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    REVIEW: Alliance by Cari Z

    The Triad: Alliance – Cari Z.

    One wedding. Two grooms. Three lovers, preparing to fight for themselves, and their kingdoms.

    Symon Parador is a prince in name only until the day he’s bartered away to the neighboring kingdom, to marry their queen’s brother, Petur. A mage in a nation full of shifters who distrust his magic is bad enough, but even worse is the fact that Petur is already as good as married—to an assassin from the north named Deyvid, who’s immune to all magic.

    He doesn’t expect to love either of them, but Deyvid’s surprising kindness is too addictive to run from, and even Petur’s ferocity is lightened by his sly sense of humor. Sy could see himself falling for them…if any of them survive the sudden onslaught of attacks against the royal family.

    Entwined in a dangerous game of survival, love, and loyalty, the cost of saving his lovers may be Sy’s own life.

    Alliance is a polyamorous M/M/M fantasy with enemies to lovers, graphic violence, snarky humor, and explicit sexual content.


    Alliance is the series opener of the polyamorous fantasy series, The Triad by Cari Z. It’s been a while since I read MMM romance so I grabbed this book immediately.

    Prince Symon, one of the realm’s most powerful mages, is suddenly arranged to wed Prince Petur, a shifter from a neighboring kingdom. Everyone knows Petur already has a long-time lover, Deyvid, a magically immune assassin who doubles as his bodyguard.

    Wedding day arrives and Symon and Petur already got off on the wrong foot. Alone in a foreign court, Sy finds unexpected friendship with Deyvid, who is determined to keep the marriage intact even as the royals become a target of an assassination plot.

    Symon isn’t just a mage, he’s also a skilled herbalist from humble roots. His late mother was an herbalist, his father a city guard who married the queen. While only 22 years old. he entered his marriage with open eyes, but Petur almost dumping him on their wedding night was still a cruel blow. His easy companionship with Deyvid stands in sharp contrast to his antagonistic dynamic with Petur.

    Deyvid, a 40-something high harrier from the Northern land of people immune to magic, is the sensible one in the relationship. Bleached of color, his skin is grey, his eyes silver and his hair salt and pepper. It was pretty obvious that he and Petur have a deep connection and their affection for each other leap off the page. His growing fondness for Sy was palpable from their first meeting.

    Petur is a 37-year old shifter who can shift to four forms, a rare ability. I think every reader is frustrated with how he treated Sy, but he later came around. I was glad when the three men finally cemented their alliance, it’s just that Petur’s turn-around was too abrupt.

    The story is from the POVs of the three man. The plot is mostly romance with an assassination subplot which was sadly not well-developed. There was palace intrigue that felt surface level. Even the world-building, which would have been fascinating, didn’t feel exciting which is the main issue with the book.

    This has all the right ingredients for an epic fantasy series but sadly the execution was dull. I was audiobooking this and even the great Michael Ferraiuolo couldn’t keep my attention from wandering. I wanted so much to like this book more.

    Alliance is a story of magic, marriage, and murder. Overall, the delivery was lack-luster yet the premise intrigued me enough to continue with Book 2.

    Rating:
    2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like

    Soundtrack: Allies
    Artist: Stranded Mermaid
    Album: Allies


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    REVIEW: The Unlikely Spare by Jax Calder

    Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Spare – Jax Calder

    What happens when a prince falls for the undercover agent pretending to be his bodyguard?

    Nicholas

    I’m the spare, the younger brother of the Prince of Wales. Ever since I was propelled up the order of succession, my job description has been: Exist. Don’t embarrass the Crown. Repeat.

    After a security scandal, I’m assigned a new bodyguard. A hulking, brooding Irishman who glowers at me like I’ve personally offended his ancestors. He’s the first to be completely immune to my charm, which is rather inconvenient when you’ve always wielded wit like a defensive weapon.

    And why I feel the need to continue trying to impress Officer O’Connell is anyone’s guess.

    My upcoming royal tour of Australia and New Zealand should be a nice chance to escape the British winter and bask in some Southern Hemisphere sunshine. But it turns out that representing the monarchy in former colonial countries means confronting some uncomfortable truths about how all those Crown Jewels ended up in my family’s vaults.

    And the whole visit would really be far more enjoyable if someone wasn’t trying to kill me.

    Eoin

    I’ve clawed my way from the slums of Ireland to the top level of Scotland Yard’s undercover agents. But a deep security breach within the force has me investigating my own colleagues while playing bodyguard to a privileged prince on a tour Down Under.

    Something about Prince Nicholas gets under my skin like shrapnel I can’t dig out.

    Still, I’m a professional. I can handle one posh git with a smart mouth.

    But as we navigate koala cuddling sessions, didgeridoo lessons, and deadly spiders in hotel rooms, I see beneath Nicholas’s princely façade. I’m supposed to uncover which of my fellow bodyguards is a threat to Prince Nicholas, not become obsessed with the most complex, fascinating pain in my arse I’ve ever met.

    The line between duty and desire blurs with each passing day and the danger to Nicholas intensifies.

    How can I maintain my cover, protect Nicholas, and resist the urge to press him against the nearest wall and kiss that smirk off his face?

    The Unlikely Spare is a royal romantic comedy/suspense featuring a party prince learning his place in the world and an undercover bodyguard with a chip on his shoulder. As threats escalate and attraction intensifies, both men must decide what they’re willing to risk—and what they’re willing to fight for.


    The Unlikely Spare is the 3rd book of Unlikely Dilemmas, Jax Calder‘s binge-worthy contemporary romance series. The spotlight falls on Prince Nicholas, second in line to the British throne and half-brother to Callum (The Unlikely Heir).

    Nicholas’ new bodyguard is Officer Eoin O’Connell, Scotland Yard’s top undercover agent, tasked with protecting the prince and uncovering a traitor among the royal protection officers. The story picks up after the Matheson-Wembley incident from The Unlikely Pair, where Toby and Harry were kidnapped by Harry’s own bodyguard, a sleeper agent for an international terrorist group.

    While touring Australia and New Zealand, Nicholas becomes the terrorists’ prime target. Under attack and unsure who to trust, Eoin escapes with him and the two are thrust into a fight for survival.

    The bodyguard romance played out as it typically does. Nicholas is the bratty, sassy ward pushing bounderies, and Eoin is all iron-willed restraint until he gloriously loses control. It might be expected, but the chemistry is spectacularly electric! That kiss was absolutely primal!

    Adding depth is Eoin’s inner conflict: an Irishman unexpectedly falling for a royal who surprised him at every turn. The pacing drags in the middle, but once the chase across New Zealand begins, things shifts into high gear. Then out of nowhere came that sucker punch of a twist that made my jaw drop! Ooh, was it clever and brutal!

    The plot is politics-heavy, with sharp commentary on the British Empire and colonialism. The terrorists demand reparations for imperial atrocities, and Nicholas, as a blue blood, becomes the symbol of their rage. Some may find the politics overwhelming, but for those from formerly colonized nations, Jax Calder ’s perspective resonates.

    The Unlikely Spare is a story of duty, betrayal, and a prince falling for his bodyguard amid political firestorms. Overall, it won’t spare you the politics, but it will most likely steal your heart.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Spare My Heart
    Artist: Imcha Imchen
    Album:

    P.S.

    Unlikely Dilemmas is best read in order.

    Be regaled with obscure facts and trivias by the Prince of Wales in The Unlikely Heir.

    Discover the joys of sharing body heat with one’s enemy in The Unlikely Pair.


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    REVIEW: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

    Vitale Brothers: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

    What do you do when your only way out is to join a family you never knew existed?

    I’m not well behaved, that’s a given. But meeting the Vitale’s puts my life into perspective. They’re everything I’ve longed for; rich, adventurous, fearless, and close. Really close.

    This is supposed to be my family too.

    So why do I feel like an outsider?

    I have no choice except to fit in because I can’t go back home. Not when I’m on the run…

    Amidst the chaos of a cooling war, a family struggle, and the law nipping at my heels, I meet Quincy. Bold, crazy, and hot as a five alarm fire.This man is the grand red flag of all red flags, but then again so am I.

    And I’ve always loved to play with fire.

    The fifth book in the Vitale Brothers series. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best read in order. HEA guaranteed. Make sure to check out the TWs.


    End It All is the fifth book in the gritty, addictive Vitale Brothers mafia romance series by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow. The Vitale clan may be a chaotic mix of half-brothers, but under Benito’s leadership, they remain fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining.

    The 5th Vitale brother is Blake Moreno, who only recently discovered he’s a Vitale after a botched bank heist turned him into a fugitive. Sent to New York to his father Cesare for protection, Blake meets his brothers for the first time, who were just as surprised to learn about his identity.

    Not yet trusting Blake but still willing to protect his youngest brother, Benito (Say I Do) assigns Quincy Adachi, Harlow’s best friend and former bodyguard, to keep Blake in line. Blake and Quincy immediately got off on the wrong foot.

    Blake kept trying to run away, and Quincy unerringly tracks his ass wherever he goes. Forced proximity did its magic because they might hate each other, but it didn’t stop them from jumping each other’s bones.

    Blake is a semi-wild spitfire, not yet full-on Vitale like Gin, Enzo, or even Paolo. He’s street-smart but really naive. He has a stupid tendency to run away from the person protecting him when he’s supposed to be in New York for his protection.

    Quincy is a dominant, alpha-as-hell power bottom who matches Blake’s arson-loving ferocity with his own daredevil antics. Quincy is Harlow’s best friend after all, and only someone as bloodthirsty as him could keep up with a psycho like Harlow.

    Together, Blake and Quincy’s chemistry is equal parts volatile and magnetic. Blake’s rebellious streak and Quincy’s relentless dominance make for a fiery clash. Their dynamic was entertaining, with lots of sharp banter, flirty provocations, and cute nicknames. Quincy calling Blake “baby girl” tickled me pink every time because Blake is so precious and bratty, even if he tops.

    The best part of the book is the Vitale family themselves, their outrageous antics, dark humor, and twisted brand of love. From Gin’s absurd schemes and his possessive devotion to Ash to Benito and Harlow’s stab-happy foreplay, the brothers never fail to entertain. Paolo and York got parenthood down to a science, and Enzo and Tex are joined at the hips. Loved seeing the Vitale “wives” joining forces and welcoming Quincy to the fold.

    I thought the series would end with Paolo and York’s book, Never Say Never. Half of me thinks Blake and Quincy’s story was unnecessary, the plot not really bringing anything new to the table, and the romance is less intense as the previous books. While still dark and humorous enough for a Vitale, this is the weakest installment of the series.

    It did give us a lead-up to Cesare’s book, which I also have mixed feelings about. Cesare welcomes Blake with open arms, but the brothers frequently warn Blake that the old man cannot be trusted. Blake agrees, runs away, then foolishly returns to Cesare.

    Daddy Vitale’s motives are suspect throughout the entire series, so redeeming him in the 6th book might be a stretch. I’m not sure if I could root for Cesare, given how villainous he was. Also, it’s going to be an age gap romance. We have enough of that already. Give us old men yaoi instead!

    End It All is a story of family ties and baby criminals. While not hitting the same highs as the rest of the series, overall, it sets the stage for biggest battle ahead. In the Vitale world, loyalty is blood-deep, betrayal is inevitable—and sometimes, ending it all is the only way to begin again.

    Rating:
    3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it

    Soundtrack: Alive In New Light
    Artist: IAMX
    Album: Alive In New Light

    P.S.

    Vitale Brothers can be read as standalone but each brother is a force of nature.

    Take Me Apart is the raw intensity of Enzo.

    Paid In Full is the wild insatiability of Gin

    Say I Do is the nuclear explosion of Benito.

    Never Say Never is the chaotic mayhem of Paolo.


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    SERIES REVIEW: Merciless & Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings Books 4 & 5) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

    Park Avenue Kings: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brook Blaine

    Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re the seven most powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.

    Ruthless.

    Dangerous.

    We’re the Park Avenue Kings.

    He was sent to watch me. Now he can’t look away.

    They sent the president’s son to babysit me.
    How precious.


    Shepherd “Shep” Winchester III thinks he’s here to keep me in line—keep me quiet, keep me still, keep me safe.

    Good luck with that.

    I’m Theodore “Theo” Rinaldi, the youngest Prince of Monaco, and the most merciless of the Park Avenue Kings. And I don’t do obedient. Not for my royal family. Not for the crown. And definitely not for the suit King sent to shadow me.

    Shep is all discipline and duty.
    I’m chaos in a custom suit.


    We clash. We combust.
    And then we cross a line we can’t uncross.


    Now there’s a blackmailer on our trail, a target on my back, and the Kings think I’m the traitor. But if they want to come for me, they’ll have to get through him.

    Because the soldier with the perfect posture and the unreadable eyes?
    He’s not just protecting me anymore.

    He’s falling for me.

    And I’m going to ruin him for it.

    Merciless (Park Avenue Kings #4) is the first book in a duet within the Park Avenue Kings series. Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings #5) will be the continuation.


    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Mercy
    Artist: IAMX
    Album: Kiss + Swallow


    Park Avenue Kings: Ruthless by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank

    They called him America’s golden son.

    Now he’s the man who’d burn the world for a prince.

    When Prince Theodore Rinaldi vanishes, Shepard “Shep” Winchester III will do anything to bring him back.

    What starts as a mission of duty ignites into a forbidden obsession—one that blurs every line between loyalty and love.

    Back in New York, the Kings are under attack, their secrets exposed, their brotherhood fractured.

    And when an attempt on Theo’s life plays out in front of flashing cameras, the world sees what they were never meant to: a touch too intimate, a look too raw.

    Shep is the son of American power.

    Theo is European royalty.

    And in a world built on loyalty, betrayal, and lies, love might be the most ruthless act of all.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Ruthless
    Artist: Allegra Jordyn
    Album: Ruthless


    Merciless and Ruthless is a duet in Park Avenue Kings, the spectacular contemporary romance series by acclaimed duo Ella Frank and Brook Blaine. The Kings are a secret brotherhood of vigilante billionaires known as Libertine, led by Tyrone Kingston— the “King.”

    Our Kings this week are Prince Theodore Rinaldi of Monaco and Shepherd O’Neale Winchester III, son of a former U.S. president. Best friends turned lovers after Theo’s brother’s royal wedding, Theo and Shep’s bond is tested by the meddling King, Shep’s ex, despite having two boyfriends (Park Avenue Princes). Theo becomes a target after a suspicious bombing video surfaces. He and Shep were in a safehouse in Brazil when Theo was abducted.

    Merciless is certainly more intense, bursting with sexual tension as Shep and Theo explore their new dynamic. Theo is chaotic and impulsive, while Shep is steady and protective. Their chemistry is explosive, Theo pushes boundaries, Shep dominates, and both alphas aren’t afraid to switch roles.

    Theo is full of crazy antics, and Shep couldn’t help but be drawn to him, his protective instincts going on overdrive. I loved how they played off each other, their push-and-pull sparking irresistible heat. The only thing missing is Theo being merciless when he was really just impulsive.

    After a heart-stopping cliffhanger, Ruthless opens with Shep’s frantic search for the missing Theo in the Amazon. I thought this would take up most of the plot, given the blurb, but the two reunited soon after, and the rest of the plot focused on the search for the blackmailer theatening Libertine.

    This was also not King’s finest moment, having abandoned Theo when he was abducted, and fractures appear among the brotherhood. Also, I’m not impressed with how he pretends everything is fine until Theo demands an apology and has to throw a tantrum before King would do so. Alesso is under a lot of stress, leading up to his book, which I’m excited about.

    The villain takedown was rushed. I was hoping for more details on this part of the mission. There was a big deal about Alesso having a hard time finding the bad guy who was supposedly smart, only for said bad guy to do something dumb in public.

    Romance-wise, this part of the duet is more dramatic but also sweeter and swoonier. Theo and Shep lost no time making it official with not one but two celebrations that couldn’t be more different but equally ridiculously romantic! They have some of the most squee-tastic moments, and the books delivered the feels they promised.

    Merciless and Ruthless is a sizzling duet of danger, brotherhood, and royal weddings where a prince and a president’s son come together in chaos and passion. Overall, mercilessly thrilling, ruthlessly swoony!

    P.S.

    Park Avenue Kings is best read in order. Each King is gorgeous and deadly.

    Savage is Lachlan, shadowy and dangerous.

    Devilish is Lucien, temptation incarnate.

    Immoral is Benoit, utterly seductive and captivating.


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    SERIES REVIEW: Enticed by the Enemy, Seduced by a Sinner, & Kissed by a Killer (The Morelli Family Books 3-5) by Leighton Greene

    The Morelli Family: Enticed by the Enemy – Leighton Greene

    He’s an FBI profiler who’s half my age. Contact between us is forbidden. But I can’t stay away from him.

    As the Morelli Underboss, I’m the Family problem-solver. So when a task force blames the Morellis for a series of murders in Central Park, it’s up to me to restore our reputation.

    But Fate puts me on a collision-course with an agent on the very task force dedicated to bringing down my Family…

    And we end up on the run together.

    My heart has been ice-cold for decades, but something about him sets my blood on fire.

    It would be crazy of me to trust a Fed. But he claims he wants to prove my innocence. That the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

    We each want to solve this case for different reasons, but we’ll both end up dead if he can’t follow my lead.

    So to make him behave, I’ll use every weapon I have—including my body.

    But why do I feel like I’m the one losing control?

    Enticed by the Enemy is a M/M mafia romance set in the world of the Morelli Crime Family. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s even more fun to read the series in order. Characters and events from previous books are referenced.


    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Enemy Mind
    Artist: Priest
    Album: Samurai


    The Morelli Family: Seduced by a Sinner – Leighton Greene

    He’s innocent. He’s chaste. He’s promised to God.
    And he’s more temptation than I can handle.

    I’m supposed to guard the Boss’s husband, but I just can’t keep my eyes off his best friend, Aidan O’Leary.

    Watching him.

    Wanting him.

    Knowing I can never have him.

    Aidan is pure in body and soul. He’s about to be ordained as a priest. Me? I’m going to burn for the things I’ve done. And I can’t stop thinking about all the sinful things I want to do to him.

    But when there’s an attack on Aidan’s life, I’m reassigned to protect him, and we grow closer than ever.

    Someone wants Aidan dead. It’s my job to deliver him safely to the Church to take his vows, although I’d rather have him as my own.

    I’ve sworn to protect him until I can give him away to God. But it’s getting harder and harder to let him go without a fight.

    And if I can’t focus on the job, how can I keep Aidan safe when our enemies are closing in?

    ***

    Seduced by a Sinner is best enjoyed as part of the Morelli Family mafia romance series. Characters and events from previous books are referenced.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Sin So Sweet
    Artist: Walter Zeiders
    Album:


    The Morelli Family: Kissed by a Killer – Leighton Greene

    It’s my job to protect the Morelli men when the law is after them. But now their most dangerous Capo has killed to protect me.

    My law firm has two unbreakable rules.

    1. Never get personally involved with a client.

    Nick Fontana was only ever supposed to be a booty call, but he’s had me cross-examining my heart since we started hooking up.

    2. Never let the Morellis do you a favor.

    I can’t stop thinking about his talented hands on my body…but those hands just took the wrong life to save mine.

    I helped Nick cover up what he did, because if anyone finds out, it would start a Mob War that could destroy us all.

    But someone knows our deadly secret.

    I’ve kept my mouth shut. So can I really trust the killer I’ve been kissing?


    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Kiss/Kill
    Artist: Michelle
    Album:


    The Morelli Family Books 3 to 5 feature Luca Di’Amato’s inner circle and the men who came into their lives, causing chaos, mayhem, and heat.

    Enticed by the Enemy stars Angelo Messina, the second in command. Angelo is a well-known and well-liked personality in New York, so close-lipped and slippery that he even had lunch with the detective who claimed Angelo was his white whale. Yet the detective still got nothing on him.

    Special Agent Baxter Flynn is a forensic psychologist who is just that bit obsessed with Angelo, having even done his master’s thesis on the man. The SA is so spectacularly green that he dropped his gun while trying to stalk Angelo Messina when somebody started shooting, and he and Angelo had to run away.

    Turns out a cop was shot, and the bullets are from Baxter’s Bureau-issued gun. The detective Angelo had lunch with was also found dead. Bold if rash, Baxter barged into Angelo’s apartment and clumsily proposed they work together to find the shooter who was after Angelo and/or Baxter. And clear their names.

    Angelo has always been a solid guy, the rock the Morelli dons have relied on. He’s a capable, level-headed mobster who loved the late Tino Morelli and now has nothing but respect and support for the new don Luca. He’s also gorgeous. Even the detective spoke with envy, saying Angelo’s got it easy with a face like that. In short, Angelo’s the complete package and made the book worth reading.

    Baxter, on the other hand, had me wondering how he passed Quantico. Not because he’s a rookie, I mean, we’re all beginners at some point. But the man was so ridiculously TSTL and inept, I wasn’t at all surprised he got framed for murder. His investigative skills were laughable, his decisions were hopelessly naive, and this case of opposites attract didn’t work in his character’s favor.

    The book ended in an HFN and will be picked up in Vow of the Vigilante, where, hopefully, Baxter redeems himself.

    Seduced by a Sinner stars Matteo Vitale, Finch’s bodyguard, who’s been quietly eyeing Finch’s best friend, the novice, Aidan O’Leary, in the background.

    One day, a man threatened Aidan with a knife, and Teo stepped in to save the novice. Then he took Aidan to the Morelli home to keep him safe. However, Aidan’s upcoming ordination is fast approaching, and they have to get to Boston with Finch and Luca in tow.

    Things became even more chaotic when an Irish terrorist group started threatening Finch’s sister, Tara Donovan, now head of the Donovan family, and whose house the Morellis are staying in Boston.

    Teo’s another capable Morelli and the best bodyguard the don trusts with his husband’s life. Teo is aware he’s got blood on his hands, not the man for somebody as innocent as Aidan. He’s got nothing but awe and affection for Ai.

    Aidan is an openly gay man about to become a priest. When he became romantically involved with Teo, he did angst, but not overly so. He was generally content and happy; the angstying came later, but unlike most religious figures in MM romance, he was not a miserable character to read about.

    I loved how Teo let Aidan experience his firsts with consent, gentle reassurances, and positive views on sexuality and Aidan’s religious beliefs. This books doesn’t condemn religion but reconciles it with all forms of love.

    With some guidance from his mom and a mentor, he was able to make peace with himself and his relationship with God and Teo. I loved reading their story because their romance has a wholesome and pure quality to it, in contrast with the Irish business that bulldozed its way into their lives.

    The book ended with an HEA for the couple and good things for Teo, Morelli-wise, when he stepped up against the Irish terrorists.

    Kissed by a Killer stars Nick Fontana, a capo, and rumored to be the future caporegime of the Morellis. He’s occasional fuck buddies with Carlo Bianchi, the Morelli lawyer, a forbidden affair because Carlo’s father, doesn’t want his lawyers fraternizing with the mobsters.

    The story opens with a wedding where all five Families are attending. On the night of the wedding, the groom snuck into Carlo’s room and assaulted him. Nick, who had just come from Carlo’s room, saw him and snapped his neck. They had to quickly make the body disappear.

    The groom is a scion of the Guiliano Family, and soon everyone was looking for the missing groom. Nick and Carlo were conflicted whether to tell Luca, and alliances would break if they don’t do something about it soon. With the threat of the Irish terrorists hanging over New York, they can’t afford to lose allies.

    Nick is Luca’s closest friend, the two rising in ranks together. He’s one of the most trusted men in Luca’s circle, so his not coming clean right away and later dragging his feet for some reason or other really added to the tension and anticipation, a.k.a. dread of when Luca will eventually find out.

    Carlo is the heir to the Bianchi firm, which has an exclusive contract with the Morellis. He’s known to be extremely good at keeping the men out of jail. Objectively, I could see that Carlo can be unlikable. He tends to run his mouth and push buttons. Even Nick was annoyed with him several times, as much as he’s fond of the difficult man.

    I don’t actively dislike Carlo; he’s just not somebody I would cast as a love interest. Fortunately, he meshes well with Nick, their antagonistic dynamics adding spice to their story. And he totally redeemed himself when he did his big lawyer speech to save Nick’s life. I was actually impressed! So now I see why Luca keeps him on a retainer.

    Plot-wise, it was all over the place. There were many overarching threads that were continued here, plus the forbidden romance and the secrets. And for men of their caliber, Nick and Carlo weren’t making the smartest decisions. The ending was bittersweet and an HFN, but I loved that it gave us hope for Luca and Nick’s friendship.

    Overall, Morelli men are making their marks and winning hearts.

    The Morelli Family continues with Devoted to the Don. The books must be read in order.

    Married To The Mobster introduces us to delightfully bratty Finch Donovan and besotted but won’t admit it, Luca Di’Amato.
    Beloved By The Boss is Luca and Finch making their marriage work and taking over New York


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