4.4 stars

I have read every book this author has ever written, and out of all of them, El Diablo has been my favorite. There was just something about the cover matching the character and I fell in love. When I first heard about this story, it quickly became one of my most anticipated ever. How could it not be when the Queen of Angst wrote about Alejandro's son, Cruz, who also happened to be the spitting image of his father?

This book was reminiscent of her previous Good Ole Boy series in the way that it was written and made me feel. I had missed that. Even though, I have enjoyed all of her books, the duets with the past in one book and the present in the second one, wore on me. I had missed having a story from this author told in just present. I also had missed having the book just be an interconnected standalone.

I could tell that she was invested in this story and wanted to give the best that she could in creating a world that was on the darker side and giving favorites like Alendrjo and Lexi the love and attention that they deserved. This book is ALL story. I enjoyed watching Cruz navigate becoming El Diablo himself and also being the softer man for Sienna. Watching the two sides of his personality that he shared from his mother and his father made the connection that much sweeter. There is no steam until almost the end of the book and that was okay because, as I mentioned, this book was all story. My heart hurt for the reason that it was happening around them. However, I look forward to discovering more about Adriana and this book gave a great segway into that if her muse wants her story told. I have to keep telling myself to not judge a book by its cover and that will definitely be the case with that upcoming story.

The only reason that the story did not rank higher was in fact the downside to this being standalone, and that was the ending happened fast. I wanted it fleshed out more. Not just the climactic scene but the repercussions of that night later on. Everything was touched upon, but it felt too simple and easy if that makes sense. I wanted to see more of the relationship unfold between Cruz and Sienna. I also wanted more of an ending or understanding between Ari and Cruz, since the events that happened to them in this book had a serious impact on them both. Perhaps, that will come when and if she speaks and the queen of Angst puts the words down.

Off-topic, I am still waiting on Mason and Giselle. I feel like it has been 84 years... Dang them for not telling their story. All in all, this was a great book and a prime example of why I adore this author.
( )