Tag Archives: Rafael

Rafael/ Javier (The Castillo Family) by Fiona Murphy-Review Tour

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Rafael / Javier (The Castillo Family 1 & 2) by Fiona Murphy-Review Tour

 

 

JAVIER
The Castillo Family 2
by Fiona Murphy
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, Mafia, romance
Release Date: March 1, 2022

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT The BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2022

The Castillo Family: Follow Rafael, Matteo, Javier and their nephew Santos a billionaire family they made their fortune in the construction business. When it comes to building relationships all their money can’t help them when it comes to women who want what money can’t buy.

Javier Castillo might be a gorgeous, brilliant billionaire—but he’s also a massive a$$hole. His only redeeming quality is how much he loves his baby daughter. A daughter he wasn’t aware existed until her grandmother dumped her on him like she was returning lost luggage. Her mother is dead and her grandmother decided she couldn’t take care of her after all. Okay, it’s kind of amazing the way he didn’t flinch from the baby thrust into his arms. He wants the best for her but doesn’t believe I am it. I’m the nanny with a thirty-day trial hanging over my head.
He’s trying to get me to quit, I just know it. Except I refuse to go easily or quietly, no matter how mean or rude he gets. There’s no way I am going to mess up this job. If I do, I’ll be homeless again. I’m positive he’s just worried I’ll develop a crush on him and become a clingy, lovesick pain. So why do I feel his eyes on me when he thinks I’m not paying attention? What about overhearing him warning a man away from me with a feral, jealous possessive air?
It’s wishful thinking—poor, plain, fat women like me don’t get the gorgeous billionaire like him anywhere but in the movies.
I’m here for his daughter, not him. Except before long it isn’t just his daughter who has stolen my heart, and I wonder if maybe I’m not imagining things after all

••••

REVIEW:JAVIER is the second instalment in Fiona Murphy’s contemporary, adult THE CASTILLO FAMILY erotic, romance series focusing on the Castillo Billionaire family. This is thirty-six year old, attorney Javier Castillo, and twenty-four year old nanny Esperanza ‘Hope’ Martinez’s story line. JAVIER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: There are two familial suicides off page that may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Javier and Hope) JAVIER follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-six year old attorney Javier Castillo, and twenty-four year old nanny Esperanza ‘Hope’ Martinez. Hope Martinez is desperate for a job when she overhears a group of nanny’s complaining about Javier Castillo, and his struggle to find a nanny he likes. Javier is a single father to a five month old daughter, the result of a one-night stand months before but Javier wants a specific kind of nanny, and Hope is all kinds of wrong for our story line hero. Refusing to keep Hope as his daughter’s nanny for the long haul, Javier offers a one month trial wherein Hope must leave at the end of thirty days. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Hope and Javier, and the potential fall-out as Javier struggles with his attraction to Hope Martinez, a woman who is falling in love with Javier and his infant daughter Ava.

Javier Castillo doesn’t want Hope Martinez as his daughter’s nanny because of his attraction to a woman who probably wants marriage and family. Javier doesn’t do long term relationships, and his need for Hope is palpable and strong. Hope Martinez knows Javier is barely holding onto to his control but his treatment of our heroine is heart breaking and wrong. The emotional back and forth is meant to push Hope out of the lives but Hope refuses to leave, having fallen in love with Javier and his daughter.

The relationship between Javier and Hope begins as employee and employer but a relationship that quickly turns volatile and unfriendly. Javier’s attraction to Hope is manifested with anger and reluctance. Javier knows it is only a matter of time before he crosses the line from which there will be no return. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, seductive and intense with some scenes of spanking.

We are reintroduced to Javier’s brother Rafael and his wife Carrie, as well as their mother Elizabeth, and grandfather Luis Castillo. Hope’s large extended family is present but mostly off-page.

JAVIER is a story of family and relationships, support and acceptance, revelations and surprises, hope and love. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is passionate and edgy; the characters are determined and energetic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

________________

RAFAEL
The Castillo Family 1
by Fiona Murphy
Release Date: March 1, 2021
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, Mafia, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play / Apple /

The Castillo Family: Follow Rafael, Matteo, Javier and their nephew Santos a billionaire family they made their fortune in the construction business. When it comes to building relationships all their money can’t help them when it comes to women who want what money can’t buy.

My twin brothers have never been little angels but this time they might have gone too far in crossing Rafael Castillo. Rafael wants them punished to the furthest extent of the law for trespassing and destroying his company’s construction site. I can’t defend what they did, but I also can’t let them go into juvenile detention. All I’m asking for is another chance. But the arrogant, gorgeous billionaire refuses and cuts me down without listening. So I might have started yelling, their might have been bitter accusations on both sides, and I might have lost it and cried. Then somehow I was in his arms. The instant lust shocks us both. Yet while I’m more than willing to act on it, Rafael refuses. Until I lie and tell him all I want are the nights in my bedroom. No commitment, no strings, just sex. Only all too soon it’s not enough but will we ever make it out of the bedroom or are we doomed to fail?

***This is a rewrite of Rafael’s Woman. It has been changed from 3rd person to 1st person and there is an additional 12k words.***

•••••••

REVIEW:RAFAEL is the first instalment in Fiona Murphy’s contemporary, adult THE CASTILLO FAMILY erotic, romance series. This is thirty-eight year old, businessman Rafael Castillo, and twenty-six year old Carrie Whitney’s story line.

NOTE: RAFAEL is the re-release of the author’s Rafael’s Woman with additional content and a change in perspective.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Carrie and Rafael) RAFAEL focuses on the building relationship between thirty-eight year old, businessman Rafael Castillo, and twenty-six year old Carrie Whitney. Carrie Whitney has been raising her thirteen year old twin brothers Riley and Elliott since the death of their mother seven years earlier but the twins are beginning to act out and causing problems. Having moved to Dallas for better employment opportunities, Carrie finds herself at the end of her rope when her brothers destroy thousands of dollars of Rafael Castillo’s construction property, money she hopes she will be able to repay but the shocking price tag sends Carrie into a spiral where she reveals everything about her past and more. Rafael has no patience for people who destroy his property, and he is determined to punish the young boys to the fullest extent of the law but Rafael’s attraction to Carrie and our heroine’s story begin to melt the ice around Rafael’s heart, and he reconsiders his plans for the immediate future. Offering Carrie a job as the property manager of one of his buildings, a new place to stay for Carrie and the boys, and the opportunity for her brothers to work off their debt, Rafael begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a seduction predicated upon $ex and nothing more. What ensues is the building relationship between Carrie and Rafael, and the potential fall-out as Carrie’s heart wants something more than Rafael is willing to offer.

Rafael Castillo is all about control; a businessman who doesn’t do romantic relationships but Carrie Whitney offers a friends with benefits option, a relationship wherein Rafael finds himself struggling with jealousy and rage at every turn. Rafael’s attraction to Carrie is immediate and intense, and discovering Carrie is offering a relationship without love, Rafael jumps at the opportunity, only to realize that his heart wants something he can no longer control. Refusing to accept that he has fallen in love, Rafael slowly pulls away from the woman that owns his heart knowing Carrie would never be accepted into the world in which he lives. Carrie quickly realizes that her life is no longer her own but accepts Rafael’s need for control, often backing down when she is accused of doing something wrong. A bit of a doormat, Carrie is desperate for Rafael’s touch, she is willing to beg for all the wrong reasons. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate, erotic and intense.

We are introduced to Carrie’s twin brothers Riley and Elliott, and her best friend Jennifer; Rafael’s brother Javier who is often pushing all of our hero’s buttons, as well as their mother Elizabeth Castillo, and several employees who work for the Castillo Corporation/ Castillo Construction. Javier’s story is next.

RAFAEL is a fast paced story of power and control, obsession and attraction, insta lust, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging; the romance is provocative and passionate but questionable on so many levels; the characters are desperate and charismatic.

I will suggest another round of edits as there are a number of spelling and grammar errors as well as missing words. As this is a re-release and refurbished edition, there should not have been so many issues.

 

Own a copy

 

Due to commitment issues I have lived in many different cities and my favorite is Chicago but I have managed to settle into Austin and perhaps my commitment issues are behind me. 

I have enjoyed reading from a very young age and it wasn’t long before the children books bored me and I read the books my mother enjoyed Stephen King and Dean Koontz and I didn’t sleep without the light on until I was about ten.

I came across my first Harlequin by accident and it was love at first read, no one died and happy endings? It was a whole new world and I loved it.

I wrote my first story at eight and everyone died, of course. Since then I would like to think I’ve gotten better and now I’m writing the happily ever afters I first fell in love with, with some hot sex thrown in along the way. 

As a plus size woman myself, I have started writing the stories I always wanted to see myself in but never did. And now I’m ecstatic to give BBWs the happily ever afters with hot Alphas I want to read.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionainamurphy
Website: https://www.fionamurphywrites.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionaainamurphy
Email: fionaainamurphy@gmail.com

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Rafael by Laurel K Hamilton-Review & Excerpt

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Rafael (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 28 ) by Laurel K Hamilton-Review & Excerpt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 9, 2021

Rafael, king of the wererats, must fight to the death to defend his crown. He wants Anita Blake, one of his closest allies, with him as he faces an opponent unlike any he’s faced before. He will ask Anita to risk everything to be at his side.…

But some of the wererats fear that Rafael depends too much on Anita and her ties to the vampires. They believe that there is only room in America for one supernatural king, and Rafael will turn them into nothing more than food for the bloodsuckers.

Among his enemies, a new challenger has arisen who is younger, hungrier, and has dark secrets that could destroy both the wererats and the vampires. Rafael will go into the magical heart of his people to find the power and violence that he needs to save them all, or die trying.

•••••••

REVIEW: Rafael has a big problem!!

His relationship with both Anita and Jean-Claude are putting his leadership to question!!

Challenge after challenge to his throne is getting exhausting. His rat society (wererats) are worried that the vampire he associates with will want more than just their leaders blood, there are rumours going around that they will become a food source, that they will be drained dry and slaughtered!!

We also have Hector, he’s being groomed to becoming heir, to rule in Rafael’s place. But Hector wants it now!! He thinks he can do a much better job, he hates that they are “friends” with humans and vampires. So poor Rafael has that to deal with also!!

But the biggest problem comes when she meets Hector and realizes that he is under the influence of something or someone! Could there be a rogue vampire working behind the scenes? Anita certainly has enough enemies, and if this causes a rift between Anita and her friend Rafael, then it’s got to be a plot!!

The story was fast-paced and brought in characters from earlier books in the series. And although I’ve only read the previous two book (serpentine and Sucker Punch) I didn’t feel like I’ve missed too much (but I have been reading the blurb from past books, and it’s a series I’m definitely interested in reading)

It’s also shorter than most of her books, (I’ve read reviews that have complained about the amount of sex in previous books). I liked the focus on Rafael and the rats. They’ve been characters for quite a while now, and it was finally time to get a closer look at them.

Anita is also dealing with an issue, her super strength!! Getting over what her mind thinks she can and can’t do was good to read. Most stories assume you’ll get the hang of it instantly, so it was good to see that side (the gym scene where she can bench press more than her mind thinks was safe was funny)

There does seem like a lot of characters, most of them have been in previous books, so if I do go back, I’m going to write notes ?on who is who. But this style of writing kept me hooked until the last page. As I said earlier, it’s shorter than other books, but it still crams in magic, relationships, fights and Anita’s witty banter.

 

Previous Reviews
21. Kiss The Dead
26. Serpentine
27. Sucker Punch

Reviewed by Julie ?

Copy supplied by the publisher

From RAFAEL published by arrangement with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2021 by Laurell K. Hamilton.

I looked up into Rafael’s face, dark brown skin to match the hair and eyes. He couldn’t hide what he was, and I didn’t try to hide, I just didn’t think about it until something made me think about it. Planning the wedding with Jean-Claude had made me have to think more about my family; so far my father wasn’t going to walk me down the aisle because I was marrying a vampire, which meant I was damning myself for all eternity in the eyes of the Catholic Church. My family were devout Catholics.
“So many serious thoughts going through your eyes,” he said.
I shook my head. “Nothing worth sharing.”
He gave me the look that all my semiserious people got eventually, the one that said they didn’t believe me when I said it was nothing. “It’s okay if you love Asher. I don’t see what any of you see in him, but I don’t have to, he’s not my boo.”
“He’s not my boo either,” I said, and wondered if I was protesting a bit too much.
Rafael gave me a look, as if he was wondering the same thing, which pissed me off and made me draw my face back, so I wasn’t resting on his hand.
Benito said, “If he is so unimportant to you, then why do you risk Rafael’s life because of the mess Asher has caused with the local werehyenas?”
“Benito, it is not your place . . .” Rafael started to say.
“If not mine, then whose, my king? It is my sworn duty to keep you safe, but I cannot fight your challenges for you. If Anita would make you her rat to call, you would gain enough power to win against any challenger.”
“Why did you get another challenger this soon?” I asked.
It was Rafael’s turn to look away from me as if he wasn’t sure what I’d see in his eyes. I grabbed the tank top and used it to pull him toward me. “You just fought a duel out of town two weeks ago. You’re a good king, a great leader, why is this one challenging you again so soon?” I’d learned that any challenge for rulership among the wererats, the rodere, had to give a reason for it, and the reason had to make sense to enough of the wererats for them to vote on it. If a challenger had a bogus reason for the fight, then they could just vote that the reason wasn’t good enough to risk their king.
“Tell her, Rafael,” Benito said.
“I am king here, not you!” His anger brought his beast like a line of heat across my skin. I had to let go of him and step back so I could do a few deep, even breaths. I couldn’t change shape for real, but I still carried the beasts inside me, and one of those was rat.
“You are my king, but she needs to know what is happening.”
“One of you tell me, because it’s starting to make me nervous.”
Rafael motioned at Benito. “You want to tell her, tell her.”
Benito looked startled as if he hadn’t expected that, but he recovered quickly, and gave me very serious eyes. Whatever he was going to say, he didn’t expect me to like it. “The reason given for this challenge is that they are afraid that once you make Rafael your rat to call, all the wererats in the United States will be slaves to the vampires through Jean-Claude’s ties to you as his human servant.”
“The local clan here would know that’s not true,” I said.
“But I am no longer just the king of the St. Louis clan. I am king to all the wererats in this country, so they are all voting.”
I frowned at him. “How are all the wererats voting in time for the fight tonight?”
“Online, we created a poll online,” he said.
“How’s the voting going?”
“I am losing.”

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