Review: The Bastard’s Betrayal by Katee Robert

THE BASTARD’S BETRAYAL
Series:
Scandalous Scions Book 1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 25, 2021

She thought it was love.

Rose Romanov is a mafia princess, and everything that entails. Violently over-protective parents. A giant extended family, all ready to kill anyone who looks at her wrong. Learning to run a business that isn’t exactly on the right side of the law. So, naturally, when she meets a nice guy who isn’t in the life, she falls hard… Right up until the she discovers her new boyfriend isn’t a civilian at all.

But he betrayed her.

When Dante Verducci was sent on an undercover mission to evaluate the Romanov family for weakness, he never expected to have an instant connection with their unlikely heir. There’s something fierce and feral about Rose that calls to him. They’re alike, even if they’re both lying to each other during the months they date. Before he could figure out a new plan, Rose finds out who he really is, dumps him, and immediately enters an engagement with the heir of a rival family. Yeah, no, that’s not going to work for Dante.

Now he’ll do anything to reclaim her. Even go to war.

AMAZON

His gaze flicked to the gun in her hands. “You really think you’re going to shoot me? You were coming around my cock twenty-four hours ago.”
Fury nearly made her black out. Maybe she wouldn’t regret this after all. He was so fucking sure of her, of this situation, as if the gun in her hand didn’t mean a single damn thing. She’d prove him wrong. Rose steadied her stance, reaching for the one thing she could that would hurt him a fraction of as much as he’d hurt her.
“I faked it.” She pulled the trigger.

When a book starts with that quote, you know you’re in for a good time. I love me some Katee Roberts, and when I saw she’s releasing a spin off from The O’Malleys series, I was all over it. I love a good mafia romance, and throw in a bit of betrayal and hate lust into the mix and I’m done. STICK A FORK IN ME. I love it.

I loved the first half of this story. Rose Romanov is a heroine that you instantly love. The woman is a badass. She’s a mafia princess and the daughter of Dmitri and Keira from The Bastard’s Bargain. If you haven’t read that book, don’t worry, you can easily pick things up with this one as it is the launch of a new series.

Rose can’t seem to do right by her family. She knows that having a relationship with a sexy bartender who she recently met isn’t meant to be because of her family responsibility. But when she finds out that the bartender isn’t who he says he was and he happens to have ties to a rival mafia? Suffice it to say she’s pissed.

Boy meets girl. Boy betrays girl. Girl get pissed and shoots boy. Boy is determined and kidnaps girl on her wedding day (of her arranged marriage) and will stop at nothing, including plying her with orgasms to make her his.
Having said that, I loved the first half of this book. The kidnapping, the push and pull, the hate lust, the second chance romance vibes. All of it just did it for me. But then the story lost a bit of steam for me. I wanted more mafia action, but most of it was a bit on the meh side. Outside of a few brief glimpses and instances, not much else happens. I began to grow bored and to skim. I also found myself wishing we got some glimpse of how these two got together. That all takes place off the pages, and I would have loved a bit more fleshing out of their original connection. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved their chemistry, I just also wished for at least a flashback or two.

And then there’s the set up for the next book? GIMME! It sounds utterly delicious.

If you’re looking for a super spicy mafia romance, definitely read this. It’s not the usual grittiness that I prefer in my mafia romance, but the spice made up for it and I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

Review: Abel by Katee Robert

ABEL
Series: Sabine Valley #1
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, MMF
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: January 5, 2020

Seven Brothers. Seven Brides. A revenge seven years in the making.

Eight years ago, my family was betrayed by those closest to us.

Now we’re back in Sabine Valley, staging our return during the feast of Lammas, where I step into the ring and ensure we’re given what we’re owed. Who we’re owed.

Our enemies send their seven best warriors against me.

With each victory, I win a Bride for each of my brothers.

And for me? I’m saving the best for last.

My Bride is Harlow, the woman claimed by the man I used to call friend—the one responsible for our exile. Eli.

And if Eli has a problem with it? Well, then I’ll take him as my Bride, too. All the better to enact my revenge…and bring Sabine Valley to its knees.

The Paine brothers are back, and we’re here to stay.

AMAZON

They look like mine.

Oh.
My.
OVARIES.

Dis. Book.
If you’re looking for some trope candy, how about a sinfully sexy mix of revenge, marriage for convenience, and enemies to lovers? And did I mention it’s an MMF? Because GAH.

The second I saw Katee post about this series, I was instantly drooling. 7 Brothers set for revenge after their faction betrayed them. A little pagan, a little mystery, a lot of revenge and sexy times to be had. Now admittedly, I could have used a little more background on the universe here. Perhaps a little more development on the brothers past? I was confused on all the different factions at first and what differentiates a mystic from a radar? But I ultimately began to get the gist of it. I also got a little confused trying to wrap my mind around all of the characters, because there’s a bit of a data dump with this.

The romance was SO good. It was insanely hot with just the right touch of angsty feels and I was so here for it. The push and pull between these three was delicious. Hawlow and Eli have the angst of a relationship that’s falling apart because Eli just doesn’t see Harlow for who she really is. Then there’s the hate lust between Eli and Abel who used to be best friends until Eli’s father murdered Abel’s father and ran the brothers out. Abel is set on revenge, even if it means keeping his enemies close. When he wins his battle, not only does he choose Harlow as a Bride, but Eli as well. To say that these three have some unresolved issues is an understatement. But I loved the development of their relationship.

While I felt like we got a lot of development for Eli and Abel, it was a little lacking with Harlow. We hear about her difficult past, we never learn what it was. Perhaps that’s going to be revealed in the future books? I hope so because I was so intrigued by her character.

If you’re looking for a crackilicious read with plenty of sizzling hot scenes, you’ve found your next read.

Review: A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

A Worthy Opponent
Series: Wicken Villains #3
Genre: Erotica, Erotic Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: February 1, 2020

Once upon a time I was a girl who believed in love and happily ever afters.

Now the only thing I believe in is revenge.

Unfortunately for me, there’s only one man willing to help me.

Hook.

I should have known it wouldn’t be out of the goodness of his heart.

He doesn’t have one.

No, Hook wants his ring on my finger and me on my knees before him—and he won’t take no for an answer.

 

I’m willing to pay any price in order to bring Pan down…even if it means I lose my soul in the bargain.

AMAZON

My soul hates Hook. My body hasn’t gotten the memo. But then, my desires always did get me into trouble.

This series has quickly become one of my favorite guilty pleasures. It’s deliciously wicked and sinfully hot. Katee Robert manages to merge together some sizzling hot erotica with an addicting story and characters that you can’t help but love. Think has been a character that I’ve been intrigued with since the beginning of the series. She’s feisty, sassy and has this live wire spark to her that shines bright even as a secondary character. Now we finally get her story and you come to find out that there’s some dark secrets behind that smart mouth of hers. And it’ll take a sexy villain to offer her a bargain with the devil in order to survive.

Here are the updated terms. I will not negotiate further. You marry me. I kill Peter. When you decide you’re tired of playing hard to get, you’ll crawl to me and beg for my cock. I’m all too happy to give it to you any way you like. Every way you like.”

Hook has wanted Think for years and he’s not above playing dirty to finally get her in his bed. He’ll protect her from a man she fears and in exchange she’ll give him the one thing he craves, her begging.

If you’re expecting a traditional MF here, you’ll be sorely disappointed. This book is sizzling hot and one of the things I love most about this series is the different kinks each one explores. Hook’s kink just so happens to be voyeurism and I’ll let you use your imagination on that. There’s some MMF and MFM and all of the hot f*ckery!!! I’m saying HOT here people! Now I’m desperate for Beast’s story because holy hell, that set up!!!

Review: Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

DESPERATE MEASURES
Series: Wicked Villains #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author:
Katee Robert
Release Date:
May 28, 2019

My Savior… Or My Ruin?

One night, and my entire life went up in flames. All because of him. Jafar.

As my world burned down around me, he offered me a choice.

Walk away with nothing but my freedom… Or rise to his challenge and win my fortune back.

I bargained.

I lost.

Now Jafar owns me, and even as my mind rails against his rules, my body loves the punishments he deals out when I break them.

But a gilded cage is still a prison, I’ll do anything to obtain my freedom.

Even betray the man I’m falling for.

AMAZON 

I want Jasmine confined…
My collar on her neck, its chain never far from my hand.
I want her on her knees in subservience.
I want to fucking ruin her.

Sweet mother of ovaries, what did I just read? How did I not know that Katee Robert had such a dirty side to her? I felt like I should go to confession after reading this, because this was sinfully good.

The premise is delicious; a different take on your favorite disney story but with a deliciously kinky twist. What if the villain got the girl? That’s what you get with Jafar and Jasmine. Except instead of a royal kingdom, Jasmine is the daughter to an crime king. And instead of a goofy and somewhat bumbling good boy, she ends up with the intense, broody, and dominant Jafar.

This was more erotica that romance, and even though I don’t typically gravitate to this genre, this totally hit the spot for me. And to be honest, for the amount of hot kinkery that happens here, there was a surprisingly satisfying amount of story to it. Fans of dub con and the baby girl/daddy thing would totally eat this up. I’m more of the former than the latter, so the daddy thing didn’t quite hit the spot for me so much. However, this was still a highly entertaining and hot as sin read that I devoured from beginning to end.

Jennifer’s Review: An Indecent Proposal by Katee Robert

review-an-indecent-proposalAN INDECENT PROPOSAL
Series: The O’Malleys #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 30, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

an-indecent-proposal-cover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O’Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

Greed. Ambition. Violence. Those are the “values” Olivia Rashidi learned from her Russian mob family-and the values she must leave behind for the sake of her daughter. When she meets Cillian O’Malley, she recognizes the red flag of his family name . . . yet she still can’t stop herself from seeing the smoldering, tortured man. To save her family, Olivia sets out to discover Cillian’s own secrets, but the real revelation is how fast-and how hard-she’s falling for him.

Plagued by a violent past, Cillian is more vulnerable than anyone realizes. Anyone except Olivia, whose beauty, compassion, and pride have him at “hello,” even if she’s more inclined to say good-bye to an O’Malley. While his proposal of sex with no strings seems simple, what he feels for her isn’t, especially after he learns that she belongs to a rival crime family. Cillian knows that there is no escape from the life, but Olivia may be worth trying-and dying-for . . .

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 stars

I wish wish wish I would have read the two books before this one, and I definitely want to go back and read them. It sounds like we get more of a picture of Cillian before the Cillian we see in this book, given the hints of the next siblings throughout this book. I am very intrigued by this family. This crime/mafia book definitely stands out among the others. It is more emotional and not as violent.

My Cillian:

My Olivia:

 :
Cillian is one of 7 children who makes up the O’Malley Irish mob family in Boston. He is a former party, playboy, but now he is plagued by his brother’s death and the need to just be better. I LOVE Cillian. He is unlike any character I’ve ever read, and I immediately pictured Stephen James as Cillian right away with the tattoos and the suits and his demeanor. He wants to do right by Olivia.

Olivia is tied to the New York Russian mob, so she knows what it is like to be part of a family of secrets and violence. She is trying to escape this part of her life, so she tries to stay away from Cillian, but she is drawn by him.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”I promised myself I’d never get involved with someone like you.”

“Sweetheart, there is no one like me.”

à la Mode St. » fashion20535944What I loved most about this book is the writing style and emotions in this book. There isn’t much to say about the story. I wish the plot would have moved more. This is a personal preference. I am fan of plot writing. Nevertheless, I really enjoy Katee’s writing style. I got swept up in the emotions of the characters. Cillian and Olivia were well-developed, enough that I didn’t want to stop reading. I really enjoyed the beginning, but the middle of the book fell flat for me only because we get caught up in the characters’ heads.

I am a FAN of Katee Roberts. She is easily becoming one of my favorite go-to authors. Her style is intriguing and keeps me guessing. I’ve read her Brazen books, which are a little more light and fun, but I love this darker side of her as well.


THE O’MALLEYS SERIES

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT | THE WEDDING PACT | AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

FORBIDDEN PROMISESreleasing May 30, 2017

Jennifer’s Review: Fool Me Once by Katee Robert

Fool Me Once-ReviewFOOL ME ONCE
Series: Foolproof Love #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 1, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Fool Me Once

They say opposites attract, but this is just ridiculous.

Aubry Kaiser doesn’t like people—actually, that’s not right. She loathes people. With her crippling anxiety, there’s no way she can demo her favorite video game at a convention with five thousand other people. Maybe if she brings someone to act as a shield…

But the only person available is the sexy cowboy she can’t stand.

Quinn Baldwyn is in a mess of his own. He’s been dodging his wealthy family’s matchmaking attempts—and life advice—for years, but with his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs of a shield of his own.

He and Aubry can barely hold down a civil conversation, but in bed…fireworks. And the closer they get to Quinn’s sister’s wedding, the more he realizes that he might actually like Aubry.

Now it’s up to him to convince her she might actually like him, too.

 Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 stars

A cowboy and a female gamer walk into a bar…..Ok, it isn’t a bar, but you get the idea right? These two could not be more opposite and yet this book just worked! This book is QUICK, DIRTY, and NO DRAMA. That’s all I really need in my life.

20004811à la Mode St. » fashion

”No panties. Naughty, peaches. Very naughty. I like it.” He leaned close enough that his chest pressed against her back. “I don’t know if we’re going to make it back to the room. Maybe after the ceremony, I’ll drag you out into the vineyard and fuck you right there in the dirt.”

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Quinn: (Yep, this is JJ Watt in a cowboy hat. Yum!)

My Aubry:

Found: Lass Suicide (32 Photos):
Aubry is a wealth of contradictions. She is a gamer, the best out of millions and is asked to test a new game before it is released. She has some serious social anxiety and doesn’t think she would survive the trip by herself. Her best friend arranges for her to be accompanied by Quinn on the trip. In exchange, Quinn needs a pretend-date to his sister’s wedding, which he is not all excited to attend. Aubry is the perfect date because she has perfected her resting bitch-face.

20004812._SY540_ (I need this shirt, y’all! Lol!)

à la Mode St. » fashion

”You don’t want polite. You want a hot fuck in the shower, on the bed, in the cab of my truck. You want me to finger you like this, and you to get off on the fact that there isn’t a damn thing between us and anyone who walks down that hall. Hell I bet if I slid down your jeans, you’d turn around and let me fuck you right here.” She around him and she buried her face in his shoulder as she came, her moans barely muffled. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

à la Mode St. » fashionI loved Aubry’s character. Despite her social anxiety, she is confident and saucy. She knows who she is and what she wants. Her anxiety doesn’t stop her or hinder her. It is an inescapable part of herself. I love how Roberts writes about social anxiety in this book. I need a Quinn of my very own to help separate me from all the people in the world, because there are a lot of people. As a sufferer of social anxiety of my own, I completely understand Aubry’s issues. I loved how Quinn knew exactly how to help Aubry through her panic attacks.

20004813._SY540_Quinn and Aubry need each other. They don’t like or understand each other, but opposites definitely attract in this book. Quinn is a wall of a man, literally. Aubry needs him to protect her from the many people that cause her anxiety so she can fulfill one of her dreams. He is her trusty steed.There is so much delicious chemistry between Quinn and Aubry. They are complete opposites, and at first, I wondered how it was going to work between a cowboy and a gamer, but I was quickly sold on these two together.
à la Mode St. » fashion

Quinn barked out a laugh. “And here I was thinking I’m growing on you.”
“Like a fungus. Or mold. Reallly, really sexy mold.”

à la Mode St. » fashion

Review: ★The Wedding Pact★ by Katee Robert

review-TWPThe Wedding Pact
Series: The O’Malleys #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: April 26, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O’Malleys—wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

Carrigan O’Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she’s ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1.

Hallorans vs. O’Malleys—that’s how it’s always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family’s empire instead of how silky Carrigan’s skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he’ll be if he can’t get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review3.5 starsThe wedding pact-DGR

His options were sink or swim- and if he sunk, he’d take a hell of a lot of people with him. So he got up every day, and he swam, even though some of the shit he was required to do turn his stomach and made him lose sleep.

The Wedding Pact picks up right where The Marriage Contract left off. For those that are thinking of reading these books as standalones, while you technically could, I’d recommend reading the series in order as the story arc continues through the books and the O’Malley siblings get introduced early. Carrigan and James’s story began in book 1 with the hot little interlude they shared in the supply closet of a club four months ago before each knew who the other was. Things didn’t end well when James thew her in the trunk of his car and kidnapped her in order to use her against her family since the O’Malleys and Hallorans are mortal enemies.

Now both sides are left to deal with he aftermath. The eldest Holloran heir is dead, the father is in jail, and James is left to run his father’s empire and deal with his wayward younger brother who seems to constantly get himself into trouble. But there’s one thing that James never forgot; the taste and feel of Carrigan, the woman that he can’t stop thinking about and can never have.

Carrigan O’Malley. The daughter of the enemy. The one woman he sure as hell needed to keep his hands off.

With the death of her brother Devlin during the Holloran vs O’Malley power struggle, things have been a lot more on edge than usual in her family. Try as she might to avoid the subject, with her pushing thirty, her father is pushing her to fulfill her responsibility as an O’Malley and pick a suitor in order to form a power alliance. But as much as Carrigan wants to deny it, she can’t stop thinking about James. When she fled from his house (and he let her escape), she took a prized possesion of his with her and now James is using that as an excuse to track her down. Can she resist the temptation or will giving in to him have everything crashing and burning?
I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. While I loved the premise and set up in The Marriage Contract, the insta-love element didn’t quite work for me. There’s an edge of angst with a dose of forbidden in this book that really worked for me. James is rough around the edges and deliciously sexy. Carrigan is one tough cookie herself. She doesn’t need anyone to save her and takes care of herself just fine; which I really appreciated.

There’s also a bit more grit to this story than the previous one. I was hoping with the series focusing around a mob family that we’d finally get to the nitty gritty and it begins to dig into the dark underbelly a bit here. But at it’s heart, it’s still mostly a contemporary romance, so if you’re worried that it’s dark, don’t be.

I enjoyed the forbidden romance and progressing story line here. We get Cillian’s POV as well which is building up to be a doozy that I can’t wait to read. And while I enjoyed the story for the most part, there were also some things that grated on me a bit. For one, it was James’s overuse of the endearment ‘lovely’. It got so repetitive at times, he’d be using it numerous times in a conversation. I’m a bit surprised it wasn’t cut down, to be honest, because it was simply too much. Or at least it was for me. I also found the resolution for James and Carrigan to be a little flat. There was all this build up, and it all wrapped up almost too perfectly at the end, particularly for James and his family.

Also (and this is the picky Russian in me poking her head out), I have to say that I was pretty disappointed that the one and only Russian word that was used by a secondary character here was used wrong. Google translate strikes again. But I tend to be super picky about translations in books, so this is definitely an “it’s only me” thing. Most won’t even notice, let alone bat an eye lash at this.

But those minor quibbles aside, it was still a great, sexy and action-packed read. If you’re looking to dip your toes into a mafia story but don’t like them too gritty or dark, you really can’t go wrong with this one.

With this woman by my side, I’d be content to let the rest of the world burn.


Don’t miss book 1 in The O’Malleys series51KN2u8chqL._SX307_BO1,204,203,200_AMAZON | MY REVIEW

Review: ★His To Take★ by Katee Robert

Review-HtTHis To Take
Series: Out of Uniform #3.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: December 7, 2015
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HtT_500

 

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent—something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Review3 starsThis was a steamy little number that took me a little under two hours to finish. At just under 80 pages it’s definitely a shorty but it also packs some heat. A sexy Marine and a sassy heroine who have been having an on again off again fling for years are now both back in the small town they grew up in. But this time, Warren wants more than just a hot secret hook-up. He wants something more, he just has to convince the skittish Erin that it’s what she wants too.

Erin has always had a thing for Warren. But she also knows that she can’t have anything with him either. He’s a Marine that may be deployed any day, and she’s a failed broadway actress that’s back home living with her mom and dad to lick her wounds. But what started with a sexy game of truth-or-dare, may also lead to something much more when Warren gives her a dare she has no hope of backing down from.

His to Take was a quick read that I read in one sitting. I love Katee’s writing and I’m a big fan of her Out of Uniform series. Unfortunately, as my thing with most short novellas, it just didn’t offer enough for me to truly be satisfying. It was a nice little appetizer, but I would have loved a full meal if you catch my drift. I have a hard time with short novellas as they just don’t grab be as much as a longer book may. It’s not long enough for me to truly get invested in the characters. But I do have to say, I was invested enough in Erin and Warren’s story. It was an enjoyable read, albeit a short one. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy read for the holidays, His To Take is the perfect contender.

Review: ★His Lover to Protect★ by Katee Robert

Review- His Lover To ProtectHis Lover to Protect
Series: Out of Uniform #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: September 7, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

26029757-4He’s never met a challenge he couldn’t take…

Alexis Yeung did everything right….only to watch everything go horribly, horribly wrong. Broken and angry, Alexis high-tails it to Europe, determined to face the world on her own terms and without consequence. Which includes a mind-blowing night with a sexy, scarred stranger.

Except, embittered former pararescuer Luke Jackson isn’t exactly a stranger. He’s supposed to keep an eye on Alexis without her knowing. Ending up in bed together was definitely not the plan. Now he’s chasing her (admittedly hot) ass across Europe, a game of cat and mouse that always ends with the two of them tangled up in the sheets.

Something in their scarred, damaged souls calls to each other. And God help them, the sex in unbelievably hot. But if Alexis discovers who Luke really is, he’ll lose the one thing that makes him feel whole…

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks

Review

HLtP-Dirty Girl Romance

It’s not going to be nice, and it’s not going to be sweet. If you want romance, you’ve got the wrong fucking guy.

I’ve been waiting impatiently for Alexis to get her book ever since I finished Falling for His Best Friend. I really wanted that HEA for her. It broke my heart knowing what the two Yeung sisters have been through, but Alexis in particular. Losing their mother to cancer, having the same cancer looming all of them and Alexis paid the ultimate prize with her choice. Even though her choice saved her life, it changed it irrevocably as well. Watching her sister in her pregnancy glow is the final straw that sends her to Europe to find herself. While backpacking through all the places she’s always wanted to visit she also hopes to lose herself a little too.

Luke Jackson is sent by the Ryan Flannery to keep an eye on Alexis since she took with barely a word to anyone. The broody, wounded, and grouchy former pararescuer thinks his job is to keep an eye on the entitled princess, but one chance run in and a sizzling night after later he begins to realize that Alexis is so much more then he initially though.

I really enjoyed this installment to the series, even more so than the last one. Then again I do have a weak spot for the broody and tortured heroes. Luke may have mostly physically recovered from the injury that almost cost him his life, but the emotional scars he still carries from that injury costing him the career he loved never vanished. But beneath the gruff and tatted exterior, is a wounded soul and I loved watching Alexis slowly bring him to his knees.

In usual Katee Robert fashion the sex scenes were smoking hot and Luke was no slacker on the dirty talk. I think what I enjoyed the most was the emotional connection between these two broken characters that somehow heal each other. I also loved reading about all the places they visit together. Katee did a wonderful job truly allowing the reader to experience all those sights along with the characters.

If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you’re sure to enjoy this one. An emotional and sexy read with two imperfect characters that are perfect together. I loved it!


THE REST OF THE SERIES

Review: ★The Marriage Contract★ by Katee Robert

The Marriage Contract 
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 2, 2015

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert begins a smoking hot new series about the O’Malley family-wealthy, powerful, dangerous and seething with scandal.

Teague O’Malley hates pretty much everything associated with his family’s name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a “business” alliance, Teague’s ready to tell his dad exactly where he can stuff his millions. But then Teague actually meets his new fiancée, sees the bruises on her neck and the fight still left in her big blue eyes, and vows he will do everything in his power to protect her.

Everyone knows the O’Malleys have a dangerous reputation. But Callie wasn’t aware just what that meant until she saw Teague, the embodiment of lethal grace and coiled power. His slightest touch sizzles through her. But the closer they get, the more trouble they’re in. Because Callie’s keeping a dark secret-and what Teague doesn’t know could get him killed.

Whatever she’d expected from this kiss, it certainly hadn’t been desire. Though DESIRE was too tame a word. She’d felt desire before, and this wasn’t it. This was…need. All-consuming need that devoured everything in its path, leaving only destruction in its wake.

Having loved every Brazen book of Katee’s I’ve ever read, when i saw that she’s releasing this brand new series that’s grittier and has a mob story line? I was hooked. Line and sinker. Reading it was an absolute no brainer.

The set up was extremely intriguing. Callista “Callie” Sheridan is the daughter of one of the prominent Boston mafia families. In the hopes of uniting themselves with an even more powerful one, her father arranges her to marry the eldest son of the Halloran family. Unfortunately he’s also known as more ruthless with his women than he is with his business. When he also turns up dead a few days before the engagement announcement her father doesn’t spare a moment before promising her to Teague O’Malley.

Teague is the son of a powerful Irish Boston mafia family and he also wants absolutely nothing to do with the family business. But when his eldest brother comes to him with this “business alliance”, the last thing he expects is to be inexplicably drawn to the delicate beauty that’s now his “fiance”. As much as Teague longs to be away from this life, he can’t leave his siblings. Being incredibly attracted to Callie certainly doesn’t hurt things either. Unfortunately it’s not all smooth sailing when their engagement leads to a deadly mafia war started by the Halloran family.

There’s a lot that happens in this book aside from the central romance. There’s numerous POVs and several characters introduced, including all of Teague’s siblings and the Halloran brothers. Because of this it took me quite a bit to truly wrap my mind around everything and really get into the story. While each character added to the story, it was also a lot to keep track of at first. This may very well be a case of the “series firsts”. This book definitely had a much grittier feel to it than any of Katee’s previous books, which was great. So what didn’t work for me? The romance.

Now I’ll say this; considering both Teague and Callie’s personalities, their romance fit them. I just didn’t feel like it fit the story. It was just too saccharine sweet. I’m not a fan of insta-love and this was a very solid case of this. They basically fall for each other at first sight. Katee pulls it off because, again, she makes it fit the characters. But I just needed something…more. The amount of time Teague called her “angel” almost drove me up the wall crazy. 59 times to be exact and yes I counted because I was just that irritated by it.

Sadly I’m one of those reader that if I don’t connect to the main couple, it won’t matter how great the rest of the book and story is. And the story itself was great. The set up for the next book with James Holloran sounds like it will be right up my alley as a matter of fact. Unfortunately with this book, it just fell a bit flat. I wanted a more gritty feel to it considering the story line and I just didn’t get that. Readers that haven’t read much mafia romance will definitely enjoy this. I like my mafia books with a little more of an edge, so this one just fell a romance shy of that for me.

I’m definitely hooked on the series and absolutely cannot wait until the next book. ESPECIALLY after that preview that we got in this book. Can’t hurt that I had a mental visual of Charlie Hunnam after reading James Holloran’s description. Nope. Didn’t hurt one tiny bit.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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