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A review by originalbooknerd
Emperor of Lust by Jagger Cole

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

βž°πŸ’œπ”ˆπ”ͺ𝔭𝔒𝔯𝔬𝔯𝔬𝔣𝔏𝔲𝔰𝔱 - 𝔐𝔒π”ͺ𝔒𝔫𝔱𝔬𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔦 3 - β„œπ”’π”³π”¦π”’π”΄πŸ’œβž° 
 
Author: Jagger Cole 
 
Couple: Hana More & Damian Nikolayev 
 
Tropes: 
➰Dark romance 
πŸ’œMafia Romance 
➰Enemy to lovers 
πŸ’œEngagement of convenience 
➰Mystery x suspense 
πŸ’œDubcon, somnolent, BDSM 
 
Review: Jagger Cole did ALL THE THINGS with Emperor of Lust and I am so here for this alphahole bad boy we get in Damian! This book was INTENSE to say the least. From the first chapter these two MCs do not like each other and then tension is palpable between them. The sheer amount of sparks Jagger Cole was able to put between them had me sweating as Damian begins to soften his edges minutely and Hana begins to open a small crack in her walls. I found the romance between them was a lot different than the previous couples in this series and while not calm, was more reminiscent of the calm in the storm for both of them. 
 
Hana and Damian are completely opposite yet so similar when it comes down to values they desire in themselves and others that it was like looking through a glass wall. For all his faults, Damian quickly realizes that Hana is his person and Jagger was able to tackle his confusion and interest in a balancing act that added layers to who he was as a mafia man and as a man. Hana also had a lot of growth in her POV as we see her past traumas and her future predicament with Damian begin to unearth memories and fears she thought were long forgotten. The one thing I loved in this book was how Takeshi got a few chapters to show his POV and what has been going on behind the scenes. 
 
Emperor of Lust was an intense and high action read that had smoldering romance and a true enemy to lovers feel that was topped off with an β€œarranged engagement”. Hana and Damian are one of my all time favorite Jagger Cole couples and seeing their explosive HEA was the perfect way to lead into Takeshi and his story next (especially with that Easter Egg towards the end!!) 
 
Rating: 100+; Damian was straight fire and Emperor of Lust has been the best book yet in the Memento More series so far! 
 
Thank you to Valentine PR & Jagger Cole for sending me this eARC!