Roman and Effie come to life
5 stars

Roman is the second book in the Men of the Falls series. We got right hand man, Aldo’s, story in the first book and now it’s time for Roman to meet his match and go kicking and screaming into love. I’ve read the ebook and now I like to listen to the audiobook featuring, as always, the wonderful John Lane and Maxine Mitchell.

Roman is a stern, serious and successful casino owner and business man - oh and head of a mafia syndicate. It’s that last fact that probably keeps him so private and alone. If you’ve read Aldo - which you do not need to have done to enjoy this story - then we’ve already had glimpses of Roman’s lighter side, but in case we’ve forgotten who he really is, we’re reminded of the fact that Roman is a lethal, ruthless man.

Which is why I was so ridiculously delighted when we’re introduced to Effie - a small spitfire of a woman who is Roman’s opposite in every way. She’s fierce and smart but not too proud to cry when things get too tough. And boy do they get tough for her. But I liked her immensely and was rooting for her the whole book through. She wasn’t overly sassy - which could have easily happened to push back against Roman’s control - but I felt she was a real person. Basically, she had me at her love of reading and her worry over who would water her plants when she had to leave her apartment for a while! Maxine Mitchell always thrills me with her performances. She becomes which ever character she narrates and in this case, she is Effie. I love that she adds to her performance by acting the role and I am easily lost in her performance.

Now back to Roman. What to say about him? He’s everything that his description says he is - but every minute with Effie sees his defences crumbling as he fights against the feelings that she’s making him feel. I’m not sure why I like it when my heroes suffer as they fall in love but it seems to be catnip for me. And no-one fought as hard as Roman did against falling in love - he went kicking and screaming, getting angry and raging. T’was delightful! But despite the whole mafia thing, he’s a good man and despite wanting to give him a good kick up the rear with his protestations that he wasn’t capable of love, I was rooting for him, too. John Lane reading as Roman was everything I could have hoped for and more. He just adds a richness and depth to the characters and the story. I felt the emotion in his words and found myself tearing up so much more than I did when reading. It really adds life to an already brilliant book.

Effie and Roman are a great, if unusual, couple. The baker and the head of the mafia syndicate. But they worked and I loved how they filled the other out - helping Roman to be more calm and Effie to be more bold. The sex scenes were hot but also full of feeling and although scattered throughout the book - they fit in perfectly with the story.

And there’s no getting away with the fact that this is a mafia book - something that does not usually float my boat. But if I was ever to get into the sub-genre, then I would hold this book up as how to do it. It wasn’t too gratuitous but there was still that air of menace that showed that Roman was a dangerous man. There was killing, sure, but I could rationalise it all. And the mafia setting did give the book some action to sit alongside Roman and Effie’s love story.

Melanie Moreland has given us another book that gives us a hint of her Men of Hidden Justice but with enough differences to keep it fresh and interesting. With the wonderful narration of John Lane and Maxine Mitchell - the story and characters come to life. I really wanted to wallow in Roman and Effie’s life some more even after the end. Love a good Melanie Moreland story and love them even more in audio. Definitely 5 stars. ( )

What did I like about this story? Everything. It is hard for me to find mafia romance that gives all the top points I need: syndicate conflict, redemption, powerful men, tension and romance. This story blends them all. Never leaning on one piece of the story more than the other. Well paced, fantastic storytelling that I know I will be re-reading over and over again.

Roman is everything I expect in a hero and lead of the family and business. He drips with power and connection. With the one thing he lacks - intimate, loving relationship. Enter Effie.

Effie is the soft place for Roman to land but never a push over. Her life has been upended and trying to find her way. But when pushed, that spine shows up!

If you are all about the protective, he falls first for the noble cinderella, look no further. I spent time in this world because I never wanted it to end. ( )

My Review:

Roman had a premise that was so interesting to me and really had me one clicking it, so I appreciate the recommendation from "The Book Refuge" because I am not sure I would have read this author otherwise. I really had a wonderful time reading this one here. The whole idea of the heroine being put in a bad situation because of an evil manipulative sister and the hero saves the day...yeah I soak that up like a sponge. The plot was really fascinating and I adored the way that these two got along. I only had one major issue with this book and its that the heroine was a bit naive at times. I mean literally her life is in danger and she wants to go to her bake shop like everything is normal? Yeah the hero is so bad for protecting her and stopping that haha Now sometimes I can be gracious with TSTL type of heroines, but it was a factor in the story where she never really learns. The hero is much more patient with her than she probably deserves. But the justice against the sister...yeah she deserved it and more.

Overall I found Roman to be an intriguing reading and I most definitely want to read more of this author as she has me intrigued by these relationships between the three men. ( )

The boss man meets his match
5 stars

Melanie Moreland continues to delight me with her romantic stories - while also continuing to torment and tease me on the way to her happily ever afters. Roman is the second book in the Men of the Falls series. We got right hand man, Aldo’s, story in the first book and now it’s time for Roman to meet his match and go kicking and screaming into love.

Roman is a stern, serious and successful casino owner and business man - oh and head of a mafia syndicate. It’s that last fact that probably keeps him so private and alone. If you’ve read Aldo - which you do not need to have done to enjoy this story - then we’ve already had glimpses of Roman’s lighter side, but in case we’ve forgotten who he really is, we’re reminded of the fact that Roman is a lethal, ruthless man.

Which is why I was so ridiculously delighted when we’re introduced to Effie - a small spitfire of a woman who is Roman’s opposite in every way. She’s fierce and smart but not too proud to cry when things get too tough. And boy do they get tough for her. But I liked her immensely and was rooting for her the whole book through. She wasn’t overly sassy - which could have easily happened to push back against Roman’s control - but I felt she was a real person. Basically, she had me at her love of reading and her worry over who would water her plants when she had to leave her apartment for a while!

Now back to Roman. What to say about him? He’s everything that his description says he is - but every minute with Effie sees his defences crumbling as he fights against the feelings that she’s making him feel. I’m not sure why I like it when my heroes suffer as they fall in love but it seems to be catnip for me. And no-one fought as hard as Roman did against falling in love - he went kicking and screaming, getting angry and raging. T’was delightful! But despite the whole mafia thing, he’s a good man and despite wanting to give him a good kick up the rear with his protestations that he wasn’t capable of love, I was rooting for him, too.

Effie and Roman are a great, if unusual, couple. The baker and the head of the mafia syndicate. But they worked and I loved how they filled the other out - helping Roman to be more calm and Effie to be more bold. The sex scenes were hot but also full of feeling and although scattered throughout the book - they fit in perfectly with the story.

And there’s no getting away with the fact that this is a mafia book - something that does not usually float my boat. But if I was ever to get into the sub-genre, then I would hold this book up as how to do it. It wasn’t too gratuitous but there was still that air of menace that showed that Roman was a dangerous man. There was killing, sure, but I could rationalise it all. And the mafia setting did give the book some action to sit alongside Roman and Effie’s love story.

Melanie Moreland has given us another book that gives us a hint of her Men of Hidden Justice but with enough differences to keep it fresh and interesting. I love her storytelling - her way of getting into the heads of her characters and getting us into the world that she builds. This was another book that I was bereft to find that I had finished as the feeling I got when reading was still there well after the last page. Definitely another recommended read. 5 stars from me. ( )