⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5

“Have Mercy”.

Wow, where do I start with this book? I loved everything about this story, and I want more. Mercy, Brandon, and Michelle were such great friends and tragedy seemed to befall them constantly. I loved so much of their weeks together and that they had such a connection between all of them.

Mercy and Michelle had a once in a lifetime love story, just like Daphne and Tongue. Hopefully their stories will end differently. With Tongue and Mercy and the rest of the Ruthless Kings behind them maybe their story will have a better ending.

I love the characters in this story and the way it was written. It was such a heartbreaking story and the love that Mercy had for Michelle has transferred to Daphne, but in a fatherly way. Even though I knew the outcome of Michelle and Mercy’s story, I was still hoping for the best for these two. How could I not? They had such a deep love for each other, and they were made for each other. I give this story a 5-star review and I am so looking forward to more of this new branch off series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5

Adeline Holloway is the younger sister of Anders Taylor’s wife, Texas. She had a rough split from her high school sweetheart and had to make a life for her and her little girl. She had no college education or work experience, but when she needed to step up to the plate, she did, and she did a great job providing for her and her daughter.

Dalton Landry worked for the FBI and after an undercover job went south, he was wanted by both sides of the law. He needed to clear his name and knew that the only person that could help him was Anders Taylor, his previous boss. So, he planned to get to him and ask for help before he could be apprehended or worse.

I loved Landry and Adeline’s story. It was dangerous, action packed, and redeeming. When Adeline finds herself in danger and no way out that she can see, she blames Dalton for letting her down. Could her trust issues with Dalton be a result of her ex-husband? She has a lot to work out and with the danger still lurking around, she has no choice but to accept Dalton’s offer of protection. It is also an opportunity for Dalton to possibly regain his life. In the process of clearing his name, Dalton has made some conclusions about things, his old team and how it was possible that one of them was working against the FBI and finding a family that Dalton didn’t know he was looking for. I loved this book and give it a 5-star review. I am looking forward to reading Dash of Regret.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5

Christian Giordano wants to prove his worth and gain his place in the family, but when it seems that things are stacked against him and his own father doesn’t show faith in him his whole world feels like it’s about to implode. The only light in his life right now is the beautiful Angel that he hired to dance in his club The Dark Odyssey. His current theme is Heaven and Hell, and Lilly St. James is his depiction of Heaven.

Lilly St. James feels as though she’s hit bottom, but in order to provide for her daughter and keep her and her daughter safe, she has to take the job dancing in The Dark Odyssey and do as she is asked since she stated on her contract that anything was possible. However, she’s not prepared for what her path forward will be once she meets Christian Giordano. Her world is about to be turned upside down again and there is not guarantee that she will walk away safe this time.

I love the Dark Odyssey books and Christian’s did not disappoint. Christian is a man that just wants to prove that he can contribute to the family business along with the rest of his cousins and his brother, and not just be the bookkeeper and run The Dark Odyssey. His own brother and father seem to continue to look at him as the youngest and not capable of handling the business. Giordano Inc will take a couple of hits and Christian will be the one to take the blame for the issues, but when his father puts him on the spot, Christian may just end up giving his life for his family and the family business. Christian is just as lethal, possessive, and protective as the other Giordano’s, but his loyalty is above the older generation, just like his cousin’s. If you like mafia, possessive men, Alpha protectors, and women that bring these men to their knees, you will love the Dark Odyssey, and you may just get to read about your wildest fantasy in the process.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5

While I read a lot of dark, twisted romance, and thriller stories, I am not really a huge fan of horror stories, however, I did read a few of the stories in Shadowlands: A Horror Anthology. I enjoyed the Shadowlands story as well as the Passages: Shadowland part 2, by Dan Alatorre. I found these stories to be more along the lines of a haunted thriller, I also read The Prodigy by Colton Berman and while I liked the story, it was not something I would normally pick up to read. I enjoyed the thrill and suspense of the stories. I will read a few more of the stories in the anthology off and on, but it’s not a book I would jump to reading all of the stories in at once. I am giving the book a 4-star review because I loved the intrigue and thrill of the Shadowland and Shadowland 2 stories, they were interesting, intriguing and thrilling to read with the ending being a huge surprise.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 out of 5

Nyx keeps to himself; he knows the ways things are in foster homes and this one is no different. He keeps quiet and tries not to engage with the other kids in the house, but when he gets pushed too far, he can’t help but fight back. The only thing that gives him hope is the mysterious man that showed up one day and made his foster dad cower. Now he’s determined to find out who the man was and why he was protecting Nyx. The only thing he has to go on is the hooded skull on the back of the man’s vest. The path he’s on now will bring more danger to his life than living in foster homes did.

Ella Jackson is the daughter of a Federal judge, but her life is not close to what most think it is. Her whole life is about to take a turn that she may never be able to recover from. She’s just turned eighteen and is almost ready to graduate high school. The problem is that she’s a girl that tries to keep her head down and herself invisible, especially at school. Just because she comes from a prominent family does make her life golden or make her safe.

I enjoyed this book and the story, but I had an issue with the writing. The writing is a mixture of American English, British, and southern slang. While the story takes place in Colorado, it was hard to see the reasoning behind some of the wording used in the story and dialogue. I really like the story and characters and will read more, but I did have a real problem with some of the dialogue and words used. I give this book a 3.5-star review only because I could not wrap my mind around the use of the different wording used in the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5

Boris Ivanov is a man with secrets and darkness within. The only light in his life is his best friends’ little sister, but she’s off limits, until she’s not. He’s a Russian killer and a fighter.

Nora O’Malley comes from a long line of Irish mafia and is the little sister of Boris Ivano’s best friend Killian O’Malley. She’s been in love with Boris since she was a young girl, and those feelings just keep growing stronger.

I love the characters that Maggie Cole writes. They are always strong, sexy, lethal, protective and fun to read. The women are strong and sassy, but the men let them do as they wish and stand beside them and have their backs all the time. The Mafia Wars series is increasingly becoming one of my favorite series with wonderful characters. In Broken Fighter the stakes have gotten higher for the Ivanov brothers, but with the O’Malley’s in their corner they might be able to get out from under the Zamir’s thumb. The Ivanov’s may not be a mafia family, but they are ruthless and lethal just the same. I give this book a 5-star review and cannot wait to read Cruel Enforcer and the rest of the Mafia Wars Series books. I love the women as much as I love the men in this series. They are just as protective of their men and family as the men are of them.