Violent Delights (White Monarch, book 1) by Jessica Hawkins–Review

I am not new to Jessica Hawkins. After all, I barely survived her ‘Something in the Way’ series. (I still get flashbacks). Well, I happily report that her ‘White Monarch’ series will most likely take that place.

Now, if you know Ms. Hawkins, you know she delivers on tension, angst, twists and turns, drama and sexual tension. She delivers all this and more in Violent Delights. She kicks off the beginning of Violent Delights with a bang. A real shocking moment that sucked me in completely.

We have three main characters: Natalia, Cristiano and Diego. One an actual member of the family, and two who are like family. When talking about the Mexican cartel trust means EVERYTHING and something happens within the family that shocks them to the core.

Natalia has been sent to the states to attend college. This year she decided to come home for Easter and to see her dad. Since she was young, she has been best friends with Diego. They have plans to either get her dads approval for marriage or they will elope. They both have big dreams of running away to the states. Cristiano meanwhile makes a dramatic return. The three of them make an interesting dynamic. I would say this they are embroiled in a dramatic and explosive non-love triangle, which brings a whole unique perspective to this book.

Just a quick thought on the ending. Yes, this is a multi-arc series with Violent Delights being book one. I would say the ending is not so much a cliffhanger, but an inappropriately timed ending in the story. I am anxiously awaiting, ‘Violent Ends’, coming June 2019.

Jessica has this innate ability to write a story that not only has layers upon layers to create such depth, but also throws so many shocking twists and turns that you will never see coming. She will have you on the edge of your seat, screaming at the pages or just plain breathless. I, highly recommend, this book.