ย
Title: Twisted Bargain
Anย Underworld Kings Series Standalone
Author: Alexandria Bishop
Genre: Small-Town Billionaire Romance
Release Date: November 17, 2021
BLURB
Iโve been cleaning up after my father for most of my life. Between his drug and gambling addictions, it seems like whatever I do, weโre always drowning. Until he does the unforgivable.
ย
Trading me to the tortured billionaire in our small town. His debts are erased and I have to do whatever Marco Blackstone demands. I should have run screaming when the first task he gave me was to clean the blood stains from his expensive five piece suit.
ย
When I overhear a conversation I shouldnโt, our bargain becomes even more twisted when Marco fakes an engagement to save my life. And I become even more trapped in this world I never wanted any part of.
ย
I donโt know who I can trust. But Iโm running out of time when my fake engagement turns into anything but and I just might have to say โI Do,โ for real.
ย
ย
ย
ย
ย
ย
PURCHASE LINKS
ย
ย
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ย
ย
ย
ย
EXCERPT
Marco moves toward me, going so quickly that I stumble backward, away from him. His jaw is clenched and I can see his face clearly now. โI told you from day one that nobody was forcing you to stay. You can walk away at any time.โ
ย
I laugh, hard. โOh yeah, and how am I supposed to leave? I have no car, no money. Iโm working to pay off a debt that isnโt mine and Iโll probably never be able to come out from under. So please, Marco, tell me how I am not a prisoner.โ I roll my eyes and add, โIโm listening.โ
ย
Not to mention the hinted promise of killing my father and potentially me if I were to leave. Doesnโt sound like I have a choice at all… or maybe he just forgot about that little conversation we had.
ย
He steps toward me, invading my space as my back hits the roughness of the plant branches. My halter top probably wasnโt the best idea and Iโm sure to have scratches all over my back tomorrow. My temperature rises despite the chill from the pouring rain.
ย
I donโt know what Marco Blackstone is doing to me, but at this moment, I donโt question it. I am at his mercy and I am one-hundred-percent okay with that.
ย
Fuck. What is wrong with me?
ย
He wraps his hand around my throat, squeezing just tight enough to hold me in place, not that I was planning on moving anyway. A current shoots through my body, straight to my core. I moan and his eyes go wide at first but then he smirks slightly, tightening his hold on me. Which only spurs me on even more.
ย
We shouldnโt be doing this. There are a million different reasons why none of this is okay but I canโt even come up with one. I just want him. I have from the first moment I met him. Even when I was terrified of him, I wanted him.
ย
Marcoโs breath caresses my lips and I shudder at the closeness. If either one of us moves even a fraction of an inch closer our lips would be touching.
ย
He pushes the strands of hair out of my face and runs the back of his cold hand against my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into his touch. I shiver at the contact and he leans down to whisper to me, โSo naรฏve and so trusting. I could do whatever I wanted to you right now, take anything I want, and youโd let me.โ
ย
Lita’s Book Review:
ย
Twisted Bargain (Underworld Kings Series) by Alexandria Bishop is the next book in the Underworld series. This is my first time reading anything by this author. Ariana is caught between a rock and a hard place. She is working dead end jobs just to keep a roof over her head while caring for her father.ย He not only has a gambling habit but is an addict as well. When she finds herself traded to Marco Blackstone to cover her father’s debt she is floored. Initially thinking he is old, with a pot belly and graying hair, that is dispelled when she sees this Adonis. Trying to reconcile with what her father has done, she in addition is dealing with her feelings for her boss. He seems interested but runs hot and cold. When a certain incident has him introducing her as his fiancรฉ, their relationship takes a different turn. Initially I was not happy with the premise of staying in a situation with a father who is draining the life force out of her but as I continued with the story the relationship between Ariana and Marco more than made up for it.ย When a twist comes into play and secrets are revealed, it made for a nice suspenseful end to their story. The epilogue set up for another series the author is writing and I am interested in continuing on with that series. A 3.5 star read for me.
ย
ย
ย
ย
ย
AUTHOR BIO
ย
Born on a small southeastern island in Alaska and raised in southern Oregon, Alexandria Bishop is a PNW girl at heart. By day, she goes to battle with a tiny dictator aka her toddler and by night, she can be found typing ALL the words of her contemporary romance novels accompanied by a glass of wine or two ๐
ย
When sheโs not in mommy or author mode, she can be found drinking copious amounts of cold brew coffee, bingeing her latest obsession on Netflix, or attending concerts of her favorite pop-punk bands.
ย
She loves hearing from her readers and you can find her on social media here:
ย
ย
ย
TaSTy WordGasms 