3.5

I’m always up for a damsel-in-distress type of romance. The guys are usually all alpha and sexy and protective and Malachim didn’t disappoint.

This being the second installment in the series, there’s a little you need to get up to date regarding Malachim’s job situation. He’s a lawyer and his license has been suspended pending an investigation. Because of this, a lot of his employees and clients have left leaving him in a wee bit of a bind.

Danielle (formerly known as Helena) has been running from her ex-husband for the last two years of her life. Although currently in prison, her abusive ex has sworn to never let her go, forcing her to flee and assume a new identity. A lawyer in her former life, Danielle gets a job as a paralegal at Malachim’s firm.

While Malachim knows betrayal and isn’t willing to trust anyone nor is he looking for a relationship, he can’t deny Danielle is more than alluring. At the same time, Danielle can’t believe that the cocky but aloof lawyer that is now her boss is making her feel things she thought were dead for her.

With neither of them willing or able to be open with each other, it was hard for me to completely connect to either. Malachim’s protective instinct, though, bought him several brownie points and endeared him to me. I liked how the process of his changing feelings was done.

Danielle was one hell of a resilient woman. After being abused for years in every way possible, she kept being dealt with one crappy hand after another. Time and again she rallied, persevered and finally triumphed over everything making her more than awe-inspiring.

I did find their inner musings a bit on the long side. I understand they had to resolve issues within themselves, but I have to be honest here and admit that I skimmed over more than one of their self-psychoanalyses until I got to some interaction again.

With action, suspense, a touch of romance and some sexiness thrown in, Malachim was a good story I enjoyed and I’m very curious about the others in this series.

Malachim's life is falling apart, in the last year he had to break his engagement to Tara after finding out she spying on him for his father, he and his friends are tangled up in a legal mess after their involvement in a crime has come to light.


Danielle is looking for a fresh start and she has a lot of secrets to hide. So when she takes a chance and applies to be a legal assistant at Malachim's firm she really has nothing to lose. When he decides to hire her, she thinks things are beginning to change for her.


Then she gets mugged leaving the office, and her former boss Pat, his dinner gets robbed. As things begin to spiral out of control, Danielle suspects her secrets are catching up to her. Malachim falls deeper and deeper into a relationship with his secretive assistant. As her secrets start to unfold and people start dying around her will Malachim be able to save her or even trust her when everything comes to light?


I must admit I didn't read the first book, so I am sure I am missing some of the information and the introduction to all the characters from that book. However, I wasn't left feeling lost, and I devoured this book in sitting. I couldn't stop reading it. I loved Danielle and Malachim and I am running to get book 1 Gaberial right now. So if you are looking for a dark romance mystery than look no further!

*I received a copy of Secrets and Sins: Malachim from Entangled Ignite Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

Secrets and Sins: Malachim by Naima Simone is the second book of the series. I read this book as a stand alone and haven't read the other three books (Gabriel, Raphael and Chayot). I was able to read this book with no problems.

Malachim Jerrod is fighting to save his law practice from none other but the man that he considered his father. However, he's also been betrayed by his former fiance because of this he's a bit reluctant to let anyone else in his life. But when he meets Danielle Warren who applied for a paralegal job, he might just change his mind. The only thing is he hates secrets and he knows that she is hiding something. Little does he know that she's not only has a huge secret but she's only the run from her abusive ex-husband. Will they be able to trust each other despite their issues and will their relationship survive ?

Danielle Warren aka Elena Rainier is on the run from her ex-husband whose rules almost killed her with his abuse. They met while at law school but he never revealed his anger until he'd taken over his life. She was able to get away with the help of group who gave her a new identity. She's now in Boston working in a diner but her heart yearns to return to law again. Malachim gives her the job but when she's mugged and then he's severely beaten, she wonders if her ex has found her. Will they be able to catch their attackers or will they lose the battle with their lives? I did love Malachim's mother for her spunk and bravery when the truth is revealed. But its the spirit of Danielle to fight back and survive against her ex-husband that shows you can survive against all odds.

There is a twist at the end that will have you wondering huh?? So I do agree with a couple of other reviewers, so I'd give the book 3.8 stars because that twist just doesn't fit the story. However, the book is good and I enjoyed it.

Malachim by Naima Simone is Book 2 of the Secrets and Sins Series. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

This is the third book I’ve read by Ms. Simone, and as with the other two, I wasn’t disappointed. Malachim is a heart tugging romance that will knock you on your ass and keep you glued to your seat as you inhale all the wonderful, heady words that Ms. Simone has artfully strung together in this fantastic contemporary romance. This has a wonderful blending of action and suspense, mystery and heat. It’s a must-read! Malachim was a hard book to put down and I devoured it in one sitting. Honestly, after reading this one, I’m going to be grabbing up all of this author’s books and reading them. For anyone who hasn’t read this author’s work, I suggest you get started ASAP!

An ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

This book and this series has been in my to read pile for a long time and I'm grateful for the chance to review this book.

This is a tough book to review without spilling too much of the story, you've read the blurb so you got the gist. Set in Boston, the 4 men are bound together, friends since birth essentially via their mothers, who named them after the angels. (Answering a long time question for me) A side story is how they are also bound together by a secret, which has recently been brought to light leaving Mal in danger of disbarment.

Meet Danielle Warren who is working at a diner, and sees an ad for a paralegal at Mal's firm and one night she walks over to drop off her resume and runs into Mal. He quickly interviews her and she's hired. The owner of the diner Pat and his wife have given her a place to stay and a job, but he's encouraged her to go get something better. Mal wonders about her and why she flinches when he moves fast, her reluctance to be touched and a few other things, he intuits that there's more to Danielle than meets the eye. She's also smarter than a paralegal who's never held a job should be.
Then we meet Mal's father who the lowest of the the low. Rich, gloating and manipulative and gets off on rubbing Mal's face in his current situation. He also has dug enough to find out Danielle's story and uses that against her. Dani's ex husband is in jail and due to be released after he almost kills her, the abusive marriage made my stomach turn. She's got a sister who is a recovering addict still living in the south and they talk once a week. She doesn't tell her sister where or who she is.
When the ex Alex gets out of jail, hell bent on revenge and I do mean revenge, he'll stop at nothing and no one to get to Danielle, this sets off a chain of events that keep you spell bound and turning pages.
She and Mal get closer as well. The more things escalate the more protective he gets and the men step in also. That's all you'll get from me and that's almost too much. This book is a must read and I'm going to read the series now. This book is so well written that even reading out of order still works.
I love Naima. The woman can write just about anything she wants and does it very well.
The book gets a well deserved 4.9 from me. I highly recommend the book and the series. A huge thanks to Entangled for allowing me to review.

**arc via NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**