Really enjoyed this book! ( )

I love all things that have elements of a criminal undertone to them. So when I discovered that this author was building on a side character that had been introduced in The Penalty Box that had piqued my interest I was ecstatic. I wasn't sure how this was going to go considering that this is a very different direction and feel than her usual books go. I am more than pleasantly surprised because this book did have so many of the things that I look for when reading anything resembling Mafia. Was it perfect? No. Was it enjoyable and kept my attention? Absolutely.

I wasn't sure where the story was going when it first started out. I was intrigued from the first chapter but then had moments where I was confused as to what was happening and how it tied together. I was very curious to understand Andrusha. He was a very complex character. I had liked him, as I mentioned, since the first time that he had been introduced. However, I also struggled with him. He gave off certain vibes of being a certain type of man that demands control, and yet he was often wishy-washy when it came to that. I was expecting him to act differently. That being said, I liked that he fought hard for Olivia, oftentimes against what he should and shouldn't do, and really wanted her to have a chance at finally having a good and happy life. Olivia was hard for me to understand. I didn't connect with her as much as I wanted to until something pivotal happens and she puts Andrusha above herself. I appreciated that. Their connection was slow in building and that was both good and bad. I wanted more of a connection at times instead of the push and pull but at the same time, I liked that there was a bond there. Even though this story ended with a happily ever after, I still struggled for a couple of chapters before they got the HEA. I just didn't understand the choices that had been made but that is minor.

While this was not my favorite book that this author has written I still enjoyed it. I appreciate the author stepping outside of her wheelhouse and giving her fans the character that everyone had been asking her for. ( )