Sin & Chocolate (Book 1) - A Steamy Romance Novel for Adults - Perfect for Beach Reads & Cozy Nights

If you read a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy like I do, you know that it can often feel like reading the same books by different authors. I have never felt this way with a K. F. Breene book. She rarely follows any kind of formula—she has been known to mix genres—and each of her series(es?) clearly take place in different worlds, with stories that are original and exciting and different than everything she has done before.Her characters are funny, snarky, strong, and REAL. Yes, they are often strong and powerful. Yes, many of them have magic, and some are more than they know at first. But every single one of them has struggles and fears and insecurities we can relate to. Many of them are grey. People who aren’t nice don’t automatically become nice just because they decide to do the right thing. They don’t become less ruthless or somehow more “good”. They don’t suddenly have an epiphany and become glowing beacons of righteousness. They make choices, good and bad, and face the consequences of those choices. This isn’t only true of her primary protagonists and antagonists. One of K. F. Breene’s strongest talents is creating secondary characters who are just as three dimensional, who also have their own personalities and make their own choices. I’ve cared about some of her secondary characters as much as, and sometimes more than, the main heroes and heroines. While her stories have tension, romance, action, and fully realized plots, they are as much about the characters as the action.This is a hilariously fun start to what is sure to become a great series. Like many first books, we spent a lot of time getting to know the people and the world. Some may feel this book didn’t move the story far enough along but, as with some of her other works, this book is more about the characters and their interactions than simply telling the story and getting from the problem to the solution.Reading this book felt like hanging out with real people I liked and disliked—I honestly disliked Kieran for the first half of the book—and going along with them while they’re put into situations they aren’t sure how to handle. I adored Alexis, Daisy, and Mordecai. While they are truly a dysfunctional family, there is so much love and loyalty and fun between them. The interactions between them and Kieran often made me laugh out loud so the others in my house spent a lot of time looking at me like I was crazy (not an unusual state when reading one of K. F. Breene’s books). Kieran isn’t a villain, but he is definitely a man filled with as much darkness as light. He isn’t heartless, and has the ability to care without feeling the need to consider that caring a weakness. But it would take so little to push him over the edge of being ruthless to becoming vicious. There is definitely some heat between him and Alexis, but no romance in this book. I’m really looking forward to getting to know his Six and whoever else joins the party and seeing where this ride takes us!