4.5 Mine Means Yours Stars
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free- It's Live
Years ago I found The Marriage Contract and experienced the sense of Katee Roberts putting herself out there in a different way then she had in the past. She had a solid following from all of her previous books and I had enjoyed them, too. But with this new endeavor, Roberts approached a bigger story... one with multiple Boston Crime Families, their politics and fights for dominance... and the men and women in those families.

Working with those elements can be tricky... juggling all of the players, keeping everything clear and making them somehow relatable. They became worth our time and we rooted for them. Roberts managed that and more...With each release, the interest grew, the romance and swoon level rose and the intrigue kept us on the edge of our seats.

What worked so well were the backstories and secondary characters which populated thess books and with the use of the character Demtri Romanov as another threat to the O'Malleys... something special happened...He became a force of his own... he would grace the story, interacting with the youngest daughter, Keira. Every time they crossed paths, we were struck... the chemistry, raw attraction and way Demtri was able to push all of Keira's buttons...These moments were something we would look forward to... and finally after much anticipation, we have their story.

Keira O'Malley is broken. She has had a life without control. Even as a little girl, with rare moments of normalcy, everything was dictated... pronounced... She will do this, She will be that ... and only when she was away from her abusive and ruthless father and manipulative mother did she feel like she could breathe.

It was her brother Devlin who gave her glimmers of hope. He had gone off to college and was looking to do things outside of the family business. He was on his path and he understood her burdens. He encouraged Keira to follow her talent with her painting. He was her bright spot in this manipulative life....

And then he was killed...a victim of feuding families and he was the innocent of them all. All light left Keira, guilt and sorrow replaced it. She stopped painting, took up drinking, weed and mindless encounters where she was in control. It was at one of these raves where she met Demtri and nothing would be the same for them.

Readers of this series already know the set up...and it is a dozy. All of what you thought might take place does and more...

It is the more I am going to address... because both of these characters have been damaged in their own way...Demtri having to inherit the mantel of his family's power at such a young age. He was alone learning what needed to be done... and it caused him to seal himself off emotionally. He was a strong, mentally and physically powerful man. Intelligent and not to be underestimated... ever.

Keira was at a juncture... slowing moving towards bottom. The only thing she wanted more than control of her life... was to stop the pain of losing her brother...and the only thing that worked was becoming numb either with Vodka and/or weed. She loved her other siblings but most had already abandoned her... with relationships of their own or by using her as a pawn in the necessary power plays between all of the crime families.

Keira was sick of it. But there still was a crack of lightness periodically...coming from that Russian Bear Demtri...Keira wanted him... until she became another bargaining chip.

Once again she is not considered... thought of...It has been decreed. Well, circumstances take a turn and Keira is now presented with the power to save her family and every one she loves... Go with Demtri and become his wife.

What Keira doesn't know is Demtri has plans for her. He sees her not as a play thing, Stepford wife to present and then put away on the shelf. He may not have promised her LOVE... but he sees the pain she is in and is determined to bring Keira back among the living.

Every time these two connected, it was a battle royal...Keira taking every word of Demtri as him trying to control her...Demtri finds himself so taken by this woman... she becomes his every thought...and when he says mine...his meaning is not as a pet.

Keira rises to all of the challenges thrown at her and Demtri is one Russian Bear I would love to meet. The sexy times between these two is so incredible...I had to read the passages twice...

I am not sure if this is the total end of this series...the way this ended was a tad quick...I for one would always want more... and Katee Roberts has the chops to do it.

This series is best read in order:
The Marriage Contract (The O'Malleys, #1) by Katee Robert The Marriage Contract (The O'Malleys, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Wedding Pact (The O'Malleys, #2) by Katee Robert The Wedding Pact (The O'Malleys, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malleys, #3) by Katee Robert An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malleys, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...
Forbidden Promises (The O'Malleys, #4) by Katee Robert Forbidden Promises (The O'Malleys, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Undercover Attraction (The O'Malleys, #5) by Katee RobertUndercover Attraction (The O'Malleys, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Have been waiting...practically frothing at the mouth..
This Man is so bad, he is so good...
And he is the only one...
Who Gets what His Woman Needs...
Going in...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●
October 2017
All she ever wanted was the "normal little girl dream"...
Of sitting in the tree
K-i-s-s-i-n-g!
First comes love.
Then comes marriage.
Then comes baby* in the baby carriage....

But Keira O'Malley knew nothing was Normal for her...
No Courting or Dating...
No Love Match...
Crime Families didn't believe in that...

Instead, Dmitri Romanov stepped in ...
He is Cold, In Control and New York City bows at his feet...

These two are playing a very dangerous game with each other....
It will only be a matter of time before they both ignite...

The spark has been touched off...
The only question will be...
What is....

The Bastard's Bargain (The O'Malleys, #6)- February 6th, 2018

A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Bastard’s Bargain is the eagerly awaited conclusion to Katee Robert’s larger-than-life Mafia series, The O’Malleys, and it met and exceeded my incredibly high expectations. Dmitri pursues Keira with a ruthless determination, and her elusiveness and feistiness captivates him. When he is able to manipulate her into becoming his bride, it quickly becomes evident that he has a soft spot for her that is at odds with his domineering, cold-blooded personality. He supports Keira as she finds herself and embraces her power, and she proves that she’s the ideal partner to help rule his dangerous world. Their numerous layers and complexity prove why Robert writes fantastic character-driven romances with the most unforgettable heroines and the most compelling antiheroes. The Bastard’s Bargain is deliciously gritty, darkly romantic, drop-dead sexy and thoroughly engrossing.

I have read all of the titles in the series, and I am still a little surprised by how much I liked Dmitri, especially as he was essentially the villain through a lot of the first books, and still isn't the nicest of possible men in this one.

Keira and Dmitri are not a couple that you expect to work, and they are definitely a twist on the enemies to lovers as they are attracted to one another, and there is an interest there...it is their families who are enemies. And they take the enemies to another level as they are warring mafia families in different cities.

This is as messy as you would expect. But it is also as fun as you want it to be and think it will be. the writing is strong, and Ms. Robert manages to turn the villain of the previous books into the hero of this one. It's a fun read and a wonderful finish to the series.

I recommend this title.

4.5

The Bastard's Bargain kind of brings readers full circle in the O'Malley family from what was started in The Marriage Contract.

This time it's youngest O'Malley Kira who is the focus along with New York boss Dmitri Romanov whom we've seen clash with the O'Malleys since The Wedding Pact. Three years after the events in the first book, events which led to the death of the youngest O'Malley brother Devlin, the brother Kira was closest to, and Kira is still trying to numb herself from the pain, by whatever means necessary, namely drugs and alcohol. Her family knows she's hurting and knows she's spiraling out of control, but still Kira gets pushed to the wayside. When Dmitri comes along, Kira sees him not only as an escape from the house that has become a cage, but also as a way to rebel against the family who have put their own needs ahead of hers.

When Dmitri first encountered the youngest O'Malley she was well on her way to destruction. While their interactions have left both of them breathless and wanting more, Dmitri sees Kira as a perfect tool to keep the O'Malley's in line. Neither Dmitri nor Kira are prepared for what happens when they actually start caring for one another. However, any desire to explore these feelings needs to be put on hold as another New York power player threatens Dmitri's hold over his territory which will also cause him to look in the most unlikely of places for help.

When Katee Robert first teased a possible pairing between Dmitri and Kira in Forbidden Promises, I was taken aback by how much I loved the idea. For me, the thought of them being a couple came completely out of left field especially since Dmitri was set-up as the O'Malley antagonist ever since his agreed upon marriage to oldest sister Carrigan was unceremoniously dropped pretty much solidifying the dislike between him and the O'Malley family. But The Bastard's Bargain classically showcases that anti-heroes sometimes get the best stories.

Being teased for a couple of books now only helped to make Kira and Dmitri my second favorite couple of the series, after Teague and Callie that is. I loved pulling back the veil of who Dmitri is. I enjoyed watching him subtly begin to truly fall in love with Kira. Dropping the mask didn't ruin the image that we've been given of Dmitri up to this point, it only added to it.

For Kira, the idea of getting out of her cage is too good to pass up, even though it means giving herself over to the enemy. An area in which I agree wholeheartedly with Dmitri is that Kira's family totally let her down. She's 21 in this book, meaning she was only 18 when her brother was killed. With the O'Malley siblings purportedly being close, at least at one point in time, I would have hoped one of her siblings could have stepped in and helped her. I was definitely happy that this was addressed even if any kind of reparations are a moot point since Kira's out of the house. But I wanted to see her siblings take more concern for her. I liked that Dmitri steps in and gets her the help she needs. I think it's definitely a commentary by Katee Robert on someone specifically outside of the family offering Kira the help she needs thereby strengthening her growth as a character. The idea that in order to grow she needs to leave the house. We saw Kira begin these steps in Undercover Attraction in her friendship with Aiden's fiancee Charlie. Charlie, again, being and outside force, someone new to the O'Malley fold and therefore not under the same preconceptions about Kira as her siblings. One of the things I wish we had gotten more of, in fact, was the burgeoning friendship between Kira and Charlie. Looking back, I feel like there's been a lack of female friendships in this series for the O'Malley sisters.

Another thing that kept this from being a five star review was that I would have liked more build up of the antagonist, namely the Eldridges. The Eldridge family was featured in Aiden's book and they were by no means finished causing trouble so it was understandable that they're grudge against Dmitri would carry over. I just wanted them to be more threatening, more menacing, more up to par with how I felt they were initially built up. I do realize that the romance is the main draw here, but I felt like the balance with the romance and the suspense was perfectly built up in the first book, and to a little lesser extent in the second book, from there the books have focused majorly on the developing romances. I just wish it would have evened out a little bit more.

When I started this review I said that The Bastard's Bargain "kind of" brings things full circle. While it's obvious that each of the O'Malleys have indeed gotten their own book, I feel like Katee Robert leaves plenty of things on the table should she choose to go back and revisit the characters either via short stories or novellas or even more full-length novels. There were also some secondary characters not related to the O'Malleys specifically but still connected to them that I wouldn't mind getting their story. Namely, Aiden's second, Liam who was injured at the end of Undercover Attraction.

Since we're (technically) at the end of this series, I'm sad that this is the end. This was the first series by Katee Robert that I picked up and it's been quite the ride ever since. Even though I'm hoping we'll get to revisit these characters at some point, I'm eager to see what Katee Robert has in store for us next.

I have been dying to get my hands on The Bastard's Bargain for what seems like forever. Dimitri is one of those characters that I just knew I would love to hate and I couldn't wait to see just how amazingly evil he could be.

I ended up loving Dimitri even more than I thought I would. He was still that jerk we were first introduced to, and that change, but we also got to see his more caring side whenever he was with Keira. I really liked that his character didn't change too much and I felt like that kept it very realistic that he was still the hardened mafia guy even when he was also the loving, romance hero.

Keira could have easily been the spoiled brat of the story but that actually never happened. Her character really grew throughout this story and I loved getting to see that. It was intriguing to see someone we've gotten in previous books at their worst and now we're getting them at their best. The character development was a big reason I liked this book so much.

This story was also one of the more action packed ones of this series which was brilliant. There were so many heart-pounding moments that I just couldn't get enough of and they took this story from a good romance to an amazing romantic suspense.

THE BASTARD'S BARGAIN by Katee Robert is book Six in "The O'Malleys" series. This is the story of Keira O’Malley and Dmitri Romanov. I have read the previous book (and Loved it) but feel you can make this a standalone book if you choose to do so. Keira and Dmitri agreement to marry did start in the last book but this book takes off from there.
Keira being the youngest of the O'Malley clan was protected in someways and I thought left to her own on other ways. Keria has been going off the deep end since the lost of a close family relative. So much so that she was doing drugs and drinking to much....along with loosing her self value.
Dmitri is the boss of the Romanov gang and has been somewhat of the bad guy through out most of this series. But he is slowly turning into something else and this book just spot lighted it. Dmitri sees more in Keria than her family or even Keria herself. But he needs her to become that person who he knows she can be. Dmitri really showed more patience than I thought he would have toward helping Keria.
I really enjoyed Ms. Roberts writing in the telling of their story. Exciting Read!

4.5 Stars

Dmitri Romanov is done waiting for Keira O'Malley. She is already wearing his ring on her finger, and now is the time for them to make it official. With enemies closing in, the Romanovs needs to be tied to the O'Malley name sooner than later. 

Keira O'Malley is beyond the point of caring what happens in her life. Numb after the loss of her brother, and feeling forgotten by her family; it is almost a relief to have Dmitri finally come for her. That is until he forces her to get clean... and stay that way. 

Now that Keira is sober and clear headed, she is ready to show Dmitri what she is really made of. And she isn't afraid to use their crazy sexual chemistry against him...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book was so fantastic!! Keira and Dmitri have been scorching up the pages from all of the previous books in The O'Malleys series, and their story (finally!!) did not disappoint.

Keira is incredibly lost, spending her days consistently drunk, she is spiraling into a dangerous place. Although she has no desire to get sober, once she is, she finds herself with a renewed purpose in life. A life that now includes being Mrs. Romanov. 

I absolutely loved Dmitri. He was not what I expected at all. From seeing him painted as the bad guy throughout the entire series, when he was with Keira he is a completely different man. Still a total scary badass to his enemies, in his home he is HOT and dirty and completely delicious.

I loved all of The O'Malleys series, but this book might just be my absolute favorite. Incredibly sexy, with entertaining banter and a relationship that seems doomed from the start, Keira and Dmitri's story is not to be missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. As the final book in the series, featuring two previously-introduced characters, I wanted to love it.

For a romance, it was great! Dark, steamy, fast-paced, and both Dmitri and Keira learn and grow from being around each other. I adored Keira’s character growth as she took ownership of her life and choices for possibly the first time. Dmitri is just as dangerous and sexy as you would expect, with hidden depths that make him even more alluring. I was a bit let down by some unexplained plot twists at the end – they felt rushed, but didn’t detract from the overall experience. However, it wasn’t just a romance, it was an ending.

For the last book in the O’Malley series, I was disappointed. There was surprisingly little O’Malley presence, save Keira herself, and no closure. Keira’s downward spiral started with Devlin’s death – and no one talks about this. This omission felt glaring given how much it affected Keira. Would it have been too much to ask for some real family interaction?

If you’re looking for a dark romance with criminal characters, don’t miss this. If you have been waiting for the youngest O’Malley sibling to wrap up her family’s story, lower your expectations.

I have been waiting for Dmitri's story and especially since it involved Keira the broken younger sister of the O'Malley family.

Keira's dramatic history of wildness, drugs and alcohol made her a character that I did not relate to nor did she appear to have anything in her character that drew me to her but Dmitri always held my attention.

With Dmitri I always felt he was more that what we saw and in this book the reader will be instantly drawn to him. They will see behind the monster's mask to the man that lies beneath and the reader will willingly draw a different conclusion than the obvious one. He is fully faceted, larger than life and the most important part to his character is what he does for Keira.

Keira's character changed as the book progressed and the reader will be drawn into her character in an unexpected way. They start to see her past in a way that will allow them to open up their heart and mind to her as she matures under Dmitri's influence.

This book deals with drug addiction, alcoholism, broken families, grief and finding oneself. Hats off to Author Katee Robert for writing a seriously hot dramatic series that was impactful at addressing difficult subjects in a heartfelt manner.

I give the 5 STARS for being so wonderful........

To say that I was excited for this book would be a complete understatement. I have loved each and every book in this series, and I count it as one of my favorite romantic series of all time. I went into this book with towering expectations, but I was also incredibly sad thinking about the fact that once I was done with The Bastard's Bargain, this would be it for me and these characters. But what a book this was! I loved every book in this series, sure, but I firmly believe that Katee Robert has left the best for the last. It's emotional, tender, sexy and just absolutely a book that I could not stop reading. 

When we first met Dmitri several books ago, I despised him. He was manipulative, cocky and absolutely a villain, but even going into this book, he was exactly that same person, and entirely unapologetic at that. So the author had an incredibly daunting task ahead of her when she turned him into a romantic love interest for the youngest O'Malley, Kiera. Let me tell you folks, his redemption arc was bloody brilliant. I just loved everything about Dmitri here. Yes, he is absolutely still ruthless, but we get to see the layers to his character in The Bastard's Bargain. It was all glorious. He was the perfect man for Kiera. After the events in the first book, Kiera was shattered and struggling with the guilt of the event. We saw her turn into a hostile, rebellious girl who drowned all her issues with alcohol. It was heartbreaking watching her spiral, but throughout the series, Katee Robert shows us glimpses of the fierce woman that Kiera was. She only needed someone to give her a reality check.

That person happens to be Dmitri. Their marriage may seem unconventional at first - she only agrees to it to bring peace to her family - but it becomes the catalyst for Kiera's path to healing. Dmitri pushes her to fight off her addiction, in ways that may seem cruel at first glance, but they are the only way to get through to Kiera. It's not always easy watching her battle the addiction - she suffers and falls down a lot, but she is also an incredibly strong young woman, and Dmitri helps bring out that woman. He shows her that she is a queen and empowers her over and over again throughout The Bastard's Bargain, and dammit if I didn't find that to be incredibly swoony. In the same way, Kiera also helps to bring out the more tender side to his character. I don't know you guys, there is something very attractive watching a powerful man like Dmitri fall to his knees around his heroine. The romance is slow (ALL THE TENSION!!), subtle, but oh my goodness, is it worth it! Not only do the two of them have incredible sexual chemistry - seriously, this book was a SCORCHER - but the emotional bond they form took their relationship to the next level. I was just a complete mess by the end of this book because it made me feel so much. Besides the amazing romance, The Bastard's Bargain also had its hefty dose of suspense and family drama, and as always Katee Robert does a fantastic job at balancing everything with the romance.

The Bastard's Bargain was a sexy, intense and worthy finale to the phenomenal O'Malleys series. Fans of this series will not be disappointed. For those of you who haven't read any of the O'Malleys yet, head over to Amazon, your library or your local bookstore ASAP.

I've been dying to read Kiera and Dmitri's story for awhile and, I wasn't disappointed!! Katee Robert certainly delivered the goods!! Do you want Action, Drama and Romance? The O'Malley Series never runs short on any of the above!

Futures are decided for daughters by brothers and fathers. Kiera had more or less known she was headed for a loveless marriage. She knew she was just a bargaining chip to be used by her family. I felt that was only one reason why she acted out. She was a party girl and hid her deeper feelings from the world.

Dmitri was a Russian Crime Boss intent on getting a wife. Not just any wife! He wanted Kiera! He gave her a choice(not much of one) and, he hoped she would make the right decision.

I Loved Dmitri! I didn't always love his methods for achieving his goals. I liked Kiera and some (but not ALL) of her choices. I think Katee did a great job! Kiera and Dmitri's chemistry was off the charts!! The story was exciting and quite a page turner.

Oh I can now officially say that I have fallen hard for a Mob Boss Russian. In The Bastard's Bargain (The O'Malleys #6) by Katee Robert we finally get to see what makes the hot and very sexy Dmitri Romanov tick. We also get to see what happens to the dynamic between the 4 main mob families when they decide to join forces. have to tell you, this is one series that you will want to start from the beginning. The dynamic between the characters, the history, and what got them to this point are all revealed as the series unfolds. This is the end of an amazing series and it is the story of Dmitri and Keria.

Dmitri Romanov needs a bride, and he is promised one Keira O'Malley. When he learns that her brother and head of the family is going to double cross him, he steals her away in the middle of the night and right to the courthouse where they become man and wife, sealing their fate and making it impossible for her family to take her from him. But he has more to worry about than her family. First he has to help his wife with here alcohol addiction, make sure she stays clean, oh, and try to find a way to make his family believe that he is still in control.

Keira O'Malley dreamed of her wedding day, but never thought that is would turn out to be in a court house, no flowers, no dress, and to a man that while she thinks that he is sexy as sin, she knows that he will never love her. She had deep feelings of unworthiness and sorrow that keep her locked away in a bottle so that she does not have to feel the loss that she has suffered,

But it is Dmitri, who at ever turn shows her that she is more than worthy, she is a queen in his eyes, and he offers her what she has never had before, the freedom to be his equal, the freedom to rule at his side, as he partner, the queen to his king. It is Dmitri that gives her back the joy of painting, something that she has not done since the sudden death of her beloved brother, Devlin, the one person who was always in her corner and always had her back. And it is Dmitri that offers her safety, security, and of all things the love that she so desperately craves.

But when enemies of old threaten Keira, Dmitri will join forces with her family and his other rivals to keep her safe, but when Dmitri is the one taken, Keira will need to step up, become the strong leader and queen that Dmitri knows that she can be in order to get him back before time runs out.

All I can say is WOW! I have always been fascinated with Dmitri Romanov and have seen different layers of his characters throughout this series, and I have to tell you, that this book just made me fall head over heals in love with him. He shows the world a tough and dominate side, but in private, he can be tender, he can be loving, he can be concerned and berates himself when he thinks that he has hurt Keira in some way. He is so protective of her, wanting to comfort and support her in all ways. Keira was a surprise to me. She always seemed like a flighty 21 year old who did not have it together, but in this book, you get to peel back the layers and see that underneath everything, she is wicked strong and has a backbone of solid steel. She is determined and driven. It are these traits that make her such a perfect match for Dmitri. I am sad to see this series come to an end, but what a way to end it. Highly recommended!

Dmitri and Keira are enemies. Their families detest each other but Keira makes a deal to marry Dmitri to protect her family. Dmitri sees the way Keira has self destructed her life since her brother was killed but he still sees a fire in her he wants to help her get herself back. I came into this series late as i believe this is the last one. The author is new to me also but the cover the blurb attracted me and i took a chance this would be a book that could stand alone. I think that reading the series from the beginning would help but I also think this book stands alone well enough. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Keira is not a quitter and Dmitri is a rock for her and once he gets her back on her feet she's a rock for him. I love that although they were wary of each other they still had each others backs. By the end it made me wish i had read the previous books because as a whole I think it's probably a really good series. I hope to read more from this author to back that up for myself. Well worth the read on it's own.

***5 ‘Because of Course’ Stars***

This book has me at a loss for words, but only in that whole ‘Hello, book hangover.’ kind of way because this book was everything I could have hoped for when it came to Dmitri and Keira getting their HEA, as well as the finale to the series, and more. It was all kinds of smexy (not that I expected any less) mixed with a lot of heart, a touch of swoony heart twitterpating moments and a good dose of intrigue with a dash of crazy that had me savoring each word and moment and wishing that it didn’t ever end.

Gentleman Murderer

I think it’s safe to say that Dmitri Romanov was THE most hated character of the series, but that also made him the most popular in that whole the one you love to hate the most way. But now? As much I loved, and even adored, the rest of the Alpha AF males in this series, Dmitri out does them all ~ and that’s saying A LOT. The man is Alpha AF, ruthless and unforgiving, but the heart that lies beneath the man, and his unique code of honor, makes him one that I’d give my loyalty (and body) to in heartbeat.

Moya Koroleva

Keira has been the O’Malley who has spent the entire series teetering on the very edge of a cliff that depending on which way the wind blew could be the end of her. But here we finally see the problem child of the clan get her shit straightened out and finally claw her way out of the abyss and become the force she was always meant to be. I fucking ADORED Keira (even more than Dmitri), she is a woman I’d have at my back any day.

”What a polite monster you are.” He growled against her skin. “Your monster, at least in this”

From their first collision, Dmitri and Keira’s relationship has been a rocky, yet entertaining one. The chemistry was immediate and I knew that should they actually become more it would be explosive, and lemme tell you ~ it was nuclear. These two were so evenly matched in so many ways it was scary. The smexy going on when they were together was HAWT, but it was the blunt, and at times brutal, honesty they gave each other that showed how perfectly matched they really were because instead of tearing the other down, they did everything they could to make each other stronger.

As sad as I am that this is the end of the series, I cannot deny that The Bastard’s Bargain was as perfect an ending as it could get. True, there are a few things I’d love a little more of, whether it’s a couple of secondary characters getting books (Liam anyone???), or getting a little more of O’Malley siblings working out their own relationships in the new world that they now live in, but I really am good with where everything was at when the book ended.

Even though I didn’t start with the first book of the series, I jumped in with the second one, I highly suggest that you do start at the beginning to get the true emotional gut punch this one serves up and understand all the ties that bind these characters together.

If there was ever was a book that I could say I felt drunk reading, it would be this one. Like a fine liquor, I had to moderate myself and read this story in small doses, savor it. I didn't want to rush myself and miss anything. At times, I did feel totally overwhelmed by the story of addiction, control, and love. Did Keira and Dmitri's story do the entire series justice?

YES!

Keira O'Malley, the youngest daughter in the O'Malley clan, has been "protected, discarded, and under-estimated" throughout the entire series. Left to her own devices, she's tried to numb the pain of loss with drugs and alcohol and has lived in a haze ever since. Being "sold off" as a possession to a rival mob boss by her father was never the future she envisioned for herself when she was a little girl.

Dmitri Romanov has been the major bad guy throughout the entire O'Malleys series. He's cold, calculating, and always one step ahead of everyone else. Reading the series, you really wanted to hate Dmitri but somehow, he got under our skin with his Russian accent and the way he seemed to really want Keira for all the right reasons.
At last we finally find out if that's true.
As the book that, I think, everyone has been eagerly waiting for, this story has high expectations for it. Okay, I had high expectations. Would you believe they were met, and then some?! The writing was Ms. Robert's best. I felt everything she wrote. Okay, there could have been a wee bit more intrigue to the story but honestly, for me, I was done with it and wanted a happily ever after for these two. I knew it would take some work and that was what took up a majority of the plot (or the meat of the story). Don't worry, there's trouble. Just not pages and pages and pages of it.

Throughout the entire series, Ms. Robert's characters kept their personalities. No sudden overnight changes because they fell in love. Aiden still treated Keira the same as he did before, blinded by his big brother role. Cillian's personality didn't change. Heck, even James Halloran was still staring sharp, deadly daggers at everyone. I commend Ms. Robert for that aspect to her writing. I wish more writers did that.

Yes, you want to read this book. BUT, don't jump in without reading the previous books in the series... pretty please? You'll regret it. Trust me, they are worth it!!

Thank you, Ms. Robert. That story rocked :)

If could have rated this 5+ stars I would have. I literally could not put this book down. This is one steamy, action packed Irish/Russian crime family contemporary romance. This was my first Katee Robert book but it definitely won't be my last. I'll be adding another author to my "must read"file and eagerly awaiting the next installment. Now I've got to run out and read the rest of the O'Malley/Romanov series.
#TheBastard'sBargain #NetGalley

I was positive that there was no way that Katee Robert would get me on the side of Dmitri Romanov... nope. Not going to happen.

And then I actually read this book.



That said, this was probably my most anticipated in the series just because of the chemistry between Dmitri and Kiera. The way they fight and deny that anything is really happening between them is both frustrating and crazy hot. I can't even explain why, but it just was.

Katee Robert can write steam and she definitely gives us plenty here, and I loved it all! Like I said, the chemistry between these two is off the charts. Kiara, the youngest of the O'Malley's, is still struggling over the death of her brother, and the one person in her family who really got her. It's pushed her to cope in ways that could only be described as unhealthy. But numb is better than dealing with heartbreak... or so she thinks.

Dmitri feels a bond with Kiara from the first time they meet, but he also knows that she is burying pain over something and he's determined to force her to face her issues head on like the queen he knows she is. And can we talk about that... this guy is all about empowering his woman and I think maybe that might be what I loved most about this story.

Of course there is drama, and threats to the territories, and male bonding, and betrayal, and sexy moments... there is literally something for everyone so if you haven't tried this series, I highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance. I'll admit, I'm not big into mob stories, but there is just something about this series (let's be honest, Katee Robert was what pulled me in) that is completely addicting and I only want more!

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Bastard's Bargain is now my favorite O'Malley book, Keira is one empowered female and the way she was able to rise from the ashes and own her strength is a fantastic read. Okay and Dimitri isn't too bad himself.

The sixth book in The O'Malleys series rounds up the story line involving a group of organize crime families and their war. Here, we finally see that Keira has accepted Dmitri as her husband so that the war between the O'Malleys and the Romanov ends. But both Keira and Dmitri start to acknowledged that what is between them is more than what their circumstances have dictated.

I do like where Ms. Robert took this story line, considering that when the series first started Dmitri was just a vague shadowy unknown figure while Keira was a very vulnerable and lost young girl on the cusp of womanhood when she lost the only brother who's ever believed in her. Now all she remains is a pawn. In The Bastard's Bargain she refuses to just accept her fate, she negotiates along her own terms with Dmitri showing that she isn't as brittle as she has been for the last three years.

Dmitri knows Keira has a hold on him, more than what she stands for. So I do like the way that the cold Russian suddenly shows his heat for Keira and to acknowledge her talent and her strength that her family failed to do was just simply fantastic. Hence, Keira definitely is the star of this book and her journey and transformation from frail young girl, to lost young woman, to a queen of her own new family is simply a wonder to behold. And yes she and Dmitri do a lot of that smoldering sexy erotic warfare really well too!

Look closely at this classy book cover, my fellow mafia romance book loving friends. Who wouldn’t want to make a deal with that handsome devil? Once again, Katee Robert has chosen a great picture to grace the cover of her newest sequel in The O’Malley’s series. I just have to give her a quick “hats off” here in appreciation for each and every cover of this six book series.

Keira O’Malley, the heroine, is the definition of a downhill, spiraling out of control, killing herself slowly with a lifestyle centered around booze/drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd kind of party girl. Grief over the loss of a loved one seems destined to send this 21 year old youngest O’Malley to an early grave. Dmitri Romanov, the Russian good guy, bad guy enemy everyone loves to hate, has double sided reasons for wanting to make her his wife, but ultimately there is a surprising unexpected reason, as well. This guy isn’t messing around either, folks. This mafia don manipulates the right circumstances and jumps when opportunity strikes to seal the deal. But, boy, does he ever get more than he bargained for.

What surprised me the most was Dmitri’s unwavering determination and unlimited amount of patience in dealing with Keira’s antics and drama. Fortunately for her, he is able to succeed where her family failed. Eventually these two adversaries to lovers form a genuine attachment and have each other’s backs, no matter who comes gunning for them. Better brace yourself for the journey that takes them there though. Along the way are numerous, very graphic smexy scenes with lusty language, including some mob violence that might make you rather squeamish.

As an avid mafia romance enthusiast, I did enjoy this entire series. From the classy book covers to the ongoing, underlying mob family connections/rival theme that played out and linked each of these stand-alone romantic tales, I hate to see this series come to an end.

Title: The Bastard’s Bargain, Series: The O’Malley’s (Book 6), Author: Katee Robert, Pages:352, stand-alone but part of an ongoing series best read in order, mafia theme, mafia violence, 21 yr. old heroine with alcohol/drug addiction, good guy but the bad guy mobster everyone loves to hate, had an agenda but falls in love, numerous VERY steamy scenes with lusty language.

Book 1 - The Marriage Contract (Teague & Callista), 6/2/15, Pages: 368
Book 2 – The Wedding Pact, Pages: 352 (James & Carrigan), 4/26/16
Book 3 – An Indecent Proposal, Pages: 352 (Cillian & Olivia), 8/30/16
Book 4 - Forbidden Promises, Pages: 336 (Sloan & Jude), 5/30/17
Book 5 - Undercover Attraction, Pages: 336 (Aiden and Charlotte), 11/28/17
Book 6 - The Bastard's Bargain, Pages: 352 (Keira and Dmitri), 2/6/18

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

Great finish to the O'Malley family. Seeing Keira come into her own and Dimitri rise up to his queen! While I'm sad it ends, there couldn't be a better conclusion.