Maldeamores by Mara White Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Published by Heightsbound on May 25th 2015
Genres: Erotica, Menage, Romance
Purchase links: Amazon
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Source: NetGalley
Maldeamores (Lovesick)
Lucky and Belén’s Story
A Heightsbound PrequelBelén: I’ve loved Luciano ever since I can remember, desired him before I even knew what it meant. He’s always been the only man in my life—my constant protector, and his rejection only intensifies my need.
Luciano: I’ve never known a love more fierce than the one I feel for Belén. But I force myself to deny her no matter how much it hurts.
Our love is a sickness and both of us are infected.
Because there’s no cure for being from the same family
***Warning***
This novel contains graphic sex scenes, including: incest, F/F, and ménage, M/M/F. Some drug use and violence.
We received this book/audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
Kindle – Paperback
5+ stars
— This review contains spoilers! —
“Maldeamores” is the story of Lucky and Belén. They are first grade cousins but they grew up like siblings, with only one year age difference. Oh, and they are madly and deeply in love with each other…
I’m writing this review after re-reading this tornado of a book. I originally had the ARC from Netgalley last year and was so in love with their story after reading it for the first time – and that didn’t change after reading it for the second time. Although it didn’t hurt any less…
First, a serious warning from the depths of my poor, battered soul: “Maldeamores” is not for everyone. Even though it’s not forbidden by law for first grade cousins to have a (sexual) relationship with each other, society is mostly shocked by it and deemed it dirty and forbidden. So, it’s rather a question of morals and I seem to be very low on them, since I was never shocked by Lucky and Belén being in love with each other. And even when they had sex with each other, I only saw two lovers who were enamored deeply and struck by despair because their story seemed to be hopeless. Their biggest enemies were their consciences, since they believed that what they did was utterly wrong and would cause everyone around them grief. Maybe they would have been right, but we as readers have to decide that for ourselves. Mara White created a love-story so raw, beautiful, tender and hopeless that it literally ripped my heart out – both times. Even though I knew what was coming during the re-read, I was deeply touched by it all. And when I said, that this book isn’t for everyone, I meant that regarding the ending, too. Normally, I try to avoid to give spoilers in my reviews – but since I know from interacting with other readers all the time, that the majority has a problem with this or rather wants to at least know it in advance, I will spoiler in this case, View Spoiler ». Sadly, I have to say that in my opinion, this book ends on a semi-happy note nonetheless. There is very much left to the reader’s imagination but I finished this book with a good feeling at least for Belén. But let me tell you, my heart broke for Lucky. Despite everything that went down in the course of the story, I see one of the best character developments ever in Lucky. He really redeemed himself and made me fall in love with him. Belén, well – she was a bit of a special persona, always teetering the edge of whiney and bitchy. But that was ok in this case, since life dealt her a really shitty hand.
The writing was amazing, the sex-scenes were disturbingly hot and the emotions were all-encompassing and palatable. The only thing that annoyed me, was that I was looking forward to a bit of M/M-action in this book, since the plot says “… including ménage, MMF”. But no, it was rather MFM, no contact between the men whatsoever. If you throw around with such specific vocabulary in your plot, at least do it right. Oh, and you gotta be able to bear a really bad character if you want to read this book. Belén’s so called bestie from the Heights was one of the most cunning and egoistical characters I’ve EVER encountered in a book. Why Belén never kicked her to the curb and told her to grow a pair of tits before floundering them around, I’d never know. But it doesn’t matter in the end, I guess. Just had to get that off my chest LOL
All in all, I rate “Maldeamores” with 5+ stars and don’t really know if I would recommend it. For me, it became one of my favorites of all times. But I guess, it depends on the kind of reader – if you can handle slight incest, ménage, F/F and a very unconventional ending, then definitely go for this book! Otherwise, this will only be agonizing and utterly heartbreaking. Trigger warning: Mature readers only, includes – aside from the above mentioned – drug use, violence and explicit sex-scenes.
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