This was one of those books that had a good blend of humor + plot. I enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to Nat's fiance years ago and her connection with Kage. When I'm thinking mafia romances - this is the kind of book that I'm looking for. It was overly heavy in the mafia, but enough to keep the book interesting - and plenty of spice. While this isn't my first book by JT Geissinger this was my first mafia romance by her and I really enjoyed it!

I love this author. She has written some of my favorite books. But this book didn’t exactly click for me. I read dark romance when I am in the mood, so I cracked this one open and dove in. I don’t think that this one was particularly dark per say, but it does deal with heavy themes and involves the mafia so do with that what you will. I just didn’t like the characters, and their romance just didn’t seem realistic to me.. However, the dual pov was a nice touch and I did enjoy reading the story this way. I also think that the author writes wonderfully done spice scenes which I can appreciate.

I'm excited to read the next in the series.

I am not a fan of the "let's put the reissued special sprayed edges edition on NetGalley" trend that seems to be happening with books that have been in publication already. Having read PenPal by Geissinger, I was looking forward to a strong story with this edition. However, the grumpy Mafia guy who just left the FMC alone off to the side was not my jam.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is my first foray into anything written by this author, and after reading it I am HOOKED! It was intense and romantic and steamy, with a very sexy antihero. Ruthless Creatures is the first book in the 'Queens and Monsters' series, and, needless to say, I will definitely be reading the rest! This Exclusive Deluxe Edition also featured a never-before-seen bonus chapter, which was very much worth it!

In Ruthless Creatures we mee Natalie who is very mopey and adrift ever since her fiancé disappeared the day before their wedding 5 years ago. But her life soon picks up a little spice when a new-in-town stranger - Kage -enters her life, and also happens to be her new neighbor. He is very rough around the edges, fierce, tattooed, and with some scary connections to the Russian mafia. The chemistry between these two is HOT and unforgettable. I loved every minute of their escapades together. Kage is a walking red flag, but he wants Natalie, and she wants him, despite her better judgement and previous loss.

TBH, I love reading smut, and this was some good and steamy stuff. But there were also very romantic and sweet and tender moments as well and the character development of both characters and their relationship was very satisfying to read. I really enjoyed this book and will be checking out the rest of the series! I will also be recommending this book/series to my smutty romance friends!

How I have been sleeping on J.T. Geissinger is something that shocks me. This was a fantastic read that was so impossible to put down, I read it in one day. The romance, the suspense, the tension, the steam, the plot – all of it was blended together into an absolutely unstoppable read that only left me wanting to read more in the series. I’m predicting a quick series binge in my future. This story had everything I wanted and more. The story was engaging and the romance was heated, blended together with writing that evokes so much feeling. You feel Nat’s despair and heartache, both of their longing, and Kage’s ruthless desire to have Natalie and to keep her safe. This dark, mafia, opposites attract, insta-love, forbidden romance was just the story I needed to lose myself in this weekend.

Five years ago, Natalie’s fiance disappeared on the eve of their wedding and she has been left with no answers and despair ever since. Trying to help her move on, her bestie convinces her it’s time to donate her wedding dress, to get out of the house, and try to move on. When her new neighbor, a dark and mysterious man, keeps showing up everywhere – she feels a spark of something for the first time in years. He is surrounded by danger, but she played it safe once. Maybe giving into the fire that burns between them is just what she needs.

This mafia romance is a walk on the dark side with a morally gray hero, an assassin who falls for his mark. Kage is the perfect antihero – a man with secrets who is willing to burn his world to ash and will stop at nothing to keep Natalie safe. Nat is a strong and sassy heroine we can all identify with who has survived a terrible loss and then is swept into a world she doesn’t understand, but takes it all in stride. Their story is captivating, dark, very steamy and fast paced, tempered with amazing dialogue and a bit of humor. Sloane, Natalie’s bestie, is an interesting and humorous side character who charms the pants off everyone. Her story is next and I can’t wait to dive in.

Rounded up from 4.5. This is a stand-out for me in the mafia romance genre - the author subverts tropes and expectations in a way that really added to the emotional intensity.

This was everything I needed and then some. The spice, the drama, the tough guys, everything. I think I zipped through this in maybe 2 days and I cannot wait to start Carnal Urges next! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this copy!!!

“Once I have you, I’ll never let you go. Not even if you ask me to."
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let me start by saying I love J.T. Geissinger and her books. with that in mind, this one just wasn’t my favorite. I love the idea of it: mafioso falls in love with his mark and they become obsessed with each other. but it was hard for me to buy into the insta-love and inconsistency of it all.
⇢ Nat goes from begin so depressed and unable to move on from her missing fiancé for five entire years to suddenly being obsessed with a total stranger, basically overnight.

⇢ Sloane is her very best friend and they talk every single day, then they don’t talk for ten days, including Christmas and New Year. I don’t care how busy my best friend and I are, we always communicate on holidays.

⇢ Kage is so loyal to his boss / father figure, yet he’s suddenly willing to turn on everything he knows in order to obsess over a woman after simply seeing her one time.
yes, yes, I know it’s a fictional romance and it’s just part of it. sure, we can chalk it all up to the whirlwind of a new love, but it just didn’t read that way for me. I got a lot of whiplash from this one.

regardless of what I believe to be inconsistencies, I’ll continue the series, and I just know this story is one so many people will love and devour. if you like mafia romance, you should definitely give it a try.
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this and that:
♡ dark romance
♡ dual pov
♡ doomed love
♡ explicit open door spice
♡ forbidden relationship
♡ gang wars
♡ he’s obsessed
♡ insta-love
♡ mafia
♡ neighbors
♡ she’s his mark
♡ tattooed men
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triggers:
☞ blood and gore
☞ guns
☞ missing loved one
☞ murder
☞ rape (mentioned)
☞ violence