessly stared at Nico even after being caught
: 4.5
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Okay, first of all let me just say that this was my very first read by Danielle Lori. There was a lot of fuss about this book, people were talking about how good it was and how the whole series was great, an to be honest it got my interest piqued. There’s this euphoric feeling about discovering new authors, i don’t know about you but every time i discover a new author that i like, it fells like Christmas to me.
I’ve read my fair share of mafia romance, so trust me when i say it takes a lot to hook me. I need intensity, i need an alphahole that will give me goosebumps. And this story had all of it. In spades!!
Elena grew up in the mafia. She’s aware of the world of Made Men she lives in and what it means for women in this life. But an unfortunate mistake had her falling from grace. And now she lives with the burden of having the blood on an innocent man in her hands.
Nico is one of the most notorious and brutal Dons. He is engaged to Adriana, Elena’s youngest sister. He heard a lot about The Sweet Abelli, how she was a siren tempting men with her beauty. However, he never believed the rumors up until he saw with his own eyes.
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Elena is attracted to Nico in a way even she can’t explain. She knows she is supposed to hate his and hate everything he stands for, but he makes her burn like no one else. Nico wants Elene even though he knows he can’t have her, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll allow anyone else to have her, either.
I loved both Elena and Nico. The push and pull game between them was scorching. I really really enjoyed this book and i absolutely can’t wait to read about Gianna and Christian.
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“… maybe love gave a woman a reason to let her dark colors shine, because I suddenly knew I would lie, cheat and steal for this man…”
This one was such an amazing surprise; I was looking for one god mafia/romance that could make me pass the day, but I found a true gem in this series!!! If you’re looking for mafia/romance, arranged marriage, strong possessive alpha male this is for you, stop looking other way and just dig in!!
Elena is the mafia princess that knows how to behave in this world, but she made a huge mistake that left her sister engaged to Nicolas Russo, a man with a reputation that makes every man fear.
Nico knows how the world works, is in his blood to be fear by everyone, but apparently Elena is the only one who doesn’t bend to his every wish, and that is something that makes Nico think twice about marrying her sister; there’s a catch he knows that, and he is willing to know all her secrets.
If you’re looking something Cora Reilly alike, you will love this story as much as I did, I completely felt in love with this story!!!
More please
This was a nice little shot in my mafia living heart. The sexual tension was practically popping off the page from beginning to end. I loved how much Elena grew through the progression of the story. And Nico……dude is HOT and sexy and domineering and yes, please, I’ll take one of him. My only teeny time complaint was the lack of an epilogue. I wasn’t ready to let go yet…of course that is always my problem when I finish a good book. I hope we see Elena and Nico again in future books.
I have never been more thankful for kindle book recommendations in my life.
I just found the next author for my binge reading spree, because this book was incredible! It was so well written, phenomenal characters, and the plot was amazing; so captivating and unique, definitely not what I was expecting when I read the blurb. I really couldn’t put the book down (have a crick in my neck from sitting so long but it was totally worth it).
The chemistry and sexual tension between Elena and Nico was just *fansself*. So hot and intense, that forbidden lust is just delicious. I loved Nico’s character like crazy, a new book boyfriend favourite I have to say, he was so unapologetic about his on display darkness, alpha, possessive and just pretty much perfect. Elena was a great heroine as well, stuck in a mafia world and known as the Sweet Abelli she feels trapped. She was gentle and sweet but also hid a firecracker underneath it all that came out more as the book progressed (with Nico’s coaxing). I also have to say that they as characters were so well written, they were three dimensional and had depth to them, and were honestly just so enthralling to read about.
It bears mentioning again how incredible the writing was. Honestly just phenomenal, the style, the progression of the story, the wit and banter/ humour, so so wonderful. I cannot wait to dive into the next made series and just honestly anything this author publishes.
Highly recommend
I had this book ‘The sweetest oblivion’ on my TBR pile for some time now. I must confess that I had totally forgotten I had this book, until suddenly, in the last week, it was mentioned a few times by others readers in different Facebook groups that I’m in. It made me curious so I decided to read it this time and I’m so happy that I did because I LOVED every minute of it.
But let me start by give you a little warning, don’t do like me and start reading this book on a weeknight or when you don’t have a lot of time. Because before you know it, it’s 02:30 am and you’re still reading! Not a good thing when you have to work the ‘next’ morning. This story is just so addictive once you start reading it.
The writer is totally new to me, so I don’t know if this is her first (debut) book or not but ‘The sweetest oblivion’ is the first book in the ‘Made’ series. A story set in the world of the Italian mafia in New York. A world where it is very ‘normal’ to marry not for love but for business, to connect two important families for more power, influence and money. Where love is a fairy tale. This story is about Nicolas Russo, head of the Russo family and Elena Abelli, whose father is the head of the Abelli family, but what made this story so delicious forbidden is that Nicolas isn’t contracted to marry Elena but her younger sister Adrianna. But for the very beginning you could feel the chemistry between Nicolas and Elena and with each chapter that I read I just knew that this bad mafia guy would make sure that in the end he would marry the ‘right’ sister and that was Elena. He didn’t care or fear the consequences of that decision!!
The story was told from both POV’s and I loved both characters very much. The characters may be in their twenties but they felt more mature to me.
Nicolas was a bad, bad guy but just like Elena I felt for him chapter after chapter.
His intense indifferent drove me crazy (in a very good way!!), just like it fascinated Elena very much, so I could really understand that she found it so hard to see him as only her future brother-in-low. The sexual chemistry between them was hot! And the sexual build-up during the story was steaming!
Elena may be nicknamed ‘Sweet Abelli’ and she had a gentle heart and nature but that didn’t mean that she was a shallow-brained girl. No! Between acting and being one is a very big difference. She knew what her family did for a living and she knew how things went in her world. I found her strong and very lovable. The secondary characters were also very interesting and I already have a few names of men that I hope will get their own story too in the future. Fingers crossed!
The writer wrote a great story and it’s a wonderful start to a new mafia series!
For me, personally, ‘The sweetest oblivion’ isn’t a dark story. It is a mafia book so you know that people will get hurt or killed but it doesn’t have a dark vibe. It had the perfect mix between suspense, emotional, longing and romance. If you are a fan of the mafia books of Cora Reilly or A. Zavarelli then you will enjoy this book too.
3.5
It was good. It was well written about mob families, killing, cheating, gambling and drugs but also love and passion.
Soft dark mafia romance
I liked this book but not as much as I thought it would. The plot had the potential to be an awesome dark mafia romance but the h was unbearable for me. Elena strikes me like quite hypocrite and annoying. She doesn’t know what she wants and can’t make up her mind.
The H is a bit jealous and possessive but not that much and the book is well written so if you want to try a bit dark romance this could be a good choice.