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Kingpins of the Syndicate #1
Villainous Kingpin
Basilio DiLustro.
Charming. Deadly. A monster dressed in a three-piece-suit.
Wynter Star.
Realist with the most romantic of hearts, hiding it all under her ice princess fame.
The two were never meant to cross paths. When they do, worlds collide and volcanoes erupt.
Basilio makes her feel everything when she’s with him. Protected. Loved. Desired.
Every monster has a weakness. She’s his. His obsession. His addiction. His only salvation.
Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies. And when history comes knocking, it could shatter everything.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morally grey men.
Arrogant. Ruthless. Deadly.
They are the Kingpins of the Syndicate.
Daughters of monsters.
Hiding in plain sight and away from the underworld. Seemingly innocent, they wreak havoc among criminals.
Can they rule together, without tearing each other apart?
Recommended reading order:
1. Corrupted Pleasure - full size prequel
2. Villainous Kingpin
3. Devious Kingpin
4. Scandalous Kingpin
5. Ravenous Kingpin
Charming. Deadly. A monster dressed in a three-piece-suit.
Wynter Star.
Realist with the most romantic of hearts, hiding it all under her ice princess fame.
The two were never meant to cross paths. When they do, worlds collide and volcanoes erupt.
Basilio makes her feel everything when she’s with him. Protected. Loved. Desired.
Every monster has a weakness. She’s his. His obsession. His addiction. His only salvation.
Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies. And when history comes knocking, it could shatter everything.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morally grey men.
Arrogant. Ruthless. Deadly.
They are the Kingpins of the Syndicate.
Daughters of monsters.
Hiding in plain sight and away from the underworld. Seemingly innocent, they wreak havoc among criminals.
Can they rule together, without tearing each other apart?
Recommended reading order:
1. Corrupted Pleasure - full size prequel
2. Villainous Kingpin
3. Devious Kingpin
4. Scandalous Kingpin
5. Ravenous Kingpin
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2022
999 people are currently reading
3,766 people want to read
About the author
Eva Winners
49 books3,506 followersEva released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing feverishly ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.
She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails or exploring the beaches.
Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.
Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you'll never want to leave.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails or exploring the beaches.
Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.
Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you'll never want to leave.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews
January 30, 2023
This book was a roller coaster.
I loved the connection between the characters and I already knew some of them. And they didn’t disappoint.
It’s worth the reading.
I loved the connection between the characters and I already knew some of them. And they didn’t disappoint.
It’s worth the reading.
August 5, 2022
EVA!!!!!! THIS IS A MASTERPIECE. I LOVE IT SO MUCH IT MADE ME ADDICTED!!!! THE ROMANCE, THE PLOT TWIST, THE ACTIONS, MYSTERY, UNDERGROUND MAFIA WORLD, FUNNY SCENES, FAMILY SCENES, THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE COUPLE AND THE WHOLE STORY IS FREAKIN GREAT!!! MY KIND OF BOOK😍😍😍😍 LIKE SERIOUSLY FROM THE BEGINNING TILL THE END IT WAS SOOOOO FUN!!!! I KEEP ME READING IT ALL NIGHT CAUSE HOW GOOD THE STORY IS. EVA YOU SERIOUSLY MADE ME ADDICTED READING YOUR BOOKS NOW. I WANT MORE AND I WANTED IT NOW😍😍 LIKE OH MY GOODNESS😍😍 Can i just say eva made to my top ten favourite authors now!
I LOVE YOU AUTHOR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MORE STARS!!!!!
“Nobody will separate me from you. Not gods. Not heaven. Not hell. You’ll forever be mine. I’ll have you, and you’ll have me. Until death do us part.”
“She was mine, from the very moment she landed in my arms. And I’d burn this whole motherfucking world down to keep her.”
🥺🥺🥺🥺
IF YOU WANT A OVER THE TOP POSSESSIVE VERY PROTECTIVE AND VERY OBSESSED HERO THEN READ THIS😍😍😍😍 ESPECIALLY THE PLOT TWIST OMG IS SO VERY ADDICTING AND FUN TO READ😍😍😍😍😍
YOU NEED TO READ THIS NOW!!!!
THE STORY IS WRITTEN WELL AND NOT BORING AT ALL!!!!
If you ask me, is this a dark love story? My answer is no, no dark love story. The couple’s family and family history is a bit dark but not too dark to handle. And their love story is powerful and SO FREAKIN ROMANTIC I SAID AWEE MANY TIMES YOU HAVE NO IDEA. THEIR LOVE STORY IS THE BEST ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️❤️ That’s what keep me going and going cause the romance is so freakin romantic and hot just like what i wanted to read from a novel…. I even reading it slowly cause I don’t want to end🥲🥲🥲🥲
I’m so lucky to read and know this author cause her books is just wow⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌹 THE STORY BEGINS with the heroine at her cousin’s house with her bestest friends. And when the time is up for her to go to her dorm, she doesn’t want her uncle to know she was at their house so she secretly escaping by trying to jump from the balcony. But luckily, she catch a man who was there watching her from down bellow. She asked him to help her and he did. He said he will catch her if she trusts him… and she did trust him. And when he catch her, she landed in his arms perfectly… IN THAT MOMENT WHEN BOTH OF THEM LOOK LOCKED THEIR EYES TOGETHER, THEY BOTH KNOW THIS IS LOVE. LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT….
Even three months later when they meet again after that moment, both never go to anyone else and both are very loyal and keep thinking about one another. LIKE WOW WHAT A GREAT FIRST MEETING IT SO FREAKIN CUTE AND ROMANTIC🥺🥺😍
“She was my light. My sun. Without her, there was only darkness. She was my calm in the storm.”
‼️‼️‼️TRIGGERS: Mafia, High On Violence, Killing, Torturing, car cash, almost r*pe, deception, Guns, Hospital, Alcohol, Heist and PTSD.
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN.
‼️‼️‼️DUAL POV
‼️‼️‼️SAFE. VERY SAFE ROMANTIC HOT LOVE STORY…
‼️‼️‼️GREAT CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE COUPLE. THEIR LOVE AND CHEMISTRY IS SO FREAKIN ROMANTIC LIKE WOW.
Even though the hero is a italian mafia boss and the heroine had a very scheduled, they always make time for each other. They always have the best date, going somewhere and places and do things together so romantic. So it was so cute to see that… not many mafia romance has that so it was very nice to see this scenes. Thank you author.
‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING
‼️‼️‼️NO UNNECESSARY CHILDISH DRAMA AND NO EX FVCK BUDDY OR EX PARTNER SHOWS UP. ZERO. (Eva you’re the best!)
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS 28 years old and the heroine is 21 years old.
‼️‼️‼️LOCATION: NEW YORK CITY, the Hamptons, Pennsylvania, Portugal and las vegas.
‼️‼️‼️LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT.
The hero called her princess when he first meet her and he’s being very protective as well🥺 He was trying to find the heroine again after they meet but the heroine didn’t give her last name so it was hard for him to find her… but he finds her again after three months later…
“I had never felt the instant need for someone. Fucking ever! But something about her did it for me. How many times has she crossed my mind over the last three months? More than I cared to admit.”
“I’d come to the realization that I’d been pining after Wynter since she first landed in my arms three months ago. I thought about her way too often since that night, but I came to terms she’d forever stay a mystery. It was better that way - for her and for me. But then we crossed paths and I’d made her mine, whether she liked it or not. And she did, just as I did. She had a body I wanted to bury myself in. Her smiles were my own personal version of heaven.“
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS a world-renowned Olympic skater and Olympic gold medalist ice skating champion 😍😍 The heroine’s personality is very nice though, not arrogant, and she is also very friendly. She’s very beautiful and have many guys flirting with her but she always ignored them. She is strong,caring and sassy woman. She is very smart and great poker player too😍😍😍 like so many interesting things about this heroine it was so great to read this… She is also funny lol.
The heroine knows the hero is a mafia boss and killing all that stuff but she never scared of him…. She never ever did. She accepted him even after knowing his family history…. She never questioned him about his mafia thing, she never judge him and she never treated him differently even before they even started dating. So this heroine right here is the best! (I hated when a heroine is all judgemental about the hero being in mafia or she’s being difficult about it. So I’m glad this heroine is really just the best)
“She was so goddamn beautiful and kind, it almost hurt to look at her. She was so much better than I deserved.”
And the heroine loves the color pink😍😍😍😍 same like me 🤣
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OVER THE TOP POSSESSIVE VERY PROTECTIVE BILLIONAIRE MAFIA BOSS ALPHA MALE.
He is not a manwhor3. He doesn’t talk about his past like that often, only like one time he mentioned to himself and never more.
His protectiveness….. so freakin romantic and hot! At their first official date together, When a woman that married the hero’s bodyguard, she is trying to be disrespectful to the heroine because she was jealous. The hero immediately mad at the woman. And eventually kills her too because she report about the heroine’s whereabouts to his father that the hero doesn’t want him to know. ““I’ll cut your tongue out if you say another fucking rude word. Or even look at her wrong. And you know it’s never a good thing to be on my bad side, Emilia. For you or your husband. So you will show my woman respect.”
“I’d rather slice my dick off than hurt her.“
🥺🥺🥺🥺
The hero went through a lot growing up, LIKE A HELL A LOT. AND IT’S REALLY LIKE HELL. His dad is one of the most sick mafia boss ever so he grow up with a very sick man as his father. It’s so sad to see about his past with his father but it’s not much to see anyway just in case you wondering…. Do not worry.
The hero knows how to kill and tortured someone. So he is very a bad boss man but so soft and loving to the heroine🥺🥺🥺🥺 I like the way he always make sure he is clean after he kills someone so when he touch the heroine it was with his clean hands lol.
Even tho the hero went through a lot of hell growing up, he never brings that to the heroine or make her joined him in his darkest mind. He really treats her so better and so loving….
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO WANTS THE HEROINE SOOOO VERY BADLY…. THE HERO IS OBSESSED SOOOO FREAKIN OBSESSED WITH THE HEROINE…. LIKE SHE IS HIS EVERYTHING AND THE LIGHT IN HIS LIFE. HE SAID THAT TOO MANY TIMES… THE HERO ALWAYS SAY THE MOST ROMANTIC WORDS TO THE HEROINE 🥺🥺🥺🥺 HE WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO HAVE HER AND TO MAKE HER HAPPY🥺
Since they first started to officially date, the hero made their selfie as his screen saver🥺
“I already started looking into buying clubs that she could rob with her girlfriends.” (Cause the heroine was involved with her friends on a heist thing lol)
“I wanted to lay my claim on her. Never let her go. It was that very moment I realized if there was anything in this world that could weaken me, it was her. I’d sacrifice everything and everyone for her. To keep her with me. I’d never let her go.“
“She was the only one that held the power to my destruction and didn’t even know it.”
He willing to have a mafia war so he could keep and have the heroine... Even when the heroine’s uncle offer him millions of dollar to give up the heroine, he refused immediately… “You can have a war, Brennan, but Wynter is mine either way.”
🥺🥺🥺
‼️‼️‼️VERY VERY HOT S3X SCENES😏😏😏😏🥵 the hero really worships her body. the hero really knows how to make the heroine feels so good… the hero didn’t use protection but he was clean and he said he never fvcks someone bareback.
WHEN THE HERO KNOWS AND FEEL THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN. HE WAS SO HAPPY.
“I’d be the only one to ever feel her clench around me. I’d be the only man to ever have her.”
Their first time doing it… it was very special and the hero really make it so romantic. It was in a bed full of roses🥺😍
‼️‼️‼️MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO…. MANY. AND VERY LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE…
“Men’s eyes ate her up, greedy for a glimpse of her smooth skin. My eyes traveled over her body in what must have been the shortest white dress on the planet. I had never complained about a woman wearing so little before. So this was a first. Every single pair of eyes in this bar was on them. A burning ball of energy shot through me and singed my insides. “What the fvck?” I growled, glaring at all the men. I wanted to kill them all. Maybe I could break a beer bottle and use it as a weapon. Slash everyone’s throat one at a time.”
“And me… It made me jealous of every frozen surface on this fucking planet. When she skated her eyes gleamed and her face glowed like candlelight in the dark of the night. Like she had just been thoroughly fucked. And I was fucking jealous. I wanted to melt every goddamn piece of ice on this earth so she’d only look at me that way. And her partner. If he came anywhere near her again, he’d be a dead man. She’d only look at me like that going forward. Motherfcker!”
“Blood rushed into my cock, watching her gorgeous body in a sports bra and skin-tight shorts that barely covered her ass. And fuck, she had a nice ass. My cousins better stay the fuck away from here. I’d gouge their eyes out if they even look her way.”
“Speculation has been that the two of them are a couple,”
Emory chimed in unhelpfully and unknowingl y fed the rage boiling inside me.
“She denied it, but her partner refused to confirm or deny, which feeds all the frenzy about them.”
I’ll hunt him down and kill him, I resolved.
😄😄🙈
“I fucking hated seeing her with him. His hands on her body.” (That was the heroine’s skating partner so of course he have to touch her when they were doing the competition).
“I wouldn’t let another man hold Wynter. She was mine now, and I’d be the only man touching her.”
‼️‼️‼️IT HAS SEPARATION FOR NINE MONTHS…. BUT BOTH ARE VERY LOYAL AND NEVER TOUCH ANYONE ELSE EVER….
Technically the heroine is living with a male friend that she trusted and who is also a family friend that can protect her. They lived together for months like three months then she lived with her mother afterwards who is her coach… But her and the male friend never romantically or sexually touch each other, never. The male friend considered her as a little sister and also a best friend cause she talks to him about the tragic thing that happened to her… i love their friendship cause he really make sure she’s mentally and physically okay. he knows the heroine only loves the hero so he never tries anything…
also the heroine’s skating partner kiss her lips but she immediately push him away cause he did that on purpose for the tv. But the hero saw that and it wasn’t really good lol. “I gripped my glass like my sanity depended on it, the cracking of glass mirroring the state of my heart and soul. The sound of breaking glass filled the room and shattered around me. Hearing the broadcaster rave about the couple felt like a blow to the stomach. It stole my breath away, turned my blood to fire, then killed something inside me. I lost it. I reached for my gun and pulled the trigger. The TV screen sparked. Then I destroyed every goddamn thing in Emory’s (emory is his little sister) living room.”
The hero in those months went searching for her and killing anyone who might be responsible for her disappearance… “The notion of taking any other woman to bed was sickening.”
“Without her, there was only darkness. She was my calm in the storm. When she walked away from me, she took the only light in my life, as well as my heart. Or maybe it just stopped working, I away from me, she took the only light in my life, as well as my heart. Or maybe it just stopped working, I roads led me to her and God help me, I’d keep her. At. All. Fucking. Costs. I was nothing without her.”
‼️‼️‼️OF COURSE WE GET TO SEE OTHERS OF THE FAMILY AND FAMILY FRIENDS MEMBERS HERE…. SASHA, ALEXEI, AURORA, NICO, BIANCA, AURORA’S BROTHERS WHO IS THE HERO’S COUSINS AND MANY MORE…. Alexei and aurora son is so adorable🥺 thank you author for adding that up! I hope we get to see more adorable babies and kids in the future 🥺🥺🙏🏼🙏🏼
Kostya’s hand reached out. “Mine,” he wailed.
“Jesus, he’s already possessive,” Aurora mused
“Must be the genes.”
Surprising all of us, Bas chuckled. “Ah no little buddy. She’s mine. You find your own princess.”
😄😄😄🤣🥺🥺🥺adorable!
‼️‼️‼️NO DRAMA WITH OW. Only drama with OM but the OM is not exactly the heroine’s crush or ex of anything. But the hero thought the om likes her when he’s not though. Other drama is about their family history and enemies…
‼️‼️‼️NO PUSHING AWAY.
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO ALWAYS SAYS TO ANYONE AND TO THE HEROINE AND HIMSELF: YOU ARE MINE. MINE. SHE’S MINE. MINE. MINE…..
‼️‼️‼️MANY FUNNY SCENES THAT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH TOO😄😄
‼️‼️‼️NO TALKING ABOUT EX PARTNER OR EX WHATEVER.
‼️‼️‼️HAPPY ENDING….
“Wynter. You are my star, moon, and sun. I love you and I’ll never give you up. It’d take a better man than me. It's a good thing we’ve established from the beginning that I'm not a good man. I’m a villain.”
Seven years later.
With kids and pregnant too.
Still loving and the hero is still very much obsessed 🥺 Their kids is so funny too is so freakin adorable 😍😍😍😍
‼️‼️‼️AUTHOR I LOVE YOU. PLEASE MAKE MORE CAUSE THIS NEW SERIES OF YOURS IS ADDICTING TO ME. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS😚😚😚😚😚🥺🥺🥺🌹
👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽Thank you so much for reading my review❤️❤️
I’m writing my disclaimer again here cause many negative people still don't get it or still be stupid enough not to understand my POV when I already write it so many times before. So here I am writing it again to you beautifuls human being😁😁 WHEN YOU READ MY LONG OR SHORT REVIEW, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT A STORY AND CHARACTERS RIGHT... IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEN HERE IT IS: I LIKE A BOOK WITH VERY POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE ALPHA MALE, NO CHEATING, AND PLEASE NO MANWHOR3, NO MANY PUSHING AWAY, NO DOORMAT HEROINES, NO MANY OW DRAMA, NO S3X SCENE WITH SOMEONE ELSE. AND SAFE ALL THE WAY AND A HAPPY ENDING. Something that I don't like it very much if the hero or heroine have a crazy fvcked up personality and likes. Example: killing someone and let the heroine watch it all and push the heroine to lick all the blood of his victim and made her have to eat the meat of humans. and fvcks many woman in front of the heroine while telling her he loves her. I DON'T LIKE THAT TYPE OF SH*T AT ALL. That's just who I am, that's what I like and I don't like on a book. Maybe you love that, but I don't. We humans are different, we think very differently from one another. You have your likes and I have mine, you have your opinions and I have mine of my own. You think it's stupid of me to love such a book or to not love a book or to hate it whatever lol, I think it's bad you think that way cause I respect people's opinions cause I know for a fact we have our differences. YOU AND ME ARE DIFFERENT FOR PETE'S SAKE. I even have my own friends or people I follow here that shows how much they don't like the book I like, I never even give them a long comment or short Comment. Cause I respect their opinions. I don't like to give people I hard time here cause life itself is already hard enough. I do respect your opinion if you say my review is bad or whatever negative things about it, but in the end of the day I will not changed my mind about what book I dislike and how my thoughts about it. You can't tell me what to do. You can give me advice but it's me who decided to know what's right for me, this is my life and not yours. Read that again. Don’t assume things about me that is not even real, just don’t. cause when you do you’re more small minded for sure. You're thinking why I'm telling you all of this when you already know? Is because you still hating on my opinions and don't understand my POV and don't respect my POV. You think i like writing this disclaimer when obviously you're an adult already? no i personally think this is unnecessary... but because there are people out there who still don't get it *rolling my eyes*. Hopefully they or the people who read this disclaimer can use a beautiful thing called a brain:) AND WHEN YOU READ MY REVIEW, READ IT VERY CLEARLY TO SEE IF I FINISHED THE BOOK OR NOT. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. AND YES ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE. BUT IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M WRITING, THEN IT MEANS YOU UNDERSTAND IT ENOUGH. I DO NOT TOLERATE BULLYING, NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND MEAN WORDS. PLEASE USE A WISE WORDS SO WE DON'T ATTACK EACH OTHER. SIMPLY, I DON’T LIKE TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH STRANGERS LIKE YOU CAUSE I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO😚 BUT IF YOU STILL WANT TO BE AMBER HEARD KARENS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND MY DISCLAIMER AFTER I JUST WRITE IT DOWN, THEN GO ENJOY YOUR DAY AND GO AWAY. IT'S VERY EASY FOR A HUMAN COULD DO YA KNOW. IF YOU STILL HERE HATING ME OR ANNOYED WITH ME, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM. NOT ME PROBLEM. HASHTAGS BURN😂😂 DON'T TAKE THINGS TOO PERSONALLY ON ONLINE CAUSE WE ALL A STRANGERS, WE NEVER EVER MEET. WE'RE ADULTS HERE SO LETS BE WISER. LAST, I BLOCK NEGATIVE PEOPLE! SO GET WELL SOON TO THE HATERS. HOPEFULLY YOUR HEART AND MIND WILL BE MORE POSITIVE 🙏🙏🙏 AND THIS DISCLAIMER MAY SEEMS LIKE TOO HARSH ON YOU BUT HEY I DON'T LIKE TO SUGAR COATED THINGS. I LIKE TO SAY TO THE POINT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY OWN THOUGHTS, CAUSE THAT'S HOW HUMANS ARE. WE ARE DIFFERENT REMEMBER👍 HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!
I LOVE YOU AUTHOR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MORE STARS!!!!!
“Nobody will separate me from you. Not gods. Not heaven. Not hell. You’ll forever be mine. I’ll have you, and you’ll have me. Until death do us part.”
“She was mine, from the very moment she landed in my arms. And I’d burn this whole motherfucking world down to keep her.”
🥺🥺🥺🥺
IF YOU WANT A OVER THE TOP POSSESSIVE VERY PROTECTIVE AND VERY OBSESSED HERO THEN READ THIS😍😍😍😍 ESPECIALLY THE PLOT TWIST OMG IS SO VERY ADDICTING AND FUN TO READ😍😍😍😍😍
YOU NEED TO READ THIS NOW!!!!
THE STORY IS WRITTEN WELL AND NOT BORING AT ALL!!!!
If you ask me, is this a dark love story? My answer is no, no dark love story. The couple’s family and family history is a bit dark but not too dark to handle. And their love story is powerful and SO FREAKIN ROMANTIC I SAID AWEE MANY TIMES YOU HAVE NO IDEA. THEIR LOVE STORY IS THE BEST ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️❤️ That’s what keep me going and going cause the romance is so freakin romantic and hot just like what i wanted to read from a novel…. I even reading it slowly cause I don’t want to end🥲🥲🥲🥲
I’m so lucky to read and know this author cause her books is just wow⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌹 THE STORY BEGINS with the heroine at her cousin’s house with her bestest friends. And when the time is up for her to go to her dorm, she doesn’t want her uncle to know she was at their house so she secretly escaping by trying to jump from the balcony. But luckily, she catch a man who was there watching her from down bellow. She asked him to help her and he did. He said he will catch her if she trusts him… and she did trust him. And when he catch her, she landed in his arms perfectly… IN THAT MOMENT WHEN BOTH OF THEM LOOK LOCKED THEIR EYES TOGETHER, THEY BOTH KNOW THIS IS LOVE. LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT….
Even three months later when they meet again after that moment, both never go to anyone else and both are very loyal and keep thinking about one another. LIKE WOW WHAT A GREAT FIRST MEETING IT SO FREAKIN CUTE AND ROMANTIC🥺🥺😍
“She was my light. My sun. Without her, there was only darkness. She was my calm in the storm.”
‼️‼️‼️TRIGGERS: Mafia, High On Violence, Killing, Torturing, car cash, almost r*pe, deception, Guns, Hospital, Alcohol, Heist and PTSD.
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN.
‼️‼️‼️DUAL POV
‼️‼️‼️SAFE. VERY SAFE ROMANTIC HOT LOVE STORY…
‼️‼️‼️GREAT CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE COUPLE. THEIR LOVE AND CHEMISTRY IS SO FREAKIN ROMANTIC LIKE WOW.
Even though the hero is a italian mafia boss and the heroine had a very scheduled, they always make time for each other. They always have the best date, going somewhere and places and do things together so romantic. So it was so cute to see that… not many mafia romance has that so it was very nice to see this scenes. Thank you author.
‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING
‼️‼️‼️NO UNNECESSARY CHILDISH DRAMA AND NO EX FVCK BUDDY OR EX PARTNER SHOWS UP. ZERO. (Eva you’re the best!)
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS 28 years old and the heroine is 21 years old.
‼️‼️‼️LOCATION: NEW YORK CITY, the Hamptons, Pennsylvania, Portugal and las vegas.
‼️‼️‼️LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT.
The hero called her princess when he first meet her and he’s being very protective as well🥺 He was trying to find the heroine again after they meet but the heroine didn’t give her last name so it was hard for him to find her… but he finds her again after three months later…
“I had never felt the instant need for someone. Fucking ever! But something about her did it for me. How many times has she crossed my mind over the last three months? More than I cared to admit.”
“I’d come to the realization that I’d been pining after Wynter since she first landed in my arms three months ago. I thought about her way too often since that night, but I came to terms she’d forever stay a mystery. It was better that way - for her and for me. But then we crossed paths and I’d made her mine, whether she liked it or not. And she did, just as I did. She had a body I wanted to bury myself in. Her smiles were my own personal version of heaven.“
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS a world-renowned Olympic skater and Olympic gold medalist ice skating champion 😍😍 The heroine’s personality is very nice though, not arrogant, and she is also very friendly. She’s very beautiful and have many guys flirting with her but she always ignored them. She is strong,caring and sassy woman. She is very smart and great poker player too😍😍😍 like so many interesting things about this heroine it was so great to read this… She is also funny lol.
The heroine knows the hero is a mafia boss and killing all that stuff but she never scared of him…. She never ever did. She accepted him even after knowing his family history…. She never questioned him about his mafia thing, she never judge him and she never treated him differently even before they even started dating. So this heroine right here is the best! (I hated when a heroine is all judgemental about the hero being in mafia or she’s being difficult about it. So I’m glad this heroine is really just the best)
“She was so goddamn beautiful and kind, it almost hurt to look at her. She was so much better than I deserved.”
And the heroine loves the color pink😍😍😍😍 same like me 🤣
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OVER THE TOP POSSESSIVE VERY PROTECTIVE BILLIONAIRE MAFIA BOSS ALPHA MALE.
He is not a manwhor3. He doesn’t talk about his past like that often, only like one time he mentioned to himself and never more.
His protectiveness….. so freakin romantic and hot! At their first official date together, When a woman that married the hero’s bodyguard, she is trying to be disrespectful to the heroine because she was jealous. The hero immediately mad at the woman. And eventually kills her too because she report about the heroine’s whereabouts to his father that the hero doesn’t want him to know. ““I’ll cut your tongue out if you say another fucking rude word. Or even look at her wrong. And you know it’s never a good thing to be on my bad side, Emilia. For you or your husband. So you will show my woman respect.”
“I’d rather slice my dick off than hurt her.“
🥺🥺🥺🥺
The hero went through a lot growing up, LIKE A HELL A LOT. AND IT’S REALLY LIKE HELL. His dad is one of the most sick mafia boss ever so he grow up with a very sick man as his father. It’s so sad to see about his past with his father but it’s not much to see anyway just in case you wondering…. Do not worry.
The hero knows how to kill and tortured someone. So he is very a bad boss man but so soft and loving to the heroine🥺🥺🥺🥺 I like the way he always make sure he is clean after he kills someone so when he touch the heroine it was with his clean hands lol.
Even tho the hero went through a lot of hell growing up, he never brings that to the heroine or make her joined him in his darkest mind. He really treats her so better and so loving….
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO WANTS THE HEROINE SOOOO VERY BADLY…. THE HERO IS OBSESSED SOOOO FREAKIN OBSESSED WITH THE HEROINE…. LIKE SHE IS HIS EVERYTHING AND THE LIGHT IN HIS LIFE. HE SAID THAT TOO MANY TIMES… THE HERO ALWAYS SAY THE MOST ROMANTIC WORDS TO THE HEROINE 🥺🥺🥺🥺 HE WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO HAVE HER AND TO MAKE HER HAPPY🥺
Since they first started to officially date, the hero made their selfie as his screen saver🥺
“I already started looking into buying clubs that she could rob with her girlfriends.” (Cause the heroine was involved with her friends on a heist thing lol)
“I wanted to lay my claim on her. Never let her go. It was that very moment I realized if there was anything in this world that could weaken me, it was her. I’d sacrifice everything and everyone for her. To keep her with me. I’d never let her go.“
“She was the only one that held the power to my destruction and didn’t even know it.”
He willing to have a mafia war so he could keep and have the heroine... Even when the heroine’s uncle offer him millions of dollar to give up the heroine, he refused immediately… “You can have a war, Brennan, but Wynter is mine either way.”
🥺🥺🥺
‼️‼️‼️VERY VERY HOT S3X SCENES😏😏😏😏🥵 the hero really worships her body. the hero really knows how to make the heroine feels so good… the hero didn’t use protection but he was clean and he said he never fvcks someone bareback.
WHEN THE HERO KNOWS AND FEEL THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN. HE WAS SO HAPPY.
“I’d be the only one to ever feel her clench around me. I’d be the only man to ever have her.”
Their first time doing it… it was very special and the hero really make it so romantic. It was in a bed full of roses🥺😍
‼️‼️‼️MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO…. MANY. AND VERY LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE…
“Men’s eyes ate her up, greedy for a glimpse of her smooth skin. My eyes traveled over her body in what must have been the shortest white dress on the planet. I had never complained about a woman wearing so little before. So this was a first. Every single pair of eyes in this bar was on them. A burning ball of energy shot through me and singed my insides. “What the fvck?” I growled, glaring at all the men. I wanted to kill them all. Maybe I could break a beer bottle and use it as a weapon. Slash everyone’s throat one at a time.”
“And me… It made me jealous of every frozen surface on this fucking planet. When she skated her eyes gleamed and her face glowed like candlelight in the dark of the night. Like she had just been thoroughly fucked. And I was fucking jealous. I wanted to melt every goddamn piece of ice on this earth so she’d only look at me that way. And her partner. If he came anywhere near her again, he’d be a dead man. She’d only look at me like that going forward. Motherfcker!”
“Blood rushed into my cock, watching her gorgeous body in a sports bra and skin-tight shorts that barely covered her ass. And fuck, she had a nice ass. My cousins better stay the fuck away from here. I’d gouge their eyes out if they even look her way.”
“Speculation has been that the two of them are a couple,”
Emory chimed in unhelpfully and unknowingl y fed the rage boiling inside me.
“She denied it, but her partner refused to confirm or deny, which feeds all the frenzy about them.”
I’ll hunt him down and kill him, I resolved.
😄😄🙈
“I fucking hated seeing her with him. His hands on her body.” (That was the heroine’s skating partner so of course he have to touch her when they were doing the competition).
“I wouldn’t let another man hold Wynter. She was mine now, and I’d be the only man touching her.”
‼️‼️‼️IT HAS SEPARATION FOR NINE MONTHS…. BUT BOTH ARE VERY LOYAL AND NEVER TOUCH ANYONE ELSE EVER….
Technically the heroine is living with a male friend that she trusted and who is also a family friend that can protect her. They lived together for months like three months then she lived with her mother afterwards who is her coach… But her and the male friend never romantically or sexually touch each other, never. The male friend considered her as a little sister and also a best friend cause she talks to him about the tragic thing that happened to her… i love their friendship cause he really make sure she’s mentally and physically okay. he knows the heroine only loves the hero so he never tries anything…
also the heroine’s skating partner kiss her lips but she immediately push him away cause he did that on purpose for the tv. But the hero saw that and it wasn’t really good lol. “I gripped my glass like my sanity depended on it, the cracking of glass mirroring the state of my heart and soul. The sound of breaking glass filled the room and shattered around me. Hearing the broadcaster rave about the couple felt like a blow to the stomach. It stole my breath away, turned my blood to fire, then killed something inside me. I lost it. I reached for my gun and pulled the trigger. The TV screen sparked. Then I destroyed every goddamn thing in Emory’s (emory is his little sister) living room.”
The hero in those months went searching for her and killing anyone who might be responsible for her disappearance… “The notion of taking any other woman to bed was sickening.”
“Without her, there was only darkness. She was my calm in the storm. When she walked away from me, she took the only light in my life, as well as my heart. Or maybe it just stopped working, I away from me, she took the only light in my life, as well as my heart. Or maybe it just stopped working, I roads led me to her and God help me, I’d keep her. At. All. Fucking. Costs. I was nothing without her.”
‼️‼️‼️OF COURSE WE GET TO SEE OTHERS OF THE FAMILY AND FAMILY FRIENDS MEMBERS HERE…. SASHA, ALEXEI, AURORA, NICO, BIANCA, AURORA’S BROTHERS WHO IS THE HERO’S COUSINS AND MANY MORE…. Alexei and aurora son is so adorable🥺 thank you author for adding that up! I hope we get to see more adorable babies and kids in the future 🥺🥺🙏🏼🙏🏼
Kostya’s hand reached out. “Mine,” he wailed.
“Jesus, he’s already possessive,” Aurora mused
“Must be the genes.”
Surprising all of us, Bas chuckled. “Ah no little buddy. She’s mine. You find your own princess.”
😄😄😄🤣🥺🥺🥺adorable!
‼️‼️‼️NO DRAMA WITH OW. Only drama with OM but the OM is not exactly the heroine’s crush or ex of anything. But the hero thought the om likes her when he’s not though. Other drama is about their family history and enemies…
‼️‼️‼️NO PUSHING AWAY.
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO ALWAYS SAYS TO ANYONE AND TO THE HEROINE AND HIMSELF: YOU ARE MINE. MINE. SHE’S MINE. MINE. MINE…..
‼️‼️‼️MANY FUNNY SCENES THAT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH TOO😄😄
‼️‼️‼️NO TALKING ABOUT EX PARTNER OR EX WHATEVER.
‼️‼️‼️HAPPY ENDING….
“Wynter. You are my star, moon, and sun. I love you and I’ll never give you up. It’d take a better man than me. It's a good thing we’ve established from the beginning that I'm not a good man. I’m a villain.”
Seven years later.
With kids and pregnant too.
Still loving and the hero is still very much obsessed 🥺 Their kids is so funny too is so freakin adorable 😍😍😍😍
‼️‼️‼️AUTHOR I LOVE YOU. PLEASE MAKE MORE CAUSE THIS NEW SERIES OF YOURS IS ADDICTING TO ME. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS😚😚😚😚😚🥺🥺🥺🌹
👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽Thank you so much for reading my review❤️❤️
I’m writing my disclaimer again here cause many negative people still don't get it or still be stupid enough not to understand my POV when I already write it so many times before. So here I am writing it again to you beautifuls human being😁😁 WHEN YOU READ MY LONG OR SHORT REVIEW, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT A STORY AND CHARACTERS RIGHT... IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEN HERE IT IS: I LIKE A BOOK WITH VERY POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE ALPHA MALE, NO CHEATING, AND PLEASE NO MANWHOR3, NO MANY PUSHING AWAY, NO DOORMAT HEROINES, NO MANY OW DRAMA, NO S3X SCENE WITH SOMEONE ELSE. AND SAFE ALL THE WAY AND A HAPPY ENDING. Something that I don't like it very much if the hero or heroine have a crazy fvcked up personality and likes. Example: killing someone and let the heroine watch it all and push the heroine to lick all the blood of his victim and made her have to eat the meat of humans. and fvcks many woman in front of the heroine while telling her he loves her. I DON'T LIKE THAT TYPE OF SH*T AT ALL. That's just who I am, that's what I like and I don't like on a book. Maybe you love that, but I don't. We humans are different, we think very differently from one another. You have your likes and I have mine, you have your opinions and I have mine of my own. You think it's stupid of me to love such a book or to not love a book or to hate it whatever lol, I think it's bad you think that way cause I respect people's opinions cause I know for a fact we have our differences. YOU AND ME ARE DIFFERENT FOR PETE'S SAKE. I even have my own friends or people I follow here that shows how much they don't like the book I like, I never even give them a long comment or short Comment. Cause I respect their opinions. I don't like to give people I hard time here cause life itself is already hard enough. I do respect your opinion if you say my review is bad or whatever negative things about it, but in the end of the day I will not changed my mind about what book I dislike and how my thoughts about it. You can't tell me what to do. You can give me advice but it's me who decided to know what's right for me, this is my life and not yours. Read that again. Don’t assume things about me that is not even real, just don’t. cause when you do you’re more small minded for sure. You're thinking why I'm telling you all of this when you already know? Is because you still hating on my opinions and don't understand my POV and don't respect my POV. You think i like writing this disclaimer when obviously you're an adult already? no i personally think this is unnecessary... but because there are people out there who still don't get it *rolling my eyes*. Hopefully they or the people who read this disclaimer can use a beautiful thing called a brain:) AND WHEN YOU READ MY REVIEW, READ IT VERY CLEARLY TO SEE IF I FINISHED THE BOOK OR NOT. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. AND YES ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE. BUT IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M WRITING, THEN IT MEANS YOU UNDERSTAND IT ENOUGH. I DO NOT TOLERATE BULLYING, NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND MEAN WORDS. PLEASE USE A WISE WORDS SO WE DON'T ATTACK EACH OTHER. SIMPLY, I DON’T LIKE TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH STRANGERS LIKE YOU CAUSE I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO😚 BUT IF YOU STILL WANT TO BE AMBER HEARD KARENS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND MY DISCLAIMER AFTER I JUST WRITE IT DOWN, THEN GO ENJOY YOUR DAY AND GO AWAY. IT'S VERY EASY FOR A HUMAN COULD DO YA KNOW. IF YOU STILL HERE HATING ME OR ANNOYED WITH ME, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM. NOT ME PROBLEM. HASHTAGS BURN😂😂 DON'T TAKE THINGS TOO PERSONALLY ON ONLINE CAUSE WE ALL A STRANGERS, WE NEVER EVER MEET. WE'RE ADULTS HERE SO LETS BE WISER. LAST, I BLOCK NEGATIVE PEOPLE! SO GET WELL SOON TO THE HATERS. HOPEFULLY YOUR HEART AND MIND WILL BE MORE POSITIVE 🙏🙏🙏 AND THIS DISCLAIMER MAY SEEMS LIKE TOO HARSH ON YOU BUT HEY I DON'T LIKE TO SUGAR COATED THINGS. I LIKE TO SAY TO THE POINT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY OWN THOUGHTS, CAUSE THAT'S HOW HUMANS ARE. WE ARE DIFFERENT REMEMBER👍 HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''Every monster has a weakness and she's mine''
Safety warnings:
- H 28 / h 20
- No cheating
- No OM/OW drama
- Attempted assault/r*pe
- Mention of r*ape
- Physical abuse
- Mention of child abuse
- Torture
- Violence/d*ath
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Been meaning to read this book and more of Eva's books for ages and I hope I can get around to it!
Basilio is everything I love in my morally grey men. He is OTT, jealous, possessive, obsessed and madly in love with his girl. I love how from the moment he met her he saw nobody else, nothing else mattered. He was all about Wynter. He treated her with respect and care, he took care of her when she just merely asked for it and he tried his damn hardest to protect her to the fullest.
Wynter was immature at times and it's only acceptable to me since she was raised so sheltered from the life she always knew existed (the underworld as her uncle is the Irish mafia boss). She was also an Olympic figure skater who has won gold (when she was 17). She goes by a completely different identity in the public and it seemed unrealistic at times, but I let it go since this isn't a reality.
She was a virgin and the way he treated her throughout it all was so cute, he was protective of her and wanted to make sure she had the most incredible rememberable night with him. After a few months together he proposes to her, and she accepts but that is when all hell breaks loose between them.
Bas is not at home and Wynter sees his gross/disturbing/unhinged father and is almost raped by him, he tells her Bas always planned for this and was using her to get the in with the Russians. You see she is the lost granddaughter of the Russian Pakhan and everyone wants to find her. She runs away after she shoots him in the leg (twice) and goes off running far far away. Bas is distraught and looks for her for 9 months and he finally sees her competing in the Olympics lol the moment he realized this 20-year-old played him like a fiddle is hilarious since he spent months thinking she was kidnapped by the Russians and being held, only to find out she is alive and well and refusing to see him.
I should mention that once he realizes she was alive and well, he figures she LEFT him. Walked away without a second glance and that causes him to be extremely upset but at the same time Wynter believes he plotted against her and was using her. These two needed to communicate and Bas did but Wynter kept keeping the true reason from him since she was afraid of him and what it might truly reveal.
Once it is all revealed Bas goes for the kill and gets his father, he tortured him but because of rules within the mafia and syndicate he cannot give the killing blow and hands it over to Sasha (a Russian who protected Wyn during the entire 9 months).
We met a lot of characters that obviously had books prior to this one, it was a bit confusing with the histories they each shared as I have not read any of them! I will need to go back and get that sorted ASAP.
Bas really made this book for me though; his devotion was unmatched! He was celibate the entire time they were separated and hated the idea of never finding her and being forced to have an heir to keep his family legacy going. She was celibate as well during their separation.
Now where was he during the time his father tried to rape her? He went to pick up the engagement ring he had gotten for her!
''Every monster has a weakness and she's mine''
Safety warnings:
- H 28 / h 20
- No cheating
- No OM/OW drama
- Attempted assault/r*pe
- Mention of r*ape
- Physical abuse
- Mention of child abuse
- Torture
- Violence/d*ath
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
Been meaning to read this book and more of Eva's books for ages and I hope I can get around to it!
Basilio is everything I love in my morally grey men. He is OTT, jealous, possessive, obsessed and madly in love with his girl. I love how from the moment he met her he saw nobody else, nothing else mattered. He was all about Wynter. He treated her with respect and care, he took care of her when she just merely asked for it and he tried his damn hardest to protect her to the fullest.
Wynter was immature at times and it's only acceptable to me since she was raised so sheltered from the life she always knew existed (the underworld as her uncle is the Irish mafia boss). She was also an Olympic figure skater who has won gold (when she was 17). She goes by a completely different identity in the public and it seemed unrealistic at times, but I let it go since this isn't a reality.
She was a virgin and the way he treated her throughout it all was so cute, he was protective of her and wanted to make sure she had the most incredible rememberable night with him. After a few months together he proposes to her, and she accepts but that is when all hell breaks loose between them.
Bas is not at home and Wynter sees his gross/disturbing/unhinged father and is almost raped by him, he tells her Bas always planned for this and was using her to get the in with the Russians. You see she is the lost granddaughter of the Russian Pakhan and everyone wants to find her. She runs away after she shoots him in the leg (twice) and goes off running far far away. Bas is distraught and looks for her for 9 months and he finally sees her competing in the Olympics lol the moment he realized this 20-year-old played him like a fiddle is hilarious since he spent months thinking she was kidnapped by the Russians and being held, only to find out she is alive and well and refusing to see him.
I should mention that once he realizes she was alive and well, he figures she LEFT him. Walked away without a second glance and that causes him to be extremely upset but at the same time Wynter believes he plotted against her and was using her. These two needed to communicate and Bas did but Wynter kept keeping the true reason from him since she was afraid of him and what it might truly reveal.
Once it is all revealed Bas goes for the kill and gets his father, he tortured him but because of rules within the mafia and syndicate he cannot give the killing blow and hands it over to Sasha (a Russian who protected Wyn during the entire 9 months).
We met a lot of characters that obviously had books prior to this one, it was a bit confusing with the histories they each shared as I have not read any of them! I will need to go back and get that sorted ASAP.
Bas really made this book for me though; his devotion was unmatched! He was celibate the entire time they were separated and hated the idea of never finding her and being forced to have an heir to keep his family legacy going. She was celibate as well during their separation.
Now where was he during the time his father tried to rape her? He went to pick up the engagement ring he had gotten for her!
August 1, 2022
Eva Winners is an amazing writer. Her stories are always filled to the brim with action and swoons. Most of them feel like heartfelt sagas with so much drama and a mix of different mafia families out for revenge. I loved Bas and Wynter. They were all swoons and passion!
Villainous Kingpin was very addicting. Bas and Wynter were sexy and I loved seeing their story from the very beginning. I will admit that at times I was somewhat lost as there was SO much drama, secrets and a ton of characters (including from the Belles & Mobsters series) that it was hard to keep track of what was going on and who everyone was even though I have read every story by Winners. Furthermore, I'm not a huge fan of large (distance) separations between the h and H so that frustrated me a little bit. Overall, though, this was a great story and has made me look forward to Sasha's book even more! 4 stars! ~Ratula ❤️
Villainous Kingpin was very addicting. Bas and Wynter were sexy and I loved seeing their story from the very beginning. I will admit that at times I was somewhat lost as there was SO much drama, secrets and a ton of characters (including from the Belles & Mobsters series) that it was hard to keep track of what was going on and who everyone was even though I have read every story by Winners. Furthermore, I'm not a huge fan of large (distance) separations between the h and H so that frustrated me a little bit. Overall, though, this was a great story and has made me look forward to Sasha's book even more! 4 stars! ~Ratula ❤️
October 22, 2024
This romance started out so thrilling. The starry-eyed feeling of falling in love and the titillation of attraction to a new person. This author really brought that to life. It becomes vital that we believe how hard and fast Wynter & Bas fall for each other so that we understand how far they will go for their love later on.
I liked how hopeful Wynter made Bas feel and how fearless he helped her to be too. I really loved them together and I wanted the whole world for them.
Unfortunately, things are going a bit too well early on and it's clear things are gonna get rough. I was listening on tender hooks when it all went wrong. It was gut-wrenching. When the hope of a bright future is lost... it was devastating and that's because of the work done in the beginning to make us love them together.
Where the weakness in this story was for me, was the length... I could tell that other characters from previous books were inserted a lot. I'm sure if I had read Eva Winners backlist I would have liked that more. But as a newbie to her, it made this book feel bloated and I was skimming waiting for things to move forward for Wynter and Bas. It had me grinding my teeth. I just don't think that was the best choice. It took a lot of air out of the story and took the focus from out couple.
Overall, I liked it, but it was a struggle to push through at times. Luckily, Bas' possessive nature and Wynter's spine of steel brought me back into it. Their passion jumped off the page and was hard to resist.
Narrated in the Duet Style by Aaron Shedlock & Stella Hunter. I loved their performance and I was immediately engaged with this couple.
4 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: Attempted SA, SA, violence, gore, Loss of a child (not death), Abusive parent
*Thank you to Must Love Audio and the author for an ALC of this title.*
I liked how hopeful Wynter made Bas feel and how fearless he helped her to be too. I really loved them together and I wanted the whole world for them.
Unfortunately, things are going a bit too well early on and it's clear things are gonna get rough. I was listening on tender hooks when it all went wrong. It was gut-wrenching. When the hope of a bright future is lost... it was devastating and that's because of the work done in the beginning to make us love them together.
Where the weakness in this story was for me, was the length... I could tell that other characters from previous books were inserted a lot. I'm sure if I had read Eva Winners backlist I would have liked that more. But as a newbie to her, it made this book feel bloated and I was skimming waiting for things to move forward for Wynter and Bas. It had me grinding my teeth. I just don't think that was the best choice. It took a lot of air out of the story and took the focus from out couple.
Overall, I liked it, but it was a struggle to push through at times. Luckily, Bas' possessive nature and Wynter's spine of steel brought me back into it. Their passion jumped off the page and was hard to resist.
Narrated in the Duet Style by Aaron Shedlock & Stella Hunter. I loved their performance and I was immediately engaged with this couple.
4 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: Attempted SA, SA, violence, gore, Loss of a child (not death), Abusive parent
*Thank you to Must Love Audio and the author for an ALC of this title.*
July 31, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5)
Trope: Instalove, heroine in peril, second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.
Another great read in Eva Winner's mafia world! Villainous Kingpin is the first book in her new Kingpins of the Syndicate series and is a standalone, but with characters from many of her previous books. The story is told in first person, from multiple perspectives. In Villainous Kingpin we have the story of Basilio and Wynter who have a whirlwind romance after a spectacularly romantic meet-cute. But secrets, hurt feelings, and the actions of a truly evil man conspire to keep the two lovers apart. Separation has made both lovers change, but not Basilio's belief they should be together - even if he has to force Wynter to be with him.
Eva Winners totally delivers on the first book in what's sure to be another fantastic series! Great storyline with twists, secrets revealed, and turn all the way to the last page. It does get a little slow in the middle, but the beginning and the fantastic, action-packed ending more than make up for it. The character development is awesome and I appreciated the fact that Bas's character had as much depth as Wynter's. Bas is a little bit crazy, but definitely crazy for his girl. He was all in from day one and is fiercely protective of her and jealous of any man that looks at or touches her, lol. His abandonment issues gave him a vulnerability that made him that much more endearing. Wynter is definitely the light to his dark. She has a strong personality and lives her life at 110%. Wynter is the kind of girl who isn't afraid of anything except disappointing those she loves. Really was a great read and I loved seeing characters from all my favorite Eva Winner's books. Can't wait for the next one in the series!!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers
Trope: Instalove, heroine in peril, second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.
Another great read in Eva Winner's mafia world! Villainous Kingpin is the first book in her new Kingpins of the Syndicate series and is a standalone, but with characters from many of her previous books. The story is told in first person, from multiple perspectives. In Villainous Kingpin we have the story of Basilio and Wynter who have a whirlwind romance after a spectacularly romantic meet-cute. But secrets, hurt feelings, and the actions of a truly evil man conspire to keep the two lovers apart. Separation has made both lovers change, but not Basilio's belief they should be together - even if he has to force Wynter to be with him.
Eva Winners totally delivers on the first book in what's sure to be another fantastic series! Great storyline with twists, secrets revealed, and turn all the way to the last page. It does get a little slow in the middle, but the beginning and the fantastic, action-packed ending more than make up for it. The character development is awesome and I appreciated the fact that Bas's character had as much depth as Wynter's. Bas is a little bit crazy, but definitely crazy for his girl. He was all in from day one and is fiercely protective of her and jealous of any man that looks at or touches her, lol. His abandonment issues gave him a vulnerability that made him that much more endearing. Wynter is definitely the light to his dark. She has a strong personality and lives her life at 110%. Wynter is the kind of girl who isn't afraid of anything except disappointing those she loves. Really was a great read and I loved seeing characters from all my favorite Eva Winner's books. Can't wait for the next one in the series!!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers
August 2, 2022
this was my first time reading Eva Winners. i haven't read any of the previous books. as a first time reader of this particular author, i was pleasantly surprised by the easiness in her writing and the uncomplicated way in which she writes her books.
the world building or rather the introduction of relationships were complex but i like that the author didn't try to take it top seriously. so you as a reader cam understand the characters, their motives and their complexities.
as a criticism, i do have to point out that the conflicts were dragged on for too long and if a few pages could have been cut from the final edit, it would be a more engaging and well paced story. sometimes the dialogues can get cliche.
still i enjoyed it. it was pretty dark and steamy at times. i didn't get bored despite everything.
tropes in this book:
•boy obsessed
•minor age gap
•sports
•virgin heroine
•mafia
•alpha hero
•posessive hero
the world building or rather the introduction of relationships were complex but i like that the author didn't try to take it top seriously. so you as a reader cam understand the characters, their motives and their complexities.
as a criticism, i do have to point out that the conflicts were dragged on for too long and if a few pages could have been cut from the final edit, it would be a more engaging and well paced story. sometimes the dialogues can get cliche.
still i enjoyed it. it was pretty dark and steamy at times. i didn't get bored despite everything.
tropes in this book:
•boy obsessed
•minor age gap
•sports
•virgin heroine
•mafia
•alpha hero
•posessive hero
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars 🌟
September 4, 2024
⤷ ꒰ 3.5 ☆ ꒱
he deserved a hotter name…
he deserved a hotter name…
April 22, 2023
Possessive Hero.
During time apart, i think its 9 months, the Hero is celibate.
The heroine has had other options in form of other man drama but has declined.
No intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Breadcrumbs dropped for next book.
The only thing which I'm not keen on, it has an event happen, then goes back in time and retells events.
During time apart, i think its 9 months, the Hero is celibate.
The heroine has had other options in form of other man drama but has declined.
No intimate details other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Breadcrumbs dropped for next book.
The only thing which I'm not keen on, it has an event happen, then goes back in time and retells events.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2024
This was so sweet at the beginning, and I liked it.
Just, I'm not too fond of the miscommunication trope.
Just, I'm not too fond of the miscommunication trope.
September 1, 2022
***4,5 "I'll always follow!!!" stars***
"Emotions makes us weak... and love shatters us."
I was pleasantly surprised with this new setting and I liked that we met new characters and we saw old ones in here!!!
Eva Winners has an ability to make you crave for every single character that you are meeting on her books to have his/her own book and the way she delivers new stories with such an ease and with surprising plot is always astounishing...
I love everything that this woman is giving me and she is always making me feel greedy for more and more!!!
"You left me."
Three words.
Two hearts.
One broken promise.
Wynter landed literally on Basilio's arms out of nowhere and from the moment they locked eyes, sparkles came to life...
They fell in love quickly and maddening, but their paths never should have crossed each other's...
There were hidden truths in their lives that had the ability to destroy them, along with bad people that were surrounding them and it is inevitable for their love not to break...
Are they strong enough to survive this cruel and bloody world they are living in, which is full of betrayals and secrets???
Are their love strong enough to survive this kind of brutality???
"First love shatters your innocence and ends your dreams."
I loved Bas and Wyn... They were perfect for each other....
Bas was dark and Wyn had become his light, but when the light vanished from his life, he became brutal and villainous!!! He became his father's son!!!
Wynter's life was perfect until the secrets of her family started to unravel and then her light deemed, but her love for Bas never fade away even though he became her enemy...
This couple was made to be, even though too many obstacles were standing between them!!!
"Once you're mine, I won't let go."
I fell in love with this new world and I am waiting impatiently for the next story along others that they are already on the way...
If you are fan of mafia romances and you never picked up a book by Eva Winners, you need to fix it ASAP!!! Her stories are always so well written and beautifully given to us, the readers...
You will fall in love with both Kingpins and Mobsters and Belles series and you will be craving the Ashfords brothers too!!! I know I am in love with all these characters and I liked how Eva has interwined their existence...
Don't you worry, every single book of hers is a standalone, so you will be fine to go for it!!!
"Every monster has a weakness and she's mine.
My obsession. My addiction. My only salvation."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
"Emotions makes us weak... and love shatters us."
I was pleasantly surprised with this new setting and I liked that we met new characters and we saw old ones in here!!!
Eva Winners has an ability to make you crave for every single character that you are meeting on her books to have his/her own book and the way she delivers new stories with such an ease and with surprising plot is always astounishing...
I love everything that this woman is giving me and she is always making me feel greedy for more and more!!!
"You left me."
Three words.
Two hearts.
One broken promise.
Wynter landed literally on Basilio's arms out of nowhere and from the moment they locked eyes, sparkles came to life...
They fell in love quickly and maddening, but their paths never should have crossed each other's...
There were hidden truths in their lives that had the ability to destroy them, along with bad people that were surrounding them and it is inevitable for their love not to break...
Are they strong enough to survive this cruel and bloody world they are living in, which is full of betrayals and secrets???
Are their love strong enough to survive this kind of brutality???
"First love shatters your innocence and ends your dreams."
I loved Bas and Wyn... They were perfect for each other....
Bas was dark and Wyn had become his light, but when the light vanished from his life, he became brutal and villainous!!! He became his father's son!!!
Wynter's life was perfect until the secrets of her family started to unravel and then her light deemed, but her love for Bas never fade away even though he became her enemy...
This couple was made to be, even though too many obstacles were standing between them!!!
"Once you're mine, I won't let go."
I fell in love with this new world and I am waiting impatiently for the next story along others that they are already on the way...
If you are fan of mafia romances and you never picked up a book by Eva Winners, you need to fix it ASAP!!! Her stories are always so well written and beautifully given to us, the readers...
You will fall in love with both Kingpins and Mobsters and Belles series and you will be craving the Ashfords brothers too!!! I know I am in love with all these characters and I liked how Eva has interwined their existence...
Don't you worry, every single book of hers is a standalone, so you will be fine to go for it!!!
"Every monster has a weakness and she's mine.
My obsession. My addiction. My only salvation."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
October 26, 2024
NOTE: At the very least, you should begin this series by reading the prequel, Corrupted Pleasure, as is recommended by the author (and me lol) but if you want an even better reading experience in this world, you should start with the Belles & Mobsters series.
This series is my first experience with this author, and I’m addicted already. No, I haven’t had the reading time to go back and begin with the Belles and Mobsters and it was a slow start with me with the prequel, Corrupted Pleasure, but this story solidified what I had become to notice about this author, and I am here for it all! I like how she mixes the drama of a mafia romance with what I refer to as #feelfest of a romance journey. Basilio and Wynter’s story was in constant motion one way or the other. You really need to pay attention or you’ll find yourself a bit overwhelmed with everything that’s happening in the story but one of the aspects that makes this story so great is the chaos of it all and without giving away the plot itself, just know there are twist to the twists, the action is constant, and love wins :)
I’m completely invested in everyone right now and can easily see myself shutting out the world and binge-reading every story Eva Winners has ever penned soon! Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited or I would need a second job LOL
This series is my first experience with this author, and I’m addicted already. No, I haven’t had the reading time to go back and begin with the Belles and Mobsters and it was a slow start with me with the prequel, Corrupted Pleasure, but this story solidified what I had become to notice about this author, and I am here for it all! I like how she mixes the drama of a mafia romance with what I refer to as #feelfest of a romance journey. Basilio and Wynter’s story was in constant motion one way or the other. You really need to pay attention or you’ll find yourself a bit overwhelmed with everything that’s happening in the story but one of the aspects that makes this story so great is the chaos of it all and without giving away the plot itself, just know there are twist to the twists, the action is constant, and love wins :)
I’m completely invested in everyone right now and can easily see myself shutting out the world and binge-reading every story Eva Winners has ever penned soon! Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited or I would need a second job LOL
July 14, 2023
2.5⭐
Every 3/10 Mafia dark romance I read gives me Wattpad vibes and sadly this was one of them.
Every 3/10 Mafia dark romance I read gives me Wattpad vibes and sadly this was one of them.
Read
August 14, 2023Sadly I couldn’t connect with the overall story.
I found the h a tad out there meaning she was all over the place. I get she’s 20 and ‘immature’ but I didn’t think I could relate to her at all.
I found the h a tad out there meaning she was all over the place. I get she’s 20 and ‘immature’ but I didn’t think I could relate to her at all.
November 25, 2024
This story follows Winter Star, a 20-year-old Olympic ice skating champion with family ties to the underworld. Although Winter has always been kept in the dark about her family’s activities, she finds herself in trouble and seeks help from a ruthless Italian named Basilio.
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook in duet narration, and it was a fantastic experience—I highly recommend it. I loved the mystery surrounding Winter’s life, knowing her family is involved in the underworld while she remains unaware. When she accidentally steps into this dark world, everything changes. Basilio is intense and fiercely possessive of Winter. He’s been through a lot within his own family and is in a difficult situation due to his father. I was captivated by the way these two characters fall in love and their intimate connection. When everything falls apart, they eventually find their way back to each other.
I didn’t expect the half-brother storyline, but it was a nice surprise. The spice level was perfect. My only critique is that I wasn’t sure why Winter and her friends were involved in heists and shady business, considering their families are well-off, even if they’re expected to make their own money. I would think family would help if someone was in serious trouble. Other than that, I really enjoyed this read!
If you love:
🔹Mafia Romance
🔹Forbidden
🔹Lovers-Enemies-Lovers
🔹Age Gap (7yrs)
🔹Forced Marriage
🔹Intimate Spice
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook - ALC
Audiobook Length: 13hrs 48mins
Narrators: Arron Sherlock and Stella Hunter - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Kingpins Of The Sydicate Series
Tropes or Themes: Mafia (Italian, Russian and Irish), Forbidden, Lovers-Enemies-Lovers, Age Gap (7yrs) Forced Marriage, Second Chance, Violence, Gun Violence, Physical Abuse, Death Of Parent, Murder, Car Accident, Blood, Cursing, Eyes On Me, Mine, Medical Content, Attempted R, Sexual Content, FMC Virgin, Dirty Talk and Impact Play,
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook in duet narration, and it was a fantastic experience—I highly recommend it. I loved the mystery surrounding Winter’s life, knowing her family is involved in the underworld while she remains unaware. When she accidentally steps into this dark world, everything changes. Basilio is intense and fiercely possessive of Winter. He’s been through a lot within his own family and is in a difficult situation due to his father. I was captivated by the way these two characters fall in love and their intimate connection. When everything falls apart, they eventually find their way back to each other.
I didn’t expect the half-brother storyline, but it was a nice surprise. The spice level was perfect. My only critique is that I wasn’t sure why Winter and her friends were involved in heists and shady business, considering their families are well-off, even if they’re expected to make their own money. I would think family would help if someone was in serious trouble. Other than that, I really enjoyed this read!
If you love:
🔹Mafia Romance
🔹Forbidden
🔹Lovers-Enemies-Lovers
🔹Age Gap (7yrs)
🔹Forced Marriage
🔹Intimate Spice
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook - ALC
Audiobook Length: 13hrs 48mins
Narrators: Arron Sherlock and Stella Hunter - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Kingpins Of The Sydicate Series
Tropes or Themes: Mafia (Italian, Russian and Irish), Forbidden, Lovers-Enemies-Lovers, Age Gap (7yrs) Forced Marriage, Second Chance, Violence, Gun Violence, Physical Abuse, Death Of Parent, Murder, Car Accident, Blood, Cursing, Eyes On Me, Mine, Medical Content, Attempted R, Sexual Content, FMC Virgin, Dirty Talk and Impact Play,
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
August 7, 2022
Good, but not as intriguing as Belles & Mobsters.
Eva Winners is no doubt, an author who can most definitely write. So, that's something I have no qualms about. It was really the characters themselves who were a let-down to me.
I truly enjoyed that beginning from Bas’s point of view but everything after that was pretty much of an endless maze. Wynter turns 21 here, while Bas, if I can recall clearly says that he was 27 or 28. And yes, Bas gives justice to that character of a Mob Boss of a Syndicate with his mature behaviour and simultaneously carrying the OTT- alpha male behaviour who's simply ruthless when it comes to defending his love interest, something that all my fellow readers of this sub-genre are familiar with. But what I'm still in fumbles over is how in the hell did a 21 year old, Yale going, Ballet dancing, Ice Skating, Olympic winning, yadda yadda yadda also manages to be so immature. And somehow, her whole girl squad is just as bonkers as she is.
It's a fictional book, I get it but doesn't mean I have to like it. It felt like there was way too many things going on parallel to the main story which confused me so much that I felt lost. And I could see the upcoming plot from a mile away, so it was predictable as heck. So...that sucks.
I truly enjoy Eva’s writing though. Hopefully the next installment keeps me hooked.
Eva Winners is no doubt, an author who can most definitely write. So, that's something I have no qualms about. It was really the characters themselves who were a let-down to me.
I truly enjoyed that beginning from Bas’s point of view but everything after that was pretty much of an endless maze. Wynter turns 21 here, while Bas, if I can recall clearly says that he was 27 or 28. And yes, Bas gives justice to that character of a Mob Boss of a Syndicate with his mature behaviour and simultaneously carrying the OTT- alpha male behaviour who's simply ruthless when it comes to defending his love interest, something that all my fellow readers of this sub-genre are familiar with. But what I'm still in fumbles over is how in the hell did a 21 year old, Yale going, Ballet dancing, Ice Skating, Olympic winning, yadda yadda yadda also manages to be so immature. And somehow, her whole girl squad is just as bonkers as she is.
It's a fictional book, I get it but doesn't mean I have to like it. It felt like there was way too many things going on parallel to the main story which confused me so much that I felt lost. And I could see the upcoming plot from a mile away, so it was predictable as heck. So...that sucks.
I truly enjoy Eva’s writing though. Hopefully the next installment keeps me hooked.
August 4, 2022
If you are looking for a complex mafia romance full of twists that will keep your attention, then… this book is for you.
Stars: 4/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Wynter an Olympic figure skater is fighting to have a normal life. Bas is in a fight of his own, trying to overtake his deranged father’s place in the mafia.
I loved that from the moment they met the chemistry between Wynter and Bas was explosive. It’s inta-love, fast paced and gripping. I appreciated the authors amazing ability to build this world and vast number of characters I really want to read more about.
On the flip side I found the book overly long and with so many side characters that at times made the book unnecessarily overcomplicated. I did not read the prequel, Corrupted Pleasure of the previous series and at times found myself lost. Although a bit annoying it was not enough to make me rate the book less that 4 stars because of the great writing and interesting plot.
This is the first book in a series, but it has a lot going on and brings characters and plot points from other books. I recommend reading Corrupted Pleasure of the previous series to enhance reading this book.
Stars: 4/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Wynter an Olympic figure skater is fighting to have a normal life. Bas is in a fight of his own, trying to overtake his deranged father’s place in the mafia.
I loved that from the moment they met the chemistry between Wynter and Bas was explosive. It’s inta-love, fast paced and gripping. I appreciated the authors amazing ability to build this world and vast number of characters I really want to read more about.
On the flip side I found the book overly long and with so many side characters that at times made the book unnecessarily overcomplicated. I did not read the prequel, Corrupted Pleasure of the previous series and at times found myself lost. Although a bit annoying it was not enough to make me rate the book less that 4 stars because of the great writing and interesting plot.
This is the first book in a series, but it has a lot going on and brings characters and plot points from other books. I recommend reading Corrupted Pleasure of the previous series to enhance reading this book.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 13, 2022DNF at 32%. Just can’t get into it. I’m sure it’s just me but I’m confused about the characters, the author writes side characters as if we are meant to know them and what has happened to them. Not sure I will pick this up later or not.
November 6, 2024
Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3.5/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Forbidden Romance
- Strangers to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Marriage
- Age Gap
- Insta Love
- Second Chance Romance
- Captive Romance
- Possessive/Obsessive/Unhinged MMC
- Found Family
Villainous Kingpin is the first book in the Kingpins of the Syndicate series. This was my first time reading Eva Winners, and now I’m hooked.
I couldn’t get enough of Basilio and Wynter together. Their instant, forbidden romance gives off major Romeo and Juliet vibes, and I was here for it. Basilio is completely unhinged and obsessed with Wynter—in the best way. He’s possessive and devoted, and he makes it clear from the second she crashes into his life that she’s his and that he’s never letting go. The chemistry between them is off the charts—it's intense and electric. Despite being fierce and dangerous, Basilio’s protective side makes Wynter feel safe in a world full of chaos.
This story is an addictive roller coaster, and I am fully invested in the mafia world the author has created. It’s packed with wild plot twists, turns, drama, secrets, lies, and plenty of steamy moments that make it impossible to stop reading or listening. Sprinkled in with all the intensity are humor and fun banter between the characters. If you love a good morally grey/black MMC, action, and an intense romance that keeps you glued to every page, you will love this book.
Narration:
The audiobook, narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Stella Hunter in duet, was excellent. Aaron perfectly captured Basilio's dark, intense character, bringing his vulnerability, devastation, and rage to life. Stella did a wonderful job portraying Wynter’s emotional struggles. Their performances complemented each other, elevated the story, and created an immersive, unforgettable listening experience.
Thanks to Eva Winners, East House Productions, and Must Love Audio for the ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.
Heat Rating: 3.5/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Forbidden Romance
- Strangers to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Marriage
- Age Gap
- Insta Love
- Second Chance Romance
- Captive Romance
- Possessive/Obsessive/Unhinged MMC
- Found Family
Villainous Kingpin is the first book in the Kingpins of the Syndicate series. This was my first time reading Eva Winners, and now I’m hooked.
I couldn’t get enough of Basilio and Wynter together. Their instant, forbidden romance gives off major Romeo and Juliet vibes, and I was here for it. Basilio is completely unhinged and obsessed with Wynter—in the best way. He’s possessive and devoted, and he makes it clear from the second she crashes into his life that she’s his and that he’s never letting go. The chemistry between them is off the charts—it's intense and electric. Despite being fierce and dangerous, Basilio’s protective side makes Wynter feel safe in a world full of chaos.
This story is an addictive roller coaster, and I am fully invested in the mafia world the author has created. It’s packed with wild plot twists, turns, drama, secrets, lies, and plenty of steamy moments that make it impossible to stop reading or listening. Sprinkled in with all the intensity are humor and fun banter between the characters. If you love a good morally grey/black MMC, action, and an intense romance that keeps you glued to every page, you will love this book.
Narration:
The audiobook, narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Stella Hunter in duet, was excellent. Aaron perfectly captured Basilio's dark, intense character, bringing his vulnerability, devastation, and rage to life. Stella did a wonderful job portraying Wynter’s emotional struggles. Their performances complemented each other, elevated the story, and created an immersive, unforgettable listening experience.
Thanks to Eva Winners, East House Productions, and Must Love Audio for the ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.
December 8, 2022
I found out about this author after reading "Corrupted Pleasure" (one of my favorite reads this year) and since one thing that I really enjoyed was the girls and their friendship, I got really excited that Eva had already written about another member of the squad.
I already liked Winter before; she was the "adult" of the group but she was also capable of doing what had to be done to help the ones she loves and cares about. I also really enjoyed her back story, it was different and connected all the drama so well. So yeah, for me it was really easy to connect with Winter and I enjoyed her as the heroine.
Bas was soooo freaking good (at being bad). I mean, he was the typical bad boy with golden heart that always (and I mean always 🤧) gets me. He was so protected and romantic with Winter and also with the people he loved.
Winter and Bas were really cute and hot together and I really enjoyed how their love story was kind of a Romeo and Juliette retelling but at the same time, maybe because I had big expectations since the other book, I felt like it was something missing to make me love this book as much as I did the other one.
With that said, Eva is still a good author revelation this year and I'm so curious to read her other books; she has a lot of series that connect with the books I've read so far and I'm really curious with certain characters, and I also can't wait to read the stories of the other girls in this world.
▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: dark romance, mafia (italian/irish), forbidden romance, insta lust/love
▬ 𝐭𝐰: death, abuse, violence, rape
I already liked Winter before; she was the "adult" of the group but she was also capable of doing what had to be done to help the ones she loves and cares about. I also really enjoyed her back story, it was different and connected all the drama so well. So yeah, for me it was really easy to connect with Winter and I enjoyed her as the heroine.
Bas was soooo freaking good (at being bad). I mean, he was the typical bad boy with golden heart that always (and I mean always 🤧) gets me. He was so protected and romantic with Winter and also with the people he loved.
Winter and Bas were really cute and hot together and I really enjoyed how their love story was kind of a Romeo and Juliette retelling but at the same time, maybe because I had big expectations since the other book, I felt like it was something missing to make me love this book as much as I did the other one.
With that said, Eva is still a good author revelation this year and I'm so curious to read her other books; she has a lot of series that connect with the books I've read so far and I'm really curious with certain characters, and I also can't wait to read the stories of the other girls in this world.
▬ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: dark romance, mafia (italian/irish), forbidden romance, insta lust/love
▬ 𝐭𝐰: death, abuse, violence, rape
August 1, 2022
As it turns out, this book marked my 2022 official reading challenge 💖
ARC!
I’ve read several Eva Winner’s books, but I think this one is one of my favorites!
The book is easy to read, yes its long but I honestly felt like it was worth it. The book takes place within the Belle's & Mobsters saga as well, but I only read the first one and never felt like I needed to read those other books but it would definitely a more enjoyable experience if you did.
The bool follow Basilio (Bas or daddy lol) and Wynter, they actually have a meet cute and have been goner's f0r each other since the beginning. Almost like instant love.
Their relationship develops throughout the book, and it's not a slow burn (yessssssssss!!!). They do have their own drama's but the hardships they faced were more.
**spoiler**
Now, can Bas' dad suck my dick? He eventually payed for everything he did but oh boy, how did I hate him. I wanted to see him suffer more, but oh well....
I honestly loved how Bas loved her inconditionally, even when she was being a brat, he only had pink glasses for her. Me want!!!
And Wynter was just as a great character as Bas honestlyyy, can't wait to read more of the series especially since the plot is still going <3
Tropes: 7 year age gap (21/28), mobs, strangers to lovers to hate to love (not even enemies lol), secret family (family drama),
TW: violence, death's, sexual assault
ARC!
I’ve read several Eva Winner’s books, but I think this one is one of my favorites!
The book is easy to read, yes its long but I honestly felt like it was worth it. The book takes place within the Belle's & Mobsters saga as well, but I only read the first one and never felt like I needed to read those other books but it would definitely a more enjoyable experience if you did.
The bool follow Basilio (Bas or daddy lol) and Wynter, they actually have a meet cute and have been goner's f0r each other since the beginning. Almost like instant love.
Their relationship develops throughout the book, and it's not a slow burn (yessssssssss!!!). They do have their own drama's but the hardships they faced were more.
**spoiler**
Now, can Bas' dad suck my dick? He eventually payed for everything he did but oh boy, how did I hate him. I wanted to see him suffer more, but oh well....
I honestly loved how Bas loved her inconditionally, even when she was being a brat, he only had pink glasses for her. Me want!!!
And Wynter was just as a great character as Bas honestlyyy, can't wait to read more of the series especially since the plot is still going <3
Tropes: 7 year age gap (21/28), mobs, strangers to lovers to hate to love (not even enemies lol), secret family (family drama),
TW: violence, death's, sexual assault
August 10, 2022
I'm glad I read Corrupted Pleasure before reading this book, otherwise I would have been so confused in some places. And I mean I still was at times, but let's face it, I have three children -- I have very little brain power at this point, lol. So if you are new to this author, I definitely recommend reading CP before starting this book.
That being said, I really enjoyed this one. All throughout CP I kept picking up hints that the relationship between Wyn and Basilio would be epic, and it was! There's so much going on here: all the twists and turns, secrets and painful revelations, the sexy times and the love.. it was all just top notch! Eva really hit it out of the park this time and I can't wait for more in this series!!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions**
That being said, I really enjoyed this one. All throughout CP I kept picking up hints that the relationship between Wyn and Basilio would be epic, and it was! There's so much going on here: all the twists and turns, secrets and painful revelations, the sexy times and the love.. it was all just top notch! Eva really hit it out of the park this time and I can't wait for more in this series!!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions**
August 4, 2022
Bas and Wynter’s story was addictive and exciting I couldn’t put it down! This was such a fantastic start for this series I love the crossover characters from other books and I adore this group of women in this series! So much is going on there’s a lot to unpack in this story but it did not deter me in reading it at all . The writing is excellent as usual from Eva Winners and the characters are amazing definitely a must read and one I highly recommend!
November 5, 2024
🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗣𝗜𝗡
𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎 #𝟷
⏳𝟭𝟯𝗛 𝟰𝟴𝗠
🎙️𝗔𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 & 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
🖤𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙼𝚊𝚏𝚒𝚊 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
💀𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗
🖤𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
💀𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚐𝚎
🖤𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚘𝚛/𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎
💓𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮👑
💭I've had Eva Winner on my TBR for the longest time, so I was excited to finally dive into one of her books, and it did not disappoint! This story gave me everything I love in a mafia romance. Bas is just one sexy, unhinged, and dangerous mafia man who was instantly smitten with Wynter, and I live for it! There’s something irresistible about a morally grey MMC who’s willing to “unalive” for his woman, that's why we love morally grey men, yasss🔥
Now, the incident that drives them apart? Absolutely heartbreaking. It was tough to watch Wynter assume the worst about Bas, especially when you know he's just misunderstood (poor guy!). That part was a bit frustrating, but I loved how quickly things picked up when they reunited. Overall, this book gave me all the swoon-worthy moments I was hoping for, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Oh my gosh, Aaron as Bas is EVERYTHING! He absolutely nailed the accent, and his voice? Wow, it's just so sexy and smooth, I could listen to it all day. Honestly, he brought the character to life in a way that was just chef’s kiss. And of course, Stella was amazing as always! Her performance is flawless, and together, they make the whole audiobook experience unforgettable. These two are the perfect duo, and they made the story even more enjoyable.
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝟰.𝟱⭐️ | 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟰🌶️ | 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟱🎧
⚠️𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸⚠️
- R*pe attempt (graphic)
- Violence/torture/murder
✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 MUST LOVE AUDIO & EAST HOUSE PRODUCTION 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨
Read
November 12, 2024Respectfully, why was this 73 chapters? I can’t even rate it bc I honestly don’t know why I put myself thru it.
July 29, 2022
3.5⭐️
This is the first book I’ve read from Eva Winters and it is indeed an interesting read. Lots of action and drama. However, I did get lost a lot given that the story alludes to characters from different books and introductions aren’t made. This makes it challenging for a new reader to pick it up and have a clear understanding of the world.
That said, the plot does start of interesting but I felt the middle was dragged out a little bit too much and more could have been done during that time to build the chemistry between the leads - other than the instant attraction.
This is the first book I’ve read from Eva Winters and it is indeed an interesting read. Lots of action and drama. However, I did get lost a lot given that the story alludes to characters from different books and introductions aren’t made. This makes it challenging for a new reader to pick it up and have a clear understanding of the world.
That said, the plot does start of interesting but I felt the middle was dragged out a little bit too much and more could have been done during that time to build the chemistry between the leads - other than the instant attraction.
February 27, 2023
Dnfed after that ridiculous club scene. Tbh it’s my fault for believing Booktok about a character named Wynter Star. WYNTER. STAR.
F for fuck’s sake, Booktok.
F for fuck’s sake, Booktok.
April 28, 2023
DNF AT 40%
August 12, 2023
4 ✨
2.5 🔥
I’d found my perfection and my light in the darkness of the underworld. Everything about her fascinated me. Every single word. Every single look. Every-fucking-thing. She was my perfection. My perfect opposite. My sweetest obsession.
What a fucking roller coaster… quite literally wanted to scream at both Wynter and Bas but besides that I really enjoyed this book.
I read corrupted pleasure a good while ago and remember being so excited for wyn and bas’ story and now we’re here and I love it. I was so excited for them even though them being apart tortured me for a good chunk of the book.
But can we take a pause to recognize how obsessed Bas was with her 😭 like be fr I ATE IT UPPPP
2.5 🔥
I’d found my perfection and my light in the darkness of the underworld. Everything about her fascinated me. Every single word. Every single look. Every-fucking-thing. She was my perfection. My perfect opposite. My sweetest obsession.
What a fucking roller coaster… quite literally wanted to scream at both Wynter and Bas but besides that I really enjoyed this book.
I read corrupted pleasure a good while ago and remember being so excited for wyn and bas’ story and now we’re here and I love it. I was so excited for them even though them being apart tortured me for a good chunk of the book.
But can we take a pause to recognize how obsessed Bas was with her 😭 like be fr I ATE IT UPPPP
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