Alba and Her Secrets..♥'s Reviews > A Bloody Kingdom

4.5/5 'Bloody' Stars!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
BR with my buddy bitch, the sexy Sasha Elle a.k.a Mrs. Liam Callahan ;)


I really don't know where to start. This book wrecked me. Wrecked me SO BAD. The lovely Sasha and I buddy read this together and I can assure you we still have book hangover. I probably said this to many people by now (including to J. J. McAvoy) but I have never cried so much while reading. A Bloody Kingdom is a bittersweet, extremely emotional, gut wrenching but still amazing book.

A Bloody Kingdom is the fourth installment in McAvoy's Ruthless People series and it continues the journey of my top favorite mob bosses: Liam and Melody Callahan. This kick-ass couple is now having some "peace" after everything that happened in American Savages: Liam is focused on being the boss of both the Irish and the Italian mafias and Melody has become the governor of Illinois and runs Chicago like the Bloody Melody we all know. However, as you can imagine, this "tranquillity" does not last long.

"If anything comes against us, we will do what we have always done."
"Fight?"
"Win."

After how things ended in the third book of the series, it was quite a surprise when the author announced there would be a fourth installment. I felt like it wasn't necessary but obviously, J. J. McAvoy did it again: she gave us more reasons to love her writing and her characters. In A Bloody Kingdom we get to see Liam, Melody, Declan, Coraline, Neal and Mina not only as a part of a ruthless mafia but also as parents. This series has always focused on the importance of the family and it continues being this way on this book. I loved all the scenes with the kids, it gave me all the feels!

We laugh together. We cry together. We fight together.

Moreover, we can observe how Liam and Melody start training their kids. In other words, they start being more strict (because, in the end, they are the children of two mafia bosses) while still being very loving and protective parents: especially when things get really REALLY HARD. J. J. continued giving us her quotes at the beginning of each chapter (I freaking love that!) and different POV's. I love how she connects everything perfectly!

"Cora?"
"I've fallen in love with you again twice today, you know that?"
"You're finally catching up to me." I fell in love with her at least twice as often every day.

Of course, together with all the sentimental and implacable scenes in this novel, we still get a couple/s with off-the-charts chemistry. Liam and Melody are just SO FREAKING HOT. The sex scenes are, as the whole book, amazingly written, so very detailed that they will leave you wanting more. These two are one of the hottest married couples in the genre, that I can vouch for!

"Don't push me, Melody. I'm not above hiking this dress up and fucking you in front of all of Chicago."

He thrust forward so hard I had to wrap my arm around him, my other hand pressed up against the ceiling. He fucked me without mercy, the whole car shaking along with us, and it still wasn't enough for him. [...] I bloody loved it... every fuck, every moan, his tight grip on my thigh; everything was my personal heaven.

In my opinion, A Bloody Kingdom is the hardest book to read in the Ruthless People series. There are many things that you do not expect, scenes that are very difficult to read and that will completely break your heart. I had to stop several times because it got so emotional that I could not stop crying. The ending was bittersweet, I was not expecting it to be that way. I have to confess that I fancy more the ending in American Savages than this one. I enjoyed it but it made me happy and sad at the same time. You will get it when you read it! That's why it was difficult for me to write this review and rate this book.

We were connected to each other. She was the air in my lungs, the blood in my veins; she was my whole life.

But, I do have to say this too: McAvoy's Ruthless People series is a MUST READ for mafia romance lovers. It has a great story, with a fabulous plot, a great deal of complex and lovable characters and with lots of twists and surprises. For me, it's one of the best series I have ever read!

"I'm obsessed with you Melody. No matter what you do, I'll always forgive you. Even if you were to kill me, I'd forgive you."

Therefore, my final rating for A Bloody Kingdom is 4.5/5 STARS. I know, I can't decide, sorry! Too many feels.. J. J. McAvoy said this book would wreck us and boy.. did it wreck me! Still, it was great to catch up with the amazing characters/couples created in the Ruthless People series. I don't know if this is the end of them but if it is I can definitely say: what a journey! Thank you for this, J. J. and for giving me the chance to read this before the release date! And dear readers, if you enjoy mafia romance books, you don't want to miss this. I totally recommend it!

P.S: Thank you to my lovely buddy bitch Sasha Elle for all the rambling and the emotional conversations we had while reading this! You know, I love you girlie ;) <33333

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