J. T. Geissinger

Anti-hero (noun): 1) A powerful and charismatic man lacking moral character 2) A magnificent bastard 3) Killian Black You don't know me. You think you do, but you don't. The only thing you know is my name, and even that's a lie. I'm king of Boston, lord of criminals, ruler of an underworld empire.Or am I? Only one thing's for sure: I operate alone. Until I cross paths with a brazen little thief who sets my whole kingdom on fire. Just as two wrongs don't make a right, two villains don't belong together. Especially since she's the daughter of my most deadly enemy. Taking her would start a war. Keeping her would be suicide. Making her mine would break every code of honor and defy all common sense. Then again, where's the fun in following the rules?

Cruel Paradise

How romantic “I will stab you in the heart with a cocktail fork”. Made me laugh🤦‍♀️😂

Linsey Mombert

When he breaks the kiss, it's to whisper another line from Romeo and Juliet into my ear.

“But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."

My voice strangled, I whisper back, I will stab you in the heart with a cocktail fork.

"Life is short. You don't get a do-over. Kiss who you need to kiss, love who you need to love, tell anyone who disrespects you to go fuck themselves. Let your heart lead you where it wants to. Don't ever make a decision based on fear. In fact, if it scares you, that's the thing you should run fastest toward, because that's where real life is. In the scary parts. In the messy parts. In the parts that aren't so pretty. Dive in and take a swim in all the pain and beauty that life has to offer, so that at the end of it, you don't have any regrets.”

If I ever did kiss you, it would only be to satisfy a morbid curiosity about what disappointment tastes like.

I read aloud, “Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene.”

After a moment of silence, Max says, "That's Shakespeare.” 

“Yep. It's the first line of Romeo and Juliet."

I think god actually created woman first, then created man after deciding we needed something to vex us so we didn't die of boredom in the Garden of Eden.

aleksandra

2.5/5

I never thought I would rate JT Geissinger's book so low, but this one was hard for me to read. Mainly because it was kind of boring. I usually reach for this author when I want to read a funny and sometimes ridiculous stories as I always get a good laugh reading them. Unfortunately, even though I had fun reading it at times, I almost forced myself to finish it. 

While I liked the characters and the fact that the heroine had some backbone, the plot didn't sucked me in at all. Killian had some good and swoon worthy moments though. This man just knew what to say. 


  
    "He says softly, “It’s not inexplicable. I like you the way Newton liked gravity.” 
“I don’t know what you mean.” “Once he found it, everything else in the universe made sense.”
  


Their banter was entertaining too. 


  
    “If you try to unzip your pants right now, mister, I’ll punch you in the throat.” 
His voice turns husky. “God, you’re sexy when you’re threatening me. I like it even more than when you’re stealing things I own.”
  


There were moments that I laughed at the lines in this book, because I didn't know if it was written seriously, or to make the reader laugh. The example. 


  
    "Between my legs, Killian makes animal grunts of approval."
  


Animal grunts? Was he barking or what?


I regret to say that I liked the first book more. At least a year ago. I don't know if I would like this book now. However, that doesn't change the fact that I will continue to read this author's books. Some of them are amazing.


  Beautifully Cruel series

1. Beautifully Cruel 4 stars
2. Cruel Paradise 2.5 stars

I loved that it isn’t the typical mafia man or mafia romance and I really loved Juliet. Always love a strong FMC.

Via Rawlins

Ugh I have nothing bad to say about this book, nor the first in the series… read it in one sitting and is definitely something I could re-read! Perfect read for me, can’t wait to read more of this authors work

Lover of Romance 

Cruel Paradise is the second book of the series, and after reading book one I wasn’t sure there was going to be a second, since it was portrayed as being a “stand a lone” but there was such a teaser for the brother of the hero of book one, and I was thrilled when the author reached out and let me know there was a BOOK TWO and let me tell you all…this book was magic. Just like book one was. I think I might have enjoyed book one just slightly a bit more, but Cruel Paradise was a solid story that I fell head over heels in love with to be honest. It was spectacular in every way that truly matters especially when it pertains to the romance genre. Its a story that while at first, I was hesistant on if I was going to enjoy it or not but discovered as the story progressed how much beauty was in this romance. It has a different pace to it then the first book had. And its part of the KU subscription and I truly think its one of those jewels. I am always impressed with seeing such a wonderful read in the subscription. I have really admired how this author wrote this story and the unique pairing she brings to this story.

caitlin buckley 

i read this in 4 hrs. tell me why no boy sends me Shakespeare quotes like killian does 😑, anyways, the epilogue was SO cute, i love that its almost like its for both books, with liam and tru. i LOVE how obsessed he was, not in a weird way, in a ‘if anyone touches you ill kill them’ way, and who doesn’t love that. icl thought it was quite similar to the 1st book, but only killian and juliet had 5 days not a month of living together

samantha youngclaus

honestly j.t. geissinger could publish her grocery list and i would probably read it tbh

Tanya 

Alright so I can’t even lie I was a bit let down with this one but that’s on me bc my expectations were too damn high. My real issue was with Juliet tbh she just ugh… how can you like Tru but not a Juliet I’ll tell you..

Where tru was lead by strength because of how she was raised. Juliet was lead by fear for the lack of nurturing she didn’t get bc her mother died and ultimately made her seem weak & stubborn TO ME which just isn’t my cup of tea in a heroine. She thought she was standing for something when actually she wasn’t. I didn’t warm to her as I did with Tru & I was very frustrated with her at times. I dislike very much when heroines let their pasts control their decisions and interfere with their current situations. 

Now Killian? Whewww babyyyy that man could GET IT. I loved him from the beginning. His sense or humor, confidence, wisdom, arrogance & just him being so self assured omg panty melting FORREAL. I also really loved how patient and understanding he was of Juliet even though she got on my damn nerves.

The spice? I really enjoyed the spice in both book but I can’t compare them which is weird bc they’re different yet very similar i mean duh they were written by the same woman. Anyway good duet. Read it.

Tatyana

Killian Black....yaaaasss!!!! I am definitely loving him and his brother Liam. This story was great.
First you have this badass chick Juliet who's not even trying to give Killian her time and wants absolutely nothing to deal with him.
Then Killian who is hiding secrets and is a badass dude who is completely obsessed with Juliet. Put these two together and you get a lot of arguing, sass, attitude, and attraction. Definitely a good read.

Cruel Paradise

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