Tag Archives: Jagger Cole

Dance of Monsters (The Darkest Dance 7)by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Monsters (Darkest Dance 7 )by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 5, 2026

I made a huge mistake.
I’ve always been the good girl and the dutiful mafia daughter.
So when my devil of a father is in trouble, I ask the help of a worse one.
Vaughn Bancroft is a demon in a three-piece suit.
A monster with the body of a god and the mind of a villain.
The first time we cross paths, he tells me to run away and never look back.
I should have listened.
Because taking his help means entering his world of power, control, and deviant games, and giving him my body and soul.
I thought I could handle his brutal touch. I thought I could weather his storm.
But I never accounted for the monster waking something monstrous inside of me.
Something that refuses to go back to sleep.
Something that craves his darkness.
Something that may destroy everything I am.

•••••

REVIEW: DANCE OF MONSTERS is the seventh instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is twenty-three year old dancer Evelina Nikitin, and head of the Obsidian Syndicate Vaughn Bancroft’s story line. DANCE OF MONSTERS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Evelina is the sister of roman Nikitin, and Vaughn is the brother of Val Bancroft (Dance of Defiance 5).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Vaughn and Evelina) DANCE OF MONSTERS follows Evelina Nikitin as she struggles to find someone to bring her father back to America. Pavel Nikitin has been banished to Russia, and Evelina refuses to believe her father is the monster everyone claims him to be. Hoping Vaughn can bring her father home, Evelina wants to pledge her allegiance of the Obsidian Syndicate, where she will become the Acolyte to Vaughn’s Adept but all is not as it appears to be, Evelina is keeping a secret , and Vaughn’s own monsters hide behind a thinly veiled aura of power and control.

The world building is complex and detailed as Vaughn’s world continues to spiral out of control when the demons demand everything and more. Evelina is determined to bring her father home but in doing so makes a deal with the devil that could end both of their lives.The narrator is unreliable as to some of the story line events.

The relationship between Vaughn and Evelina is tempestuous at best. Vaughn is well aware that Evelina is in over her head, such that he becomes guardian and protector of the woman with whom he will fall in love. Evelina doesn’t belong in the world of the Syndicate, but having grown up at part of the Russian Bratva Evelina knows that life isn’t always as it appears to be. Vaughn hides the darkest aspects of his personality, aspects that often driven our hero into a world of his own. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense, and not without some issues of consent.

There is a large ensemble cast of dark and brutal secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to Vaughn’s brother Val, and Evelina’ brother Roman (Dance of Defiance 5), as well as Vaughn’s fellow members of the Syndicate: Gideon, Sebastian, Carson, and Vaughn’s friend Sabine Lourde. The requisite evil has many faces.

DANCE OF MONSTERS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, mental illness and struggles, dysfunctional families, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic, edgy and thought provoking; the romance is twisted and haunting; the characters are desperate, broken and tragic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Dance of Thorns (Darkest Dance 6) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Thorns (Darkest Dance 6) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 4, 2025

I’m forced to marry my dead best friend’s fiancé.
Most people call me a freak. Damaged goods. Addict.
The outcast daughter of the Marchetti crime family.
A black sheep with a dark soul.
But then one night, I fall into a darker one.
Bane Antonov, the cold, villainously beautiful crown prince of the Antonov Bratva.
A man covered in scars and ink.
A man who was supposed to marry my now dead and buried best friend.
The night we crash together, we talk each other off the literal edge.
I should’ve jumped.
Because somehow, Bane knows my every dark secret. Every scar. Every inky black desire.
He’s a villain and a monster.
The thing is, I might be, too.
There are things I don’t remember.
Like why he hates me. Why I crave his venomous touch and poisonous lips anyway.
Now, he has me locked in his cage with his ring on my finger.
We’re in a war, ‘til death do us part.
But we’ll see who falls first.
And it’s a Long. Way. Down.

•••••

REVIEW:DANCE OF THORNS is the sixth instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is heir to the Antonov Crime Family Bane Antonov, and ballet dancer / painter Dove Marchetti’s story line. DANCE OF THORNS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Bane and Dove) DANCE OF THORNS follows seven years after the abduction and torture of our story line heroine, an abduction in which her best friend Lark Peltier did not survive. In an effort to shore up power between the Marchetti and Antonov families, Dove is forced into an arranged marriage with a man who blames her for the death of her best friend Lark but all is not as it appears to be, and our heroine struggles to come to terms with the reality of what is happening and why. Bane Antonov seemingly despises the woman he blames for the death of his girlfriend Lark but as Dove begins to spiral, secrets will reveal a dark and dangerous path, targeting our story line heroine.

The world building is detailed and gets more complex as the story line develops. Twists and turns, spirals and madness are but the starting point for a journey of emotional betrayal.

We are introduced to Dove’s father Cesare Marchetti, and his wife Felicity ; their housekeeper Melinda: Bane’s father Nikolai Antonov, as well as a cameo from some of the previous story line characters and dancers.

DANCE OF THORNS is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, mental illness and addiction, dysfunctional family dynamics, acceptance and love. The character driven premise dark, gritty, dramatic and heart breaking; the characters are edgy and broken; the romance is unconventional and provocative.

 

Reading Order and previous reviews
Dance of Deception
Dance of Ruin
Dance of Madness
Dance of Devils
Dance of Defiance

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding  hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Dance of Defiance (Darkest Dance 5) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Defiance (Darkest Dance 5) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 9, 2025

A night meant for violence and vengeance turns into something far more twisted and deviant…
I was raised to be brutal.
Hard. Tough. Unmerciful.
In the Bratva, men don’t crave other men. Good thing I’m straight.
And if I say that enough times, six inches from the mirror, it usually sounds true.
That is, until I go into the woods looking for monsters, and find something far harder to escape from.
Val Bancroft is chaos and carnage wrapped in electrified sin.
Provocative and defiant.
Lethally, disarmingly beautiful.
A violent, unhinged corruption to my own brand of carefully controlled darkness.
I tell myself I’m not gay. That our families want to kill each other. That my place as my father’s heir, with a woman chosen for me at my side, has already been carved in stone.
But he dismantles me, piece by bloody piece, until even my demons bow to him.
He’s an unstoppable force.
I’m an immovable object.
And when we slam together, we’ll find beautiful wreckage—or vicious goddamn ruin.

••••••

REVIEW: DANCE OF DEFIANCE is the fifth instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is ballet dancer Val Bancroft, and Roman Nikitin’s story line. DANCE OF DEFIANCE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Roman is the sister of ballet dancer Evelina Nikitin.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers. DANCE OF DEFIANCE focuses on a same sex relationship with same sex scenarios.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Val and Roman) DANCE OF DEFIANCE focuses on the forbidden relationships between ballet dancer Val Bancroft, and Roman Nikitin. Roman Nikitin is the heir to the Nikitin throne, and an arranged marriage is part of the deal but Roman is struggling with his future, his sexuality, and his attraction to his sister’s friend and dancer Val Bancroft. Roman believes he is straight but his actions and desires for Val threaten his future as a member of the Bratva, a dangerous organization that doesn’t play well with things they refuse to understand. Val Bancroft is the brother of Vaughn Bancroft, the leader of the Obsidian Syndicate, and as such, does the occasion ‘job’ for the people in charge but Val’s attraction to, and need for Roman, threatens everything including Roman’s future and his life, and in this, Roman finds himself on the outside looking in when the world around him begins to spiral out of control, threatening not only himself, but the man with whom he has fallen in love.

The world building is dark and dramatic as Roman struggles with his attraction to a man, an attraction that is forbidden in the world in which he was raised.Struggling with his sexuality, in denial throughout the story, Roman is a man who fears the repercussions from the man in charge.

The relationship between Val and Roman is one of mutual attraction but Roman’s need to distance himself only pulls our couple together. Val is determined to force Roman to admit his sexuality but Val is unaware of the costs to the man with whom he has fallen in love. The same $ex scenarios are aggressive, intense and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including Roman’s sister Evie, their father Pavel Nikitin; Val’s brother and head of the Obsidian Syndicate Vaughn, as well as Val’s fellow dancers, Dasha Lukashova, and Pavel’s second Stepan.

DANCE OF DEFIANCE is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, discrimination and homophobia, dysfunctional family relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is edgy, startling and vivid; the romance is seductive and challenging; the characters are determined, desperate and somewhat broken.

 

Reading Order and previous reviews
Dance of Deception
Dance of Ruin
Dance of Madness
Dance of Devils

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Dance of Devils (Darkest Dance 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Devils (Darkest Dance 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4kJsZFu

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 31, 2025

First he saved my life. Then he claimed my soul.
They say he has the heart of the Devil and the body of a god.
Kir Nikolayev, the brutal, dark king of New York’s underworld, is infinitely dangerous. Impossibly beautiful.
Twenty years older than me.
I’m the girl with nothing but a gift for ballet and the secrets I keep.
Like that I’m living out of my car.
That I take my clothes off for money.
That I’m chased by the ghosts of my past, and they’re quickly closing in.
But after a night of blood and violence, I wake up to silk sheets, dark devil eyes, and a voice like sin and smoke telling me I’m his now.
His to protect.
His to unravel.
His to own.
They say when you dance with the devil, he’ll lead you into flames.
But no one ever warns you…
How good it feels to burn.

•••••

REVIEW: DANCE OF DEVILS is the fourth instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is twenty-three year old ballerina Brooklyn Ellis, and forty-four year old, Bratva Kingpin Kir Nikolayev’s story line. DANCE OF DEVILS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s MEMENTO MORI series-Kir Nikolayev is Freya Holm’s father (Emperor of Rage).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kir and Brooklyn) DANCE OF DEVILS follows in the wake of an attack against our story line heroine. Brooklyn Ellis is a ballerina but money is tight, and she finds herself working in the seedy underbelly of stripper poles and questionable clients, a target of every lecherous assault and misogynistic boss until the day Kir Nikolayev rescues our heroine, pulling her life into another direction. Kir Nikolayev doesn’t do relationships, and in this, Brooklyn Ellis is a big of a distraction but not all was as it appeared to be, as Kir begins to dig deep into Brooklyn’s life, and discovers the betrayal and greed that strike hard at the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The world building follows several paths as Kir Nikolayev must navigate the criminal underworld -owing favor, calling in debts, and a promise to the head of the Bratva that will either keep the peace, or start a war.

The relationship between Kir and Brooklyn begins as a rescue but Kir sees something in Brooklyn including her talent and the heart breaking fear of losing it all. Kir suspects there is more to our heroine than she was willing to reveal but once her secrets are revealed, Kir takes steps to save the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative with some scenarios of spanking and Dom/sub.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of energetic, powerful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including the return of Evelina, Dove Marchetti, Naomi Kim, Val, Roman Nikitin, Madam Kuzmina and Dimitri Moskovic. The requisite evil has many faces.

DANCE OF DEVILS is another story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, greed and deceit, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, dark and tragic; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are desperate, charismatic and tragic.

 

Reading Order and previous reviews
Dance of Deception
Dance of Ruin
Dance of Madness

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Dance of Madness (The Darkest Dance 3) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Madness (The Darkest Dance 3) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / nerAmazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/42II8yT

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 5, 2025

He’s the wolf who wants to swallow the whole world.
I’m the girl who bites back.

Nero De Luca is carnage in a tailored suit.
A vicious killer.
An obsessive hunter.
A beautiful villain with blood on his hands and ice in his veins.
I was supposed to be a distraction.
A game.
Just a girl stupid enough to dance too close to his fire.
But I looked him in the eye when I should’ve bowed.
I bared my teeth when I should’ve begged.
Now I’m locked in his cage of silk and steel.
His captive.
His obsession.
His war.
But I’m not the delicate thing he thinks he stole.
I’m the storm he never saw coming.
And I don’t bend for kings.
I break monsters.

•••••••

REVIEW: DANCE OF MADNESS is the third instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult THE DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is Nero De Luca, and twenty-two year old, ballet dancer Milena Kalishnik’s story line. DANCE OF MADNESS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nero and Milena) using journal entries, and present day DANCE OF MADNESS focuses on the building but unconventional relationship between Nero De Luca, and twenty-two year old, ballet dancer Milena Kalishnik. Nero De Luca likes the thrill of the chase, and a haunted mansion is the perfect setting for his games but the arrival of a newcomer threatens Nero’s less than tight hold on his inner darkness, his deviant kinks and desires, and Milena Kalishnik is about to discover just how much she is willing to give but the demons from the past return, pushing Nero over the edge, and placing Milena in the direct line of fire.

The world building focuses on one man’s spiral in the wake of loss. Four years earlier, Nero lost everything, and his need for vengeance will set into motion the uprise of the Russian Bratva against one of their own. Meanwhile, The Black Court, a group of self-proclaimed vigilantes who decide the rules about who lives and who dies- The Hound, The Raven, The Wolf, The Bull, The Stag continue to take down those they deem guilty, people who have wronged the people in charge.

The relationship between Nero and Milena begins acrimoniously as Milena finds herself in the position of prey to Nero’s predatory kink. Nero is a man determined to control, to take, and to hurt, especially the woman with whom he will fall in love. The language is crude; the hero’s behavior is often offensive. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters are powerful and questionable including the return the members of the Black Court: Milena’s fellow dancers-Evelina, Brooklyn, Val, Alicia, Naomi and Madame Kuzmina; Bratva Kingpin Kir Nikolayev, as well as the introduction of Nero’s second in command Rurik; Milena’s father Marko Kalishnik, and her uncle Levka. The requisite evil has many faces.

DANCE OF MADNESS is once again, a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, obsession and cruelty, mistrust and misunderstanding, dysfunctional family dynamics, forgiveness and love. the premise is gritty, dramatic and haunting; the romance is raw and twisted; the characters are tragic, brutal and stubborn.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Dance of Deception
Dance of Ruin

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Dance of Ruin (The Darkest Dance 2) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Dance of Ruin (The Darkest Dance 2) by Jagger Cole-review tour


Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3QS6OQ6

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 24, 2025

He’s my villain, my ruin, my sweetest damnation.
I’ve always been a good girl.
The brilliant ballerina. The perfect politician’s daughter.
That is, until my father declares war on the Barone Mafia family, and I become the price to pay.

Now, the devil himself has his claws in me.
Nico Barone is a beautiful nightmare wrapped in leather and ink.
A criminal genius with malice in his veins and destruction on his lips.
He promises to break me.
To strip me until there’s nothing left.
To be the composer of my symphony of sin and ruin.

He thinks I’m the pawn in his game.
But this pawn will bring a king to his knees.
Even if it kills me.

••••

REVIEW:DANCE OF RUIN is the second instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult THE DARKEST DANCE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is Nico Barone, and ballerina Naomi Kim’s story line. DANCE OF RUIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. There is a slight cross over with the author’s Venomous Gods series.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Nico, Naomi, Vaughn) DANCE OF RUIN follows Naomi as she is witness to a murder, and Nico Barone blackmails our heroine in exchange for her life. Naomi is the daughter of a man running for political office, but Naomi is also a victim and a survivor who finds herself a pawn in her father’s fight for power. Nico is determined to take away all of Naomi’s personal autonomy but in doing so will discover all is not as it appears to be. Another player has been circling the seats of power, and the group known as The Black Court is forced to step outside of their rules, and take back control from the people who are single-handedly killing for power.

The world building follows several paths including Nico’s control of our story line heroine. Naomi is an innocent in the world of organized crime but a woman who is about to become a pawn in the fight for power and control, and a victim of blackmail for something she did not do. Meanwhile, Naomi’s father journey to the dark side has repercussions and ramifications that will directly affect our heroine, going forward.

The relationship between Naomi and Nico begins acrimoniously as Nico is resolute in his need to break our story line heroine. Naomi immediately knows the control of her life has been forfeited but for reasons no longer under her control. Nico perseveres in taking down the people who have targeted our story line heroine but all is not as it appears to be, and Nico finds himself begging forgiveness for the sins of the past. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic, and not without questionable consent.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of the Black Court (The Hound, The Raven, The Wolf, The Bull, The Stag)- a group of self-proclaimed vigilantes in the world of organized crime; Naomi’s fellow dancers: Evelina, Milena, Vaughn, Naomi’s understudy Dove, Brooklyn, Bianca, and Madame Kuzmina; Don Carmine Barone and his wife Lyra Ostrova (Dance of Deception); Bratva Kingpin Kir Nikolayev. We are introduced to Naomi’s father Leonard Kim, as well as a new organized crime unit known as The Obsidian Syndicate. The requisite evil has many faces.

DANCE OF RUIN is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power and control, obsession and cruelty, mistrust and misunderstanding, dysfunctional family dynamics, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is dark, dramatic and tragic; the romance is limited but impassioned; the characters are powerful, determined, desperate and aggressive.

Heed the trigger warning-they are dark and heart breaking.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one DANCE OF DECEPTION

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

Share

DANCE OF DECEPTION (The Darkest Dance 1) by Jagger Cole-review

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DANCE OF DECEPTION (The Darkest Dance 1) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3WxPovn

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 13, 2025

He knows what I saw. Now he owns me.
Carmine Barone is a monster no one sees but me.
A beautiful villain with a cold, black heart and a body honed for violence.
But when I stumble into a world I was never meant to see, the ruthless mafia heir becomes something else, too:
My husband.
Now, I’m trapped in a forced marriage to a man who hunts in darkness.
A man who plays games with lies and deception.
A secret predator who wants to feast on my darkest, most immoral desires.
And the only thing worse than being chased by a psychopath?
Wanting him to.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DANCE OF DECEPTION is the first instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult THE DARKEST DANCE dark,erotic, organized crime series. This is the new Don Carmine Barone, and ballet dancer Lyra Ostrova’s story line. There is a slight cross-over with the characters from Corrupted Hearts series, and Dark Hearts Series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Carmine and Lyra) DANCE OF DECEPTION follows the forced marriage between Don Carmine Barone and ballet dancer Lyra Ostrova. Lyra Ostrova lives with her alcoholic mother Vera, and since the death of her father, Lyra and her mother have struggled to make ends meet. When a member of an organized crime family confronts our heroine with a threat of payment due, Lyra finds herself dancing blind for a group of men she knows nothing about but Lyra will witness a crime, and her life will no longer be her own, as she must choose between flight or fight. Married to the new Don, Carmine Barone, or face death while on the run, Lyra must come to terms with the man who will control her life.. As Lyra struggles with her new direction, the past will return, and our heroine, is once again, facing down a man who already destroyed her life and the lives of so many others.

The world building focuses on murder and betrayal as Lyra struggles to overcome the demons from her past, demons that refuse to let go. Don Carmine Barone is determined to protect the woman with whom he will fall in love but Carmine will have to take down the world in which Lyra once lived.

The relationship between Lyra and Carmine is a forced marriage, predicated on witnessing a crime. Lyra is a university student, working towards a degree in psychiatry but Lyra will quickly discover the man to whom she is married is a monster, a psychopath, and the head of the Barone Crime family. Carmine Barone doesn’t do relationships, and never planned to get married, but his father’s ill health pushed Carmine to the top of the line, and in doing so, a wife is needed to complete the look. As Carmine quickly takes control of his wife, Lyra faces down more than one monster in an effort to survive. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense, and not without some issues of questionable consent.

We are introduced to the members of a group known as The Black Court, a group of self-proclaimed vigilantes who decide the rules- who lives and who dies: The Hound, The Raven, The Wolf, The Bull, The Stag: Lyra’s fellow ballet dancers including Carmine’s sister Bianca Barone Drakos (
Venomous Gods #4) , Dove Marchetti, Brooklyn, Vaughn, Milena and Madame Kuzmina, as well as Lyra’s mother Vera, and several members of Bratva and Italian crime families including Bratva Kingpin Kir Nikolayev. The requisite evil has many faces.

DANCE OF DECEPTION is a story of betrayal and vengeance, murder and madness, secrets and lies, power and control, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, gritty, dramatic and raw; the romance is limited; the characters are determined, complex and broken.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

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Emperor of Havoc (Memento Mori 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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Emperor of Havoc (Memento Mori 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 16, 2025

He’s a dark storm wrapped in tattoos and muscle.
A mafia prince with a killer’s smile and a predator’s gaze.
Takeshi Mori doesn’t ask for anything. He takes it.
Including me.
Our marriage is a weapon forged in blood, meant to stop a war.
But there’s nothing peaceful about my new husband.
He’s ruthless chaos incarnate—a Machiavellian psychopath with a thirst for violence.
He craves control, but I was born to defy.
His darkness terrifies me even as it calls to mine.
His touch consumes me even as it burns me alive.
We aren’t a happy ever after. We’re a collision-course disaster.
And “till death do us part” isn’t a vow.
It’s a declaration of war.

•••••

REVIEW: EMPEROR OF HAVOC is the fourth instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult MEMENTO MORI dark, erotic, crime world romance set in the author’s Venomous Gods world. This is Mafia prince Takeshi Mori, and Yakuza princess Katarina Ishida’s story line. EMPEROR OF HAVOC can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives including Takeshi and Katarina EMPEROR OF HAVOC focuses on the arranged marriage between our story line couple. Katarina Ishida has been promised to the son of the Bratva leader but refuses to accept his hand in marriage. Takeshi Mori is determined to destroy the Ishida family, and in an effort to get close, demands Katarina as his Yakuza bride but all is not as it appears to be, and Katarina is about to become a pawn in a much large war including a war with mental instability.

The world building follows several paths including the ‘silence’ that is our story line heroine. Years before, Katarina Ishida suffered greatly at the hands of her father’s enemies, and in this, Katarina has struggled to move beyond that which is out of her control. As her father battles for his own life, Katarina must come to terms with her marriage to a man who sees our heroine as nothing more than a pathway to revenge. Saying that, the anger and vengeance directed at the female characters is alarming and disturbing-the men with whom they fall in love are violent and threatening.

The relationship between Katarina and Takeshi is antagonistic and hostile. Katarina wants nothing to do with our story line hero but Takeshi has plans for his new bride, plans that include taking down her family, starting with the woman with whom he will fall in love. The $ex scenes are aggressive, and not without some scenes of questionable consent.

There is a large ensemble cast of powerful, angry and determined secondary and supporting characters including Takeshi’s sister Hana (EMPEROR OF LUST 3); Katarina’s father Kolya Ishida, and her best friend Nina Osopov. The requisite evil has many faces including Bratva, and Yakuza members.

EMPEROR OF HAVOC is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, madness and obsession, family and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and disquieting; the romance is limited as the relationship is predicated upon vengeance; the characters are broken, desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Emperor of Wrath
Emperor of Rage
Emperor of Lust

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

FOLLOW: WEBSITE / Facebook / Bookfunnel Newsletter / Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram /

Share