3 Stars

Hmm, well this one started out strong but I feel like it fizzled a bit after the first few chapters. I found myself getting a bit bored.

I really liked Pietro but struggled to connect with Lucy. Her character came off as very juvenile for a 21 year old.

For a mafia romance, it definitely had its share of murder, secrets and kidnapping but, in my opinion, it was poorly executed and failed to hold my interest.

<i>ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Family feuds, revenge, secrets and a love that's been denied for far too long.

Can two kids discover love as young adults despite the obstacles they face surrounding the mysterious death of Pietro's family and the deep hidden secrets that Lucy's father has regarding that fateful day long ago.

The cliffhanger at the end was a shock as I didn't realize it wasn't a standalone read.

I hate to say this but this book was a DNF for me. I am a Missy Johnson fan and was shocked that this one fell flat for me. I felt like this was trying to be a mafia book, but there were pieces of other things thrown in that just didn't make it all click for me.

I would say to give it a chance for yourself. This may just be me. I also read that this was a cliff hanger. I know some readers don;t like to go into a book not knowing that. Just be prepared.

I really wish this one would have worked for me because Pietro seemed like a great character as did Lucia. They just didn't seem to click to me though. Sorry!

Great read that had me hooked and not wanting to put my kindle down!

CODE OF HONOR - Missy Johnson

#1 in the Spontagio Family romance series

REVENGE AND ROMANCE - 3.5 stars

Plot - 3.5 stars - Pietro witnessed the death of his Mafia father and mother when he was a child and has been raised by a family friend. He has always thought of Giovanni's daughter as his sister, but now that they're grown up, they are becoming closer, even though he's fighting his feelings. When Lucy moves to NYC to pursue her dancing career, Giovanni asks him to go along, undercover, to keep an eye on her. Of course, she finds out, and their relationship develops quickly and hotly.

Writing - 3.5 stars - I was caught up in the story right away and enjoyed the camaraderie between Pietro and Lucy. Despite the numerous typos and grammatical errors, I thought the writing was tight and moved forward quickly. There wasn't a whole lot of action, but the underlying stories of Pietro's past and Giovanni's "business" kept things interesting between the romantic encounters. There were a few parts that seemed particularly whitewashed. Although I found that appropriate in a light romance, it didn't come across as believable behavior for any Mafia-related characters. There wasn't near enough fear or tension built into the more dramatic scenes.

Characters - 3.5 stars - The characters are both fun and pleasant. Pietro is fairly intense, with his past still haunting him. The fact that he's trying to impress Giovanni but supposedly has no contact and little knowledge about the business is hard to believe. It seems likely he'd either be in or out, especially as a young Sicilian man. And the kidnapping scene was pretty unbelievable too. I don't think the Mafia is so reserved. My understanding is that they are quick and brutal, with little empathy. The fact that all worked out safely for everyone was certainly pleasant, but didn't seem true. Lucy, as the innocent and well-protected young daughter is fine. She is headstrong and nice, and the fact that she laughs off her father's fears is believable since she's lived with it her whole life and doesn't really recognize the dangers.

Format - 4 stars - It's always helpful to break the story into sections, alternating looking at each situation first through Pietro's eyes, then Lucy's. That way we can really get inside the characters' heads.

Title - 4 stars - This refers to the "honor among thieves," I suppose. Pietro is trying to navigate his way through the Mafia red tape to find his parents' killers, but he is bound by his obligation to Giovanni.

Cover - 4 stars - A hot man in a suit is much more sexy than the usual naked abs typically found on the covers of this genre. Bravo for a little discretion.

Overview - 3.5 stars - Very pleasant and fast-moving romance. I found the characters entertaining and very appealing. Lucy is believable as the daughter of a Mafia leader. As his only child, she is vulnerable, but it makes sense that she'd ignore the dangers since she's dealt with them all her life. Pietro is torn between his obligation to her father, his desire for revenge, and his love for Lucy. The poor guy is all kinds of messed up, but I liked his vulnerability, especially when he is so unsure about how to proceed. Although the book was a generally pleasant romance, I felt there should have been more tension. The Mafia-related scenes would naturally seem to be scarier and should have offered a lot more threat. The romantic scenes were hot, but there wasn't much of a build-up before they jumped into bed together. It seemed like there might have been a lot more sexual tension building up to their final breaking point. A cliffhanger is always annoying, but in this case I'm invested in the story enough that I will continue with this series to see what happens. Overall, a job well done.