Nessa, the female lead, has been trapped by her Irish mafia abusive father in the family home for years. When he offers up her virginity as part of the stakes in a game, Cian, the male lead, collects. He’s leadership in an enemy mafia group but they don’t treat women the way Nessa’s father does. Cian is intrigued by Nessa and, slowly, Nessa’s true personality emerges. But there’s a war brewing between enemy families and Cian and Nessa’s relationship may be a casualty of that war…

This story is dual POV, well written, and an interesting, angsty, enemies-to-lovers romance starting a new series. It is a spin off from the author’s previous Irish mafia series, of which I have read none. This story stands alone, though I think engagement with secondary characters would have been enhanced if I had read their stories. I enjoyed Nessa’s determination to start to have her own choices. I enjoyed Cian’s support of her emerging independence. I appreciated the realism of her response when her abusive father confronted her again. I enjoyed the secondary character interactions and the immersion of Nessa in a family. I applauded Cian’s approach to consent, and the sweet and steamy intimate relations. I enjoyed the overarching plot and am looking forward to more in this series, though mafia romance isn’t usually my thing.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.