Rocco

Yep. This series is still AMAZING. Rocco was HOT. I mean, talk about "protector to the nth degree." He was one guy you didn't want to mess with, and yet, Grace stood up to him like no one had, and he was powerless to ever be mean to her. LOVED that. I really felt for Grace; she had physical and mental scars that she had to deal with, but she sure didn't take any guff from anyone, and for that, I admired her. Sarah truly did an excellent job of describing emotions. I'm pretty sure I felt everything she intended, from the intense love between Grace and Rocco to his fear when she might have been hurt to her fierce need for him. Very. Well. Done. I enjoyed the dynamic of the Mafia, especially the characters I had met in previous books (this is a standalone, but you'll totally want to read the other books too!) Sarah takes a seemingly dark world and makes it into a "meh, these guys aren't so bad" kind of feel. I am SO excited to see what ends up happening with a certain villain and a certain victim, so I am on pins and needles waiting for the next book! (I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)

Bring me the biggest, baddest, scariest Hero and I’ve gotta read it! I just love to read about the emotionally challenged men and watch them fall for that one person who reaches past the barriers no one else can touch. This is what you get with Rocco aka Frankie and Grace. Rocco was orphaned at age 6 and then adopted by Cesare De Lucchi. Cesare didn’t want a son, he wanted a killing machine for the mafia. He provided Rocco with everything a little boy could love and then cruelly stripped it all away, teaching him that love is a weakness. Grace is a mafia princess who thought her father was an insurance salesman growing up. When she’s forced to watch the love of her life perform his duty for the mafia, the brutal truth about her life can no longer be denied. She leaves New York to live a life away from the violence. Years later Rocco and Graces lives collide again. This time Rocco can’t let her walk away because nobody can protect her like he can. Sarah Castille did a fantastic job with Rocco and Grace’s story. You see the killer in Rocco but also that little boy he was before he was broken and rebuilt, only the adoptive father didn’t completely succeed in breaking him. The struggle he feels for being what he’s made to be and for wanting the light that Grace brings him is felt. You also understand the struggle Grace felt learning the truth about her family and wanting nothing to do with it while she battles her love for Rocco. She feels betrayed by him but also knows he’s more than a killer. The couples in the previous book make appearances in each book, but you could easily read each one as standalones. I’m curious if Mike’s story is next and if so, how he’ll handle the aftermath of what happened to him in this book. ARC provided by NetGalley.