For twenty years, I’ve hunted one man—the monster who destroyed my childhood and disappeared behind a fortress of wealth and power. I’ve come for blood—and I won’t stop until I deliver him to hell myself.
When I infiltrate his inner circle, posing as a potential partner, I discover his greatest secret: a daughter. Hidden. Sheltered. Promised to his equally depraved business partner as a trophy bride—and a payoff for years of loyalty.
At first, she’s nothing but a tool—another pawn I can use to bring her father to his knees. So, when he complains that she’s too pure to satisfy him, I offer to educate her. My ticket deeper into the empire, I intend to burn to the ground.
She was supposed to be leverage.
Instead, she’s the only thing I’ll kill to protect—and die to keep.
MY THOUGHTS
Gilded is a fast-paced, intriguing, and authentic-feeling story featuring the most remarkable heroine in Malia. She's had a horrifically sheltered existence full of neglect and abuse, but has an innate sense of decency and strength. I must mention that the graphic abuse she suffers, particularly in the beginning of the book, is difficult to read. With the addition of our morally gray hero, Luka, I felt instant relief for Malia. However, that relief faltered numerous times when his words and actions belied his status as a potential savior. Although their relationship begins with a very unpleasant agreement, it progresses uncomfortably before Luka is enlightened to Malia's actual innocence.
This dual point-of-view story wraps up in the best possible way. For Malia. For Luka, and their life together!
Undoubtedly, Gilded will be a favorite book this year. I'm thankful to Skye Jordan for another exceptional read!
Tropes: morally gray hero, revenge romance, mafia romance, enemies to lovers, touch her and die, captivity
I’m stunned. Again. I’ve never been hit before. Not by my father, not by any nanny or guard. Now, I’ve been hit twice in a matter of hours, and I don’t know how to adapt. I’ve been ignored, disregarded, belittled, scoffed at, and now, hated, but I’ve never been hit.
“She’s a ghost.” Typical of Jairo to just talk, regardless of whether or not I want to listen. But these men are my family. My brothers. I would never dismiss their ideas, the same way they would never dismiss mine. “I can’t locate her birth certificate or her Social Security number,” he says. “Not as Malia Eros or Malia Tarik, and there is no record of Tarik’s wife ever giving birth. I’ve scoured the backgrounds of his known whores—still nothing.”
“I’m wondering if there’s any way I could marry you instead of Soren.” I meet his gaze, the idea cementing as I speak. “I’ll still do the charity work and give the money to Soren. I can do even more and give that income to you. I swear I’d be a good wife. I’d leave you alone so you could work. I wouldn’t care if you’re gone or even had other women in your life. I’d do whatever you want in the bedroom, and I’d learn to cook for you. I—”
“This just keeps getting darker.” “You haven’t heard the darkest part yet.” I rub my eyes. “Christ.” “Those stipulations I mentioned—her grandparents require proof of life every birthday. If they don’t get it, they revoke the trust.”
He grips my face and kisses me, a fierce, hard, passionate kiss that leaves me aching and dizzy. “You may be marrying him tomorrow, Malia, but you belong to me. You’ll always belong to me.” He slips out of the room, and it’s over. It’s over as abruptly as it began. I cover my face with both hands, press my back to the door, and slide to the floor, my heart shattering.
No comments:
Post a Comment