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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • Uncategorized

    AUDIOBOK TOUR: Little Harbor by Sophia Soames

    March 11, 2026 / No Comments
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    COVER REVEAL: Never Announce You’re Dating The Massage Therapist by Portia Blake

    March 10, 2026 / No Comments
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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

    March 7, 2026 / No Comments

    Vitale Brothers: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

    What do you do when your only way out is to join a family you never knew existed?

    I’m not well behaved, that’s a given. But meeting the Vitale’s puts my life into perspective. They’re everything I’ve longed for; rich, adventurous, fearless, and close. Really close.

    This is supposed to be my family too.

    So why do I feel like an outsider?

    I have no choice except to fit in because I can’t go back home. Not when I’m on the run…

    Amidst the chaos of a cooling war, a family struggle, and the law nipping at my heels, I meet Quincy. Bold, crazy, and hot as a five alarm fire.This man is the grand red flag of all red flags, but then again so am I.

    And I’ve always loved to play with fire.

    The fifth book in the Vitale Brothers series. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best read in order. HEA guaranteed. Make sure to check out the TWs.


    End It All is the fifth book in the gritty, addictive Vitale Brothers mafia romance series by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow. The Vitale clan may be a chaotic mix of half-brothers, but under Benito’s leadership, they remain fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining.

    The 5th Vitale brother is Blake Moreno, who only recently discovered he’s a Vitale after a botched bank heist turned him into a fugitive. Sent to New York to his father Cesare for protection, Blake meets his brothers for the first time, who were just as surprised to learn about his identity.

    Not yet trusting Blake but still willing to protect his youngest brother, Benito (Say I Do) assigns Quincy Adachi, Harlow’s best friend and former bodyguard, to keep Blake in line. Blake and Quincy immediately got off on the wrong foot.

    Blake kept trying to run away, and Quincy unerringly tracks his ass wherever he goes. Forced proximity did its magic because they might hate each other, but it didn’t stop them from jumping each other’s bones.

    Blake is a semi-wild spitfire, not yet full-on Vitale like Gin, Enzo, or even Paolo. He’s street-smart but really naive. He has a stupid tendency to run away from the person protecting him when he’s supposed to be in New York for his protection.

    Quincy is a dominant, alpha-as-hell power bottom who matches Blake’s arson-loving ferocity with his own daredevil antics. Quincy is Harlow’s best friend after all, and only someone as bloodthirsty as him could keep up with a psycho like Harlow.

    Together, Blake and Quincy’s chemistry is equal parts volatile and magnetic. Blake’s rebellious streak and Quincy’s relentless dominance make for a fiery clash. Their dynamic was entertaining, with lots of sharp banter, flirty provocations, and cute nicknames. Quincy calling Blake “baby girl” tickled me pink every time because Blake is so precious and bratty, even if he tops.

    The best part of the book is the Vitale family themselves, their outrageous antics, dark humor, and twisted brand of love. From Gin’s absurd schemes and his possessive devotion to Ash to Benito and Harlow’s stab-happy foreplay, the brothers never fail to entertain. Paolo and York got parenthood down to a science, and Enzo and Tex are joined at the hips. Loved seeing the Vitale “wives” joining forces and welcoming Quincy to the fold.

    I thought the series would end with Paolo and York’s book, Never Say Never. Half of me thinks Blake and Quincy’s story was unnecessary, the plot not really bringing anything new to the table, and the romance is less intense as the previous books. While still dark and humorous enough for a Vitale, this is the weakest installment of the series.

    It did give us a lead-up to Cesare’s book, which I also have mixed feelings about. Cesare welcomes Blake with open arms, but the brothers frequently warn Blake that the old man cannot be trusted. Blake agrees, runs away, then foolishly returns to Cesare.

    Daddy Vitale’s motives are suspect throughout the entire series, so redeeming him in the 6th book might be a stretch. I’m not sure if I could root for Cesare, given how villainous he was. Also, it’s going to be an age gap romance. We have enough of that already. Give us old men yaoi instead!

    End It All is a story of family ties and baby criminals. While not hitting the same highs as the rest of the series, overall, it sets the stage for biggest battle ahead. In the Vitale world, loyalty is blood-deep, betrayal is inevitable—and sometimes, ending it all is the only way to begin again.

    Rating:
    3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it

    Soundtrack: Alive In New Light
    Artist: IAMX
    Album: Alive In New Light

    P.S.

    Vitale Brothers can be read as standalone but each brother is a force of nature.

    Take Me Apart is the raw intensity of Enzo.

    Paid In Full is the wild insatiability of Gin

    Say I Do is the nuclear explosion of Benito.

    Never Say Never is the chaotic mayhem of Paolo.


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of End It All. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    END IT ALL: Amazon UK | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

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    PROMO BLITZ: Breaking Strings by Becca Seymour

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    BOOK BLITZ: The Memories We Made by Cara Dee (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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    PROMO BLITZ: A Rookie Mistake by Wren Hamilton

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    RELEASE BLITZ: Graduation No Face by Crea Reitan

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    RELEASE TOUR: Crave by C.F. White (Excerpt)

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    SERIES REVIEW: Merciless & Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings Books 4 & 5) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

    February 28, 2026 / No Comments

    Park Avenue Kings: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brook Blaine

    Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re the seven most powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.

    Ruthless.

    Dangerous.

    We’re the Park Avenue Kings.

    He was sent to watch me. Now he can’t look away.

    They sent the president’s son to babysit me.
    How precious.


    Shepherd “Shep” Winchester III thinks he’s here to keep me in line—keep me quiet, keep me still, keep me safe.

    Good luck with that.

    I’m Theodore “Theo” Rinaldi, the youngest Prince of Monaco, and the most merciless of the Park Avenue Kings. And I don’t do obedient. Not for my royal family. Not for the crown. And definitely not for the suit King sent to shadow me.

    Shep is all discipline and duty.
    I’m chaos in a custom suit.


    We clash. We combust.
    And then we cross a line we can’t uncross.


    Now there’s a blackmailer on our trail, a target on my back, and the Kings think I’m the traitor. But if they want to come for me, they’ll have to get through him.

    Because the soldier with the perfect posture and the unreadable eyes?
    He’s not just protecting me anymore.

    He’s falling for me.

    And I’m going to ruin him for it.

    Merciless (Park Avenue Kings #4) is the first book in a duet within the Park Avenue Kings series. Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings #5) will be the continuation.


    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Mercy
    Artist: IAMX
    Album: Kiss + Swallow


    Park Avenue Kings: Ruthless by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank

    They called him America’s golden son.

    Now he’s the man who’d burn the world for a prince.

    When Prince Theodore Rinaldi vanishes, Shepard “Shep” Winchester III will do anything to bring him back.

    What starts as a mission of duty ignites into a forbidden obsession—one that blurs every line between loyalty and love.

    Back in New York, the Kings are under attack, their secrets exposed, their brotherhood fractured.

    And when an attempt on Theo’s life plays out in front of flashing cameras, the world sees what they were never meant to: a touch too intimate, a look too raw.

    Shep is the son of American power.

    Theo is European royalty.

    And in a world built on loyalty, betrayal, and lies, love might be the most ruthless act of all.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Ruthless
    Artist: Allegra Jordyn
    Album: Ruthless


    Merciless and Ruthless is a duet in Park Avenue Kings, the spectacular contemporary romance series by acclaimed duo Ella Frank and Brook Blaine. The Kings are a secret brotherhood of vigilante billionaires known as Libertine, led by Tyrone Kingston— the “King.”

    Our Kings this week are Prince Theodore Rinaldi of Monaco and Shepherd O’Neale Winchester III, son of a former U.S. president. Best friends turned lovers after Theo’s brother’s royal wedding, Theo and Shep’s bond is tested by the meddling King, Shep’s ex, despite having two boyfriends (Park Avenue Princes). Theo becomes a target after a suspicious bombing video surfaces. He and Shep were in a safehouse in Brazil when Theo was abducted.

    Merciless is certainly more intense, bursting with sexual tension as Shep and Theo explore their new dynamic. Theo is chaotic and impulsive, while Shep is steady and protective. Their chemistry is explosive, Theo pushes boundaries, Shep dominates, and both alphas aren’t afraid to switch roles.

    Theo is full of crazy antics, and Shep couldn’t help but be drawn to him, his protective instincts going on overdrive. I loved how they played off each other, their push-and-pull sparking irresistible heat. The only thing missing is Theo being merciless when he was really just impulsive.

    After a heart-stopping cliffhanger, Ruthless opens with Shep’s frantic search for the missing Theo in the Amazon. I thought this would take up most of the plot, given the blurb, but the two reunited soon after, and the rest of the plot focused on the search for the blackmailer theatening Libertine.

    This was also not King’s finest moment, having abandoned Theo when he was abducted, and fractures appear among the brotherhood. Also, I’m not impressed with how he pretends everything is fine until Theo demands an apology and has to throw a tantrum before King would do so. Alesso is under a lot of stress, leading up to his book, which I’m excited about.

    The villain takedown was rushed. I was hoping for more details on this part of the mission. There was a big deal about Alesso having a hard time finding the bad guy who was supposedly smart, only for said bad guy to do something dumb in public.

    Romance-wise, this part of the duet is more dramatic but also sweeter and swoonier. Theo and Shep lost no time making it official with not one but two celebrations that couldn’t be more different but equally ridiculously romantic! They have some of the most squee-tastic moments, and the books delivered the feels they promised.

    Merciless and Ruthless is a sizzling duet of danger, brotherhood, and royal weddings where a prince and a president’s son come together in chaos and passion. Overall, mercilessly thrilling, ruthlessly swoony!

    P.S.

    Park Avenue Kings is best read in order. Each King is gorgeous and deadly.

    Savage is Lachlan, shadowy and dangerous.

    Devilish is Lucien, temptation incarnate.

    Immoral is Benoit, utterly seductive and captivating.


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Merciless and Ruthless. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    MERCILESS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
    RUTHLESS: Amazon UK | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

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