May 7, 2021

Blog Tour & Review: The Rebel

 

I Want The One Girl I Can’t Have…

The Rebel, an all-new, forbidden romance from Sophie Lark is live!



Zoe Romera is trapped in a marriage contract with the most sadistic psychopath at Kingmakers.

She couldn’t be more off-limits. Stealing her from Rocco Prince would break the most ironclad rules of the mafia world.

But I have to have her. She’s my soulmate. I want her, or no one at all.

I’ll do anything to save her. Rocco will do anything to destroy her.

I’ve got one chance to achieve the impossible...

“The Rebel” is is the second book in the epic dark mafia Kingmakers series. It’s a forbidden romance, full of jealousy, desire, and a hero who will do anything to save the woman he loves.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QqFblp
Amazon: http://mybook.to/therebel

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Excerpt


We’re walking up toward the Solar, slowly because neither of us is in a hurry. The thick sod muffles our footsteps.

“It’s not your fault,” Miles says, frowning.

“It is, though. When I disobey my father, he always takes it out on Cat. I knew that beforehand. When I rebel, it’s her that suffers.”

Remembering that immutable fact makes me realize that I’m making the same mistake all over again. I spent the night at the Halloween party, dancing and drinking with Miles, heedless of the consequences that might follow.

Reading my thoughts, Miles takes my hand. His hand is large and strong, and immensely warm.

“Your cousins weren’t here tonight,” he says. “None of Rocco’s friends, either.”

“They’ll still hear. Everybody talks.”

Miles doesn’t bother to deny that — he knows it’s true.

“Tell me about your marriage contract,” he says.

“I haven’t even read it,” I admit. “I wasn’t part of the negotiations.”

“Do you know what your father’s getting out of the deal? What’s in it for Rocco’s family?”

I explain it to him as best I understand, starting with the wars amongst the Galician clans, and ending with everything I know about my father’s business, and the Princes’.

Miles takes it all in, occasionally asking clarifying questions. This is something I’ve noticed about Miles — he’s an information-gatherer. He’s good at asking just the right questions to figure out what’s really going on.

When I’m done talking, he’s quiet for a while, considering.

“There’s a personal element on Rocco’s side, isn’t there?” he asks me.

“Do you mean, is he in love with me?” I say. “I wouldn’t call it love.”

“He’s fixated,” Miles says.

“Yes. We’ve been betrothed since I was twelve. He’s been planning what he’ll do with me once we’re married for eight years now. He’s more than fixated — he’s obsessed.”

Miles’ expression is serious as he looks at me. Miles has eyes of a color I’ve never seen before — a pure, clear gray. Under the starlight they shine almost silver, lighter than his deeply-tanned skin.

“Even if you there was an incentive for your father and the Princes to void the contract... Rocco wouldn’t agree.”

“No. He doesn’t care about money,” I shudder, “he only wants me.”

We’ve reached the Solar. The wind is picking up just a little, rustling the paper feathers of my angel wings.

“I shouldn’t have kept you out here so long,” Miles says, glancing at my bare arms. “You must be cold.”

I should be cold, going from the heat of the crowded stables to the crisp, open air. But I’m not. I’m never cold around Miles — my heart is always beating too hard, my blood thundering through my veins.

“Your cut has almost healed,” Miles says, gently touching the place next to my eye where Rocco dug his knife.

When Miles touches me, it seems to ignite every nerve beneath his fingertips. That one part of my body becomes more sensitive than every other inch of skin combined.

I don’t think he means to kiss me. 

But one hand on my face becomes two, and then he’s pulling me toward him, our lips coming together in one smooth movement. Miles’ lips are full and warm, firm and yet soft against mine. The kiss is gentle at first, and then it becomes deeper, his tongue sliding between my lips, caressing mine. 

The taste of his mouth turns attraction into lust. My heart races so hard it feels like one, continuous throb. I’ve thrown myself into his arms. We’re clinging to each other, kissing with a desperation that feels wild and reckless and utterly addictive.

Kissing Miles is like dancing with him. We’re perfectly in synch. Time melts away. I can’t get enough of it, I can’t seem to stop. The wind buffets my paper wings, making a sound like a thousand whispers, lifting me like I might fly away.

Slowly, I realize how exposed we are at the base of the Solar. Even in the dark, anyone looking out their window might spot me in my white gown.

I break away from Miles.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

It was Miles who kissed me, but I shouldn’t have let him. It’s not only dangerous for me to break my contract with Rocco. If anything, it’s even more dangerous for Miles. The Princes could seek retribution.

“I did it,” Miles says, looking at me intently. “And I’m not sorry.”

“We can’t,” I say to him. 

We both know we can’t, and yet I allowed myself to pretend otherwise. I enjoyed the fantasy that I could talk to a man I liked, flirt with him, dance with him. I let myself experience the feeling of actually falling for someone, reveling in that sense of mutual attraction. I’ve never felt it before. It’s intoxicating.

But now I’ve crossed the line. And it feels too good. So good that I’m terrified of what I’ll end up doing if I don’t stop now.

“I can’t see you anymore,” I say to Miles.

He’s looking at me, face impassive, not answering.

I can’t tell what he’s thinking. I can’t read Miles as well as he reads me.

“You’re going to see me tomorrow,” he says.

“I’m not.”

“You will,” he says.

His gray eyes are brighter than ever, fixed on mine with an intensity I’ve never seen in Miles before. He acts like he doesn’t care about anything. But I always knew that couldn’t be true, because he’s the furthest thing from lazy. He’s always hustling, always working an angle. 

I’m finally seeing what it looks like when Miles is chasing something he wants.

“I can’t kiss you anymore,” I say, “And I can’t be alone with you.”

“I’m not going to argue with you Zoe,” Miles says, his eyes burning into mine. “But I’m also not going to stop.”

Before I can say another word, he turns and strides away from me, across the dark grounds.

I’m staring after him, open-mouthed, my lips still throbbing where he kissed me.



This is book 2 in the next gen series the KINGMAKERS.  It would help for context to read the series in order.  This is Miles story.  He is the son of the combined Irish and Italian mafia families back in Chicago. The book once again focuses on the Kingmaker School.  We have met Zoe before as well.  She is promised in marriage to another student whose sole purpose is to own and terrify her into doing his bidding.  

Miles is an entrepreneur at his heart He has connections. He honestly hadn't paid much attention to Zoe the previous year. But events put her in his path and suddenly he was intrigued.  The bulk of the story is them falling in love and Miles trying to figure a way to get her out of the marriage contract and get her family to forever leave her and her sister alone. 

We see all the familiar faces from book 1.  There is still the cutthroat competition between years/grades and individuals.  We get to see Zoe's sister Cat get thrown into the mix.  Nice set up for the next book.  Loved seeing and the parents and cousins in Chicago again.  I'm thinking we may need to stick with this bunch at least until a couple more kiddos come of age. 

I can't wait to read more and even more curious now about the last book.  WHO is the Spy? 

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review. 



Sophie Lark is an Amazon Bestselling author who writes intense, intelligent romance, with heroines who are strong and capable, and men who will do anything to capture their hearts. She lives with her husband, two boys, and baby girl in the Rocky Mountain West.

She has a slight obsession with hiking, bodybuilding, and live comedy shows. Her perfect day would be taking the kids to Harry Potter World, going dancing with Mr. Lark, then relaxing with a good book and a monster bag of salt and vinegar chips.

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