2 Stars

I got about 30% of the way through this book and realized I was somewhat lost on the plot, didn’t really have any investment in the main character and wasn’t impressed with the intimate scenes.

honestly
i didn't get to finish this because I really wasn't in the mood
but I think it would have been alright if I did.

This one didn’t quite hit the spot for me. I’m no stranger to dark romance, morally grey characters but this one wasn’t quite me.

The sexy scenes were well written and delivered what the gorgeous cover promised but the plot for me wasn’t all there for me. I think maybe because it’s such a short book I didn’t feel fully satisfied.

I tried to like it. I really did. It was such a short read, I thought I could just read it in one sitting as a filler between novels, but it took me a month to read this book. After starting it and getting less than halfway, I found the depth of writing to really be lacking. There was too much jumping around between locations and background of characters that it just lost my interest very early on. I finally wound up finishing it, though the second half was no different. The relationship between Victoria and Diego was great, but there was just a major lack in build up to certain points in the story.

Couldn't get away with this. A strange mixture of violence and sex that didn't seem to combine well at all. It all seemed a bit disjointed to me, didn't flow well.

I don't think this book was for me. I had a very hard time connecting with the writing style and the story. At around the 30% mark I found myself having to re-read pages because I couldn't focus on the book. That is a sign for me that it is time to DNF. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this title at 30%. The main reasons were the writing style wasn't my favorite, and I just had a hard time getting into the story.

This was such an intense book. Basically it felt like a movie or a telenovela all in one and it was so good. I loved the Spanish dialogue. It was honestly my favorite part of the whole book. The spicy parts were perfection in my opinion. Just overall the plot was well done the writing was great, i was hooked almost instantly, couldn’t put it down. I think this book helped me add another favorite author onto my list.

This book is filled with hard hitting action, revenge and deliciously steamy spice. I was certainly entertained, and enjoyed the drama, but it was occasionally difficult to follow. Sometimes, during one of the FMC’s many ‘reveries,’ I would have to reread the section to realize it was a flashback. The action in this book starts right away and continues to the explosive end!

Wow! This book is not what I was expecting! It's got that James Bond feel to it but with a female's point of view which is perfect. It's steamy, suspenseful, action packed, and well-written. It was intended to be a short story but Hannah turned it into a longer novel... The only critique I have is that it could've been longer! I would've loved more depth on Victoria's relationships and past. That being said, the author was still able to to give enough information to make the current situation understood; there was still fluidty to the story and depth to all the characters. And seriously, so steamy 🔥

Torn apart by their families, Victoria and Diego were in love when they were younger but could not possibly have a future. All grown up and with the skills to protect her family, Victoria is out for revenge against the dangerous Jose Herrera who has gotten her mother addicted to drugs she cannot live without. Diego shows up in Victoria's life once more and he is determined to keep her this time, but his uncle, Jose Herrera, and Victoria's mission to end his life put him in a hard position. Will love or blood prevail?

Victoria is not a female James Bond, she's a badass, powerful mercenary hell bent on revenge. I love a morally grey FMC, so she definitely gave the book more points for me. The chemistry between her and Diego is both believable and intense. However, there was something missing in this story and I couldn't figure out what. It felt as if there were more pieces to the puzzle that were missing or I was reading the second book in a series. The feud between the families and the lovers caught in the middle kept me going, though, even when the ending felt rushed.

I like the strong female protagonist. The action, the sex, and the moral conflicts - everything is just the right amount to give a great reading experience.

But... and I am really sorry that there is a but... I can't help feeling as if I have seen this before...
It reminds me a lot about the 90's film "The Specialist" (with Sharon Stone in the lead role). And I know it is not exactly the same, but there are similarities... So much so, that this story just doesn't seem new...

But I still enjoyed it.

Kind of sort of a mafia family Romeo and Juliet. I expected more from this story but it left me feeling unsatisfied.

Victoria, the main FMC, is on the hunt for the man selling tampered opiates to her grieving mother. Victoria’s mom remarries after her fathers death into the Moreno family (I swear every mafia book I read mentions a Moreno, but I digress) and is now on the brink of suicide if she continues with her opiate addiction. With an emotionally traumatic past, Victoria is James Bond-ing her way to Jose Herrera to stop the supply of drugs reaching her mom in hopes of saving her. Jose also happens to be the uncle of her on/off again lover, Diego. With tensions rising between the Morenos and Herreras for various reasons, Victoria and Diego’s relationship is already unfavorable. But every time they are together there is a different tension present that is all consuming.

Things I liked:
•the main female character being a total bada$$. Victoria was ruthless, I mean who doesn’t like a strong female character. Although I could live without her smoking a whole pack of cigarettes every chapter.

Things I wasn’t a fan of:
•I’m not sure if it was me personally but I was a bit lost during some of the background information on family business explanations and even the timeline of the whole story. It jumped from scene to scene and I couldn’t even tell what day it was at some points.
•Diego was oddly obsessed that it was kind of scary and him calling her names… how romantic.
•the romance was not slow burn, it was immediate and this may be due to the history between the two but it took away from the romance.

All in all, it was a fast paced dark-ish romance.

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars.

Plot:

Victoria is on the hunt for Jose, the man who is currently behind a new narcotics deal that is responsible for her mother's deadly overdose. She is a killer and nothing will get in the way of her catching and killing the man responsible.

Diego has loved Victoria since he was a young boy. He lived through grief when Victoria got engaged to someone else and helped stay by her side while she mourned his death. Just when he thinks things could work out between them, he realises that Victoria is our for Jose's head- Diego's uncle.

As Victoria travels the world in pursuit, Diego follows to make sure she doesn't do anything that she would regret.

My thoughts:

I am TRASH for romantic suspense; I have lost count of how many books in this genre I have read already. This book had a very promising outline and I was giddy with excitement when I got an ARC. However... I was not a big fan, unfortunately.

What didn't work for me?
- Pace: This is a novella and too much happens and none of it in detail.
- The romance: We got a Happy For Now but I'm not convinced these two will last the year- probably because Victoria will get herself killed.
- Diego: I loved him but my God! He was literally only there to have sex. There was only ONE scene that he was in where they didn't have sex.
- The plot: Why was Victoria so determined to kill ONE man when the drugs deal was clearly working on a much bigger scale?! Killing one man won't sort anything...

Anyway. I was really torn about my review. The author herself has put some questions at the end for 'reader discussions' but most of these are very plot reliant and I think it goes to show that actually there are too many questions left unanswered.

The book feels like a part of a series; more specifically, it feels like a book 2. The plot unravels backwards and there are too many flashbacks.

I enjoyed the story but feel somewhat unsatisfied by the end.

I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review.

🌸 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒: 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 by 𝕊.𝕃. ℍ𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕙 🌸

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

“An eerie silence engulfs the area. Like the silence I imagine engulfs you when you know that you’re at death’s door.”

Picture in your mind a more intense and sexualized female version of James Bond. To that add two high rank families from Mexico City that are involved into a drug bussines, and two people from those families who are sexualy attracted to each other, revenge, murders, conspiracy and you have yourself a very steamy and eventfull story.

Victoria is the female lead who takes care of business and doesn’t need a man to help her along the way. She can handle any situation that comes her way. Every time she and Diego get together, it’s like a bomb going off. Things are always so aggressive and heated, and oh so steamy. FYI be prepared for when he speaks to her in Spanish. Very hot indead!!

This is a super fast paced read and it jumps from one shocking scene to the next. Your mind will be working overtime trying to keep up. The scenes with Victoria and Diego are explosive and very sexy so I suggest grabbing yourself a glass of wine and reading this when you are all alone because sexy scenes are very well written should I say. Also, what I really loved in this book is all the countries it mentiones. It makes you feel like you were the ones going around the world with Victoria.

If you enjoyed 50 Shades you will love this one much more. Only thing I felt this story was missing is more story. I needed more details about the situation and at times I felt like it was moving too fast. All in all a very exciting book.

This was a thrilling read, though very raw and graphic at times. The characters are captivating and focus on the main theme: will love win over revenge? I couldn't put this one down.

Hard trigger by SL Hannah.
Your mother’s opiates are coming from Jose Herrera’s distribution network.” My pulse races as my stepfather speaks these words. Because taking on the Herreras also means taking on Diego.
Reckless, and hardened by a volatile past, Victoria does not see a future with Diego Herrera as a realistic option. As their childhood friendship ignites, they find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody feud between the two most powerful families in Mexico City. And she’s a Moreno now—brought up to be the secret weapon nobody suspected.
But Victoria can’t deny the attraction. Diego’s commanding muscles, the coarse, dark hair of his solid chest, that rugged scar above his sensuous lips…
Loyalty is in the eye of the beholder.
An absolutely fantastic read. I loved how Victoria and Diego were together. Lots of action. 5*.