Book Reviews/ September 19, 2023October 30, 2023

Twisted Secrets by Katee Robert Book Review

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Blurb

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O’Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.

Greed. Ambition. Violence. Those are the “values” Olivia Rashidi learned from her Russian mob family-and the values she must leave behind for the sake of her daughter. When she meets Cillian O’Malley, she recognizes the red flag of his family name . . . yet she still can’t stop herself from seeing the smoldering, tortured man. To save her family, Olivia sets out to discover Cillian’s own secrets, but the real revelation is how fast-and how hard-she’s falling for him.

Plagued by a violent past, Cillian is more vulnerable than anyone realizes. Anyone except Olivia, whose beauty, compassion, and pride have him at “hello,” even if she’s more inclined to say good-bye to an O’Malley. While his proposal of sex with no strings seems simple, what he feels for her isn’t, especially after he learns that she belongs to a rival crime family. Cillian knows that there is no escape from the life, but Olivia may be worth trying-and dying-for . . .

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content that I observed while reading this book:

Alcohol
Death of a Loved One
Grief
Gun violence
Profanity
Sexually Explicit Scenes
Stalking
Violence

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

Overall Rating

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twisted Secrets was my first single mom, mafia romance, and I am absolutely obsessed! 🥰 Katee absolutely killed it with this story! We’ve got a reformed playboy, Cillian, who changes his entire tune after the murder of his brother but even more so once he falls for Olivia. Olivia is my absolute favorite of the series. She knows the mafia life and has tried to stay away but who could resist Cillian?!?! I love Cillian so, so much!

They have a few HOT trysts before their first date but one thing is clear: these two have intense chemistry! They are so perfect for each other and we get to see that through their actions but also through their narratives. Cillian makes Olivia see that she is more valuable that just a bartender or pawn in her family’s games. Olivia shows Cillian that he can move forward from the loss he’s suffered and have a full life complete with a family of his own.

Their first real date though, I was a swoony-melty mess! The conversation was to die for! I have gone back to reread chapters 9-11 a few times at this point. It was honestly such an amazing first date. The way their perspectives of the other person become clearer AND affirms their physical attraction with their emotional one… I ate it up! I loved seeing these two characters in such a mundane setting though they are so far from “normal” individuals.

As I continue to read through this series, I just love the O’Malley family more and more and love the partners that they pick to bring into this life. There’s so much fun with this family saga as we continue to see them after the death of their beloved brother, Devlin, and all the ways that these mafia families are entangled with each other. It was more than just the spice… It was a lot of amazing mafia content that I just love from Katee. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Sloan because she’s our next O’Malley!

I highly recommend this story and highly recommend this series. If you have not already been convinced by me loving on this series! 🫶🏽 Please go and check them out, especially with these amazing new covers. 💚💚

Spice Rating

4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book has many open door scenes and innuendo throughout!

Genre & Tropes

Genre

Dark Mafia Romance

Tropes

Family Saga
Single Mom Romance
Forbidden Romance
Man Obsessed

Favorite Quotes

“Last night was a onetime thing.”
“You said that already.”

“She’d never been kissed like this, like she was something to be savored…valued. Like he had all the time in the world and he’d still never get enough.”

“You’re making it hard to be good, sweetheart.” So don’t be good.

“Or maybe it’s the best damn idea either of us has had. Life is too short, Olivia. Why not take your happiness where you can find it, even if it’s not forever?”

“I can take care of myself.” Maybe if she said it enough times, the men around her would start believing it…
“And you can take care of me, too.”

“You think if I take you from behind that you won’t know it’s me… Please, sweetheart. It’s my cock inside you, my hand on your clit, and it’s me who’s going to make you come. Right. Fucking. Now.”

“No, sweetheart. I was down for exactly what you offered last time—a no-strings-attached quickie—but that’s not what I want this time. Not now. Not like this… I like you, Olivia.” His words were so soft compared to the harsh way he fucked her with his fingers. “I want to get to know you.”

“I promised myself I’d never get involved with someone like you.”
“Sweetheart, there is no one like me.”

“She laughed again, the sound like the best whiskey. He could almost taste it if he closed his eyes.”

“Come on, Olivia. You’re better than back-alley sex. No matter how much you like it. Shut up.”

“Normally…Well, it doesn’t matter what would happen normally. We’ve played that game before and, I don’t know about you, but I like the reality better than any alternative thing we could dream up. I like you, Olivia. I want to take you out again. So I’m willing to do whatever it takes not to spook you.”
“I’m not a wild animal.”
“Aren’t you?”…
“It’s not meant as an insult. My point is that what happens in the next forty-five minutes is completely within your control.” “My control.”

“Daddy issues, thy name is Olivia.”

“She called and he came, no questions asked. That made him even sexier, if that were even possible. Down, girl.”

“Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m tired of waiting for our chance to come around again, Cillian. I want you. You want me. Life’s too short. Let’s do this.”
He pushed to his feet. “And they say romance is dead.” He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Hey!”
“I said it before, sweetheart. We do this, we’re doing it my way.”

“Are you complaining?”
“Sweetheart, I’m inside you again. Things can’t get better than this… Actually, I lied. The only thing that could make this better is feeling you coming around my cock. I’ve been losing sleep revisiting fucking you in the alley, and I’m craving that feeling like the best kind of whiskey.”