“Savage Lover” is Sophie Lark’s newest standalone installment in the *Brutal Birthright* series. This story follows Nero, the heartless second born in Chicago’s Italian mafia, and Camille, a struggling mechanic who lives on the periphery of Chicago’s violent underbelly. When they re-meet and connect over their love for cars, Nero finds his heart softening for the first time.

This book includes:
- mafia
- dark romance
- children with dubious parentage
- “not like the other girls” FMC
- illegal car racing
- spice
- I hate everyone but you MMC
- cameos from character from the rest of the series

I am a big fan of Sophie Lark and have enjoyed many of her series. Within the *Brutal Birthright* series I loved “Stolen Heir,” and was absolutely captivated by Nessa. “Savage Lover” is entertaining and well written, but it didn’t draw me in the same way Sophie’s other books have. I love the “i hate everyone but you” trope, Nero went beyond that and I was uncomfortable reading his POV since it was so misogynistic. He obviously loves Camille, but I’m not drawn to the whole “she’s not like the other girls. This is the only woman I will not treat like an object” situation.

There were also a couple storylines that felt a bit cheap and unresolved for me that I won’t share for spoilers sake. Most of these storylines were minor, but one was one of the story’s central arcs. Maybe the resolution to the b*** r****** will come in the next book.

Regardless of my complaints, I still remain a huge fan of Sophie Lark, and will continue to enjoy the *Brutal Birthright* series. This story is just as addictive as the rest of Sophie‘s books and will provide a great dark romance to anyone looking escape real life for a few hours.

I received this e-book as an arc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

They aren’t friends. They aren’t allies. But Nero is the only chance Camille has, and she’ll have to trust there’s more to him beneath the savage surface.

I was a bit apprehensive to read this book as I normally really don’t like bully or mafia books, and this was written to be a bully mafia book. But I kept seeing her books everywhere and I wanted to give one a go. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised.

This was more of a soft introduction to the genre as Nero wasn’t really a bully and there wasn’t really all that much mafia talk. I loved Camille and how good she was with cars. What is it about chicks who know how to fix a car? So hot.

There was mystery and bank robberies, family drama and drug deals. There was no third act break up, if that isn’t your thing. I think the next book in the series also follows Nero and Camille so I might have to give it a read too!

Thanks to #NetGallery and the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance/New Adult
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Age suggestion: 18+

Camille and Nero were the perfect couple. She was strong-willed, loyal, and wasn't about to put up with his crap. He needed a woman like her to tame him, and I love that it took him a little while to figure that out.

I'm not usually a fan of Other Woman Drama, but I think it was necessary (and short-lived) in Savage Lover. You don't go from being a playboy to a one-woman man overnight. It takes time and contemplation to realize what you've been missing and to go after it. Nero's switch was perfectly executed, and the care with which he handled Camille gave the self-proclaimed "psycho" of the family the soft edge he needed.

I don't know how Sophie Lark creates such unique characters with each book. She is immensely talented and dives into the lifestyles of each and every person in the book.

There was a particular character the reader was supposed to hate who she redeemed exceptionally well. He wanted to do what was right even if his methods were suspect, and he got what he deserved at the end.

Savage Lover is the perfect blend of darkness and light. Don't pick it up until you're ready to hunker down for the night because you won't be able to put it down.

Thank you, Sophie Lark, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It definitely wasn't for me, and I have to justify my score. I repeat, it's not for me, it's not that it's a bad story.

What happened to me with this story? Everything happened mega fast, there were a lot of situations that deserved a couple more pages and I treated them as something else, without development, without much explanation. They passed and that's it. To something else butterfly. And one was like... and but that? What's up? and nothing, that's it. Passed. End.

It had the potential to expand and write and develop many themes, links, relationships, and it was not done. And that's why I felt like I started reading it and in three little things that happened it ended.

I don't usually enjoy that type of literature, so it's not for me. But I know that many people do read and enjoy stories like that. Unfortunately this is not my case and when I read the synopsis I thought I was going to find a great story and it fell halfway.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Savage Lover by Sophie Lark is book three in the Brutal Birthright Series. This is the story of 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚. Camille has a lot on her plate so she doesn't need to add Nero. Nero is a playboy who ends up helping Camille setting off their relationship.

Fast and Furious meets the Girl Next Door. Super fun and fast romance. Brooding Nero has a tough past and counters that with no caring about anything or anyone - but cars. Camille is supporting her Dad and Brother by running an auto shop. One night she takes the fall for her brother’s bad choice and finds herself in between the law the mob.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

i’ve never met a sophie lark book i haven’t loved. seriously. and this one is no different. nero and camille have every bit of my heart just as their siblings do!!!

i loved how strong and independent camille was, but that she was also so soft when it came to nero. just like i loved how scary and selfish nero was, except when he was with camille. seriously, seeing these two fall in love was EVERYTHING to me.

my only complaint was that it ended! but i guess that’s where the rest of the series comes in, huh? 🥰

thank you so much to netgalley and sophie lark for this arc! ❤️

Everything I’ve read by Sophie Lark, I’ve loved. I think Nero and Camille are my second favorite couple (sorry nothing beats Aida and Cal!). I love that Camille is the girl next door, and Nero sees her and loves her just as she is. Plus a female mechanic? Go off Camille, you badass you.

Savage Lover is the 3rd book in the Brutal Birthright Series by Sophie Lark. Stolen Heir is still my favorite. I am officially a huge fan. This is an enemies to lovers, HEA, bully mafia, poor girl/rich boy story.

Camille Rivera is a beautiful curly haired 25 year old who lives with her father and brother and grew up poor. She’s mechanic, raised in her fathers mechanic shop and around cars. Her mom abandoned Camille and her brother because she wanted to live her life. Camille is strong, doesn’t care what people think about her, is a caretaker, and is fiercely protective of her family.

Nero Gallo is very good looking 25 year old male and he comes from an Italian mob family. Nero comes from money and loves cars. Nero’s younger sister married Callum Griffin who comes from the Irish mob family. When Nero’s mom passed away it changed him and he has shut himself off to the world.

Nero and Camille went to school and kinda ran in the same circle at school. One night she goes to pick Vic up from a party where she sees Nero and he asks her about her trans am outside. Their love for cars and racing brings them together. The way she is with him and her family is what brings that wall around his heart down.

This played out like a fast and furious movie with the cars, racing, drugs, drug dealing, crooked cops, easy women, bank heist, and a getaway car. I loved the way Sophie wrote the background story for all of the characters. I loved the way she wrote Camille and how strong she made her. It was great to watch Nero go from being such an ass to such a loving, caring, protective person with Camille and her family. This was a great book and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series Blood Heart. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Sophie Lark for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I hope everyone can check this series out.

Okay, so did I read my first Sophie Lark by picking up the third book in a series? Yes, yes I absolutely did. And, of course, now I've gotta go back through her catalog and catch up.

At the beginning, I hated Nero. I'll say it. But we're all here for the moment the MMC realizes he has feelings, right? And Nero gets a pass as far as I'm concerned. I'll never not be a sucker for when a badass goes all mushy.

The magic of this book isn't all plot, which I enjoyed immensely, but don't want to spoil. The pacing is delightful and the writing style just clicked, allowing me to fly through this one even during a crazy work week. Writing style can make or break a read for me, and Lark manages to give me enough visuals without waxing poetic about architecture and losing me.

As someone who's been fighting off a slump due to reading a ton of heavy fantasy romance lately, this was a breath of fresh air, and I got that feeling of needing to know what goes next again, finally. This is everything I love in mafia romance and it reads like Pringles; you can't read just one chapter!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find the suggested reading order for the rest of Sophie's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Lark for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

While I did really enjoy this book, it doesn’t compare to the previous couple in the series. I loved Nero though, and it was still a fun addition to the Brutal Birthright storyline! I’m looking forward to what’s next!

I was glad to be able to step into another Sophie Lark book. This one was just as good as Stolen Heir was, and had my interest and attention from the first page. I never wanted to stop reading it. Sophie Lark has a way of writing that I really love. It sucks the reader into the story, and it's amazing.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Sophie lark did it again. I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a little bit on the slower side than what I prefer but I did like it.

Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this. Currently waiting on Amazon to approve my review.

Thank you for this free ARC, the opinions that follow are my own. While the premise was interesting I didn’t love this book as much as the first two. Camille was amazing but Dante didn’t steal my heart the way I’d hoped. Regardless, this was another great installment in the series.
Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

Aida and Callum were amazing and the couple who made me fall in love with Sophie Lark’s writing, but Nero and Camille are giving them a run for their money. Getting to see the gentle way in which Nero fell for her and a heist subplot. *chef’s kiss*

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for my chance to review.

4.75 stars

Savage Lover brings all the chemistry and steam in this mafia-adjacent read. The third interconnected standalone in Sophie Lark’s Brutal Birthright series, Savage Lover just might be my favorite of the bunch.

Nero and Camille have a spark from the jump, and their push-pull dynamic is a delight to read. The way that Lark is able to weave a narrative is captivating, and leaves readers always wanting more time with the characters that she has created. I personally recommend reading the entire series. You won’t regret it!

Thanks to Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars

I want to thank Sourcebooks Bloom Books for allowing me to read the ARC for this amazing book.

We are trapped in a world between fast and furious and Animal Kingdom (Tv Show). Savage Lover is a happy, fast paced mafia romance involving Camille and Nero. Camille runs her dads run down Automotive shop to keep them afloat while caring for her little brother, barely getting by. During highschool Camille had to step up and now her dads sick. She finds herself in a completely different world when a police officer catches her brother with drugs and makes her a CI. She never partied, drinked or did drugs in highschool, but now she is forced to participate to keep her family safe. Then Nero appears and she cannot deny how she feels but can't stop running into him as if it is fate.

I absolutely love that we get both Camille’s and Nero's point of views in this book. It is such a happy and fast paced read. I honestly could not put this book down and loved every second, from the detailed car references to the car racing and parties.

I must admit my favorite part of this book were the illustrations. The illustrations can be found after major points within the book and I absolutely am all here for it.

Overall, this book is an easy and happy romance. I definitely recommend this read.

Reviews Will be uploaded on all platforms on 20th September 2023.

Thank you to Sophie Lark and Bloom Books for the advance reader copy of Savage Lover, the third book in the Brutal Birthright series.

I have been loving this series, as we hit halfway Aida and Callum remain my favourites but I loved the wild ride that Camille and Nero took me on.
Characters: I adored Camille, she’s incredibly loyal almost to a fault. Hence, she gets caught up in some nasty things to defend her brother. She contrasts so well with Nero, who was originally the Gallo sibling I was least interested in. I was totally surprised at how quickly I got attached to him and wanted him to succeed, get the girl and get the money! I am not a car-obsessed person but if you are a car girlie, you are going to love this book even more.
Setting: The story is set in Chicago and features a large cast of mafia families. This is the least mafia-centric of the stories so far. I did miss the dynamics of the larger family, but at the same time, it really felt like we got our characters on a deeper level. Even something as simple as Nero spent a decent amount of time with Sebastian, so I feel like I know another one of Aida’s brothers a bit better. This book is not about mafia politics though so if you read this series for that you may be slightly disappointed.
Pacing: I find these stories just so damn easy to devour. I could have read it in one setting if time had permitted instead, I had to sneak pages throughout the day whenever I could.
Romance: Camille and Nero are opposites that attracted so damn well. Plus, they were just so damn hot together. But this instalment felt like the slowest of slow burn of any of Sophie Lark’s books I have read yet. It was lovely to get so much time for this relationship to develop, but sadly I did feel like the romantic scenes do suffer as there are not enough pages left for some more sexy times.

My favorite one in the series. Absolutely obsessed. The art in this one was soooo good too.
It was a really great mix of plot and spice and slowburn. Fast and Furious vibes with the cars and racing and driving around in fancy cool cars lots lol.
Ugh I just loved the evolution of their relationship and the way Nero slowly realized how strongly he felt for her. And she’s my favourite FMC in this series so far.

4/5 stars

*thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book

My first Sophie Lark book and I can see why she’s a very beloved author by many readers, her writing flows so smoothly and the aesthetics you get from the page bounce off.
I loved the racing vibes and the relationship development it was thrilling. I’m a big fan of the chapter graphics in this book too of Camille and Nero, you can tell a lot of effort has been made.