Praise

Beautifully Beastly

I went into this book thinking I knew exactly what this book was about, expecting a run of the mill mafia romance for me to absolutely eat up, and this delivered so much more!! I obviously misread a bit of the blurb, because this book has supernatural elements that had me on the edge of my seat, jaw dropped, and needing to know what was happening next and I loved every dang moment.

Maria did not pull any punches, the moments of terror in this book felt all too real, and the highs and lows of this book were heavy hitting, I definitely went on a journey with our main characters Hayami and Fenrir. This book follows Hayami, mafia princess of the Devall family, and Fenrir "The Beast", her body guard that will stop at nothing to protect her as they travel to the mountain estate Belial House for safety when tension between mobs rises. But there is more to this house than meets the eye and Hayami and Fenrir are snowed in. I am recommending that everyone read this book if they love a gritty romance, especially if they love a touch of supernatural events, I have never read anything like this and need more ASAP.

Thank you to HotTreePublishing for sending me an eARC of this book!!

Beautifully Beastly

Went in thinking it was going to be a mafia romance, but was fabulously surprised with the horror aspect! It was creepy as it was romantic, it kept me on my toes and I HAD to look up the legend. I really enjoyed it!

Beautifully Beastly

Amazing book, it's been a while since I enjoyed "mafia romance" since normally is not my cup of tea.
But this was amazingly done, the longing, the terror, the back stories, the atmosphere... Everything was well crafted. It was kinda Gothic at moments which I absolutely loved.
Both the main characters were well constructed, especially him.

Beautifully Beastly

A mafia romance but make it paranormal - yes absolutely! I ate this up.
Our FMC is the daughter of a mafia boss and our MMC is her bodyguard... what more can I say? But also send them to a secluded gothic manor, throw in a little light haunting with your forced proximity and a little bit of trauma for each of them and you a great story!
Hayami is angsty and defiant and Fenrir is stoic and measured, though easily riled when it comes to Hayami.
The forced proximity is delicious and spicy but layered with a ghost story riddled with trauma and revenge is *chef's kiss*. The story is very character driven, the plot is a little slower paced, but the story didn't feel slow at all. This is a different sort of read for me and I really enjoyed it!
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We Become Ravens

I’ve loved Edgar Allen Poe’s work since elementary school—yes, that far back. I was a weird kid. Author Maria Dean cleverly used some themes and names from Poe’s work in her book We Become Ravens. The story is just as much about darkness, loss, regrets, and has a sense of eerieness with a gothic vibe—coincidentally, similar to Poe’s writing.

Readers are introduced to Evageline’s character as it is told through her POV only. The secret gift she endures and sees as, instead, a burden unfolds through the story. Her unexpected connection with her brother’s killer and blood-bonded “brother,” Valdemar, begins a suspenseful, twisty, dark quest for answers that she is not prepared for.

I enjoyed Maria Dean's concept of We Become Ravens. The fated mate bond, the ability to communicate in the dream world, and all the twists were quite creative in this story. I liked it!

We Become Ravens

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I LOVED every single second of this story!! I wasn't 100% sure what I was getting into but I was pleasantly surprised. We Become Ravens is a devilishly dark, sexy and atmospheric story about our FMC Evangeline who starts to visit the man who killed her brother - Valdemar Montresor.

The story gets straight into the drama as we follow Evangeline and Vlademar meeting in the prison and even though he is quite obviously morally grey I loved him and their interactions together. Part of this story takes place in dreams and I found this to be really interesting and unique to me. The writing was compelling and had me reading when I should have been sleeping, I loved the references to Edgar Allen Poe and the smut was on point.

If you like dark romance and morally grey MMC's then please check this out.

We Become Ravens

Sometimes, I'll pick up a book on a whim, and that's what I did here. This is a new-to-me author and a fantasy book (which isn't my go-to genre), but something about this book's blurb just called to me. So, I picked it up, and once I did, I didn't want to put it down.

When the man who killed Evangeline's twin brother asks for her to meet him in prison, what could he possibly want other than her forgiveness? That's the one thing that she can never give Valdemar Montresor, but as he starts to reveal the secrets of the Raven Hands and the night that her brother died, Evangeline is caught between dreams and reality and she must seek the truth.

This story consumed me right from the start and it's hold on me only got stronger with every twist and turn. Valdemar had me in his grip from the moment that we swaggered into the visiting room. This is one of the sexiest stories that I've read in quite some time. That's says a lot about this author considering that for much of this story, Evangeline and Valdemar are in a prison, separated by a table and overseen by guards.

Mystery, danger, suspense. This haunting story has all of that and more, all tied together with echoes of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven'. This story surprised me again and again, and I found myself fascinated by these characters and their connection to each other. The way that this story played out had me turning the pages so fast, wanting to get to the end without wanting the story to be over.

We Become Ravens will definitely be a contender for one of my top reads of this year and it will have me checking out this author's entire backlist too.

We Become Ravens

We Become Ravens is a spellbinding blend of gothic mystery, supernatural intrigue, and dark romance. From the very first page, the novel pulls you into a hauntingly atmospheric world filled with eerie penitentiaries, whispered secrets, and a love story teetering on the edge of danger.

Evangeline is a journalist determined to uncover the truth about her twin brother’s death. When she’s lured into the orbit of Valdemar Montresor—the enigmatic and dangerous man convicted of her brother’s murder—she is thrust into a chilling game of truth and deception. As the lines between reality and nightmares blur, Evangeline must navigate ghostly whispers, forbidden desires, and dark revelations that threaten everything she thought she knew.

Who knew that dreams could be so evocative?

Whilst this is a slow burn romance, the tension between these two is as intoxicating as it is unsettling. This book captivated me and kept me turning pages late into the night. This novel, will resonate with you long after you leave the pages.

An unexpected 5 star read for me and I highly recommend it.

We Become Ravens

I went into this book blind and it certainly didn’t disappoint, this book was absolutely amazing. I fell in love with the characters so quickly. The twists and turns in it meant I couldn’t put the book down and I’m truly upset I’ve finished it. Maria dean captures the story brilliantly and I can’t wait to read more from her. 10/10 story with spice too.
Don’t want to say more as to not spoil it for anyone but this is a must read!!!

Not Without Me

Not Without Me by Maria Dean is a captivating tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of connections.

Maria Dean's portrayal of complex relationships is poignant and thought-provoking, delving into themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the transformative power of time.

This a compelling blend of romance and introspection, offering readers a heartfelt exploration of love's enduring impact across the years. This is a must-read for anyone captivated by tales of love, resilience, and the power of understanding.

Not Without Me

Love love loved this book! It was so easy to read and I didn’t want to put it down.
It was well written giving you the then and now story at the same time.
It helped you know how the relationship started and where it is now. It lets you feel everything they went through 16 years ago and how they are now.
This is the first book of Maria Dean I have read but it will not be the last.

Absolutely recommend this to anyone and everyone

Not Without Me

Written in dual pov, with present and past mingled in, we learn of Alex (Lexie) and Cade's story. A tragic teenage romance lost for 16 years. True love never dies, but can the past be forgotten? With a savage twist at the end, I could not put this book down, and I read it in one afternoon (and late into the night!!! I just couldn't stop) Just check the trigger warnings as some scenes could be confronting.

Not Without Me

Wow! This book is so consumable it’s ridiculous! When I say I devoured it! I found myself having to pick it up to squeeze a chapter in here and there.

I’m a fantasy girl at heart, so often I’m just waiting for the vampires to show up! Lol But this is a contemporary to rave about.

Personally I love the time split and how the author uses little devices to trigger their memories into the past.

I loved Lexie’s portrayal into the transformation from girl to woman, Alex. It was gritty and well done, she wasn’t perfect. And traits of abuse survivors were portrayed both delicately but also with rawness.

The midway twist - we’ve all been dying to know what happened to end their blissful relationship when they were kids. I never would have guessed it in a million years - yet it still rang true.

Loved it - this is for those who love raw, real contemporary romances.

Not Without Me

“Ever since I met you, you’ve been in my head. It’s like you’ve crept inside and taken over the controls.”

From the first chapter oWwwW what do we have here?
Enter, ‘Not without me’ by Maria Dean. I’m a sucker for forbidden romance! Easy to get lost in and just chill out and read.
We meet Alex, a real estate agent waiting to meet the new owner of their workplace. Not expecting a tall broody blast from the past to wonder through. It’s been 16 years, can they let the past control the present or be forever doomed after that fateful day 16 years ago.

The book carries a lot of then and now perspectives, showing us more of their history. It’s a mixture of past and present . She then constantly dragged in to memories of the past by seeing things in her present and the memories taking hold. Once we get Cades perspective we still get the switching of time, it’s well done with floating back into past through triggers of memory.

“My memories are torture enough; I don’t need to stick another blade in the wound. But he’s here. He’s back.”

I was hoping for a Cade perspective so when we got there about 30% I was like yes yes please I need to see his brain.

The reason they separated was not what I expected. Not at all!

There is def some heavy themes so be sure to check triggers if you feel the need.

This is my first time reading Maria Dean and I really enjoyed the ride. It was unexpected in ways and I loved how I could sit down in the arvo and finish it before bed.

I look forward to more books by Maria as it was easy to read and kept my super distracted brain distracted for the entirety.

On The Face Of It

A great romantic suspense with so many twists and turns along the way. Chloe and Gianni take enemies to lovers to the next level! Definitely recommend this one to those that enjoy love stories with an edge.

On The Face Of It

Wow - I loved Chloe, Gianni, and this beautifully-written book! Not only was On The Face Of It intriguing from the beginning, but it also swept me into a whirlwind of mystery, suspense, and romance, and I couldn’t put it down. I’m always up for a great love story, but this one was so much more than that, and I appreciated the struggles that brought these two together. This book will keep you on your toes, and it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys romance, suspense, and deep personal growth. Loved it!

On The Face Of It

Full of intrigue and brilliantly written. It was almost as if I was seeing things through Chloe's eyes, like a film being played out.

On The Face Of It

Fantastic

Such a great read with a powerful emotional journey. I loved the characters. Such fantastic story telling! Would highly recommend!

On The Face Of It

The suspense, intrigue and mystery within the plot of this book kept me on my toes the whole way through. I tried to go into it with no expectations and I think that just made me appreciate the twists and turns more; every time I thought I had the plot figured out another twist would happen!

The story follows Chloe Daniels as she starts a new job after being fired from her previous one. Anxious enough about the situation already, she is met by one of her new bosses, Gianni who is extremely handsome but also rude, unapproachable and seems to take an instant dislike to Chloe on first sight. Despite his behaviour (and herself) she can’t seem to get the man out of her head! Their chemistry is undeniable but as time goes on they realise that they are both running from their pasts, which is stopping them from acting on their growing mutual attraction.

Enemies to lovers is a trope I am here for and this book took it to a new level! I felt the characters were complex and well written and because of that I was invested in Chloe and Gianni’s romance and wanted to read on at any given opportunity.

In all honesty I don’t think I would have normally picked this book up, more because I’m a sucker for a bright cover than anything else. However, I loved this book and I think it surprised me how much I did (guess that’s why they say don’t judge a book by it’s cover). I will definitely be recommending this book to others, it’s a hidden gem. 💎