REVIEW: Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

Title: Sweet Temptation
Author: Cora Reilly
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Age gap. Single dad. Arranged marriage.

The first time Cassio meets his fiancée, she calls him “sir.”
After losing his wife, Cassio is left to take care of two small children while trying to establish his rule over Philadelphia. Now he needs a mother for his children and someone who can warm his bed at night.
But in a world as traditional as his, choosing your wife is duty not pleasure.
Rules have to be followed, traditions heeded.
That’s how he ends up with a woman—a girl—barely of age. She may not be what he and his children need, but she’s lovely and a sweet temptation he can’t resist.

Giulia has always known she’ll marry the man her father chose for her, but she never expects to be given to someone so much older. Suddenly she’s supposed to be a mother to two small children when she hasn’t even held a baby before.
Giulia quickly realizes that Cassio isn’t interested in a relationship on equal footing. Her mother has warned her that men of power, like Cassio, don’t tolerate insolence. Tired of being treated as a nanny and clueless child-bride, Giulia decides to fight for her version of a happy family.


My Thoughts... 

*ARC kindly provided by the author and The Next Step PR in exchange of an honest review*

This book captured me from the very first page. I absolutely loved this book, it had all the tropes I love in one book! It has the opposites attract trope, age-gap, the single parent trope as well as an arranged marriage/marriage of convenience. And it was done beautifully.

This is a story of family and love above anything else. If you have read Cora Reilly's previous mafia books, then you know there is more action in that book. However in this book, it is mostly focused on the family aspect and the couples relationship and less action than Cora's other books. However, I loved the focus it had on family, on Guilia and Cassio's relationship as well as their kids, Daniele and Simone. The way Cora Reilly did it, made me completely adore it and love all these characters so much.

Guilia and Cassio's relationship was intriguing to read about. Cassio viewed Guilia as the young teenager she was, especially hating on her quirky style and Guilia just not caring - much. I loved how their relationship grew and blossomed and became something so beautiful. Watching a brooding Cassio become enchanted by Guilia and just fall in love with her and vice versa was beautiful. Especially when finding more about Cassio and the things that have occurred, you sympathise with him and understand some of the things he does and above all, you just want him to find love and be loved. And Guilia was the perfect match for Cassio and together they were utter perfection!

I loved how Cassio's children played a huge role in this book, because in most other romance books where there is a single parent, their child/children don't really play a huge role. But in this book, they do and it was so cute and adorable to read about them. Especially watching Guilia building bonds with the kids as well was very heart warming. These kids are so adorable and they deserve everything!

This book gave me so many amazing tropes all in one and it did it perfectly! I loved all the characters individually and Cassio and Guilia together were so sweet. It was great to see characters from other Cora Reilly books pop up here as well. This book was amazing and if you are into any of the tropes I listed above then you will love this book as much as I did.