Twisted Emotions: Review
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Summary
Nino Falcone is 2nd to the Capo of the Camorra and self-proclaimed sociopath - he claims to have no emotions. In fact, his friends and family get annoyed with him frequently because he comes up with reasonable and logical solutions to problems that most of them get really emotional about. He also happens to be one of the fiercest fighters to exist in the mafia underworld. He has been cage fighting for his whole life and feels no remorse killing and torturing others.
When push comes to shove and the Camorra and Famiglia are at a crossroads, Nino proposes a marriage between the families to increase trade and peace across the mid-west and eastern parts of the United States. The Camorra and Famiglia leads decide that Nino Falcone and Kiara Vitiello are the eligible respective family members for the marriage.
Kiara, at the ripe ol' age of 19, is scared shitless. She is the only child to survive her parents. Her father was brutally murdered by the head of the Famiglia for being a traitor, and her mother was killed incidentally as well. Kiara was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, who resented her because of her traitorous father. In fact, a different uncle brutally raped her at age 13 several times as punishment for being related to her traitorous father.
Kiara and Nino navigate their arranged marriage in an unexpectedly heartwarming story. Nino quickly deduces that Kiara is a victim of rape and teams up with his brothers to publicly humiliate and murder the rapist in her honor. He is also extremely patient with her, slowly working to earn her trust. She, in turn, reveals to Nino that perhaps he's not as cold-hearted as he thought.
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Nino Falcone
YOOOO not gonna lie Nino reminds me a whole lot of my HUSBAND!! I'm convinced that, in another life, Nino Falcone makes an excellent mafia attorney. Not only is he logical and clever, but he uses it to rationalize his "simulated" emotions. For example: He understands that Kiara has a traumatic history and that, in order for her to trust him, he has no choice but to adjust his behavior to make her comfortable around him. It's just how people work!! and I LOVE THAT FOR THEM.
"I can cuff one of my hands to the headboard. What do you say? That would give you a sense of safety, don't you think?"
There is probably no better match for a person with sexual trauma than a logical, level-headed human being who can think through the consequences of their actions before they even do anything.
Kiara Vitiello/Falcone
I have had the privilege of not undergoing the trauma that Kiara went through so I don't understand her extreme fear and flinchiness.
I do think that, for someone who experienced brutal sexual trauma caused by a male, for her to be suddenly thrust into a home filled with sex-driven, aggressive men is probably fucking terrifying. I mean Nino, Remo, and the other men living in this house are I N S A T I A B L E. Luckily they don't Kiara catch wind of their sexual needs or activities.
All things considered, I'm impressed with how Kiara worked with Nino to grow their relationship and make the best out of a shitty situation. Super extra double bonus for Nino and Kiara for boosting her confidence and encouraging her to step out of the shadow of shame into the spotlight, commanding respect from her family that previously hated her (for things she never even did).
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Who I would recommend this book for:
Anyone who can stomach depictions of child rape, molestation
Anyone who can stomach a child becoming an orphan and entering foster care
People who are okay with spousal infidelity when it is mutually agreed-upon
Mostly, if you are into mafia stories and can follow the intricacies that can come with it, this is the book for you. I was a little overwhelmed by the mafia plotlines. It got a little complicated for my tiny, smooth brain. But if you can't follow the plot lines, the romance is still superb.
Despite the dark, twisty beginnings of Kiara and Nino, their love story ended up being one of the most heartwarming stories I've read in a while. Maybe because I can relate to a history of sexual trauma, but having a partner who listens, understands, is hypervigilant and overly communicative is a great match. A partner like that helps you heal from your past.
But also...makes for a BANGIN sex life. Kiara and Nino explore a lot for Kiaras' psyche's sake but also for pleasure 😛
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Twisted Cravings by Cora Reilly {Book Review}
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GENRES: Romance, Contemporary, Dark, New Adult, Adult, Mystery, Fiction
rating: ⭐️⭐️ out of 5 Stars
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As the youngest brother of the notorious Falcone clan, Adamo grew up surrounded by blood and violence. Drugs soon became his way of coping.
Becoming a Made Man like his brothers was his destiny but never his passion. When he becomes the organizer of his family’s successful illegal street races and one of their thrill-seeking drivers, he finally asserts his own path in the harsh mafia world.
His purpose isn’t the only thing Adamo discovers on the fuel-soaked roads he calls home…
Dinara Mikhailov is the only female race driver and hard to ignore. Not only because of her flaming red hair and ruthless driving style, but also because the Bratva princess is allowed to drive in enemy territory.
Soon Adamo and she find themselves entangled in a passionate game that goes beyond the race track. Yet, both haunted by events in the past, their dark cravings put everything on the line.
As what they crave the most, comes with a brutal price.
(From Goodreads)
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I didn't like this book!
It had its strong points, one of them being the plot twist which was freaking amazing! and the few family scenes but that was it for this book.
I'm honestly sick of Adamo's bullshit!
I really loved Adamo in the first few books! and was looking forward to when he will have his book, but, in the last two books, he started to get on my nerves with his rebellion phase.
I was on his side in the beginning but, his continued butting head with Remo is frustrating TBH!
and this book was the cherry on top! Adamo actually says in this book that his problem with Remo is because he sees himself easily becoming like him. How he atually is fascinated with the Torture and what Remo does, and if he lets himself he is going to enjoy it!
Wait, what? you want to tell me that Adamo butted his head with Remo because he can see himself becoming like Remo and enjoying it but at the same time doesn't want to, so he was acting like he was disgusted!
that when he killed for the first time, his torment because he didn't feel guilty not because he was actually guilty?!!
YOU WANT TO TELL ME THAT THE BABY I WANTED TO BE PROTECTED IN ALL THOSE BOOKS WAS JUST AN ACT?!!
you dear author destroyed his character for me, if you made it as if he went through Dinara's plan because it was the right thing to do, you would've made him a hero. but no you needed to kill his innocent image to make him a blood-thirsty killer!
I don't hate Dinara, she just didn't click with me!
this book except for the little excitement about the plot twist was boring! I just wanted to get finished with it.
the romance didn't move me at all, and I wasn't invented into it!
I'm sad to say this was the worst book of all the other Cora Reilly books I've read!
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