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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Trafficking
You know peak pandemic romance? Mafia, “You are mine”, I’m a feisty heroine people constantly underestimate solid romance? Welcome to Through Any Fire.
Loren was raised in the enemy mob family of Callahan, yet at 16 it didn’t matter. Now Ren needs a big favor from the newly minted boss Cal. But in exchange for a huge rock on her finger she gets more than what she bargain for, including having to take the role of a boss’ wife.
I’ve stalked this book since it magically appeared on toy threads page. An indie author and a promise to enemies to lovers banter made me sign up right away, recently having become overwhelmed by too many golden retriever MMC and insta lovey books.
This book definitely has all the ingredients to make a great first in a series of 2025 cultural sensibility Mafia books. Not too dark but still thrilling. It’s definitely a great time. Good banter and especially the perfect halfway point between smut-central and closed door. I could feel the tension as if it was in front of me, thanks to a style and pace that are almost movie like.
But, and I hate to find faults in books, I can’t in good conscience give it five stars. The narrative is filled to the brim with action, yet “the monster” Cal says he feels like is just teased and the awful condition of being born a woman in a mob family only shown in a short memory. I know these characters have layers Katherine could spend hours on and there are so many in that big household-headquarter! I know the brotherly dynamics of the Kaene could have a book alone, but it’s a pity that Loren and Cal’s pov and relationship wasn’t explored more. There weren’t particularly memorable points, just a very well packaged tropey story. Where is the raw emotion?
I still have a lot of faith in this series tho, so onto the next books!
I was luckily chosen to receive an ARC of this book by amazing Katherine Carter.
Loren was raised in the enemy mob family of Callahan, yet at 16 it didn’t matter. Now Ren needs a big favor from the newly minted boss Cal. But in exchange for a huge rock on her finger she gets more than what she bargain for, including having to take the role of a boss’ wife.
I’ve stalked this book since it magically appeared on toy threads page. An indie author and a promise to enemies to lovers banter made me sign up right away, recently having become overwhelmed by too many golden retriever MMC and insta lovey books.
This book definitely has all the ingredients to make a great first in a series of 2025 cultural sensibility Mafia books. Not too dark but still thrilling. It’s definitely a great time. Good banter and especially the perfect halfway point between smut-central and closed door. I could feel the tension as if it was in front of me, thanks to a style and pace that are almost movie like.
But, and I hate to find faults in books, I can’t in good conscience give it five stars. The narrative is filled to the brim with action, yet “the monster” Cal says he feels like is just teased and the awful condition of being born a woman in a mob family only shown in a short memory. I know these characters have layers Katherine could spend hours on and there are so many in that big household-headquarter! I know the brotherly dynamics of the Kaene could have a book alone, but it’s a pity that Loren and Cal’s pov and relationship wasn’t explored more. There weren’t particularly memorable points, just a very well packaged tropey story. Where is the raw emotion?
I still have a lot of faith in this series tho, so onto the next books!
I was luckily chosen to receive an ARC of this book by amazing Katherine Carter.
Loren is a successful dark romance author who finds herself pulled back into a world she thought she left behind when her younger brother goes missing. With no leads and even fewer allies, she’s forced to team up with the last person she ever wanted to see again: her ex, Callahan Keane, now head of one of the most dangerous crime families in Roswell.
This story blends second chance romance with mafia drama and deep-rooted family secrets. There’s a solid emotional backbone beneath the action as Loren and Callahan navigate old wounds, long held resentments, and a slow rekindling of the bond they once shared. The tension builds steadily with every chapter, and there’s a strong sense of mystery woven through the plot as fires, disappearances, and betrayals begin to surface.
The romance is definitely a slow burn, with spice not showing up until late in the book, around the seventy percent mark. It’s not a story that leads with steam, but when it does arrive, it adds to the emotional payoff of the characters’ journey.
What really worked for me was the twisty plot and the bold time jump in the epilogue. It gave the ending a sense of closure that felt earned, rather than rushed.
This story blends second chance romance with mafia drama and deep-rooted family secrets. There’s a solid emotional backbone beneath the action as Loren and Callahan navigate old wounds, long held resentments, and a slow rekindling of the bond they once shared. The tension builds steadily with every chapter, and there’s a strong sense of mystery woven through the plot as fires, disappearances, and betrayals begin to surface.
The romance is definitely a slow burn, with spice not showing up until late in the book, around the seventy percent mark. It’s not a story that leads with steam, but when it does arrive, it adds to the emotional payoff of the characters’ journey.
What really worked for me was the twisty plot and the bold time jump in the epilogue. It gave the ending a sense of closure that felt earned, rather than rushed.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had the absolute pleasure of receiving this as an ARC. It was an exhilarating, delicious slow burn. The second chance enemies to lovers had me chewing at the bars of my enclosure the entire time. I cannot wait for the world to meet Cal and Loren.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5⭐️
Second chance romance is not for me, however, this book proved me wrong! Mix in the suspense and mystery, I found this book hard to put down. Though I think Cal could've groveled more. The chemistry between Loren and Cal electric. This was a great introduction into the AnyX series. I can't wait for the second book! Thank you for this Arc!
Through Any Fire publishes July 28th 2025
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’ve been here for a while you know that marriage of convenience or fake dating are my favorite tropes! When Katherine opened ARCs for this book with marriage of convenience I RAN to apply!
This one is super fast paced and action packed so get ready to buckle down because I almost read this whole book in one sitting!
When Loren’s baby brother goes missing, she asks the rival mafia family leader and her ex flame Callahan Kane for help locating him. Cal is happy to help, in exchange for a wife. The marriage happens quickly and we get soooo much tension in the marriage and forced proximity in the house. There is quite a lot of action happening with locating Loren’s brother and mafia rival families engaging in turf wars. During all this action, we see many small reasons Cal has pined over Loren since they broke up. Cal still has Loren’s shampoo in his shower, he refused to sleep on her side of the bed for years, he remembers she doesn’t like cheese (we are judging you for that one, Loren), and he kept a worn version of Romeo and Juliet.
Read this book if you like:
🎀 marriage of convenience
💍 second chance romance
🎀 mafia family
💍 forced proximity
🎀 “it’s always been her”
💍 mutual pining
🎀 plenty of “my wife” moments
💍 FMC who saves herself
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Through Any Fire releases on July 28, 2025!
Thank you so much to Katherine Carter for the eARC!!
This one is super fast paced and action packed so get ready to buckle down because I almost read this whole book in one sitting!
When Loren’s baby brother goes missing, she asks the rival mafia family leader and her ex flame Callahan Kane for help locating him. Cal is happy to help, in exchange for a wife. The marriage happens quickly and we get soooo much tension in the marriage and forced proximity in the house. There is quite a lot of action happening with locating Loren’s brother and mafia rival families engaging in turf wars. During all this action, we see many small reasons Cal has pined over Loren since they broke up. Cal still has Loren’s shampoo in his shower, he refused to sleep on her side of the bed for years, he remembers she doesn’t like cheese (we are judging you for that one, Loren), and he kept a worn version of Romeo and Juliet.
Read this book if you like:
🎀 marriage of convenience
💍 second chance romance
🎀 mafia family
💍 forced proximity
🎀 “it’s always been her”
💍 mutual pining
🎀 plenty of “my wife” moments
💍 FMC who saves herself
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Through Any Fire releases on July 28, 2025!
Thank you so much to Katherine Carter for the eARC!!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Quick Summary: A dark mafia, second chance romance
My Review: Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter is book #1 in the Any X series. It is categorized as "A Second Chance Marriage of Convenience" romance. The book is scheduled for release on 7/28/25.
About the Book: "Life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.
I would’ve fallen arms wide open and headfirst into his raging storm. It didn’t matter that we were teenagers, that he was the heir to the rival Keane family, or that I was arguably too young to know he was the love of my life.
. . . until that fateful night."
In My Own Words: A morally gray anti-hero falls deeply in love with a woman from a rival family. She, too, loses her heart to him. Years after a seeming betrayal, a cruel twist of fate brings the two star-crossed lovers back together.
What I Loved:
- I loved the strength of both leads. They were so different, yet they were also so similar in a lot of ways. Their lightness matched, but their darkness did as well.
- I loved the dangling threads that were left for the readers to find. While this story resolved, there was obviously more that could come. In fact, there were so many different directions that could be taken for the next installment in the series.
- I loved the wordplay associated with the up and coming, unknown rival group. The monikers were telling. The darkness hidden in the light gave off the evil disguised as good vibe.
- I loved that Loren was a layered character with different facets to her personality. She was Loren, Bunny, and Ren all rolled up into one. Additionally, she was her father's daughter, her sibling's caregiver and guardian. She was also a wife, a partner, a friend, and... She was not weak by any means - on any level.
My Final Say: Through the Fire had my mind reeling. There were so many twists and turns. I was glued to the pages the entire time. I loved it! I look forward to continuing with this series.
Other: Readers who like the following tropes should enjoy this book.
Tropes - >
- Mafia
- Second chance at love
- Fake Relationship
- Marriage of Convenience
- Dark Romance
- Anti-hero Heroes
Other Author/Publisher Recognized Tropes - >
+ childhood rivals turned lovers turned strangers
+ forced proximity
+ "my wife"
+ reformed playboy
+ old betrayals
+ new secrets
+ lost letter
+ headstrong FMC
All potential readers should refer to the author/publisher notes, regarding triggering content. This book is intended for mature audiences only.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
My Review: Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter is book #1 in the Any X series. It is categorized as "A Second Chance Marriage of Convenience" romance. The book is scheduled for release on 7/28/25.
About the Book: "Life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.
I would’ve fallen arms wide open and headfirst into his raging storm. It didn’t matter that we were teenagers, that he was the heir to the rival Keane family, or that I was arguably too young to know he was the love of my life.
. . . until that fateful night."
In My Own Words: A morally gray anti-hero falls deeply in love with a woman from a rival family. She, too, loses her heart to him. Years after a seeming betrayal, a cruel twist of fate brings the two star-crossed lovers back together.
What I Loved:
- I loved the strength of both leads. They were so different, yet they were also so similar in a lot of ways. Their lightness matched, but their darkness did as well.
- I loved the dangling threads that were left for the readers to find. While this story resolved, there was obviously more that could come. In fact, there were so many different directions that could be taken for the next installment in the series.
- I loved the wordplay associated with the up and coming, unknown rival group. The monikers were telling. The darkness hidden in the light gave off the evil disguised as good vibe.
- I loved that Loren was a layered character with different facets to her personality. She was Loren, Bunny, and Ren all rolled up into one. Additionally, she was her father's daughter, her sibling's caregiver and guardian. She was also a wife, a partner, a friend, and... She was not weak by any means - on any level.
My Final Say: Through the Fire had my mind reeling. There were so many twists and turns. I was glued to the pages the entire time. I loved it! I look forward to continuing with this series.
Other: Readers who like the following tropes should enjoy this book.
Tropes - >
- Mafia
- Second chance at love
- Fake Relationship
- Marriage of Convenience
- Dark Romance
- Anti-hero Heroes
Other Author/Publisher Recognized Tropes - >
+ childhood rivals turned lovers turned strangers
+ forced proximity
+ "my wife"
+ reformed playboy
+ old betrayals
+ new secrets
+ lost letter
+ headstrong FMC
All potential readers should refer to the author/publisher notes, regarding triggering content. This book is intended for mature audiences only.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Through Any Fire is a second chance, forced proximity, marriage of convenience novel that I was lucky enough to advance read as a final proof/edit collaborator.
Loren and Callahan are former childhood sweethearts in a very Romeo and Juliet star crossed lovers way. Members of two rival organized crime families, they weren’t meant to fall in love. But they did… until Loren walked in and found Callahan in bed with someone else.
Years after the heartbreak, Loren must seek out Cal to help find her missing brother after he was sent into Keane territory as part of his initiation into the Bianchi Family empire. He’ll help her, but there’s a catch. She needs his help and he needs a wife. And Loren will do anything to save her brother.
I completely devoureddddd this book. The slow burn and angst had me on the edge of my seat. There are members only sex clubs, assassination attempts, a self-made independent woman, and they literally walked through fire for each other. How much better can it get?
All that to say, I’m so seriously surprised that this is only Katherine Center’s second novel. It was so well written and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next in the series and this one hasn’t even been released yet. Do yourself a favor and grab this when it’s out on July 28!
Tropes:
✨ marriage of convenience
✨ rivals turned lovers turned strangers
✨ forced proximity
✨ ”my wife”
✨ reformed playboy
✨ old wounds still bleed