Cruel Blood by Skylar J. Kent: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

ROME

I never thought my rotten heart would get hung up on another woman, but she proved me wrong.

My brother was about to take over our dying father's legacy when he got busted. So now I'm in charge of the Marino family—and his ornery teen daughter, Giuliana. When she gets kicked out of high school and needs a teacher, I hire the woman I haven’t been able to shake from my mind since the first time we met.

I should keep my hands off Bella Ives, and not only because she isn't built for the underworld. But I don't—and find myself begging God for mercy.

BELLA

They warned me about him, but nothing could have prepared me for who he really is.

Everyone knows getting mixed up with the Mafia is a bad idea. Blame it on my savior complex or the reference I need for my dream job, but I agree to homeschool the niece of a mob boss.

Romeo Marino is as brutal as they say. For some reason he wants me, and I let him pursue me. After all, he is bent on turning his back on the mob life.

But when his brother returns to claim his legacy, not only Rome but Giuliana and I are swept into a dangerous game. And it’s about to turn lethal.

Cruel Blood is a gritty Christian Mafia Romance about a mob boss caught between darkness and light, and is the first part of a trilogy.

Author's Note: While Cruel Blood does not contain explicit content, it is intended for readers 18+ due to mature themes and moderate violence. Content warnings are available under "Read sample" once the book is published.

The Author

Skylar J. Kent writes contemporary romance with a dash of suspense, "boldly going where Christian fiction hasn't gone before." Despite suffering from a chronic illness, she always finds a reason to laugh and enjoy the beauty of life. The stories Skylar pens aim to encourage readers in their faith and show that no soul is beyond God's reach.

Book Review

Simply put, wow... what else can be said? This truly is one of those books where I don't know the right words to fully express what an amazing story this was. Let's start with the obvious though, this is not your typical Christian romance. A mob boss who is a Christian... but who also is very much still living in that world with all the cruelty and darkness that come with it? It shouldn't make sense, but one thing I have discovered about Skylar J. Kent is that she truly has a gift of bringing that perfect balance between darkness and light... which is made evident in Rome's complex character. It's definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but personally, I loved it. It was gritty, it was messy, it was traumatic... and yet, there is that sense of hope coming through with a beautiful reminder that no matter what we have done in our lives or what has been done to us, no one is too far gone or too broken for God. You can feel the pain these characters have faced on the pages, but we're not left in the darkness. I loved the romance between Bella and Rome, the protectiveness, the complicated family dynamics, the struggle between the darkness and the light... all of it worked together to bring me into this world. I couldn't put it down. And that ending? My goodness! I am 100% invested in the lives of all of these characters and find myself looking forward to what will come next in this series... I know it's going to be great. Another new favorite for me! 

Cruel Blood is a Christian romance. While there is no language and kisses only on the page, it doesn't shy away from the realities of the mafia underworld and does touch on several darker themes that could be triggering for readers. If needed, be sure to see the trigger warnings in the author's note before reading. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4fDuMfG