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A review by nikitanavalkar
Savage Hearts by J.T. Geissinger
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Let’s get right down to it. I have some complex issues with this series. This is probably some of Geissinger’s funniest and snappiest and hottest work, as in the banter, the dialog, the action is on point. The heroines are strong and smart and snarky and a refreshing change from what we’re used to in typical mafia romance. I mean, they make some questionable choices, but I get it, we are in bananas mob world here. Having said that, the plot is a little all over the place? It gets rather confusing, and some things are starting to be a little laughable.
Like I was the biggest Sloane fan since book 1, but she suddenly had this personality transplant in this book which made me not just annoyed at her bitchiness, but also taken aback by her mood swings? Idk she’s just not the Sloane I knew and it felt like her character suffered for the “plot”, and I finally heaved a sigh of relief at the end when I felt the old Sloane coming back. Already, Riley felt like the sister that never was supposed to exist until this book became a thing. Again, plot. At least she’s hilarious and as iconic as Sloane was. Until she also goes off the rails a little. And Mal the merc is rather dumb for a lot of the book and I wasn’t enamored by him like I have been so far by the men in the series. Then he goes and does swoony things so idk what my problem is. I’m gonna come right out and say it, I just didn’t care much about their romance.
Is it just me and my not so great relationship with mafia romance? Am I just finding fault? I have a feeling that something’s missing but not sure exactly what. There’s also another personality transplant by the end for a character I had liked so far, but we’ll see how that pans out. I say all this, but I’d still rather read these books over almost any other mafia romance out there. Because see: funny and hot and at times also super swoony, and heroines that don’t make me want to stab something and send them back to school. I’m just overthinking the missing pieces. If my review seems scattered, it’s because that’s basically how I feel about this book.
Like I was the biggest Sloane fan since book 1, but she suddenly had this personality transplant in this book which made me not just annoyed at her bitchiness, but also taken aback by her mood swings? Idk she’s just not the Sloane I knew and it felt like her character suffered for the “plot”, and I finally heaved a sigh of relief at the end when I felt the old Sloane coming back. Already, Riley felt like the sister that never was supposed to exist until this book became a thing. Again, plot. At least she’s hilarious and as iconic as Sloane was. Until she also goes off the rails a little. And Mal the merc is rather dumb for a lot of the book and I wasn’t enamored by him like I have been so far by the men in the series. Then he goes and does swoony things so idk what my problem is. I’m gonna come right out and say it, I just didn’t care much about their romance.
Is it just me and my not so great relationship with mafia romance? Am I just finding fault? I have a feeling that something’s missing but not sure exactly what. There’s also another personality transplant by the end for a character I had liked so far, but we’ll see how that pans out. I say all this, but I’d still rather read these books over almost any other mafia romance out there. Because see: funny and hot and at times also super swoony, and heroines that don’t make me want to stab something and send them back to school. I’m just overthinking the missing pieces. If my review seems scattered, it’s because that’s basically how I feel about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence