copy received through Netgalley for review
This is the conclusion to the Cartel series. The author does not pull any punches with these stories. These are not easy to read stories. If your have read the previous books you know now to expect a clean HEA. Mariana's life is one tragedy after another. And just when you think their will be sunshine, the darkness takes over. Marian's darkness is Dornan. He started out as her hero but ended up almost destroying her. His behavior spiralled out of control. He was no longer the anti hero from book 1. The author pretty much killed all hope from him in the second book. The third book made you hate him. There was some bright spot for her with John. Somehow you know as the reader that this will not end well. I was on pnins and needles every time they took chances to be together. The twists and turns of this story will keep you interested until the crazy end. As with the previous books,there is blood, sex and violence galore. Another page turner that will keep you reading all night.

An excellent addition to the Cartel series. Continues 9 years after the first book, Cartel, and shows the main character, Mariana, in a wonderfully conflicting position in which she's smart enough to know that she's dumb to love her capture but she does never the less. And to see her change and grow throughout this novels as her life and love becomes more violent, with her having to become more violent in order to survive it. That was really well written!

I loved the second installment of this series. My heart was pounding and I was anxious to see what would happen next. Much darkier and grittier than the first, and I loved it! Having read the Gypsy brothers series, it's interesting to see how Dornan could be good at times. I still want to hate him, but am finding it hard.

This book series is my first with this author so I went in completely blind. I had no idea that this was born from the Gypsy series. I have since found out that the intent from the author was to give you a background story on some very important players in that series.

First, just let me confess that I made the mistake of reading book 3 first so I know how this ends. While I could have just read book 3 and be done, I was also missing more in depth details of a very important character change in books 1 and 2 that ultimately explains this character in the Gypsy series.

I really don't want to give away much because as someone who had little to no knowledge of what I was about to partake in, the shock factor of where this author was taking us was very impressive. Honestly, If I had known what I was about to read, I probably would have thought it wasn't for me and passed on it. Instead, I was completely blown away. I'm even glad that I got to read this series before I start on the Gypsy series, but I'm a reader who likes to be surprised.

What information I am willing to give away is to warn you that this series is dark, violent and is not considered safe. If you want a more realistic approach to what life would be like inside a cartel, I think it's safe to say the author did an outstanding job.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Very dark. I usually go into a series with a clear mind about the characters, ever if there is a spin off. In the first book the characters didn't register in my mind they from the Gypsy Kings Series. By this book things clicked. It been awhile since I read the last series.

I found this book dark and most kinda pissed me off. I did and didn't know what was going to happen. I guess want a different out come for Mariana, even without reading the third book of the Cartel, and Dornan. Mariana I just wanted her out of her situation. Dornan not being such a bastard. John feel into the story as the hero in my eyes, ever though his life wasn't much better then Mariana.

They say love conquers all. It's a lie. The compulsive second novel in the USA Today bestselling Cartel trilogy.
Five days a week, I dressed in smart business clothes. I painted my face, and went to work as an accountant. But nothing about my life was normal.

For eight years I had been the property of the Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club. I laundered their money so well they'd never let me leave. My only glimmer of light was the man I loved. The man who had saved me.

Dornan.

His love had been the only thing that kept the demons at bay. But he'd become so immersed in the cartel's brutal business that I hardly knew him anymore. Dornan had been my salvation, but he was also my undoing.

Would he pull me down into the darkness until he destroyed me? Could I save him?

Did I even want to?

Okay, so I have read every book of Lili St. Germain's and will continue to because she is an awesome suspense writer. In the first book, I almost felt bad for Dornan Ross and in this book I hated him more than ever. I've already made my Dornan voodoo doll to stick pins in. I already know the outcome because of the Gypsy Brothers series (Or do we?) We know how Lili St. Germain loves to have twists and turns in her books, so one begs to wonder whether Mariana is still alive? I, for one think she's still alive and behind everything but I might be wrong.

I just fell in love with John in this book and felt my heart break knowing his fate. You go into these books knowing the outcome and yet you really are hoping against hope that it will change when you read the last one. I have to say that even though you think you know what's going to happen - you really don't! If you're one of those that read The Gypsy Brothers and think "I read those and don't need to read these!!" YOU ARE SO WRONG! You have to read them all and don't read them out of order because you think they'll make more sense. I thought that too and did that the second time around...It doesn't work that way and you'll wind up more confused. True Story lol.

Yes, this series is explicit in sexual content and has a lot of explicit language but it also has a lot to do with drugs, MC and Mafia related issues that are true to life in some aspects. There is violence, drugs, sex and should carry a warning if they don't. I believe she puts in her bio that she writes dark disturbing romance. This is a dark disturbing read. It doesn't give you warm fuzzies. It kind of makes you want to take a shower and wash the scum off you but it makes you feel the violence behind what goes on in the book and it leaves off on a cliffhanger. You want to read more about what happens and the next book is sure to be just as awesome.

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

I couldn't read this book. I just couldn't get past the first book and I know there would be way too much violence for me. I am sorry

Mariana is thrust into a world and life she didn’t want in order to protect her father and her family. Her priority is to her family but I got the feeling she wanted to free her father of herself. It’s like she was this person who wasn’t enough and she’s trying to protect him but also be enough for him at the same time.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. I loved to hate Dornan and John was different. I got the sense that this trilogy was not going to be very straightforward and boy was I right. This book takes many turns; some you may predict but others that you cannot predict at all. Throughout this book though I loved the character growth and the way they seem to mature/regress throughout.

This is not an easy book to read but worth it in my opinion.

"We were in love.
And it was the saddest fucking thing in the world."

This booked earned 4.5 stars from me! I love it when the second book in a series is even better than the first. This book dives into a lot more information and details from the past of Mariana and Dornan. It takes place nine years after the devastating deal Mariana made with the Il Sangue Cartel and boy is it a dark, dangerous ride that you go on with these characters. The violence ramps up but so does the story line. I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment 'Empire'.

Well at least Mariana has her "accounting talent" that makes her a very valuable asset to her captors and has served her well over the years . However the thorns in her side were still there , I'm not sure who I hate more Emilio or Murphy ?!

The monster within Dornan is waking from his slumber and he's very scary ....

I must say Mariana is 1 tough cookie , I can't get my head around how she's survived and coped with all this bedlam around her . In Kingpin she takes the bulls by the horns and her decision starts a chain of events , the beginning of the end really ....

Secrets are never a good thing they lead to more secrets and they almost always come out ... there are morev twists being added to an already mind boggling twisted tale !

I never want to stop reading this series. Same with the gypsy brothers and now this, this world is too addictive not to want to read every single story. The fans will love it.

Kingpin is book two in the Cartel series and continues with Mariana's story 9 years later. Again, another dark book, if you read Gypsy Brothers series then you understand what I mean about dark, if not, there are themes that may be difficult for some readers. Lili St. Germain's books are all fast read, well everything I've read I feel is. Hard to put down, though at times you want to but just can't.

In this book you see Dornan start to really unravel and become more of the unstable character you are familiar with in the Gypsy Brothers. If you haven't read them, you will see how deranged and twisted he really is. How Mariana can love Dornan with all the stuff he's done is beyond me... This book is darker and rougher than Cartel so be prepared. Even with the dark themes and the grittiness I am addicted to the series!! With that said I am off to go read Empire!! Happy reading!!

Full series review posted on 1/12 through enclosed link.

One intense and incredible continuation to the Cartel trilogy. Mariana is literally fighting for her life, more so now than ever. Her world continues to change as much as it stays the same. I have such respect for her quick-thinking ways for survival and her moxie is never more powerful. Her love of Dornan Ross gives her second thoughts and she finds herself up to her neck in suitors. Literally.

I often find myself almost reluctant to turn the page yet I can't get enough. It's a rollercoaster ride like no other and is one I didn't think I would enjoy but I am fully addicted!

A must read in my opinion. You won't want to look away for even a second!

5 solid stars!

This is a super dark romance and it contains very detailed violence and sex scenes.

Mariana and Dornan have been together now for nine years, throughout her captivity. He says he loves her and she loves him but after all they go through in this book, that love might have just died.

Before, while Mariana knew, what he did she hadn't seen it up close and person. That is until she watched him put a bullet in a new mother's head.

Things go down heal from here. Now she has to,have the help of his best friend and it may be the death of her. And him.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.