Review by Ronny
Odette Stone continues to prove she is the queen of completely bonkers romances.
Favourite Quote:
I stepped back and bumped into someone.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, as I glanced back at the person I had bumped into.
Looking down at me was my uncle’s employee, Axel.
He gave me a regretful smile. “Hello, Mila.”
Book Synopsis:
When my controlling Bratva uncle
planned to marry me off
to a man with no mercy,
I learned fast that some traps can’t be escaped.
My one desperate lie
forced me into a life I didn’t choose.
One that tied me to a man
everyone told me couldn’t be trusted.
I’d hoped that returning to Vancouver
would be the fresh start
that would save me.
But I was wrong.
Axel tried his best to shield me
from his brutal, dangerous world.
But despite his best efforts,
its shadows reached for me.
But the storm rolling toward us
isn’t what shakes me.
He is.
And how I keep hoping he’ll let me in.
A lie bound us together.
Will the truth tear us apart?
Review:
Well, this isn’t my favourite book by Odette Stone, but I still devoured it in one sitting. I’ll get to what didn’t work for me in a few minutes. First, Odette is great at writing romances that are often banana pants crazy. I always warn new readers of her books: you just have to go along for the ride. Just say “yes,” don’t overthink about what you are reading, because if you do, it’s not going to be an enjoyable read for you. Now, mafia books in general tend to be bonkers and often can be pretty dark. I find Odette’s mafia books to, at times, flirt with that dark romance line, but never really cross it.
I’ve had a hard time figuring out what I want to say about this book, and I am not too sure why. Overall, I enjoyed reading this story; it had many of the qualities that I love in an Odette Stone book. The plot is fun, flirty, and entertaining. It is, of course, filled with ridiculous drama, an element of danger, lusty spice, and moments that get my heart racing in the most delicious way. I loved the mafia elements in this story; they added that sense of danger I find addictive and heightened the emotions coursing through it.
My one problem was Mila’s character, who is, I believe, around the age of twenty. Now, in mafia romances, the heroine tends to be younger, and I don’t mind that as long as they don’t act immature or their dialogue doesn’t come off as a whiny teenager. There was part of me that didn’t mind Mila’s character; she is an avid crafter, sweet with just the right amount of sass. I also understand that she spent the last few years of her life sheltered (not in a good way) in her uncle’s home. Being sheltered and so young means she can act young and naïve, which is fine. But my problem is that within the blink of an eye, she would become this sultry woman who seems to have a world of experience, and then, in the next blink of an eye, back to this naïve woman. Her character just felt a bit jarring at times. There were also times when I felt her dialogue and actions felt kind of immature, something I have never seen in an Odette Stone heroine before (even in her young heroines). I guess at the end of the day, I just wanted more from Mila’s character.
The romance was good. I love a guarded, broody alpha male that has all of his plans blown up by the heroine. The chemistry between these two is quite delicious at times, but I did struggle with Mila’s actions sometimes. I could see the potential between these two, and there were quite a few moments that had me hooked. Like with the rest of Odette’s mafia series, the spice isn’t over the top. It’s actually pretty tame compared to a lot of other mafia books and Odette’s hockey series. So, if you are looking to read something that isn’t overly explicit, this series might be a good fit for you.
Even though this book wasn’t as good as its predecessors, it’s still worth a read for anyone who is a fan of Odette’s books.
