Review by Ronny

Series Name: NOLA Knights, # 1

 His To Defend is a delicious and easy mafia read.

Favourite Quote: 

“Everything all right, feya?” 

Well, it was better when he wasn’t talking like that within touching distance. Really, the man had no idea how rumbling deep voice affected a woman. 

His world. His rules. Her love.

Book Synopsis:

Though his methods may be rough, when it comes to protecting what’s his, Russian vor Sergei Petrovyh’s heart is always in the right place. That’s never been more true than when the gorgeous Evette Labadie asks him for a job. He knows enough to keep his hands off someone as beloved by the locals as Evie, but there’s something about her that calls to him—no matter how badly he burns to make her his.

Don’t think Evie hasn’t noticed the powerful Russian mafia boss who makes her favorite diner a regular stop. How can she not? He’s as hot as his reputation is dangerous. But everyone in her struggling New Orleans neighborhood knows he’s the man to turn to. And right now she needs money to get her son out of trouble.

Her other needs—needs she knows damn well Sergei can more than satisfy—will have to wait.

Evie soon finds herself playing Cinderella to a man who, despite what people believe, is definitely more prince than villain. She can’t help falling deeper in love with each passing day. But when a turf war between Sergei and a rival brings violence to her doorstep, Evie must come to grips with loving a man who will do anything to defend her…or walk away from her best chance at a happily-ever-after of her very own.

Review:

I’m always on the hunt for a new mafia series, and to my utter delight, I found one. NOLA Knights is a great mafia series for any bookworm who wants to dip their toes into the mafia sub-genre, but doesn’t want to read anything too dark, violent, or bursting with red flags. This is a quick and easy read and is structured similarly to a category romance. What I mean by this is the plot moves fast, there isn’t a lot of extra detail, and the two main characters’ relationship progresses at breakneck speed. My suggestion is not to overthink about what you are reading, just enjoy the ride.

I loved this book and devoured it in one sitting. It’s fun, spicy, and just the right amount of bonkers. This is a rare mafia romance, in the sense that there really aren’t any glaring red flags, the, shall I say, “hero” kind of reminds me of heroes you would find in a historical romance. He has a moral/gentlemanly code that he follows, he protects those he loves with that swoony “touch her and die” vibe, he helps those in need, and is rather charming. Now, he is a mafia boss, which means he commits acts of violence, but his character doesn’t ooze the feral, lethal violence you often see in mafia male leads. The overall plot was fun, entertaining, and moved fast. You have two characters that clearly have the hots for one another, who enter a professional agreement that clearly isn’t going to last, throw in an unknown danger, and some heated moments, and you have a recipe for a good time. I enjoyed not having to overthink what I was reading. I was just going into this book hoping for some great vibes, and I got just that.

One of the things I often struggle with in mafia romances is that the heroine is often very young, which can make her character come across as immature and her dialogue feel cringey. Evie’s character was not like this. She is a mother who has lived life. She was a really great fit for this story, and I enjoyed watching her try to navigate the new world she found herself in. Sergei is a real charmer. As I mentioned before, he reminds me of those historical romance heroes, which is probably why I liked him so much. He clearly wants Evie and sets out to woo her and introduce her to his world… well, not the violent part, but the money-can-buy-you-happiness-and-comfort part. The romance between these two is fast and lusty. There is plenty of spice, but it’s not over-the-top spicy that you often find in darker romances. I liked their chemistry, banter, and watching as Sergei continued to befuddle and surprise Evie. 

His To Defend is a fabulous and fun mafia romance.