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A review by annica_reads_books
Grievous by J.M. Darhower
5.0
Mafia Romance and Star Wars fans, don’t sleep on this duet!
I knew that I loved JM Darhower’s writing coming into this duet, but what I didn’t expect when I picked this story up was to experience the best damn mafia story I’ve ever read. I’ve been avoiding writing this review for weeks because I simply don’t know how to do it justice.
I go back and forth between wanting to tell everything I loved about this story to all of my friends, and keeping it a well-guarded secret so anyone reading this can go in completely blind and experience this duet the same way that I did. So, I’ll say this – the Scarlet Scars duet is so much more than a manufactured, cookie-cutter mafia story. Besides being a mafia romance, it has captive/captor dynamics, symbolism, an unpredictable plot, realistic and relevant dark themes and scenes, amazing humor, and some of the best damn protagonists I’ve ever met.
The heroine, Morgan (a.k.a. “Scarlet”), has now earned a spot in my favorite heroine hall of fame. I thought I loved her in the first book Menace. But then? I kept reading about her in the second book Grevious, and she got even better. If you want a formidable, intelligent heroine who is empathetic and has self-respect - Scarlet is your woman. She’s also absolutely the perfect compliment to our anti-hero, Lorenzo.
“Most days we just sit around, waiting for something to happen. It’s monotonous. The world, it’s all in black and white, but you? You’re so many shades of red, woman, and color me curious, but I find myself not so bored with your bullshit around.”
I don’t even know where to start with Lorenzo. This review has been the hardest to write because I want to convey how unique he is without spoiling anything for you. Lorenzo is the craziest motherfucker I’ve ever read about, and I’ve read some doozies. He numbers his employees so he doesn’t have to remember their names. He will shoot anyone for looking at him the wrong way. He’s no one’s hero, and he doesn’t want or claim to be. He’s unique and endearing, and spouts off some of the funniest things I have ever read in dark romance literature (I probably have 10-15 highlights per book with a note saying “LMFAO!”)! If you’re looking for a knight in shining armor, Lorenzo is NOT your guy. Lorenzo lives life the way he wants to, and it’s up to you to be able to live life at his pace.
“I see his conscience. I see his compassion. I’ve listened to the heart strongly beating in his chest that he desperately tries to silence to keep everyone from hearing.”
Simply put, this is the best mafia romance story I have ever read, and I don’t know if I’ll find anything else that compares for a long, long time. The story was intriguing on page one and kept getting better and better with each chapter – it’s paced to perfection. The Scarlet Scars duet has officially made my top reads of 2023 list, and my Goodreads Hall of Fame shelf. If you take one recommendation from me this year, please consider this duet among my highest-ranked books of 2023. I highly recommend this book to fans of dark romance (and Star Wars!).
I knew that I loved JM Darhower’s writing coming into this duet, but what I didn’t expect when I picked this story up was to experience the best damn mafia story I’ve ever read. I’ve been avoiding writing this review for weeks because I simply don’t know how to do it justice.
I go back and forth between wanting to tell everything I loved about this story to all of my friends, and keeping it a well-guarded secret so anyone reading this can go in completely blind and experience this duet the same way that I did. So, I’ll say this – the Scarlet Scars duet is so much more than a manufactured, cookie-cutter mafia story. Besides being a mafia romance, it has captive/captor dynamics, symbolism, an unpredictable plot, realistic and relevant dark themes and scenes, amazing humor, and some of the best damn protagonists I’ve ever met.
The heroine, Morgan (a.k.a. “Scarlet”), has now earned a spot in my favorite heroine hall of fame. I thought I loved her in the first book Menace. But then? I kept reading about her in the second book Grevious, and she got even better. If you want a formidable, intelligent heroine who is empathetic and has self-respect - Scarlet is your woman. She’s also absolutely the perfect compliment to our anti-hero, Lorenzo.
“Most days we just sit around, waiting for something to happen. It’s monotonous. The world, it’s all in black and white, but you? You’re so many shades of red, woman, and color me curious, but I find myself not so bored with your bullshit around.”
I don’t even know where to start with Lorenzo. This review has been the hardest to write because I want to convey how unique he is without spoiling anything for you. Lorenzo is the craziest motherfucker I’ve ever read about, and I’ve read some doozies. He numbers his employees so he doesn’t have to remember their names. He will shoot anyone for looking at him the wrong way. He’s no one’s hero, and he doesn’t want or claim to be. He’s unique and endearing, and spouts off some of the funniest things I have ever read in dark romance literature (I probably have 10-15 highlights per book with a note saying “LMFAO!”)! If you’re looking for a knight in shining armor, Lorenzo is NOT your guy. Lorenzo lives life the way he wants to, and it’s up to you to be able to live life at his pace.
“I see his conscience. I see his compassion. I’ve listened to the heart strongly beating in his chest that he desperately tries to silence to keep everyone from hearing.”
Simply put, this is the best mafia romance story I have ever read, and I don’t know if I’ll find anything else that compares for a long, long time. The story was intriguing on page one and kept getting better and better with each chapter – it’s paced to perfection. The Scarlet Scars duet has officially made my top reads of 2023 list, and my Goodreads Hall of Fame shelf. If you take one recommendation from me this year, please consider this duet among my highest-ranked books of 2023. I highly recommend this book to fans of dark romance (and Star Wars!).