Trying to distance myself from my past mob life, I’ve accepted an artist-in-residence position at Thronewood University.
Teaching privileged, barely-adult brats isn’t my idea of fulfilling, but at least it won’t end me back in the hospital or prison.
Been there. Done that.
But there’s something going on at this school that isn’t right. A chance meeting with one of my students, Victoria Waldorf, confirms it.
She’s beautiful, but not vain. She’s innocent, but not naïve.
And she’s a pawn in a game she’s not even aware exists.
I’m the last person on earth who should be protecting her. I’m too hard, too cold... hell, too old to even breathe the same air as her.
Not to mention my past is right in the middle of this mess.
But I’m not going to let anything happen to her.
Keeping her safe means keeping her close. And like it or not, the only way she makes it out of this alive is with my ring on her finger.
A vow I take seriously.
*****
BOUND IN DEBT is book one of the Bound Duet, a dark mafia romance. It contains adult themes and situations. Specific trigger warnings can be found on the author's website.
Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bound in Debt is my introduction to Josephine Jade, and let me just say that she does not disappoint. This book is very well written, and the characters are developed and relatable. That, in itself, is a job well done. The world the author has created here is certainly foreign to me, but the characters each have things about them that make them easily relatable - even to the average Joe, or Jane, as the case may be.
When we meet Dante, he's broken and bitter and pretty much hates life in general. He's gruff and a total jerk to pretty much everyone, especially Victoria. She is Dante's opposite in just about every way. She's younger, she's innocent, she's the light to his dark. One of my favorite things about Victoria is how she speaks her mind and stands up for herself - something she's going to need when dealing with Dante. They spend a lot of time going head to head, which creates some pretty great fireworks. In spite of, or maybe because of, those fireworks, the sexual tension between Dante and Victoria grows throughout the book, so when they come together, it's explosive.
The book is deliciously dark with a building tension. It's full of great characters, some to love and some to hate, and some bring about both feelings. This is the first book in a duet, so expect a cliffhanger. It's a pretty darn good one, too, and it definitely creates an urgency to get your hands on book two in the duet.
I did it to protect her.
I never planned to fall in love.
But the truth that a former mob enforcer’s weakness is his young bride has brought enemies I never even knew I had to the surface.
They’re out for blood.
If they can’t have mine, they’ll take hers.
Over my dead body.
*****
BOUND IN PROMISE is book two of the Bound Duet. You must read book one, BOUND IN DEBT, first. Both books contain adult themes and situations. Specific trigger warnings can be found on the author's website.
Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
This second book in Josephine Jade's Bound duet picks up where the first book leaves off. It goes without saying that this one is not meant to be read as a standalone. This story does come with trigger warnings, and I'd advise checking them just in case.
I don't often read mafia romance, but this one caught my attention, and I'm glad it did because I've been hooked from the beginning. Josephine Jade has delivered some terrific characters. That includes the baddies. I may hate them, but I'm supposed to, and they are so well done. Dante and Victoria are easier to root for than I expected, and I love that we get to see some redeeming qualities in Dante.
I'll stop there before I spoil the story. What I can say is you don't want to miss this duet. It's so well done, and this is one romantic couple that I won't soon forget.
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