Bella Di Corte

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
War of Monsters is the fifth book in the "Fausti Family" series and this is where we continue the epic saga of Dante and Scarlett. In this one, they have recovered mostly from a mutual loss, they are delving into some family drama and they are brought into a family conflict and an enemy that they won't be ready for. They will go on a journey of self doubt, growth, healing and learning what it means to fight for each other as a couple. And that sometimes it takes risks and putting burdens on each other as a side effect.

First Line
The thought of a woman could rouse a man during the final countdown when he's a second away from losing.

What I Loved
There were many aspects that I enjoyed in this one. The atmosphere and world building in this book was (at no shock to me or anyone that has read this series) to be utterly captivating. We are taken to Italy and Sicily and man I just felt like I was there, there is something so captivating about this author and how she just builds a story that gives you the best feels. We get to return to Brando and Scarlett and I just loved returning to them again. The plot was so action packed, there was so much going on with this one here. So you definitely need to buckle your seat belts because this author really builds the tension and thrills in a way that you have never seen before. The heart and feels is so in tune with this pair. You just FEEL so much for this couple and what they have to face and overcome and its pretty rough at times that is for sure!

What I Struggled With
I mostly struggled with the pacing in this one. First this book is a CHUNKER at 700 pages so it takes a while to get through and I didn't do my due diligence on that one so that is why this has been taking a week to read because I have just been reading a little bit each day. Then we have the pacing was a bit slow at times and I just wish it had been more fast paced at times.

Overall View
I found my heart and soul in this book....the author will bring you into a story that you will NOT be ready for ....so be ready for a wild ride of thrills and emotion!

Favorite Quote(s)
He was my place, and I felt lost without a map.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Romantic Suspense, Dark Romance
Character Types: Mafia, Ballerina (Dancer)
Themes: Married Couple Pairing, Tear Jerker, World Building A Focus
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Nicole Fox
Meghan March
Serena Akeroyd

Song This Book Inspires
Lost You by Snoh Aalegra

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes You NEED to read these in order or the plot won't make sense

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.… (lisätietoja)

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
Kingdom of Corruption is the 4th installment in the Fausti Family series. This series has been so delightful, and this is where we get the continuation of Kingdom of Corruption with our couple. I have really enjoyed seeing this couple grow in their relationship. In Kingdom of Corruption we have some very interesting reveals that happen and there is some strong level of suspense that develops within this one here. I do think its essential to read the previous books before reading this one here.

First Line
The weatherman had predicted snow.

What I Loved
What I truly loved is the connection that we see Brando and Scarlett building together. I just loved seeing what they have together. The way in which they connect and have such faith in one another. Even though there are some secrets being kept, its more out of protecting each other and wanting the right time to have them be revealed. There is some level of suspense, it didn't come out in the way that I expected, but I truly enjoyed seeing it be revealed and what happens in the end for what is hinted at what our couple will get into, was beyond crazy. But we also see quite a bit of happy couple page time which I really enjoyed. And the descriptions that this author uses, is just brilliant. I love how authentic it feels entering one of her books and how I can literally feel the setting and how vibrantly its written truly impresses me every single time.

The conflict that our couple faces was so heartbreaking. I really felt for these two and what they had to face here and how each of them dealt with it, just felt so real. The author really handled the emotional aspects of this just right.

What I Struggled With
Not really much I struggled with, the pacing was a bit off at some moments so I knocked off half a star for that aspect because I loved everything else in the story.

Overall View
I found this story to be a true delight, packed with sweet and spice and heart that tied me up in knots!

Favorite Quote(s)
I don’t know how to not love you. It’s as natural as breathing, mio marito. Anger passes. So does hurt. But my love for you is constant. I’ve known it my entire life, and before it, and will even after it. Could you hate the one person who makes you feel everything?”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Dark
Character Types: Dancer, Mafia, Blue Collar
Themes: Married Couple Pairing
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
DUO Pov

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Yours in the Morning by Patrick Droney

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes you must read this in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy… (lisätietoja)

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
Royals of Italy is the third installment in the "Fausti Family" and after how the second book ended, I was very intrigued to see where this couple woulld go in this book as this book features their "Newlywed" stage of their relationship and I also knew that there would Fausti's introduced to this book and I was really curious to see how this would be developed and this book was just as rich and captivating as the previous two books and I fell even harder for this couple and what they face. This isn't your average mafia romance and I really love that. There is a style to how this series is being built that really pulls you in so quickly into the story. And I absolutely adored the setting of Italy that is so vividly descripted. I really respect an author that will do the research to set the right tone and setting for the story.

First Line
We were already on the verge of darkness, the water choppy, and I knew from experience that visibility was going to be slim.

Summary
In this installment of Brando and Scarlett, they are both adjusting to married life and trying to adapt with Brando being gone half the time working on the diving and rig jobs. Scarlett is trying to adjust to having her husband gone all the time, and is starting to get distant from Brando. Brando is at a loss as to what to do with the situation and wonders where her loyalties lay. And even though Scarlett, wants to be honest with Brando, she holds back from him. She is lonely and wanted to give something to Brando, but she ends up caught up in snares she has no comprehension of. When the truths are revealed, Brando and Scarlett will have to realize the value of trust in their relationship or the Fausti's will tear them apart. They are just starting to work their way through the weave of complexities that make up the powerful royals of Italy, and only together will they survive the onslaught...

What I Loved
This story was utterly powerful and I couldn't get enough of it. I was so drawn into this one here. I do recommend the audio if you can get it, the narration really brings out the lyrical side of the writing super strongly and I wish the rest of the series was in audio but I am too impatient for that haha but I will say the first three books are in audio and recommend grabbing those if possible.

What is so beautiful about this story is seeing how this couple has some learning lessons and I hope they LEARN them and these mistakes aren't being repeated in future books. Even though I had some issues with the heroine in the first half of the book, thankfully, its not dragged out and gets resolved early on because there is some outer conflict that they will both have to face and its not going to be an easy road for either of them. First off, what I loved truly, was the setting. It was so captivatingly described for Italy that I wish I had a villa to live in for the summer because I could practically feel that warm sun on my skin. That is how well this author vividly writes her stories to captivate her readers.

The second half of the story was a whirlwind of intrigue and mystery and familial complexity. We get introduced to the Fausti family and they get involved with Brando and Scarlett. There is also family politics that we get to see and we are charmed by the head of the family. I absolutely adored him so much. The relationship that Scarlett and he formed was so endearing and heartfelt. The courage that we see both Brando and Scarlett brave in this book just is evidence of their love and what they are both willing to sacrifice for each other. I was so captivated by the later half of the story but we see their strength and what they are capable of as a team. And I want to see this teamwork throughout the rest of the series and really hope that the author develops their relationship of growth and not repeating the same mistakes over and over.

What I Struggled With
So what I really struggled with is the actions from Scarlett in the first half of the book. I do not understand why she wasn't honest with Brando. It just didn't make sense to me. Why she was hiding so much from him especially when she knew his family and connections were in Italy and they both were at risk. But even when she had the suspicion that he was under the impression she might be having an affair, she still didn't come clean. She wasn't even willing to be honest until he made her face up to it and she had to repair their relationship. He shouldn't have had to face her in that way for her to treat him as she should have. So her actions in this book ruined some enjoyment from the story and I knocked off half a star for her actions here. Lets hope she and Brando are honest with each other from now on. But we shall see what this author does. So far all THREE books have had inner relationship drama.

Narration
The narration was perfectly portrayed and honestly it brought out the lyrical writing so much stronger within the audio. Its a DUO narration too so I really enjoyed that so much. And I really enjoyed the moments in which the story was crafted so brilliantly. I just couldn't put down this audio and that's rare. So if you want a beautiful narration to listen to, you can trust with this author.

Overall View
Royals of Italy is a sensual and passionate installment that takes you to the beauty and elegance of Italy, showcases the power of trust and the ability to overcome in the critical moments and portrays an enigmatic powerful epic love to draw you deeper into this captivating world of danger and passion...

Favorite Quote(s)
Without you, I’d lose the best part of me. You changed me that night out in the snow. Instead of my path leading me here, it led me to you first. No matter what I do or become, I still have you. I’m safe in your love no matter what.

Marriage isn’t about me. It’s not about you. It’s about us. Neither of us comes before what we have.

You listen without having to stare. You understand without requesting constant clarification. You give counsel in secret. You are a wife, a lifelong mate, the beat behind a man’s heart, and the honor in his veins.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Mafia, Blue Collar, Ballerina
Themes: Married Couple Pairing, Family Saga, Danger
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix of Both

Song This Book Inspires
When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes! You need to read this series in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

Narrators:
Antonio Arnato, Verla Bond… (lisätietoja)

This review will contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.25

First Impressions
Queen of Thorns is the second book in the "Fausti Family" series and this is book two of our beautiful couple here. This book picks off of the last scene we saw in "Man of Honor" so its been 3 years since Brando and Scarlett have seen each other. Brando was forced to let her go when knowing that their time wasn't when they were 18. That they both had to mature and live life and prove themselves for personal growth but also for the future of what they could be and the potential that they could have. The three years have been hard on both of them. Brando knowing that he is giving Scarlett what she needs to thrive as a professional dancer. But also Brando because he has some things he needs to prove to himself before he can come for Scarlett. I really loved seeing their reunion and what they were able to accomplish as they come together. Their reunion and reconnecting will be packed with ups and down and their love will be tested...

First Line
Looking up at the sky, I thought about that night, and not for the first time.

Summary
In Queen of Thorns, our story begins with Brando where its been three years since they saw each other and he was forced to let her go so that his Scarlett could shine for the world. We see how he has been working hard to keep himself busy and distracted through it all. But now its time for him to come to her. When he comes to visit with some of her other family, they are forced to face up to the past, the pain that they have both been in, and learning to connect with the people that they are now. Their journey is just beginning though and relearning each other isn't an easy road, and there are dangers happening that are slowly coming into their visions and their relationship will be tested internally as the value of trust and communication will be challenged. But can Danto and Scarlett find their connection and strength to persevere through the struggles?

What I Loved
Queen of Thorns was a story that had me highly entertained. I absolutely was hooked so quickly into the story. Now that I have adjusted to this author's writing style, this time around it definitely went more smoothly and I couldn't put this one down. I loved the way that this author developed this reconnection. Especially the first half of the story was pure magical with some glimpses of some suspense that get thrown into the mix. Their reunion was epic and just right and I will admit that I was laughing all over the place. Scarlett definitely doesn't make it easy for him (shoe-throwing scene anyone? LOL) and I absolutely adored that their connection was stronger than ever. Seeing the loss and what it has done to both of them was so heart-wrenching to witness. But what heals the wounds is seeing them find each other again and learning what it takes to fight for their relationship. They have some internal struggles that they need to work through. And the ending was a mix of feelings. I really adored the hero more than ever, especially in the final act. Brando is quickly working his way to the top of my book-boyfriend's shelf. His devotion to Scarlett and how quick on his feet he is is brilliant and how he helps save her from her mother's manipulations I literally was cheering him on. I really am crossing my fingers that in the next book, we see some justice against the mother because what she does to her daughter should be criminal.

What I Struggled With
The inner relationship angst in the second half of the story before the wedding. I really didn't understand this portion of the story to be honest. It just felt unnecessary and kinda came out of the blue and was suddenly there and I wish that there had been better build up for it.

Overall View
I found Queen of Thorns to be a satisfying installment to the cliffhanger that we received in the first book. It's a story that captures the intensity of their bond, a slighter building of their sensual connection, and delivers on the feels from beginning to end!

Favorite Quote(s)
Her art touched heart and soul, made a lasting impression that seemed to brand bone.

“I love you so much that it fucking breaks me, Scarlett—it rips open my heart and sends my soul straight to yours.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Blue Collar Hero, Ballerina Dancer
Themes: Danger elements, Heart/Touching/Feels
Tropes: Epic Love

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Writing's on the Wall by Jackie Evancho
Making Love out of Nothing at All

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes, you need to read in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.… (lisätietoja)