Loyalty In the Shadows

Crowned Crows #2

by Veronica Eden

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚.
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑?

𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢
Thorne Point sunk its claws in me at a young age.
I refused to let its harsh truths snuff out my light.
When an attempt to kidnap me is stopped, I know they’ll never give up.
The city’s seedy underbelly won’t let me escape forever.
My only choice is to run into the arms of monsters for safety.
The Crows have a terrifying reputation, and Levi Astor lives up to it.
But my protective monster will never be worse than the ones who buried their ugliness deep in me.

𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪
𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.
Our unchallenged rule over this city is crumbling.
We’ll hunt down the ones behind this and make them pay.
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦.
Guarding the senator’s daughter isn’t on my agenda, yet I couldn’t ignore her if I tried.
Sunshine might break through the shadows, but it will only illuminate what makes me a deadly monster.
Isla Vonn should run in the opposite direction instead of into my arms.
Because everyone fears the Leviathan in Thorne Point.

Loyalty in the Shadows is a dark new adult enemies to lovers college romantic suspense intended for mature readers. This book is the second in the Crowned Crows series following a gritty brotherhood of antihero bad boys and the feisty heroines that capture their hearts. The plot continues across the next novels and each book in the series should be read in order. If you’re not a fan of morally bankrupt book boyfriends, steer clear. This mature new adult romance contains dubious situations, crude language, and intense sexual/violent content that some readers might find triggering or offensive. Please proceed with caution.

Release date likely to be brought forward.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, College, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Forced Proximity

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2021

About the author

Veronica Eden is a USA Today and International bestselling author of romances with spitfire heroines, irresistible heroes, and edgy twists.

She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff bad boys, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of a morally gray character. She is a sucker for a deliciously swoony hero with a devastating smirk. When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cats), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.

Keep up with Veronica:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ bit.ly/venewsletter
Instagram ➜ instagram.com/veronicaedenauthor
Website ➜ bit.ly/veronicaeden
Amazon ➜ amazon.com/author/veronicaeden
Facebook ➜ facebook.com/veronicaedenauthor
TikTok ➜ tiktok.com/@veronicaedenbooks

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I don’t hate you, Isla,” I grit out through clenched teeth as I trace her pulse point. “You’re an obsession I can’t fucking cut out.”

sigh. this is the third book i've tried from this author (first one was okay, the second one i dnf'd) and i'm still not convinced. it sucks because i love her writing style, but something always ends up bothering me 😔

i was somewhat tempted to read this because
🌺 i liked Levi and Isla in the first book (even though i stopped reading around half dhsdfhf)
🌺 this had the ✨ grumpy/sunshine ✨ trope
🌺 i love their names? lmao i'm a simple girl like that 😌

and this started out great. honestly. i'm pretty sure Levi is based on Levi Ackerman from AOT cause their personalities were very similar, and i was all for this



he's the fighter, silent guy who's also a killer, doesn't like anyone but his friends yet he has trouble expressing it, has a tortured past...? and to make him fall for a girl who's always happy and cracking jokes? y e s 🙏

his first interactions with Isla were amazing. I loved them. Levi really pulled off the obsessed boy trope. he's the guy who's watched her all throughout high school and remembers all their interactions vividly, yet he doesn't know the first thing about what to do with her and his obsession.

“Where the fuck are your clothes?”
More questions are on the tip of my tongue, each more demanding than the last. Who let you out? Who gave you a free pass to do as you please while you’re here? Why won’t you get out of my head?

grumpy/sunshine is always a serve. i'll let the quotes speak for themselves.

“That was amazing! I feel awesome right now.”
I rub at the center of my chest, wishing I could claw into my ribcage to rip out my heart for daring to swell at the sight of her excited smile.

and Isla was great, too. i loved how she was determined to tease him 24/7 and wasn't fazed by his grumpiness.

“I need to know where you are at all times if you’re staying here for protection.”
“Fine. Want me to move into your room, while we’re at it?” She winks, adding to the way her playful sassing rakes on my frayed nerves. “I’m a great cuddler. We can rock paper scissors for little spoon.”

one other thing I liked was how Colton was constantly teasing Levi. he was hilarious even though I don't care that much about him as a character lol

“Just try getting that psycho to let you go now that he’s taken a bite of your cute little ass.” He indicates Levi’s scowl with his chin and shoots him a cocky air kiss. “He’s been stalking you for years. We’re proud of his dedication, really. Aww, look at him, all murderous because I called you cute.”

as you can see, it was all going well, but then everything just happened so fast and out of nowhere. i swear i don't need everything i read to be a slowburn, but to have them kiss by 30% and basically be in a relationship by 50% made my interest go 📉📉📉😖 it was just too fast, too soon. i felt like there was a lot of tension and longing between them, and it disappeared just like that.

i didn't really care about the smut either. i don't know if my expectations were too high considering how great this was at the beginning, but when the scenes came up, i was just like 😶 and Levi seemed a bit out of character and generic during those scenes, i don't know why. maybe it's just me, but he was just so silent and weird all the time, i didn't imagine him being with many women.. yet when he was with Isla he seemed the typical dirty talker who's an expert at everything 🤷‍♀️ not bad, I just didn't really believe it.

it was a struggle to get to the end after this. also, the plot? i don't know her ✨ these books kind of give me Devil's Night vibes, what with the small-town mysteries and the guys who think they rule everything. i'm only here for the romance, sorry not sorry 💋

so in the end it was just an okay read for me. there were a lot of great moments in the beginning, but then it just fell short. however, if you like this author i'm sure you'll really like this. i feel like i have to stop trying, but i'm also really curious about Jude and Pippa so.. can't promise anything lol

“That’s who I am, princess. A violent, possessive man who wants to be the only one to ever look at you because you’re mine. You’ve always been mine, since that day I saw you and you snuck into my head permanently.”

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, bad audiobook!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 😊😄😘😍🥰
Narration: DNF – switched to kindle edition
Narration Type: Dual Narration

The heroine: Isla Vonn - Isla is best friends with Rowan from the first book in this series. Though unlike Rowan, Isla isn’t a scholarship student. Isla is from one of the wealthy families in Thorne Pointe. Her father is a senator who was involved in a mens club where the men paid to take the virginity of young girls. He took her to a dinner when she was fourteen, where she was drugged and then raped by someone her father knew. So, when someone tries to kidnap her at her college, Isla’s life changes completely. She doesn’t know if her father was somehow involved or why they wanted her.

The Hero: Levi Astor - He and his three best friends are known as the Crowned Crows of Thorne Point. They ran the night at Thorne Point. They have a bunch of underground revenue streams including underground fights, illegal casinos and a weekend nightclub called the Crows Nest. The Crows nest is not only a nightclub, but where they live as well. Levi is the muscle of the four friends. He has a lot of anger inside him stemming from when he and his mother were kidnapped when he was a child, which makes him the best fighter at the fight clubs. He works out whenever he has free time and has honed himself into a deadly assassin.

The Story: Isla has known the Crows since she was very young since they all went to elite private schools together. She was never really interested in Levi. He scared her a bit, so she stayed away. Though about a month ago, when she was at their club, she started seeing Levi in a different light and has had a crush on him ever since. So, when she is attacked in the parking garage at Thorne Point University and Levi saves her, she turns to him to help protect her.

This audiobook was told in multiple points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Jay Alder and Stephanie Rose. I didn’t like Jay Alder’s narration much. He sounds too old for the characters. He is also voicing all four of the crows and he doesn’t really do well at having different voices for different characters. He has his normal voice which he uses for Levi, and basically a yelling voice which he uses for all of the other guys and his voice for female characters is downright awful.

Stephanie Rose was nearly as bad; you could definitely tell she was reading. She had so many pauses between words, and she often emphasized the wrong words in a sentence. It drove me crazy. Her voice for male characters wasn’t bad, but the high, annoying voice she used for Rowan grated on my nerves. I ended up changing from the audiobook to the kindle edition, because I couldn’t take the narration anymore. The supporting characters were awesome also. I like all the guys in the Crowned Crows, they all have their own unique personalities and strengths.

I really liked both of these characters quite a bit. They both went through a trauma when they were young, and it affected them greatly. Both still struggled with PTSD from those events, including nightmares and flashbacks. Yet both of them dealt with their trauma and became stronger for it. Levi did it by making himself stronger, using training and making himself into someone who is dangerous and deadly. Isla put on a happy face in public and eventually decided to do things that make her truly happy.

This book turned out to be much better than the first book in the series. I think because we got to know all the characters more and I just liked the action and suspense much better in this one. I sometimes hate the second book in a trilogy or series because you just don’t know what will happen. You know it will end on a big cliffhanger, but the whole book is leading up to something that you know will probably go wrong for the characters. When what you really want is for them to kick butt and take names. Either way, the last quarter of the book had me on the edge of my seat.

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[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not get enough of this world! Loyalty in the Shadows so perfectly marries dark, gritty elite legacy mystery with a soulful, heartfelt romance. It's epically consumable, deliciously sexy, and heartachingly romantic from start to finish. Levi and Isla will complete steal your heart- and melt your panties. This series keeps gets better and better, and I am desperate for more!

The plot in this deliciously dark elite world full of secrets and depraved agendas just keeps getting darker and darker. And our dark Schooby-gang is more and more immersed in it. Not only are we still feeling from the tragic aftermath of the discoveries at the end of Wren and Rowan’s book, but now we’ve got some unsettling and traumatic histories to layer in the tangled web from Isla and Levia. The fiery senator’s daughter and the knife-throwing serial killer find themselves flung together as the result of an adrenaline-filled story opener that results in Isla needing the protection of the Crows. But we all know that their protection comes with a price. But these two are no strangers, and as Isla finds herself more immersed in the crew, an explosive romance combusts. All while the Crows try to puzzle together how all these sadistic and disturbing happenings are interconnected.

Don’t tell Wren, but LEVI STOLE MY HEART with his grumpy broodiness. This enigmatic, lethal killer has a teddy bear sized squishy hurt buried under his years of pain and trauma. His back story is painful and heartbreaking, but he finds a powerful resonance with Isla, whose own tragic secrets parallel his own. Both of these characters are so beautifully rendered- complex, flawed, cracked by not broken. They are fighters in their own ways, and the way they understand and see each other is beautifully emotional. They find safety and healing, even though they both fear relying on another. They blossom as their souls connect, and LORDY ARE THEY SEXY. Levi’s got one of those Crow dirty mouths- and he’s a alpha through and through. Both are so burdened by pain and history, but together they find lightness, in the darkest of corners. They both have layers that we get to unpack, and then we get to see them confront their trauma.

I love how Veronica is juxtaposing the dark elements with the sweet. These dark, gritty, edgy men only soften for their ladies, and someone hold my ovaries because they way they fall and swoon and ravenously protect their women is just how I like my dark swoony. There is still a dark edge, but the romance is tender and gentle- a beautiful contrast to the nefarious and disturbing web of elite intrigue they are embroiled in, the power struggles they are in with an enemy they still don’t quite fully understand.

And this ensemble of characters SPARKLES and enriches the whole story with emotional support, action, and some much needed levity. We got more Rowan and Wren- but they do not overpower the story. I’m still obsessed with Colton and want to bottle him up and drink him everyday. And Jude really gets some moments to shine - we still got broody, but we had some levity from him and a few moments of veiled vulnerability. We get plenty of foreshadowing for the remaining romances, and I AM DESPERATE for them.

Dimension after dimension, Veronica is brilliantly weaving together a complicated and intriguing web of corruption and lies. We get some answers, and a lot more questions, all culminating in a cliffhanger that is WAY worse than the one from book one. Hang on to your hearts, the dark Scooby gang has a lot more pain in their future before they win this wicked tangle game of cat and mouse is only going to get more complicated, and the Crows have a lot of work to do to win the game. But I am here for every minute of it- I am obsessed with this world!

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhh!! I really enjoyed Levi and Isla's book. I felt the connection between them from the get go. This book piggybacked really well off the first book as we see more of Levi's personality and why Isla has had such an effect on him. I loved seeing the banter bwtween the Crows and how Rowan and Isla fit into the crew. After that cliffhanger in book two, I am desperate to see how it plays out! 4 stars! ~Ratula

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will inevitably be divided into 2 parts; one for the book itself, and one for my new obsession, Jude Morales and Pippa Bassett!

I already said it in my CCOTP review and countless times that I'm suuuuper picky when it comes to dark romances with rich powerful guys taking over the world, but God!! the way I'm obsessing over this book series... can´t believe it actually!

"I though I would taint you with my darkness, but now I want to bask in your light everyday, Isla."

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, obsessed boy, dark romance, suspense, found family trope, opposites attract.

Isla Vonn, the senator's rebellious daughter, is in danger when one of her greatest fears returns more powerful than ever after her, but luckily for her, one of the crows is more than interested in keeping her safe. Levi Astor, the broody silent knife guy has been fighting his attraction to Isla for years, but when the girl of his dreams is in danger he won't stop until he keeps her safe, especially when that danger is related to the secret society that's threatening him and his brothers.

A word to define this book? INTENSE , in every aspect that you can imagine. the characters themselves, the romance and the suspense blew my mind! Both Levi and Isla had VERY defined personalities, being complete opposites of the other, but somehow belonging together, making everything about the development of this relationship something super interesting and engaging to read, and my favorite part being how they challenged each other. And then the suspense... nothing is clear yet and this seems to be much bigger than the crows, but Veronica's mind really amazes me! she's building something great here, a subplot connecting all these characters through a danger that threatens the reign of these brothers and somehow every detail matters, making each piece fall into place. I really can't wait for what's to come, but I'm not gonna lie, my brain is kinda fried rn!

And now to my favorite part... drums please... JUDE MORALES AND PIPPA BASSETT!! I'm not theorizing about the suspense because my brain isn't connecting the dots, but yeah, I'm already making a million theories about these two because I'm OBSESSED. They are high school exes who are clearly still longing for each other, but life circumstances separated them despite being soul mates!! what happened between them? I don't know yet, but maybe all that about Pippa betraying them is true and that's why she helped them in this book, trying to repair that damage and win their trust again, but I also feel like she went through something the night of their first "job" and doesn't want to say it yet.

Besides, they are not only serving second chance romance, but also bad guy and police officer, which kinda means forbidden romance and CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAM!? THAT MEANS ANGST AND PAIN, MY TWO FAVORITE WORDS IN BOOKS!! Like, imagine this scenario; The crows and Pippa are working together on a super dangerous mission, then someone surprises Jude from behind trying to shoot him, but Pippa jumps forward to protect him, and when she starts to fall Jude catches her in his arms, asking her to please not die, that this is their second chance, only for Pippa to said breathlessly that she never stopped loving him... a lot to think about!! ok bye i'm losing it here!

[Larisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,7/5 stars

"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen when you dance I makes you glow so bright. Your happiness bleeds through every movement.
Watching you dance is my favorite part of the day."
l’ho amatoooo, ma quel cliffhanger mi ha lasciato l’amaro in bocca. My grumpy man
Isla e Levi sono esplosivi insieme, hanno una chimica pazzesca.

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "the Grumpy & the Princess!!!" stars***

OUT NOW!!



"I'm nothing but a messed up monster, princess. And you... you're not meant for the shadows."

Each book in the Crowned Crows series is getting better and better than the previous one...
After I finished the first book, I was anticipating Isla and Levi's book and Veronica Eden delivered an amazing story full of turns, intensity and an amazing full of suspense plot...
I thought that Wren and Rowan were my favorite, but Isla and Levi blew my mind!!! And honestly, I can not wait more of this crew!!!

"What's going on in Thorne Point?"
"Madness."

We have already seen Isla in the first book and she looked like a priviledged rich girl but with a nice heart... She was Rowan's best friend, but she was more than what the eye was seeing and she proved us this in here over and over again...
Levi was the more bloodthirsty and rough member of the Crow crew and he was a man of few words... But he was so feirce and loyal, so protective of his people!!!
So, when Isla became a target and he was nearby, he took her under his watchful eyes, even though he was hesitant of his reasons behind this action...

"With Levi, I'm safe because he's the most dangerous piece on the board."

"If I'm not strong enough to withstand my own temptations, then I'll remove them from the equation, simple as that."

Levi and Isla were both intense, even though very oppossite from each other...
And even though their contradictions, it was like they were born for each other!!!!
I loved their connection... I loved the way they were together...
I loved how Isla's light was balancing Levi's darkness!!!
I loved how they became one!!!!
I just loved everything about this story. End of story...
Just give me more of this crew and I would die a happy woman!!!!

"You make me want things I can't have."
"Who says you can't? A life of denying yourself what you want is a sad existence."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

cws: rape, gore/torture/murder, sex trafficking

I'm a little rusty at writing reviews, let alone finishing a book, so bear with me for this one. I'm also currently bowing down the recap of the first book at the beginning of this because my brain is fried after 4 months of not having a break from anything career-wise, so I definitely couldn't remember that plot off the top of my head.

Picking up immediately after the first book, Loyalty in the Shadows follows Isla Vonn, the privileged daughter of a senator who decides to pursue her love for dancing rather than obeying her parent's wishes and Levi Astor, the knife-wielding, psychotic (or edgelord in Colton's words) Crow.

To put it simply: this series has me eternally astounded by Veronica's mind. A lot of other series from the same dark romance/secret society genre seem to follow the same tropes, characters, and storylines, but Crowned Crows gives you a completely unique, meticulously planned world and a found family to die for. One good example is the fact that everything (other than the mystery undercutting the plot) is explained, leaving no room for questioning over random aspects or the character's decisions. By that, I mean, you can't question the validity of the Crow's operations or skills, which is something that leaves me in disbelief when I read most dark romances these days (where teenage boys who are only rich can control an entire town). I have to say, Colton's hacking goes completely over my head and is something I'll never understand, so I definitely applaud Veronica for researching her character's hobbies in-depth.

Another area Veronica adapts this genre for me is how unforgiving and ruthless she can be to her own characters. We aren't given a romanticised view of the world where all problems are magically resolved and wrapped with a bow towards the end. Though, we also get to see how these characters form their own family and slowly begin to accept others into theirs.

I really loved Isla and Levi together because there's just something about the sunshine girl with the psychotic, emotionless boy who hates everyone but her (and his friends) trope. The one thing I desperately wish we could've seen was a flashback scene to them in high school since it's mentioned quite a bit that they've both obsessed over each other for years.

I'm also super excited to read what I assume is the next series after this is done (we saw Lincoln and Briar in the first book while Penn and Serena appear in both)!

[Musi ✨Vegacrux’s first child✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was definitely better 4.5 stars. Ofc quiet broody ones have my entire heart. Levi was a perfect boyfriend lwad. Romance honestly was top tier in this.
Plot was far better too. There are some tws but I could handle them.
I’m so ready for Colton’s book too. Ik it’s gonna be amazing
But we all know Jude’s gonna be the best out of them all. The angstiest the most explosive my kinda romance. Ion like cops protagonists much but when it’s a romance between a cop and a criminal with betrayal laced in it… yup my kind of poison.
Anyway read this series y’all

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hate to only give this three stars. Heroes with facial piercings, tats, and a thing for knives… yeah, they’re kind of my jam.

I liked the beginning of the book just fine. Did it knock my socks off? Honestly, no. But that is partly because I don’t typically enjoy romance series where each book features a different couple. Books like this tend to have a ton of characters and a more collective focus on everyone as a group. Aspects of the story like friendship, brotherhood, family, and the overarching plot that ties everyone together are at the forefront with the romance being one piece of the puzzle. I just personally much prefer stories that focus more on one relationship and it’s progression (within the context of the plot). I like diving into the characters’ backgrounds and psyches and seeing how the relationship withstands different variables. So I will admit that I skimmed and lost interest quite a bit.

However, I did like the beginning. I liked the interactions between the MCs Isla and Levi. I’m a huge sucker for the ‘dark and broody H with happy and upbeat h’ trope. Isla affectionately nicknaming Levi “grumpy” and calling him that for some reason got me right in the feels. Quietly violent heroes with lip rings and a chip on their shoulder are like catnip to me. Not going to lie, the light knife play was pretty hot too. So all these things were really working for me.

Until all of a sudden they weren’t. I like slow-ish burn romances, and this relationship moved along a little too fast for my taste. They became a couple not even halfway through the story. And as soon as that happened, the story became more about the criminal organizations and setting up for future books. The romance and the characters seemed to really fizzle. As some others reviews have mentioned, Levi spoke and acted a lot more generic in the second half of the book. I also wish we would have seen the violent side of Levi more. The first book depicted him as this undefeated fighter who loved using his fists. We even got snippets of him in the ring taking out his opponents. I get that the fighting ring was shut down as part of the plot, but this was majorly disappointing to me. Levi being a fighter was one of the things that drew me to him, and that part of his character seemed to just disappear.

The book ended on a cliffhanger, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with the next couple’s book. I am not super invested at this point.

[luna ୨୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY MANNNNNNN.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: grumpy/sunshine
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

Just an awesome ride! Tons of action and suspense and characters with off the charts chemistry. These books have an overarching story arc and cannot be read alone despite having different MCs in each book. Can't wait for the next story!

[Eva ✧ ࣪ ⋆ ⁺₊ ⋆ evathedreamer ₊˚.⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊ ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first 👌

Romance, suspense, twists, and action! It was entertaining, and the chemistry was…steamy👌👌
With mystery and secrets - and a more thrilling storyline than book one - I’m now invested and can’t wait so see how it ends.

4.25 ⭐️’s

[jordane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When you first captivated my attention, there was no turning back. I tried to smother it, but you shine through any darkness.”

Crowned Crows of Thorne Point was such a great introduction to Veronica Eden's new series. With this second installment, I'm even more hooked on the plot and the characters, and Isla and Levi are officially my new obsession.

Loyalty In the Shadows picks up right after the event of CCTP. It follows Isla Vonn, a senator's daughter who pursues her dancing dreams instead of following her father's wishes, and Levi Astor, the dark, angry and quiet Crow, always with a knife in his hand, who's on a mission to protect her after an attempted kidnapping.

I just want to start by saying that I appreciated Veronica Eden putting a recap at the beginning of the book because even though I adored CCTP, I probably would have forgotten many things. It helped me get into the story from the first page to the last. Isla and Levi stole my attention in the first book, and I didn't expect them to come next, but I'm so happy because their story was phenomenal. The plot and the characters are very intriguing, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Rowan, Isla, and the Crows are trying to bring down this secret society that is challenging them. So the story is pretty action-packed, but the romance fits in well, and the found family trope also provides a nice balance and some sweet and fun moments.

Both Levi and Isla are amazing characters, and learning more about each of them was everything. Levi's emotionless and dark side caught my eye in CCTP, and he surprised me in this book. He cares so much about his friends and Isla that he will do anything to protect them. On the other hand, Isla has the sweetest personality. She is cheerful, optimistic and doesn't hesitate to fight her parents to fulfill her dreams. Each has a painful and heartbreaking backstory, but with the help of their chosen family and each other, they will take revenge on those who wronged them. Isla and Levi's grumpy/sunshine dynamic was to die for, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. They found safety, healing, and peace with each other, and it was heartwarming to see them come together. They were so communicative, wanted to protect each other all the time, and always had small attentions for each other. Their moments together and the angst were everything, and it was impossible not to fall in love with Isla and Levi.

Once again, I adored the moments between the Crows. Their bond is so deep, and you can feel it page after page. There is no silly drama between them, and they are there to protect each other and work together to take down the threats. I remember how quickly Wren, Jude, Colton, and Levi took Rowan under their wing, and I loved seeing them do the same with Isla. I'm really excited to know more about Colton and Jude. Colton is the fun and carefree guy of the Crows, but I feel like he's hiding some dark secrets and trauma, so I can't wait to get into his head! Jude is a bit more brooding but also charming, and his crumbs with Pippa are driving me crazy!! Like the way he always calls her Pip!!! I need their book more than anything.

Overall, Loyalty In the Shadows was incredible. The plot was so entertaining and captivating, and the romance between Isla and Levi was everything I could have hoped for. I still need to get over the cliffhanger because I really wasn't expecting that ending. With Crowned Crows, Veronica Eden has created a unique series, and I'm more than curious to see what happens next!

*ARC kindly provided by the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions in exchange for an honest opinion

[Karlee Berrios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levi has lived his life in the shadows, his only real family being the Crows. But when walking sunshine Isla becomes entangled in a kidnapping attempt, they realize the only place she'll be safe is in the nest with them. The crows suspect her attackers might be involved with the enemy they've been fighting behind closed doors. Levi refuses to get too close to Isla and her relentless optimism but doesn't realize that she can be far more stubborn than him. He has to determine what's more important, her safety or taking down the evil corrupting their town?

Readers will love Isla, and I think many of us see ourselves in her. The trauma she's been through is horrific, but watching her overcome her demons and not allow them to hold her back is empowering. She's willing to fight tooth and nail to protect others from the same fate.

And Levi. Oh, sweet, grumpy, broody Levi. When he finally gives up trying to resist, the fire in him is absolutely magnificent. He likes pointy objects, and apparently, so does she. A lot. Okay, you get the picture. Their steamy moments are delicious, and his filthy mouth is perfect.

An issue readers may have with this novel is Levi's inner monologue. While it's adorable, it does become a bit repetitive and a little over the top. It happens often enough that it slows the pacing and can take the reader out of the experience.

Even with that, I still rated Loyalty in the Shadows four out of five stars. It was a great continuation from the first installment of the series while showing it from new perspectives. The balance between plot and romance is done really well, and I think readers will appreciate that.

Lastly, let's talk about content warnings and appropriate audiences. This is a dark romance with explicit adult content. There are also mentions of S.A., attempted S.A., trafficking, kidnapping, mutilation, and murder. However, if none of this is an issue for you, and you like the grumpy/sunshine trope, vigilante love interests, and strong-willed women, this is a must-read.

[✨ Lucy ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ve honed myself into a lethal monster . I’m the danger to fear now, no longer helpless, no longer unable to fight back.”


OMG ! This story is just WOW.

I was on a constant rollercoaster of emotions for the entire time!

This story was so captivating that I couldn’t put it down for a second, I think I finished it in one session. Yeah , it was that good!

Levi Astor is so much more than what I expected. I don’t even know how to describe him. He’s a soul full of rage and angst but at the same time he is the most loyal and protective person ever. He’ll do anything for the people he loves. He’s pure darkness but then he met his light .

“Monsters don’t get to have the princess.”



Isla was just trying to figure out her future, doing what she loved. Her past his filled with dark and in her present there’s hope for something more. And now after an attempt at kidnapping her , she’s under The Crows watch. She ran in the house of the monster looking for safety, and she found so much more.

The chemistry between them is like fire works, there’s so much passion and feelings I don’t even know how to put it into words. You should definitely trust me and read this one, you won’t help but love it as much as I did!

I gave it 5 stars
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I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did!

*ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS



Star Rating : 4/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : None

Hero : Levi

Heroine : Isla

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 5/10

Heat Rating : 6/10

Triggers Involved : Past Trauma

Review :
Eppp, I finally have this book! This author drives me crazy with her heroes and I have been waiting for my man Levi for forever! I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER. I have been staring at it forever 🤣🤣

This one was a book with new characters but the story is connected so I won't say that it's a standalone. The plots are all entwined so I recommend that you read them in order to avoid spoilers of book one. All the books released till now are pretty amazing so definitely recommended to all !

I love these high schools with all the society themes so much. This series is like that only. It's dark but not too much and has that amazing edge of darkness. Levi kept me hooked right from the start and I loved it a lot. Now I am even more excited for the next part and will be eagerly waiting for that one!

Definitely recommending this one to all the dark high school romance loving people out there!

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[bookishbellexoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely fortunate enough to beta read this beauty & literally finished it in a few hours. If you've read CCOTP you know it ended on slight cliffhanger, LITS picks up right off and were immediately thrown into more chaos in this dark world of corruption.

I loved Isla from the previous book so getting to know her here individually was amazing. Her resilience is inspiring. She brings out a different side of Levi that I loved. Her choice to see the beauty of things despite her own traumas was such a nice element to her, she was both sweet and strong and she was such a fighter.

Levi, my quiet deadly boy. My heart broke for you. He's such a beautifully complex character. He holds the weight of so much inside of him that I resonated with alot, but I love how he let Isla in. He was boy obsessed let's be real and it was perfection, as was the grumpy-sunshine in this. They had this beautiful imagery of healing eachother.

The SMUT. OK MISS V. ALL IM GOING TO SAY IS LEVI HAS A MOUTH AND KNOWS HOW TO USE IT AND..."GOOD GIRL" 🥰 ALSO KNIFE KINK.

@veronicaedenauthor has crafted such a dark & seductive world in Thorne Point, I love that each book sort of unlocks a new dimension but we're still yet to know full picture. It left me wanting more.

I adore this group & you get an idea of the future love interests which YES. Veronica has teased us and I am so psyched to read both Colt and Judes books. She already told me they're gonna hurt but I'm ready. I am down for these boys & this is by far one of my favourite worlds to get lost in. Also the women in this are just as bad ass as their men & WE LOVE IT.

The Wren/Rowan moments we got were everything. I missed my chaotic couple 🤧

This cliffhanger literally broke me.My impatient ass is suffering lol. Have some choccies and tissues handy & remember that even though i might have told her in my beta notes to add more angst,that its Veronica who wrote it so shes entirely to blame for your pain 😂

[cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[We Like them Dark Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by this author-the first being the previous book in the series. There’s SO much potential in this series, really there is, but I just found that I really wanted this author to have her tipping point during her writing style to make it great. There was soooooooooo much that I would have cut out- it’s hard to relate to any of the characters because there’s just this lack of depth because I feel like dialogue and the characters inner monologues are going hundreds of different ways at the same time.
Again, like I mentioned, there’s so much potential in this series. The first book I pushed through because I knew the second would interest me-I definitely had a larger interest in Levi even in book 1. The trope was there-Levi was a protector but harsh and absolutely a murderer at his core, and just completely obsessed with the heroine-which I loved. I think there’s so much the author can take from this series, and I think maybe her writing style just needs to grow a bit more and she will flourish in the genre.

[Tani · Rating 5 out of 5]

*𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.*

𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈.

This is one of my most anticipated books of the month and boy do it deliver everything I was hoping for and so much more.

Levi and Isla had known each other since high school but neither of them were close to each other. Where Levi was the person who was always in the shadows, watching your every move, Isla was the light. She was sassy, witty, always doing something to make the others happy.

Both of them had endured so much pain in their life. It broke my heart to know about what Isla had gone through when she was just a kid, a teenager, bc she looked so happy all the damn time but that was just her coping mechanism. What gym and knife were to Levi, dance and sarcasm were that for Isla. Levi fought so hard towards his feelings for Isla but then later succumb to it. I wanted to shake him so bad, like dude come on stop fighting it, you idiot.
Also, I'm so envious of Isla bc she have my man but whatever. As much as Levi was a dirty talker, he was also a romantic especially where he confesses his love for Isla, those wordsssss *swoon*.

The friendship between these four boys was so alluring. And the glimpses of Wren-Rowan was too cute.
And this book also ends in a cliffhanger even worse than the first one. I swear Veronica is trying to kill us all with these gruesome cliffhangers. But I'm so ready for the next two books.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆.

[Niharika · Rating 5 out of 5]

* ARC received for an honest review *

Loyalty in the Shadows is the second book in the Crowned Crows series. It is Levi n Isla's story. After the cliffhanger in the previous book, I was so looking forward for this. And I wasn't disappointed. This book was so good. Beyond all my expectations. I love it so much.

Isla was one of the strongest character I came across. She has been through so much in the hands of her own parents but she didn't let that bring her down. She stood strong n even with everything she went through, she still saw good in people or situations.

Levi. My man. I loved him so much. I was intrigued of all his mysterious vibes in the previous book. And wanted to know more about him. I did get to know him n it was so heartbreaking. He held in so much in order to not feel pain. But when he slowly let Isla in, he realised that holding in is more harmful than letting go n feeling all that pain.
Levi n Isla was so perfect for each other. They both were two broken soul who really needed each other. The way Levi served boy obsessed. He wanted her for so long but didn't go through because he didn't want to bring her into his darkness. But once he gave in, she became his everything. They were each others home. And Levi shared his family filled with his 3 brothers n Rowan with Isla n gave her a sense of belonging.

I loved the other characters too. Rowan n Wren were in love as always n the King n Queen they were. Jude was still the moody guy. And my baby, Colton. He was his funny self but also bought out his darkness at times. OMG THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS BOOK WAS QUINN. I HOPE SHE N COLTON ARE ENDGAME. SHE IS LITERALLY SO PERFECT FOR HIM. THE WAY SHE CHALLENGES HIM. IT WAS EPIC.
Pippa. I don't know wt to think about her. I'm neutral about her for now. Until I hear her side of story, I won't form any type of opinion about her.

AND THAT CLIFFHANGER. DAMN I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING. PLEASE IT BROKE MY HEART. I WAS CRYING MY EYES OUT. HOW CAN I WAIT SO LONG FOR BOOK 3. 😭😭

Thanks Veronica Eden n Wildfiremarketingsolutions  for giving me the arc.

[shereads.pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc for a honest review.

This book has everything that I LOVE. A grumpy hero, and a sunshine heroine. A protective hero, dark, suspense, and intense romance. It's a secret society so there are lots of secrets, twist, and turns.

Isla was the senator's daughter. Although she was all sunshine, she had a dark, traumatic past. As she was on her way home, there was an attempt to kidnap her, and luckily, Levi and Rowan was closed by. They rescued her, but now she owes the Crowned Crows. That's barely the iceberg of the story. Let me just say this, Levi was the serial killer in the group, totally opposite of Isla, but they're perfect for each other!!! He himself have a dark past that as you read, you'll see how they're each other's light in the darkness.

You'll have to read the series in order because the plot is connected. And I have to say although this was Levi and Isla story, it does end on a cliffhanger.

[SCBookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not prepared for the vulnerability in both of these characters! Both Levi and Isla have traumatic pasts. While neither knows the other's secret, they are each other's balm. Isla brings Levi the peace he's been needing while Levi brings Isla the security she's never known.

While this is Levi and Isla's story, there is a bigger plot that is played out through the series. To fully understand that portion, it's best to read these in order.

Not only is this a dark romantic suspense, there's violence in this story that is quite graphic. There are a few scenes in here that have me making a mental note to not get on Veronica Eden's bad side!

Then there's that cliffhanger! I have my suspicions about who is behind that and I can’t wait to see to see if I'm right and how the story will play out.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born the daughter of a rich and powerful man Isla may appear to be living a privileged life however there is much more to her than first appears. When an abduction attempt is thwarted by her best friend and Levi she now finds herself an integral part of the Crowned Crows rather than being on the fringes.

Levi is a threat to those who are against him but when it comes to those he cares about his loyalty is unwavering. He has been denying the feelings he has for Isla for a while as he is wrong for her on so many levels but when she starts to break through his walls, he can’t imagine a life without her.

These two couldn’t be more different or more perfect for each other. The chemistry between them is intense, the suspense keeps you guessing, the characters captivate you and leave you wanting more stories centered around the Crowned Crows.

[JL Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Copy was given in exchange for an honest review***

Levi Astor has watched Isla Vonn from afar for a long time afraid that if he gets close he would taint her with his darkness, after all, he is "The Leviathan" of Thorne Point. A so-called serial killer and though he does have blood on his hands it's always only those that have crossed the Crows or bad guys.
When there is an attempted kidnapping on Isla, Levi and Rowan save her, and from there staying away from Isla is no longer an option since the Crows decide to keep her in their lair until they can figure the why and who she is in danger from.
So much going on in Isla and Levi's story. Dangers, murder, and dance all in one book. I thought I loved Wren and Rowan's story (still Do) but Levi and Isla definitely give them a run for their money in the hotness category. Loving this series so far and I can't wait to see who's story is next.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world!!!!!!!! Amazing.
4.5

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing. Good story. It was a bit long winded in the second half and a bit too slow burn in the first half. 4 stars

[Em xo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crowned Crows of Thorne Point series has been stuck in my head ever since I first read it. Loyalty in the Shadows combines the dark elite legacy mystery with a soulful, heartfelt romance, and Veronica Eden does it in the most perfect way. Loyalty in the Shadows was a book I struggled to put down. I remember having several late nights whilst reading this.

Leviathan Astor. The strong, broody and silent type of the group, with an unhealthy but hella sexy knife addiction. Not only is he addicted to his collection of pretty knives, but he is also wholly addicted and obsessed with Isla. Isla is the daughter of a rich and powerful senator who Levi has been fawning over from afar for YEARS. When Rowan and Levi thwart an attempted abduction on Isla, Isla is taken back to the Crows nest, and under the protection of the ruthless men. Instead of finding herself on the outside of the Crows, Isla is now smack bang in the middle. Levi has struggled with keeping his distance from Isla, and now she is in the same place as him and needs his help. How is he supposed to resist the temptation? How is he supposed to keep his obsession under wraps? I was not prepared for the vulnerability both of these characters showed within the book. Isla brings Levi the peace he's been needing while Levi brings Isla the security she's never known.

Still reeling from the tragic happenings and the intense cliff-hanger at the end of the first instalment of this series, the story develops from the revelations of Rowan's missing brother to uncovering a disgusting society within the city, and the Crows must fight to right the wrong brewing in their city. Throughout this book, the Crows are trying to figure out exactly what is happening in their city, and to put a swift end to it.

Levi is a big old grumpy boy, and I loved that about him. Slowly, he opens up to Isla, but still remains the grumpy man to everyone but Isla. Levi is enigmatic and completely lethal, but his heart is mostly in the right place. Both Isla and Levi have complex pasts, littered with trauma. Both are fighters, and both able to see and understand each other with clarity. Within each other, they find love, safety, and healing.

I love how Veronica uses juxtaposition to show dark elements within the book, but also showing the sweet side of life with the Crows. Chapter after chapter, Veronica continues to weave together an intriguing web of corruption and lies. We get some answers, and a lot more questions, all culminating in a cliff-hanger that is WAY worse than the one from book one.

Colt is still my number 1 book boyfriend, and I thoroughly enjoyed his book (comes after this one in the series), I can't deny that Levi Astor had me feeling some kind of way.

[Laura Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

The Crowned Crows series gets better with each book, the new discoveries the guys made in this book were totally unexpected and heartbreaking, Levi & Isla completely exceeded my expectations, I loved reading Wren & Rowan and the rest of the Crows again, the moments between Pippa & Jude were a surprise that I loved and the end left me more than shocked!

I have to say that Isla was the first to steal my heart in this book 😍, I loved her personality, eternal optimism and the attraction she has always felt for Levi, her personal story surprised me, shocked me and broke my heart, and made me hate his parents too much. I really liked the way it was embraced with the Crowned Crows, because essentially the same thing happens with Rowan: she always belonged to their small group, but Veronica Eden gave Isla her own essence and way of winning the hearts of each of the boys, but the best thing she did with Isla was to make her an intelligent girl, brave and capable of facing anything, even when it seems impossible.

Levi was a total surprise to me, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Like Isla, he has a painful past that has made him the man he is, he has faced tragedies, lies and found his own family in Wren, Colton & Jude, Levi is a serious, grumpy and more violent and bloodthirsty boy than Wren, he has an obsession with Isla for several years, but tries to get away from her by all means, even so, he's still willing to protect her from danger. But Levi is not only this grumpy and contradictory boy, he also has a tender and adorable side that he only shows when he is with her, he can be very sensual, provocative and seductive, but also vulnerable and excessively protective.

I LOVED the love story between Levi & Isla, I loved the way Veronica wrote and developed her story, from the moment Levi began to feel things for her, until the "end" they had in which they demonstrate how unconditional their feelings are for the other. And what about the sexual tension between them in the first chapters of the book! It has been the best I have read and something that I enjoyed so much. I really liked that they were both a refuge from each other's darkness, that their trust came naturally and gradually, and that Isla loved each and every aspect of Levi.

And the way the plot complemented the story of these two was just perfect, the discovery of a Secret Society at Thorne Point adds even more suspense and a much bigger threat to the story. I loved reading more of the plot with Pippa and the mutual interest between her and Jude, I'm looking forward to hearing more about them, Colton & his love interest.

🇪🇸
ARC proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta

La serie Crowned Crows se pone mejor con cada libro, los nuevos descubrimientos que los chicos hicieron en este libro fueron totalmente inesperados y desgarradores, Levi & Isla superaron mis expectativas por completo, me encantó leer de nuevo a Wren & Rowan y al resto de los Crows, los momentos entre Pippa & Jude fueron una sorpresa que amé y el final me dejó más que impactada y deseando que marzo llegue YA!

Tengo que decir que Isla fue la primera que se robó mi corazón en este libro 😍, amé su personalidad, su eterno optimismo y la atracción que siempre ha sentido por Levi, su historia personal me sorprendió, impactó y rompió mi corazón, además de que me hizo odiar demasiado a sus padres. Me gustó mucho la forma en la que se integró con los Crowned Crows, porque en esencia pasa lo mismo que con Rowan: siempre perteneció a ese pequeño grupo, pero Veronica Eden le dio a Isla su propia esencia y manera de ganarse el corazón de cada uno de los chicos, pero lo mejor que hizo con Isla fue hacerla una chica inteligente, valiente y capaz de enfrentarse a cualquier cosa, aún cuando parece imposible.

Levi fue una total sorpresa para mi, pero una que disfruté muchísimo. Al igual que Isla, tiene un pasado doloroso que lo ha convertido en el hombre que es, ha enfrentado tragedias, mentiras y encontró su propia familia en Wren, Colton & Jude, Levi es un chico serio, gruñón y considerablemente más violento y sediento de sangre que Wren, tiene una obsesión con Isla desde hace varios años, pero intenta alejarse de ella por todos los medios, aún así esta dispuesto a protegerla del peligro. Pero Levi no es solo este chico gruñón y contradictorio, también tiene un lado tierno y adorable que solo deja ver cuando está con ella, puede ser muy sensual, provocador y seductor, pero también vulnerable y excesivamente protector.

AMÉ la historia de amor entre Levi & Isla, me encantó la manera en la que Veronica escribió y desarrolló su historia, desde el momento en el que Levi comenzó a sentir cosas por ella, hasta "final" que tuvieron en el que se demuestran lo incondicionales que son sus sentimientos por el otro. Y qué decir de la tensión sexual que hay entre ellos en los primeros capítulos del libro! ha sido de lo mejor que he leído y algo que disfruté demasiado. Me gustó mucho que ambos fueran un refugio para la oscuridad del otro, que su confianza se diera de manera natural y gradual, y que Isla amara todos y cada uno de los aspectos de Levi.

Y la manera en la que la trama complementó la historia de estos dos fue simplemente perfecta, el descubrimiento de una Sociedad Secreta en Thorne Point le agrega a la historia un mayor suspenso y una amenaza mucho más grande de lo que los chicos y los lectores imaginábamos. Me encantó leer más de la trama con Pippa y el interés mutuo entre ella y Jude, estoy deseando saber más de ellos, Colton & su interés amoroso.