Cunning: A Wealth and Power Steamy Romance (Infidelity Book 2)

Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse Nuttall 4.5 Cunning Stars The second instalment in the Infidelity Series is a wild pearl which the author has cultured to perfection. Betrayal truly left me bereft and even though waiting for the sequels can be the bane of many readers, fortunately this is not the case in this one. Moreover, the changes in Cunning are carefully mapped out making one sit back and think what on earth is going to happen next. Adoring the male protagonist in Betrayal; how on earth I could have changed my tune regarding him in this read was for me, an excellent ploy on the Ms Romig’s part. I have to say that I would have gladly strangled her for cunningly changing my opinion. Pun not intended! The carrot was masterfully dangled, kept me on tenterhooks and frustrated the pants off this reader who isn’t easily swayed in scenarios such as is the main characters’ pasts. I need reason, emotion and logic. And there is no doubt whatsoever that this follow-up delivers. My heart twisted for Charli - Alexandria Collins. Her southern charisma shines brightly and I couldn't but help fall head over heels for her. Well-bred, her strong-will flourished by being schooled in the life of hard knocks. Nevertheless, her vulnerability towards family’s circumstances would dominate her decisions and complicate matters no end for her. What she did I never once criticised her for as she was caught between a rock and a hard place. When she signed on the dotted-line, never was she or I prepared to see how far coincidences would play its cruel hand in her story. Not knowing what she was up against was not only deceiving, but the injustice she had to suffer by all, I found quite pathetic. "Miss Collins, your opportunity to negotiate has passed. It's time for our reunion. I paid handsomely for it." Who knocked me over with a feather was Lennox Demetri! Speaking out loud now; “Shame on you Nox! You did the unheard of in my book. You cheated. Your play was unjust; you didn't give her a chance. It was far too easy for you to discover the truths about the woman who held your heart in her hands. The woman who had no name, the woman who was your silent obsession.” Okay… he’s the bee’s knees and seeps the Alpha male drop your panties like now girlies! But is this really him showing his true colours? He has the means to be one step ahead of her, takes advantage of this and I damn well hated him for it. This is a new concept in him as you will see when you get to know how he ticks. Power rules and he has it ten-fold. I can honestly say that I would have gladly bashed him on his head with my Kindle. Yet, his thoughts showed me that beneath that hard exterior he blatantly flaunts, there is much more be discovered. "I'm a selfish bastard. I wanted you. I took the opportunity, and now you know the truth. This is real. You're mine because I want you, not because I bought you." I loved the depth of this story. Underhanded political power struggles, deceptions and twist and turns in every unimaginable corner make this read an unputdownable one. I loved to hate most of the secondary characters and more important as a European reader, the ins and outs of what goes on inside of the minds of certain persons whom presumably have our fate in their hands regarding certain issues, was quite outstanding. One teeny-weeny hiccup in this story for me was Adelaide's story. I know her selfishness was relevant to the flow of the storyline but I just couldn't connect to her whingy ways. She wasn't the damsel in distress here. Quite bluntly, my consideration for her putting herself before her daughter's well-being irritated me beyond my comprehension. Well done to the author here. You managed to bring out the worst in me! "Very few of my life's decisions had been left to me. I was making one." A note for the reader. This series is not about cheating; third parties do not exist. This is simply a collision course taking you on a helter-skelter ride amidst a tremendously heart-rending story. The dialogue is sublime in all accepts; notwithstanding, the scorching hot bedroom banter is guaranteed so get your fan ready for them! We will only know what happens next by reading Deception in May. Five books in all…goodness me, the wait is going to be excruciatingly painful. Bravo to you Ms Romig for a flawless story!

This wonderful series continues with this 2nd book as it picks up right where the first book ended. The best thing is that all the books are out so you can read them one after another and don't have to wait for each one to be released! Talk about angst!!! Nox is angry at Charli for not asking him for help and signing up with Infidelity. She is relieved and so glad it's him, but they have a lot of issues to work out. Sex is not one of those issues, however! It is still as hot and off the charts as it was in Del Mar! But they still have a lot of secrets between them. His wife, her family, her inheritance, why she signed up for Infidelity. As they work through some of these kinks, they find out that they just enjoy talking and spending time together, as well as the amazing sexual chemistry they share. Their feelings for each other are growing more complex. We also get backstory of Charli's mother, the history of her marriages to Charli's father and then to Alton. The manipulations and lies that led up to the present. We still don't have the full story, just pieces coming together that will all come together by the end of this series. That is how Aleatha writes. This story just keeps getting better and better and keeps you engrossed and ready to leap into the next book without a life preserver! Go, jumpl

*Sigh* Why did I do this to myself? Because, I knew this series was going to be phenomenal. I don't know where to start with this book. The twists and turns are epic. Just when answers are revealed more questions pop up in their place. The characters are complex and likeable. I know Charli and Nox will get their HEA, but what will it take? Too much is happening, too many lies, too many devils, and too much drama. But I loved every moment. Between working, life and anxiety it took me 3 days to finish the last 40 minutes of this book. I didn't want to face the cliffhanger. But it turned out, it wasn't that bad... No it was, I'm just trying to talk myself into patience. Until May... 4 Aleatha'd Stars -Natasha ...The plot thickens. No seriously, this is getting so thick. There are so many twists. I just want Charli and Nox to win, but there seem to be so many factors working against them. They each have their own backstories that are full of deception and drama. Nothing is easy between the 2 of them, but that's what will make it worth it in the end. 4 stars -Jasmine

Aleatha Romig never ceases to amaze me with her ability to weave a multi-layered story, one full of mystery and intrigue. No matter the genre, her writing style is unique and addicting. Thousands of individuals have discovered just how incredible her writing can be by devouring her Consequences series. Whether or not you have read any of her previous novels, do yourself a favor and set aside some time to begin reading Romig’s new Infidelity series. If you’re hesitant to begin the Infidelity series because of the series name, let me put that to rest. The Infidelity series is not about cheating or a love triangle. According to Romig, “The Infidelity series does not advocate or glorify cheating. This series is about the inner struggle of compromising your beliefs for your heart. It is about cheating on yourself, not someone else.” We’re introduced to Lennox “Nox” Demetri and Alexandria Charles “Charli” Montague Collins in Betrayal. Just before she is scheduled to begin law school at Columbia, Alex casts aside the meticulous focus on her goals when she meets Nox at Del Mar resort. But Alex is a Montague, and her family has some very different plans for her now that she has graduated from Stanford. When her parents force her hand, Alex makes a decision which could negatively impact the rest of her life so that she can still attend law school. Alex Collins has cost Nox an outrageous sum of money, and he’s IRATE, to say the least! She lied to him in Del Mar, and he’s about to teach her a lesson she won’t soon forget! Things aren’t always what they seem – isn’t that the way in each of Aleatha Romig’s novels? There are layers, so many layers, in the Infidelity series, and Romig is only just beginning to peel the layers back in Cunning. If Betrayal is the top layer of the story, Cunning just barely breaks the surface. Hold on to your hats because it’s about to get real, and we have three more novels before the Infidelity series is complete! Aleatha Romig knows just how to pull our strings! She’s very adept at writing a mystery. Nothing in her story happens without purpose, so you want to pay close attention. Romig gives subtle clues. And dark thrillers? Let’s just say that Romig really knows how to stir up my emotions! I laughed, felt anxious and angry. Nox and Charli are just fantastic primary characters! Both of them lead complicated lives, but they sure are easy to love. In Betrayal, Romig captivated me with the special time they had together at Del Mar. Now, I’m on pins and needles, turning over questions in my mind, pondering the possibilities by the many things that I read in Cunning. Aleatha Romig is a creative writing genius. From what I’ve read so far, the Infidelity series is just outstanding! By stirring up my imagination, Romig has accomplished exactly what she intended to do in this second installment of the Infidelity series. I’m pleased to give Romig a 6-star rating, and I am adding Cunning to my list of 2016 favorites!

“Thanks to my Montague upbringing, when it came to illusion, I was a master.” Cunning is the second book in the brand new series by Aleatha Romig. If you have not yet read Betrayal, that will be 1000% necessary before beginning Cunning. These books are NOT standalones and all of the previous books in the series need to be devoured and obsessed over before beginning the next. “It was wrong. He was wrong. I was wrong.” Cunning begins exactly where we left off; absolutely no time has lapsed since we last saw Nox and Alex (Charli) (Alexandria). Alex has just made a very important decision regarding her future and even though she is uncomfortable with said decision in many ways she had found peace with it that is until she receives a phone call… “I didn’t ask him for help, but just as in Del Mar, he rescued me. Maybe he was Batman.” Betrayal ended in a massive cliff hanger that was to be expected as it was the first book in a five book series, what was not expected was how it would you leave you hanging! Aleatha is Queen when it comes to mysterious and twisty stories, but even after having read her pervious series Consequences I was not prepared for how this new series was going to affect me. The Infidelity series is twisty, mysterious and sexy but it is so much different from her previous work, it’s a fresh start with new characters, a new plot, and new mysteries for all of us to obsess endlessly over. Even the characters in this series are so much different. I found myself totally enamoured with both Nox and Charlie from the very beginning and in Cunning that affection only grew 10 times stronger. “I could listen to her sensuous body tell me bedtime stories for eternity.” This review is going to be extremely vague simply because this series needs to experienced in my opinion without any preconceived notions, you need to form all of your own opinions and theories. When you begin this book be prepared to devote your entire day to it, because once you begin you will not be able to walk away or take a break. Make sure your e-reader is fully charged before you begin, because if the battery dies while you’re in the middle of it, you may lose your mind. I ripped through Cunning in a few hours and when I was finished, I was positive that Aleatha had forgotten pages at the end, I mean really? AGAIN Aleatha? That ending was… NO WORDS. She has once again ensured that there is no way you could possibly read this book and then walk away from the series. Cunning had me totally hypnotized from the moment I began until the moment I finished. My mind raced, my heart pounded, my hands even shook. I had serious amounts of anxiety while reading this one, because I just knew something was coming. I had no idea what, I had theories, but none of them seemed to line up 100%. As I neared the end of the book the anxiety and anxiousness only grew, I mean is this normal to be so intensely affected by a book? Well I was. I got to the end and once again I wanted to launch my kindle across the room, “WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE PAGES?????” GAHHHHHH MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER. AGAIN. “I’m warning you: I’m not a good person, but I’m the only bad I want near you.” Aleatha Romig is notorious for her ability to weave a story so intricately that you cannot ever be expected to figure it out until she allows you to. Reading this series can only be described as feeling like what a junkie must feel like waiting for their next hit. The questions only multiply as you read further into the story, but all of your efforts will be futile, because as soon as you begin to put the pieces together, the author comes along and flips the table all over again! It’s the most delectable kind of torture, and what we have all come to expect from a writer that has mastered the art of building suspense. The writing in Cunning continues to be precise and while the story flows you just continue to fall further down the rabbit hole. It’s like being totally sucked into another world, and you need to continuously remind yourself that it isn’t real, all the while failing miserably. I was twisted into so many knots by the time I was finished, I was breathless, my heart rate was elevated and my face was flushed. Cunning sucks you in from the moment you pick it up and it will hold you in its deceptive clutches until you finish the last word. The characters, all of them, are hiding something and that just makes it even more delicious. “The last thing I wanted was for her to know the power she had or how badly I wanted her.” Nox and Alex had better end up with a HEA after all of this, because if they do not I will not be held responsible for my actions, and if you tell me once more, “It’s just a book!” I’m going to lose my GD MIND! Congratulations Aleatha on outdoing yourself yet again, each time you begin a new series you leave me wanting MORE! May cannot come fast enough, I need answers and even more than that, I need vengeance. “He was right. I hated how well Nox knew me without my telling him. I’d never considered myself transparent. Nevertheless, Nox saw inside of me, into my soul.”

I've read books 1 & 2 so far and they're really, really good. The cast of characters are so very good and interesting. Money corrupts that's a sure thing, especially old money and what they'll do to keep it that way. While I would have liked my grandparents to have had money I also am glad that they were humble beings that never would have let money corrupt them. This series is worth reading. I am taking a break because this is the book yoh can't put down. I've been awoke for almost 3 days reading and I need to get some laundry done. Really, really, really good story telling. Aleatha Romig is a great author, I've not had to question anything written because it doesn't line up with something she said previously. I've noticed some authors seem to forget there own words, contradicting previous statements about a character or situation. I've yet to find that to be the case with this author. Good reading people. I'll start the remaining books soon and will leave my overall review.

*Warning: Spoilers Ahead!* I really liked the first book and was anxiously waiting for this book to be released. I wasn't disappointed. It was good. I am a little confused about some things though. I didn't like Laide's flashback POVs, but as the book progressed I saw why they were needed. I also became confused about the characters. If Charles Montague was so darn smart and cunning then why on earth would he put a stipulation that if Alex didn't marry Bryce that Alton's company would get everything? That makes NO SENSE! Why would Alton want the two of them to get married if when they don't he gets it all? You can't even say it's for Bryce because when Alton's company got everything he could just give Bryce money or appoint him into a high-paying position. Charles Montague seems like a moron to me. And then there's Laide. I don't feel sorry for her. I think she's a moron. She doesn't care about the company because if she did she would be more invested. All she care's about is that she "wins" meaning that the money stays with Alex. Alex obviously doesn't need the money, so why does Laide care if Alton gets it all? Is it because she would be left penniless? What has that money gotten her? Certainly not happiness. And if she has a thing with Oren then I'm sure he would take care of her financially. I don't understand why she's pushing so hard for Alex and Bryce except for her being a selfish person. She could even fake her death, run away, and let Alex get everything. But, she's not willing to give up her way of living. It all seems unnecessary. Of course I will be reading all 5 books in the series (or at least I currently plan to) I just hope that the plot and causes of things gets better.

Cunning picks up where Betrayal left off and again it ends with my mouth open staring at the words... "The end of Cunning..." Nox has unique tastes, a particular brand of wants and desires, and is not afraid to voice them. Nothing is quite like a man with all the power and knows how to use it. He is angered by the situation he finds himself in. Mad that Charli couldn't ask for his help, instead he forced himself into her life and didn't give her an option. Charli, Charli, Charli...she did the one thing that would guarantee to get her one step closer to her end goal. She just didn't anticipate all of the consequences along the way. She is pretty skeptical when this new arraignment begins and still fighting her past and ties to something she has no interest in. What was most fascinating about this book is the little glimpses into Adelaide's past and what that means for the future. More snippets of the overall story are revealed and while there are a few answers there are more questions. The story is coming together bit by bit and there were moments I never anticipated unfolding right before my eyes. I am completely enthralled with series and it is turning into an epic tale of masterfully woven pieces. And the end only leaves me desperate for more.

This was my first book of the author and I fell in love with her. The way she has written it is too good. I just couldn’t stop reading it and I was really sad when the series ended. Loved the characters and the twists and turns of the story. I would recommend please read it.

Have you been Aleatha'd? Yes, many times over. Cunning is the second in the Infidelity series and continues where bombshell at the end of Betrayal left off. Nox or Mr. Demetri owns Alex/Charli. The rules have changed, now that Nox owns Charli she must live by his rules, but rules are made to be broken. Nox is a strong confident dominant business man who knows what he wants and he wants Charli. Charli who has been pushed to the limits by her family into taking her future into her own hands, finds herself at Nox's mercy after their deal at Fidelity. Nox, isn't the same man Charli encountered at Del Mar, he's different or is he? We get a glimpse into their new arrangement, but it isn't easy with both Nox and Charli's families/past coming with dark twisted secrets. Charli's family still want her home to marry a family friend Bryce and Charli still wants to rebel and continue with her plans to study law at Columbia. Nox has his own family troubles along with business worries. Nox and Charli's relationship is hot, sexy and passionate, but they're also trying to build it out of trust. You get the feeling they do really care for one and another, with it verging on love. However, you feel there is danger of interference and with things out with their control. You also get a bit of back story about the Montague family history, giving you an insight into why things aren't always what they seem. We are left with another teasingly cliffhanger. Aleatha wasn't kidding when she said the series leaves you wanting more. I want more and I want it now, May is too far off to wait for Deception. In true Aleatha style we are left with many mind utterly twisting and turning questions. Just when you think you've got something worked out, something else comes and blows that theory wide open. I must applaud Mrs Romig,every book seems to journey into another question and answering of a mind blowing story of infidelity. I was given an Arc in return for my honest opinion.

Omg! I'm so addicted to this. It's brilliantly written. I cant wait for the next one! I'm actually frothing at the mouth that you have to wait! This story will drag you in. Leave you gasping to turn the page. Please give a happy ending. Another of Aleatha's books that just enthrall's you! Give me more!!!!!!! So much better than any commercial dark romance you'll read. 50 shades. Eat dust. Ohhhh I'm dying to learn more. Buy it!!! Worth every cent.

Alex (Alexandra Charles Montague Collins) has completed her undergraduate degree in California, enjoyed a one week whirlwind vacation in Del Mar and is set to enter her new life in the prestigious Colombia law school in New York when her world is thrown into disarray as her trust fund is shut down in an effort to force her to return to her family home in Georgia. She appeals to her gay cousin, Patrick for help and he suggests a solution to her financial woes could be a contract with a group known as "Infinity." It's a matching service for "companionship" that binds you to another party for one year and pays handsomely. When Alex signs the contract in desperation to escape her family's hold on her and to afford her continuing education she shockingly discovers that she is now the property of a Mr. Demetris and that he is one and the same man as she met in Del Mar on her fantasy getaway...Nox. Mr. Demetris, on the other hand, is not Nox, and is determined to punish her for signing the contract and enforce a new set of rules and finally discloses to her that his full name is Lennox Demetris. Alex is defiant and finds interesting ways to fight back. The author introduces a number of interesting characters from the private lives of both Alex and Nox as well as flashbacks into the life Alex and her mother Adelaide have lived. As the story unfolds we find that Nox has a high powered lifestyle with enemies and employs a sophisticated security team. His obsession with security extends to Alex as his "companion," and it appears that this may be warranted, following the attack on her former roommate in California, Chelsea. Gradually, we find out more of the reasons why Alex is intent on not returning home to Georgia and the sinister plotting of her mother and step-father to circumvent this. The story leaves us with a cliff hanger as Alex's former boyfriend, Bryce makes some shocking allegations to her about Nox. I couldn't put the book down and immediately purchased book #3 of this 5 part series.

Betrayal and Cunning: Woah! That is really an exciting read. But I didn't expected anything else from Aleatha Romig. I loved her other books but had never time to read this series. It's beyond me why I waited so long 🤦🏻‍♀️ The first book was at the beginning a little bit slow and had a lot of descriptions, but after that everything made complete sense. You've to have all the background knowledge to understand the dynamic of the blue-blood-royal-lunatics world 😂 This series is exciting and unbelievable dramatic. Some of you already know how I love my dramas 😍 for everyone else: I not only love it, I need it in my books 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 The first book is like an introduction to the whole disaster that begins at the end of book 1 and continues in book 2. I love the connection between Alex and Nox. I love that both characters are strong, through for some Alex's behavior may appear sometimes weak. You've to remember that she is a survivor of the cruel childhood and she fights for her independence. She has doubts and fears the demons from her past, but she fights! I'm team Alex 🙋🏻‍♀️. Nox is a control freak and workaholic who has so many secrets and demons from his past, that they seems to overran his life. I don't really know if I love or hate him. I think it's something in between 😂 I love how gripping and dramatic the second book was. It's incredible captivating and thrilling. I'm currently reading the third book and wow! 😍🔥 The review will be of course continued...😉 They are 3 more books in this series to read 😁 (I am fully aware that most of you have already read this series 😂)