Ruin: The El Diablo Chronicles by Autumn Sand – Review by Angela Hayes

Ruin by Autumn Sand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ruin is the first book in The El Diablo series by Autumn Sand. This is a fantastic start to a new series- but, in saying that, there are quite a few familiar aspects to the story too, as this book/series is a spin-off from the Twisted Hearts Love Story Series, which I absolutely loved!!! Firstly, I think this cover is HOT HOT HOT! Just love it!! But on to the juicy, important stuff- this is a fantastic mafia romance, with plenty of suspense, heart in mouth moments, edge of your seat drama and thrilling twists. The story is a little darker than the previous series, with quite a lot of heart-wrenching and shocking details that had me flipping the pages like crazy to find out what happens.
The story is thrilling and had me so engrossed in it, I was in a constant state of anticipation and expectation. Ms. Sand really is an expert at building and sustaining tension and suspense in her stories. From the disclaimer at the very beginning, you should be under no illusion as to what to expect. The story gets quite harrowing in places… and there are some twists that will tax your emotions as well as keep you guessing. There are quite a few sensitive topics that are broached in this book, but Ms. Sand handles them very thoughtfully- using them in a realistic and informative way- she doesn’t go into too much depth with them or use them gratuitously- and I applaud her for shining a light on these issues. But again, if you have any triggers, you may want to pay close attention to the warning at the beginning- because this may not be the book for you.
I loved the tie-in to the Twisted Hearts Love Story Series- catching up with familiar and loved characters was a real bonus. The story also touches on some details and storyline/timeline from the previous series- so having read those books would be an advantage, but not critical, as this book can easily be read as a standalone.
When I jumped on a copy of this book, I didn’t really read the blurb, I mean if it’s got Autumn Sand’s name on it, I just KNOW I will love it. But, then when I saw that our leading lady was going to be Tallie, I was a little concerned, as having met her previously (in the Twisted Hearts series) I didn’t really like her much there, and so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect or invest in her, or the story. But as the everything unfolded and I discovered what had happened to her to make her the way she is, I really felt for her and by the time the story ended, I was a Tallie convert through and through. I should never have doubted Ms. Sand! Lesson learned!
This book has bee worth the wait! And I am really looking forward to the rest of the series!
If you love sexy, bold, suspenseful and gritty books; with thrilling storylines that you will find impossible to put down, then this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you, Ms. Sand!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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