The Made Series - Danielle Lori

 

Not this time. In true Vivian fashion, I'm going to make you read this post to find out what I loved the most. It's about elegance.

Okay so hear me out, Nico Russo and Angelo Visconti are the same men but in different fonts……and I can’t live in my fictional world without them? Does that make sense? I don’t know. Either way let’s just say if there was a book by Danielle Lori collaborated with Somme Sketcher, I’m there.

Nico Russo, Christian Allister and Ronan Markov were written by none other than Danielle Lori herself. Mmm-mmm-mmm. Let’s see how my little pathetic vanilla heart got on with these dark rom-coms.

This series was a small step up from the dark romance radar when compared to Somme Sketcher’s series. Was it just as thrilling? Yes. Did I read it more than once? Most definitely. Do I envy every female character in both series day in and day out? Until my very last breath. Let’s dive into these 3 wonders.

The Sweetest Oblivion staring Elena Abelli and Nico Russo. BookTok was salivating over these 2 illegal lovebirds like no other. A trope I’ve seen offered but never dared to pick up. Let’s lay down the foundation of this book. Nico Russo was originally engaged to Elena’s older sister – Adriana - but once she got knocked up and the man Elena was engaged to conveniently got shot in the head by a specific person at a specific time, there was only one person that would hitch up the sweet Abelli and that was none other than Mr. Nicolas Angelo Russo himself. Platonic. Everything they did that they shouldn’t have been labelled platonic. The way Elena started to have feelings for Nico. The way they stared at each other from across a crowd. The way they both got hungry for each other was all platonic. Until it wasn’t anymore. Sweet Abelli was Elena’s nick name – a romantic, sweet, empathic 21-year-old from New York daughter of Crime Boss Salvatore Abelli. She is sweet but she does something like, I don’t’ know, let’s say steal from her fiancé to send to another man’s family without telling Nico then she takes a companion – a Sebastian – with her who is kind of, sort of the brother of the man engaged to Elena who Nico killed in order to marry her. Let’s just say hypothetically this is the case. It could be. Maybe it is. Read it and let me know because I really, for the life of me just can, not, remember. Small moments like the significance of the carousal, bonding between the siblings and Elena’s want to just get out, away from her family made this book different to the others in the series.

Out of all the books, in terms of plot, execution, spice and romance this one gets a 3.75/5. I get the hype I really do and the fascination with both these characters, but another book from the series in my opinion is the underdog so I’m saving my full-fat 5 starts for that. Have read it and will read it again. Great start to the series.

The Maddest Obsession being led by none other than Christian Allister and Gianna Russo. No, she’s not Nico’s sister – she’s his same age, grew up together as kids, step mother. That’s only the start of it. This was when my interest really started to peak to the all-time highest. Gianna Russo is known to marry for money or more so men who are too old to do anything to her but she really loved Antonio Russo…..until he cheated on her with her best friend. Christian Allister hates Antonio with every fibre in his body because of two reasons; one she has Gianna and two because he has to work alongside Antonio in order to get to Gianna. The obsession of Christian Allister (a Russian no less) is so much that he has to take therapy for years before attainting his prized possession. Miscommunication leads to life changes, with Antonio dying in a shoot-out, it’s Nico’s responsibility to marry her off or send her back to Chicago to an abusive father, and haunting past full of molestation. Wow. Gianna has a dark past with Christian winning the title of a more gruesome one. This story had depth, words had meanings and every flash-back had it’s happy ever after. I loved how this obsession wasn’t over-done too the brink. Both Chrisitan and Giana enter a ‘no strings attached’ relationship only for one to be tricked into it. The jealousy, fire and romance in there between the characters. Nico & Elena’s entrance are enough but not overwhelming. I would say that there are trigger warnings with this book mainly associated with molestation, sexual harassment and bodily harm. Christian had a very hard exterior however seeing him soften for Gianna, knowing he was her pillar, giving into both her softness and off that situation melted my heart into Russian size goo. Even throughout the time they ‘hated´ but didn’t hate each other, the trauma bond Gianna had created with Christian, enough to the point when her fear was faced the first person she went to was across her apartment, made it full circle from the feeling Antonio gave her.

Nico Russo. That little s****. When he orchestrated Gianna getting her apartment directly across from Christian’s, it was like the best part of the whole book. A spoiler alert; both of them had horrendous childhoods but the pregnancy alongside Gianna learning Russian elevated the book just that much more. ‘Malyshka’. Don’t even go there with the spice. It was there. Like slapped in your face THERE. 4/5. No regrets. Read it once, read it again and will read it again until my very own FED turns up at my doorstep for all the right reasons. Mwah.

 

The Darkest Temptation with Ronan Markov and Mila Mikhailova. Grit. This story has the thrill, the drama and dare I say the temptation. This was my 5/5, red velvet cupcake book. It kept me guessing. Let’s get into the nitty gritty. Mila has always had a sheltered life, with her dad in Moscow keeping her away form his crime business. When Mila has had enough after another missed birthday, she decides it time to visit Moscow despite all the nay sayers. Just one trip to get away from the spoon-fed player she’s supposed to spend her life with behind the gates of the Moorings. One problem. She looks exactly like her late mother whom she knew nothing about and the people of Moscow don’t really like the presence of an identical Mila to the once (but now dead) famous Opera Singer. When everyone warns her about the Devil, she later realizes she was putty in his hands all along. From one trip to Moscow, to be captivated by the Devil himself for a crime one of her fathers’ men committed, things get complicated when feelings are developed despite that not being a part of the game plan. Did I mention the 12-year age gap? Please. I died before I read it. Ah. This is what I was looking for.

There was constant mystery between both characters which Ronan did not expose despite him having the means to. Mila went out looking for a family her father hid but desperately fell for the man she was help captive to and the enemy. Ronan comes from deep Russian blood, having gone from being on the street of Moscow to owning them all. A sweet, innocent Mila compared to rough, rusty Ronan is the ultimate trope.

Everything was on point from the spice, to the complexity of the characters and the place it was set in. Lori really did save the best till last in my opinion and even though both Nico alongside Christian will have a special place on my bookshelf, no one can take Ronan’s. I’ll be honest. For some reason, I didn’t even see Christian’s younger brother getting a book but I’m so glad he did. Worth every penny spent. Worth every minute spent reading. Worth all the emotional damage that came with it. Be aware. There are trigger warning to this book as well – I’m sure you can figure out what they are.

On the dark romance radar, this isn’t too far along from the Sinners Anonymous series. Definitely darker but in all book honesty, The Darkest Temptation has more gore in it and even that isn’t like that revolting. I would say it’s still a comfortable read but consider the trigger warning before taking any further steps.

So, there it is. The long overdue reviews of this series. To my understanding, there’s still a book left in this series. Release date – TBD. It’s going to be a good book with some other releases coming alongside to. Will continue to read these books whenever I’m in the mood for a dark but comfortable romance.

One last thing before I officially sign off until my next review. I admire so much about Danielle Lori however the one taking the lead is the lack of a predictable ending. I read for happy endings. This blog was for the happily ever afters but with that said sometimes they become so predictable that I can recite word for word which author said what and how before even picking up the book. Lori keeps us guessing. I like it.

Don’t forget to pick up some paper pages once in a damn while. Let me know if I’ve convinced you to read this series or steered you well away from it. For those who have read it, who was your most loved couple and why? You already know mine. Time to tell me about yours.

Oh, before I forget again. What’s the next book you’re reading? I started ‘It Ends with Us’ by Colleen Hoover yesterday. 1 Chapter in all I can say Is that it’s a very different style of story I’m used to. I had high expectations but we are only a couple of pages in so let’s keep going and I’ll be back after I finish both books.

Vivian.

 Don’t forget to keep reading, because as long as you do, it’s making a struggling authors day that much better. Reach for the starts of success.