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Deliver Us From Evil #1

Thy Kingdom Come

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Monsters are real.

When I was five years old, I watched my mother take her last breath—a breath three monsters stole from her.

I never chose this life. My father says it’s my birthright, but all I see is a curse. It’s because of the Kelly name my mum was slain by the Doyles—our enemies in Dublin, the fellas livin’ on borrowed time.

All of Belfast fears my family, especially me. I’m Puck Kelly, otherwise known as Punky; the lad ye don’t want to double cross.

I don’t do feelings or emotions. I never have…until she walks into my world.

Babydoll is a liar and a thief, but I can’t stay away. We both thrive in the darkness because that’s where our demons can play.

No word af a lie, sixteen years later, those monsters still haunt my dreams. But every monster is scared of somethin’…and that somethin’ is me.

No more hiding in the shadows because I’m huntin’ youse.

Run, wee monsters, run.

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2021

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About the author

Monica James

42 books2,692 followers
Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.
She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.



http://www.facebook.com/authormonicaj...

Twitter: @monicajames81


http://monicajamesbooks.blogspot.com.au/

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
Profile Image for Chelsea Humphrey.
1,487 reviews81.7k followers
April 6, 2021
"It's in the dark where I thrive. I've seen the bogeyman. He doesn't scare me anymore."

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GAH.... This book! Monica James knows how to write romantic suspense at its finest, and I had the best time reading about Punky, Babydoll, and the entire crew. This is book one in a new dark romance trilogy, and these will not be standalones; please note that this entry does end on a moderate cliffy, because we receive a decent amount of closure for many of the shenanigans that our characters are up to, but are left ready to walk right into the next book, which won't be long now!

Puck Connor Kelly, also known as Punky, witnessed the brutal murder of his mother when he was only 5 years old. Throughout the rest of his childhood, he vows to avenge her death by finding the men who did this, and along the way he uncovers a tornado of secrets, both from those he expects to be hiding things, and also those he doesn't. The entire book is a roller coaster of twists and turns, and I think what the author does the best is not by pulling some outrageous unbelievable twist from thin air, but by causing the reader to doubt EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER, building the suspense of who we can trust and who we can't, right until the very end. IMO, this is the sign of a talented writer.

"Emotions make ya weak. They get ya killed."

The story is told in duel perspective, from Punky and Babydoll's POVs. A large portion of the book is the unraveling of the mysteries at hand, but we also have a budding romance between our two main characters. I won't say much, but the steam is fire. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Monica went to great lengths to ensure that the dialect and voice given to each character is authentic, even to what part of Ireland they reside. This meant the world to me as a reader, and also as a massive fan of UK crime fiction. The dialogue, the plot, and the secondary characters were top notch; in fact, I think I grew just as attached to Puck's 2 best guy friends, Cian and Rory, as I was to Punky himself. Family runs deeper than blood, and shocking discoveries are made throughout that will shake the very foundation of our cast. This was such an addicting read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for fans of dark mafia romance. I am eagerly waiting on pins and needles for the next installment; I had no idea this one would end like that!

*Many thanks to the author for providing my review copy.
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,323 reviews9,245 followers
February 17, 2021
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'THY KINGDOM COME:' is the first full length mafia romance book in the series 'Deliver Us from Evil', by Monica James. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.'

Get ready to meet Punky and Babydoll, expect the unexpected. Go in blind and fall in love with all that is Punky.

Jumping into the ‘Prologue’ straight away your pulled into an emotional dark scene, a child’s childhood forever changed as he laid in hiding in a cupboard where his mother placed him for safe keeping ❝ Whatever ya see, whatever ya hear, I want you to know it's not real because yer not really. here.❞ had him reenacting on his face with his treasured facepaints all that he was witnessing his mother enduring at the hands of evil men.

From that point onwards Punky Kelly is resurrected.

The emotional scars forever tattooed on his body. Punky's life was mapped out for him at an early age all due to him bearing the Kelly name.

Babydoll is a liar, a thief, a puppet in a deadly game, a victim all because of her family's last name.

❝ To the outside world. I look relatively "normal" but it's a whole different story on the inside. On the inside, all I can think about is revenge and blood.❞
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HOLY HECK! This book was PHENOMENAL, this was so BRILLIANTLY executed, it EXCEEDED all my expectations, TWISTS & TURNS left me reeling in their wake, scared of the outcome, but like a junky needing their next fix I DEVOURED all the words, this is one of my favourites by this author! PERFECTION at its best..Like a greedy b#tch I never want this series to end! I can't RAVE enough about this book!!

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April 5, 2022

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I got this impulsively when it was a Kindle cheapie because one of my friends raved about it in her review (hi Chelsea). Mafia romances aren't usually my thing but I really liked the title and the premise seemed interesting, although why an Irish mafioso would be wearing sugar skull face paint made me wonder if something went horribly wrong in the cover art consultation department...



But no. We learn right from the prologue why Punky (ugh, I hate his name lol) wears his weird face paint. It's so morbid it's a little along the lines of the Joker's "you know how I got these scars..." spiel, and considering the subject matter, it works. THY KINGDOM COME is set in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and is about a war between two Irish crime families, who, in addition to territory disputes still harbor lingering resentments over the troubles. Punky's family is Protestant and the Doyles, their bitter enemies, are Catholics who reign over Dublin. But now things have escalated and it's practically become an out and out war, which might just provide Punky with the perfect opportunity to avenge his mother's death.



Enter Babydoll (hate her name too lol), the mysterious blonde chick who catches his eye in a way that no other girl ever has (OF COURSE). Suddenly, she starts popping up everywhere he looks, and even though he knows she's a thief, Punky starts to wonder what else she might be-- and what she'll do to get it. The cat-dog pursuit between them kind of reminds me of the relationship between Batman and Catwoman (lol so many Batman references in this review), so I kind of dug it. And although it took me a while to warm up to Baby(doll) as a narrator, I did end up finding her more and more interesting as the book went on, although Punky was really the show-stealer in this book.



I actually think, story-wise, this is a better mafia book than Danielle Lori's. The Irish cant, the locations (Belfast and Dublin, both places I've actually been-- although not with people like this lol), the spicy romance, and the political machinations of the bad mafia people were all so fascinating to me. This book deserves like a thousand times more reviews than it had. The only things I didn't really like about it were that, at times, the writing could feel a bit sloppy (the author kept making her characters say words that I'm not sure working class crime dudes would use, like commence, and there were a lot of clunky or repetitive passages, like at one point "I ride her hard" was used in two paragraphs on the same page). I also really, really hated the characters' names. Punky and Babydoll? I sneer.



But everything else about this book was AMAZING and I will 100% be reading that sequel. Even though I predicted that twist, it was SUCH a mind-freak.



3.5 to 4 stars
Profile Image for  Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕.
987 reviews1,140 followers
February 27, 2021
1614395085124

Leave us hanging why don't ya Monica! Thy Kingdom Come immediately hit us with a dark gritty prologue that set the stage for a bloody war between two families for decades to come. It was raw, unapologetic at times and it made you question everyone that was in the story.

From a very young age, Punky has witnessed something that not only scarred him as a child, but shaped into the man that he later became. He's ruthless, doesn't trust easily and the only thing that's been on his mind for the past ten years, is sweet revenge. But how far will his plan go when he meets a mysterious woman who has secrets of her own?

tenor

I really liked the setup for this story and I enjoyed the war rivalry between two families. I did have a hard time getting into this book at first and I guessed the secret early on but I loved how the cliffhanger was set up up because now the possibilities are endless and it could go much darker!! I'm ready to see what this author is going to do for book two and what's in store for the Kelly family. How far will Punky go for his family? We'll have to wait and see.


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Profile Image for JAN.
1,199 reviews895 followers
March 2, 2021
I had a love and hate relationship with this story from the beginning.

Negatives first:

⬇ The inner talk from Punky was way too much.🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
⬇ Babydoll, trying to explain herself and pleading Punky for forgiveness when she had a gun pointed at her head. 🙄 That was bad. I mean, how Liam and Brody, two big badasses would have the patience to hear that word vomit plus all the tears by a girl? ��
⬇ After so many lies, how Punky could believe in that DNA test?🙄🤦‍♀️
⬇ Sean's journal found by Hannah was too contrived. I really needed something more organic. 😖
⬇⬇⬇ 🤦‍♀️🙄🤦‍♀️🙄🤦‍♀️🙄



Positives:

⬆ The emotional turmoil and repercussions of what happened to Punky as a child rung true.
⬆ The traumatic reference of face painting.
⬆ The banter between both MCs was great.
⬆ The twists and turns were always unexpected.
⬆ The Irish slang.


Profile Image for Carla Bulian.
1,396 reviews380 followers
February 28, 2021
I knew that!!!! I saw this coming !!!
It was brilliant, a masterpiece!
I need this book 2 yesterday!
YEESSS.
Profile Image for Rumi.
222 reviews9 followers
February 22, 2021
So I’ve been sitting on this review for weeks—months?—now and I still don’t know what to say…

Except that this is Monica James’ best work to date. Thy Kingdom Come is such an amazing start to a new trilogy. And Punky Kelly is in a league of his own.

The amount of time and effort and research that went into this book bleeds through the pages; the dialogue is so authentic you can practically hear the Irish accent seep out of the characters.

Expect dark. Expect gritty. Expect the beginning of an epic love story woven through the cracks.

I just need book two and more Punky. More Babydoll too. That’s all.
Profile Image for Vicky Sp.
1,344 reviews109 followers
May 17, 2021
Sul proprio viso di bambino Punky aveva dipinto una riproduzione grottesca dell’orrore che aveva visto e provato rinchiuso in uno spazio angusto: un’immagine in bianco, nero e rosso, che rifletteva la morte della sua infanzia. Tre uomini gli avevano cambiato la vita per sempre, e finché avesse avuto aria nei polmoni li avrebbe trovati e avuto così la sua vendetta.

Punky era cresciuto. Non era più quel bambino traumatizzato dall’aver assistito ad un terribile omicidio, ma non era neppure un normale ragazzo della sua età che pensava a partecipare alle feste, avere tante ragazze e trascorrere notti brave con gli amici.
No.

Lui era oscuro e misterioso, ricoperto di tatuaggi, alcuni molto significativi. Con un piercing a cerchio nel naso e uno sul labbro non sembrava certo il Principe Azzurro.

«Non mi piace l’intimità. L’unica persona di cui desidero il tocco è morta. Per il mondo esterno sembro relativamente “normale”, ma dentro è una storia completamente diversa. Tutto quello a cui penso è vendetta e sangue».

Era morto dentro, nulla aveva importanza per lui se non portare a compimento il suo piano. Fino ad allora non avrebbe avuto pace.

«Ex favilla nos resurgemus», recitava il tatuaggio sulla sua clavicola: “Dalle ceneri risorgeremo”.

Non si sarebbe arreso mai.

🖋️Un mafia romance pazzesco, pieno di colpi di scena, anche inaspettati, tanta l’azione al cardiopalma che lascia il lettore col fiato sospeso. Menzogne e inganni, manipolazioni di ogni sorta, soprattutto ad opera delle famiglie dei protagonisti, e intrighi pieni di mistero. Queste sono le caratteristiche principali di questo libro che racchiude una trama elaborata e ben orchestrata.

L’inizio è agghiacciante, il racconto crudo e violento di un atto deplorevole che lascia basiti, non solo per quanto accade, ma anche per il sorriso beffardo di un uomo che fa una sorta di promessa/minaccia ad un bambino già di per sé devastato dalla tragicità della scena.

🖋️Finisce col sospeso.
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,234 reviews14.7k followers
December 14, 2022
3.5 stars

This is definitely a dark romance starting with the hero watching his mother brutally murdered when he was a child. Now, he is still trying to track down the men who killed her. He crosses paths with a mysterious girl, though, that he knows is hiding something and he wants to know more. I definitely wanted to feel more of a connection with the hero and heroine throughout this book. I got that he was intrigued by her, but I would have loved a little more when it came to the romance. I did enjoy the secret she was hiding, though, and am definitely intrigued enough to continue the series.
Profile Image for Book Maniac Forever.
944 reviews378 followers
February 24, 2021

A TOP FAVORITE READ OF 2021
⭐️ 5+ "Wee Liar" Stars ⭐️
I feel like my thoughts are all over the place! That’s what Thy Kingdom Come did to me! I don’t know where to start about this phenomenal dark romance that had me totally hooked! Monica James confirmed once again that she’s a master at creating violent world with exhilarating story line and multi-layered protagonists! This first installment in the Deliver Us From Evil Trilogy had me consumed and overcome by an amalgam of feelings all read long!

I loved the atmosphere this book oozes, with the use of the Irish language that made the immersion in this new universe sensational! The characters felt so authentic with this particular voice reflecting their roots. I’ll admit that it made the start of my read tricky as some expressions left me confused, but after a couple chapters, I was soon charmed by the writing. I adored the characters and their complexity and all the intricacy of the plot line that kept me guessing at all the revelations to come!

Puck Kelly! Punky! What a spectacular hero! This guy is plagued by gory memories of his mother’s atrocious murder. In this savage war between rival Irish families, Punky is thirsty for answers behind his mother’s assassination, and will go very far to get them. He’s callous and soulless; unfeeling. Or it’s what he thinks. Seriously he’s so complex and as much as he wants to be detached, he feels so much and had me teary-eyes at times from his struggles. He feels dead inside, but maybe it’s because he’s blinded by revenge! When he meets Babydoll, there’s an instant connection between them and his dead heart starts to beat again. Also known as Poppy, this girl is resilient, sassy and selfless! Despite the fact Punky is clearly dangerous, she doesn’t shy away from developing a relationship with him. It’s apparent she hides important secrets that could change both of their fates though. It doesn’t deter them from exploring this vivid attraction. Those two are mesmerizing as individuals, but as a pair they’re simply magical! They left my awestruck! Not only they’re bonding on a physical level, but the emotional connection they develop is stunning!

I read this book over the span of a few days, because I didn’t want to let go of these characters too fast. I was thrilled by all the suspense and brutality! When I wasn’t reading, I thought about this book with only the thought of getting back to Ireland with Punky and Babydoll.

Thy Kingdom Come gave me such a rush of feels! I felt heartache for little Punky in the tragic prologue, I felt intoxicated by the passion brewing between Babydoll and Punky, I felt disturbed by the barbaric acts and subjugated by the multiple jaw dropping revelations! Most of all, this book gave me such a high and I need more! Monica James is my go-to author for all things darkness and this story was another little jewel! The ending has me dying for the next installment, because there’s so much to still happen in this riveting series!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **
Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
1,914 reviews882 followers
February 24, 2021
FECKING FECK, Monica! Dark, twisting, and deliciously depraved, Thy Kingdom Come is a passionate, action packed, and jaw dropping opus. Hands down my favorite Monica James book to day- prepare to be left in destroyed awe and thirsty to dive back into her darkness.

From the first heart-wrenching and gusty chapter, I knew this story would be equal parts visceral and poetic. In those early trenches of macabre pain and despair, Monica somehow transforms an unabashed glimpse into the dark and evil into something hauntingly beautiful. It's melancholic foreboding grips you and keeps you unsettled for the entire story.

There’s not much I can say about this story that won’t spoil it- this plot is brimming with misconception, lies, red herrings and secrets. Some, I saw coming, others left me gobsmacked. But Punky and his Babydoll wrecked me- each in their own way. Their fractures, the ways in which they metaphorically bleed out in this story. As their LOVE bleeds out. They are flawed and broken, immersed in their own darkness, but their connection inspires a rare ray of light for them. Light shrouded in tragedy, but also grounded in love. And that is what makes these two so complex and interesting- how love oozes out and wraps itself around everything else around them….and begs this story’s central question. Just what lengths will love drive us to? What sacrifices are we willing to make- our agenda? Our power? Even our souls? Does love stand a chance in the face of evil?

This is some very clever, complex, and intentional writing. Not only has MJ clearly researched her material- the Irish tongue sings off the page- but this plot is really artfully constructed. Visceral emotion and jaw dropping action realized so vividly with MJ’s use of tone, imagery, and symbolism. Every detail is so perfectly rendered- so tightly woven-as this story careens towards a shocking and absolutely gutting finale. A finale that not only upends all we knew, but a finale that leaves us desperately hanging on the edge of the proverbial cliff.

I have no idea what is in store for us in the next -but I expect true evil is yet to come and that this raw and gritty story is only a harbinger for the true darkness to come.
Profile Image for Jenifer Briggs.
1,421 reviews168 followers
February 17, 2021
I FUCKING KNEW IT. I called it. I so fucking called it. Whooooaaaa, Monica is a wicked genius and I NEED both parts two and three right now! My mind is spinning -- I'm literally speechless!

Y'ALL NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

**full rtc when I can put thoughts together that's not a spoiler.
Profile Image for Meredith Wilson.
383 reviews39 followers
February 24, 2021
Thy Kingdom Come is the first installment in the new dark mafia romance trilogy, Deliver Us From Evil, by the immensely talented author, Monica James. Told in dual perspectives, this is Poppy "Babydoll" Yates and Puck "Punky" Connor Kelly's story.

Punky was just five years old when he witnessed the brutal murder of his beloved mother. From that day forward he is haunted by those memories and vows to avenge her death by finding those that are responsible. He is callous and cold and will stop at nothing to get the answers that he seeks. But along the way, he soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. Those that he thought he could trust prove him wrong. Secrets are revealed, lies are uncovered and all hell breaks loose.

Babydoll is a liar, a thief and a pawn in a savage war all because of her family name. When she meets Punky, there is an instant connection between them. He is dangerous and her family's rival, but she just can't seem to stay away. Their broken souls call out to one another. The only problem? She is keeping secrets that could possibly ruin it all. Both of their fates could be forever changed if the truth gets out. Is this a chance that she's willing to take?

Thy Kingdom Come was absolutely phenomenal. It was perfectly executed with well developed characters and dialogue. You can tell Monica went above and beyond when penning this masterpiece. It definitely exceeded all of my expectations. The twists and turns were plentiful, and you will be kept guessing every single step of the way. This book was absolute perfection, and I can't possibly recommend it enough. Bring on book two! Five stars and more for Punky, Babydoll and Thy Kingdom Come!

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Profile Image for 25 Readings Or More.
693 reviews150 followers
February 21, 2021
6- what the fuck did i just read- stars !!!!

OH MY F*CKING GOD WHAT I JUST READ !!!!
5 stars are not enough !!
This is not a fairy tale: it's messed up, dark, raw... a hell of ride !!
Reading the prologue was enough to lose myself completely...
To lose myself in a world of made men, vengeance, violence, and lies...
A world where innocence is a luxury...
A world where family bonds might get you killed...
And among all of this there are two broken souls who seeks one another, who belongs together, but who are not meant to be together.
Punky is a monster and Babydoll is a thief and a liar, but nothing is as it seems...
They own a part of my heart now 🖤🖤
And i can't wait for the second book because that end was just the beginning of their story !!

This book is a damn masterpiece.
It hooked me from the first page. Reading it became a necessity because i needed to know!!
And i'm still thinking about It 🙈🙈
It's more than i could have dreamed!
Profile Image for Natalia Parker Cahill.
169 reviews52 followers
August 13, 2021
1 Star


I thought this was okay .

i was going to read the next book but idk know anymore

spoilers



5 years later he is still in jail and he is having a conversation with the nurse and ends up having sex with her . ( i had to read a whole 3 pages of them having sex ) and i think they keep doing it because she says ' see you next week '

tbh im debating if i should read the next book

I didn’t feel no connection towards the hero and heroine .

- the whole revenge and finding what happened to his mom kinda felt boring .
- I should’ve DNF’ed this book .

Edit - so i downloaded the third book and searched ‘ I love you ‘ and there is a bunch of them saying it to each other. I love when couples say ILY’s but not reading from someone who didn’t stay celibate .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans .
1,440 reviews429 followers
March 20, 2021


Sighs.

This month has been a struggle reading wise and I am almost afraid to say it’s a reading slump (because I already know it is). I haven’t really been drawn to anything as of late and have dropped books left to right, including this one.

MJ is known to bring the dark, gritty romances I love and adore to life and despite the twists and turns, I just couldn’t get into this. The novel started off strong—the prologue featured background details of Punky’s mother's gruesome death and what led him to become the man he is today intrigue me but as the story progressed and when the readers were also introduced to ‘Babydoll’, I lost all interest and became bored with what I was reading.

It has nothing to do with MJ style. I love it, I truly do. It has more to do with me and as of right now, I will be putting this aside to pick back up in the near future when my reading slump isn’t affecting my overall reading experience.

Profile Image for ps.midnight.picks.
151 reviews81 followers
September 15, 2021
It's a beautiful and heartbreaking story of love, pain, grief, longing, and separations.

I loved what punky and babydoll have. Their chemistry was amazing. I just feel really bad for punky for what he went through in the ending. He wasn't deserving that after what he went through in childhood.

But he will be back for his revenge.
Profile Image for Kindle Crack Book Reviews Cheri .
1,250 reviews1,066 followers
February 24, 2021
This book needs to be turned into a Netflix series!
Thy Kingdom Come is EPIC. My full review to follow!
UPDATED:
Puck ‘Punky’ Kelly’s mother was brutally murdered in front of him when he was a child. His father, who is a prominent figure in one of Ireland’s most powerful mafia families, didn't do anything to avenge her death. Puck takes matters into his own hands and slowly starts to uncover family secrets that will change his life and everything he knows to be true. Will his blood lust open up a gateway to hell that can never shut?

Monica James spins a dark and gritty web of lies, lies, and murder. Thy Kingdom Come (Deliver Us From Evil #1) is equally authentic and intense. Monica set the bar pretty high with this first book in this dark romantic suspense trilogy. I’m excited to get my hands on the next book.


description 
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,134 reviews911 followers
January 13, 2023
Thy Kingdom Come is not what I expected. I was expecting much darker theme here. After all this is Miss James who done the writing. Sadly, I was left with bit disappointment. The story is not dark nor twisted. It is rather plain to my liking.

The characters do not developed into more serious/ more grown up. The push and pull is predictable and plain. I was hoping for more serious/ funny banter.
In other words, I want more from the story.

3 stars
Profile Image for Melissa  ❤️ bookaddict_fanatic .
990 reviews90 followers
March 14, 2021
This is my first Monica James book and it most definitely won't be the last!! I don't know what the hell I just read because I'm speechless but I know I need more so much freaking more.....like book two and three now!!!

This story was dark, twisted, and intense from the Prologue to the final chapter and I was addicted, I couldn't put it down. This book was Lies, deceit, twist and turns but a page turner that was UNPUTDOWNABLE!

Now to impatiently wait for what's to come in the next book because this one was all kinds of crazy and I expect nothing less than all kinds of fuckery in the next book....bring it on Punky!!!
Profile Image for Simoloverosa.
317 reviews19 followers
April 3, 2021
Quel volto dipinto che spicca in copertina ha istillato in me così tanta curiosità che aprire il libro e sfogliarne le pagine è stato come un richiamo al quale non ho potuto dire di no. I libri della James usciti in Italia non li ho ancora letti non potevo quindi sapere quanto pazzesca e visionaria fosse l'immaginazione di cui è dotata.
Il libro cattura subito l' attenzione con un prologo dall' impatto sconvolgente. La violenza della scena mi ha colpita come una frustata sulla pelle nuda ma la ferita che mi ha procurato è stata lenita dalla tenerezza e dalla compassione che ho provato in contrasto che mi ha subito curata avvolgendomi in una sorta di stato ipnotico (altrimenti non si spiega) per cui non ho potuto fare a meno di continuarne la lettura per capire cosa accade dopo. Il dopo è un susseguirsi di azioni, intrighi, eventi e colpi di scena che vede protagonista assoluta una lunga faida tra due potenti famiglie malavitose irlandesi, acerrimi nemici che combattono per la supremazia e il potere senza risparmiarsi in omicidi, violenze, vendette, inganni e bugie, tante, tantissime bugie per cui in questa storia nulla è veramente come sembra, nessuno è veramente affidabile persino le situazioni che sembrano fin troppo chiare e scontate ti ritrovi invece a scoprire che sono solo frutto di segreti,
intrighi e... infinite bugie. E con una bugia ed un segreto celato inizia il rapporto tra i due protagonisti Punky e Poppy, 2 anime lacerate ma 2 cuori che battono all' unisono e una passione che li travolge violenta e carnale come i loro primordiali istinti. Ma nel loro ambiente viene prima la famiglia ed entrambi hanno una propria missione da perseguire alla quale è difficile rinunciare soprattutto per Puncky che da anni cerca disperatamente verità e vendetta ricevendo in cambio solo silenzi, raggiri e bugie. E' un libro che le amanti del genere mafia romance apprezzeranno in quanto ci sono tutti gli elementi fondamentali che lo contraddistinguono in più la parte suspense avvince e insinuandosi nella mente riesce a suscitare un grande interesse. Il protagonista convince e seduce per cui ti ritrovi a viaggiare negli abissi del suo inferno intenta a cercare quello spiraglio di luce che è la verità per poterlo riscattare da tutte quelle ombre che lo hanno reso un uomo freddo, cupo e malvagio. Una storia non facile dai risvolti crudi e forti egregiamente ambientata in un Irlanda di cui ho ritrovato e vissuto tutta la spaccatura religiosa che tanto ha ferito questa terra. Brava l' autrice che ha sviluppato una trama perversa, contorta, difficile da dipanare anche se per alcuni versi trovo che si dilunghi troppo mettendo in gioco fin troppa carne al fuoco. Leggerò sicuramente il seguito perchè ci sono troppe domande che meritano risposta.
Profile Image for reader_dreamer_4life.
823 reviews23 followers
February 16, 2021
Feck Me, my wee lads!!! What in the bleeding heck just happened? Hours after hitting 'The End (for now)' I am still sitting here shooketh with my mouth wide open catching flies after Monica James just dropped the mic with one heck of a plot twist!!!

Thy Kingdom Come is a twisted, dark, and gritty tale about Puck 'Punky' Kelly, and his blood lust and soul deep need to avenge the brutal death of his Ma.
From the raw, dark, and utterly heartbreaking prologue James's storytelling had me gripped and devouring every word. She has created a captivating world that draws you in. It's riddled with lies, deceit, death, and oh so many secrets your head will spin.
The main characters Puck and Babydoll are EVERYTHING! While ghosts and events from their past have made them dark, twisted, and scarred you won't be able to not fall in love with both of them.
Their journey wreaked havoc on my emotions and had my heart aching, pounding, and warming.
It was raw, dark, twisted, violent, suspenseful, utterly shocking, and yet beyond all of the darkness there was a light, a soul deep connection between Puck and Babydoll that was beautiful to read.

Honestly, Thy Kingdom Come is hard to review in some ways because I really don't want to give away the plot. It's a book you simply need to grab yourself a drink, buckle up, and dive in head first.
Take in all the details, watch out for the twists and turns, and look out for that plot twist!!!!
Bring on Book 2!! This journey has just begun and I'm so damn ready for the rest!!
Profile Image for Jessica Morales.
707 reviews57 followers
February 24, 2021
Omg I wish I can give this read 6 stars.

Suspense from the first page what a great start of the book. You instantly fall for Punky what a sweet child he was. Unfortunately someone took his innocence away.
Cara his mother  who was married to a bad man and knew it. I wished she would have protected her and her son. I'm guessing she never expected someone to look for her as they did.

Poppy (Babydoll) is cute but seems too friendly whe she meets a stranger. Poppy has her eyes on Punky and not for what he thinks. I wished she would have trusted him and turned to him.

Puck at times is very arrogant. Unfortunately he had to learn badly that he should have listened to his elders. I will just say wow what a book and especially what a ending. Now I am dying for book 2. This book is original from the way Puck paints himself, to his family rivalry, it involves a love that is forbidden, heart break, jealousy and so much more.

Beware of cliffhanger plus there is a scene some domestic abuse.
Profile Image for gretareadsromance.
847 reviews55 followers
April 1, 2021
Holy Puck Kelly!

Thy Kingdom Come starts off this trilogy with a bang! From the beginning it had me hooked and as some secrets were revealed you questioned everything else. This book is a definite must read and one you just need to jump into. It’s full of twists and turns of the dark variety and I loved every bit of it. Punky is definitely one of those characters who you’ll fall in love with no matter how much of a bad boy he is. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to see what happens with Puck and Babydoll!
Profile Image for Mariam, the clown.
650 reviews492 followers
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 19, 2021
Dnf at 17%

I've never read a more spoon fed book than this. Like lad, can you not explain to me why you're heartbroken when anyone with one braincell could get why. It turned me off.

And it has that trope I don't like so it honestly probably is good but just ain't for mai'.

I loved the irish humor and language in this.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,561 reviews43 followers
February 15, 2021
Can I just take a minute and ask myself what the heck just happened??? I bow down to Monica James and her ability to weave such a twisted tale with so many epic moments that will have your jaw dropping and asking yourself “did I just read that right?” My mind is all over the place with this story. There is honestly a lot to take in with this story of Punky and everything that he has endured to get to where he is now. All those little moments just culminated to something so much bigger than he anticipated. Add in his Babydoll. Oh my heart. Everything that has been thrown at her. The twists and turns. I am really struggling to give this review justice as there is honestly just so much that happens that I am completely floored.
One thing I can say, the concept of this story is absolutely brilliant. James took something and made it her own. She put the time and research into the dialect. She wove this intense story with this raw passion, deep history, and jaw dropping secrets. The one thing I can say is that you need to pay attention to every little detail as it can and will play a part later on in the book. Then that ending. My heart. I just wanted to hold Punky and tell him it was going to be okay. Then when the ball drops, my eyes bugged out! I am so freaking floored! The whole buildup that James created with this story is something I have never experienced in a story before. Each little twist rolls and unfolds another. I need to get my hands on the second book. I need to know more. I need to see how it all plays out. To say Thy Kingdom Come leaves you wanting is an understatement. It throws you for a loop, spits you out, drags you back in and then goes SURPRISE! To see the growth in James’ writing has been nothing short of awe inspiring and this book will become your everything!
Profile Image for Natasha.
323 reviews503 followers
February 26, 2021
I can't believe that Monica James had a new book coming up and I didn't know. I feel ashamed!😭

This is part one in a trilogy so you know it ends on a cliffhanger.
And about this book.. I loved it. It was full of suspence, romance, mystery, twist and turns everything I love. There was so much action and secrets revealed even though I guessed some of them I still enjoyed how everything was revealed.
Punky is such an amazing H I really liked him and can't wait for book 2.😩
Profile Image for ☾ Nikki. ✿ SUGARVOGUE..
579 reviews64 followers
May 9, 2021
I was intrigued by this book but I didn’t love it..
it was one of those books for me that gets my attention and I wanted to see what happened but at the same time I wasn’t in love with it 😂
BUT I did enjoy it on some level because I still want to read book two to see what happens!
Also how cute is the cover 😍
Profile Image for Bozena.
733 reviews19 followers
February 18, 2021
WOW! I love this book 🖤🖤🖤
At first, I learned a lot  Irish reading this book. I'm not a  native English speaker, so I was a bit surprised at the beginning, but the story was so gripping, that it just flow after few pages.

This gripping and suspenseful dark and disturbing mafia romance was what I needed to get out of my reading slump 🖤😍🖤

I've read a lot of mafia stories, but this one is definitely something else. Yes, it's brutal, we're talking about mafia life here, so it's a given, but this book is so much deeper.
The story contains so many secrets and lies, that you don't know what is real and what's one of the many secrets and lies that surround Punky and his family history.

Irish mafia life is not just about crime and loyalty.
In this story Irish criminals are divided in Catholics and Protestants and they hate each others to no end.
It's a fight that begins in school between the children and continuing though all age groups.

Monica created a raw and brutal story about pride of "the" family and the power games between two most powerful mafia families in  Ireland.

This book is so damn dark, gripping and twisted you don't know what the hell happened to you after reading it. It's a rollercoaster of brutal emotions and definitely not for faint-hearted. And the erotic part is scorching hot 🔥🔥🔥

It's a wild ride that will leave you speechless at the end and in need of book #2 because yes, it ends with a cliffhanger 😭🖤
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