Michelle Heard

Brutalize Me

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

Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️

Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂

Brutalize Me is the third installment in the "Corrupted Royals" series and this book is about Armani De Santis and Tiana. And I haven't read any books from this series. I think I was apprehensive because it was another series with the mafia training and since she had another series about this, I was apprehensive about it. But when I saw a friend of mine, rave about this one on her YouTube channel, I knew that I needed to read it. I am so glad that I did though because this is one of my favorite books by this author. This book completely blew me away and the intensity that is packed within this story was just perfection. I honestly couldn't put this beauty of a story down and I am happy for it. If you love mafia romance with arranged marriage, a protective hero and a sensitive introvert heroine, then this book is perfect for you.

The world I live in is a cruel one. Nothing has ever been easy.

Tiana was raised in a orphanage and she and her brother Misha were constantly abused but then they were taken in by a mafia family who raised them and brought them up in a solid home of comfort and stability. But now Misha is getting married and finishing off in the mafia training academy and soon he won't be a part of her life anymore and she understands what her role within the mafia is. She has always dreamed of a man to love and to raise his children in love and nurturing them. But when Misha leaves for his honeymoon, her adoptive father has other plans for her without Misha's awareness and she will now be forced into a marriage with his business partner, Karlin Makarova. And when Tiana ends up being brutally abused by him, her brother and his best friend step in and arrange their own marriage for her with Armani De Santis which has been arranged for some time. But Tiana and Armani have a strong connection to each other, that is stable and loving and when Armani protects her at all costs, a formidable love forms between them.

This book was epic and beautiful and one of my favorite Mafia romances that I have ever read. I am not sure what it is, but some books by this author are so well done and she really capitalizes on the intimacy and emotion on very deep levels and she really worked the relationship between Armani and Tiana so well. I just loved the way that these two are developed and the poignant moments between them were so awe inspiring at times. The romance that builds between these two is so well done and the slow built chemistry feels just right for them being strangers to each other. Despite Armani being Misha's best friend, they haven't met until his wedding although they know of each other. Unlike with most best friend sibling romances, the brother wants his sister with Armani because he trusts Armani to treat her with care and respect. And Armani is honestly one of the most noble heroes I have ever read in this sub genre. The way he is with gentle Tiana was beautiful. Its apparent he knows how to treat women with gentle care and he knows what she has been through in her past and only want to protect her and love her. His devotion to her was just beautiful. The plot of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat and it was so intense at many times. There was a part of me that was so drawn into this one and seeing our couple work through the challenges that they face and embrace the beautiful connection that they have together. There is a third act conflict which I am still on the fence on, I do wish that there was more trust implemented there but I do like that the hero had to work a bit to redeem his mistakes but it wasn't overdone.

The only issue I had is how the third act was handled, but it was resolved pretty quickly so I am relieved it hadn't been dragged out too much. Just wish there had been a bit more trust implemented there.

Brutalize Me was a captivating, emotionally driven, and intimate poignant story that melted my heart and delivered all the thrills and feels from beginning to end. A MAFIA GEM!

Home. It’s the one thing I want more than anything. A husband I can love. Children I can give the world to. A house I can call my own. To many, it’s a stupid wish, but to me, it’s everything.

“That’s right, tesoro mia. Saying our vows won’t change a damn thing. You’re mine for life, and only death will part us.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’ll treasure her forever.

“I’m going to love you so hard to make up for all the days you felt unloved.”

In such a short time, Armani has given me more love and respect than I’ve ever experienced. It feels like a dream, like I’m getting a glimpse of heaven.

Lover of Romance 

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

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


First Impressions
Brutalize Me is the third installment in the "Corrupted Royals" series and this book is about Armani De Santis and Tiana. And I haven't read any books from this series. I think I was apprehensive because it was another series with the mafia training and since she had another series about this, I was apprehensive about it. But when I saw a friend of mine, rave about this one on her YouTube channel, I knew that I needed to read it. I am so glad that I did though because this is one of my favorite books by this author. This book completely blew me away and the intensity that is packed within this story was just perfection. I honestly couldn't put this beauty of a story down and I am happy for it. If you love mafia romance with arranged marriage, a protective hero and a sensitive introvert heroine, then this book is perfect for you.

First Line
The world I live in is a cruel one. Nothing has ever been easy.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Armani
-Alpha mafia leader in training
-protective
-strong and caring for women in his life

The Heroine: Tiana
-loving
-dreams of marriage and family
-history of being abused
-introvert and shy

Summary
Tiana was raised in a orphanage and she and her brother Misha were constantly abused but then they were taken in by a mafia family who raised them and brought them up in a solid home of comfort and stability. But now Misha is getting married and finishing off in the mafia training academy and soon he won't be a part of her life anymore and she understands what her role within the mafia is. She has always dreamed of a man to love and to raise his children in love and nurturing them. But when Misha leaves for his honeymoon, her adoptive father has other plans for her without Misha's awareness and she will now be forced into a marriage with his business partner, Karlin Makarova. And when Tiana ends up being brutally abused by him, her brother and his best friend step in and arrange their own marriage for her with Armani De Santis which has been arranged for some time. But Tiana and Armani have a strong connection to each other, that is stable and loving and when Armani protects her at all costs, a formidable love forms between them.

What I Loved
This book was epic and beautiful and one of my favorite Mafia romances that I have ever read. I am not sure what it is, but some books by this author are so well done and she really capitalizes on the intimacy and emotion on very deep levels and she really worked the relationship between Armani and Tiana so well. I just loved the way that these two are developed and the poignant moments between them were so awe inspiring at times. The romance that builds between these two is so well done and the slow built chemistry feels just right for them being strangers to each other. Despite Armani being Misha's best friend, they haven't met until his wedding although they know of each other. Unlike with most best friend sibling romances, the brother wants his sister with Armani because he trusts Armani to treat her with care and respect. And Armani is honestly one of the most noble heroes I have ever read in this sub genre. The way he is with gentle Tiana was beautiful. Its apparent he knows how to treat women with gentle care and he knows what she has been through in her past and only want to protect her and love her. His devotion to her was just beautiful. The plot of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat and it was so intense at many times. There was a part of me that was so drawn into this one and seeing our couple work through the challenges that they face and embrace the beautiful connection that they have together. There is a third act conflict which I am still on the fence on, I do wish that there was more trust implemented there but I do like that the hero had to work a bit to redeem his mistakes but it wasn't overdone.

What I Struggled With
The only issue I had is how the third act was handled, but it was resolved pretty quickly so I am relieved it hadn't been dragged out too much. Just wish there had been a bit more trust implemented there.

Overall View
Brutalize Me was a captivating, emotionally driven, and intimate poignant story that melted my heart and delivered all the thrills and feels from beginning to end. A MAFIA GEM!

Favorite Quote(s)
Home. It’s the one thing I want more than anything. A husband I can love. Children I can give the world to. A house I can call my own. To many, it’s a stupid wish, but to me, it’s everything.

“That’s right, tesoro mia. Saying our vows won’t change a damn thing. You’re mine for life, and only death will part us.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’ll treasure her forever.

“I’m going to love you so hard to make up for all the days you felt unloved.”

In such a short time, Armani has given me more love and respect than I’ve ever experienced. It feels like a dream, like I’m getting a glimpse of heaven.

I give him everything I have. My heart. My body. My soul. All that I am belongs to Armani.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Mafia, Alpha Male, Shy Heroine, Abused Heroine
Themes: Pining Hero, Slow Burn, Danger Elements
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Best Friend's Sister

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix of Both

Song This Book Inspires
Scars by Boy Epic

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standalones if needed

Steam/Spice Explanations

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

Ink and Sin

First, the family dynamics. I not only loved the relationship between Misha and Tiana, but the relationship Armani had with his family. From the moment he introduced Tiana to his mother, I knew I wanted to be a part of that family! I see a lot of protectiveness and friendships in Mafia romances, but this- this was true family. This was a mother giving little secrets about what makes her son happy while helping a lost girl find her way.
 
Armani, you just can't help but love Armani. Even though the scene where…. Well, where he could have been considered the ultimate asshole… I understood. Maybe that makes me just as crazy, but the proof was there. That's a hard one to not believe- when you're listening to it first hand. He trusted her every time something questionable came up, butttt…this time, the evidence was strong.
 
Tiana, I can't imagine what her life was like. Going from an abusive orphanage to a home where she is taught at a young age how to be the "perfect" wife by standards that are not the norm. She was taught marriage is for gain, not love. Sometimes you get lucky with a husband you can fall in love with or one who is a good fuck, but most of the time, you just accept your shitty hand and move forward.
 
I again, read this book in one setting. There were a lot of plot twists that held my interest and kept me from putting this down. Love this one!!