I was woefully unprepared for how much I was going to enjoy this – I loved every unhinged minute of it! I’ve been reading a few too many rom coms recently, so it was time to shake things up. And this addictive, off-kilter romance did exactly that. It’s immensely bingeable and engrossing from the first few pages, with an unpredictable romance that does not follow any of the usual rules. Its dark comedy, high steam, and intense, protective (anti)hero reminded me a lot of JT Geissinger’s mafia romances, which is a huge compliment. I’ve been looking for other books with a similar vibe, and this was the first that perfected the mix of humor, mafia elements, and spice. Not only did it have me fanning myself with the many spicy scenes, but it also had me laughing and smiling. Even when I probably shouldn’t have been, lol. It definitely kept me on my toes and kept me up way too late reading, which is the mark of an excellent book for me.
The story follows Savannah, a woman who just started dating a guy. She’s not so sure about him, and discovering that he’s married is the final nail in the coffin… on their relationship, at least. The final, final nail is when Savannah overhears the guy being murdered by his brother-in-law. When the killer, King, discovers that Savannah witnessed the crime, he finds himself kidnapping her. It’s not the first time (or the last) that King has been up to no good, but it’s definitely the first time he’s acted so recklessly. Taking Savannah to his home and letting her into his space is definitely not King’s smartest idea, but he finds himself drawn to her. Demanding that she marry him probably isn’t the brightest idea either, but it means that she can’t be forced to testify against him. And, while Savannah probably (definitely) should be terrified of King, she can’t help but feel an unexpected connection to her new husband.
I love marriage of convenience and mafia romances, so the tropes were really working for me with this one. Kidnapping romances are typically a tougher trope for me, but this worked for a variety of reasons. First, Savannah isn’t some young and naive girl; she’s 32 (to King’s 45), and she’s fiery enough to push back against King. Second, King was kind of a sweetheart? Okay, not really, but it was clear that he was totally gone for his girl, and I loved that he was in so over his head. King did not see Savannah coming, and his main goal was to keep her close. He probably went about it the wrong way, lol, but it was really entertaining. King is definitely an over-the-top, alpha, intense (murderer), but he was also very easy to like and the biggest softie for his girl. The two have QUITE the connection, with chemistry that sparked almost instantly. The spicy scenes were both plentiful and intimate, with many, many smokin’ hot moments. There was one scene I wasn’t so sure about (I was clutching my pearls for sure), but it made sense for the characters, I suppose. And there was never a doubt in my mind that this was going to get 5 EASY stars from me; it’s the kind of book that won me over in minutes. It’s my first read from this author and it certainly won’t be the last. I loved it!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OaKalr
Blurb:
Okay, so, my bad for assuming the guy I was going on a date with wasn’t married. And my bad for taking him to a friend’s house for dinner, only to find out my friend is also friends with his wife. Because, in fact, he ismarried. And she happens to be at my friend’s house because her husband was busy working.
Confused? So am I.
Unsurprisingly, my date’s wife is super angry about finding out that her husband is a cheating asshole.
Girl, I get it.
Then, to make matters more convoluted, there is the man sitting next to my date’s wife. A man named King, who is apparently her brother, and who lives up to his name.
And since my date is a two-timing prick, I’m not going to feel bad about drooling over King, especially since I’ll never see him again.
Or at least I don’t plan to.
I plan to take an Uber to the cheater’s apartment to get my car keys.
I plan for it to be quick.
And if I had to list a thousand possible outcomes… witnessing my date’s murder, being kidnapped by his killer, and then being forced to marry the super attractive but clearly deranged crime lord, would not have been on my Bingo card.
But alas, here I am.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OaKalr
About the Author:
Like all her books, S.J. Tilly resides in the glorious state of Minnesota, where she was born and raised. To avoid the freezing cold winters, S.J. enjoys burying her head in books, whether to read them or write them or listen to them.
When she’s not busy writing her contemporary smut, she can be found lounging with her husband and their herd of rescue boxers. And when the weather permits she loves putting her compost to use in the garden, pretending to know what she’s doing. The neighbors may not like the flowery mayhem of her yard, but the bees sure do. And really, that’s more important.
To stay up to date on all things Tilly, make sure to follow her on her socials, join her newsletter, and interact whenever you feel like it! Links to everything on her website www.sjtilly.com
Follow Jeeves on social media!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Jeeves Reads Romance 