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Verona Blood

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Lili St. Germain

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Verona Blood

(Violent Kingdom #1)

Lili St. Germain (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 1,776 ratings · 365 reviews

San Francisco is going to burn if the coveted princess of California’s criminal underworld isn’t returned to her family in one piece …

Avery Capulet is missing.

Taken by a madman. Kept in the dark.

She might not survive.

He’ll use her body. Destroy her mind. All before he ever lays a hand on her.

Rome Montague is a drug dealer. A criminal. A thief.

And he needs the secrets Avery ...more

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Published May 29th 2018 by CreateSpace

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May 29, 2018 Tyi rated it it was amazing

Once I started this dark crazy journey, I couldn't stop. I was utterly spell bound. The twist and turns... The one liners that had me laughing a little... The characters who are dark and complex... There are so many secrets in this book. You, as the reader, won't know what hit you. I sure as hell didn't know.

I loved the author's dark play on Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet in the modern era. The tale has been flipped on its head and I don't know what the end result might be. Avery Capulet and Rom ...more

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May 30, 2018 Romance Readers Retreat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 Stars

What the actual @#&£!!!!

Why do I seem so surprised by Lilis books? I should know by now that she's not your run of the mill Romance author. You're pretty much guaranteed something extremely dark and brutal yet almost every time it's as though I wasn't expecting to be taken on a journey quite so graphic. Not that I'm complaining in the slightest.

This book, the first in a new series, starts 8 hours ahead where Avery Capulet, daughter of the notorious Augustus Capulet, finds herself kidnap ...more

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Jun 08, 2018 Louise Roach rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, mafia-mob, dark, cliffhanger, suspense, thriller, angst-overload, new-series

Can you believe this is the first book I have read by Lili St Germain!? Well I have to say, after reading this I think I need to go and read everything else she has written. From the first page I was hooked to the story!

Avery Capulet is celebrating her 25th birthday, but she's really not looking forward to her party. With an arranged marriage looming, the evening is looking doomed from the start. And when events happen which lead to things going way out of control, Avery finds herself in a dark, ...more

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May 28, 2018 Tania rated it it was amazing

Lili St. Germain's most anticipated book Verona Blood is A dark tale of Shattered hearts and captured souls.

Lili's modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet is phenomenal, her writing is impeccable and truly worth the wait.

Buckle up, sit back and get ready because Lili is about to take you on dark ride through California's criminal underworld.

This book may not be suitable for safe readers. It contains, drugs, violence and Rape. If these are triggers for you steer clear.

Verona Blood is full of suspens ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-read, anti-hero

4 STARS

She was second-in-line for a throne that her older sister had already been molded to fit. I was the ruins of a family legacy that had soared too high, and crashed spectacularly, the sole survivor of a broken dynasty.

Well...hell. That was certainly...something.

If you've read St. Germain's Gypsy Brothers series, then you already know that her mind can take you to some dark places. The woman's brain is downright devious, and she writes dark and depraved like no one else. Verona Blood may be a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet, and while it certainly focuses on two star-crossed lovers, there's not much love that shines through in this story just yet.

The first in the series throws you deep into the underbelly of organized crime and the sacrifices made for family in blood. It's gritty as hell. It's violent and spares no detail. If you've read ANY book this author has written before, you'll know that she's not afraid to go there. And boy does she in this book.

Verona Blood introduces Avery Capulet, as she faces the ultimate reality of being forced to marry a man that she doesn't love for the good of her family and the order of her father. Avery is headstrong and willful, but she's not about to say no to her father. But a sick twist of fate lands her in the sights of a psychopath, and then her nightmare truly begins.

In my wildest dreams —or my most terrifying nightmares —never once did I think that I’d be trapped in hell with him.>

I'll admit, there were parts of this book that were extremely difficult to read. And I've read some dark books. But what I truly appreciate about Germain's writing, is she doesn't do it for shock value. The depravity and violence truly serves to drive the plot forward, and as dark as it may be, it fits. This book is no walk in the park. It's damn disturbing. But color me officially hooked.

In the style of her Gypsy Brothers, this is more of a novella length. I read it in 2.5 hrs and was left with my jaw on the floor by the end. It was long enough to hook you, yet short enough to leave you craving more. I'm equally curious and terrified to see what the next book in this series will reveal.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

Find me on:

...more

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May 30, 2018 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

‘Hell is empty and all the devils are here.’
~William Shakespeare

This quote by Shakespeare perfectly describes the decadent and deviant setting of Lili St. Germain’s newest release, Verona Blood, as well as the corrupt nature of those who not only reside in the underbelly of San Francisco, California, but who hold dominion over it, asserting their power due to their position, their bank accounts, and most importantly a bloodline that requires absolute devotion regardless of the personal sacrific ‘Hell is empty and all the devils are here.’
~William Shakespeare

This quote by Shakespeare perfectly describes the decadent and deviant setting of Lili St. Germain’s newest release, Verona Blood, as well as the corrupt nature of those who not only reside in the underbelly of San Francisco, California, but who hold dominion over it, asserting their power due to their position, their bank accounts, and most importantly a bloodline that requires absolute devotion regardless of the personal sacrifices that have to be made.

Despite Avery Capulet’s independent nature and her need to marry for love rather than obligation, it’s her father’s dictates that she must vow to obey, which means that as the sole heir to the Capulet fortune, Avery’s forced to give up her freedom and any hope that she’d be able to live her life for herself and no one else.

But Avery Capulet isn’t the only person in a hellish situation; in fact, she’s responsible for the social and economical degradation of someone who was once her friend and ally, and in a cruel twist of fate, Avery and her bitter enemy, Rome Montague, find themselves at the mercy of sadistic bastards hellbent on making both of them suffer for sins they don’t quite understand.

There’s quite a large list of Capulet enemies, so it’s difficult to ascertain who’s behind the latest attack on this powerful family, but what is easy to understand is the fact that this is only the beginning of Avery’s captivity and torture, and while it’s not completely clear what Rome’s role is in this newest Capulet curse, what’s quite evident is that the reprehensible devils that surround Avery and Rome don’t plan to let up anytime soon.

As a high school English teacher, I adore romance stories that are loosely based off of the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, and while St. Germain’s Verona Blood is set in contemporary society, every component of the story line that makes reference to Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers and those responsible for helping or hurting the pair make the story that much more masterful, and I desperately need book two so that Rome and Avery have a chance to change their fate, one way or another.

There’s a reason that Lili St. Germain is a USA Today Bestselling Author; she can write the shit out of dark romance, and time and time again, she successfully takes her characters and her readers on one hell of a messed up journey - one where they must maneuver through a series of twists and turns that keep them guessing right up to the story’s resolution or should I say cliffhanger.

4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews) ...more

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May 28, 2018 Pavlina Read more sleep less blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, best-cover

LIVE AMAZON https://amzn.to/2stgTY9

4 STARS

What a ride, I didn't know what to expect in Verona Blood and what I found was very good!It was dark,fast paced it has suspense and action.I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen next!

description

The story was brilliant.The main heroine Avery, is strong and sassy.She doesn't afraid to say her opinion. Rome is an intresting hero, he is cocky and stubborn.I'm looking forward for the next book!If you are looking for a unique story and unpredictabl ...more

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May 31, 2018 Natalie ✩★ The Biblioholic ★✩ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dark, 2018, dual-pov, thriller, captive, anti-hero

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Avery Capulet is a girl who should have it all. She’s got the looks, the elite education, the money, and comes from a family that operates in the upper echelons of society. Her family also happens to be the most prolific crime family on the west coast. But having everything doesn’t mean having it all. When choices are made for you ‘for the good of the family’ and your life isn’t really your own due to your birthright, sometimes all you can hope for is for i ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Melanie (mells_view) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 “Love. Makes. You. Weak.” Stars

To me. This reads like a super duper long prologue. Essentially meaning it’s just the beginning AND we get a lot of back story, but probably not all of it. We learn about Avery Capulet. We learn a bit about Rome Montague, and then some other people who I pretty much can’t stand or don’t know enough about to make a decision on. What I got from this book is that I feel TERRIBLE for Avery, and her life thus far. I’m pretty sure that I feel bad for Rome too. You co ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Rabiya rated it liked it

I can't exactly say anything right now because of the cliffhanger ....... ...more

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Jun 11, 2018 AleJandra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dark-romance, erotico, adult-contemporary, mafia, secuestro, gore

5 Passion comes at a price STARS

"Love isn’t always a happy thing. Sometimes it’s a dirty habit, a vice that makes you miserable with need. A desperate addiction that threatens to kill you in every moment that you spend apart."

Lili nunca me defrauda, ha habido libros de ella que me han disgustado un poco, pero aun así son mejores que la mayoría.

Lili tiene un toque único cuando se trata de Dark Romance, el cual es un género que últimamente se a vuelto muy repetitivo, que y ...more

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Jun 02, 2018 • Jodi Bibliophile • rated it did not like it

Shelves: 1-star

I’ve finally finished a book! Yay for me! I just loved this authors writing and the idea of this book but I wanted so much more! I wanted to feel the hatred and rivalry between the families that sadly I just didn’t get. Some parts were a little all over the place and I had to go back and re-read to try and make sense of it. I didn’t feel a connection between Rome and Avery at all.

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May 30, 2018 Betül rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, arc, romance, reviewed, dark, cliffhanger

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

description

"Never sin against your family, because in our religion, there is no forgiveness. There is only loyalty, or death."

Lili St. Germain is one of the few authors whose books I'll blindly pick up. She always comes with interesting plot-lines and characters. What she in particularly excels in is creating the perfect anti-hero. She always delivers great dark romances that feed my gray soul. Verona Blood is a great start to the California Blood series. It ...more

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May 29, 2018 Timitra rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Verona Blood wasn't what I was expecting at all. I love when an author throws curveballs/wrenches into my expectations, it makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience.

I will admit that I didn't love everything that went down in this book but man what a riveting story it was. My eyes were practically glued to the pages. I devoured it in about three hours and have absolutely no regrets of reading it that quickly or ignoring everything and everyone around. I just couldn't wait to find out w ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 Heather marked it as to-read

Shelves: colors, overdrive, kindle, next, clean-sweeping

Update: Feb 27- Why am I actually shocked and disappointed this is not going to be released today? Why am I surprised to see another new release date? Ohhh, I'm actually not anymore.

Feb 13-
I'm not happy. I've loved everything I've written by this author but nothing seems to release at the date its originally expected. Personally, I'm tired of this. I get excited, the date arrives, I go to buy it, the date has been pushed back AGAIN.
This book was to release 1/30/18 then 2/13/18. Now it says 2/2 ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 Mimiorphee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, 2018

Highly anticipated, Verona Blood didn't disappoint and I'm so glad that Lili St Germain took the time she needed in order to deliver this beautiful baby!

I've been finished for 2 days now, and am still feeling from the perfection of this story. Don't ask me what it is about in detail, I won't tell you, dear readers. What I can tell you is that it's a revisited version of Romeo and Juliet. But what a corrosive version! In the best way, of course.

The tone is dark, from the beginning you'll get ho ...more

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Feb 27, 2018 Brit marked it as to-read

Going in.

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Jun 05, 2018 Sarah rated it really liked it

***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***

This is probably going to be a rambling mess. My mind is reeling right now, and I feel like it is moving at the speed of light trying to think about all the possibilities.

4 I'M BEING TOYED WITH CROWNS

I love dark romances. Crave them. I was not, however, prepared for the level of depravity since it is my first foray into the Lili St. Germain world, and I am not just talking violence. The level of violence I have read before. I am talking about an overall lack of m ***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***

This is probably going to be a rambling mess. My mind is reeling right now, and I feel like it is moving at the speed of light trying to think about all the possibilities.

4 I'M BEING TOYED WITH CROWNS

I love dark romances. Crave them. I was not, however, prepared for the level of depravity since it is my first foray into the Lili St. Germain world, and I am not just talking violence. The level of violence I have read before. I am talking about an overall lack of moral characters, unethical decisions, violations against women. This book runs the gamut for being book one in a series, and by chapter 2, my mouth was already gaping in shock.

Normally, this is where character analysis occurs, and I talk about what I liked and didn't like about them, but I honestly feel like I just met them. We have just scratched the surface of who Rome and Avery are. What I have seen, I like. I like Avery's fire, even though I wish she would keep it when it comes to here father, and I love that Rome is lethal and protective. I definitely like where she is taking them as characters.

Fair warning that this is book one of four, so a good portion of Verona Blood is setting up this world. Readers meet a lot of characters, the author gives readers essential backstories for the families, and they get the predicament currently facing Avery Capulet, as well as how Rome Montague plays into this all. A lot happens during this book, and yet, I feel like nothing happened. I know that doesn't make sense, but all I can say is that I was left with a million questions (no, that is not hyperbolic. Well, maybe, but I was left with so many questions), and need them answered ASAP.

Dark romance readers, pick this up! PICK IT UP. It is rare that I cannot figure out what is coming next, who is involved, or how the story is going to play out, but at the end of book one I have nothing but questions. Lili St. Germain has messed with my mind, and my anticipation for book 2 is at an all time high!

ARC recevied in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Sep 21, 2019 aniryllis rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, in-english, not-for-me, for-bonfire, abandoned-series

I like my shit dark, but I don't like my shit with OM or OW.
The whole chapter 2 is one fat sex scene with OM. It was so explicit I thought the guy was actually the hero, lol. I wish. Disgusting.
Apparently this was not enough, so there's also an explicit rape scene while the hero watches. Delightful, delightful book.
You can write dark without rape, you know that, right? It's really an insult to all the authors who write about rape because they actually want to say something.

My God, nonsense crap ...more

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Sep 05, 2019 SimplyƝì₭ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: made-man, contemporary, crime-family, erotic-suspense

This was a complete wild ride. Spoiler alert there’s a sharp brutal cliffy ending. I really enjoyed it.

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Sep 19, 2019 Coco.V marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: freebie

🎁 FREE on Amazon US & on iBooks today (9/19/2019)! 🎁

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Sep 14, 2018 Karen Mc rated it it was amazing

WHOA! OMG! HOLY F**K!!! Verona Blood . . . what the hell?!? What did I just read?!? What did new-to-me author, Lili Saint Germain, do to me?!? GAH!!! What a wild roller coaster of a dark romance ride! There is a thin line between love and hate, and I both loved and hated this dark romance, the darkest of dark romances. Verona Blood stuck a knife in me, wounding me again and again!!!

This book held me hostage from the very first page. Barely into this book and I was already broken! I could not sto ...more

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May 30, 2018 Anne Milne rated it it was amazing

If I could some this book in one word it would be intense but I've come to expect nothing less from this author.

From the start it grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go in fact at times it strangled the breath from my body. This is a dark twisted tale with inticing characters woven brilliantly
by the author. I read this book in one sitting in fact I'm not sure I moved from the chair once.

It was fantastic, addictive and compelling and with a cliffy to end all cliffhangers. I need more ASAP. ...more

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Jun 05, 2018 Bookgasms Book Blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: ratula

You guys!! WHAT DID I JUST READ? Lili St. Germain just rocked my world. OMG this novel was fabulous. It was sexy and dark and shocking AF!! Good Lord. I'm still trying to process what I read. Rome and Avery had great chemistry and I loved the play on the original story. But now my head is swimming with a million conspiracy theories. I need book two asap!!

Point Blank: this author is flat out brilliant. Her writing style is phenomenal and her way with words leaves me awestruck. Her words are poeti ...more

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Jun 10, 2018 Irma rated it it was amazing

“She was second-in-line for a throne that her older sister had already been molded to fit. I was the ruins of a family legacy that had soared too high, and crashed spectacularly, the sole survivor of a broken dynasty.”

Unputdownable!!!

God, I love the way Lili writes her stories.

description

...more

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Jun 13, 2018 Glenna Maynard rated it it was amazing

Can't wait for the next ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Suzanne (Lily) rated it really liked it

Part One...

A page turning heart stopper, that is just the beginning. This book ends on a cliff hanger and I hope we’re not going to be left dangling too long before the next book is released!

With the promise of a dark Romeo and Juliet story promoted to readers who enjoyed reading Gypsy Brothers, I was ready. Patiently waiting for some months, I devoured Verona Blood in two sittings. I could have easily read through without stopping but I needed to stop to feed the family.

Verona Blood is graphic Part One...

A page turning heart stopper, that is just the beginning. This book ends on a cliff hanger and I hope we’re not going to be left dangling too long before the next book is released!

With the promise of a dark Romeo and Juliet story promoted to readers who enjoyed reading Gypsy Brothers, I was ready. Patiently waiting for some months, I devoured Verona Blood in two sittings. I could have easily read through without stopping but I needed to stop to feed the family.

Verona Blood is graphic and raw. Basically if you have any triggers, I would advise you to think twice before reading it. If you survived Gypsy Brothers and have still been looking for something more in that ilk, then you won’t want to miss series. Rating this book was hard, because there is so much more of the story to be told.

What has transpired so far left me referring back to the synopsis, wondering if I had somehow misread what it said but I realised I hadn’t. The only explanation I can muster is that mind games are at play. There is no way to justify this further without giving away too much of the story.

Avery is the only character I can mention without giving away the story that’s been told so far. Her life has been mapped out for her as a means to ensure the succession of the family business. She accepts her fate with a deep held helpless bitterness, with her options having been made for her years earlier. A feisty, strong willed character but I was desperate for her to find a way to fight harder.

I need to be very clear there is a cliffhanger ending. My theories on who or whom is behind the drama are full of suspects. Scarily, I believe it’s possible there is no way we could guess the perpetrators behind the savagery because they haven’t been mentioned in the story as yet.

Verona Blood left me wanting more, so much so I debated whether I could rate the story based on what has been told thus far. It didn’t take me long to settle with the rating I had mentally held in keep throughout the story. My only reason for holding back was the story came to a sudden unexpected halt. The final scene left me floored, I need the next part of this story as I can’t wait to discover who has masterminded the upheaval of the Capulet family.

What I struggled with:
The final scene
The abrupt ending/cliffhanger

What I loved:
The action-packed, fast moving story
This review and others can be found at EDGyReviews ...more

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Jun 06, 2018 Rochelle | Rochelle Reads ♡ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you love Romeo & Juliet and dark romance, then you'll love Verona Blood. It is the darker, gritter and more violent retelling of Shakespeare's famed play.

Personally, I haven't read St. Germain's Gypsy Brothers series. However, I have read the precursor, the Cartel series. I know St. Germain will send you down a dark path filled with devious twists and depraved characters that will leave you questioning your sanity. I also know she'll write terrifying and distorted scenes not for shock value, ...more

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May 29, 2018 HeatherP rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, favorites

"But I paid attention to Avery Capulet, and she paid attention to me. And something about the fact that we were forbidden only made me what her more."

There are several things that make me jump for a book. Not a whole lot but there are several. First there is the Beauty and the Beast theme, second is marriage arrangements and then they fall in love tropes (theme?), and finally there is the Romeo & Juliet (well any Shakespeare theme) story lines. It's probably because those are my all time favorit ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 ★♡Tamara♡★ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Verona Blood is typical Lili style book, dark, gritty and so so addictive! Vernon’s blood is an excellent start to a new series. Some already known faces as well as some new ones Verona Blood is a dark lovers must read! This the type of book where you can tell your that the author holds nothing back, not a single thing. With each twist and turn Verona Blood has left me NEEDING more! I’m excited for the next book in the series! Lovers of dark you MUST check this book out

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About Lili St. Germain

Lili St. Germain

4,023 followers

Lili is a USA Today bestselling hybrid author who has sold over a million books since January 2014. She writes stories about vengeful girls and villainous men, with readers crowning her "The Queen of Darkness" and "The best when it comes to dark, brooding and bloody romance."

Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her go ...more