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Torched Spades

Marchesi Empire, Book 1

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Torched Spades

By: Cora Kenborn
Narrated by: Kai Kennicott, Alan Carlson
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About this listen

From USA Today best-selling author Cora Kenborn comes the Marchesi Empire, a forbidden enemies-to-lovers dark mafia romance duet.

Never flirt with fire....

Eight weeks ago, Johnny Malone showed up at my office, flipping a playing card between his fingers like I was wasting his time. Me. The one with the PhD. The one a self-confessed arsonist came to for help in controlling his "urges". The one he visits every week and undresses with his eyes.

Lethal dark eyes that drown me in fiery lust and constant lies.

But the deeper I sink, the more those ethical lines blur, and his charm overshadows his inner demons.

Ones with no family, no friends, and no past.

Just a standing Tuesday appointment.

He's hiding from something.

Or someone....

And I intend to find out.

I've always had strict rules about men: No liars. No patients. No criminals. In one afternoon, I broke all three.

They say you should never play with fire....

Now I know why.

Torched Spades is book one in the Marchesi Empire Duet. The conclusion, Tortured Hearts, will release in late 2022.

Torched Spades contains dark subject matter. Please refer to the author's note at the front of the book for more details.

©2022 Cora Kenborn (P)2023 Pink Flamingo Productions Romance Romantic Suspense Suspense Heartfelt

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Listener received this title free

ᴄᴏʀᴀ ᴋᴇɴʙᴏʀɴ - ᴛᴏʀᴄʜᴇᴅ ꜱᴘᴀᴅᴇꜱ: ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀꜰɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ (ᴍᴀʀᴄʜᴇꜱɪ ᴇᴍᴘɪʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 1)
ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

My first acquaintance with Cora Kenborn was when I happened to come across the 1st book in her The Carrera Cartel series, I tried the book and found myself listening to the whole series in audio (I even ordered it in paperback copies!) this is her eighth book that I'm reading and I'm here to share with you how much I enjoyed the book! 

“𝑨𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓?”

Do you like to play with fire❓
Are you drawn to danger❓
Do you feel tingling in your body that make your feet get carried away dancing with the demons❓
So this book was written for you❗

Just like the story of Adam and Eve it all started with one apple🍎😉
Johnny Malone - a former firefighter, an arsonist on probation, man on a mission who was forced to agree to psychiatric sessions.
Rebecca (Becca) Brennan - a psychiatrist who helps people deal with their demons, while hers whispers and laughs at her in the shadows.
From the first moment i could feel the chemistry exploding between those two, I felt that I was drawn like a magnet to the darkness, to the madness, to the prohibition of these two together.

“...𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 – 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌?” -𝒍.𝒋.𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒏

I really enjoyed Johnny's sarcasm, mystery and madness.
It made me fall in love with his character more and more.
And Becca caught my attention from the first scene in the book, I loved her courage, I loved that she was striving against the current, and against common sense I was swept along with her.
Cora knows how to create her characters so well and makes me feel confused and fascinated at once. 
I love strong women and strong men and I got just that 😍

“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚,” 𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍. "𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒚?”
“𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐.”

Throughout the reading I felt on a roller coaster, entanglements, dangers, discovering new layers of characters, forbidden attraction, dirty talk... I am addicted!!
Can't believe the book ends in such suspense
I'm on edge waiting for the second book in this duet to come out!!!😍😍😍😍

Seriously! Can't wait for part 2 😍

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Listener received this title free

This is a fantastic storyline. With intriguing characters that know they shouldn’t get involved with each other but can’t hold back. A brilliant performance from both Kai and Alan.
#pfp

Great storyline

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Listener received this title free

Cora Kenborn continues to blow me away with another amazing romantic suspense. The story is original with interesting storylines that are captivating from start to end. The world building and character development is fantastic, and I loved the mystery behind the lead character, Johnny Malone, a pyrophilia, is mandated by the court to see a psychiatrist and that is not sitting well with him, so he keeps intimidating them and they no longer want to see him. His probation officer assigns him to his third psychiatrist, Dr. Rebecca “Becca” Brennan, and he has finally met his match, she is up for the challenge and does not allow him to intimidate her. Johnny goes above and beyond in his interest of her, looks in to her private life and her past, and he is not liking what he finds, not for himself but for her. Her father is the police chief, and he knows he is not on the straight and narrow, but she doesn’t, well not that we know of yet. Johnny is not the only mysterious one in this book, there are others who are hiding things and information. Kenborn does a great job keeping you thinking and on your toes. The chemistry between Becca and Johnny was sizzling hot and the push and pull, give and take, was amazing. A lot goes on in this book and there is never a dull moment. It is a cleverly plotted the story with perfect balance of of drama, angst, mystery, twists and turns, action, thrilling suspense and some steamy romance. And the next book can not come out soon enough because that ending leaves you wanting more and needing to know what happens next. Cora Kenborn, thank you for another amazing story and the wild ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic narration, Kai Kennicott and Alan Carlson were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and did so with a complete understanding of who they were portraying, giving each a voice that fit that character’s persona making them believable in every role they played. Kennicott nailed it as Becca grasped all sides of her personality, her strength and confidence. Carlson’s Johnny was spot on, grasped his demeanor completely. Both were great performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into their performance and had you feeling every single one. These are versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen.

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Riveting & Twisted!

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Listener received this title free

This was a twisted and hot lately filled with a web of secrets and lies. Hidden truths and dangerous secrets. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Torched

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Listener received this title free

Loved the dual narration of Kai Kennicott and Alan Carlson. Loved.

Johnny is on probation for a fire-related crimes, he is ordered to see a psychiatrist. Because of his uncooperative personality he ends up seeing Becca .These two are like oil and water. They both challenge each other, but other emotions are growing
The chemistry is hot and the back and banter is off the charts

Torched

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Listener received this title free

. Cora Kenborn is a phenomenal writer of Mafia Mobsters and Monsters. Johnny Malone is a tormented soul. I had a feeling early on he wasn't who he said he was.
Becca became his therapist.. she was a forbidden apple so speak. she has issues stemming from her mother's death. these two are drawn together.
so many twists and turns. book will keep you on your toes.

Kai and Alan were perfect for this story.

I recommend this book.. I can't wait for the conclusion.

riveting and on your toes

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Listener received this title free

This author is so good at getting me at hooked from the beginning with her creative and twisted story lines and Torched Spades was no exception. I went in blind as usual because it just makes for a better listening experience in my opinion, and again I am so happy I did. I had no idea where this story was going to go...pretty much the whole time, which is also something I love about this author's work.

Johnny is on probation for what appears to be some fire-related crimes and he is court-ordered to see a psychiatrist. Becca is the psychiatrist he is referred to see...well, she is maybe the 2nd or 3rd due to his uncooperative personality. They are like oil and water from the start and their back and forth sparring is on point. It is clear from the start that they are both going to challenge each other, which added a whole new dynamic to their relationship and I was 100% there for it.

As the story unfolds it becomes clear that both Johnny and Becca are harboring some deep secrets and their relationship gets only more complicated as time goes on. One thing is for sure though, they are definitely not lacking in the chemistry department...straight up fire!!!

Torched Spades ends on a cliffhanger of course as it is part of a duet, and I cannot wait to dive into book two and try to figure out where this story is going to lead and see who exactly Johnny is and what his deal is and if there is a chance for he and Becca to get a happily ever after.

Kai Kennicott and Alan Carlson did a fantastic job bringing this exciting story to life. They were both very pleasant to listen to and I would highly recommend them. PinkFlamingoProductions TheFlock

Hooked From the Start!!! Cannot Wait for More!

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Listener received this title free


Story well written and great narration.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received free from the author.

Story well written and great narration.

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Listener received this title free

Torched Spades was a captivating listen! Johnny and Becca were both complex characters who kept me guessing. So many layers to both the characters and story and it really kept my interest throughout. The book did start off a little slow but it picks up and has so many twists and turns with action, secrets, spice, lies, and so much more. Another addictive storyline from this author! This is book 1 of a duet so there is quite the cliffhanger.

Narrators were enjoyable to listen to and Alan Carlson was a really great voice for Johnny.

Johnny and Becca

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Listener received this title free

Title: Torched Spades
Author: Cora Kenborn
Format: Audio
Narrator: Alan Carlson, Kai Kennicott
Genre: Dark Romance, Suspense, Mafia, Forbidden (Doctor/Patient)
Standalone: No
Part of a Series: Marchesi Empire Book 1
POV: Johnny, Becca
Steam Level: Steamy
5/5

Torched Spades is the first book in the Marchesi Empire and ends in quite the cliffhanger. It was amazing and I'm dying for the next book in this duet. Johnny is on probation and is court-ordered to see a psychiatrist. The problem: He keeps scaring then away and they keep referring him out. Becca is now his assigned psychiatrist since she deals with patients with unique and challenging diagnoses. But it soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems - with anybody - from Johnny to his PO to Becca, everyone has secrets. I loved trying to figure them out and I was kind of close with Johnny. Secrets are revealed throughout but most lead to more questions. This was such a great book and I binged it in a day.

I received this audiobook for free from Pink Flamingo Productions and Audiobook Obsessions. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Dark and Twisted and So Much Fun

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