I wanted to love this book but it fell short for me. This is a beloved author for many but I just couldn’t get into this book. I felt I was forcing myself to continue the read. For some reason I just couldn’t connect with the characters.
2 ⭐️

Publish March 11, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audio ARC copy for an honest review.

I started this audio without knowing anything about the book. I was a bit confused in the beginning, but once I realized there were alternating timelines, I was able to follow along. Then I read the synopsis.

This isn’t the book for me. I was immediately put off during one of the explicit scenes which lasted 2 chapters. The FMC had a very naive. The MMC is very odd. I knew how this book was going to end once the story got going.

Although the book isn’t for me. The audio was well done. The narration is what kept me going and engaged. Otherwise, I wild have DNF’d.

2 stars

The Godfather meets West Side Story in this smexy, dark tale of an ancient family vendetta.
The story hooked me right away. I was intrigued by Maarja’s fate, and the intense scene that set everything into motion had me on edge. But after that, my interest started to wane. The romance felt rushed, and despite the high stakes and dangerous moments, once the action settled I found myself bored. I’m not sure exactly why. It had all the right pieces, but something just didn’t click for me. The narrator Vanessa Johansson did a great job portraying Maarja and many of the other characters. The tones and inflections used were great.

I got to listen to this audio book as an ARC listener. The narration was ok wish the narrator had a better voice for Dante. I imagined his voice deeper and sexier but cant expect that from a woman. Maybe a male and female narration would work better to captivate how dreamy and boss like Dante is. But beside that this book was different. A bit of smut with thriller to it makes a perfect combo. I never would've guessed who the murderer was but it was all nicely tied together. Overall was an ok book. The ending fell a bit short unfortunately.

This was my intro to Dodd's work. I found the story intriguing, but too many convoluted ins and outs tended to distract me from the plot.

There was humor and suspense in the story but not enough. I'd definitely try reading the author's work again, but this one didn't work for me.

A dark and twisty thriller romance with a little magic sprinkled in, so many genres in one book can get muddled but Christina Dodd pulled it off! This was West Side Story meets the Godfather meets Romeo and Juliet (without the suicide) in today’s world and so exciting to read. Dante at first made me a little nervous that we were seeing a kidnapping vibe but I ended up loving his character and his protector side. The dueling families and forbidden love bringing everything together with a little violence and a lot of spice were such a great combo! Such a good book, trust me you’re going to love it!

Once again, thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for my ARC copy! This was another hit IMO! 🤩🏆

3.5, the story definitely had me interested. I just could not figure out the genre and it went a little too “Fifty Shades” for my taste. However, the mobster storyline kept me wondering what came next for the main characters.

There were a few parts where I did laugh aloud.

I would definitely read more by this author. Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Over-the-Top Romantic Suspense (⭐⭐⭐)
This "Godfather meets West Side Story" thriller mixes intense romance with a convoluted family feud. While the initial premise is intriguing, the plot quickly becomes overly dramatic and relies on numerous coincidences. The constant threats and betrayals become more exhausting than suspenseful. A decent listen for fans of high-drama romantic suspense, but lacks realism. Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

Girl Anonymous has mob drama, a fiery romance, and plenty of action. Maarja is on the run from her past, but crossing paths with Dante—her enemy’s son—changes everything. He’s intense, dangerous, and impossible to resist. Their chemistry? Off the charts.

The story moves at a great pace with some solid twists. Steamy and packed with tension. If you love a dark romance with a thriller edge, this one’s for you!

Thank you Christina Dodd, Harlequin Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I've read many of Christina Dodd's books before and enjoyed them. This one, however, I felt missed the mark. I struggled to connect with the characters. I listened to the whole book, but kind of trudged through it.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Twists, trust, and thrills!

This dark, romantic thriller is packed with plot twists that just keep coming. The beginning throws a lot of information at you, but once the scene is set, you're pulled into a world of violence, murder, and secrets.

I love a story where you can trust the main characters, but beyond that, everyone else is a suspect. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the audiobook narration made it even more immersive. Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the early listener copy!

A huge thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this romantic thriller coming 3/11

Unfortunately this did not work for me. Ultimately between the lack of character development, the chaotic blending of the two genres and a difficulty connecting with the characters this just fell short for me.
I think I understand what the author was trying to accomplish here, but it felt very choppy, which made it difficult to want to continue and be engaged with the story.

While I think the narrator did a fine job trying to bring the characters and the story to life, it just wasn't enough to salvage this for me.

As always, this may work for you even though it did not for me!

I was excited about Girl Anonymous from reading the synopsis.

I struggled with the book. I didn’t understand the Maarja & Dante’s connection so I had a hard time engaging with the story. Parts of the story dragged and others went too quickly… I couldn’t piece it all together.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A twisty darkly romantic thriller that will keep you guessing what will happen next.

📓Brief Description (Spoiler-Free):
- Maarja witnessed a horrific event as a child and has been on the run ever since.
- As an adult she hides in plain sight, until she comes across Dante, does he remember her from a child?
- Will they be able to create a new beginning, or will the flames of vendetta consume them?

❤️ What I Loved:
- It was fast-paced and engaging.
- Very unique story - definitely not what you would expect going in.

🤔 What I Would Change:
- It raised more questions than answers.
- A bit simpler plot would have been easier to execute the concepts.

📚 Recommended For:
- Fans of J.D. Robb, Megan Miranda, and Sandra Brown
- Readers who enjoy unique storylines that merge multiple genres.

💭Final Thoughts & Rating:
- I’m so appreciative of NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing me with the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think Vanessa Johansson is a wonderful narrator, but this just misses the mark. The tone for certain scenes just seemed to be off.

I could not finish the book. I couldn't really understand what was going on.

The Godfather meets West Side Story? Um, yes please!! I was so excited to read this based on that description alone. Girl Anonymous is a romantic thriller, which made me want to read it even more.

As a young girl, Maarja witnessed her mother and Benoit Arundel, a mob boss, be killed in an explosion. Since then she has been living on the run. Fast forward to now. Maarja is a fine arts transporter. Her job takes her to a mansion where she meets Dante, the new boss of the Arundel family. Does Dante know who Maarja really is? Will he want revenge on her or use her because of his father’s death? But then Maarja saves Dante’s mother and everything changes between them. Dante wants to end the feud between their families, but his enemies view this as an opportunity to destroy both Dante and Maarja. Will their relationship make it? Will the feud end? Will Dante’s enemies win?


This is my first Christina Dodd book and I really enjoyed it. I loved the mesh between the thriller genre and the romance genre. The West Side Story vibes added in a third love of mine. The combination was amazing. Chef’s kiss.
Combining genres into one can be difficult, but I thought this was executed very well. It had a good amount of both action/mystery and romance.
I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator did very well.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Audio. This has not impacted my review in any way. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin!

The premise of this book sounded good, but unfortunately. the execution just wasn't great in my opinion. I was hoping to be excited but I got bored.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and for the alc.

I am here for the VIBES.

Is this book a masterpiece? No, not at all. Is it entertaining? Decently yes. Is it what I expected? Also, not at all.

I am a huge fan of Christina Dodd and much of her older work. She has been a huge part of my reading life since I was 13 years old, a little young I know but I had an aunt who corrupted me. I think that this is the key reason why I finished this book in its entirety despite the obvious flaws.

This book tries to blend paranormal with well.. the normal in a way that's just disconnected. The book doesn't fully explain the paranormal aspects of the story and weaves it in at the oddest of times, while insisting that the rest of the world is as it should be. I would have loved if the book leaned more into the magical/mystical/gypsy aspect of the story more, threading it into the entire family and not just our FMC, Maarja. Even the explanation of Maarja's powers are lacking and they only seem to pop up at the most convenient of times, leaving you scratching your head as to how this plot point ties in.

The thriller aspect of the story was absolutely top tier. I loved not knowing what was happening next, especially as someone actively tries again and again to kill our main couple. The book keeps you guessing as to who the culprit could be, except even here I do find one plot hole that I found was easily overlooked until you start to think about it. Regardless, everything comes to a head in a beautiful way, getting wrapped up nice and neatly in a bow at the end of the book.

The romance aspect is a bit... strange. The book leans heavily into the magical threads when it comes to the relationship between Maarja and Dante. "Fate" being used as the excuse throughout the story as to how they ended up together, rushed as it was. They had no ties between them, that we knew of, and yet they ended up in the shower together and were intimate. Then Dante starts insisting that she is pregnant immediately the next day, once again claiming "Fate". This part did make me hesitate in continuing the story, but I pushed through and again,... the vibes were there.

This book has so many flaws but I think that's kind of where the beauty lies. It was an entertaining read and after all isn't that the point of reading? To be entertained. I would liken this book to Fourth Wing, Twilight and even Fifty Shades of Grey in that its not the best literature, but it is engaging and had me laughing.

The narrator was amazing and her voice was so soothing. She even handled the male voices well.

just finished Girl Anonymous by Christina Dodd, and wow—what a ride! It’s packed with twists, suspense, and just the right amount of paranoia to keep you turning pages late into the night. If you love thrillers that mess with your mind and keep you guessing, this one’s worth picking up!

God father meets west side story in this romantic thriller!

The family must overcome loss, heartbreak and vendettas stemming from long ago. Will they be able to squash them once and for all or will it continue to cause anguish?

Thank you for the opportunity to arc read my first "audio" book by Christina Dodd!