Bloody Heart (Brutal Birthright #4) by Sophie Lark

Aug 20, 2020 arissa marked it as to-read

Ok I read the sneak peek, now I'm so ready for Dante and Simone.

***
Just found out this is Dante's book with NOT Riona.

I'll live…

***
Riona and Dante. Right?! RIGHT?! ...more

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Oct 22, 2020 Sammy ❤️Just Let Me Read Blog ❤️ rated it it was amazing

Bloody Heart is an angst filled second chance romance that will break your heart into a million pieces before putting it back together again. Sophie Lark gives readers a highly-charged, emotionally captivating story that will grab them tightly and won't let go until the very end.

I have been looking forward to Dante's story from when we first met him in Brutal Prince. The oldest Gallo brother is dark and intense, with a brooding nature that conceals a deep hurt caused by the one person who meant ...more

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Oct 29, 2020 Patricia's Book Kingdom rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, dual-pov, second-chance, read-in-2020, released-in-2020, standalone, mafiosos-and-gang-members, secret-baby

I was never raised to fall in love like this. Without reason or choice. Only wild, intense obsession.
I never meant for this to happen.
But now that it has, there's no escaping.
I belong to Dante. And he belongs to me.

I had absolutely an amazing time reading Dante and Simone's story. Dante was always a huge mystery and his story was everything I imagined it to be.

Simone and Dante meet under rather unusual circumstances when Simone is just 18 years old. It's attraction at the first sight and it

I was never raised to fall in love like this. Without reason or choice. Only wild, intense obsession.
I never meant for this to happen.
But now that it has, there's no escaping.
I belong to Dante. And he belongs to me.

I had absolutely an amazing time reading Dante and Simone's story. Dante was always a huge mystery and his story was everything I imagined it to be.

Simone and Dante meet under rather unusual circumstances when Simone is just 18 years old. It's attraction at the first sight and it does not take long for them to start very passionate relationship. However they are from two different worlds and soon the differences tear them apart for the next 9 years.

I was curious about Dante from the very beginning. During the series it is hinted at that he was in love once but ended up getting his heart broken. I seriously love Dante and I think he is my favourite out of all his siblings. While he can be quite dangerous, he would rather cut off his own hand than hurt Simone in any way, and that just made my little romantic heart flutter like a butterfly. I love when big, dangerous, scary gangsters fall in love because somehow it's much more satisfying. Like you'd think that those men are hardened against falling in love because of the lives they lead, but somehow love is able to sneak up on anybody, no matter who you are.

My heart broke for the young Simone. She faced an impossible decision with no one really there to back her up. Her parents should be ashamed of themselves, the way they acted was utterly disgusting. I can't believe that they would do such a thing to their own daughter. I am also not too entirely happy with her sister either. I am really proud of Simone, how she prevailed and made something of herself. It was very admirable.

When Dante and Simone meet again 9 years later, the fireworks go off. Neither of them ever stopped loving the other and to see them reuniting once more was truly beautiful. Their love is so tender, passionate and consuming. The only thing standing in their way is the secret that Simone has kept for the last 9 years.

There is some angst and it greatly adds to the story. It had me at the edge of my seat, almost driving me to bite my nails.

If you love mafia romance where the characters have super intense relationship, this book is definitely for you!

*ARC provided through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* ...more

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Dec 02, 2020 Kate V added it

DNF at 34%.

I'm not going to rate this because I didn't get halfway through it. Sophie Lark is a good writer and she writes a lot of different stories and I will pick up the next book in this series.

Unfortunately, this book just has every single plot device I don't really enjoy reading. Second chance romance, secret baby, young MCs in the beginning and then flash forward to the future. If it had had one or two, I definitely would have continued. Simone is not a likeable character and I found her ...more

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Oct 28, 2020 Ellen rated it liked it

The trouble with expectations

The trouble with expectations are that sometimes they are met and sometimes it is more difficult to do.

I waited eagerly for Dante's story. And I loved Simone, even if I wanted her to be stronger in her youth. About half the book details the start of Dante and Simone's relationship while they were barely adults at 18 and 21. The other half their tumultuous reunion.
I didn't feel the same connection with our young MCs and their rocky path as I did when they meet again a ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Courtney rated it really liked it

They come from two separate worlds but are driven by love and passion. Simone comes from a strict family that rivals royalty and her future is already paved for her even though she doesn’t want it to be and Dante’s path is and always will be the family. They shouldn’t work but in a short amount of time they find passion, love, and a bond that can’t be denied. From the previous books I knew Dante’s story would be heartbreaking because he walked around taking care of others but was always brooding ...more

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Nov 23, 2020 Nikki rated it liked it

This was.. ok, I guess. It was a bit disappointing comparing it to the first three books in this series. I couldn't connect with both the characters and I didn't even like the story - sometimes I even hated it. The only good thing about this were the last few chapters, because the action there was again perfect and Sophie wrote it so well.

The connection between Simone and Dante.. I still can't see it even after finishing the series. Why do I feel like Dante is more close to Riona than to Simone ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Copper78 rated it it was ok

Shelves: secret-baby

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This pains me to write, b/c I LOVE this series and I think Lark is a great writer. But I had too many issues with this book to think it was more than "ok". I don't feel like I know either MC well at all. There was no true character development, no relationship buildup, it was pure insta love, physical attraction and then we're just told Simone and Dante are soul mates, but never shown what exactly they loved so much about eachother. Their relationship was super brief and even then they were kept This pains me to write, b/c I LOVE this series and I think Lark is a great writer. But I had too many issues with this book to think it was more than "ok". I don't feel like I know either MC well at all. There was no true character development, no relationship buildup, it was pure insta love, physical attraction and then we're just told Simone and Dante are soul mates, but never shown what exactly they loved so much about eachother. Their relationship was super brief and even then they were kept apart so much that how well could they have known eachother? They were constantly sneaking around to get physical and not really talking that much. Then there is a LONG separation and Simone did something pretty unforgivable. (It's a trope I adore if it's done right). It wasn't well done here.

Simone is WEAK. She's such a weak, unrelatable heroine. I don't know any 18 year old who is that scared of her parents that she lets them control every single aspect of her life including who she can speak to and ripping her child away from her and forcing her to sign away her rights. And then Simone still allowed them in her son's life. And for NINE years she hid him from a man she allegedly loved. She dated others, she became rich and famous. 9 years is a lifetime, she could have looked him up, hired a PI, etc. She had no excuse to keep Dante from his own child that long.

Then when Dante and Simone finally reunite, they fall into bed, again with NO real conversation. Then Simone decides to tell Dante the truth, this is where things really fell off for me. Dante was mad (as he should have been) for approx. 1 minute. Simone RAN AWAY crying b/c she's WEAK AF and at this point I really hated her. She's a 28 year old woman who is successful, world famous and she has done this man a horrific wrong, she should have stayed and faced him. She OWED him that at least. But no, she runs and becomes a victim AGAIN. And Dante has to rescue her and he's no longer mad at all that she kept his son from him for 9 years. Smh. I can't deal at this point. There is very little actual, meaningful interaction b/t the MCs in this book. There is a lot of action that I skimmed through, it felt like too much filler b/c there wasn't a lot of substance with the romantic storyline. So unfortunately this didn't work for me. At all. I'm giving it 2 stars b/c I do still love the series overall and I will continue to read it and b/c of the Aida mentions in this book. As usual she is a scene stealer.

I know writing is a difficult job and a series must be even more challenging, so I think one weaker book in the bunch is understandable. I hope the next ones will be as good as the first 2 books. ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Aly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, romance, december-2020, contemporary, crime

This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far! Dante has been an enigma for the last three books so I am ecstatic that we were able to dive into his head and see his past. Dante definitely has been through the most trauma out of the Gallos and Griffins and parts of this broke my heart. He may be a mountain of a man, but I just wanted to hug him after reading this.

The beginning of the story stars eight years ago and tells us how Dante met his soulmate and then was ripped away from her ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 CRlovebooks ❤️ rated it it was amazing

My favorite ❤️

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Dec 05, 2020 Sophie Lark added it · (Review from the author)

At long last, Dante's story! I know you guys were the most excited for this one. It's my longest book yet -- epic in story, timescale, heartbreak, and angst. And epically spicy too -- be warned!!! There's a scene with a belt that had me dragging Mr. Lark into my writing room. As an added bonus, you'll meet Raylan, who will return as the hero of Broken Vow.

Join the Love Lark Letter:
https://sophielark.com/signup/

Brutal Birthright Series
geni.us/brutalbirthright ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 JenMcJ rated it liked it

Shelves: e-books, ku

This author is really good at making me believe the characters love each other and writes in a way that I think they actually get to know each other, spend time together and don't just base their relationship on lust. I felt that in this one. I think the devotion on Dante's part borders on obsession but in an intense way I could buy into. I felt like the sex scenes were intense and passionate. Unfortunately, for much of the book, Dante and Simone are not together and this drags down a lot of the This author is really good at making me believe the characters love each other and writes in a way that I think they actually get to know each other, spend time together and don't just base their relationship on lust. I felt that in this one. I think the devotion on Dante's part borders on obsession but in an intense way I could buy into. I felt like the sex scenes were intense and passionate. Unfortunately, for much of the book, Dante and Simone are not together and this drags down a lot of the chances for overall romance.

That said, if you know my reviews, you know I dislike second chance romances. Too often, (almost always) I find the reason for the separation is shit and that the person left behind deserves more than the person coming back. This is a second chance romance with some seriously terrible but common plot reasons for separation. Serious spoiler (view spoiler) It's a testament to the thought put into why Simone runs away that I could believe in her reasons to an extent that I empathized with her situation even if in the end, it was an unbelievably terrible thing she did for too long. I was not surprised that Dante worked through his anger to find a way to forgive Simone even without her explanations but I also thought throwing in the unlikely life or death madman took away from the time I would have rather spent with Simone and Dante actually reconnecting through their personal trauma.

Now... the plot. Okay. I have to say that I rolled my eyes in absolute incredulity when Simone's dad encourage her to come back to Chicago with him. That was SUCH a weak plot point. HE WOULD NEVER have done that. Also, that Dante would leave his car unlocked for anyone to climb into the car .... HE WOULD NEVER have done that. This book also incorporates the overused underage sex trafficking scenario as part of the plot. The dramatic family reveal and connection also leaves out ALL of the fall out with Simone's father. He was such a driving force and when the big drama happens, he and her mom are never mentioned. It was a glaring omission. These areas of complete lazy plotting at pivotal points in the book after such thoughtful plotting to get me to buy into Simone's runaway plight annoyed me so much. Finally. the epilogue without any medical issues or concerns about medical issues just felt like it totally negated some of the reasons I could forgive Simone in the first place.

I can't wait for the next book that does not appear to have a second chance plot but did start off in the sneak peak with a totally out of character incident that doesn't have me super hopeful for the rest of the book doing justice to Riona's character. ...more

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Sophie Lark Hi Jen! I read all your review for this series, thank you so much! Your feedback is super valuable. As you can tell I'm constantly changing and trying ...more
Jan 19, 2021 12:47PM

JenMcJ Sophie wrote: "Hi Jen! I read all your review for this series, thank you so much! Your feedback is super valuable. As you can tell I'm constantly chan ...more
Jan 19, 2021 01:30PM

Sophie Lark JenMcJ wrote: "I do question why you didn't fix a book you admit gets better in the second half so that it's good in both halves. ;)"

haha fair questio ...more
Jan 19, 2021 04:11PM

Oct 28, 2020 Illa rated it really liked it

A46134-DA-7446-40-A5-9468-6970948-C5-D35

The words use and overall review shouldn’t reflect personally on the author or any other of her series and books.

A no spoilers review

A beautiful story about Second Chances, about true love, About a love that you can’t let go of. Destiny brought them together, Destiny ripped them apart. We meet them as free lovers, hiding to steal kisses. Enjoying hiding on every corner they could find to love each other.
Nine Years Later everything wasn’t like it used to.
Dante a man who can be said was liv ...more

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Oct 28, 2020 K. Ramjohn rated it really liked it

Bloody Heart is the 4th book in the Brutal Birthright series and its Simone and Dante's story. These two were from different worlds and were complete opposites but from the time they met it was instant attraction. The story was emotional, fast paced, action packed, steamy and suspenseful. Told in dual POV, this novel will have you hooked until the end and was given to us in both the past and then 9 years later in the present. This latest addition to this series was a great read. I enjoyed it and ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 jordane rated it liked it

Shelves: pregnancy-babies-kids, second-chance-romance, kindle-unlimited, read-in-2021, mafia-romance

“I love you, Simone. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. I’m never going to stop. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you have my heart in your hands.”

This was okay, but very insta-love. Their relationship wasn't really developed when they were younger and the same happened when they reconnected 9 years later. The ending was more action-packed and I enjoyed it, but I would have liked to see more scenes with Dante, Simone and Henry together because it ended very quickly. ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Sara F. rated it it was amazing

I literally could not put this book down until I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. It is amazeballs good! I am still thinking about it and Dante and Simone are some of my very favorite people-characters. What a thrilling, romantic, heartbreaking romance! I love second chances because of the angst factor but oftentimes the reason for the couple’s original break-up leaves me flat. This was so perfectly done and each character’s reasons and actions made complete sense. And I was on the e ...more

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Oct 29, 2020 Athena D. rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, arc, 2020-4-star-read

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 STARS

Dante and Simone’s story is a second chance romance you definitely don’t want to miss! Bloody Heart by Sophie Lark is a MUST read that will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ELITE!!!

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Nov 15, 2020 Ivana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc

I really loved this story. I admit to being angry at Simone for leaving and hiding the truth from Dante. It felt like she gave up on him. Dante seemed more consistent about his feelings throughout the book. I loved how the story wrapped up since there was no unnecesary drama with her parents or between the two of them. This series never disappoints and I'm looking forward to the next book.

I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens. ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Jessie rated it it was amazing

After reading the first three books of the series, I thought of possible scenarios and directions this book might go in and WOW!!!! I never expected this book to be what it was. I loved this book! This is my new favorite book of Sophie’s and I love love love Dante and Simone!!

As we all know, Dante Gallo is the oldest of the Gallo siblings and known for being the proper gangster with his brooding, grunts, and massive size and height. Simone Solomon is the youngest daughter of politician and inter After reading the first three books of the series, I thought of possible scenarios and directions this book might go in and WOW!!!! I never expected this book to be what it was. I loved this book! This is my new favorite book of Sophie’s and I love love love Dante and Simone!!

As we all know, Dante Gallo is the oldest of the Gallo siblings and known for being the proper gangster with his brooding, grunts, and massive size and height. Simone Solomon is the youngest daughter of politician and international businessman and has a timeless beauty that instantly captivates Dante’s heart and attention. Their lives and how they were brought up are completely different. She is the light to his darkness, which makes them perfect for each other. You meet a younger Dante and Simone in the beginning of this book and under unusual circumstances. Their young love reminds me of my first love and having all the emotions that Dante and Simone had for one another. Neither one of them is perfect and have no idea how their lives will play out once their love bubble is broken. Something happens that breaks them apart and forces them to be apart for some time. Eventually, they find their way back to each other and once they get back together.....Whoa Nelly! The first time they get together after being apart for so long is so intense, raw, emotional, super hot, and makes you wish you had a Dante of your own. I think I had to fan myself off I was flushed and all hot and bothered after reading that scene.

You get to dive a little deeper into Dante’s military background and his time in the service. I totally didn’t expect that and was pleasantly surprised to learn more about the brooding man I have come to love. Military suspense romances is one of my favorite tropes and this book made my heart happy and complete! Second chance romances is another favorite of mine because I’m a romantic at heart and love seeing love win and conquer all. Dante and Simone’s story is the perfect example of a second chance romance, with some twists and turns that keep you on edge and turning page after page because you have to know what happens next. This would be a GREAT movie!! If I didn’t have to adult, parent, go to my sister's wedding, or sleep, I wouldn’t have put this book down.

I don’t want to give too much away in this review because you HAVE to read this book yourself to get all the juicy details!!! This book had everything I love in it: the love story, the thrills, mystery, and military ties. I’m having a big ole book hangover right now! I am in desperate need of a juicy epilogue or excerpt of Riona’s book! I can’t wait to read Raylan and Riona’s story!! I can already tell Riona is going to give Raylan a run for his money and make him work for her attention. Is it time for her book to come out yet??!!!! I’m dying to know what happens next to the Griffins and Gallos!!!! I highly recommend this book and this series. While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series from the beginning so you don't miss out on anything.

Love the playlist, even though its not my normal genre of music. Totally allowed me to channel Dante and Simone while listening to it!

Thank you Sophie for broadening my music library and for sharing your love of music and your heart with all of your fans with your books!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts. ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Jeanne Jabour rated it it was amazing

My new favorite, sexy, Sophie Lark novel!
I begin this review with a confession, I fell in love with Dante's character, he is my type of guy, and I may have had a little crush on him from his introduction in the first novel in this series. By the time I finished Bloody Heart, I was full-blown, all out, head-over-heels, down for the count, IN LOVE with Dante! And even though I KNOW in my heart and head that he is fictional and in no way compares to my beloved husband, I am a romantic at heart and My new favorite, sexy, Sophie Lark novel!
I begin this review with a confession, I fell in love with Dante's character, he is my type of guy, and I may have had a little crush on him from his introduction in the first novel in this series. By the time I finished Bloody Heart, I was full-blown, all out, head-over-heels, down for the count, IN LOVE with Dante! And even though I KNOW in my heart and head that he is fictional and in no way compares to my beloved husband, I am a romantic at heart and will always continue to dream...and this girl has been enjoying her dreams a lot lately!!

When I read the last lines of Bloody Heart, all I could think of was the word perfection. This is not something I normally feel when I finish a book, in fact I have never before found perfection in anything - my specialty and training is the complete opposite, I find flaws, mistakes, and errors. But I am here to tell you that there were no flaws to be found in Bloody Heart. Ms. Lark wrote the perfect romance novel. In Bloody Heart, Ms. Lark crafted passionate, intense, sexy-as-hell, loving and believable characters starting with the main protagonists Dante and Simone. After meeting and discovering passionate and uncontrollable attraction with each other, Dante and Simone face class and social issues that tear them apart. After their separation, when they are reunited, the choices they made in the intervening years put all of their families in immediate danger. This novel is a cleverly shaped puzzle, where each and every piece, once joined to its' adjacent neighbor, fits flawlessly into place. And each piece is a thing of beauty, sensuality, intrigue, compassion, angst, and every other word describing the human condition that can be realized. This story flowed effortlessly and seamlessly because of Ms. Lark's innate ability to interweave thoroughly researched details with historic local facts within the characters' environs and the novel's plot (i.e., there IS a Royal Suite at the Burj Al Arab, in Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE; it DID take 9 months to regain Mosul, Iraq from Islamic militants who deliberately destroyed other historic sites along with the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and its' famous minaret [called "the hunchback" because it curved over the centuries], in Mosul)! As someone who fancies herself a student of history, I have an immense respect for these types of details peppered throughout each one of her books. This talent for fleshing out and enriching her stories with historically accurate facts and information, is one of my favorite things about Ms. Lark's writing style that sets her apart from the run-of-the-mill author. She teaches her readers something new in every single story. In Bloody Heart, she shows us what a perfect romance story should look like!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
...more

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Oct 23, 2020 Julie rated it really liked it

Shelves: booksprout-review-site, kindle-ebooks-i-have-read, my-blog

Dante is a Gallo, we’ve met him in the previous books. A mafia boss’s son, nothing and no one is out of bounds as far as Dante is concerned. Living fast and loving his life.
Simone is a new face, the youngest daughter of a diplomat, brought up to be a young lady, groomed to do as she was told. But Simone wants more, she wants to design, to make pretty clothes, but when her father tells her no, Simone knows she will never have the life she wants.
They meet by accident, wrong time, wrong place (or Dante is a Gallo, we’ve met him in the previous books. A mafia boss’s son, nothing and no one is out of bounds as far as Dante is concerned. Living fast and loving his life.
Simone is a new face, the youngest daughter of a diplomat, brought up to be a young lady, groomed to do as she was told. But Simone wants more, she wants to design, to make pretty clothes, but when her father tells her no, Simone knows she will never have the life she wants.
They meet by accident, wrong time, wrong place (or maybe it was fate) Dante drives away with Simone in the back of the car he steals!
He’s fascinated with her, she’s nothing like he’s ever met before. Simone should be frightened, but she feels safe, and a short ride later, Dante escapes the car, but takes Simone’s heart with him!
So, the story starts off as young love, an accidental meeting turns into an adventure, meeting in secret, stolen kisses and moments of pure happiness. They avoid the talk of the future, they both know it won’t go on forever, but for the moment it’s all they want.
Then boom!!! My whole world crashes just like Dante’s! That was a turn I was not expecting!
And if you’ve read the previous books in this series, you’ll know love never runs smooth in this series, in fact it’s usually bloody and painful.
So the gentle start completely threw me, and what happens will tear your heart out and stomp on it until it’s a bloody mess!
We then move on......
It’s nine years later.
Dante is empty inside, he still looks after his family, he is now a real estate developer, still a little dangerous under that suit.
Simone is a famous model, her face is her trademark (what happened to her dream of designing clothes?) but inside she’s dead, the world is without colour, without joy, her only bit of joy is hidden deep in her heart.
When they meet up for the first time in nine years, it feels like time had fallen away for Dante, he can’t take his eyes off her, he knows he should harden his heart, but it’s Simone, it’s no good, his heart has always and will only belong to her.
Simone thinks he has nothing but hate for her, his face is stone, nothing is given away.
So can they move forward? Can they recapture their young love? Or has too much time passed for the couple?
I didn’t think this series could get any better after I read the last book in the series (Savage Lover) but I was wrong, so wrong. I read this in one day, I couldn’t leave it alone.
I recommend this book, in fact I recommend the whole series. And now I need to go lie down. I’m drained!!!
You don’t need to read the previous books, each book is a standalone and a HEA ending.
But we do catch up with previous characters (that was nice) it’s written in the characters prospective. The story is written brilliantly like the previous stories, you become invested in the Gallo/Griffin siblings, and now I’m really hoping Sebastian is next.

I received this book for an honest review and all thoughts are my own
🦋
...more

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Oct 27, 2020 World Of Books 65 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fav, must-read, mafia

Another masterclass in writing by Sophie Lark. Brutal Birthright has been the must read Mafia series of 2020!

Bloody Heart is the 4th book in the series and I must admit Dante and Simone are my fav couple. There story completely blow me away, it wasn't what I was expecting; it drew me in kept me hooked till the end! The chemistry is explosive the suspense 5* - Well done Ms Lark!

"It's not normal, I love you....like I'd destroy anything that tried to come between us. Like I'd burn the whol

Another masterclass in writing by Sophie Lark. Brutal Birthright has been the must read Mafia series of 2020!

Bloody Heart is the 4th book in the series and I must admit Dante and Simone are my fav couple. There story completely blow me away, it wasn't what I was expecting; it drew me in kept me hooked till the end! The chemistry is explosive the suspense 5* - Well done Ms Lark!

"It's not normal, I love you....like I'd destroy anything that tried to come between us. Like I'd burn the whole world down if I had to."

A love story that started 9 years ago when a 21 Dante making his mark in his dads world high jacked a limo with the beautiful 18 year Simone inside. There started this great love affair. Dante was so in love with Simone it was truly as if soul mates did exist. He would destroy anything and anyone who would try to separate them. Having to keep their love a secret from Simone father and the rest of her family is not easy. But Dante is mafia and her dad a diplomate, but when a hard decision has to be made the 18 year old breaks her and Dante's heart by walking away!

9 years on and the two are thrown together again. Simone now a top fashion model and Dante a decorated war hero. After Simone broke his heart Dante was lost hurt, broken beyond repair and spent years on dangerous assignments. Dante's heart is now a dark bleak place - he will never trust again. Now back in the family business Dante has never forgotten the love of his love, the other part of him. the one that betrayed him. For Simone from the outside the world is at her feet but her heart has always belonged to Dante. He was and will always be her soul mate!

But Simone has been holding on to a secret that will devastate Dante. And what was believed to be an assignation attempt on her father at an event that Dante's and his brother also was attending bring's the pair back together. But who really is the assigning after? why does he kept leaving notes for Dante and can he figure out who is behind this while coming to terms with the fact that his feelings for Simone are as strong as ever but how will he feel when the secret is finally revealed?

Time is running out and the sniper is getting closer! Who will be the victor in this game of cat and mouse! And can two halfs of whole find each other again! ...more

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Nov 04, 2020 Lucy (HonestlyBookReviews) Joyeux rated it it was amazing

I've got this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I started reading the book, I thought I'm reading about Riona's story, but as I saw Simone's name...I realised I'm reading Dante's story and I wouldn't wait to read it even more!

The story starts with the meeting of Simone and Dante. They soon become more than just two random people. They have passion and this love for each other, but they also have two VERY different families. Something like Romeo and Juliet had. Dante's family i ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Lynn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, arcs

All I can say is WOW!

Dante is the tough as nails older Gallo brother and Simone is the daughter of a diplomat that has lived all over the world. When Dante has a deal go bad, several split second decisions bring him and Simone together in an unexpected way. They are of a different breed and come from two extremely different worlds but those worlds quickly come crashing together the moment their eyes meet. That one moment is all it takes.

Because they are of different backgrounds, their families All I can say is WOW!

Dante is the tough as nails older Gallo brother and Simone is the daughter of a diplomat that has lived all over the world. When Dante has a deal go bad, several split second decisions bring him and Simone together in an unexpected way. They are of a different breed and come from two extremely different worlds but those worlds quickly come crashing together the moment their eyes meet. That one moment is all it takes.

Because they are of different backgrounds, their families (mainly Simone’s) have a way of constantly getting into their ear. Simone’s family believes that Dante is not good enough for her. In their eyes, his family’s history and present business is not worthy of her or their family. Meanwhile, Dante’s family seems to have mixed feelings but none as strong as Simone’s father. Will their families come between them and tear them apart or is their love strong enough to prevail?

Sophie has done it yet again! Her ability to drag me into her books will never cease to amaze me. She again presented us with diverse and dynamic characters with strong and fluid emotions. We get more of the families we already know and love and are presented with yet another strong female. The chemistry between Simone and Dante leap off the page and you can’t help but root for them. As usual, I had moments where I wanted to yell at characters and even cry with some of them. Before I knew it, the book was finished and I wanted more. I am however excited because I think, and hope, that we’ve been set up for the Riona’s story at the tail end.

The ONLY reason I put it down after starting is because I had just finished another book literally five minutes or so before starting it. It was way too late when I finally did start and I had to force myself to put it down 5-6 chapters in (yes it hurt to do so). I read it during my work breaks and just finished devouring after a quick after work nap. Lol. I cannot wait for the rest of the series. I will be impatiently waiting until it’s release.

Voluntarily reviewed after I received a free copy of this book courtesy of BookSprout and the author, Sophie Lark , in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Pbiis314 rated it it was amazing

ANOTHER GOOD BOOK - DARN GOOD SERIES

Dante is the man, I know I said Miko was the man and he is in terms of intel and strategic thinking. But Dante was a mofo alpha! No holding back...damn dude went all in with no hesitation with his pops, her pops, or anyone that was going to put a wedge between him and his Simone. The emotions were intense, you could feel it jumping off the page. Phew...hot and scorching. Simone, didn’t know what hit her this man was the MAN, not no boy, unsure of his feelings ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Lexi Cubbins rated it really liked it

Shelves: on-going-series, fourth-in-series, reviewed, mchottie-brothers, save-a-gun-bang-a-criminal, give-him-another-chance

We've basically always known that Dante was a miserable grump because of the one that got away.
Well, in Bloody Heart we don't only get their HEA but the story behind their first love and heartbreak.

Simone comes from a wealthy family and lives a relatively sheltered life. It's like new doors open when a beautiful stranger steals their car. With her in the backseat. Dante is the kind of man she's never known before, a man who leads a life she can barely imagine.
Their love is powerful, but not ind ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 JP rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, booksirens

4.5 ⭐️
Bloody heart was a second chance romance. The writing was good. Dante and Simone had a very different kind of romance. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable about Dante’s moods. A true crime family, so to speak.
This is my 3rd book by SL and I really enjoy her stories. The s*# scenes were a little rougher than I like but I thought the story was great.

If you love romance with a HEA, then I think you’ll enjoy this.

Thanks BookSirens for this ebook, in exchange for my honest review.

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Oct 29, 2020 Ashley Fritz rated it it was amazing

A new auto-buy author!

Sophie is DEVASTATING. The spicy scenes are perfect - sexy and dominant with little overt violence, and the relationship building always goes beyond instant attraction. The plot always moves and the writing itself is strong and quotable. This book will break your heart, set your panties on fire, and satisfy you.

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Nov 07, 2020 Bette Hansen rated it really liked it

Very enjoyable

This was a very enjoyable read with a nice Romeo and Juliette type romance at the center. Lots of emotion, steam, and action keeps the story moving at a nice pace. Recommended

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Nov 02, 2020 KL rated it liked it

**Possible Spoilers**

I was really looking forward to Dante’s story and overall I loved Simone and Dante.
But I guess my expectations were set too high so this book fell flat in the end, especially the storyline.
I didn’t like that so much time was spent on their relationship in the past. While I appreciate the backstory, I wish the focus was more on the present. I really liked the angst surrounding their reunion but it felt too rushed.
It is also more due to my personal preference, but I’m not a bi ...more

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