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Vendetta
Please note: this is not dark romance.
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.
316 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2013
About the author
Autumn Karr
3 books240 followersAutumn Karr is the co-author of VENDETTA, written with Sienna Lane.
RELEASING DECEMBER 17TH 2013.
You can find us at:
https://www.facebook.com/karrandlane
RELEASING DECEMBER 17TH 2013.
You can find us at:
https://www.facebook.com/karrandlane
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- Autumn and Sienna
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1bbtI7c
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1bbtIUQ
B&N http://bit.ly/1cNhRAY
- Autumn and Sienna
August 9, 2016
Final rating: 2 stars
No gifs or pics or collages or whatever. Just words to convey how serious I really am.
I cried while writing this review. Not because the book’s events made me sob my heart out, but because how painful it was to write since this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases. It’s the hardest one I’ve had to type, especially when I’ve been struggling between being completely honest and just sugarcoating my feelings. I’ve jumped back and forth between ratings, prodded my boyfriend to help me analyze and process certain events, and sat staring at the wall for a few hours thinking how to word my review. I've finally decided to just go with a like/dislike list.
Did I like this book? There were certain parts that gave that ‘oomph’ feeling, but for the most part, no I didn’t. Do I think others will like it? Yes, I do. Everyone has different reading experiences and expectations, and I think this one will be a hit or miss for readers. For me, it was just a miss.
So what did I like?
1. The cover
2. The blurb
3. The title (very fitting!)
4. The premise of the story and the mob setting
Unfortunately, that’s about it. I wish I could add on more, but I had numerous problems with the book.
What I didn't like
1. The beginning of the book thrusts the reader right into the middle of something and you get all these details but not really knowing what exactly is going on, who’s who, and how everything relates to each other. Very aggravating. I want to point out here that the wording is also very repetitive.
“It’s Leighton Moore, for fuck’s sake,…”
“Plus, it’s Leighton.”
“Of course I know Leighton Moore.”
This is all on one page and it’s weird that Devon would address Leighton with her full name and then just first name, and then back to full name again.
2. The POV switches got a little tiresome. What I mean is that there were too many. One moment you’re on Leighton’s POV and then suddenly on the next page you’re on Devon’s. Not necessarily a bad thing, but each of the POVs were a bit too short for my tastes.
3. The wording was pretty contradictory. For example, Leighton would whimper, shaking [her] head no when questioned by Devon and in the very next line she dare[s] to ask him questions. Hot and cold with this one.
4. The characters are pretty contradictory. From the way Leighton describes Devon, and the way others view him, you’d expect him to be a total badass. And I mean, he was….in some cases. But most of the time, all I saw was this recurring soft side for Leighton whenever he saw her, whenever his uncle brought her up, whenever I read to his POV. When you say badass, cold, emotionless heroes, give me exactly that. I want the heroine to have to work for the affection, not just be something similar to insta-lust/insta-love, which in this case it was.
5. The almost absurd living circumstances for Leighton. she keeps thinking ‘okay, I need to find a way to escape’ and ‘what am I going to do next’ but instead she has the luxury to watch TV and draw?? I mean, I felt like her time with Devon was mainly spent drawing.
6. I thought Leighton was a slut to be honest, and didn’t change that thought until I got to the ‘twist’ at 52% (talk about that later). She’s the captive now, yet she’s bold to siddle up to Devon and flirting with him, repeatedly. I didn’t get why she’d do something like this until that twist.
7. Hayley. Honestly what was this chick’s role? She ended up being the third leg in the love triangle-like scenario and only served to trivialize the significant.
8. The twist. Ahhh yes. When I got to it, I wasn’t all relieved because I thought I’d get answers; if anything, it left me even more confused. I wish I had known about this part before the beginning of the book. It would have helped me understand the events in the first few chapters a lot better.
9. Leighton is not a badass like some reviews claim she is. The few times she tries to escape/evade Devon, she gets caught. She cries. She throws jealousy tantrums easily. And if you think the scene where is badass, then, well, you think she’s a badass. :/
10. Colin and Soraya/Amber
11. The ending/epilogue.
All in all, I think this story had great potential, a wonderful and intriguing premise, but the execution didn't impress, especially the last 30% where the action thickens. Too many events and names were just thrown at me, and I had to stop, draw a family tree, and re-read all over again because I couldn't keep track of all the events happening at once and it broke my reading flow.
I must say, again, that all readers react to books differently and have different tastes and such, so if you are interested in the book, give it a go! It just so happens that this book wasn’t for me.
ARC kindly provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advanced copy and are subject to change in the final edition.
For more reviews, freebie lists, & giveaways visit my blog!
No gifs or pics or collages or whatever. Just words to convey how serious I really am.
I cried while writing this review. Not because the book’s events made me sob my heart out, but because how painful it was to write since this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases. It’s the hardest one I’ve had to type, especially when I’ve been struggling between being completely honest and just sugarcoating my feelings. I’ve jumped back and forth between ratings, prodded my boyfriend to help me analyze and process certain events, and sat staring at the wall for a few hours thinking how to word my review. I've finally decided to just go with a like/dislike list.
Did I like this book? There were certain parts that gave that ‘oomph’ feeling, but for the most part, no I didn’t. Do I think others will like it? Yes, I do. Everyone has different reading experiences and expectations, and I think this one will be a hit or miss for readers. For me, it was just a miss.
So what did I like?
1. The cover
2. The blurb
3. The title (very fitting!)
4. The premise of the story and the mob setting
Unfortunately, that’s about it. I wish I could add on more, but I had numerous problems with the book.
What I didn't like
1. The beginning of the book thrusts the reader right into the middle of something and you get all these details but not really knowing what exactly is going on, who’s who, and how everything relates to each other. Very aggravating. I want to point out here that the wording is also very repetitive.
“It’s Leighton Moore, for fuck’s sake,…”
“Plus, it’s Leighton.”
“Of course I know Leighton Moore.”
This is all on one page and it’s weird that Devon would address Leighton with her full name and then just first name, and then back to full name again.
2. The POV switches got a little tiresome. What I mean is that there were too many. One moment you’re on Leighton’s POV and then suddenly on the next page you’re on Devon’s. Not necessarily a bad thing, but each of the POVs were a bit too short for my tastes.
3. The wording was pretty contradictory. For example, Leighton would whimper, shaking [her] head no when questioned by Devon and in the very next line she dare[s] to ask him questions. Hot and cold with this one.
4. The characters are pretty contradictory. From the way Leighton describes Devon, and the way others view him, you’d expect him to be a total badass. And I mean, he was….in some cases. But most of the time, all I saw was this recurring soft side for Leighton whenever he saw her, whenever his uncle brought her up, whenever I read to his POV. When you say badass, cold, emotionless heroes, give me exactly that. I want the heroine to have to work for the affection, not just be something similar to insta-lust/insta-love, which in this case it was.
5. The almost absurd living circumstances for Leighton. she keeps thinking ‘okay, I need to find a way to escape’ and ‘what am I going to do next’ but instead she has the luxury to watch TV and draw?? I mean, I felt like her time with Devon was mainly spent drawing.
6. I thought Leighton was a slut to be honest, and didn’t change that thought until I got to the ‘twist’ at 52% (talk about that later). She’s the captive now, yet she’s bold to siddle up to Devon and flirting with him, repeatedly. I didn’t get why she’d do something like this until that twist.
7. Hayley. Honestly what was this chick’s role? She ended up being the third leg in the love triangle-like scenario and only served to trivialize the significant.
8. The twist. Ahhh yes. When I got to it, I wasn’t all relieved because I thought I’d get answers; if anything, it left me even more confused. I wish I had known about this part before the beginning of the book. It would have helped me understand the events in the first few chapters a lot better.
9. Leighton is not a badass like some reviews claim she is. The few times she tries to escape/evade Devon, she gets caught. She cries. She throws jealousy tantrums easily. And if you think the scene where is badass, then, well, you think she’s a badass. :/
10. Colin and Soraya/Amber
11. The ending/epilogue.
All in all, I think this story had great potential, a wonderful and intriguing premise, but the execution didn't impress, especially the last 30% where the action thickens. Too many events and names were just thrown at me, and I had to stop, draw a family tree, and re-read all over again because I couldn't keep track of all the events happening at once and it broke my reading flow.
I must say, again, that all readers react to books differently and have different tastes and such, so if you are interested in the book, give it a go! It just so happens that this book wasn’t for me.
ARC kindly provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advanced copy and are subject to change in the final edition.
For more reviews, freebie lists, & giveaways visit my blog!
Want to read
December 11, 2013 Oh my GOD this book looks INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!
I have shivers just from the blurb! See below:
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.
I have shivers just from the blurb! See below:
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.
December 12, 2013
___________________________________________
SHORT SYNOPSIS :
The Andre family and the Moore family have been enemies for decades. This fact is not lost on Leighton Moore, no matter how drawn she has always felt toward Devon Andre. But smoldering looks and fluttering hearts are inconsequential when your two families are the biggest mafia families in Boston. Family loyalty is everything. Devon is off limits to Leighton. Her mind understands but her body and her heart don't listen to reason. Not even when her attempts at catching a traitor end up in her own kidnapping at the hands of her object of desire. Not even when he locks her in a room and threatens her with the unknown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"And who is this person I've turned into, that I was letting myself become accustomed to this fate? (...) My love for Devon is my greatest weakness. It has me confused, blinded. Determined to become a martyr for a crime committed by my family.
Weak. This is not who I am."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Devon Andre has also felt the tug of attraction toward the forbidden beauty, the daughter of the man who murdered his parents and brother. His rage knows no limits, and yet he can't seem to remain the stone cold killer that he needs to be in order to exact his revenge. This brave and beautiful girl has fascinated him for as long as he can remember. Now that he has her under his thumb, the temptation to touch is almost overwhelming. Almost. If only he didn't have this VENDETTA, this mission to exact retribution for the wrongs done to him and his family. He knows what he has to do. Now he just needs to fight his heart and finish the task.
____________________________________________
MY THOUGHTS :
What I liked:
For some reason, I love mafia type stories. Maybe it's the super alpha or gamma heroes, the stone cold killers who have a heart reserved for just one woman...I totally dig that. So I was predisposed to love Devon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I wanted to tell her that every moment she let me spend with her was like heaven. Every time she tangled her hands in my hair and let me touch her in every way I wanted, I felt unworthy of it. That if she were anyone else, I would have loved her until the day I died."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
His past is tragic, and he's been prepped for years to right the wrongs that were done to him. So his hesitation in ending the life of Leighton is the stuff made of fairy tales. It's that intangible connection made tangible because of their proximity to one another. Gets me every time. It's almost like a Romeo and Juliet love. Forbidden but too strong to be ignored.
There is a twist that very nearly changed the entire direction of my thoughts on this book...in a very good way. I encourage readers who are somewhat bored between 20-50% to hang in there. If you feel like you're missing the point, well...YOU ARE! There IS a point, you just have to wait for it. And when I finally reached that point, I got crazy butterflies. It's that good.
___________________________________________
What I didn't like:
I got bored quickly with so much of the story happening in one room. I suppose my expectations played into this aspect of my enjoyment, because from the cover and the synopsis, I expected there to be much more action and movement. But for me, the pacing for the first eighty percent of the book was pretty slow.
A lot of minor things in the story jumped out at me and made my brain hiccup. Things that I think were supposed to make me thing "Oh, cool! Didn't see that coming!" instead made me think "So what?". I think that the length of the book was detrimental in that all of the many secondary characters were extremely flat. I didn't really care about ANY of them. Leighton's parents, her cousin that was supposed to be so important to the story, Devon's uncle, who was also a major player, and also his ex girlfriend...I didn't really KNOW any of them, other than their connection to our hero and heroine and the basic facts about their history. I wanted more. I wanted flashbacks of important moments or even current scenes that added gravity to their presence, but it just never came.
I didn't really understand Leighton. Is she strong or is she weak? Who is she outside of being a Moore? Again, the brevity of this story kept me from really connecting with her. I didn't know what made her tick, and her actions go from being very brave at first to completely giving up and bowing to her captors and back to being a badass chick later. Not to mention, people who were holding her hostage, preparing to KILL HER kept getting UPSET WITH HER when she wouldn't just give up. As if she should allow Devon to kill her because that's what the right thing to do would be. Instead of messing with his head and making him love her, she should lay down and die. HUH? Another example of the reactions of the characters being completely incongruous with the situation. Devon, as well, was not quite the tough guy hero I expected but her was between a rock and a hard place so I gave him a bit of leeway.
___________________________________________
Would I read more? Absolutely. Although this book has a very definitive ending point, there is still room for more of Devon and Leighton's story that could be told. And some of those secondary characters that I wanted more of? They have stories as well, I'm sure. I'd love to get a book about Devon's uncle. He's a bit older, but still in his late thirties, I believe. So while I did have some issues with this book, I still enjoyed it quite a lot. I think this will appeal to the New Adult lovers out there, and Devon will most definitely appeal to those alpha loving men, although he isn't over the top. Hopefully we get more from this new author duo.
ETA: I hate writing three star reviews. My three stars does NOT mean that I didn't enjoy this book. I did enjoy it. I liked it. I just didn't love it.
Arc provided by the author for review.
December 12, 2013
First things first....HOT COVER!
Secondly....catchy blurb. You had me at..."I'm not a good man"
However, I kind of struggled with this one though. My biggest problem was I didn't get the connection between Devon and Leighton.
Vendetta is another take on the whole kidnapping scenario....mafia style. The Andre's (Devon) and the Moore's (Leighton) are both mafia families....rivals.
The first 50% I was honestly asking myself over and over again where the connection was between Devon and Leighton.
Waiting for it, waiting for it.....it's coming right?
I just didn't get it. At all. Devon and Leighton are both really vague as far as how they know each other, the extent to which they know each other, etc. I got the impression that they hadn't really even talked up to the kidnapping.
So imagine my surprise when I hit the 52ish% mark and I find out the "twist"...
You're joking right?
Now I am really confused. And if possible everything now makes even less sense. Even though I think this twist was supposed to bring it all together???
I think if I had known this "twist" from the beginning I would have felt more of the connection between Devon and Leighton. It did help but at the point I had kind of lost interest in what happened to them because I didn't feel a connection.
So....if I look past all of that I did like the concept of the story, the execution just wasn't quite there for me. Leighton is kind of in a wrong place, wrong time situation when she gets kidnapped. Devon has just discovered news about his families death and is looking to seek revenge.
There's drama and of course an escape...all of the things you would expect to see in a kidnapping story. There were some surprises that I didn't see coming which was nice.
A few other thoughts....
Devon
Hayley
And the end....
I needed more!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Secondly....catchy blurb. You had me at..."I'm not a good man"
However, I kind of struggled with this one though. My biggest problem was I didn't get the connection between Devon and Leighton.
Vendetta is another take on the whole kidnapping scenario....mafia style. The Andre's (Devon) and the Moore's (Leighton) are both mafia families....rivals.
The first 50% I was honestly asking myself over and over again where the connection was between Devon and Leighton.
Waiting for it, waiting for it.....it's coming right?
I just didn't get it. At all. Devon and Leighton are both really vague as far as how they know each other, the extent to which they know each other, etc. I got the impression that they hadn't really even talked up to the kidnapping.
So imagine my surprise when I hit the 52ish% mark and I find out the "twist"...
You're joking right?
Now I am really confused. And if possible everything now makes even less sense. Even though I think this twist was supposed to bring it all together???
I think if I had known this "twist" from the beginning I would have felt more of the connection between Devon and Leighton. It did help but at the point I had kind of lost interest in what happened to them because I didn't feel a connection.
So....if I look past all of that I did like the concept of the story, the execution just wasn't quite there for me. Leighton is kind of in a wrong place, wrong time situation when she gets kidnapped. Devon has just discovered news about his families death and is looking to seek revenge.
There's drama and of course an escape...all of the things you would expect to see in a kidnapping story. There were some surprises that I didn't see coming which was nice.
A few other thoughts....
Devon
Hayley
And the end....
I needed more!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Want to read
September 12, 2013I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want to read this, dammit!
December 19, 2013
3.5 "I wish they would have used my suggestions" Stars...
I will be short but I was a beta reader for this book. I made many suggestions for improvements that were either ignored or overlooked, and these issues wound up being problems other people had with the book as well. I think this story had potential but needed some changes to improve it.
B/c of this I will think long and hard about offering to be a Beta or ARC reader in the future. There is no point in giving your opinion if it doesn't matter.
The End.
I will be short but I was a beta reader for this book. I made many suggestions for improvements that were either ignored or overlooked, and these issues wound up being problems other people had with the book as well. I think this story had potential but needed some changes to improve it.
B/c of this I will think long and hard about offering to be a Beta or ARC reader in the future. There is no point in giving your opinion if it doesn't matter.
The End.
January 7, 2014
I had high hopes for Vendetta and I really, really wanted to love this story. The lure of a dangerous romance was too tempting to pass up! Ultimately I ended up liking the overall story, but I had a lot of mixed feelings, as well.
Leighton and Devon are related to rival mob families where the hatred runs long and deep. When Leighton stumbles on a clandestine deal going down she’s kidnapped and held by Devon at his family’s compound. Leighton knows that Devon hates her family and she has no love for his, but she doesn’t realize the extent of his hatred or the reason behind it. Still, there is an undeniable chemistry and attraction between these two, but can their feelings brush away Devon’s desire for revenge?
“I wish you were someone else,” she whispers, and I hear the tears in her voice. My eyes open and I kiss her wrist hovering over my mouth, wiping away the single tear streaking down her cheek with my thumb.
“Me too,” I say, and I’ve never meant anything more than I do those two words.*
It’s hard to write a review without spoiling things, but a big part of the issue I had with this book would have been nonexistent had I known what I did at 51%. Leighton and Devon’s reactions and behavior would’ve made a lot more sense and packed more of an emotional punch if I had that information up front. Instead, their behavior came off as illogical and frustrating. Sometimes, when I hit a twist in a story that surprises me, I think “wow, well played,” in this case it didn’t feel like a well placed revelation, more like a missing piece of crucial information. Plus, I felt the plot was very slow the first half of the book with not much happening.
With that said, after the 51% mark the book really picked up in action and I really started to connect more with Leighton and Devon. There were some pretty smoking hot scenes, and these two finally had the chemistry necessary to make their romance believable. I was really rooting for Leighton and Devon as a couple, hoping they’d find a way in spite of their impossible situation. The ending was a little rushed and I didn't really agree with something Leighton did at the last minute, but I was pleased with the conclusion.
I think this a promising debut for Autumn Karr and Sienna Lane, and I have a feeling there are good things to come from these two. I'll be on the lookout for their next book.
A copy was provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
*Quote taken from ARC and may change in the final copy.
Leighton and Devon are related to rival mob families where the hatred runs long and deep. When Leighton stumbles on a clandestine deal going down she’s kidnapped and held by Devon at his family’s compound. Leighton knows that Devon hates her family and she has no love for his, but she doesn’t realize the extent of his hatred or the reason behind it. Still, there is an undeniable chemistry and attraction between these two, but can their feelings brush away Devon’s desire for revenge?
“I wish you were someone else,” she whispers, and I hear the tears in her voice. My eyes open and I kiss her wrist hovering over my mouth, wiping away the single tear streaking down her cheek with my thumb.
“Me too,” I say, and I’ve never meant anything more than I do those two words.*
It’s hard to write a review without spoiling things, but a big part of the issue I had with this book would have been nonexistent had I known what I did at 51%. Leighton and Devon’s reactions and behavior would’ve made a lot more sense and packed more of an emotional punch if I had that information up front. Instead, their behavior came off as illogical and frustrating. Sometimes, when I hit a twist in a story that surprises me, I think “wow, well played,” in this case it didn’t feel like a well placed revelation, more like a missing piece of crucial information. Plus, I felt the plot was very slow the first half of the book with not much happening.
With that said, after the 51% mark the book really picked up in action and I really started to connect more with Leighton and Devon. There were some pretty smoking hot scenes, and these two finally had the chemistry necessary to make their romance believable. I was really rooting for Leighton and Devon as a couple, hoping they’d find a way in spite of their impossible situation. The ending was a little rushed and I didn't really agree with something Leighton did at the last minute, but I was pleased with the conclusion.
I think this a promising debut for Autumn Karr and Sienna Lane, and I have a feeling there are good things to come from these two. I'll be on the lookout for their next book.
A copy was provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
*Quote taken from ARC and may change in the final copy.
December 20, 2013
Romeo and Juliet of the mob world, that is what Devon Andre and Leighton Moore are. The families have been at war for years. Both know they can't be together because of it. In reality they don't care. The heart wants what it wants.
no matter what the cost.
When Leighton and Devon are put in extraordinary circumstances everything comes full circle for these two. They have no choice but to admit their love for one another.... now what or will they do about it?
This book has everything you would expect in a mob love story..... family, loyalty, intrigue, murder, revenge.... These two know they were born tainted by the world they live in. Question is, how far will they go to be together? Will the family history stand in their way?
There are some great shockers in this book. I can't give too much away because it will ruin the plot for you, but trust me, it is a great modern day take on forbidden love, that I happened to enjoy very much.
ARC kindly provided by Authors :)
March 8, 2015
Review:
Vendetta is a story about two starcrossed lovers and their fight to be with one another. This is not a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Though, I definitely got a "Montague/Capulet you can't be together" vibe from this story. The Andres and Moores are two families that despise each other. Their feud dates back to the days of Prohibition and the battle over ownership of warehouses holding alcohol. This is important because Vendetta centers around two people — Leighton Moore and Devon Andre. The Andre/Moore mutual hatred was ingrained in both of them from an early age. I loved that the blurb didn't really reveal much about the actual story; it merely clues you into the Devon's frame of mind and the love he feels for Leighton.
The story begins with Leighton spying on a secret conversation between George and Devon. Until now, Leighton believed George's lied with father, but judging from his conversations with Devon, enemy number one, it's clear he's nothing but a rat. Unfortunately for her, Leighton is not that great of a spy and she gets caught. George wants to kill her, but for some reason Devon speaks up and takes responsibility for her.
Devon takes Leighton back to his uncle's mansion and locks her in a room. Not just any room but HIS room. This was surprising to me and to Devon's best friend, Hayley. In an effort to distance himself from Leighton, he has Hayley tend to Leighton's needs and visit her regularly. Devon's room is clearly one of the nicer rooms. This left me wondering, "Does he care about her? What is going on here?" I WANT ANSWERS!
I was a bit confused about Leighton and Devon's relationship in the beginning of this book because Leighton would say things like "this isn't like Devon to do this" or "what he did shocked me". And what's more, Devon would keep giving in to Leighton's demands for a television or other amenities. There is a twist in this story that happens about half of the way through the book. I won't reveal what it is. But it cleared up some of the confusion.
Devon begins to spend more time with Leighton in herroom prison. He can't seem to stay away from her. The more they talk, the more his indoctrinated hatred of her disappears. There is a fine line between love and hate, and soon Devon's emotions began to cross the line from hate to love.
Things heat up between the two of them within those four walls, with no one in the house being none the wiser. I was so nervous that Devon's uncle was going to walk in on them and shoot Leighton right between the eyes. (Isn't that how the mob rolls?)
The authors laid the foundation for a great forbidden love story — a tortured hero, sexual tension, this mysterious connection between the two main characters, and the war between their two families. All of those elements were there and could have been combined together to make a fantastic story. However, I just don't think the authors put all of those elements together in a way to make the story great. I wanted more tension between the characters than what I got. I wanted to feel their internal struggles, and at times, I did but it just didn't have the emotional impact I was hoping for. Did I like it? Yeah, I did. I didn't love it, though.
I would have liked for several of the big reveal moments to be fleshed out more. I felt like the authors were hesitant to just come right out and say something. Instead, they kind of tip-toed around their points, which left the reader to draw A LOT of conclusions. I felt confused at times and had to go back and reread certain parts to make the connection.
Additionally, I felt like the narrative was really slow in certain parts. The fact that the majority of the story takes place in one room added to the slow pace. I wanted more action during the novel. In the end, it did pick up and I liked it, but the middle dragged. The dialogue between the two characters was a little stilted and awkward at some moments, but in other parts I really liked it. There were several one-liners in this book that I felt were really profound and great, but overall I felt like the narrative left something to be desired.
The writing needs work, but I liked the bones of the story. If you're a fan of forbidden love stories like I am, I think you would like this book.
*I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
_________________________________________
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"I wish you were someone else," she whispers and I hear the tears in her voice. My eyes open and I kiss her wrist hovering over my mouth, wiping away the single tear streaking her cheek with my thumb.
"Me, too," I say, and I've never meant anything more than I do those two words.
Vendetta is a story about two starcrossed lovers and their fight to be with one another. This is not a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Though, I definitely got a "Montague/Capulet you can't be together" vibe from this story. The Andres and Moores are two families that despise each other. Their feud dates back to the days of Prohibition and the battle over ownership of warehouses holding alcohol. This is important because Vendetta centers around two people — Leighton Moore and Devon Andre. The Andre/Moore mutual hatred was ingrained in both of them from an early age. I loved that the blurb didn't really reveal much about the actual story; it merely clues you into the Devon's frame of mind and the love he feels for Leighton.
The story begins with Leighton spying on a secret conversation between George and Devon. Until now, Leighton believed George's lied with father, but judging from his conversations with Devon, enemy number one, it's clear he's nothing but a rat. Unfortunately for her, Leighton is not that great of a spy and she gets caught. George wants to kill her, but for some reason Devon speaks up and takes responsibility for her.
"I should have just left her there. It's not like I have an overwhelming urge to play her knight in shining armor. God knows she's not a damsel in distress. The woman is poison, like all the Moores are."
Devon takes Leighton back to his uncle's mansion and locks her in a room. Not just any room but HIS room. This was surprising to me and to Devon's best friend, Hayley. In an effort to distance himself from Leighton, he has Hayley tend to Leighton's needs and visit her regularly. Devon's room is clearly one of the nicer rooms. This left me wondering, "Does he care about her? What is going on here?" I WANT ANSWERS!
I was a bit confused about Leighton and Devon's relationship in the beginning of this book because Leighton would say things like "this isn't like Devon to do this" or "what he did shocked me". And what's more, Devon would keep giving in to Leighton's demands for a television or other amenities. There is a twist in this story that happens about half of the way through the book. I won't reveal what it is. But it cleared up some of the confusion.
It's times like these that I forget. I forget that I’m essentially a prisoner, that the man I love is probably going to be the last thing I see before I die. He makes me forget everything.
Devon begins to spend more time with Leighton in her
"I fucking hate you for being my weakness."
Things heat up between the two of them within those four walls, with no one in the house being none the wiser. I was so nervous that Devon's uncle was going to walk in on them and shoot Leighton right between the eyes. (Isn't that how the mob rolls?)
The authors laid the foundation for a great forbidden love story — a tortured hero, sexual tension, this mysterious connection between the two main characters, and the war between their two families. All of those elements were there and could have been combined together to make a fantastic story. However, I just don't think the authors put all of those elements together in a way to make the story great. I wanted more tension between the characters than what I got. I wanted to feel their internal struggles, and at times, I did but it just didn't have the emotional impact I was hoping for. Did I like it? Yeah, I did. I didn't love it, though.
I would have liked for several of the big reveal moments to be fleshed out more. I felt like the authors were hesitant to just come right out and say something. Instead, they kind of tip-toed around their points, which left the reader to draw A LOT of conclusions. I felt confused at times and had to go back and reread certain parts to make the connection.
Additionally, I felt like the narrative was really slow in certain parts. The fact that the majority of the story takes place in one room added to the slow pace. I wanted more action during the novel. In the end, it did pick up and I liked it, but the middle dragged. The dialogue between the two characters was a little stilted and awkward at some moments, but in other parts I really liked it. There were several one-liners in this book that I felt were really profound and great, but overall I felt like the narrative left something to be desired.
The writing needs work, but I liked the bones of the story. If you're a fan of forbidden love stories like I am, I think you would like this book.
*I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
_________________________________________
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Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
December 19, 2013Edit: Hi all! As we all know, not every book is going to rock our world. But, if you are interested in this book, I suggest previewing it. Who knows... you might end up really liking it. And my opinion will be just that - my opinion. That's the beauty of books, not all of them are the same and not everyone is going to like them. Happy reading! :)
******
DNF @ 30%. I will refrain from rating this book since I didn't finish it.
There were so many things about this book that had promise, but there are more things that felt lacking and kept me from continuing this story.
The character development is written poorly. I was not a fan of the heroine. Something about her just made it impossible for me to connect to her. The chemistry between the h/h felt forced. I couldn't feel the heat and steam when I was supposed to.
What really made me DNF this book is the poor execution of the storyline. It felt like I was thrown right into the middle of an existing story and I actually thought had missed a chapter or two by accident. So, I went back to the beginning and realized that's how the story begins. I went with it. The story started to make sense eventually, but it wasn't enough to make me want to finish it. The story just simply fell flat. Not interesting enough to hold my attention.
In my opinion, this book is written a little too simply and needs more work - more depth.
Thank for the opportunity to review this book. I wish the authors luck in their future work.
December 29, 2013
"There are no innocents in our world. We are born tainted."
Vendetta wasn’t really what I was expecting. While I did have some issues with it, I found it easy to read and I was interested in how things were going to play out.
The Andre’s and the Moore’s are rival mob families, so the hate and distain runs deep. There is apparently new evidence that Leighton’s family had something to do with the murders of Devon’s mother, father, and little brother years earlier. It starts out with Leighton Moore being kidnapped by Devon Andre. She is in the wrong place and the wrong time and instead of letting her be killed by one of his men, Devon decides to take her.
Once Devon has Leighton, he keeps her locked up in a room in his Uncle Frank’s house, which is the leader of the Andre crime family. There is this really strange tension between Devon and Leighton and it’s almost baffling in the beginning. Since this is told in dual point of view, we get to hear both sides of the kidnapping. They think about each other in terms of what they’ve heard around town and what they know of the others family and it gets pretty repetitive. Because of his hate for her, Devon tried to keep his distance from Leighton and is very cold at times.
The whole point of Devon capturing Leighton is for revenge. His uncle and the rest of his mob family are pushing him to kill her, but at the exact right moment. So, as he’s waiting, his willpower is tested and his emotions start to become confused. Leighton is trying to seduce him and although he tries to resist, the sexual tension eventually boils over.
About half way through, something is revealed and it really helps bring some sense to the story. I was wondering why I was so confused, but it was because, well… I was supposed to be. I really think the way this was done hindered my connection to the characters and made it hard to understand their connection to each other.
So, as the story continues it has a very Romeo and Juliet vibe. They are up and down and I was wondering how everything was going to turn out.
I have such mixed feelings about how the story of Vendetta progressed. I love the idea and the concept, I was even the intrigued by Devon in the beginning, but then things got really convoluted. I wish there had been more time spent of the development of the relationship and the characters themselves. By the end, it seemed like so many random things had been thrown in that didn’t need to be there at all. It was alot of action, but not well paced or explained, with names and people being thrown at you left and right. It was rushed and then the epilogue hits and I was confused that it was over. This is a standalone so I felt like there needed to be more time spent wrapping things up at the end.
Even though I have my complaints, this was an easy read. It’s kind of slow in the middle, but for the most part I flew through it. The ideas were solid, but not executed as well as they could have been. I will definitely keep an eye out for this author duo in the future though as I think this had great potential.
It's true what they say about a thin line between love and hate.
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Vendetta wasn’t really what I was expecting. While I did have some issues with it, I found it easy to read and I was interested in how things were going to play out.
The Andre’s and the Moore’s are rival mob families, so the hate and distain runs deep. There is apparently new evidence that Leighton’s family had something to do with the murders of Devon’s mother, father, and little brother years earlier. It starts out with Leighton Moore being kidnapped by Devon Andre. She is in the wrong place and the wrong time and instead of letting her be killed by one of his men, Devon decides to take her.
I should have just left her there. It's not like I have an overwhelming urge to play her knight in shining armor. God knows she's not a damsel in distress. The woman is poison, like all the Moore’s are. Unfortunately, despite what people think about me, I can't stand men hitting women, and I'm sure as fuck George wouldn't have minded taking another swing at her. We may be criminals, but we're not complete assholes.
Once Devon has Leighton, he keeps her locked up in a room in his Uncle Frank’s house, which is the leader of the Andre crime family. There is this really strange tension between Devon and Leighton and it’s almost baffling in the beginning. Since this is told in dual point of view, we get to hear both sides of the kidnapping. They think about each other in terms of what they’ve heard around town and what they know of the others family and it gets pretty repetitive. Because of his hate for her, Devon tried to keep his distance from Leighton and is very cold at times.
I squeeze my eyes shut, hating the tear that slips out, streaking my cheek. His thumb catches the tear, then he brings it to his lips, his intense eyes boring into mine, and he licks it. The sick bastard.
…
“Why the hell are you being so mean?” I never thought he would be like this. The Devon in my head is someone else completely. “I'm just being me.” His words are cold, emotionless. Realization hits me— this really is him, no matter what I made him out to be in my head.
The whole point of Devon capturing Leighton is for revenge. His uncle and the rest of his mob family are pushing him to kill her, but at the exact right moment. So, as he’s waiting, his willpower is tested and his emotions start to become confused. Leighton is trying to seduce him and although he tries to resist, the sexual tension eventually boils over.
“Can we just pretend? Just for one night?”…
“You said we'd pretend,” I say softly, moving closer to him.
“Leighton, fuck, I don’t think . . . ” His eyes are at the hem of my top, where my hands are.
“Don’t think, Devon,”
About half way through, something is revealed and it really helps bring some sense to the story. I was wondering why I was so confused, but it was because, well… I was supposed to be. I really think the way this was done hindered my connection to the characters and made it hard to understand their connection to each other.
So, as the story continues it has a very Romeo and Juliet vibe. They are up and down and I was wondering how everything was going to turn out.
“….You are the worst thing that's ever happened to me.”
… “I couldn't get you out of my fucking mind. Every living thought I had was stained by you, out there in the darkness, my hands all over your body, your fingers running through my hair, your moans and sighs. I fucking hate you for being my weakness.”
I have such mixed feelings about how the story of Vendetta progressed. I love the idea and the concept, I was even the intrigued by Devon in the beginning, but then things got really convoluted. I wish there had been more time spent of the development of the relationship and the characters themselves. By the end, it seemed like so many random things had been thrown in that didn’t need to be there at all. It was alot of action, but not well paced or explained, with names and people being thrown at you left and right. It was rushed and then the epilogue hits and I was confused that it was over. This is a standalone so I felt like there needed to be more time spent wrapping things up at the end.
Even though I have my complaints, this was an easy read. It’s kind of slow in the middle, but for the most part I flew through it. The ideas were solid, but not executed as well as they could have been. I will definitely keep an eye out for this author duo in the future though as I think this had great potential.
It's true what they say about a thin line between love and hate.
See this review & others at No BS Book Reviews.
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December 22, 2013
I have to say that the synopsis for this book is quite possibly one of the best and most enticing I have ever read. It completely WOWED me and the cover is just gorgeous and I knew I had to get an ARC into my hot little hands.
This book really has a got a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe going on. Devon and Leighton are children of opposing crime families and their union would be frowned upon to say the very least. We begin with Leighton spying on Devon and getting caught, knocked unconscious by one of his goons and taken hostage and locked away in his house. Very promising so far.
I have to say that, during her captivity, Leighton and Devon’s connection really confused me. I just didn’t get it. There’s a big reveal at around the 50% mark that explains it but I felt kind of nonplussed by it all and I found it pretty hard to get into their mutual attraction. It’s very understated and I think I needed more passion here to really feel it.
I think this book has an amazing plot and fantastic story but it fell a little short for me and I think this all hinges on the fact that Devon just isn’t badass enough. He’s portrayed as fairly dark and definitely does some dark things during the course of the story but I never got that from him as I read him as a character.
I also never really felt Devon’s and Leighton’s deep feelings for one another either. We’re told through the narrative that they love one another and they both do things that convince you of this fact but I never really got that from their scenes together. It really did seem to lack passion – they’re in a desperate situation but they just seem to accept it. Not enough angst for my dark tastes!
This is not written as dark erotica, more as contemporary romance, and I really do think that, after that amazing blurb, this would have been better done as dark erotica. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the authors – I think they’ve written a fantastic story and I’m only sorry that it didn’t really work for me the way I had expected it to.
3 stars
This book really has a got a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe going on. Devon and Leighton are children of opposing crime families and their union would be frowned upon to say the very least. We begin with Leighton spying on Devon and getting caught, knocked unconscious by one of his goons and taken hostage and locked away in his house. Very promising so far.
I have to say that, during her captivity, Leighton and Devon’s connection really confused me. I just didn’t get it. There’s a big reveal at around the 50% mark that explains it but I felt kind of nonplussed by it all and I found it pretty hard to get into their mutual attraction. It’s very understated and I think I needed more passion here to really feel it.
I think this book has an amazing plot and fantastic story but it fell a little short for me and I think this all hinges on the fact that Devon just isn’t badass enough. He’s portrayed as fairly dark and definitely does some dark things during the course of the story but I never got that from him as I read him as a character.
I also never really felt Devon’s and Leighton’s deep feelings for one another either. We’re told through the narrative that they love one another and they both do things that convince you of this fact but I never really got that from their scenes together. It really did seem to lack passion – they’re in a desperate situation but they just seem to accept it. Not enough angst for my dark tastes!
This is not written as dark erotica, more as contemporary romance, and I really do think that, after that amazing blurb, this would have been better done as dark erotica. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the authors – I think they’ve written a fantastic story and I’m only sorry that it didn’t really work for me the way I had expected it to.
3 stars
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December 18, 2013
3 Stars.
I have deliberated for days on what to say about Vendetta, I have written and re-written this review so many times now, and if I am being completely honest, I am still a little stuck.
When I read the synopsis and saw the cover I was immediately smitten, pulled in hook, line and sinker. I mean who wouldn’t be interested after reading this –
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
Autumn and Sierra certainly have the knack of grabbing your attention. But for me that was possibly the high point.
Vendetta isn’t a good book, but it isn’t a bad book either. The issue I have is that the good was lost in the bad, and that is why it is a struggle to put anything majorly constructive together, because as soon as I put something positive down, I think of double the amount of negatives that overshadow it. If you read most of the other 2 and 3 Star reviews on Goodreads for this book, they all pretty much reflect my thoughts, so I am going to just lay out what I liked, rather than repeat everything that’s already been said, on the negative side.
The book was a solid 2 stars pretty much all the way through, but the last 15% pulled it up to a 2.5 for me. If the previous 85% had been written as clearly and concisely it would have been 4 or 5 stars without a doubt, I couldn’t actually put it down towards the end, and I really wish the rest of the book had been that way.
I liked the Romeo & Juliet vibe that ran through the story as well, young lovers, forbidden to be together, enemies if you will, families at odds, secrets & lies. It added to the intrigue and the depth to the relationship between them.
To finish, I really want to thank Autumn and Sierra for giving me the opportunity to ARC this book. It makes me sad that I cannot give it 4 or 5 stars. I do think this book has so much more potential than it displays in its current form. Maybe writing the story so the past and their present run alongside each other, rather than dropping in whopping big surprises at certain points would help, it would have certainly reduced my confusion, it think it would have also offered the authors a wider scope to give the characters (particularly Devon & Leighton) and their back-story more depth and development.
I have deliberated for days on what to say about Vendetta, I have written and re-written this review so many times now, and if I am being completely honest, I am still a little stuck.
When I read the synopsis and saw the cover I was immediately smitten, pulled in hook, line and sinker. I mean who wouldn’t be interested after reading this –
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
Autumn and Sierra certainly have the knack of grabbing your attention. But for me that was possibly the high point.
Vendetta isn’t a good book, but it isn’t a bad book either. The issue I have is that the good was lost in the bad, and that is why it is a struggle to put anything majorly constructive together, because as soon as I put something positive down, I think of double the amount of negatives that overshadow it. If you read most of the other 2 and 3 Star reviews on Goodreads for this book, they all pretty much reflect my thoughts, so I am going to just lay out what I liked, rather than repeat everything that’s already been said, on the negative side.
The book was a solid 2 stars pretty much all the way through, but the last 15% pulled it up to a 2.5 for me. If the previous 85% had been written as clearly and concisely it would have been 4 or 5 stars without a doubt, I couldn’t actually put it down towards the end, and I really wish the rest of the book had been that way.
I liked the Romeo & Juliet vibe that ran through the story as well, young lovers, forbidden to be together, enemies if you will, families at odds, secrets & lies. It added to the intrigue and the depth to the relationship between them.
To finish, I really want to thank Autumn and Sierra for giving me the opportunity to ARC this book. It makes me sad that I cannot give it 4 or 5 stars. I do think this book has so much more potential than it displays in its current form. Maybe writing the story so the past and their present run alongside each other, rather than dropping in whopping big surprises at certain points would help, it would have certainly reduced my confusion, it think it would have also offered the authors a wider scope to give the characters (particularly Devon & Leighton) and their back-story more depth and development.
December 12, 2013
First of all thanks to the author for providing me with an advance copy for a honest review.
This review is hard to write. In this case I think if I would have written it earlier maybe I would have given it a higher rating. The longer I thought about it the more things bothered me.
I'm not going to spoil it but try to name the things that bothered me.
1) I never loved the male main character.
2) Hated Haley. Mega bitch and just poof vanished.
3) Amber. hated everything about their interactions.
4) I never "felt" them as a couple. No depth to their relationship.
5) Finally my biggest issue was the ending. Can we say RUSHED! The Epi was literally like a page and a half. I just wasn't feeling it.
The thing that saved this book was that it did have a "twist" that I never saw coming.
Many people will like this book and you should give it a try. I just know the longer I thought on it the more I wasn't a huge fan.
This review is hard to write. In this case I think if I would have written it earlier maybe I would have given it a higher rating. The longer I thought about it the more things bothered me.
I'm not going to spoil it but try to name the things that bothered me.
1) I never loved the male main character.
2) Hated Haley. Mega bitch and just poof vanished.
3) Amber. hated everything about their interactions.
4) I never "felt" them as a couple. No depth to their relationship.
5) Finally my biggest issue was the ending. Can we say RUSHED! The Epi was literally like a page and a half. I just wasn't feeling it.
The thing that saved this book was that it did have a "twist" that I never saw coming.
Many people will like this book and you should give it a try. I just know the longer I thought on it the more I wasn't a huge fan.
Want to read
September 8, 2013
Holy sh*t this sounds amazing!
This book has already taken hold of me. WOW.
Can't wait for this!!!
Synopsis
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language
December 23, 2013
2.5-3 stars
I started reading this book with great hopes and now i'm a little disappointed.....actually really disappointed.
I really wanted to REALLY like this this book.I just couldn't.Things happened so fast and i was just left wondering :
What's going on here ??
I just wish this wouldn't happen :(
I'm not saying this was bad and others are not going to like it.
No....this just wasn't the book for me !! :/
The summary is sooo cool and the cover is SUPER COOL
I wish the story was too. ://
(for me)
I started reading this book with great hopes and now i'm a little disappointed.....actually really disappointed.
I really wanted to REALLY like this this book.I just couldn't.Things happened so fast and i was just left wondering :
What's going on here ??
I just wish this wouldn't happen :(
I'm not saying this was bad and others are not going to like it.
No....this just wasn't the book for me !! :/
The summary is sooo cool and the cover is SUPER COOL
I wish the story was too. ://
(for me)
December 12, 2013
3,5 stars It had the bones of a really good story, times where I didn't feel that connection between the characters and times when it became confusing as all hell..The cover is hot, the blurb sounds out of this world and my kind of story but about half way it just didn't have that pull on me to keep going, I wasn't lost in the story, absorbed in it like I thought I would've been..
February 20, 2014
I loved this book HARD. Vendetta is the story of Devon and Leighton. Coming from different mafia families, Devon and Leighton are fated to be enemies.
Our story starts with Leighton getting caught spying on Devon meeting with a man who is betraying her family. Once caught, Devon takes her prisoner and brings her back to his house.
Leighton is locked in a room, trying to figure out the dynamic between her and Devon, and trying to figure out how to stay alive. Neither one can keep their hands off of the other even though they know the situation can only end in complete heartache. I love the relationsip between these two, and you can feel both of their pain and frustration easily. These are two characters I found myself completely wrapped up in, and I couldnt help but root for them to find their way back to each other. The ending threw me for a complete loop, there were so many twists my stomach was rolling! Although this is a stand alone, I can’t wait to see what’s next from these two ladies!
Our story starts with Leighton getting caught spying on Devon meeting with a man who is betraying her family. Once caught, Devon takes her prisoner and brings her back to his house.
Leighton is locked in a room, trying to figure out the dynamic between her and Devon, and trying to figure out how to stay alive. Neither one can keep their hands off of the other even though they know the situation can only end in complete heartache. I love the relationsip between these two, and you can feel both of their pain and frustration easily. These are two characters I found myself completely wrapped up in, and I couldnt help but root for them to find their way back to each other. The ending threw me for a complete loop, there were so many twists my stomach was rolling! Although this is a stand alone, I can’t wait to see what’s next from these two ladies!
December 26, 2013
ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.
3 - 3.5 Vengeful stars
Vendetta by Autumn Karr and Sienna Lane reminded me a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet. In this case, Devon Andre and Leighton Moore are children from two mob families. who have bad blood and history. Devon Andre was left an orphan at the age of 13 when his family went missing and found murdered. He was soon taken in and raised by his uncle Frank. Under his care, Devon wanted to solve and get to the bottom who killed his family. When gossip and whisperings points in the direction of the Moore family, Devon and his family plans to seek their revenge through Keith Moore’s daughter, Leighton. Soon Leighton finds herself a captive in the Andre household. As a prisoner, she is now at the mercy of Devon locked in a bedroom. Well as the story progresses, secrets and twist and turns are exposed causing Devon and Leighton to realize is vengeance worth it? Can one sacrifice family for love? As with any love story, Devon and Leighton must face the biggest battle. Family, Truth, Honor or Love?
Did I love Vendetta? To be honest, not so much.. I don’t hate it but I felt this book fell short in what could have potential to been a great book. The idea and blurb of the story sounded great and surely it caught my attention in wanting to read this book. What I liked about the book was Devon. He seemed to have been the only character that I felt gave meaning to the story. I did wished to learn more of his upbringing and past. As for what I didn’t like was that I felt this book lacked was the connection to the characters especially with Leighton and the secondary characters. Readers were left to believe in the beginning that Leighton and Devon didn’t knew each other or had any interaction but 50% in the book we find out otherwise. As for the secondary characters that played integral part of the story, their connection to the story fell flat. Some of the major players were not given proper introduction and why they did act the way they did. As for the last minute twist and turns, it felt random and I was left feeling okay that was so sudden. Also, the setting of the story took place 85% in a bedroom. I know she’s a captive and all but I expect to have more storyline if you are going to leave her in the bedroom. The scenes in the bedroom felt repetitive and I wanted a deeper understanding of the connection of Devon and Leighton. I did like the concept of a forbidden romance with the Romeo and Juliet vibe but I just wished the authors went further into their romance and the vengeance aspect.
Reviewed on Behalf of Give Me Books Blog
Autumn Karr
3 - 3.5 Vengeful stars
Vendetta by Autumn Karr and Sienna Lane reminded me a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet. In this case, Devon Andre and Leighton Moore are children from two mob families. who have bad blood and history. Devon Andre was left an orphan at the age of 13 when his family went missing and found murdered. He was soon taken in and raised by his uncle Frank. Under his care, Devon wanted to solve and get to the bottom who killed his family. When gossip and whisperings points in the direction of the Moore family, Devon and his family plans to seek their revenge through Keith Moore’s daughter, Leighton. Soon Leighton finds herself a captive in the Andre household. As a prisoner, she is now at the mercy of Devon locked in a bedroom. Well as the story progresses, secrets and twist and turns are exposed causing Devon and Leighton to realize is vengeance worth it? Can one sacrifice family for love? As with any love story, Devon and Leighton must face the biggest battle. Family, Truth, Honor or Love?
Did I love Vendetta? To be honest, not so much.. I don’t hate it but I felt this book fell short in what could have potential to been a great book. The idea and blurb of the story sounded great and surely it caught my attention in wanting to read this book. What I liked about the book was Devon. He seemed to have been the only character that I felt gave meaning to the story. I did wished to learn more of his upbringing and past. As for what I didn’t like was that I felt this book lacked was the connection to the characters especially with Leighton and the secondary characters. Readers were left to believe in the beginning that Leighton and Devon didn’t knew each other or had any interaction but 50% in the book we find out otherwise. As for the secondary characters that played integral part of the story, their connection to the story fell flat. Some of the major players were not given proper introduction and why they did act the way they did. As for the last minute twist and turns, it felt random and I was left feeling okay that was so sudden. Also, the setting of the story took place 85% in a bedroom. I know she’s a captive and all but I expect to have more storyline if you are going to leave her in the bedroom. The scenes in the bedroom felt repetitive and I wanted a deeper understanding of the connection of Devon and Leighton. I did like the concept of a forbidden romance with the Romeo and Juliet vibe but I just wished the authors went further into their romance and the vengeance aspect.
Reviewed on Behalf of Give Me Books Blog
Autumn Karr
December 26, 2013
I'm going to be honest here and say that I am disappointed with this book. I liked it, yeah, and Vendetta could have had so much potential to be a great read but there were just enough issues I was not happy about. First, it was a mob/mafia story so I wish it was longer. I felt like I was reading the shorter version of the real book. Because of that, it led me to my issue number two which is I didn't completely connect with the characters. And half of the story deals with the heroine being kidnapped. It'd also be better if it had detailed scenes. Don't get me wrong, the story was well written but I feel like there should be more to this story, you know. Another thing is when you stumble across a very promising blurb this good I actually had goosebumps reading it and it's about a mob/mafia story, you will expect to experience an adrenaline rush when you read it yet I didn't feel it. Sadly, I was left discontented. But still, I am looking forward to the next novel the authors will going to write. Hope it'll be better than this one.
Before reading...
OH MY GOODNESS! That blurb looks so promising. Another highly anticipated book of 2013!
VENDETTA by Sienna Lane and Autumn Karr
BLURB
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
Before reading...
OH MY GOODNESS! That blurb looks so promising. Another highly anticipated book of 2013!
VENDETTA by Sienna Lane and Autumn Karr
BLURB
I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.
I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.
My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.
She pulls the trigger.
December 22, 2013
WOOW!Did not see this comming!
I started reading it on recomendation,and didn't read the blurb,and first thought was "It's just another meh read!" Oh I couln't be more wrong!
This was sooo good!I read it in just one sitting!I love this mob thing novels,and I really enjoy this one!It was a rollercoaster read and so much drama,and tension between h&h and there was a part where I wanted to strangle hero...but he saves the day in the end and he's my hero too!Romeo &Juliet on modern way!Solid read!
I started reading it on recomendation,and didn't read the blurb,and first thought was "It's just another meh read!" Oh I couln't be more wrong!
This was sooo good!I read it in just one sitting!I love this mob thing novels,and I really enjoy this one!It was a rollercoaster read and so much drama,and tension between h&h and there was a part where I wanted to strangle hero...but he saves the day in the end and he's my hero too!Romeo &Juliet on modern way!Solid read!
Want to read
August 11, 2013I VERY MUCH WANT THIS BOOK! Set a release date already, pleeeeease!!!
December 19, 2013
What if you fell in love with the one person you could never have, a love that would kill you both? This is the dilemma Devon has and from the first page of this book I felt my soul being torn for him.
These guys are the Romeo and Juliet of the mob world. Not only should they hate each other there is no way they can both live with the amount of blood between them. And honestly if we didn’t see inside of Devon’s head I would have held her hand when she pulled the trigger.
I went into this thinking I knew what was going to happen. I added it to my TBR list as soon as I saw it thinking it would be a slightly dark book where you know how it all plays out and walk away thinking yeah I like that book what’s next. Well I was wrong (shhh don’t tell anyone I just admitted that) the turns in this book were anything but predictable and every one of them had me thinking “damn, but I thought ……. “
Having both POV’s was great and I really genuinely loved both characters. Don’t get me wrong I hated Devon for half of it and I didn’t get how Leighton was so strong and composed until I did.
If you’re looking for a book that will take your mind off the holiday madness and keep you consumed for a few hours this is it. Run out and buy it for yourself or add it to your list for Santa right now.
Be sure to check out
for giveaways and book grabs as well as the blog for
January 14, 2014
Visit Reading Eating & Dreaming for more reviews by Jamie, Dana, Morgan and Rhonda!
**This book was given to us in exchange for an honest review**
3.5 MOBSTER LOVIN’ STARS!
“Sometimes temptation outweighs risk, want trumps all consequences.” – Leighton,
Pros:
This story caught my attention from the moment my eyes read the synopsis. At that point, I became 100% obsessed with the release of this story. And the book cover is HOT-HOT-HOT adding to the appeal!
As I was reading Vendetta, I could easily relate to the main characters, Devon and Leighton, feeling the underlining tension between the two. It was obvious that they both were attracted to each other, but had conflicting thoughts about being in a relationship together simply because of whom they were. Leighton and Devon were raised to dislike the others family. A Moore never associated with an Andre. In return, Andres have no personal relations with a Moore. This idea quickly reminded me of the classic story, Romeo and Juliet. If you live under a rock and don’t know of this tale, Romeo and Juliet is a timeless story with two main characters secretly in love with one other, but forbidden from ever being together.
Cons:
Parts of Vendetta were slightly confusing for me. Around halfway through the book, I was wondering if I missed something vital to the story. I don’t want to spoil a “huge twist.” I will say it completely through me off track, clear to the point that I actually skimmed back to the very beginning of the book to see if I could find any hints that I might have missed along the way. I was also having trouble understanding a few things going on toward the end of the book. I think part of the reason for this is because there are so many characters thrown at you in a very short period of time. No back-story is shared on most of them, so there’s no true connection to keep you remembering anything special about them in particular. After reading the last 20% all over again, the story finally made more sense to me.
I personally think this book would’ve been even better if it was slightly more descriptive in a few scenes. Many parts in Vendetta seemed rushed along, especially at the end. I was also hoping to have a longer epilogue, sharing a little more of Devon and Leighton in the future.
Overall, I think for a first attempt at a full length novel, Ms. Karr and Ms. Lane did an exceptional job! I really liked the book, even with the confusing parts. This will appeal to many New Adult book lovers out there and is definitely worth the read. Vendetta has a good mix of violence, love, sex and mystery. Readers looking for a Romeo and Juliet type of storyline, with some unforeseen twists throughout, will thoroughly enjoy this novel!
I give Vendetta 3.5 MOBSTER LOVIN’ STARS!
XOXO
Reading Eating & Dreaming
**This book was given to us in exchange for an honest review**
3.5 MOBSTER LOVIN’ STARS!
“Sometimes temptation outweighs risk, want trumps all consequences.” – Leighton,
Pros:
This story caught my attention from the moment my eyes read the synopsis. At that point, I became 100% obsessed with the release of this story. And the book cover is HOT-HOT-HOT adding to the appeal!
As I was reading Vendetta, I could easily relate to the main characters, Devon and Leighton, feeling the underlining tension between the two. It was obvious that they both were attracted to each other, but had conflicting thoughts about being in a relationship together simply because of whom they were. Leighton and Devon were raised to dislike the others family. A Moore never associated with an Andre. In return, Andres have no personal relations with a Moore. This idea quickly reminded me of the classic story, Romeo and Juliet. If you live under a rock and don’t know of this tale, Romeo and Juliet is a timeless story with two main characters secretly in love with one other, but forbidden from ever being together.
Cons:
Parts of Vendetta were slightly confusing for me. Around halfway through the book, I was wondering if I missed something vital to the story. I don’t want to spoil a “huge twist.” I will say it completely through me off track, clear to the point that I actually skimmed back to the very beginning of the book to see if I could find any hints that I might have missed along the way. I was also having trouble understanding a few things going on toward the end of the book. I think part of the reason for this is because there are so many characters thrown at you in a very short period of time. No back-story is shared on most of them, so there’s no true connection to keep you remembering anything special about them in particular. After reading the last 20% all over again, the story finally made more sense to me.
I personally think this book would’ve been even better if it was slightly more descriptive in a few scenes. Many parts in Vendetta seemed rushed along, especially at the end. I was also hoping to have a longer epilogue, sharing a little more of Devon and Leighton in the future.
Overall, I think for a first attempt at a full length novel, Ms. Karr and Ms. Lane did an exceptional job! I really liked the book, even with the confusing parts. This will appeal to many New Adult book lovers out there and is definitely worth the read. Vendetta has a good mix of violence, love, sex and mystery. Readers looking for a Romeo and Juliet type of storyline, with some unforeseen twists throughout, will thoroughly enjoy this novel!
I give Vendetta 3.5 MOBSTER LOVIN’ STARS!
XOXO
Reading Eating & Dreaming
April 11, 2018
ARC was kindly provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review. Only posted here till the Vendetta blog tour.
First of all, this is not an ordinary story. It has a complicated start and it doesn't clear the air between the two characters immediately and I loved that. It's kind of boring when a story starts with too may details and suddenly you know everything about the characters. This was definitely not the case.
So not the case.
Leighton Moore and Devon Andre have a history. The forbidden love theme is there from the start and the readers will be a little shocked at first with what happens between them.
Again, not ordinary.
Just when you think you have those two figured out, you don't.
Their love story kind of reminds me of Romeo and Juliet - I mean it is called Vendetta so that is kind of a giveaway - in a more twisted dark version but definitely not predictable!
That's the thing with story, up to a point you have no freaking of what's happening and I was plotting in my mind about what could possible lead the both of them to their situation and how can still love one another.
But as the story goes on and there is clearly so much love that they both tried to bury that I couldn't help but wonder how things will end for the both of them.
There is a constant fear of one of them getting killed - mostly Leighton - and as the story progresses, there is a lot of background to back it up and it is slowly unfolding.
First of all, this is not an ordinary story. It has a complicated start and it doesn't clear the air between the two characters immediately and I loved that. It's kind of boring when a story starts with too may details and suddenly you know everything about the characters. This was definitely not the case.
So not the case.
Leighton Moore and Devon Andre have a history. The forbidden love theme is there from the start and the readers will be a little shocked at first with what happens between them.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do something like this to a Moore?” A humorless laugh escapes his full lips. “And now I have the princess herself,” he continues, turning the knife over in his hand. “What do you think I should do to you?”
Again, not ordinary.
“Her beauty doesn’t change her blood.”
Just when you think you have those two figured out, you don't.
Their love story kind of reminds me of Romeo and Juliet - I mean it is called Vendetta so that is kind of a giveaway - in a more twisted dark version but definitely not predictable!
That's the thing with story, up to a point you have no freaking of what's happening and I was plotting in my mind about what could possible lead the both of them to their situation and how can still love one another.
But as the story goes on and there is clearly so much love that they both tried to bury that I couldn't help but wonder how things will end for the both of them.
There is a constant fear of one of them getting killed - mostly Leighton - and as the story progresses, there is a lot of background to back it up and it is slowly unfolding.
“Princess,” I say. “Apparently you ran off. Again.”
Her eyes water because she knows what it means, just like I knew. Nobody knows where she is.
December 29, 2013
3.75 Expiration Date Stars
I was so excited to read this. Great blurb. It just grabbed me. The woman you love is going to shot you and you don't really react? I'm a bad guy? All the makings of a great read.
Leighton is the daughter of a the head of a "Family". You know the kind. The kind with a capital F. She is kidnapped by the son of the rival Family. Kidnapped you say? Well kidnapped in that she is taken to his family's house and locked in a room. But she can watch TV, draw, chat with Family friends. She knows her kidnapper. In fact, she is love with her kidnapper.
Devon sees Leighton in danger...about to be killed. He can't let that happen so he takes he to his house. But that can't happen either. So he keeps her there. He knows he should not get close to her. They are a danger to each other. He has to kill her eventually.
I know I have an expiration date. Now I just need to find out how much time I have.
Devon and Leighton have a secret. More than her hiding out eating take out in his bedroom while a crime family happening all around her. The problem...they don't trust each other or themselves around each other.
The other problem....the flow of the story. I was so confused and not in the fun "what's that about way" but in the "what did I miss way". The story has great bones but needs more flesh.
I was so excited to read this. Great blurb. It just grabbed me. The woman you love is going to shot you and you don't really react? I'm a bad guy? All the makings of a great read.
Leighton is the daughter of a the head of a "Family". You know the kind. The kind with a capital F. She is kidnapped by the son of the rival Family. Kidnapped you say? Well kidnapped in that she is taken to his family's house and locked in a room. But she can watch TV, draw, chat with Family friends. She knows her kidnapper. In fact, she is love with her kidnapper.
Devon sees Leighton in danger...about to be killed. He can't let that happen so he takes he to his house. But that can't happen either. So he keeps her there. He knows he should not get close to her. They are a danger to each other. He has to kill her eventually.
I know I have an expiration date. Now I just need to find out how much time I have.
Devon and Leighton have a secret. More than her hiding out eating take out in his bedroom while a crime family happening all around her. The problem...they don't trust each other or themselves around each other.
The other problem....the flow of the story. I was so confused and not in the fun "what's that about way" but in the "what did I miss way". The story has great bones but needs more flesh.
Want to read
August 15, 2013That blurb really grabbed me and the fact that it says this is a STANDALONE... well I'm very anxious for this to come out.
Want to read
October 15, 2013*really wants to read this* ...
January 8, 2014
4 PEOPLE Lets Communicate Stars!!
This was such a fun read..Cute in a sadistic way when a beautiful Mobster Princess and a Hot as Sin Mobster Prince are obsessed with each other but neither knows to what degree!!
We get it all!! Kidnapping, Murder, Drama, Conspiracy, Action, Misunderstanding’s, Lust even a Second chance. It had a few twist and turns with some surprises thrown in there but not overdone, SOOO I was definitely one happy camper..
Devon was definitely a bad boy with a past and the family name & reputation to back that up but he wasn't a monster... Leighton also born into that lifestyle was raised to be strong and accepted her obligations to family.
Would have liked for them to have communicated better but well I guess whats the fun in that?
The story did have that Romeo & Juliet Forbidden Love vibe but obviously with a much better ending and a beautiful declaration of Forever!!
http://dianas-sizzling-pages.blogspot...
This was such a fun read..Cute in a sadistic way when a beautiful Mobster Princess and a Hot as Sin Mobster Prince are obsessed with each other but neither knows to what degree!!
We get it all!! Kidnapping, Murder, Drama, Conspiracy, Action, Misunderstanding’s, Lust even a Second chance. It had a few twist and turns with some surprises thrown in there but not overdone, SOOO I was definitely one happy camper..
Devon was definitely a bad boy with a past and the family name & reputation to back that up but he wasn't a monster... Leighton also born into that lifestyle was raised to be strong and accepted her obligations to family.
Would have liked for them to have communicated better but well I guess whats the fun in that?
The story did have that Romeo & Juliet Forbidden Love vibe but obviously with a much better ending and a beautiful declaration of Forever!!
http://dianas-sizzling-pages.blogspot...
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