Depressing ( )

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
Dom is book three in the "Alliance" series by S.J. Tilly. This story completely blew me away. The series hasn't exactly wowed me as of yet until I read Dom and I had heard mixed things about Dom and it was utterly delightful. I am wondering at the mental capacity of anyone that rated this below 4 stars at the moment, because this book was perfect in every way. Just every aspect that comes into this story felt so right and I was in sync with just about every aspect of this from the character development, to the plot, to the swoons and feels, it was top notch. And the way this author managed the conflict was perfection. I always worry about these type of conflicts because many authors don't always handle it too well. However, this story was just right for me and I soaked it up like a sponge.

First Line
It seems strange that so many people, even when they aren't talking, can make so much noise.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Dom
-Head of the Chicago Mafia
-Latino Heritage
-Family Focused
-Protective Alpha with possessive tendancies

The Heroine: (Heroine's Name)
-Reserved
-Curvy
-Shy
-Suffers from self esteem issues

Summary
Val growing up didn't have the perfect childhood, but her father was her loving figure even if he was gone. She was shocked when he died to learn that she wasn't his only family, and that she was the dirty secret to hide under the rug. She has never truly felt accepted or love by anyone in her young life. She is now 26, who travels for her work. Even though she has a good amount of money, she wants to be productive. While at the airport, traveling for one of her jobs, she meets Dom, who is sexy and a protector and there is instant chemistry between them. They both have a connection they don't want to let go of. And when they end up in Vegas, some decisions are made and before she knows it Val is placed in a situation she never expected that could tear her apart if she lets it and it will come down to the love she holds for Val or the acceptance she dreams of with her family and she will have to find her own strength to be the partner that Val needs as head of the Chicago mafia but the road they will go on will take them on a journey of growth, love and connection...

What I Loved
There was so much to love about this story. So first I want to discuss our characters. So our delicious hero, Dom. Dom is a hero you can die on a hill for. He is alpha in that he likes control, he is protective, but tender and caring in close quarters with those he loves, but he does get a bit possessive at times and will take control over situations when necessary. He always has a backup plan to his primary plan and his focus is family. I absolutely adored Dom in every way. The way he is with his family and especially how he cares for Val just warmed my heart. Yes he can be controlling in certain areas, he is a pure alpha male, but at the same time he will fight for her in ways that no one else will and my heart just fell hard for this man. Then we have Val. Now Val is a girl I could so relate to, at least my younger self can especially. In all honesty, I tend to really enjoy the heroines that this author writes. But Val was a heroine that wasn't happy. She had been hurt constantly by those that should have loved her and even the way that her siblings treat her, I wanted to pound in the ground myself haha. The struggles that she battles emotions, she had my heart breaking for her because I saw so much of the emotional struggles I personally had when I was younger and still sometimes face. I know some readers won't like it but I admired her because she was working with a therapist, she understood her struggles and was slowly on trying to be better on handling her issues and facing up to them and accepting her flaws. She has a tender sweet soul that deserved the protection and love that Dom is willing to give to her if she can learn to trust in him.

The romance that develops between Dom and Val is not easy. Quickly they build a strong connection, they have great chemistry but also they can make each other blush and laugh and just enjoy the sweet moments that they have together. The little texts that they send to each other were so adorable. The heroine is such a weirdo but a cute one. I love her personality and Dom is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I love how he just loves the woman that she is and embraces her quirkiness. There is some conflict in the story (Spoiler Zone) as the hero isn't being honest about all of his intentions. His family is being targeted and he will do whatever it takes to protect them. He needs to be part of the alliance and the only way he sees a way to get in with Nero and King not trusting him, is to find a way to get Val to marry him. He literally drugs her and gets them married and the truth is revealed when they visit Val's brother and the truth comes out. But her brother at the time doesn't fight for her and knows her only home now is with Dom despite how much he has betrayed her. But she takes it in stride, she stands on her own but not in a spiteful way, just reacting in a way that she is hurt. But it soon becomes clear on the motivations on why Dom deceived her, and she understands it but it does take some time for her to forgive him. I actually loved how this conflict was address actually. It was done so delicately and I want to applaud the author for handling this aspect so so well. I also was endeared by how "cute" these two are together. When things are solid with them, their interactions just swept me away and I just was smiling the whole time. They were simply adorable and I couldn't get enough. And 500 pages was NOT enough for me haha I honestly want more of this couple.

What I Struggled With
The only thing is that every heroine this author writes is curvy. Not sure if thats just what this author does or if its this series but would have liked to see different body types for heroines but it could be this is the type she wants to focus on. Not a bad thing at all, just would like some balance as women come in all types.

Overall View
Dom is a brilliantly mastered romance that feeds the heart with warm feels, plenty of laughs, and a poignant relationship that strikes deep to the soul of the reader...ABSOLUTELY A STUNNING JEWEL OF A READ!

Favorite Quote(s)
“I need a taste of you, Angel. A taste of whatever you’ll give me.”

When you do things with purpose, you have nothing to apologize for.

'' Something about this man tells me he doesn't write his name on his luggage. He probably narrows his eyes at his suitcase, daring it to get lost''

My dad is a liar. My mom is a liar. I think I have siblings. But I think they hate me. And I don’t want to be hated. I just want to be loved.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance
Character Types: Alpha Hero, Mafia, Shy Heroine, Curvy Heroine
Themes: Lots of Laughs, Danger Elements, Meet Cute, Las Vegas Wedding
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Instant Love Connection

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix of both

Song This Book Inspires
Diamonds by Rhianna

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone, but reading in order is better for interconnecting character relationships.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

photo Addicted To Romance Reviews 2_zpsplp8m0tb.png ( )