The devil has a name, and it’s Cristiano de la Rosa. On my wedding day, he was the last man I expected to see standing at the altar. He wants to make me his queen. His brother wants to rescue his princess.Getting Cristiano to lose control becomes the name of the game, and the stakes are life and death. But as truth and lies blur, loyalty is tested, and our chemistry threatens to reach the melting … the melting point, the prize grows less clear. Either freedom no longer means what I think it does, or Cristiano is as devious as everyone says, and he’s mastered the art of playing my mind.
All I know for certain is that nothing is certain. And all you need to know?
This is a love story.
But even love stories have to end.
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“The devil had a name—Cristiano de la Rosa—but from this day forward, I would call him husband.”
Violent Ends is book 2 in the White Monarch trilogy, a “sexy, smart, and well-written” (Angie’s Dreamy Reads) series from USA Today bestselling author Jessica Hawkins.
“The devil had a name—Cristiano de la Rosa—but from this day forward, I would call him husband.”
Violent Ends is book 2 in the White Monarch trilogy, a “sexy, smart, and well-written” (Angie’s Dreamy Reads) series from USA Today bestselling author Jessica Hawkins.
“The devil had a name—Cristiano de la Rosa—but from this day forward, I would call him husband.”
“The devil had a name—Cristiano de la Rosa—but from this day forward, I would call him husband.”
Violent Ends is book 2 in the White Monarch trilogy, a “sexy, smart, and well-written” (Angie’s Dreamy Reads) series from USA Today bestselling author Jessica Hawkins.
“You don’t live in the ivory tower anymore. You own it. You’re going to learn to rule from it, because that’s what it means to be Calavera royalty.”
Violent Ends is a great and enjoyable follow-up to Violent Delights. I was looking forward to seeing Natalia grow stronger and be less naive, because that was one of the things I didn’t like about her in the first book. Thankfully, she was able to see some of the truths about certain characters. She was strong and independent and didn’t just roll over and die after being forced into marrying Cristiano. She had heard rumors about him and thought he was one of the worst guys around. However, not everything is as it seems. It did take her a couple of chapters to open her eyes and see what was really going on. I am glad it didn’t take the whole book. I definitely liked her more in this book and want to see how she will grow even further.
“She was hurting but I wouldn’t pity her. She’d been bent but not broken, as she’d said. It was necessary in order for her to come back stronger and one day taker her place as my queen.”
Cristiano is a great character and I loved getting to know him better. He is such a great anti-hero and has a huge heart. He is definitely book boyfriend material and he really knows how to seduce. I loved seeing Natalia and him grow closer together. There is very strong chemistry between the two, and I think it is time for Natalia to give in to her needs. He is a very patient man and will not give up until he gets what he wants and needs. I enjoyed seeing him in his natural environment and interact with his people. Violent Ends has a cliffhanger ending, but it didn’t really bother me that much. However, I am excited to see what will happen in the next book.
“For every door she slammed, I would open another. I’d pursue her. I’d break down that defiance until I found myself in her sweet core. She would cross over into the darkness. And I’d be waiting with open arms.”
We are not even that far into the series and I’m already wanting the next book. Violent Ends picks up exactly where Violent Delights left off. This series might actually be the death of me. I’m ready for more!
Stumped. For. Words!!! You can knock me down with a feather and give me hammer so I can knock the traitors to a pulp!! Jessica chokes you with a sensational story that will send a shiver up your spine
Gawwwwd Calavera Cartel is rubbing off on me. NOTHING s what it seems which is a revelation for me and Natalia De La Rosa. ALL men in her life are trading her for power. ALL of them, I was so pissed, but kudos to her, this pupa is morphing into a steel spine Monarch Butterfly. Her voice is not heard or just drowned in the cocophany of He said ; He said.
Trying to make sense of the confusing fog surrounding her and trying to place her confidence into the cards she’s been dealt with. She’s not handing out her respect and trust, but instead making them earn it. Her only allegiance and loyalty lies only with HER!
I loved her strength and mettle.
“I am not your pawn,”
“You can move me around, buy me, sell me, berate me, but you won’t break me. I’ve known the greatest pain a woman can—first losing my mother, and then having my heart pulverized and my love violated so ruthlessly. But I haven’t broken yet, and I won’t.”
This book is more about character development and growth chart. Natalia is taking hesitant, reluctant steps towards maturity, her eyes are opening and she’s being forced to look at the Vista in front of her a little more closely and whole lot clearly.
Pulverized heart and shifting loyalties are the central theme.
Very bold story, will shake your shoulders till you see the truth
4.5 stars for The Badlands
Violent Ends is the second book in the White Monarch series and must be read in order.
The suspense, tension and passion mounts in this installment. Will Natalia ever love and trust Cristiano? What will he need to do to prove himself? And, if he didn’t kill her mother, who did?
There are so many unanswered questions and the mounting suspense, tension and passion are almost unbearable. You can’t help but need this couple to get it on! The build up to this is simply killing me. With all this wait, I’m expecting something EPIC! Something hot, panty-melting and out-of-this-world sexy!
The plot thickens and Natalia asks herself who she can trust. Her trust wavers in one brother and begins to bloom in another but all that means at this time is that she can only trust one person. Herself.
I enjoyed and was proud of Natalia for going head-to-head with Cristiano. How she does not submit to his demands without a fight each and every time.
What I did not enjoy as much was her constant willfulness not to see what is right in front of her. The truth. This way of thinking lasted so long it started to grate.
Cristiano is charming, understanding and patient. Not to mention brutal, possessive, demanding and vengeful. Together, the good and the bad, make one powerful, sexy man that is absolutely drool-worthy.
Cristiano and Natalia together? Restrained desire, passion and love bubbling below the surface like a volcano that is about to erupt. I cannot wait to see all those molten feelings boil over!
A captivating read that has me excited and eager for the next book.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The second book in the trilogy did not disappoint! I’ve re-read this at least 5 times already, and (knowing now what happens, as oppose to reading it the first time) I am experiencing the characters in a completely different way. It just doesn’t get old, regardless of how many times I read it. This is, without a doubt, one of the series to put on my favourites shelf. If you haven’t read it yet, do!
I am addicted and absolutely obsessed with this series! Cristiano is the perfect anti-hero turned hero. I just love stories like this where the villian becomes the hero. There are so many surprises, twists & turns, and delicious angsty romance, I LOVE IT! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
This audiobook is an aural treat! Narrator Emma Wilder is simply amazing in this series! Highly recommend!
I have always love Brian Pallino’s performance in everything he narrates. His emotions and vivid descriptions are flawless, natural and believable. He’s just brilliant and deserves 5+ shinning stars. However, and with all due respect, Emma Wilder’s narration doesn’t do justice to this amazing story. She sounds a bit robotic, like she put an emphasis and makes a pause every line/phrase she reads, and it could be that this is her style, which a notice lots of people loves, but it doesn’t do it for me and this is just my personal opinion, so don’t take my word for it and give this amazing series a try.
The storyline is so enthralling, intese, intriguing, and twisty, that you keep listening until is over, but wishing the conclusion was attached to it, because you’re dying to know what happens next.
Natalia has accepted that the future she planned will no longer be her choice but that doesn’t mean she likes it. She will bow to the pressures of others and marry Cristiano but she is not about to become the subservient wife who follows her husband’s dictates especially when no trust exists between them.
Cristiano rules his empire with an iron fist but when it comes to Natalia we see a much different side. Natalia’s feisty and fiery personality only intrigues him that much more and makes him that much determined to not only win her body but her heart as well.
This story has all the heat, emotion and suspense you could ask for and it all escalates into a cliffhanger that leaves us wanting to know what the future holds for this couple. I listened to a complimentary copy of the audiobook and the narrators brought out depth of both of these characters and the emotions that they are feeling.
6 Stars
I LOVED THIS. I cannot believe it took me so long to read this series but this whole series has hooked me. This author really knows not only how to tell a story but to draw out an explosive relationship and also every thread of this story keeps me hooked. This one really focuses on the tense relationship between Cristiano and Natalia. After the events of Violent delights there is still a lot of mistrust and angst on both sides, especially because Diego was still in the picture, even if it was only the idea of him. But if I can get a little fangirly for a moment; OMG….What just happened?!?! This series is incredible and will be my favourite trilogy this year, I just know. I am dying for the next one. This was hit out of the park. You need this book in your life…..now.
Violent Ends
White Monarch, Book 2
By: Jessica Hawkins
Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Brian Pallino
Talk about an exciting listen! Jessica Hawkins gives us book two of the Violent Ends series and it is captivating. Picking up where book one leaves off, we have Natalia newly married to her enemy, Cristiano. Never did she think she would find herself in this position. Cristiano is quite a man. Dark and dangerous, he is one to be not to cross, but his love for Natalia is a light in his life. Natalia is confused, frustrated and drawn to this man. But what about Diego? And what of Cristiano’s cartel? Can she do what she has to do to keep her family safe? Will her feelings for Cristano break through? I am caught up in this series. It’s suspenseful and thrilling, and I am completely invested in this couple. There are times I am unhappy with Natalia’s reactions, but can understand her hesitancy. I love Cristiano. His darkness is alluring, and his passion exciting. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
Brian Pallino and Emma Wilder are fantastic and I am really enjoying their interpretation of the story. Pallino gives Cristiano a gritty, dangerous feel but his underlying love is evident in his narration. Wilder has Natalia maturing with such emotion that we can feel her changing. It’s wonderful and I love it!
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Maybe it’s just me. I like the characters even the too naive h but I’m just not loving it. I know she is only twenty but I think she is the reason I am not loving it or feeling the angst. But I am on to book three.
This book was even better than the last! That cliffhanger will be the death of me. I am anxious to get started on the next book, now!
So much has happened since the beginning of a marriage that was not wanted. I am so happy to see that Natalia did grow as a person and I do not hate her like I did in the first book. I just wish Jaz would stop being so annoying! Now there are even more threats than ever before. And the words spoken from the fortune teller ring loud and clear! The next book is going to be a rocky and bumpy ride. I can already tell.
Such a great series! Love it!
In the first book’s review i said that the story is slow paced in a good way, as we get to see the characters develop, the story built up so I was happy with it
But the second book is slow paced in a boring way. The first half is basically the same thing happening again and again.
Natalie thinks Christiano traffics woman, is not a good man
Christiano gets angry and dismisses her.
The cycle continues again and again UNTIL FINALLY Christiano tells her what he ACTUALLY DOES.
After that also the story didn’t actually pick up the pace it was still being dragged until finally towards the end it starting becoming interesting again and then the book ends.
But well at least Natalie realized what a motherfucker Diego really is.
”I’d been the one stupid enough to fall for a phony like Diego.”
Hunny its okay, everyone makes mistakes as long as you learn from them we are cool.
This book was really good, the ending about killed me! Christiano is starting to show who he really is but Natalia is still not convinced he didn’t kill her mother. I believe Christiano is in love with Natalia but doesn’t know it yet and Natalia is scared of the way she is beginning to feel about Christiano after the revelation of what he and his cartel actually do. I’m excited for the final book in this trilogy and hoping for an amazing HEA!
HOLY MOTHER F-IN!! That cliffhanger is a clusterf*** of a doozy. Damn…
OK, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll get to my brief review. I am going brief on this one because I really don’t want to give anything away. I’ll just say that this second part of The White Monarch series was not what I expected. I expected more of what I got in book 1 – lots of action, more of Natalia hating Cristiano and pining over Diego, and her plotting on how to get back to him. What actually happened was a bit more emotional, more slow burn, but even more delicious, and this time I FELL IN LOVE WITH CRISTIANO!!
And then of course, that freakin cliffhanger, and now I’m even more anxious than I was after the end of Violent Delights. I LOVE this second part of Natalia and Cristiano’s story. She grows quite a bit, starts questioning things she had believed most of her life, she starts thinking of her husband in a way she had never allowed herself to before, and I definitely liked her a lot more. And Cristiano – whew, he was an alpha at his best! Strong, commanding, and possessive of his woman. I cannot wait for Violent Triumphs so I can finally get more of these two as a happily-in-love, united couple. At least, I HOPE that’s what will happen!
This series just keeps getting better. Violent Ends is angst personified and so much deliciousness!
If you thought the first book was tense, then meet book two. It has a lot more addictive tension, and it makes you thirsty for more. THIRSTAY!!
And Cristiano… yet again, le sigh. Would not say no to that man… To anything… *wink wink*
I am soo ready for the conclusion. It’s going to be EXPLOSIVE!
Definite recommendation!