Sin and Redemption by Cora Reilly
- Alisha Eadle
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
Sin and Redemption
by Cora Reilly
Self-Published
A horrible incident entwined their lives forever.
As an enforcer for the Famiglia, Maximus Trevisan has no trouble hurting others, but his life begins to unravel when he’s forced to hurt someone he’s meant to protect.
Sara’s plans for her future were simple. Marry the man she was promised to, have several children, and build a happy family. But when her life plans are ripped from her hands, she’s left with no choice but to marry Maximus. It’s the last thing she wants, but it’s a burden she’s willing to carry in order to protect her family’s honor. Yet the darkness from their past follows them.
Can they overcome their demons, or will they let it destroy them?
Genre
Triggers
Pregnancy loss, death, torture, and sexual abuse
Cora Reilly is a guilty pleasure of mine, so the day Sin and Redemption released, I read it.
My excitement was ... misplaced.
It wasn't the sexual assault at the beginning of the book. That was the catalyst of everything that happened in the book.
I have to spoil a bit so I can explain why I didn't like it, so if you haven't read it, don't continue, unless sexual assault is a trigger for you - then I would just NOT recommend this book at all.
It was actually the sexual assaults later in the book that had me horrified. Manipulating a person into having sex for any reason, is sexual assault. Whereas Maximus and Sara were put in a situation at the beginning of the novel where they were both forced to do something they didn't want to do, later on, Sara used Maximus's guilt to make a baby. While the first assault was bad enough, this was even worse, in my opinion, and it made it hard to like Sara.
That didn't mean I didn't empathize with her character. I have no experience with miscarriage. I am a mother, so I can imagine how painful that would be.
But what she does with Maximus made my stomach turn.
Besides that, Sin and Redemption was just like Cora's other books - poorly edited.
Yes, I complain about it every time.
No, I won't stop reading, because I usually enjoy her books despite that.
As I said, her books are a guilty pleasure.
I just didn't enjoy this one.
Maddox: "I regret many things. But I won't ever regret kidnapping Marcella. Because if I hadn't made the biggest fucking mistake of my life, she wouldn't be my wife today, and that would be a fucking shame."
Sara: "I think I'm attracted to you,"
I said. In the past, I would have never uttered something rash like this. Maybe it was Isa's influence on me.
Maximus's eyebrows climbed his forehead as he gave me an amused look.
Maximus: "You think?"
I laughed.
Sara: "It's complicated."
Maximus: "I know. You know what's not complicated?"
His gaze burned into me in a way it had never done before.
Sara: "No,"
I whispered.
Maximus: "There's nothing complicated about how I feel about you, Sara. I'm definitely one hundred percent, no doubt about it attracted to you."
Sara: "Oh."
Maximus: "Yeah."
Maximus: "I know I only asked for one taste, but if you don't mind, I'll finish my meal,"
he growled.
Sara: "Both need stitches. Why didn't you go to the doc?"
Maximus: "I promised to pick you up."
She gave me a stern look.
Sara: "Your health is the top priority."
Maximus: "No. You are and will always be my top priority, Sara."
I still remembered the first time he'd asked me to join him in his garage after our first Christmas dinner. I had been convinced he'd try to bury me under his car and say it was an accident.
I told Romero as we circled the car, which was too small for my personal comfort.
He gave me an amused look as he let his hand glide over the hood reverently.
Romero: "I would never kill someone at our home. Lily would never forgive me."
I chuckled.
Maximus: "So you thought about it."
Flavio: "She looks squishy."
Lily: "She's the most beautiful baby in the world."
Lily: "She's the cutest. These chubby cheeks almost make me want another one."
Dad's expression made us all burst out laughing.
Maximus: "I loved your body before your pregnancy, during your pregnancy, and now that you're feeding our daughter, and I'll love it however it looks after."
Sara stepped on her tiptoes and kissed me firmly.
Sara: "That might be one of the sweetest things you've ever said. See, acts of service isn't your only love language."
Ambra let out a cry.
I raised my eyebrows.
Maximus: "I fear hers definitely is."
She held her belly, her face tight.
Lily: "Labor?"
Liliana asked with a knowing smile.
Sara rolled her eyes.
Sara: "Why are you always right with this?"
Lily: "Motherly instinct?"
Flavio: "At least you waited until I'm almost done."
Sara: "I'm not usually a stabby person, but you risk a lot right now,"
Sara said, her hand around her steak knife chalk white from the grip.
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