Corrupt Kingdom

3.75-4 stars.

This was a quick but enjoyable. At the halfway mark it dipped down to a 3.5 for me but then it really picked back up. The sexy tension was there. The sexy parts were there. It really was enjoyable though and I would've given it 5 stars if Cyrus was more villainy. The blurb says he's ruthless and rules the underworld with an iron fist. I wasn't really feeling all that from him. With that blurb I would be expecting a more hardcore alpha male...but meh. That's just my preference for the bad hot guy in these books though. Don't let that deter you. With it being a quick read it definitely bumps it up for me because nothing dragged out.

Ava Harrison never failed to write stories that keep me entertained from the first to the last page, and Corrupt Kingdom is no different. I was nervous when I heard it was going to be darker than her usual but in pure Ava fashion, she makes these characters strong and loveable and not too close to that edge. I'd consider it darker not dark. Cyrus Reed is the king of his domain, he works with the lowest of the low and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to get the job done. His biggest secret? He's a sweetheart, I'm not joking, this man could kidnap me and keep me on a deserted island with him. I loved the balance that Ava created between the “real” Cyrus and the Cyrus that others see. If you like your heroes with a edginess to them, Cyrus is definitely your guy. Ivy Aldridge is the type of heroine I adore. She's strong and feisty and doesn't take things lying down. She's my type of girl. I definitely added her to my book girlfriend list. As always, the book touches on some difficult subjects and they're written with respect and understanding. This is a must read.