Tag Archives: Anna Ray

SAVAGE (Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance) by Anna Ray- review

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SAVAGE (Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance) by Anna Ray- review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 7, 2021

He scares the living daylights out of me. But not for the reasons he might think. And that scares me even more. Hazel He’s magnetic. Tall and commanding. Heartbreakingly gorgeous.

Borne of ice. Ruthless. Dangerous. And his dark, mesmerizing gaze is locked onto me. This man is fantasy in the flesh. Callum O’Daire.

Darling of Boston’s moneyed society and king of the underworld. And I’m here to ask a favor from this soulless creature. Beg, if I have to. I despise him. Body and soul. Callum Hazel Brentwood. Even from a distance, she’s striking. Stands out. Eyes like dark gold that glittered with fire and untapped passion. She needs my help.

But I hate the Brentwoods. All of them. Old money that covers sins and crimes that will never be answered to The very thing keeping Hazel so pampered and pretty. Blood money. If anyone’s going to tear her to shreds, to destroy her, it’s going to be me. My way. Sultry stares, passionate embraces, and suspense await you inside Savage.

This enemies-to-lovers mafia romance will have you flipping the pages, begging Callum or Hazel to make the first move!

•••••••

REVIEW: SAVAGE by Anna Ray is a contemporary, adult, enemies to lovers, Mafia style, dark romance story lines focusing on businessman Callum O’Daire, and Hazel Brentwood.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Callum and Hazel) SAVAGE follows in the wake of Sam Brentwood’s death. Hazel Brentwood and her brother Sam were adopted as children and babies but Sam’s death has left too many unanswered questions including the identity of Hazel’s birth mother. With only the name ‘Callum O’Daire’, our heroine goes in search of the information she may not want to find. Callum O’Daire, is a former, illegal MMA fighter turned underworld boss, whose hatred for the Brentwood family is only surpassed by his hatred for the life in which he was born. What ensues is the acrimonious and tempestuous relationship between Callum and Hazel, and the fall-out as the truth reveals a deeper connection between our story line couple.

Callum O’Daire wants nothing to do with our story line heroine but the more Hazel persists, the more Callum succumbs. At every turn, secrets are revealed, lies are exposed, and the twists expose a dark and dangerous world of which Hazel does not belong. Often TSTL (too stupid to live) Hazel becomes the target of threats and intimidation, but she continues along a tangled path of heart breaking discovery.

The relationship between Callum and Hazel is fraught with a thinly veiled line between love and hate. Callum doesn’t do relationship, and Hazel represent everything Callum hates in the world. Often threatening, angry, and exasperated, Callum struggles with his attraction to a woman that won’t leave well enough alone. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and dramatic.

We are introduced to Callum’s friend, former MMA fighter and right-hand man Damon Jones, as well as Hazel’s father Davis Brentwood, and her roommate and best friend Finley.

SAVAGE is a dark, gritty, haunting and twisted tale of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power, control, obsession and love. The character driven premise is tragic and complex; the characters are broken and desperate; the romance is visceral and intense.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Luciano Castelli (Dangerous Mafia Royals 1) by Anna Ray-a review

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Luciano Castelli (Dangerous Mafia Royals 1) by Anna Ray- a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 27, 2021

He’s everything I’m supposed to avoid.

My entire life I’ve fought against the constraints my family held me in. I was the precious bird in the gilded cage. So far from all my dreams. Until I met Luc. I was practically forced to be around him all the time. I never imagined that he’d be this pretentious or rude. But he’s proving to be something more than the arrogant mafia prince.

I’m not perfect. I make mistakes, but I always pay my dues. When MJ walked into my life, I knew that nothing good can come from this spoiled little princess. She has no idea what she got herself into. Every moment with her is a sweet torture, and it comes with the price. She will be the end of me.

Luc and MJ might as well be from different worlds. Do they have what it takes to end up together, or if everything will come crashing down?

See if opposites really do attract in this Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance.

••••••

REVIEW:LUCIANO CASTELLI is the first book in Anna Ray’s contemporary, adult DANGEROUS MAFIA ROYALS Mafia romance series. This is twenty-six year old, heir to the Castelli family Luciano Castelli, and twenty-four year old artist Marie-Joelle ‘MJ’ Rouleau’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Luc and MJ) following several intersecting paths, LUCIANO CASTELLI focuses on the enemies to lovers relationship between twenty-six year old, heir to the Castelli family Luciano Castelli, and twenty-four year old artist Marie-Joelle ‘MJ’ Rouleau. Luciano Castelli knew the moment he met MJ Rouleau, the stubborn woman at the neighbourhood café all bets were off until a chance encounter at a political fund-raiser resulted in a six-week, parental enforced ‘volunteer’ working arrangement wherein our couple will work side by side both in and out of their volunteer duties. Luciano Castelli had rattled the ire of a deviant politician, and was thusly serving penance at Whippenhouse Hall, and our heroine was about to pay the price for Luc’s desperate attempts to take down the man he verbally attacked at a media affair. As Luc and MJ’s relationship turns personal, our couple find themselves targeted by the man in charge, and in an effort to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, Luc is willing to sacrifice himself, taking the blame for everything and more. What ensues is the slow building romance and relationship between Luc and MJ, and the potential fall-out as a politician on the take, takes aim at our story line couple.

Meanwhile, MJ’s best friend, and Luc’s cousin Silvia Solarino is battling between head and heart knowing her best friend is falling for the son of a Mafia Don. Silvia has reason to ‘hate’ the Castelli family, but her current employer is forcing Silvia into a corner, and Silvia is desperate to keep secret sins of the past. At the same time, businessman and MJ’s friend Knox Hargreave is fighting demons of his own as he begins an investigation into political corruption, an investigation that reveals a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Knox’s connection and relationship with MJ is disquieting and concerning.

The relationship between Luc and MJ begins acrimoniously as our couple spit fire and fury within minutes of their first encounter. MJ is an artist who refuses to tow the proverbial line where her father is concerned, and Luc has pushed the buttons of head of the family, one too many times. Forced to work together, Luc and MJ find themselves in the unenviable position to ferret out the who, how and why, but by doing so place a target on their backs, and quite possibly, a target on the charity where they have ‘volunteered’ to work. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including MJ’s father Rupert Rouleau; Luciano’s father Vico Castelli; cousins Tulio, and Ciro; MJ’s best friend attorney Silvia Solarino, and businessman Knox Hargreave; Illinois state Rep Eamon Dempsey, and his nephew Gilroy, as well as a large assortment of people coming in and out of our couple’s lives. Knox and Silvia’s storyline is next.

LUCIANO CASTELLI is a lengthy and protracted story line of family and friendships; betrayal and vengeance; secrets and lies. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the slow building romance is impassioned; the characters are dynamic, lively and spirited. The world building (including family history) and character building are detailed and extensive (secrets are revealed) as a considerable amount of time focuses on the couple. This is not the typical Mafia romance storyline-the majority of the action and conflict takes place in the final third of the book. In my opinion, LUCIANO CASTELLI would have been better suited as a trilogy, and not as one single, lengthy and expanded story line.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Collided / Fighter by Anna Ray-reviews

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Collided / Fighter by Anna Ray-reviews

COLLIDED
Mafia Sinners 3
by Anna Ray
Release Date: February 17, 2021
Genre: adult, contemporary, Mafia,romance

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They say keep your enemies close. But what if you fell in love with your worst enemy?

Chiara Fiore
My father selling my hand in marriage had pissed me off. It was his fault that he’d drained the entirety of the family money gambling. I was paying the price. But then, I finally met Luca. I was really annoyed with how good-looking he was. I wanted to hate him but his strong jaw, and an attitude that screamed “take charge” made me lose my mind.

Luca Mendacius
Chiara was such a breath of fresh air. She isn’t a woman that takes things lying down. She’s sharp-witted and smart-mouthed. It’s a pity that she’s just a pawn in my game. I’d waited seventeen years to get my revenge on the Fiores, and I wasn’t going to waste my chance now.

Chiara and Luca will have to navigate a rough road to become closer, and even if their differences don’t tear them apart, their enemies might.

Read on to see how the sparks fly when these two heated personalities collide!

Collided is the third book in the Mafia Sinners Series and can be read as a standalone an Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance.

•••••••

REVIEW:   COLLIDED is the third instalment in Anna Ray’s contemporary, adult ARRANGED MARRIAGE MAFIA ROMANCE erotic, romance series of stand alone story lines. This is Luca Mendacius, and Chiara Fiore’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Luca and Chiara) COLLIDED follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old Luca Mendacius and nineteen year old Chiara Fiore. Approximately seventeen years earlier Chiara Fiore lost her mother to a tragic drowning, and in the ensuing years her family but more specifically her father, the head of the Chicago underworld, vowed revenge against the family he held responsible. Upon the death of his parents Luca Mendacious was sent to Sicily to be raised by his family, he too, vowing revenge for the murder of the parents he loved. With the Fiore family struggling financially, Chiara Fiore is offered up to the highest bidder in exchange for money and power. Enter Luca Mendacius, the man with whom Chiara will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Chiara and Luca, a relationship predicated upon secrets and lies.

Luca Mendacius is vowing revenge for the murder of his parents, and his first step is to take control of what’s left of the Fiore empire starting with their only daughter, nineteen year old Chiara, but Luca never expected their instant palpable sexual attraction, a attraction that makes our hero reconsider his plans for the future. Chiara Fiore suspects there is more to Luca’s intentions than a powerful Mafia marriage but as her brother continues to dig deeper into the Mendacius family, Chiara will quickly discover nothing and no one is at it seems.

The relationship between Chiara and Luca is an arranged marriage in an effort to stabilize the collapse of the Fiore family. Chiara considers herself nothing more than a pawn, a wh*re to be used to help the family but Luca has other plans for our story line heroine, plans her reconsiders when his heart falls for his intended victim. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Chiara’s brothers: Manny, Vinny, Pete and Joey, and their father Vito Fiore, as well as several uncles; Luca’s uncle Sal; driver Freddy.

COLLIDED is story of family, vengeance, betrayal, power and control. The premise is entertaining, the angst level is low; the romance is sweet and tender; the characters are animated and wounded. For followers of the series, COLLIDED is similar in tone and premise to book two TRAPPED but the author’s style of writing has matured and greatly improved since book one.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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FIGHTER
Bad Boy College Romance
By Anna Ray
Release Date: March 24, 2021
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 24, 2021

True love sounds great until it shows up on your doorstep wrapped in a warning label.

When Tristan walks back into my life, he’s not the childhood friend I remember. He’s harder, dangerous, angry. But he’s gentle with me. And he wants to know why I gave up my dreams of being an artist.

An underground fighter with a track record of leaving is the worst person I could fall for. But he keeps showing up at my door, telling me that my paintings are amazing and I’m even better. My head says, “No,” but my heart says, “Yes.”

He thrives on violence. I’m desperate for security.
He’s angry and lost. I know exactly what I want, if only I dared reach for it. He’s on a dark, self-destructive spiral. I’ve already lost one person. I refuse to do it again.

•••••

REVIEW:FIGHTER by Anna Ray is a contemporary, new adult, Bad Boy College romance. This is eighteen year olds, underground MMA fighter Tristan Walker, and art student Kaia Brooks’ story line.

NOTE: FIGHTER contains scenes of graphic violence that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kaia and Tristan) FIGHTER follows in the aftermath of an illegal fight that almost took the life of our story line hero. Two and half years earlier, Tristan Walker came upon a secret that sent him spiralling out of control, and into the illegal underground world of the MMA. A fight almost cost him his life and in the ensuing time Tristan continued to struggle with what was and what will never be but a woman’s screams found Tristan rescuing his best friend from childhood, a young woman who stirred something deep within our story line hero. Enter eighteen year old, art student Kaia Brooks. What ensues is the rekindling friendship, and romance between Kaia and Tristan, and the potential fall-out as Kaia struggles with Tristan’s choices, and Tristan struggles with his life at home.

Tristan Walker was an angry young man, who needed an outlet for his aggression and pain, and the underground world of illegal MMA was the perfect vehicle to work on his anger but a vehicle that was both ugly and dangerous for everyone concerned. Reconnecting with Kaia Brooks meant something beautiful in a life of ugliness and pain but Tristan battled between head and heart knowing his life would only get uglier, reflecting upon the woman with whom he was falling in love.

The relationship between Kaia and Tristan is a childhood friends to lovers romance that struggles in the face of perceived betrayal, and Tristan’s need to fight alone. Kaia has only ever wanted to be an artist but the life of a starving artist was never what she had in mind. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Tristan’s parents Caleb and Alice Walker; his friends and roommates Brody and Alex : Kaia’s grandmother Ruth, her best friend Pilar; mean girl Becca; and fight promoter Jake Miller.

FIGHTER is a story of secrets and lies; family and relationships; second chances and love. The premise is dark and gritty; the romance is realistic and edgy; the characters are broken, flawed and tragic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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