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shedevilreads's review against another edition
5.0
Brutal Defender by Maggie Cole is an enemies to lovers dark mafia romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Kelsey Navarro and Lance Greenfield. This is the eighth book in the Mafia Wars series. The book can be read as a standalone but the stories are interconnected.
I absolutely love Maggie's books! She does an amazing job pulling me into the story. I loved the relationship that bloomed between Killian and Arianna. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
I can't wait for the next book in the series Deviant Hacker to be released on December 1, 2021 so I can get Declan's story.
Kelsey and Lance did an amazing job on the narration. They both really know how to bring a story to life. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book you if you love arranged marriages, age gap romances, dark romances, mafia romances, or romantic suspense.
I absolutely love Maggie's books! She does an amazing job pulling me into the story. I loved the relationship that bloomed between Killian and Arianna. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
I can't wait for the next book in the series Deviant Hacker to be released on December 1, 2021 so I can get Declan's story.
Kelsey and Lance did an amazing job on the narration. They both really know how to bring a story to life. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book you if you love arranged marriages, age gap romances, dark romances, mafia romances, or romantic suspense.
isx_x33's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.5
Average and many childish arguments in the beginning
danimac's review against another edition
5.0
Love this series!!!
Killian and Arianna’s story was beautifully written. The smexy scenes were hot. And the comedy in this book really made me LOL. Can’t wait for Declan’s story.
Killian and Arianna’s story was beautifully written. The smexy scenes were hot. And the comedy in this book really made me LOL. Can’t wait for Declan’s story.
megs004's review against another edition
5.0
Brutal Defender is the eighth book of the Mafia Wars series and the third book about the O’ Malley family. This book had it all, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, drama and steam. Maggie always does a great job making the reader get hooked on the story and this book is no different! I loved Killian and Arianna’s story. They both hated each other at first but their chemistry is off the charts. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
author_d_williams's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t think of two characters that needed and deserved themselves more! Once they got they’re stuff together they were just beautiful together. The banter and misunderstanding made this book for me. True love earned the long, hard way for sure!
bookswiths_'s review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved reading Killian & Arianna’s book. They both had a lot of maturing to do and I’m so glad by the end of this book they were able to communicate their needs and wants in a way that helps serve their relationship. I am all for an arranged marriage trope book so I ate this up!
loverofromance's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Brutal Defender is the next installment and I was super excited for this one which is why I immediately jumped right into it because it had my favorite trope “arranged marriage” and I was so eager to see how this author would implement this trope as she hadn’t really done this trope and its such a classic use in the mafia world. I really found both individuals so different and boy were they explosive together. I would like to say that I absolutely loved this one but unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for me. Killian and Arianna are part of different territories Killain agrees to a trade and if he breaks his word, then it will mean his brother will face life in prison more than likely. But he will have to marry a stranger in order to do so. Arianna’s father is determined to get her away from someone who has a bad influence and gives Arianna two choices ….Killian or a mafia head in Italy who is twenty years older than her and she easily chooses Killian. But Killian and Arianna do not like each other and have bitterness against each other. And they have to work to make adjustments for each other, and learn to work together as they are now married.
I had so many issues with this book, and I am sad to say it, but these two were a struggle to read. I found both Killian and Arianna both selfish, arrogant, and acted childish to each other. Every time you would think, they have learned their lesson and will start to treat each other like decent human beings, something would happen and it would be this endless circle and it was so exhausting and if I didn’t love this author so much I probably wouldn’t have kept with this book if I am being honest. And I knew there would be other factors to the serial plot so I did want to stick with it due to that factor. But this romance was not enjoyable or fun to read at all and I wanted to strangle these two because they acted like spoiled children instead of adults. While there were aspects to their relationship that I enjoyed at times, the pettiness between them was never-ending and draining and took the fun out of the story for me. It’s just not a story that really appealed to me and felt lackluster overall.
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Brutal Defender is the next installment and I was super excited for this one which is why I immediately jumped right into it because it had my favorite trope “arranged marriage” and I was so eager to see how this author would implement this trope as she hadn’t really done this trope and its such a classic use in the mafia world. I really found both individuals so different and boy were they explosive together. I would like to say that I absolutely loved this one but unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for me. Killian and Arianna are part of different territories Killain agrees to a trade and if he breaks his word, then it will mean his brother will face life in prison more than likely. But he will have to marry a stranger in order to do so. Arianna’s father is determined to get her away from someone who has a bad influence and gives Arianna two choices ….Killian or a mafia head in Italy who is twenty years older than her and she easily chooses Killian. But Killian and Arianna do not like each other and have bitterness against each other. And they have to work to make adjustments for each other, and learn to work together as they are now married.
I had so many issues with this book, and I am sad to say it, but these two were a struggle to read. I found both Killian and Arianna both selfish, arrogant, and acted childish to each other. Every time you would think, they have learned their lesson and will start to treat each other like decent human beings, something would happen and it would be this endless circle and it was so exhausting and if I didn’t love this author so much I probably wouldn’t have kept with this book if I am being honest. And I knew there would be other factors to the serial plot so I did want to stick with it due to that factor. But this romance was not enjoyable or fun to read at all and I wanted to strangle these two because they acted like spoiled children instead of adults. While there were aspects to their relationship that I enjoyed at times, the pettiness between them was never-ending and draining and took the fun out of the story for me. It’s just not a story that really appealed to me and felt lackluster overall.
daniela_endless_tbr's review against another edition
5.0
THIS SERIES JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. I LOVE KILLIAN’S AND ARIANA’S STORY. LOVE ARIANA’S PERSONALITY.
THE WAY KILLIAN IS WITH HER
THE WAY KILLIAN IS WITH HER
candiceh85's review against another edition
5.0
Arranged Mafia Marriage
Adrianna and Killiam are hot and passionate and emotionally confused at the same time. Maggie Cole just keeps taking Mafia Wars to the next level with every book in the series.
Adrianna and Killiam are hot and passionate and emotionally confused at the same time. Maggie Cole just keeps taking Mafia Wars to the next level with every book in the series.