The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog are pleased to be a part of the blog Tour for Lili St Germain's "Kingpin (Cartel #2)."
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/227NPRD
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1iWvFjs
Synopsis:
The second scorching novel in the USA Today bestselling Cartel trilogy from the smash-hit author Lili St Germain.
They say love conquers all.
It's a lie.
Five days a week, I dressed in smart business clothes. I painted my face, and went to work as an accountant. But nothing about my life was normal.
For eight years I had been the property of the Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club. I laundered their money so well they'd never let me leave. My only glimmer of light was the man I loved. The man who had saved me.
Dornan.
His love had been the only thing that kept the demons at bay. But he'd become so immersed in the cartel's brutal business that I hardly knew him anymore.
Dornan had been my salvation, but he was also my undoing.
Would he pull me down into the darkness until he destroyed me? Could I save him?
Did I even want to?
Review: Surj
Good lord, this series... this book... these characters.... they are seriously playing all sorts of havoc with my emotions, my feelings, my nerves and my anxiety levels. I don't think I can take any more but in the same breath I'm addicted to the world of the Cartel and the Gypsy Brothers MC and I cannot step away until the final book has been read. I won't allow myself to. "Blood in, blood out" isn't that what they say? Well let's just say I have been slowly bleeding out (metaphorically of course) from the moment I turned the first page of "Seven Sons" two years ago, the sweet yet painful torture continuing as I have immersed myself into the world of Juliette, Jase, Dornan, Mariana and John. Lili St Germain has written one hell of an amazing saga with these characters and despite already knowing the endpoint, I haven't been able to turn my back on the underbelly that is this world yet.
I was twenty eight years old. We were in love.
And it was the saddest thing in the world.
In "Kingpin," I saw the story of Dornan, Juliette and John continue but boy did I find myself in all kinds of knots over what I was reading. I really didn't know whether I was coming or going when it came to Dornan Ross and there were a few occasions (I'm ashamed to say), he almost had me eating out of the palm of his hands. Did I feel sympathy towards him? Did I feel a pang of pain for the hand of cards he'd been dealt? Surely not? Thank god these moments were fleeting on my part because no sooner had he got my pity when two seconds later he would unleash the beast within and reveal a side I despised The monster was never far away and regardless of how he justified situations, regardless of how he thought he was doing the right thing, he really was ruthless, brutal and barbaric with a conscience that belonged right alongside the devil's.
They say drowning is a peaceful way to die, but Dornan Ross wasn't so sure about that.
He had been drowning in blood and lies his entire life.
I saw so much growth in Mariana's character and I think that was partly due to her growing frustration of the situation she was in not only with the cartel and Dornan but also her need to protect those she loved. Mariana reminded me so much of Juliette with her smart mouth but in this book, she became quite the kick ass heroine with a ruthless brutality when the need arose. Mariana was becoming more and more calculating in her thoughts and actions and I loved that she wasn't a doormat for Dornan or the Cartel although one thing did remain... she was a prisoner and that was something she had learned to accept. There was no getting away from this life unless it was in a bodybag.
"You don't understand. He loves me. He saved me."
John looked at me sadly, the smile fading from his face.
"You call this saved?"
John was a character that I had been introduced to very briefly in the previous book but one that really did steal a piece of my heart in "Kingpin." Despite being the President of the Gypsy Brothers MC, I could sense the constant struggle and inner conflict he faced on a daily basis. Like so many characters within this series, he too was a slave to the Cartel with little or no way out. He was a good man and I sensed that right from the outset, finding myself routing for him and a HEA (even though I already knew the outcome).
"Kingpin" was the beginning of the end when it came to anything good within Dornan Ross and was such an eye opener for me. As revelation after revelation came at me thick and fast, this author really did pull out all the stops when it came to leaving me gobsmacked. Those aces she had up her sleeve came with perfect precision and timing leaving me desperately trying to work out whether I had got things so completely wrong or whether it was Lili St Germain fucking with me all over again. Seriously, I wouldn't put it past her... she really is a master of messing with your mind!!!
I saw fresh bruises blossoming across my skin, and marvelled at how close
love and death could become. Dirty. Messy, inexplicably intertwined.
This was yet again another action packed, drama filled addictive read that ended on another cliffy. Not as bad as some this author has given us but a cliffy all the same. I cannot wait for the final book in this series "Empire" but am a little gutted we have to wait six months. The joys of a traditionally published book I guess. What I do know is, the wait will definitely be worth it, even if it is just to give me the closure I need. Although..... I did wonder whether Emilio's story might be on the cards. What turned him into the ruthless son of a bitch he was??? I don't think I'm ready to let this series go... can you tell?
I rated "Kingpin" ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Excerpt:
I recoiled as I felt her blood hit my cheek, the deafening roar of my gun something that was becoming far too familiar. Allie hit the dirt before I’d even blinked, the force of the bullet sending her straight onto her back.
Above the steady drum of the rain, I heard movement outside. Jesus. Was she still alive? I opened the door as quietly as I could and slipped out, pressing it shut behind me. The rain was brutal, and I could barely see in front of me. I circled around the back of the pickup, gun at the ready, my eyes searching for any movement as I rounded the corner of the truck and happened upon Allie. There was blood coming from her mouth, and she had one arm outstretched, reaching clumsily for her gun. In her dying moments, she didn’t look like a bitch anymore. She looked like a sad, lost little girl, and I silently cursed Murphy for pulling her into this hellish existence. For the first time, I realized that she was younger than me, just a young woman who fell in love with the wrong man. Don’t we all.
She saw me, and her hand reached for the gun more desperately. Before she could grab it and take a shot at me, I placed my bare foot on her wrist, pinning it to the ground.
She looked up at me, her eyes sad.
‘I thought he loved me,’ she choked.
I nodded, crouching beside her. ‘That’s the thing about men like Murphy,’ I said softly. ‘They’re not capable of love, Allie. They only know how to destroy.’
She seemed to soften, her eyes closing momentarily. Blinking back tears, she gazed up at me. ‘I don’t want to die,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t know.’
I nodded sympathetically, pushing her hair back from her face.
Before she could do anything, I placed my hand over her mouth and squeezed her nose shut between my thumb and index finger. Shock and realization lit up in her eyes as she thrashed her head back and forth beneath my grip.
‘That’s the difference between you and me,’ I said to her, as she clawed at my hand and sucked against my palm for air. ‘I’m old enough to know better.
Author Bio:
Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.
She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.
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