Review: Bound by Temptation by Cora Reilly

Bound by Temptation (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #4) 

Penulis: Cora Reilly
Penerbit: Smashwords Edition
Terbit pertama kali: 26 Agustus 2015
Format: E-book
Bahasa: English  
Genre: romance-suspense, contemporary, arranged marriage, mafia 
Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

Liliana Scuderi has been in love with Romero from the moment she first saw him. After her sisters were married off for tactical reasons, she hopes she might be allowed to choose a husband for herself, but when her father promises her to a man more than twice her age that hope is crushed. No begging can make him change his mind.

Romero has always ignored Lily’s flirting. Her age and status made her off-limits but even someone as dutiful as him has only so much control. Wanting her when she’s supposed to marry another man could mean war between New York and the Chicago Outfit, and Romero has always put the Cosa Nostra first.

Lily suspects her sisters and Romero would risk everything for her, but is her happiness worth that much? Is love worth a war between the Cosa Nostra and the Outfit?

My Review

"He'd seemed safe, like there was no way he could possibly hurt me no matter the provocation." 

Siapa yang tidak menyukai kisah cinta monyet yang kemudian menjadi kenyataan? 

Lily yang naksir Romero sejak dia berusia 14 tahun, memerlukan perjuangan panjang. Romero yang merupakan soldier yang loyal, sopan, dan benar-benar profesional beberapa menolak Lily dan membuatnya patah hati. 

Sampai kemudian dua tahun yang memisahkan mereka. Lily tidak lagi diijinkan berkunjung ke New York setelah insiden pelarian Giana sampai pesta natal di usianya yang hampir 18 tahun (usia pernikahan bagi mereka). Di perta natal itu lah dia bertemu lagi dengan Romero. 

"I remember the way Romero had looked at me at our Christmas party. as if he saw me for the first time, really saw me as a woman and not just a stupid child." -Lily

"She wasn't the little girl I'd first met. She was a woman in marriageable age now.." -Romero

Tiga bulan yang merubah segalanya... 

Setelah kematian ibunya, Lily diijinkan untuk tinggal bersama saudaranya di New York. Tentu saja Lily tidak menyia-nyiakan kesempatan itu, selain dapat sering bersama Aria dan Giana dapat bonus juga dengan sering-sering bertemu Romero. Tiga bulan yang berawal dengan penolakan.. sampai kemudian Lily menyelinap ke kamar Romero dan berlanjutlah acara backstreet mereka. 

Mereka benar-benar adorable. Beberapa kali dibuat deg-degan dengan Lily yang menyelinap ke kamar Romero setiap malam. Made out session dari yang ringan sampai keputusan besar yang mereka pilih.. 

Kisah cinta mereka yang terlarang antara putri seorang Consigliere dengan seorang soldier biasa. Mereka tidak bersatu karena ayah Lily tidak merestui dan justru menjodohkan Lily dengan Kapten Benito yang lebih cocok jadi ayahnya. Sebagai ganti dari Consigliere menikah dengan Maria -putri Benito. 

You know, I really wish that her Father be the dead one. But I'll never complain who'd be dead. 

Review: Bound by Hatred by Cora Reilly

Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3) 

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Release: 28 April 2015
Format: E-book
Tebal: 196 halaman 
Bahasa: English  
Genre: romance-suspense, contemporary, arranged marriage, mafia 
Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis from Goodreads

When Gianna watched her sister Aria getting married to a man she barely knew, she promised herself she wouldn’t let the same thing happen to her. 

Matteo – The Blade – Vitiello set his eyes on Gianna the moment he saw her on his brother Luca’s wedding, and Rocco Scuderi is more than willing to give his daughter to him, but Gianna has no intention of marrying for any other reason than love. A few months before the wedding, Gianna escapes her bodyguards and runs away. She has enough money to flee to Europe and begin a new life. But staying undetected when the mob is searching for her is a challenge that takes everything, especially as one of their best hunters and assassins is after her: Matteo Vitiello. 

After six months on the run, Gianna finally settles into a tentative routine in Munich, but then Matteo and a couple of her father’s soldiers find her with another man. 

Despite her pleads they kill her boyfriend, and Gianna is forced to marry Matteo. Her emotions alternating between guilt over having dragged an innocent into her world and hatred toward Matteo, Gianna is determined to make life hell for her husband. But Matteo is a master at mind games and their struggle for power soon turns into hate-fueled nights of passion. 

My Review

"God, no wonder Father didn't want us to be around men. Now that I knew how good kissing felt, I never wanted to stop doing it."  - Gianna

Matteo and Giana's relationship is so hilarious. Dari pertama ketemu saja sudah seperti kucing dan anjing. Saling cakar dan menggoda. Matteo seperti bad-boy yang suka menggoda dan sedangkan Giana seorang tsundere (if you know what I mean :D). 

Tapi seiring berjalannya cerita Giana makin menyebalkan. Gengsinya setinggi skyscrapper. Pengen aku jitak saja rasanya saking gemesnya. Dibalik sikap menyebalkannya sebenarnya Giana itu hatinya lembut, tidak bisa melihat darah alias fobia, sayang banget sama kakak dan adik-adiknya. 

Matteo, well, I don't know but.. I like all hero in this series (Luca, Dante, and Matteo) they always protective of their women. 

Overall, cerita romance mereka kayak anak SMA yang dikemas dalam kehidupan mafia penuh darah. Tetep saja kalau bukan Matteo yang jadi hero dan Giana jadi heroinnya, ceritanya gak akan roller coster seperti ini :D 

"I want to pull him closer and push him away at the same time, wanted to hide and open up to him, wanted and not wanted." - Gianna

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #2) by Cora Reilly

Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #2) 

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Penerbit: Smashwords Edition 
Release: 9 Februari 2015 
Format: E-book
Bahasa: English 
Genre: romance-suspense, contemporary, arranged-marriage, mafia 
Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

Dante – The Boss – Cavallaro’s wife died four years ago. On the verge of becoming the youngest head in the history of the Chicago mafia, Dante needs a new wife and Valentina was chosen for the role.

Valentina lost her husband, too, but her first marriage had always been for show. When she was eighteen, she agreed to marry Antonio in order to hide the truth: that he was gay and in love with an outsider. Even after his death, she kept his secret, not only to preserve the honor of a dead man, but also to protect herself. But now that she’s about to marry Dante, her castle of lies threatens to crash. Dante is only thirty-six but already feared and respected in the Familia, and he’s notorious for always getting what he wants. Valentina is terrified of the wedding night that might reveal her secret, but her worries prove unfounded when Dante shows her the cold shoulder. Soon her fear is replaced by confusion and indignation. Valentina is tired of being ignored. She’s determined to get Dante’s attention and desire, even if she can’t get his heart that still belongs to his dead wife.

My Review 

"So I'm not just going to manage a casino, I'll also be a bordello queen." 

I like Valentina, she's strong and independent. 

Sama seperti novel sebelumnya, aku suka cerita novel ini yang tidak terlalu banyak drama. Dante meskipun sering dingin dan menyebalkan ke Valentina tapi dia sangat toleran dan loyal banget ke Valentina. 

I hate their first night part. My heart breaks for Valentina. She deserves better that just cold-treatment from Dante. 

buuuut, he always protects his wife. Or maybe you could say, protective husband.

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1) by Cora Reilly

 

Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1)

Penulis: Cora Reilly 
Penerbit: Smashwords
Release: 14 Desember 2014 
Format: E-book
Tebal: 323 halaman 
Bahasa: English
Genre: romance, contemporary, suspense, mafia, arranged-marriage
Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads 

Born into one of the leading Mob families in Chicago, Aria Scuderi struggles to find her own path in a world where no choices are given. Aria was only fifteen when her parents betrothed her to Luca – The Vice – Vitiello, the oldest son of the head of the New York Cosa Nostra to ensure peace between the two families. 

Now at eighteen, the day Aria has been dreading for years is looming dangerously: her wedding to Luca. 

Aria is terrified of marrying a man she hardly knows, especially someone like Luca who got his nickname ‘the Vice’ for crushing a man’s throat with his bare hands. Luca might be one of the most sought after men in New York thanks to his good looks, wealth and predator-like charisma that radiates power, but the society girls throwing themselves at him don’t know what Aria does: that the bad boy aura isn’t just a game; blood and death lurk beneath Luca’s striking gray eyes and arrogant smile.

In her world a handsome exterior often hides the monster within; a monster who can just as easily kill as kiss you.

The only way to escape the marriage to Luca would be to run away and leave everything she’s ever known behind but Aria can’t bear the thought of never seeing her family again. 

Despite her fear, she decides to go through with the marriage; Aria has grown up among predators like Luca and knows that even most cold-hearted bastards have a heart and she has every intention of working her way into Luca’s.

My Review

Aku gak nyangka bakal suka dengan kisah Luca dan Aria. Awalnya aku mengira kalau ini sama saja seperti novel perjodohan antara hot-soon-to-be-leader-mafia dengan gadis yang hampir sederajat dengannya. Yah, paling laki-lakinya yang playboy atau dingin dan tidak peduli dengan istrinya gitu. 

Tapi aku keliru. Damn, Luca bisa sangat sweet dan pengertian dan lembut ke Aria meskipun kadang he's a jerk. :D 

Kemudian Aria, yang seperti gadis 18 tahun pada umumnya.. masih muda man untuk nikah umur segitu. Tapi Aria sabar dan sangat penurut (ini tipe istri para dominan :D). Dan dia bisa berpikiran sangat dewasa, *spoiler* misalnya saja waktu dia memergoki Luca dengan Grace di apartemen. *spoiler* Seriously, I really hate Luca at the moment! 

Aria memang sempat kabur, tapi setelah kepalanya agak dingin dia memutuskan kembali ke penthouse. See? She's not TSTL!! Fighting Aria!! 

“Just because I'm wearing revealing clothes doesn't mean 

I'm inviting them to look.” -Aria

Aria dengan santainya bilang seperti itu ketika dia dan Luca latihan martial art di salah satu gym-private-nya mereka, dan waktu itu di sana banyak soldier yang sedang latihan. Kemudian keluarlah sisi posesif dan protektifnya Luca.    

I love them together. They made a sweet couple. 

Series ini, khususnya novel ini recommended banget buat yang suka romance dengan suspense berbumbu mafia dan perjodohan. Paket lengkap deh.

“Maybe love is a risk, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take and as you said, it’s not a choice. I never thought I would, never thought I could love someone like that but I fell in love with you. I fought it. It’s the first battle I didn’t mind losing.”  -Luca

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Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles series: 
1. Bound by Honor (Luca dan Aria) 
2. Bound by Duty (Dante dan Valentina) 
3. Bound by Hatred (Matteo dan Gianna)
4. Bound by Temptation (Romero dan Lily) 

Review: Bellamore A Beautiful Love To Remember by Karla M. Nashar

Bellamore A Beautiful Love To Remember 

Penulis: Karla M. Nashar 
Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama 
Release: 2007 
Format: Paperback 
Tebal: 264 halaman 
Bahasa: Indonesia 
Genre: metropop, romance, contemporary 
Rating: 3,5 of 5 stars 

Sinopsis dari Goodreads

"But  what do you do if you get horny?" 

Demi Zeus dan para dewa Yunani lainnya!!! What is it with this man?!!!
Pria dihadapanku ini, yang kukenal belum sampai sebulan, bukan pacarku, bukan sahabatku, tidak juga punya hubungan darah apapun denganku, hanya rekan bisnis, tapi ingin tahu apa yang kulakukan jika libidoku sedang naik?!?!?!
He's got to be kidding me!!!!

Awalnya nama Fabian Ferdinandi bagiku sama artinya dengan kejengkelan tak berujung. Pria Italia itu sangat tahu bagaimana membuat seluruh syarafku menegang cepat dan membuat setiap percakapan kami berakhir dengan kemarahan dipihakku. Namun yang paling menyebalkan adalah, Fabian sangat tahu bagaimana membuatku tampak seperti alien karena usiaku yang sudah 27 tahun ini, aku memutuskan untuk tetap mempertahankan VIRGINITY-ku.Sesuatu yang menurutnya sangat absurd untuk wanita seperti aku.

Setidaknya begitulah. Sampai akhirnya waktu memisahkan dan mempertemukan kami lagi pada suatu pagi yang beku di Time Square. Namun seiring musim berganti di New York, aku pun harus menghadapi kenyataan mengejutkan tentang Fabian. Dan perasaanku sendiri terhadapnya.

My Review 

“Some things better left unspoken” 

Awal cerita yang ringan, menggugah, dan penuh humor. Lana seorang wanita karir yang baru saja single, karena baru saja putus dari pacarnya Tristan dengan alasan Lana memegang prinsipnya, 'sex after married'. Kemudian Fabian, laki-laki Itali yang menjadi perwakilan dari perusahannya di Itali yang bekerja sama dengan perusahan tempat Lana. 

Singkat cerita Fabian yang tahu kalau tentang Lana pun tak pernah bisa mengerti bagaimana bisa ada wanita yang sudah menginjak 27 tahun dan masih virgin, yang berakibat Fabian selalu menggodanya. Well, seperti yang tertulis di awal sinopsis.. hampir semua godaan Fabian selalu menjerumus ke obrolan dewasa a.k.a sex. Dari semua godaan-godaan yang selalu membuat Lana jengkel dan membuatnya Fabian tak pernah absen dari pikirannya. Sampai Lana tak mengerti lagi apakah perasaannya masih tetap benci atau sudah menyeberang menjadi suka. 

Seperti kisah cinta kebanyakan yang bermula dari saling membenci ini, ketika Lana menyadari perasaannya semua sudah terlambat. Fabian sudah tidak berada di Indonesia lagi. 

Kemudian ketika takdir mempertemukan mereka lagi di New York semua sudah tidak sama lagi. 

Apakah mereka bisa bersatu? Apakah cinta cukup untuk mempersatukan mereka? 

“I guess god simply wants me to meet many wrong people before I meet the right one.” 

*

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“I won't cry because it came to an end, but I will smile because it happened”