Hot Mess Lit

 

🔥 Hot Mess Lit Review: The Carver (Fifth Republic Series Book 2) by Penelope Sky 🔥

Genre: Dark Romance, Mafia Power Struggles, High-Stakes Suspense

Vibe Check: A morally gray kingpin, a tangled web of danger, and a romance that feels like playing with fire? Buckle up—this one is ruthless.

Other Notes: 🔪💀🖤🔥👑🥃🎭🕶️💔🔗💰⚖️♟

Blurb: 

I'm fully in this with Bastien now. The kingpin of all kingpins, a man who oversees all the gangs of Paris, President Martin's right-hand man. If I were smart, I would leave, but I'm pretty sure I'm already in love with this man...

Adrien continues to challenge my divorce until Bastien gets involved. And like always, that man fixes all my problems.

But little do I know, the Aristocrats are out for Adrien. My ex continues to ignore the warnings that Bastien gives, only giving them out of a courtesy to me. It's not my problem, and if Adrien wants to get himself killed, that's his prerogative.

It quickly becomes my problem when the Aristocrats target me instead of Adrien, because technically, we are still married. And I'm still the woman Adrien loves. I find myself in a world of trouble and the only person who can save me is The Butcher, a French Emperor, leader of the Fifth Republic.

The man that will kill anyone and everyone for me.

First Impressions

📖 Before I even turned a page… The Fifth Republic series promised power, danger, and obsession, and The Carver wasted no time delivering. Bastien is the kingpin of all kingpins, and the stakes? Deadly.

Did It Deliver? Or Did It Disappoint?

🚀 Expectations vs. Reality – I expected mafia intensity, but this book doubled down on the psychological tension. Adrien’s refusal to back down, Bastien’s unwavering dominance, and the looming threat of the Aristocrats? It’s a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

🔥 Best Thing About It: Bastien. He’s possessive, protective, and dangerously powerful—the kind of character who makes emotional devastation feel like a love language.

🤦‍♀️ Worst Offender: The cliffhanger. Holy mother of unresolved tension—I need the next book NOW (which is what I am right on to as soon as I hit "publish" on this blog post).

The Hot Mess Breakdown

💀 Characters: Bastien? A force of nature. Adrien? A walking mistake waiting to happen. The protagonist? Caught between survival and desire.

📜 Plot: Mafia politics, deadly alliances, and a romance that feels like a ticking time bomb.

🖋 Writing Style: Fast-paced, sharp, and emotionally charged.

😡 Emotional Impact: HIGH. You’ll love Bastien, hate Adrien, and scream at the ending.

Final Verdict

🔥 Take It or Torch It? Take it—but prepare for emotional destruction.
💰 Worth Your Money? Absolutely—especially if you love dark romance with high-stakes tension.
📢 Who Should Read This? Fans of mafia romance, morally gray heroes, and books that make you question your sanity.

Hot Mess Lit Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 – Obsessive, ruthless, and impossible to put down.

 

 Hot Mess Lit Review: It Kills Me by Penelope Sky   

 Before I even turned a page… The title alone promised chaos, and the synopsis whispered *you’re about to regret getting attached.* A forbidden love tangled in business politics? Sounds like the perfect storm for betrayal and heartbreak.  

 Expectations vs. Reality – I expected intensity, but I wasn’t ready for the emotional whiplash Penelope Sky served up. The tension between Axel and the protagonist? Instant fireworks, but with an ever-present *this-won’t-end-well* undercurrent.  

 Best Thing About It: The sheer chemistry between Axel and the protagonist. The slow-burning desire, the risks involved—it’s the kind of relationship that’s compelling because it *shouldn’t* happen.  

 Worst Offender: At times, the protagonist’s inner conflict felt repetitive. We get it—she shouldn’t want him, but damn, the internal monologue could’ve taken a few breaks.  

 Characters: Axel has that dangerous appeal—confident, capable, and definitely someone you’d make bad decisions for. The protagonist? Sharp and ambitious, but sometimes stuck in her own head.  

 Plot: Forbidden romance? Check. Business stakes? Check. Emotional torment? Check. The pacing keeps things moving, though some moments drag with hesitation.  

 Writing Style: Straight to the point with sharp dialogue. No wasted words, just tension and heat.  

 Emotional Impact: High! You know it’s going to end badly, but you still hope for some kind of miracle—then reality slaps you across the face.  

 Take It or Torch It? Take it—but prepare for emotional damage.

 Worth Your Money? If forbidden, this-can’t-end-well romance is your thing, absolutely. If you need a warm, fuzzy ending, look elsewhere.  

 Who Should Read This? Fans of twisted desire, high-risk relationships, and books that make you want to scream into a pillow.  

Hot Mess Lit Rating:  – Damn good time, messy but addictive. 

 

 Hot Mess Lit Review: The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter 

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense, Twisted Mind Games

Vibe Check: A layered mystery that keeps you guessing until the final page—if you think you’ve figured it out, think again.

Other notes (see sidebar): 

Blurb: 

Is murder in the blood?

In a sleepy Devon village, a woman is taken from the streets. Local vet Jenny is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.

But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is.

And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…

But she’s not her father’s daughter.

Is she?

First Impressions

 Before I even turned a page… I expected this book to pick up years after The Serial Killer’s Wife, following Tom & Beth’s daughter. When it didn’t, I was a little frustrated—so much so that I put it down after four chapters. But when I picked it back up, I read the entire thing in one night.

Did It Deliver? Or Did It Disappoint?

 Expectations vs. Reality – The style is similar to The Serial Killer’s Wife—but with an added twist that turns it into a book within a book. The pacing and setup completely hooked me once I gave it another shot.

 Best Thing About It: The guessing game. You start off convinced it’s Jenny, then Mark, then maybe someone else entirely. I usually spot the twist coming, but this time? I was completely wrong.

 Worst Offender: The initial frustration. The book’s direction wasn’t what I wanted at first—but once I let go of that expectation, I got fully immersed in the mystery.

The Hot Mess Breakdown

 Characters: Jenny? Mark? Someone else entirely? This book thrives on making you second-guess everything.

 Plot: Layered, twisty, and deceptively clever. The secondary storyline only adds to the suspense.

 Writing Style: Same immersive approach as The Serial Killer’s Wife, but with an extra layer of mystery-driven tension.

 Emotional Impact: HIGH. You’ll be frustrated, intrigued, and obsessively turning pages by the end.

Final Verdict

 Take It or Torch It? Take it—but expect it to pull a few tricks on you.
 Worth Your Money? Absolutely—especially if you love mysteries that refuse to be obvious.
 Who Should Read This? Fans of Lisa Jewell, Freida McFadden, and thrillers that play mind games with their readers.

Hot Mess Lit Rating:  – Absolutely hooked, completely fooled, and unable to put it down.