Angel Mabbot is the perfect daughter.
Perfection has always been an expectation set forth by her adoring father and her overbearing, neglectful mother. Knowing she can never live up to their standards, Angel falls into a life of partying, drinking and pills in an effort to dull the pain of her insecurities and perceived failures.
Kevin Hawken, a former business partner of Angel’s father, has always loved Angel, although she has no idea who he is. Angel's substance induced state of mind forces her to question what is real.
And Kevin is too good to be real.
Caught in the clutches of Roman Conti, a notorious and dangerous Mob boss from Italy, Angel slips under Roman’s control. A control she can't escape.
And the only man who can rescue her...
Is a man she believes existed only in her dreams.
Releasing May 5, 2014
Roman leads me away from the helicopter and down the walkway to his estate. The moment of silence feels surreal as I await my fate. This is a horrible nightmare and I will wake up safely in Kevin’s arms.
But this is not a dream.
This is real.
The man who refuses to let me go removes his hand from my lower back and roughly turns me to face him.
“I will give you the life you crave my sweet angel, but you need to stop fighting me. Let go of him…he doesn’t have the means to give you your happily ever after like I do,” Roman murmurs as he steps closer to me. His hand grips the hem of my sweater, tugging me toward him.
I stand frigid, waiting for his next commanding move, but nothing happens. Tears spill down my cheeks, and my body tremors as I find the courage to speak. “I will never love you,” I whisper, turning away.
“Ah, you see, I don’t need love. I own you, Angel,” he growls as my name slips off his lips. He roughly cups my chin, forcing me to face him. “Love kills you. You live to find love, only to be cheated and left to die alone.” He kisses the tears on my cheeks away. “We will make this work.”
His dark gaze locks with mine, sending a shiver down my back, then he gently lifts my left hand, his thumb rubbing slowly up and down my ring finger. “You need something here…a reminder, perhaps,” he says evenly.
“A reminder?”
“Yes, baby, so you don’t forget who you belong to.” His lips tug into a sad smile.
“Who I belong to…” I repeat, my voice breaking.
“Yes…” he whispers. He glances slowly toward his house and frowns, then his jaw clenches tightly, and his lips press into a hard line before he turns back to me. “Our family is waiting for us. I need you to wipe away everything that happened today.”
I shake my head and let out a cold, hard laugh. “I will never forget what you did to Kevin.” Or what you are doing to that poor girl, locked away at your secret compound.
“That was nothing compared to what I can do…what I will do if you try to leave me again,” he warns, dangerously. His eyes shimmer thickly with sadness and dangerous rage.
I flinch and take a step back. “You have me. You own me. I’m yours to do whatever you want. Just leave Kevin alone.”
I just made a deal with the devil.
Phalla S. Rios lives in California with her husband, a daughter and two goofy pit bulls. She loves to read and write while drinking her favorite tea, Joy, from Starbucks. During her spare time, she is usually at the movies or looking for the next best place to eat. She often refers to herself as a foodie. Her debut novel is Not at First. She is currently writing the sequel, Always at First.
REVIEW
5Stars
I was completely blown away by Always At First (Not At First #2) by Phalla S Rios. It is a follow on novel from Not At First. It continues the love triangle which is Roman, Kevin and Angel. In this second novel we get to hear from Kevin and Angels POV as we learn about there past that creates there present. Kevin has always loved Angel although mostly from afar. Angel is in love with Kevin but is trapped by the ever demanding dominant Roman (who she also loves) The events run at a steady pace throughout the book and WOWZA there are some amazing events, shocks, twists secrets to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat.
I loved all the characters, Kevin was a sexy hot tattooed play boy who deeply cared for Angel and tried to protect her. He had harbored so much love for her over the years.
--Let the fear you have be what you need to fight harder for what you want !
Roman scared the s**t out of me. Don't get me wrong, he was beyond hot but he was Dark, Dangerous, Controlling and Demanding. He controlled Angel in every way possible and if she didn't comply he punished her.
--That is nothing compared to what I can do.....what I will do if you try to leave me again !
Angel was insufferable, she drove me insane. I wanted to give her a good wake up call. She was a selfish girl and took complete advantage of the people who cared and loved her most. She tried to protect Kevin's life by staying with Roman.
--I just signed my soul to the devil to protect Kevin !
I loved the way Phalla got you hooked from page 1. The connection with the characters just sucked you right in till the very end. Fantastic writing that had me heart wrenched and feeling so many different emotions, even sad tears flowed. This book is one of those reads that will be etched into your mind fora very long time.
5Stars
I was completely blown away by Always At First (Not At First #2) by Phalla S Rios. It is a follow on novel from Not At First. It continues the love triangle which is Roman, Kevin and Angel. In this second novel we get to hear from Kevin and Angels POV as we learn about there past that creates there present. Kevin has always loved Angel although mostly from afar. Angel is in love with Kevin but is trapped by the ever demanding dominant Roman (who she also loves) The events run at a steady pace throughout the book and WOWZA there are some amazing events, shocks, twists secrets to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat.
I loved all the characters, Kevin was a sexy hot tattooed play boy who deeply cared for Angel and tried to protect her. He had harbored so much love for her over the years.
--Let the fear you have be what you need to fight harder for what you want !
Roman scared the s**t out of me. Don't get me wrong, he was beyond hot but he was Dark, Dangerous, Controlling and Demanding. He controlled Angel in every way possible and if she didn't comply he punished her.
--That is nothing compared to what I can do.....what I will do if you try to leave me again !
Angel was insufferable, she drove me insane. I wanted to give her a good wake up call. She was a selfish girl and took complete advantage of the people who cared and loved her most. She tried to protect Kevin's life by staying with Roman.
--I just signed my soul to the devil to protect Kevin !
I loved the way Phalla got you hooked from page 1. The connection with the characters just sucked you right in till the very end. Fantastic writing that had me heart wrenched and feeling so many different emotions, even sad tears flowed. This book is one of those reads that will be etched into your mind fora very long time.
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