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The Syndicates #1
Her Ruthless Warrior
The line between redemption and damnation is razor thin—and once it’s crossed, there’s no going back…
Violet
Nothing wrecks an already bad day faster than almost getting hit by a car.
But then he rescued me.
My mysterious, sexy savior wore danger as easily as he wore his black-on-black clothes. And still, I wasn’t afraid of him.
I should’ve been.
Because after one misunderstanding, the man I thought would love me forever showed me just how ruthless and cold he really is.
I trusted him with my heart once and it broke me. I can’t afford to make that mistake again…
Hoka
She was my ikigai—my life purpose.
Loving her was inevitable.
But I’m king of the Japanese mafia. Softness like hers doesn’t exist in my world.
Maybe that’s why it was so easy for me to believe she betrayed me. Why I burned us to the ground.
Now that I know the truth, I’ll do anything to get her back.
I know a good man would let her go.
But I’m not a good man...
Her Ruthless Warrior, book 1 in the The Syndicates series, is a steamy, angsty, dark(ish), emotional age gap romance featuring an innocent heroine and the mob boss who falls head-over-heels in love with her at first sight. Happily ever after guaranteed.
WARNING: 18+ only. Please read responsibly. THIS NOVEL CONTAINS TRIGGERING CONTENT.
Violet
Nothing wrecks an already bad day faster than almost getting hit by a car.
But then he rescued me.
My mysterious, sexy savior wore danger as easily as he wore his black-on-black clothes. And still, I wasn’t afraid of him.
I should’ve been.
Because after one misunderstanding, the man I thought would love me forever showed me just how ruthless and cold he really is.
I trusted him with my heart once and it broke me. I can’t afford to make that mistake again…
Hoka
She was my ikigai—my life purpose.
Loving her was inevitable.
But I’m king of the Japanese mafia. Softness like hers doesn’t exist in my world.
Maybe that’s why it was so easy for me to believe she betrayed me. Why I burned us to the ground.
Now that I know the truth, I’ll do anything to get her back.
I know a good man would let her go.
But I’m not a good man...
Her Ruthless Warrior, book 1 in the The Syndicates series, is a steamy, angsty, dark(ish), emotional age gap romance featuring an innocent heroine and the mob boss who falls head-over-heels in love with her at first sight. Happily ever after guaranteed.
WARNING: 18+ only. Please read responsibly. THIS NOVEL CONTAINS TRIGGERING CONTENT.
457 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2022
1070 people are currently reading
6167 people want to read
About the author
R.G. Angel
30 books1,352 followersOn top of being an International Bestselling Author, I’m a trained lawyer, world traveller, coffee addict and cheese aficionado.
When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem or writing Contemporary Romance with heart, heat and a little darkness, alpha heroes and strong heroines and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies.
I hope my stories will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as they brought me by writing them.
If you want to know any of the latest news join my reader group R.G.’s Angels on facebook or subscribe to my newsletter!
When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem or writing Contemporary Romance with heart, heat and a little darkness, alpha heroes and strong heroines and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies.
I hope my stories will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as they brought me by writing them.
If you want to know any of the latest news join my reader group R.G.’s Angels on facebook or subscribe to my newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 920 reviews
January 16, 2024
3 Inevitability of Love Stars ⭐
It was okay.
Honestly? I'm impressed that I finished this.
I genuinely enjoyed the Yukuza mafia spin since we've read all the Italian, Russian and Irish sagas to death. However Her Ruthless Warrior was like white bread. Tasty but not really good.
“She is just a girl in distress.” I shrugged. “And it just felt nice to be the knight in shining armor instead of the bogeyman lurking in the darkness for once.”
The first few chapters were decent. From the way Hoka and Violet meet, it was a total damsel in distress moment. Even the secrecy around who Hoka is and his obvious devotion to Violet was enjoyable. But there was something about the writing that felt off and the imbalance between both lead characters bugged me.
“You’re stronger than this. Destiny is not immutable. She’s your destiny? Fine. But are you hers? Does she deserve this life?”
Violet was a poor, naive girl with limited options thrust into Hoka's world. The attraction and love was so instant that all the red flags and danger was glossed over making the whole relationship inconceivable. Yet for two people 'destined', the first sign of supposed deception, Hoka tosses Violet out on her ass.
Yes, yes it all gets sorted out, but by that stage, I thought their entire relationship was plop. It had the potential to be great, except I wasn't sold from start to end. It was entertaining but not very well written.
It was okay.
Honestly? I'm impressed that I finished this.
I genuinely enjoyed the Yukuza mafia spin since we've read all the Italian, Russian and Irish sagas to death. However Her Ruthless Warrior was like white bread. Tasty but not really good.
“She is just a girl in distress.” I shrugged. “And it just felt nice to be the knight in shining armor instead of the bogeyman lurking in the darkness for once.”
The first few chapters were decent. From the way Hoka and Violet meet, it was a total damsel in distress moment. Even the secrecy around who Hoka is and his obvious devotion to Violet was enjoyable. But there was something about the writing that felt off and the imbalance between both lead characters bugged me.
“You’re stronger than this. Destiny is not immutable. She’s your destiny? Fine. But are you hers? Does she deserve this life?”
Violet was a poor, naive girl with limited options thrust into Hoka's world. The attraction and love was so instant that all the red flags and danger was glossed over making the whole relationship inconceivable. Yet for two people 'destined', the first sign of supposed deception, Hoka tosses Violet out on her ass.
Yes, yes it all gets sorted out, but by that stage, I thought their entire relationship was plop. It had the potential to be great, except I wasn't sold from start to end. It was entertaining but not very well written.
August 24, 2024
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (2nd Reread)
'' Violet Murphy was not my queen, she was my fucking kingdom''
Safety gang:
- H 34 / h 21
- No OM drama/Slight OW drama
- Cheating (not between MCs)
- M*scarriage
- Violence/D*ath
- Kidnapping
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
This was my first book by the author and my first book about the Yakuza and it was so good.
If you have not read this book, please do! It had everything I wanted: the angst, the grovel, the pain and heartbreak.
I loved Violet. She was such a wonderful FMC. She was brave and resilient, but she was broken, and I wanted nothing more than to hold her and keep her from having to feel any of the pain the world wished to put upon her.
We meet her on one of her worst days: She loses out on a job she worked hard to get for 6 months, she finds out her bf of a year is cheating on her and almost gets hit by a car and sprains her ankle. Though that last bit must have been the only good thing, meeting Hoka.
Hoka was amazing, he was the definition of ''the world should fear me, but I am such a simp for this 5'2 girl'' (he's 6'4). I did not really see much of an issue concerning their age and it was never something that was used against her or him.
I knew Jiro would cause issues whenever he talked about a traitor. He brought it up too much for it to be just a casual concern. He got them to separate, and it was so agonizing watching the sweet Hoka turn into the Yakuza boss. He humiliated her, he threatened her on the same day she wanted to tell him she was pregnant. God - the scene where he brings his friend to make a point to get Violet to leave was heartwrenching. He really messed up and it was hard to read that chapter. You knew he was only hurting too but he didn't have to be so evil about it.
So yes I absolutely loved the grovel. It lasted a good 20-25% of the book for him to get her to forgive him after everything that went down. She never betrayed him, and she was right to be hurt by the fact he didn't even deem her important enough to hear her explanation. I also will admit it was not a good look finding out she was related to the Italian Chicago Mob Prince, but she is right and I'm also glad he didn't take her pain and make it into nothing or diminish it. I am glad he felt every anguish and torment knowing she was broken by his actions, broken by losing their baby in such a traumatizing way and broken by watching her light dim out.
I'm really interested in Alessandro. He came off as an absolute asshole in the beginning but finding out he has loved his little sister despite the consequences was sweet and seeing the length he went to keep her safe and take care of her without causing his world to find out.
'' Violet Murphy was not my queen, she was my fucking kingdom''
Safety gang:
- H 34 / h 21
- No OM drama/Slight OW drama
- Cheating (not between MCs)
- M*scarriage
- Violence/D*ath
- Kidnapping
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
This was my first book by the author and my first book about the Yakuza and it was so good.
If you have not read this book, please do! It had everything I wanted: the angst, the grovel, the pain and heartbreak.
I loved Violet. She was such a wonderful FMC. She was brave and resilient, but she was broken, and I wanted nothing more than to hold her and keep her from having to feel any of the pain the world wished to put upon her.
We meet her on one of her worst days: She loses out on a job she worked hard to get for 6 months, she finds out her bf of a year is cheating on her and almost gets hit by a car and sprains her ankle. Though that last bit must have been the only good thing, meeting Hoka.
Hoka was amazing, he was the definition of ''the world should fear me, but I am such a simp for this 5'2 girl'' (he's 6'4). I did not really see much of an issue concerning their age and it was never something that was used against her or him.
I knew Jiro would cause issues whenever he talked about a traitor. He brought it up too much for it to be just a casual concern. He got them to separate, and it was so agonizing watching the sweet Hoka turn into the Yakuza boss. He humiliated her, he threatened her on the same day she wanted to tell him she was pregnant. God - the scene where he brings his friend to make a point to get Violet to leave was heartwrenching. He really messed up and it was hard to read that chapter. You knew he was only hurting too but he didn't have to be so evil about it.
So yes I absolutely loved the grovel. It lasted a good 20-25% of the book for him to get her to forgive him after everything that went down. She never betrayed him, and she was right to be hurt by the fact he didn't even deem her important enough to hear her explanation. I also will admit it was not a good look finding out she was related to the Italian Chicago Mob Prince, but she is right and I'm also glad he didn't take her pain and make it into nothing or diminish it. I am glad he felt every anguish and torment knowing she was broken by his actions, broken by losing their baby in such a traumatizing way and broken by watching her light dim out.
I'm really interested in Alessandro. He came off as an absolute asshole in the beginning but finding out he has loved his little sister despite the consequences was sweet and seeing the length he went to keep her safe and take care of her without causing his world to find out.
January 16, 2024
4 stars
I loved the first part of the book where we get a developing relationship that follows a very normal pattern. (not taking into consideration that first meet cute which was a bit too convenient)It was a very delicate, honest and beautiful way to start their relationship especially because of the contrast to their backgrounds.
Why did I love this? Because in too many mafia books the beginning is often problematic, red flag-y and the burgeoning relationship isn’t exactly believable because of it.
Hoka, the hero, pursues Violet, the heroine, the way any other guy would. (except behind the scenes where he helps her out with a job situation). It felt nice to read the excitement she had at meeting a guy and being attracted to him and then having him ask her on a date and just have those little cute moments.
Was Violet naive and innocent and perhaps a bit reckless when she finally finds out his involvement in the mob? Yes, but by that time I understood her. She had a troubled upbringing and she always craved to be loved and taken care of and to just have someone in her corner. She was only 21 and she fell madly in love so when put in front of the decision to stay and feel loved or leave because of threats that haven’t materialised yet, she did as I would have predicted.
As for Hoka, I loved his vulnerability and his commitment to be with her regardless of obstacles (although it did feel a bit rushed and reckless).
And then, we have his best friend Jiro, who offered a more realistic perspective and made us realise what was really on the line for both Hoka and Violet. Because none of them had actually thought it through as to how their lives would look like in the long term. How Violet would eventually witness Hoka, the mafia guy not just her loving boyfriend, how Hoka couldn’t always be by her side to protect her from every interaction with his world. There were implications to their relationship which they hadn’t considered because they were happily in a cocoon of safety and newness.
Now, in the second part of the book we get a very different dynamic. Something happens (people conspire against them and make it seem like she betrayed him) and he reacts very badly. I would have said there is no way he can take it back, not just because of his reaction but because it implies a terrible lack of trust in the heroine which ultimately is what hurts the most because their love was supposed to be indestructible.
That being said, I think what elevated this book for me was the grovel. The grovel in itself followed a very structured pattern. Meaning, that I believe, just like a story needs in the most basic of terms - a begging, a middle and an end - so does a grovel. And boy did I get that here.
What mattered most to me is that because of what the H did I couldn’t go back to believing he had this absolute, crazy love for the heroine, not the way I believed it before his fuckup. But that problem was actually addressed. This wasn’t any man in love - this was a person who always had to watch his back, to be careful of his friends, to be suspicious of everyone, to weigh every choice in terms of what it could mean in terms of repercussions. To have lived like that for 33 years, waiting for the other shoe to drop, has marked him. Whether he realised it or not it jaded him, he saw red and logic flew out the window which led to his very awful decision to hurt the heroine.
I loved that Violet didn’t cut him any slack. But I also loved that she changed. She had to be woken up to the realities of the kind of life and organisation she was getting into. If indeed she chose him again it would be with eyes wide open and not through the haze of love, infatuation and obsession. As bad as it sounds, and although I know there were better ways for her to come to understand that world, I also think that their break up and subsequent grovel/turmoil served to strengthen their bond. Love is great and all but when you’re with someone whose lifestyle is so different, so dangerous and also full of arbitrary rules, love is not enough.
I had a lot of favourite moments in the book:
- when they said “I love you” to each other for the first time.
- when the hero cried and his mom hugged and consoled him
- when his mom told him “don’t tell me what you did to her (the heroine) because I know I’ll look at you differently and I don’t want to ever do that
- when he listened to the heroine about how he made her feel after what he did and he didn’t come up with excuses, just listened and drowned in regret
- when he threw himself in front of a bullet for her and the next second she did that for him as well
I’m sure there are other moments but those are the ones I remember off the top of my head.
Anyways I loved this story. I can’t say it was groundbreaking or amazingly original (although I loved that the hero was Japanese and his culture was included albeit not a lot) but it was exactly what I wanted to read. It ticked most of my boxes.
I loved the first part of the book where we get a developing relationship that follows a very normal pattern. (not taking into consideration that first meet cute which was a bit too convenient)It was a very delicate, honest and beautiful way to start their relationship especially because of the contrast to their backgrounds.
Why did I love this? Because in too many mafia books the beginning is often problematic, red flag-y and the burgeoning relationship isn’t exactly believable because of it.
Hoka, the hero, pursues Violet, the heroine, the way any other guy would. (except behind the scenes where he helps her out with a job situation). It felt nice to read the excitement she had at meeting a guy and being attracted to him and then having him ask her on a date and just have those little cute moments.
Was Violet naive and innocent and perhaps a bit reckless when she finally finds out his involvement in the mob? Yes, but by that time I understood her. She had a troubled upbringing and she always craved to be loved and taken care of and to just have someone in her corner. She was only 21 and she fell madly in love so when put in front of the decision to stay and feel loved or leave because of threats that haven’t materialised yet, she did as I would have predicted.
As for Hoka, I loved his vulnerability and his commitment to be with her regardless of obstacles (although it did feel a bit rushed and reckless).
And then, we have his best friend Jiro, who offered a more realistic perspective and made us realise what was really on the line for both Hoka and Violet. Because none of them had actually thought it through as to how their lives would look like in the long term. How Violet would eventually witness Hoka, the mafia guy not just her loving boyfriend, how Hoka couldn’t always be by her side to protect her from every interaction with his world. There were implications to their relationship which they hadn’t considered because they were happily in a cocoon of safety and newness.
Now, in the second part of the book we get a very different dynamic. Something happens (people conspire against them and make it seem like she betrayed him) and he reacts very badly. I would have said there is no way he can take it back, not just because of his reaction but because it implies a terrible lack of trust in the heroine which ultimately is what hurts the most because their love was supposed to be indestructible.
That being said, I think what elevated this book for me was the grovel. The grovel in itself followed a very structured pattern. Meaning, that I believe, just like a story needs in the most basic of terms - a begging, a middle and an end - so does a grovel. And boy did I get that here.
What mattered most to me is that because of what the H did I couldn’t go back to believing he had this absolute, crazy love for the heroine, not the way I believed it before his fuckup. But that problem was actually addressed. This wasn’t any man in love - this was a person who always had to watch his back, to be careful of his friends, to be suspicious of everyone, to weigh every choice in terms of what it could mean in terms of repercussions. To have lived like that for 33 years, waiting for the other shoe to drop, has marked him. Whether he realised it or not it jaded him, he saw red and logic flew out the window which led to his very awful decision to hurt the heroine.
I loved that Violet didn’t cut him any slack. But I also loved that she changed. She had to be woken up to the realities of the kind of life and organisation she was getting into. If indeed she chose him again it would be with eyes wide open and not through the haze of love, infatuation and obsession. As bad as it sounds, and although I know there were better ways for her to come to understand that world, I also think that their break up and subsequent grovel/turmoil served to strengthen their bond. Love is great and all but when you’re with someone whose lifestyle is so different, so dangerous and also full of arbitrary rules, love is not enough.
I had a lot of favourite moments in the book:
- when they said “I love you” to each other for the first time.
- when the hero cried and his mom hugged and consoled him
- when his mom told him “don’t tell me what you did to her (the heroine) because I know I’ll look at you differently and I don’t want to ever do that
- when he listened to the heroine about how he made her feel after what he did and he didn’t come up with excuses, just listened and drowned in regret
- when he threw himself in front of a bullet for her and the next second she did that for him as well
I’m sure there are other moments but those are the ones I remember off the top of my head.
Anyways I loved this story. I can’t say it was groundbreaking or amazingly original (although I loved that the hero was Japanese and his culture was included albeit not a lot) but it was exactly what I wanted to read. It ticked most of my boxes.
April 26, 2023
ME GUSTÓ MUCHO!!
Mafia Romance
Age Gap
Angsty
Uno de mis géneros favoritos son los libros de mafia que tenga un buen desarrollo de romance, con buena acción, intrigas, traiciones, secretos, suspenso, que es difícil de encontrar, PERO últimamente he disfrutado mucho de esos que son más romance y se desarrollan en un ambiente de mafia como en éste caso.
En este libro tenemos como protagonistas a Violet que está huyendo de su novio al que acaba de encontrarlo siéndole infiel y apunto de ser atropellada por el protagonista que es Hoka un mafioso jefe de los Yakuza, rara vez había leído de mafia japonesa y me gustó.
Él la ayuda la lleva al hospital, a comer y después a su casa.
No esperan volverse a encontra pero el no puede dejar de pensar en ella ni en el trabajo poco digno para ella y trata de ayudarla pero siendo mafioso hace de ella un objetivo y no tiene de otra más que protegerla llevándosela a su casa.
La historia de ellos fue muy dulce, con drama llena de angst y él que se llevo mi corazón fue Hoka porque a pesar de que se equivocó lastimando a Violet se arrepintió pidió perdón y sufrió por ella y hubo una escena que me partió el corazón.
Hoka enamorado es un sol.
Me lleve una grata sorpresa con éste libro y obvio leeré los demás.
Mafia Romance
Age Gap
Angsty
Uno de mis géneros favoritos son los libros de mafia que tenga un buen desarrollo de romance, con buena acción, intrigas, traiciones, secretos, suspenso, que es difícil de encontrar, PERO últimamente he disfrutado mucho de esos que son más romance y se desarrollan en un ambiente de mafia como en éste caso.
En este libro tenemos como protagonistas a Violet que está huyendo de su novio al que acaba de encontrarlo siéndole infiel y apunto de ser atropellada por el protagonista que es Hoka un mafioso jefe de los Yakuza, rara vez había leído de mafia japonesa y me gustó.
Él la ayuda la lleva al hospital, a comer y después a su casa.
No esperan volverse a encontra pero el no puede dejar de pensar en ella ni en el trabajo poco digno para ella y trata de ayudarla pero siendo mafioso hace de ella un objetivo y no tiene de otra más que protegerla llevándosela a su casa.
La historia de ellos fue muy dulce, con drama llena de angst y él que se llevo mi corazón fue Hoka porque a pesar de que se equivocó lastimando a Violet se arrepintió pidió perdón y sufrió por ella y hubo una escena que me partió el corazón.
Hoka enamorado es un sol.
Me lleve una grata sorpresa con éste libro y obvio leeré los demás.
August 2, 2025
Total crap.
==============
Edit: so many people have recommended this book to me and raved about the great "groveling" in it that I decided to give it another chance. I hated it even more the second time.
DNF
==============
Edit: so many people have recommended this book to me and raved about the great "groveling" in it that I decided to give it another chance. I hated it even more the second time.
DNF
May 16, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: mafia, protector
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Violet meets Hoka on the worst day of her life. She's lost her job, caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and she almost get's hit by a car. Hoka's car. The head of the Yakuza. She has absolutely no idea who his is, just a kind stranger that helped her on her worst day. But there's an instant attraction. On both sides, a pull that can't be denied. Hoka lives a solitary life at the top and when he first meets Violet, he enjoys that she likes him for him and doesn't kiss his ass for what he is. As it turns into much more than a passing fancy, he knows he won't be able to keep her in the dark forever, but he wants to protect her as long as possible. There are powers at play that want their relationship to fail and when it comes from super close places, it will threaten to burn their relationship to the ground.
Her Ruthless Warrior is absolutely beautiful storytelling at it's finest! I laughed, I cried, I covered my face in shock as I cringed in pain .... literally went through all the emotions. Overall, the story is sweet and romantic, but the dark will gut you. Luckily, Ms. Angel does a fantastic job of piecing everyone back together, because both Violet (and I) was a mess, lol. If you're a fan of an appropriate grovel, you'll definitely walk away happy with this story! I absolutely loved Violet. She is soft, but strong. She can take hits, but uses her words to slay. Most of all, Violet is a survivor who knows the importance of surviving. She is everything that Hoka needs to both calm the beast and keep him grounded. The chemistry between them is fantastic and you could feel the crazy connection between them. This is an absolutely wonderful read that will be added to my best of 2022 pile and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on Alessandro's story!
Her Ruthless Warrior is the first book in The Syndicates series by RG Angel and can be read as a standalone. It is told in first person, from dual perspective.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be considered spoilers
Trope: mafia, protector
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Violet meets Hoka on the worst day of her life. She's lost her job, caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and she almost get's hit by a car. Hoka's car. The head of the Yakuza. She has absolutely no idea who his is, just a kind stranger that helped her on her worst day. But there's an instant attraction. On both sides, a pull that can't be denied. Hoka lives a solitary life at the top and when he first meets Violet, he enjoys that she likes him for him and doesn't kiss his ass for what he is. As it turns into much more than a passing fancy, he knows he won't be able to keep her in the dark forever, but he wants to protect her as long as possible. There are powers at play that want their relationship to fail and when it comes from super close places, it will threaten to burn their relationship to the ground.
Her Ruthless Warrior is absolutely beautiful storytelling at it's finest! I laughed, I cried, I covered my face in shock as I cringed in pain .... literally went through all the emotions. Overall, the story is sweet and romantic, but the dark will gut you. Luckily, Ms. Angel does a fantastic job of piecing everyone back together, because both Violet (and I) was a mess, lol. If you're a fan of an appropriate grovel, you'll definitely walk away happy with this story! I absolutely loved Violet. She is soft, but strong. She can take hits, but uses her words to slay. Most of all, Violet is a survivor who knows the importance of surviving. She is everything that Hoka needs to both calm the beast and keep him grounded. The chemistry between them is fantastic and you could feel the crazy connection between them. This is an absolutely wonderful read that will be added to my best of 2022 pile and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on Alessandro's story!
Her Ruthless Warrior is the first book in The Syndicates series by RG Angel and can be read as a standalone. It is told in first person, from dual perspective.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be considered spoilers
August 26, 2022
4.5 Stars!
Her Ruthless Warrior is the first book in The Syndicates series and features Hoka and Violet. Unfortunately for Violet, Hoka runs into her (almost literally) on one of the hardest days of her life. She no longer has a job, her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she feels alone in the world. When Hoka, head of the Yakuza (unbeknownst to Violet), uncharacteristically takes care of her, their fates are sealed. Hoka would rather cut off his own arm than consider her anything else than his .
Hoka is completely enamored with the beautiful and strong Violet - he appreciates that she sees him as a man rather than a criminal to be feared and he clings desperately to that. However, Hoka can’t keep all his secrets from her forever and it’s only a matter of time before choices are made by them and others that have the power to incinerate their love and carefully constructed relationship.
BUTTTTT let me tell you…Hoka done fucked up. Badly.
I’m not talking like “o man that sucks” kind of fucked up. I mean he took a situation and put it through a meat grinder THEN tossed it in the trash THEN fed it to the sharks.
I gasped, I cried, I wanted to toss my Kindle…
Luckily, Hoka pulls his head out of his ass and realizes what a colossal mistake he made and we get the grovel of the century. Violet is no shrinking…violet and makes him work to earn back her loyalty, love and affection.
Seriously…what Violet has been through and the raw emotions she experiences is heartbreaking and I almost found Hoka irredeemable. But R.G. somehow pulled me back from the brink of hating Hoka and I found myself falling back in love with this couple who went through hell to get to their heaven.
This story was captivating and I found that it seems to be written in two parts. Part one being the meet cute and their fall in love and crash into despair and part two being their journey back to each other.
Hoka was a complicated character but he was also real. He was a unique kind of alpha male and I loved the way he wanted to possess Violet. He was most definitely an anti-hero but even when I hated him, I was intrigued by his motivations.
Violet had a backbone of steel despite EVERYTHING she has been through and EVERYTHING Hoka put her through. I found her character refreshing and I liked that she didn’t back down...ever...and demanded the respect and attention she deserved from everyone around her. This woman rose from the ashes and forgave Hoka. She loved him through his worst moments and his best.
Overall, this wasn’t an easy story to get through. It was angsty, emotional, and heartbreaking but it was also steamy, swoony, and hopeful. If you’re looking for an emotional read that leans towards a darker nature with characters that have flaws and make mistakes but learn from them, definitely give this a try! I really did love it and can't wait for the next in the series.
Her Ruthless Warrior is the first book in The Syndicates series and features Hoka and Violet. Unfortunately for Violet, Hoka runs into her (almost literally) on one of the hardest days of her life. She no longer has a job, her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she feels alone in the world. When Hoka, head of the Yakuza (unbeknownst to Violet), uncharacteristically takes care of her, their fates are sealed. Hoka would rather cut off his own arm than consider her anything else than his .
“Just the thought of her naked for other men’s pleasure filled me with a homicidal rage I’d never experienced before.”
Hoka is completely enamored with the beautiful and strong Violet - he appreciates that she sees him as a man rather than a criminal to be feared and he clings desperately to that. However, Hoka can’t keep all his secrets from her forever and it’s only a matter of time before choices are made by them and others that have the power to incinerate their love and carefully constructed relationship.
“Violet Murphy was my damnation, my redemption, and above all, my life.”
BUTTTTT let me tell you…Hoka done fucked up. Badly.
I’m not talking like “o man that sucks” kind of fucked up. I mean he took a situation and put it through a meat grinder THEN tossed it in the trash THEN fed it to the sharks.
I gasped, I cried, I wanted to toss my Kindle…
Luckily, Hoka pulls his head out of his ass and realizes what a colossal mistake he made and we get the grovel of the century. Violet is no shrinking…violet and makes him work to earn back her loyalty, love and affection.
Seriously…what Violet has been through and the raw emotions she experiences is heartbreaking and I almost found Hoka irredeemable. But R.G. somehow pulled me back from the brink of hating Hoka and I found myself falling back in love with this couple who went through hell to get to their heaven.
“This is the only tattoo that is not related to my role or my culture. This tattoo is the most precious one I have because it’s us, our love.”
This story was captivating and I found that it seems to be written in two parts. Part one being the meet cute and their fall in love and crash into despair and part two being their journey back to each other.
“Because I chose you, always you.”
Hoka was a complicated character but he was also real. He was a unique kind of alpha male and I loved the way he wanted to possess Violet. He was most definitely an anti-hero but even when I hated him, I was intrigued by his motivations.
“There is a duality in my son. The kindness he shows you and the cruelty he shows the world… and sometimes it seeps through.”
Violet had a backbone of steel despite EVERYTHING she has been through and EVERYTHING Hoka put her through. I found her character refreshing and I liked that she didn’t back down...ever...and demanded the respect and attention she deserved from everyone around her. This woman rose from the ashes and forgave Hoka. She loved him through his worst moments and his best.
Overall, this wasn’t an easy story to get through. It was angsty, emotional, and heartbreaking but it was also steamy, swoony, and hopeful. If you’re looking for an emotional read that leans towards a darker nature with characters that have flaws and make mistakes but learn from them, definitely give this a try! I really did love it and can't wait for the next in the series.
“Violet Murphy was not my queen; she was my fucking kingdom.”
dnf
November 10, 2022This is definitely a case of, "It's me, not the book". For some reason, I am just not feeling this story. The writing is tight, the story is just okay, but I keep struggling to pick it up again. I just don't care enough about it to continue.
August 3, 2023
ESTE LIBRO ME LO VENDIÓ BOOKTOK POR UNA ESCENA
Se las platico:
él es el jede fe la mafia japonesa y ella es una estadounidense que no pueden estar juntos, por ser ella foránea. ¿Razón? No válida, pero bueno. Pero a él no le importante y comienza a estar con ella, pero la gente con la que trabaja hace un plan para hacerle pensar que lo traicionó y el plan funciona. Él se venga y llega con una chica a la casa y la besa delante de ella, justo en el momento que ella le iba a confesar que estaba embarazada, por obvias razones no lo hace y se va de la casa mientras él le apunta con un arma.
¿Dramático, no? Porque yo amo el drama y eso me lo vendió y de lo que se trata el libro. Pero la verdad le quedó la vara muy alta. No creo que le llegara a los talones de mi imaginación y mis expectativas.
Siento que todo se perdonó muy fácil, pasaron muchas cosas. Y no me convenció mucho la verdad, pero al menos me entretuvo. Me lo acabé en una sentada, porque eso si no lo puedes soltar hasta que llegas a la última página y eso son muchos puntos a su favor.
Se las platico:
él es el jede fe la mafia japonesa y ella es una estadounidense que no pueden estar juntos, por ser ella foránea. ¿Razón? No válida, pero bueno. Pero a él no le importante y comienza a estar con ella, pero la gente con la que trabaja hace un plan para hacerle pensar que lo traicionó y el plan funciona. Él se venga y llega con una chica a la casa y la besa delante de ella, justo en el momento que ella le iba a confesar que estaba embarazada, por obvias razones no lo hace y se va de la casa mientras él le apunta con un arma.
¿Dramático, no? Porque yo amo el drama y eso me lo vendió y de lo que se trata el libro. Pero la verdad le quedó la vara muy alta. No creo que le llegara a los talones de mi imaginación y mis expectativas.
Siento que todo se perdonó muy fácil, pasaron muchas cosas. Y no me convenció mucho la verdad, pero al menos me entretuvo. Me lo acabé en una sentada, porque eso si no lo puedes soltar hasta que llegas a la última página y eso son muchos puntos a su favor.
May 28, 2023
I was this close 👌 to DNFing this book believe it or not
But the second part really made up for it and boosted it to be one of my favorite grovel book
In the hunt for a "good groveling book"
this one was suggested
It is a Japanese/Italian Mafia
Age gap (though I still don't think that 12 years is that huge age gap)
Misunderstanding
Betrayal
Dark Romance
Hoka (still can't get overtime name because it means something g else in Arabic) believes that Violet is his soul mate. But due to someone trying to sabotage their relationship, ends up hurting and humiliating her to get rid of her
Up until this point the story was boring, repetitive and unrealistic
And Voilet was being this mousy, clingy "am not like any other girl" type
And Hoka, for a Japanese Mafia boss was acting kinda immature
"I am the boss" "I do what I want"
A true Mafia boss does not walk around saying "I am the boss"
So up until 60% I was sure that I was going to DNF or give it a two or three stars
BUT THEN CAME THE change from ugly duckling to a swan moment
Violet became this heartbroken, fierce, don't-give-a shit-about-what-you-want lioness
She made Hoka the Mafia boss grovel literally on his knees crying
How low had I fallen? I went from this all-powerful, cold man to a kneeling, sobbing mess, crying on my mother’s skirt and yet I couldn’t stop.
And her speech, choice of words, and punch lines were a thing of both beauty and sadness to read
I’m tired of never being the first choice, tired of always being in pain, of things never getting better. I’m tired of fighting for a future that seems to be getting gloomier and gloomier.
She stood up to both Mafia bosses and made them feel like little boys in the sand box
And I was applauding her 👏 ✌ 👏
At one point I really felt bad for Hoka
I had a feeling his final redemption would have to be something grand and it was
I could read the last 40% of this book over and over and never tire of the words and strength flowing
But the second part really made up for it and boosted it to be one of my favorite grovel book
In the hunt for a "good groveling book"
this one was suggested
It is a Japanese/Italian Mafia
Age gap (though I still don't think that 12 years is that huge age gap)
Misunderstanding
Betrayal
Dark Romance
Hoka (still can't get overtime name because it means something g else in Arabic) believes that Violet is his soul mate. But due to someone trying to sabotage their relationship, ends up hurting and humiliating her to get rid of her
Up until this point the story was boring, repetitive and unrealistic
And Voilet was being this mousy, clingy "am not like any other girl" type
And Hoka, for a Japanese Mafia boss was acting kinda immature
"I am the boss" "I do what I want"
A true Mafia boss does not walk around saying "I am the boss"
So up until 60% I was sure that I was going to DNF or give it a two or three stars
BUT THEN CAME THE change from ugly duckling to a swan moment
Violet became this heartbroken, fierce, don't-give-a shit-about-what-you-want lioness
She made Hoka the Mafia boss grovel literally on his knees crying
How low had I fallen? I went from this all-powerful, cold man to a kneeling, sobbing mess, crying on my mother’s skirt and yet I couldn’t stop.
And her speech, choice of words, and punch lines were a thing of both beauty and sadness to read
I’m tired of never being the first choice, tired of always being in pain, of things never getting better. I’m tired of fighting for a future that seems to be getting gloomier and gloomier.
She stood up to both Mafia bosses and made them feel like little boys in the sand box
And I was applauding her 👏 ✌ 👏
At one point I really felt bad for Hoka
I had a feeling his final redemption would have to be something grand and it was
I could read the last 40% of this book over and over and never tire of the words and strength flowing
June 22, 2023
Al principio, estaba interesada mientras leía los primeros capítulos. Sin embargo, después del secuestro de Violet por parte de Hoka, la historia me aburrió rápidamente. Pensé que la autora iba a aprovechar las circunstancias. Es demasiado cliché y los personajes son extremadamente unidimensionales. No soporto a las heroínas tontas y el personaje principal masculino es simplemente tóxico y ridículo. La progresión de la trama es pésima. Ella lo perdonó demasiado rápido, él debió arrastrarse más.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2022
I enjoyed this one it was a new author for me but they certainly managed to deliver. I’m partial to some mafia romance and I especially liked how this was not the usual and I’ve never read one that focuses on this particular organisation before. So this was The Yakuza which is the Japanese mafia and I definitely liked this unique aspect and it made this one stand out in a sea of mafia romances it just felt fresh.
It’s an age-gap romance Violet is twenty-one to Hoka’s thirty-four I think so not an immense gap. It’s initially quite insta Hoka Nishimura is the Oyabun which is the head of his family encounters Violet when she’s having the worst day ever. After rescuing her he finds himself charmed and drawn to her despite her being basically forbidden fruit. Hoka recognises Violet as his Ikigai which basically translates as his sole purpose for existence it’s an old Japanese story and concept that his mother taught him growing up and something that up until now he believed a myth.
But his presence in her life places her in direct danger and before she knows it Violet finds herself becoming further ensnared into Hoka’s murky world and when past and present collide Hoka makes a definite wrong call destroying any trust and affection Violet ever had in him and now betrayed by the man she thought loved her and had her back Violet is determined to never place herself back in that untenable position ever again.
So these two initially had so much working against them. Violet is literally an American and an outsider which was an instant black mark and though this did initially start out as quite instalove it then started to rapidly unravel with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. I liked that this then wasn’t glossed over in any way and that Hoka had to basically grovel big style to win back the affections and forgiveness of Violet and for sure she wasn’t going down without a fight she certainly made him work for it.
I especially Liked that Hoka wasn’t afraid to lay all of his emotions out there and fight tooth and nail for his redemption he knew how badly he had messed up and hated himself for it he was literally willing to do anything to prove his remorse and win back violets regard. This definitely focused more on the emotion and drama and less on the nitty-gritty of the mafia lifestyle. I actually appreciated this a lot as I felt we really got to see the man behind the mask getting to know the real Hoka.
So yeah I’m definitely not averse to reading more from this author and if you like this genre I’d recommend reading this I found it well written with plenty of interesting Japanese culture oodles of hot chemistry and one epic grovel. (Got to love a good grovel).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/63435390
August 27, 2022
I loved when h didn’t immediately forgive H after little bit groveling!
November 13, 2022
4.5 stars
This is my first RGA book, and it probably will not be my last. What an emotional rollercoaster! This year's reads has proven to me that I am a big fan of Yakuza romances, and so this book was a matter of course, esp. after all the positive recommendations I saw on FB. And to top it all, her crisp and excellent writing style, and her amazing plotting skills made this book a top read. I swear that I spent a good part of the book, esp. the last half, with messy tears in my eyes and my heart hanging by a thread.
Immediately, in the very first chapters, I knew that it was going to be a five stars romance: not only were these chapters fantastic and addictive, but RGA had me at Koi No Yokan and the Red String of Fate, those concepts have always resonated deeply in romantic little me. Was it insta-love? Technically yes, but more than that it all came down to fate striking hard, a deep, irrepressible soul connection entrenched in Asian folk. So yes, I am a total goner for those stories.
So much love, and so much pain in this novel! A very dangerous cocktail for tear prone readers like myself. RGA has a real talent in fleshing out her characters and makes you feel their angst. Hoka was such a wonderful H. I think he is the first real J/P hero who I actually believed in, and soaked up totally into his good and bad sides. Yes, he f*cked up royally with Violet because he did not stop to question before condemning. And he was cruel to her even if I could see how he was agonising over it. But I was totally prepared to forgive him even without a grovel because his chapters were so powerful in emotions and regrets. But he did grovel, long, well and realistically. And satisfactorily. His mindset and his deep anguish were shown naked as he oscillated between hope and despair to be redeemed in Violet's eyes. He was too cocky at times but it fit his personality, and in the end, he was courageous enough to let her go and only hold on to hope that she will come back. And the nagging question: would Hoka have chased after her despite everything if Jiro had not shown him the video? It is uncertain but probably (and it would have been great if the book had hinted harder at this). But it is clear that Hoka deeply regrets all his mistakes and will never, ever hurt Violet again. I am glad that it became a certainty for Violet.
And Violet was an extraordinary h: brave, resilient, strong, smart in the face of all injustices thrown her way. She held her ground to Hoka and her brother like a champion. Although I wanted her to forgive Hoka, I got her point of view and I am glad that she held on firm onto her self-preservation instincts and was not afraid to voice out ugly truths right in the faces of everyone who hurt her. It was heartbreaking to see her pain, but at the same time, cathartic to see her stand up for herself.
Despite some uneveness in the writing in a couple of places and some OTT plot elements (the base salary, the party dress), the plot was very rich, with many layers and honest, raw emotions to it. And the shining part of RGA's talent was undoubtedly the many well construed dialogues between characters. These were a real pleasure to read. Sex scenes were few but steamy af 🥵!
💯 recommended, a must-read - but prepare to hurt (the good way) and love hard along with the leads.
P.S. Future books?: Jiro, Oda?
P.S.2 The beautiful cover suits so well!
P.S.3 I don't know how realistic the Yakuza representation in this book was, but it felt real enough, with the right atmosphere being inspired from the skillful pen of RGA. It feels that she did decent, respectful research. On a separate but related note, I cannot recommend Tokyo Vice as a Tv show enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
3rd reread. I didn’t even mean to. I just wanted to reread a scene and just couldn’t stop and read it again. I absolutely love this book. The heart break is epic. The grovel is the BESTTTT. I’m about to reread the rest of the books now too. They’re all just so fabulous
Hoka--- our sweet, lovable, soul mate Hoka.... <3333333
I loved this guy man... he made some mistakes... but he was such a cinnamon bun who believed in fate and karma.. and that did it for me....
Hoka--- our sweet, lovable, soul mate Hoka.... <3333333
I loved this guy man... he made some mistakes... but he was such a cinnamon bun who believed in fate and karma.. and that did it for me....
May 19, 2022
Shoutout to Lilly for watching 365 days with me over FaceTime Jesus knows I couldn’t watch
“ are u lost baby girl” by my self
then messaging me abt this book a few days ago love u lots bby
Despite me hating on it ty for the headache 💋💋
This book
Made me realize, I appreciate Cora Reilly and the godly work she does that feeds the mafia frenzie everyone including myself want to read about.
Plot + characters = %0
This was actually the fist Japanese mafia I ever picked up you don’t really see a lot outside of Italian/Russian mafia
My preference is reading the “Russian side ” 😪 🤟
But even Ik that “most” authors when looking up for culture don’t really do a lot of research or they do enough too get the “vibes” so when they put any of the languages it’s most often butchered.
“Sophie lark”- “Danielle Lori” tho 😽 👏 👑
This book also made me realize that I absolutely can not stand in fact will not stand for a soft hearted cinnamon roll of a mob boss……… …….. ……..
The way this man acted like a preteen with a crush blushing / getting nervous and completely bending at the heroines every whim, then talking abt how he’s so feared and no one messes with him……….. boo what?? You where ready to risk it all 16 hours after meeting her.
I can’t really say much about the heroine she was that bland for me I actually prefer the sweet/dumb vibe in mafia heroines but Humpty Dumpty girl here cried sm and felt sorry for her self that was her only personality traits.
Think I’m being dramatic?
She gets fired from her dream job and goes back to a job she hates on the wrong side of town so the hero gets her dream job back for by making the people at the job call her up and tell her to come back with a pay raise and everything…
What does she do.
“ she cries thinking no it can’t be cuz she has the worse luck and if they fire her again for no reason the guy at her old job told her he won’t hire again so she can’t accept the offer in case they might fire her again ” …
Okay 1 it wouldn’t matter both jobs are both a onetime offer for you so wouldn’t you take a chance on the better paying job that’s telling you to come back??
2 and even if they did fire you again your only working as a bartender waitress…. That’s not like .. a hard job to find somewhere els hun.
All in all this book made me appreciate what the OG Cora Reilly can always do for me when I’m in the mood to read mafia.
“ are u lost baby girl” by my self
then messaging me abt this book a few days ago love u lots bby
Despite me hating on it ty for the headache 💋💋
This book
Made me realize, I appreciate Cora Reilly and the godly work she does that feeds the mafia frenzie everyone including myself want to read about.
Plot + characters = %0
This was actually the fist Japanese mafia I ever picked up you don’t really see a lot outside of Italian/Russian mafia
My preference is reading the “Russian side ” 😪 🤟
But even Ik that “most” authors when looking up for culture don’t really do a lot of research or they do enough too get the “vibes” so when they put any of the languages it’s most often butchered.
“Sophie lark”- “Danielle Lori” tho 😽 👏 👑
This book also made me realize that I absolutely can not stand in fact will not stand for a soft hearted cinnamon roll of a mob boss……… …….. ……..
The way this man acted like a preteen with a crush blushing / getting nervous and completely bending at the heroines every whim, then talking abt how he’s so feared and no one messes with him……….. boo what?? You where ready to risk it all 16 hours after meeting her.
I can’t really say much about the heroine she was that bland for me I actually prefer the sweet/dumb vibe in mafia heroines but Humpty Dumpty girl here cried sm and felt sorry for her self that was her only personality traits.
Think I’m being dramatic?
She gets fired from her dream job and goes back to a job she hates on the wrong side of town so the hero gets her dream job back for by making the people at the job call her up and tell her to come back with a pay raise and everything…
What does she do.
“ she cries thinking no it can’t be cuz she has the worse luck and if they fire her again for no reason the guy at her old job told her he won’t hire again so she can’t accept the offer in case they might fire her again ” …
Okay 1 it wouldn’t matter both jobs are both a onetime offer for you so wouldn’t you take a chance on the better paying job that’s telling you to come back??
2 and even if they did fire you again your only working as a bartender waitress…. That’s not like .. a hard job to find somewhere els hun.
All in all this book made me appreciate what the OG Cora Reilly can always do for me when I’m in the mood to read mafia.
May 14, 2022
This is the first book I have read by R. G. Angel and I will definitely be reading the others.
Victoria and Hoka meet by accident and this is the beginning of a heart pulling but amazing relationship until outside forces drive them apart.
This couple fell quickly into a passionate and wonderful relationship. It is fast and immediate, each of them surprised with how compatible they are considering they are from two different worlds. Victoria has had a rough life and on the day this couple meet she is enduring more devastation and upset. Hoka on the other hand is the leader of the yakuza, an organized crime syndicate.
This story was blissfully remarkable in the immediate attraction and devastatingly cruel in its crisis but it was so well written I was hooked from the beginning.
Victoria and Hoka meet by accident and this is the beginning of a heart pulling but amazing relationship until outside forces drive them apart.
This couple fell quickly into a passionate and wonderful relationship. It is fast and immediate, each of them surprised with how compatible they are considering they are from two different worlds. Victoria has had a rough life and on the day this couple meet she is enduring more devastation and upset. Hoka on the other hand is the leader of the yakuza, an organized crime syndicate.
This story was blissfully remarkable in the immediate attraction and devastatingly cruel in its crisis but it was so well written I was hooked from the beginning.
January 18, 2024
Story had absolutely no depth, the character fell in love in 0.002 seconds of meeting each other 😀there wasn’t anything to look forward to the book
Finally when Hoka misunderstands thinking Violet betrayed him meanwhile home girl was innocent as heck and pregnant as well 💀 this is the only part where the book got interesting if I gotta be honest
He humiliates her, kisses another women in front of her, points a gun to her head( in which she proceeds to piss her pants at this and he humiliates her for that as well), and makes fun of her for falling in love with him saying that he loves someone and it ain’t her broke ass 🫢talk about overkill u might as well just shoot her
She leaves finally gets back to her usual self gets a job to support her and her future baby. Then boom!!! She gets a miscarriage ☹️☹️just when she thinks that things are starting to look up sigh the author truly wasn’t pulling any punch’s she wanted Violet to suffer
Anywayyyys he finds the truth hunts her down, see now this is the part where I expect an apology be on the kneels grovelling but nope instead he kidnaps her 🤦♀️
Where was the grovel there was too much telling and no showing we barely see what he tried to do to make it up to her. He doesn’t let her leave and just overall annoys her with his presence. The last few parts I finally thought he’s gonna do good cause he let her leave but some dumbass enemies cause him to get hurt and she just ran back to him cause she felt bad 😐 like huhhhh excuse u make him wait and grovel
Byeee off to my next read🏃♀️
Finally when Hoka misunderstands thinking Violet betrayed him meanwhile home girl was innocent as heck and pregnant as well 💀 this is the only part where the book got interesting if I gotta be honest
He humiliates her, kisses another women in front of her, points a gun to her head( in which she proceeds to piss her pants at this and he humiliates her for that as well), and makes fun of her for falling in love with him saying that he loves someone and it ain’t her broke ass 🫢talk about overkill u might as well just shoot her
She leaves finally gets back to her usual self gets a job to support her and her future baby. Then boom!!! She gets a miscarriage ☹️☹️just when she thinks that things are starting to look up sigh the author truly wasn’t pulling any punch’s she wanted Violet to suffer
Anywayyyys he finds the truth hunts her down, see now this is the part where I expect an apology be on the kneels grovelling but nope instead he kidnaps her 🤦♀️
Where was the grovel there was too much telling and no showing we barely see what he tried to do to make it up to her. He doesn’t let her leave and just overall annoys her with his presence. The last few parts I finally thought he’s gonna do good cause he let her leave but some dumbass enemies cause him to get hurt and she just ran back to him cause she felt bad 😐 like huhhhh excuse u make him wait and grovel
Byeee off to my next read🏃♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
You guys have no idea how obsessed I am with this book! But let me tell you that my obsession for this book has been such a surprise even for me.
I loveeeee a good mafia/organised crime romance, be it the mafia, the cartel or the Bratva but I do believe this is my first Japanese Organised romance. I am swooning so hard over this book. Add into it the whole age-gap trope..I am a goner!
Hoka and Violet’s story is everything I didn’t know I needed.
I loveeeee a good mafia/organised crime romance, be it the mafia, the cartel or the Bratva but I do believe this is my first Japanese Organised romance. I am swooning so hard over this book. Add into it the whole age-gap trope..I am a goner!
Hoka and Violet’s story is everything I didn’t know I needed.
June 2, 2022
Trigger warning will be down below but may contain plot spoilers so be advised.
I think I need to buy hello kitty Band-Aids in case I come upon a rich Mafiso who has a cut that's bleeding. 😂
So this left me feeling a little meh because I wanted more Hoka in his Mafia aspect we were told things instead of shown i wanted to see him in action being a Mafiso. I had moments were i liked this book then moments were things just felt off like i would lose the connection with the characters and the story, i did love a lot the mention of the Japanese culture all the references. I did like the fairytale fast pace part of the romance. Who wouldn't want to get romanced by a rich scary dude.
TW: miscarriage
ARC provided for free in exchange for a honest review all opinions are my own.
I think I need to buy hello kitty Band-Aids in case I come upon a rich Mafiso who has a cut that's bleeding. 😂
So this left me feeling a little meh because I wanted more Hoka in his Mafia aspect we were told things instead of shown i wanted to see him in action being a Mafiso. I had moments were i liked this book then moments were things just felt off like i would lose the connection with the characters and the story, i did love a lot the mention of the Japanese culture all the references. I did like the fairytale fast pace part of the romance. Who wouldn't want to get romanced by a rich scary dude.
TW: miscarriage
ARC provided for free in exchange for a honest review all opinions are my own.
May 26, 2022
This book is unexpectedly good! Love the characterization chiefly of our Hero, being a Japanese mafia boss and an American heroine. You can truly tell that the author researched Japanese history/culture 🤩.
November 29, 2023
Cuál es la necesidad de poner secuestros en libros de romance??
Nunca voy a perdonar a Hoka por lo que le hizo a violet, Maldito imbécil, que putas le costaba preguntarle, para ser el jefe de la mafia tiene el cerebro de tamaño de un frijol. Incluso si le hubieran pegado mil tiros no le hubiera derramado una lagrima.
Me he arrastrado más por salvar una materia que Hoka por el perdón de violet.
1.5
Nunca voy a perdonar a Hoka por lo que le hizo a violet, Maldito imbécil, que putas le costaba preguntarle, para ser el jefe de la mafia tiene el cerebro de tamaño de un frijol. Incluso si le hubieran pegado mil tiros no le hubiera derramado una lagrima.
Me he arrastrado más por salvar una materia que Hoka por el perdón de violet.
1.5
April 6, 2023
It was so unexpectedly different to read about the Japanese mafia, usually, they are only Italian, American, or Irish.
My first book by this author and definitely not the last.
My first book by this author and definitely not the last.
May 18, 2023
3.5✨
Mafia romances still aren’t for me, but this one was pretty good. Only mafia romance I’ve read and enjoyed.
If Jiro ever gets a book I’ll probably read it.
Mafia romances still aren’t for me, but this one was pretty good. Only mafia romance I’ve read and enjoyed.
If Jiro ever gets a book I’ll probably read it.
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March 27, 2023
Rating: 2.5*
Genre: dark romance
Tropes: japanese mafia, virgin heroine, insta-love/lust, dirt-poor girl meets rich dude, some Cinderella elements, surprise pregnanvy, hero grovelling for being an idiot
TWs: cheating, miscarriage, depression/dark thoughts, attempted murder
As far as mafia romances go, this was pretty average but fairly entertaining. And I surprise even myself in saying that cause the main tropes are a pet peeve for me: virgin heroine for 21 years giving it up for the hero almost immediately + insta-love.
You know, I get now why insta-love is so used in mafia stories... it's hard to imagine a scenario where a ruthless criminal can turn into a puppy dog in a short while. It must be insta-love cause no self-respecting heroine would wait for a month for the hero to become all gentle and caring. Lighting strike it is but I still don't like it.
The first part of the book is about Hoka (japanese mob boss) and Violet having their meet cute, him almost running her over with his car as she was running from her cheating boyfriend, him taking care of her in an out-of-character move, taking her on a date and, when her life is treatened, moving her into his house... all this in a few days. So in about a week, they have sex and a few days after that they profess their undying love for each other.
All is well until Hoka gets some proof that Violet is a two time traitor so he casts her out in two minutes flat... so much for undying love and trust.
Let me tell you, Violet all submissive and sweet in the beginning is annoying as shit. But Violet after tragedy strikes is amazing. I liked her "f* you" attitude towards Hoka and he trully deserved it. Too bad love wins in the end! Just kidding! 😅
Genre: dark romance
Tropes: japanese mafia, virgin heroine, insta-love/lust, dirt-poor girl meets rich dude, some Cinderella elements, surprise pregnanvy, hero grovelling for being an idiot
TWs: cheating, miscarriage, depression/dark thoughts, attempted murder
As far as mafia romances go, this was pretty average but fairly entertaining. And I surprise even myself in saying that cause the main tropes are a pet peeve for me: virgin heroine for 21 years giving it up for the hero almost immediately + insta-love.
You know, I get now why insta-love is so used in mafia stories... it's hard to imagine a scenario where a ruthless criminal can turn into a puppy dog in a short while. It must be insta-love cause no self-respecting heroine would wait for a month for the hero to become all gentle and caring. Lighting strike it is but I still don't like it.
The first part of the book is about Hoka (japanese mob boss) and Violet having their meet cute, him almost running her over with his car as she was running from her cheating boyfriend, him taking care of her in an out-of-character move, taking her on a date and, when her life is treatened, moving her into his house... all this in a few days. So in about a week, they have sex and a few days after that they profess their undying love for each other.
All is well until Hoka gets some proof that Violet is a two time traitor so he casts her out in two minutes flat... so much for undying love and trust.
Let me tell you, Violet all submissive and sweet in the beginning is annoying as shit. But Violet after tragedy strikes is amazing. I liked her "f* you" attitude towards Hoka and he trully deserved it. Too bad love wins in the end! Just kidding! 😅
did-not-finish
May 17, 2022Men all Japanese
H thinks the h is a traitor and betrayed him. He humiliates her, scares her and pulls a gun out on her to force her to leave his home.
He has his friend pretend to be his new lover and they come into the house just as she is coming down the stairs. He berates and belittles her and then he pulls a gun out on her and she’s so terrified that she pees her pants. Which causes him to laugh at her. He’s heartbroken and ashamed of himself that he did that to her after he knows the truth. His grovel is probably that last 25% of the book.
When he finds out she didn’t do it he has to really grovel because when she left she was pregnant but lost the baby a few weeks later.
Drama at 60%
H thinks the h is a traitor and betrayed him. He humiliates her, scares her and pulls a gun out on her to force her to leave his home.
He has his friend pretend to be his new lover and they come into the house just as she is coming down the stairs. He berates and belittles her and then he pulls a gun out on her and she’s so terrified that she pees her pants. Which causes him to laugh at her. He’s heartbroken and ashamed of himself that he did that to her after he knows the truth. His grovel is probably that last 25% of the book.
When he finds out she didn’t do it he has to really grovel because when she left she was pregnant but lost the baby a few weeks later.
Drama at 60%
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
i saw this recommended in a group because they said this has the best grovel. and while indeed i agree thats it’s better than most grovel books ive read i wished it was longer, he got off wayy too easily. i need writers to understand that groveling has to be a whole arc especially if its bad as what he did to her.
i do appreciate that his grovel last more than half of the books that has cheating in it so i guess that’s something.
im definitely reading more of this writer books since i really enjoyed her writing.
i do appreciate that his grovel last more than half of the books that has cheating in it so i guess that’s something.
im definitely reading more of this writer books since i really enjoyed her writing.
May 20, 2022
I absolutely love this authors writing! This was so good it’s exciting captivating addictive and gave me all the feels! Violet meets Hoka on the worst day of her life and he is probably the best thing about that day their attraction to each other is instant they are the most unlikely pair but their chemistry is everything and these two are just made for each other! This was a wild ride full of drama and steam and I loved it definitely recommend and I can’t wait for the next book!
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