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pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
Mafia romance is a guilty pleasure of mine, and this series is pushing all the right buttons. I loved Boris and Nora's story, even more than the first book. I think what draws me in is not only the danger, but the action, and possessiveness of Boris. Nora has loved him all of her life. She knows who he is and what he does, and still, her heart belongs to him. But will her brothers ever let her be with him? Not only Russian, he is not part of the crime families. Will love prevail? And will everyone come out safe in the end? This one is took me by storm. Suspense, graphic detail, incredible romance, family ties, friends through thick and thin, it has it all and left me breathless til the end. I loved it! And now it leaves me wanting the next in the series!
Maggie Cole picked her narrators with care, because better casting could not have happened. Gregory Salinas is top of the line! From Irish to Russian to American, he lets those voices and accents flow, never missing a beat. I love his ability to understand the characters and bring out their personalities. Allyson Voller brings Nora to life! Strong, and loving, she creates Nora with nuances and inflections, letting us know exactly how she is feeling. These two were fantastic!
Maggie Cole picked her narrators with care, because better casting could not have happened. Gregory Salinas is top of the line! From Irish to Russian to American, he lets those voices and accents flow, never missing a beat. I love his ability to understand the characters and bring out their personalities. Allyson Voller brings Nora to life! Strong, and loving, she creates Nora with nuances and inflections, letting us know exactly how she is feeling. These two were fantastic!
lesleyt's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookyknitter's review against another edition
4.0
Great series
At first I wasn't sure about how the series was written but the more I read the more it makes sense why the books seem to be happening both simultaneously and yet not...
At first I wasn't sure about how the series was written but the more I read the more it makes sense why the books seem to be happening both simultaneously and yet not...
reneej05's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
melinda1962's review against another edition
5.0
What a great continuation of this series. I love the mix of the Irish with the Russians. And the argument in the pub as old as time, “vodka or whiskey?” We’ve met all the characters now for this 10 book series and I can’t wait to read each one’s stories.
quinnreads2's review against another edition
5.0
"And no matter what you do, Boris Ivanov, I see you. The real you."
-- Nora O'Malley
From early on, it's clear that Nora has Boris' number. Even knowing what she does, it doesn't stop the heartbreak, the heartache that they put each other and themselves through. It's palpable.
The chemistry between these two would put an ACME factory explosion to shame! Their passion is intense, wild, and all-consuming. Unsurprisingly, this leads to some extremely
megs004's review against another edition
5.0
Broken Fighter is the second installment of the Mafia Wars Series. This book follows Boris and Nora. Boris and Nora are like magnets, they always have an undeniable attraction to each other. Their chemistry is smoking hot too! This book will keep you hooked with the many obstacles they go through with their relationship, family and crime. This series is addicting. I cannot wait for book three!
sop30's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the Mafia Wars series by Maggie Cole. This book follows the story of Nora and Boris. We see them in Ruthless Stranger. Nora and Boris have known each other since childhood. They have feelings for each other but can't act on it due to Noras family the O' Malleys. The O' Malleys are an Irish crime family. They want Nora to marry an Irish man to keep the bloodline pure Irish. The spicy scenes were really good.
Their story is kinda like Romeo and Juliet but mafia styled and I loved it.
It also has brothers best friend trope which I absolutely love. He also kept calling her moya dusha.
"You're mine, moya dusha. I love you. No amount of potential destruction is keeping me away from you."
"I would have thought being with him almost every night would reduce the hum in my veins. It doesn't. When he sneaks behind me at work or gives me his panty-melting stare, it only intensifies until I'm so desperate for him, the moment we're alone we're going at it."
Their story is kinda like Romeo and Juliet but mafia styled and I loved it.
It also has brothers best friend trope which I absolutely love. He also kept calling her moya dusha.
"You're mine, moya dusha. I love you. No amount of potential destruction is keeping me away from you."
"I would have thought being with him almost every night would reduce the hum in my veins. It doesn't. When he sneaks behind me at work or gives me his panty-melting stare, it only intensifies until I'm so desperate for him, the moment we're alone we're going at it."
desiree_mcl's review against another edition
4.0
Another hit in this series.
I adored Boris and how much he loved and wanted Nora.
I'm really loving that most of the characters we've been following so far have been in their 30's and 40's. It's nice finding some reads where the main characters aren't 18-26.
Nora...did get on my nerves sometimes. I certainly didn't hate her but the constant pushing away of Boris, especially over the Irish/Russian difference got annoying. Plus, does she have to say 'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph' every time she feels pleasure from sexual contact? A couple of times...fine but every time, multiple times, it got very annoying.
Killian frustrated me, I understood the thought process behind the "Boris isn't Irish" mind set, I'd remember my Papou telling me stories of his mother who was appalled that he was marrying a Greek girl. She wasn't Irish or Catholic, it was like it was worse than murder and they weren't associated with the mob/mafia lifestyle.
So, while it's a mind set that I don't agree with, I understand it was/is an issue in a lot cultures still. However, Boris has been best friends with Killian, has had his back, has been a steady part of his and Nora's life, and yet because he was Russian, he wasn't even an option for Nora. So much so that they completely ignored some warning signs from the Irish guy they were pushing on Nora. It frustrated me a lot, especially when Boris was telling him that there was something off with him and to keep an eye on him but his concerns were shooed away all because the other guy was Irish.
Overall I really liked this, I'm looking forward to reading Sergey's book, which I think is the next one.
I adored Boris and how much he loved and wanted Nora.
I'm really loving that most of the characters we've been following so far have been in their 30's and 40's. It's nice finding some reads where the main characters aren't 18-26.
Nora...did get on my nerves sometimes. I certainly didn't hate her but the constant pushing away of Boris, especially over the Irish/Russian difference got annoying. Plus, does she have to say 'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph' every time she feels pleasure from sexual contact? A couple of times...fine but every time, multiple times, it got very annoying.
Killian frustrated me, I understood the thought process behind the "Boris isn't Irish" mind set, I'd remember my Papou telling me stories of his mother who was appalled that he was marrying a Greek girl. She wasn't Irish or Catholic, it was like it was worse than murder and they weren't associated with the mob/mafia lifestyle.
So, while it's a mind set that I don't agree with, I understand it was/is an issue in a lot cultures still. However, Boris has been best friends with Killian, has had his back, has been a steady part of his and Nora's life, and yet because he was Russian, he wasn't even an option for Nora. So much so that they completely ignored some warning signs from the Irish guy they were pushing on Nora. It frustrated me a lot, especially when Boris was telling him that there was something off with him and to keep an eye on him but his concerns were shooed away all because the other guy was Irish.
Overall I really liked this, I'm looking forward to reading Sergey's book, which I think is the next one.
amberreadsromance28's review against another edition
3.0
I was sad that this book just didn't work for me. I loved the first book. However, I did not feel this couples connection. They have already pined for each other for years before this book starts, so you don't get the build of their relationship. They already loved each other.
I also did not enjoy the sex scenes because the h drove me nuts. She yelled "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" in every single sex scene. It took me out of the sex scenes and was so unsexy. Literally drove me nuts.
The reason they can't be together was just stupid to me. The h really drove me crazy in this book. The constant back and forth and wanting to be with him but refusing to tell her family was infuriating.
I do like the Mafia storyline, and that was the only thing I liked about this book. I will be continuing with the series because I am very interested in the Mafia plot and want to see the brothers' romances for both of the families.
I also did not enjoy the sex scenes because the h drove me nuts. She yelled "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" in every single sex scene. It took me out of the sex scenes and was so unsexy. Literally drove me nuts.
The reason they can't be together was just stupid to me. The h really drove me crazy in this book. The constant back and forth and wanting to be with him but refusing to tell her family was infuriating.
I do like the Mafia storyline, and that was the only thing I liked about this book. I will be continuing with the series because I am very interested in the Mafia plot and want to see the brothers' romances for both of the families.