[ARC Review] Wicked Knight Duet Boxed Set by Diana A. Hicks

PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS: Book One:

I want my happily-ever after...

He wants revenge.

It all started with a lie. When I was in high school, I ruined Mr. Gallo's repulation.

Now I'm in his classroom again. I'm older and most definitely over him. Except, Mr. Gallo isn't over me.

Does the grumpy and hot-as-hell college professor have reason to hate me? Yes. 

Does he intend to punish me for what I did to him years ago? Also yes.

Professor Luca Gallo has a lesson for me that I'm sure I will never forget. 

Short Story: Heartless Vow

Forbidden love finds a way in this steamy, friends-to-lovers short

Vittoria Salvatore is no one of consequence. Her life is simple, until she falls for the wrong guy, Giovanni Valentino, the one they call the Lion, her best friend, and the current Don of the Valentino family. The girlish crush she harbored well into adulthood can never be. 

Giovanni knows the rules that bound their world and follows them to the letter - the five original crime families can never fraternize. Her feelings for him don't matter.

But rules were meant to be broken. When Vittoria receives the news that would turn her life upside down, she decides to send it all to hell and claim the Lion for herself.

Book Two:

Destiny Can Be So Cruel...

Maxim Belov is Papa's favorite son. Like his father, Maxim is ruthless and always gets what he wants.

Maxim wants me. He doesn't even care that our families are mortal enemies, or that I've never seen his face.

Because of him, I'm forced into a marriage with a stranger.

On our wedding night, when I finally come face to face with my worst enemy, my entire life is turned upside down.

MY THOUGHTS: What a whirlwind of a read! I was drawn into Donata's story right from the beginning of book one, and Hicks kept me engaged and wondering what was going to happen next until the very last page of the boxed set. 

I loved how both books connected while still giving two different types of romances. The first book gives us forbidden/student-teacher romance, while the second book wraps up Donata's love story with an enemies-to-lovers romance. Going in, I had no idea how Hicks was going to tie these two books together, but the big reveal in book two was fantastic and brought both parts of this boxed set together in the absolute best way. 

Hicks left me with my jaw on the floor at the end of book one, so I was highly tempted to skip the short story. However, reading Vittoria and Giovanni's short provided much-needed details that impacted book two so it, too, was a must-read. 

Book two was my absolute favorite part of this boxed set. It had a romance that kept me intrigued, while also keeping me on the edge of my seat with reveal after reveal. I was so happy for Donata to finally get her happy ending, because she was definitely put through the ringer to get there. 

While this collection is technically a stand alone and a self-contained romance, this boxed set included a lot of previous main characters and references to their stories. Reading those stories first will only enhance Donata's story; knowing what happened in previous romances will only make Donata's happily ever after that much sweeter. 

[A huge thank you to Diana A. Hicks and Indie Pen PR for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.]

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Release date: 6/2/24

Format: eARC

eARC provided via: the author/Indie Pen PR