Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Alessandro, known for his playboy reputation, reveals early on that he feels a strong urge to protect Calliope. However, she doesn’t make it easy for him, challenging him at every turn.

Despite their determination to keep their distance and convince themselves they aren’t meant for each other, it becomes clear they’re exactly what the other needs. (And I loved how the author cleverly wove the book’s title into the story multiple times.)

True to Brittney Sahin’s style, this book is packed with unexpected twists and turns that are expertly crafted into the narrative. Her ability to draw readers in and keep them hooked is unparalleled—you’re constantly guessing what might happen next and rarely get it right.

A central theme in the story is the battle between light and darkness. Alessandro views himself as firmly entrenched in the dark, but Calliope becomes the light guiding him out. As Enzo, Alessandro’s brother, so beautifully puts it, she’s the one bringing him back to life.

When family is absolutely everything you make a choice to preserve the legacy your future may bring you to a soulmate. The Costa family series is an absolute must read!

Infinite stars from me! I loved it! The chemistry between Alessandro and Calliope, the banter and the stuff between Hudson and Izzy....especially the kissing scene lol and Alessandro's reaction of course, how protective his family was over Calliope from the get go.. all of it, was as perfected as I expected it to be! Their attraction, the way they communicate with each other and just seem to understand each other’s point of view, how Alessandro fights for her, how she believes in him, how they both navigate around each other and their growing feelings, their trust in each other, it was all so so amazing.

Definitely one of my best reads of 2024!

I have to admit that this story took me a while to read and in fact, I ended up listening via kindle. and as an experience, that was fantastic, what with Connor Crais. The story itself was ok. I am a character driven reader and it took me way too long to warm up to Alessandro as I know he was written to be a playboy and also, to have some darkness. That said, there was steam, Calliope is a good character and I enjoyed the reading. Apologies for the delay but thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for an early read.

Not Mine to Keep by Brittney Sahin is an exhilarating romance that expertly blends elements of suspense, passion, and family dynamics within the mafia world. The story centers on Calliope DiMaggio, the last living heir of a powerful mafia dynasty, and Alessandro Costa, a playboy billionaire with a hidden agenda. Their paths collide in a whirlwind of danger and attraction, leading to a marriage of convenience that evolves into something much deeper.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the chemistry between Calliope and Alessandro. Sahin does an excellent job of portraying their initial tension and undeniable attraction, which quickly turns into a sizzling connection as they navigate the complexities of their respective backgrounds. Calliope is a strong character who seeks to distance herself from her family's criminal legacy, while Alessandro's determination to protect her adds layers to his character.

The writing is engaging and fast-paced, with enough twists to keep readers on their toes. Sahin skillfully balances the romantic elements with the suspenseful plot surrounding mafia politics and vengeance. The stakes feel high as Calliope and Alessandro confront dangerous adversaries, making their relationship all the more compelling. I appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from exploring the darker aspects of their lives while still maintaining a sense of hope and love.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the romance and action, some plot points felt slightly predictable. There were moments where I wished for more depth in character backstories or emotional exploration during key scenes. Additionally, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, particularly towards the climax where certain resolutions seemed rushed.

Overall, Not Mine to Keep is an entertaining read that combines romance with thrilling suspense. With its engaging characters and captivating storyline, I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. This book is perfect for fans of mafia romances looking for a blend of passion and danger. Brittney Sahin has delivered another compelling installment in the Costa Family series that leaves readers eager for more!

Great balance of plot and romance, one of the first books in the genre I’ve found to also supplement with a bit of drama and suspense!

Not Mine to Keep by Brittney Sahin is a gripping, emotionally charged romantic suspense novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It's the first book I've read by her but not the last! I thought it moved fast.

I wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t for me.

Alessandro felt like a stock AI character of a damaged mafia man-I very quickly grew tired of the “don’t fall for me I’m bad for you” song and dance.

And Cassandra is just completely forgettable. Not in a self insert way, in a just totally boring way.

Alessandro, I saw what you were trying to do there ;-) Loved it, such a great read and even more so because it was fairly low angst, which was perfect for my mood. He fights as hard as he could and brought up every reason under the sun to keep his distance, but we know chemistry when we see it. And they both had so much of it. I like that we saw his soft quite early, had me falling in love with him so quickly. And bravo to the perfectly matched that is Calliope! Her fire was absolutely everything!

I've been enjoying this series so much and I can't wait to get more!

Not Mine to Keep by Brittney Sahin is a gripping, emotionally charged romantic suspense novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It's the first book I've read by her but not the last!

I've never read a Brittney Sahin book before this, but I'm a new fan! I love the whole vigilante spin of the mafia that's going on this book, as I think it adds to the morally grey to the characters. A great read!

The name DiMaggio means mafia royalty, but Calliope, the dynasty’s last living heir, is no princess. A teacher and singer in Nashville, she’s moved as far away from the generations-old criminal legacy as she can. But she still can’t escape her dying father’s wicked reach, or his plans for her arranged marriage to carry on the family name.

Playboy Alessandro Costa has a different plan: marry her himself—temporarily. It’ll give him a chance to take down the DiMaggio patriarch and his empire, settle an old debt, and save Calliope from a catastrophic fate. But when the attraction between them sizzles, business becomes pleasure and a marriage game becomes the real thing.

It only raises the stakes—and the danger. Because now they are living in the shadow of violent men who’ll do whatever it takes to destroy them. With their love and their lives on the line, Calliope and Alessandro are ready to fight fire with fire.

Spicy and I liked it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

Not mine to keep is the 2th installment in Brittney Sahin’s fabulous The Costa series.
I finished it in one sitting I just couldn’t put it down!
I immediately fell in love with Alessandro The chemistry between Alessandro and Calliope ( Callie) is amazing! Slow burn and sparks flying all over the pages!
There is a mystery to solve and some characters we know from the Dublin night series are there to help.
I read this arc while on holiday and it turned out to be the perfect read while lying on the beach under the Mediterranean sun!!
I loved it!!

This was so much fun! I love a good redeemed playboy and when he’s ex-military it’s even better. I thought the plot here was very good and had a lot more action than I was expecting! This is probably a good one for readers who are looking to dip their toes into mafia romance.

I wish we had gotten a little more push and pull between our main characters. Alessandro spent a good chunk of the book avoiding Callie and his motives were actually very good but I would’ve loved more tension and “will they/won’t they”.

I definitely want to see what happens in the next book with Izzy and Hudson!

I love this book so much as usual. This author writes a beautiful book so much action and love and steamy scenes. Very smartly written I love all of her books.

This was an absolutely amazing second book in the Costa Family series! Cannot get enough of this family! I've fallen in love with the Costa's and Alessandro's book was the perfect addition to the series. His and Calli's story was full of romance, suspense and the love of two people who were perfect for each other. Now I cannot wait for Hudson and Izzys book!

This was my first Brittney Sahin novel and it won't be my last.
Likes:
-"my wife"
-"touch her and die"
-forced marriage
-country singer heroine
-super protective italian hero
-found family

There's not much I didn't like except that the mafia storyline felt a lot stronger than the relationship storyline at times. I'm a romance reader so I'm a sucker for the love story.

I would recommend this one! I love romantic suspence books. This was a good one and with a fake dating/marriage of convience. My first book by Brittney Sahin. Also, who doesn't love a good "My Wife" trope.

The passing of Calliope’s mother turned her normal life as a schoolteacher upside down when she learns that she is the daughter of a powerful mafia man, and he has plans for her future. Alessandro comes into her to protect her from her fate with the offer of a pretend marriage, but nothing is as it seems.

Alessandro is a wealthy man who doesn’t believe that a relationship will ever be in the cards for him. Instead, he likes to keep his relationships casual and believes that the same will hold true or Calliope but she is a surprise he didn’t see coming.

The suspense and action will keep you on edge and the heat between them is undeniable as a man who never believed he could trust a woman with his heart realizes that it depends on the woman as she proves to be his match in every way.