thebookconfessions's review
4.0
Ooh this one was so good! Just the way I like my mafia romances, steamy and suspenseful.
byob_02's review
1.0
DNF’d at 43%. And I detest dnf’ing, but I was starting to dread picking up my book. I have read, and enjoyed, some really f’ed up/toxic/weird stuff and still, this felt worse. Maybe because the relationship is toxic & the FMC doesnt realize that? I guess I like both parties to knowingly consent to being in a toxic relationship. Ha!
I get that the FMC is meant to be naive and, since she is only 18 & super inexperienced with romantic relationships, I’ll forgive the fact that she allows herself to be an absolute doormat but “frick” she has so little life experience in general that she reads more like 14.
This book is weird in that it isnt a bully romance, but the MMC is such a dick it feels a lot like a one. I dig a “growly” alpha, but alpha does not mean dick.
Even at almost half way through, Im still throughly confused about who is even involved in the mysterious, big bad “stop asking questions, Cassidy” backstory/mystery.
I was led astray by a few out of context quotes on an IG reel
I get that the FMC is meant to be naive and, since she is only 18 & super inexperienced with romantic relationships, I’ll forgive the fact that she allows herself to be an absolute doormat but “frick” she has so little life experience in general that she reads more like 14.
This book is weird in that it isnt a bully romance, but the MMC is such a dick it feels a lot like a one. I dig a “growly” alpha, but alpha does not mean dick.
Even at almost half way through, Im still throughly confused about who is even involved in the mysterious, big bad “stop asking questions, Cassidy” backstory/mystery.
I was led astray by a few out of context quotes on an IG reel
cj_454's review
5.0
Cassidy is a devoted ballerina who crushes on the town bad boy. He seems to be interested She's sweet and innocent. She knows he doesn't do relationships.
He keeps coming around and despite being so young, cassidy questions what he feels when they're together. She challenges him.
We don't really know much about him right now because we only get her POV, but right now he's closed off, he's quiet and doesn't say much about his life.
Cassidy is still young and naive. She's in love with Max and he's changing for her. We don't know his feelings but he seems to care.
Max is possessive. He's opening himself up to Cassidy. We're also finding out that they could be used as pawns.
What is Jimmy's plans? Will we learn what they are up to?
Cassidy is quite young and naive, sometimes painfully so, but I think this is how she's supposed to be portrayed. She's been sheltered, her life revolves around ballet . She's only really ever heard rumours about the butcher boys and what they get up to.
She was very innocent in her thinking, but it is that innocence that breaks through Max's tough exterior. She forces him almost to see things through her eyes and he begins to soften for her. He is different with her.
Nicci does well in capturing Cassidy's innocence, and her reactions to things feel real, any naïve young girl would react the way she does with things. I also liked how she allowed Cassidy to work through her feelings about what Max does as a job and his connections to the 'underworld'. She loves him enough to look past the things that he does because she knows deep down he is a good person and he is a product of his upbringing. He is what he was made to be.
What happens next is terrible and we find out that things were orchestrated to get revenge. Max and Cassidy struggle with what has happened and we feel for both of them. You can relate to how Cassidy behaves after this, because really, how does one react after something like that? You question things? You try to do things to forget, you also keep replaying things over and over.
For those that read Facing Us first, will appreciate the connection to this book and the backstory you got from that.
Straight into Cosa Nostra and we get Max's POV. We are in the after math of what happened and we finally get a sense of how he feels. He realises now what Cassidy really means to him and he will do anything in his power to ensure she is not hurt again.
I love how Max has embraced his feelings for Cassidy. While he still doesn't say those words, you see he cares deeply for her. He shows her through his actions.
Through the start of this story Cassidy still acts quite young, she still seems very unsure and there are times where she accepts what Max does, but then wants him to change.
The butcher boys have never been shown real affection growing up, so he shows it the only way he knows how. He's irrational when it comes to keeping her safe. He's possessive and tries to keep her away from his work, he doesn’t want her tainted by the darkness, so there are things that he will keep from her.
The second part of their story tore me to pieces. Something I didn't see coming and Nicci wrote this with so much emotion that I was blinking away the tears so I could continue reading. They came back stronger after the events of the first part but then nothing is ever easy in the district and things come crashing down.
More secrets were revealed in this story and I'm pleased to know that some part of this story got resolved.
Max grew the most. I'm glad we got to see his POV in this book because we got to see the depth of his character. Whilst he was quiet and brooding, it could feel at times that perhaps we couldn't connect with him. But then we'll catch a glimpse of when he's with his ballerina and his walls come down and that hard exterior softens.
These 2 had it rough, but their unwavering love for one another was just beautiful, something good in amongst the darkness.
This was such an emotional read that I'm going to need to take step back before reading Bronson's story, because if it's as emotional and heartbreaking and beautiful as Max and Cassidy's story, then I'm going to need to prepare myself. I was an absolute sobbing mess reading the end of this story.
This story is about love and how different things can be when you grow up a certain way. How your childhood and history can shape the way you live your adult life. How your choices are limited because you have to continue and follow your parents footsteps.
These characters are broken, you feel for them because you feel like you know them. Nicci brings them all to life with her writing and you just want desperately for them to have their HEA.
The overarching story is just beginning and I really want to see Max get his revenge, he lost so much through events in this book. I urge you to start this series Today!
He keeps coming around and despite being so young, cassidy questions what he feels when they're together. She challenges him.
We don't really know much about him right now because we only get her POV, but right now he's closed off, he's quiet and doesn't say much about his life.
Cassidy is still young and naive. She's in love with Max and he's changing for her. We don't know his feelings but he seems to care.
Max is possessive. He's opening himself up to Cassidy. We're also finding out that they could be used as pawns.
What is Jimmy's plans? Will we learn what they are up to?
Cassidy is quite young and naive, sometimes painfully so, but I think this is how she's supposed to be portrayed. She's been sheltered, her life revolves around ballet . She's only really ever heard rumours about the butcher boys and what they get up to.
She was very innocent in her thinking, but it is that innocence that breaks through Max's tough exterior. She forces him almost to see things through her eyes and he begins to soften for her. He is different with her.
Nicci does well in capturing Cassidy's innocence, and her reactions to things feel real, any naïve young girl would react the way she does with things. I also liked how she allowed Cassidy to work through her feelings about what Max does as a job and his connections to the 'underworld'. She loves him enough to look past the things that he does because she knows deep down he is a good person and he is a product of his upbringing. He is what he was made to be.
What happens next is terrible and we find out that things were orchestrated to get revenge. Max and Cassidy struggle with what has happened and we feel for both of them. You can relate to how Cassidy behaves after this, because really, how does one react after something like that? You question things? You try to do things to forget, you also keep replaying things over and over.
For those that read Facing Us first, will appreciate the connection to this book and the backstory you got from that.
Straight into Cosa Nostra and we get Max's POV. We are in the after math of what happened and we finally get a sense of how he feels. He realises now what Cassidy really means to him and he will do anything in his power to ensure she is not hurt again.
I love how Max has embraced his feelings for Cassidy. While he still doesn't say those words, you see he cares deeply for her. He shows her through his actions.
Through the start of this story Cassidy still acts quite young, she still seems very unsure and there are times where she accepts what Max does, but then wants him to change.
The butcher boys have never been shown real affection growing up, so he shows it the only way he knows how. He's irrational when it comes to keeping her safe. He's possessive and tries to keep her away from his work, he doesn’t want her tainted by the darkness, so there are things that he will keep from her.
The second part of their story tore me to pieces. Something I didn't see coming and Nicci wrote this with so much emotion that I was blinking away the tears so I could continue reading. They came back stronger after the events of the first part but then nothing is ever easy in the district and things come crashing down.
More secrets were revealed in this story and I'm pleased to know that some part of this story got resolved.
Max grew the most. I'm glad we got to see his POV in this book because we got to see the depth of his character. Whilst he was quiet and brooding, it could feel at times that perhaps we couldn't connect with him. But then we'll catch a glimpse of when he's with his ballerina and his walls come down and that hard exterior softens.
These 2 had it rough, but their unwavering love for one another was just beautiful, something good in amongst the darkness.
This was such an emotional read that I'm going to need to take step back before reading Bronson's story, because if it's as emotional and heartbreaking and beautiful as Max and Cassidy's story, then I'm going to need to prepare myself. I was an absolute sobbing mess reading the end of this story.
This story is about love and how different things can be when you grow up a certain way. How your childhood and history can shape the way you live your adult life. How your choices are limited because you have to continue and follow your parents footsteps.
These characters are broken, you feel for them because you feel like you know them. Nicci brings them all to life with her writing and you just want desperately for them to have their HEA.
The overarching story is just beginning and I really want to see Max get his revenge, he lost so much through events in this book. I urge you to start this series Today!
sidneycallison's review
3.0
My first mafia and it was a good one. Loved their chemistry & the story line. I also really loved the whole I am a bad person, but good for only you thing.
acaimai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isla_25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5