A RIVETING JOURNEY.. AND A CLIFFHANGER ENDING

Oh Penelope, it’s a really good job I love your books so much.. because, as much as I do love them, I’m equally frustrated by them when they end in a CLIFFHANGER ending as this one did. I’ve been riveted by your Buttons, Banker and Lingerie series so know of the Skull Kings.. the merciless underworld gang who ran the slave auction where Buttons was sold - and I also knew that they were heavily into all things criminal. However, I didn’t know you were going to set your new suspenseful series around their fearless handsome leader.. and, that this sexy af man was going to start a no strings hot relationship that would deliciously build, intensify, demand, change characters.. and eventually start a war.

Beautiful 25 yr old Cassini was blackmailed into marriage to a dangerous, powerful, ruthless, violent criminal to save the life of another.. but regretted her decision every day.. and every day that her cheating husband demanded more from her, her heart and spirits sank further. Her gilded mansion was actually a cold and very dangerous prison.. so, when temptation rears it’s handsome face in a Bar one evening, Cassini thinks why not have one night for herself. Just one night to feel lust, one night to get lost in a stranger’s touch, one night with no names and then back to reality.. what could possibly go wrong? Well, Cassini wasn’t quite prepared for the sizzling chemistry between herself and 35 yr old Belto, for how skilful his sensual touches were.. and his passion, dirty words and sexuality during their secret rendezvous made her come alive. And Cassini definitely wasn’t prepared for what followed.. when secrets were spilled, when lines were crossed, when the skies darkened, when the Kings, pawns and players chose their sides.. and when the first battle cry of war was sounded.

Worth a credit? Yes absolutely, I always love her dark dual POV stories.. this one, like her others, has a powerful, possessive and dangerous alpha hero, a strong yet trapped heroine and a drama-filled hot as f’k plot. Great narration brought the drama and feels to life.. and built my anticipation, enjoyment and excitement levels right up as it drew in it’s breath ready for the poop hitting the fan climactic ending. But when it cliffhanger ended.. well, I mentally screamed every swear word I’d ever learned, invented a few new ones.. and then randomly paired them together for twice the dramatic mental impact.. but I’ll still have to wait for the King to become worthy of his Queen.

10 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Natalie Eaton's Narration

I have come to associate Michael and Natalie's voices for Penelope's books but, sometimes her voice could sound whiny and make the characters sound a little pathetic. Especially during the sex scenes. Otherwise, GREAT book. Hot sex. Still in keeping with the woman being a possession mentality. I do like the BOSS mentality or dynamic of the lead Male roles.

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Skip It......

Choose Irrevocable if you want a well written dark explicit romance. This aint it. A good dark romance but the key word is GOOD. I'm sorry but Penelope does not know how to write successfully in between dialogue to move the story logically and seamlessy forward. It's stagnant and repetitive. How many times can you big d**k or I'm a powerful man. The writing was sloppy. Show us through describing scenes and incidents instead having the main characters say it every other sentence. Some characters are complete hypocrites and not in a "great plot design" kind of way. The main lead advised she decided to openly submit to a man she hates with no fight but then states later she never submits. It's worse because she says these things to the reader like she didn't just say the opposite. The dialogue between characters was really bizarre. I don't mind the explicit language but it was cringey. Natural responses don't sound like that even from bad guys.

8 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

The female narrator.

The only reason why I give this a two star for performances is because Natalie Eaton makes the female character sound like a panicky, desperate, out of breath annoying woman when the character is written well. She’s actually destroying the female character totally by reading like she’s in a rush. I’ve listened to the book for two hours and I cannot finish it just because of the female narrator. Pity!
Ferraiuolo is as always amazing.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

good book... but!

Iloved the book, Icould not listen to it. I had to read it or I'd never have finished it and given it a chance. These narrators should not narrate this genre.... ever

6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great start to new series

I hate that this book is part of a trilogy and feel it could be combined into one book. I also hate cliffhangers but this one was pretty good. Both Balto and Lucian are crime lords. Lucian is Cassini’s husband and definitely not because of love. Lucian was a b@stard and didn’t treat her well. He thought nothing of punching her in the stomach if she disagreed with him or didn't do what he wanted. Cassini meets Balto, the skull king, in a bar and starts an affair with him and they are both insatiable. The story grows from there. Apparently, Balto and Lucian are enemies and Lucian has the third diamond skull ring (worth about a billion dollars). Balto has the other two. This was a really enjoyable book.

As with other author/narrator pairs, I think of Michael Ferraiuolo as the voice of Penelope Sky’s books. He is an awesome narrator and I could picture him as Balto since he inflected just the right attitude. Natalie Eaton was good.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Good start but more story

Too much sex (know. I’m actually saying that😐). I wish there was more story and action. But I’m looking forward to book 2. Hopefully it will have more happenings going on.
The narration was good. Michael Ferraiuolo kind of reminded me of Iggy Toma who is one of my favorite narrators (Scarlet Scars series by JM Darhower☺️).

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

exciting trilogy

so much happens in these books, .author does a great job keeping you guessing .

when is the next book coming out?

OMG.. I cannot believe this book is sooo good. I started and finished it in one sitting. I want to cry since I will have to learn patience and wait for the next installment. I love how raw and realistic the characters are. I love Cas is so caught up in keeping her word to a person who does't care about her. l love how Bolt is so raw and honest with Cas and tells her exactly how and what he wants from her. I love how he just ended the first book with letting Cas know she has not been freed but taken from her husband she hated so much. I cannot wait.

not as good os the others

I have read or listened to every one of Penelope Sky's books. I feel like there was little to no story but mostly sex. Don't get me wrong love the sex but I also love the anticipation and adventure her books normally carry but not so much with this one.