Release Blitz: Poison and Wine: Katie Ashley
Poison and Wine
Katie Ashley
Tropes:
Arranged MarriageEnemies to Lovers
Virgin FMC(He kidnaps her from a convent!)
Forced Proximity
Touch Her and Die
Possessive MMC
Caterina
As the only daughter of a formidable capo, my existence unfolded within the confines of a gilded cage. At eighteen, I would become a pawn in the intricate game of power, destined to be wed to a high-ranking member of my father’s regime. My fate oscillated between my father's grasp and that of my future husband. Fleeing was not an option; they would track me down relentlessly. In an act of both self-preservation and rebellion, I sought refuge in a local convent—the sole sanctuary untouched by the shadows of the mafia. Yet, before I could take my final vows, the devil himself knocked at my door — a devastatingly handsome blonde-haired, blue-eyed rogue. With an Irish accent that sent shivers down my spine, he declared me his future wife. No one had touched me; no one would. But despite my aversion to a forced marriage, an irresistible attraction brewed between us— for he was both poison and wine.
Callum
When I abducted a nun, my expectations were simple—she'd be submissive, pliable, the ideal mafia wife. Little did I imagine that the fiery brunette would wield a mouth and body I craved, both in and out of the bedroom. She was a means to an end—a marriage forged out of convenience, a strategic alliance with an enemy family to solidify our standing in the underworld. Tradition dictated that I claim her, yet the last thing I'd do is coerce her. She won't be forced. I promised she would beg me to take her, and anyone who dared to touch her would die. For she was mine and mine alone.
In the unforgiving realm of the underworld, brace yourself for an electrifying romance pulsating with danger and desire.
I honestly run hot and cold with mafia books. It is just not my normal book choice. But there are certain series I like or authors I will read it for. So I went into this one not sure how I was going to feel about it. But then it totally sucked me in.
This is the kind of mafia book I enjoy. Sure there is enough violence, ruthlessness, and bad behavior, but there is also humor, banter, and snark. It revolves around the Kavanaugh brothers: Callum, Quinn, Dare, and Kellan. These guys give each other so much hell but also support each other.
Callum, who recently engineered his own rise as the new head of one of the Irish mafia families is broody, cocky, intimidating, and thrives on control. And he is now strongly being encouraged to go take a wife from an Italian family to build an alliance and taking her from a nunnery did not seem like that big of a challenge.
Caterina Neretti is a novice in the nunnery instead of letting her father marry her off for his own gain. She has already sacrificed to stay out of that life. But now she is being dragged back into it...kicking and screaming. She is no mild, meek maiden. She is a tough, brave, and bold woman. And she is not taking this lying down.
I’d be lying if there wasn’t a small part of me that was turned on by her ferocity.
I’d be lying if there wasn’t a small part of me that was turned on by her ferocity.
The fight, snark, and banter had me engaged and loving the fiery outbursts and antagonism. And the feistiness between Callum and Caterina is delightful foreplay. I loved seeing Callum react so strongly to her and be jealous of how she would act with his brothers vs. him. She is fiery and challenges him on every little thing. And he has finally met his match with a woman who stands firm and does not like being ordered around and is not as intimidated by him as he wanted her to be.
“Don’t fight it, Kitten. You’re mine, and I’m yours. We’ll possess each other until our last breaths.”
I loved seeing them play off each other but also seeing the kinder sides of Callum and how loyal he was to those he cared about. And his attempts at resisting the emotional connection that was building as she limits the physical connection. But I also enjoyed him being a strong, possessive, alpha-hole too. I loved Caterina's sass and spirit. They are both stubborn, loyal, smart, and have strong opinions. There is plenty of sexual tension and fun banter between them and they just challenge each other. But they also begin building more of an emotional connection, bond, and passion despite the tumultuous situation. There is drama, suspense, intrigue, action, and just enough violence to make it feel like a mafia story. “For all my sins, I should never have been blessed with such beauty.”
I am so intrigued by his brothers Kellan, Quinn, and Dare, and Caterina also has three brothers, Rafe, Leandro, and Gianni. All of the family dynamics and mafia storylines add depth, drama, and intensity to the background. I am hoping Quinn's story is next. I am a sucker for a big, scarred, broody hero. But I am definitely excited about more in this series.
“The best loves are the ones that are fiery and passionate.”
Caterina is the only daughter of a powerful capo. In order to avoid an arranged marriage, she joins a convent and has lived cloistered for the last 3 years. Her simple life may not be what she originally dreamed of, but she has made the best of it and has found comfort in her simple life.
Callum needs a wife to strengthen his claim as the leader of his family. Under the guidance of his uncle, he chooses a bride from an Italian family to bring in additional allies. The only problem is his intended bride is a nun who has already shied away from one marriage. He anticipates she will be pliant and willing to go along with his plan, but when he uses the cloak of darkness to take his bride, he learns she is anything but biddable.
I loved watching the balance of power develop between these two. While it seems that Callum would have all the power as Cat’s kidnapper, she quickly turns the tables on him and plays with every thread of power she can wrestle from him. As they strike up a tentative peace between them with an arrangement that benefits them both, they also recognize the threat that Cat’s family could pose as word will inevitably reach them of her change of situation.
The story itself kept things moving as each time Cat and Callum started to feel comfortable with each other, something in their lives shifted to give them a new challenge to face. Despite being brought up in the mafia underworld, Cat seemed to be rather sheltered to the reality of the darkness of the men around her and the things they were capable of. As she has to face the actions of Callum, she often reacts with derision to parts of the mafia life that she hadn’t been faced with until living with Callum.
By the time I reached the end of the book, I was in love with this whole extended family. Both Callum and Cat’s brothers were so much fun to read as side characters. I hope both sets of brothers eventually get their own books -- from the quick banter of Callum’s brothers to the protective streaks in Cat’s.
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Katie Ashley
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Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Top Three Best-Selling author of both Indie and Traditionally published books. She's written rockers, bikers, billionaires, manwhores with hearts of gold, New Adult, and Young Adult. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, her rescue mutts, Belle and Nova, and her cats, Mama Kitty, Joe, and Jake. She has a slight obsession with The Golden Girls, Shakespeare, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.
She holds a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education and spent fourteen years teaching both middle and high school English, as well as a few adjunct college English classes.
Although she is a life-long Georgia peach, she loves traveling the country and world meeting readers.
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