4.1 stars

There were parts of this story that I loved and then there were parts that frustrated me. The good weighed out in the end and I rounded up to a four star rating because the author DoD her job. I was invested and ready to get my HEA. ( )

A bit darker - still delicious
5 Stars

I am a huge fan of Melanie Moreland and always find her books so absorbing and easy to fall into. I have to admit I had a wee bit of trepidation about this book as I’m not really a fan of the mafia trope of which I assumed this book was. While it has similarities with that trope - it doesn’t actually fall into that category - and I shouldn’t have worried as I hugely enjoyed this story and it thrilled me just as much as other books of Ms Moreland’s that I have read.

We start off with Evie being on the run from her life and while the situation and her circumstances are dire, you realise from the first that she’s got a spark about her. She feels in some way powerless but never weak and I liked and rooted for her from the first. I loved her honesty, the way she could bring a strong man to his knees just by being herself and I especially enjoyed her growth and her finding her power.

Matteo was a difficult character to understand at first - which is good as it mirrored Evie’s own issues with him. He’s stark, cold and somewhat ruthless. He’s also demanding and a bit stuck in his ways. But he’s also a tiny bit obsessed with Evie and with keeping her safe which I adore in a book boyfriend. They way you can also see him changing throughout the story as he comes to terms with the fact his focus in life is no longer his work - it just made me happy. As did the fact that he couldn’t keep his hands to himself and kept changing up his routine so he could spend more time with her. Sigh.

There is a sort of insta-love - or at least insta-lust - in the relationship between Matteo and Evie. Well, Matteo at least. I could definitely feel their connection and while the declarations are early - they too felt real. I did have a moment of worry at the beginning that there was a slight imbalance of power in the relationship. While I decided that actually probably was true, it also helped to show the development of the relationship and how it became much more balanced as they learnt more about each other and grew closer.

The compatibility of our couple also worked well when it came to the sex scenes which were delicious plus feelings. It was all the sexy, sultry butterflies you want in a romance but with that added bonus of real emotion. Happy times for me!

As I said, this isn’t really a mafia book but it does have the same sort of darker vibes you often get with that trope. But while it’s not overly scary, violent or gratuitous, and it didn’t frighten a wimp like me, it did touch on - or at least mention - some vile things.

I have to also pay homage to that unbelievable cover. It’s perhaps the most gorgeous cover I have ever seen and even more wonderfully, it really depicts Matteo as Melanie Moreland wrote and described him. Absolutely delightful.

Once again, I devoured a book by Melanie Moreland and got thoroughly invested in the story. There’s just something about her writing that makes me happy as I’m ready and makes me want to read more and more and more. This is also the kind of book I found myself still thinking about after I’d read the last page so I’m delighted that there are more books coming in this series (although this one does stand alone and has a wonderful HEA and epilogue). Once again, it’s 5 stars from me. ( )

This was such an awesome read. I loved Matteo and Evie. They just belong together. He makes her stronger and she softens his edges. ( )

What can I say about the book other than READ THIS BOOK!!!

Matteo was all the alpha protective goodness we love in our romantic heroes. Evie was the heroine allowed to blossom and find her foot with a man who sees her as his life equal.

Men of Hidden Justice - oh YES!! They are protective, possessive going to do whatever to protect what is theirs. Yup give me a case of the swoons. Matteo is a driven, unforgiving white hat shooting up bad guys in the black hat world. He is not without faults which makes him the perfect bad boy to love for me.

Evie - girl you just cannot catch a break. You run from one bad circumstance right into the arms of a dark angel. But wow - you show your inner strength by right off the bat calling destiny in your own hands. From there, we watch you grow from cautionary to strong.

Things I loved:
- Well written, had fantastic pacing, devoured in a day

Here is the thing - It ticks all the boxes in my romantic suspense needs. It is more The Wire and less Castle. 

I can tell you - Matteo and Evie bring once again an exceptional-paced story, different from contemporary romance with a thread of peril each spun in only a way Melanie Moreland can make romantic suspense accessible.
 ( )

I loved this story. I just want to say right off the bat that I am NOT a fan of Mafia type stories and I went into this book with my own expectations. Matteo and Evie’s story blew my expectations right out of the water.

“It is my greatest joy to make you happy, Evie.”

Matteo Campari is definitely an uber alpha, always in charge. But when he comes across Evie he is more than smitten and it isn’t long before he knows that she is the real Boss.

“To the world, you’re simply my wife, Evie. To me, you are my world.”

As a fan of insta love, Matteo won me over right from the start and his complete devotion to Evie melted my heart.
-5 Stars!- ( )