4.5 Stars

Sloan O'Malley wants nothing to do with the criminal enterprises her family is involved in. With the help of her brother, she secretly relocates to start living her life how she wants to. On her first impression of her new town, she meets her new... and surly next door neighbor.

Jude MacNamara is not what he seems. When Sloan shows up out of the blue, he soon realizes she is a mystery he needs to solve... and he needs to get close to her to do it. But when what starts as a fact finding mission turns into an uncontrollable attraction... the stakes keep getting higher and higher...

This was a fantastic read... and probably my favorite in the O'Malley series to date! Sloan has been living her life in the shadows and is so unhappy that she just has to leave so she can find herself, but she also has to be away from those she loves. Jude is dangerous, on a mission and HOT. With their unwanted attraction to each other that leads to some scorching sex, these two don't know what hits them.

With a fast paced storyline, excellent writing and a plot that continues and advances the O'Malley saga, this book is a not to be missed installment of the series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

What a great addition to the O'Malley Series!

I likened Jude MacNamara to a wolf in sheep's clothing! Waiting for his revenge and living his whole life for it! Scoping out a beach house belonging to his target. He never expected Sloan O'Malley! She was beautiful, innocent, and his new neighbor! In my mind, he thought he could use her to suit more than one purpose!

Sloan was trying to break free from the violence that surrounded her family. She wanted a normal life! I wondered if that would ever be possible! She was and always would be an O'Malley! She was so trusting she didn't see the wolf knocking at her door! That never bodes well for someone on the run! I could feel the danger brewing in the air,and the electricity between Jude and Sloan. I wondered what Jude would think is more important.. Revenge or Sloan?

This is part of a very good Mafia Family Series! I've loved the other books and, this one is no exception!

~ Wendy

'FORBIDDEN PROMISES' by Katee Robert is book Four in "The O'Malleys" series.  This is the story of Sloan O'Malley and Jude MacNamara.  I have not yet read the other books in the series so for me this was a standalone book.  
Sloan has left her family in Boston to get away from their Mafia Drama and start a new life on her own. Only her brother and his wife knows where Sloan is staying.  Sloan has lived a shelter life where she didn't have to work and they had servants so learning to be on her own is a new adventure.  Sloan has just found her first job and looks forward to being more independent.  But one thing Sloan is finding hard to do is stay away from the neighbor she has. Their first meeting we learned was the night she first came to the cottage but he seem to make it clear he didn't want anything to do with her. 
Jude is a hit man who is looking to get to the owner of the cottage.  Jude knows that Sloan is just a innocent girl and he tries to make a stand to stay away from her but that isn't looking to easy. 
This story had a very exciting and hot alpha male character with just a sweet determined leading lady.  Really enjoyed this story!  I can't wait to go back and read the other books in this series!
The O'Malleys Series:
The Marriage Contract Book 1
The Wedding Pact Book 2
An Indecent Proposal  Book 3
Forbidden Promises Book 4
Undercover Attraction Book 5
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Oh my! This has been my favorite so far!

Sloan O'Malley escaped Boston and her mob family at the end of the last book. Her brother Teague helped her. Her first night there she has a run-in with the next door neighbor, Jude. Jude knows he should stay away because he can tell that Sloan is not as world wary as he is. That, and she distracts him from his mission...killing the rest of the Sheridan family. Sparks ignite and they can't stay away from each other. But has Sloan *really* escaped her family's connections and enemies? Can they make a life together? Can Jude give up his plot for ultimate revenge on the Sheridans?

Jude was hot, protective and did not take any of the O'Malley brothers crap. I loved watching Sloan grow into someone who could forgive her sister and learn to stand up for herself against her family.

Once again I'm going to say how I loved seeing all the O'Malley siblings....except Cillian, there wasn't much of him LOL There is soooo much going on that needs to be wrapped up in the last two books. I think I see what is going to happen with Keira and I have no clue how that will work out! I'm dying to know if my guess is right :)

*thanks to Barclay PR for sharing a copy of this with me*

***5 ‘There’s Nowhere You Could Run’ Stars**
 
That line not only describes Sloan and Jude’s relationship perfectly but all the crazy when it comes to The O’Malley’s and anyone who happens to be in their orbit. This book had it all for me and I had an extremely difficult time putting it down. It had humor, heart, suspense, a good dose of deliciously dirty heat and surprisingly sweet moments throughout the story that kept me turning the pages until the very end.
 
Sloan O’Malley is the sibling that captured my interest from the start. She appeared to be the weakest of her siblings and yet I couldn’t help but think that if she had the chance she’ be just as lethal as the rest of them if the chains around her were broken and I was right. I loved watching her take chances and grow into the woman that was always there just below the surface.
 
 Jude MacNamara was an interesting character and I found it so easy to fall in love with him. His outlook on the world is definitely not the norm, but considering what his….mmm...occupation is, it’s not all that surprising. What ended up fascinating me was his code of honor as well as the fact that he is a ‘research guy’ and how it extends beyond his occupation. Despite his gruff and at times edit free way of being, he has a huge heart that beats beneath.
 
I loved how Sloan and Jude first collided and how their relationship evolved from there. While some things happened quickly, others took their time to build and ended up smacking them both upside the head when they least expected it. I loved their interactions and how they ended up helping the other see things in a different way, even when they didn’t want to. And since nothing is ever simple in the world of The O’Malley’s lots of wrenches are thrown their way, but I really liked how they dealt with each one and how they came out stronger together in the end.
 
As with the previous books you get much more than just the MC’s story, you get bits, pieces and teasers of what is going on in The O’Malley world and it’s done in such a way that it doesn’t distract from the main couple. It gives more depth to the world and makes you want more. There were a few a things I didn’t see coming, but I’m definitely looking forward to watching everything playout!

Final Score - 5 Stars!!!

I've been reading this series from the beginning and will finish/stay with it until the end! I love these interwoven/connected stories of Mafia families, joined together in flesh and blood against all odds ... and for some, against their wishes. Best part ... none of the patriarchs were around, as I can't stand either The O'Malley or The Sheridan fathers. 

The story unfolds with an incident that happened thirty-five years ago and helps shape the coming events in this story. The McNamara clan was wiped out ... or so the Sheridan clan thought, as they were the perpetrators. Thus begins a revenge pact made and soaked in blood, but it ends with not only redemption, but a love found in the unlikeliest of places. 

Ms. Robert, as always, packs her stories with grit, hard truths, NO damsels in distress (as the females in this series are just as hard-core as their counterparts) and plenty of spicy heat - not for the faint of heart! 

Forbidden Promises is a feast for the senses, but for the soul. Sloan and Jude ... GAH! These two from the very start I knew would make my heart ache. They both were used as pawns - him by his mother and Sloan by her father - but together, they made an unstoppable force ... if they just learn to accept each other's faults and weaknesses. Together, they spark into a flame so brightly lit, they combust! 

Of course, no mafia novel isn't without danger, and here - there is danger around every corner. As always, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, and this one offers the perfect set up for at least the next two books for the O'Malley children - Aiden, the older brother and Keira, the younger O'Malley. But who will their counterparts be?

You'll have to read to get a glimpse, but it's there.

Love this book. It's the trifecta of ingredients for me. Action, love, and alpha male/mob.  This is a new author I'll add to my favorites and I cannot wait to read book 1-3.

Slone O'Malley has walked away from her mob family and is now finding out how sheltered she actually was. What she decides though is that she can now do what she wants. 

Jude McNamara, the only living McNamara of his family, is a hit man and he is after the owner of the house next door. The house Sloan is currently living in. While he knows she isn't his target, getting to know her better and getting information from her is something he is ok with. 

So while there is a lot that happens, I am scared I'm going to ruin some of it for you so just read it. I promise you'll like it if you like the genres I gave you earlier. 

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review will be on the blog tour and my stop date is June 6 on my blog. Linked in profile

4.5 Stars!

This series is intense, passionate, addictive and filled with so many twists and turns, you'll need a map and a guidebook to navigate it but you'll love every minute of the journey!  Katee Robert has created an incredible world filled with drama, passion and suspense that you won't want to leave and FORBIDDEN PROMISES is definitely worth reading.
 
From all the previous books in this series, Sloan O'Malley was the mousy sibling, pretty much scared of her own shadow and to be honest, my impression of her was that she might need psychiatric help at some point, so color me surprised to see her make a bid for freedom at the end of the preceding book, and successfully too, I might add. But she can't seem to outrun the Boston underworld because she about to get ensnared in a revenge plot that will draw her back into her family's orbit, courtesy of her next door neighbor, who is not exactly who he claims to be.
 
Every choice Jude MacNamara had made in his life was made with one end goal: taking revenge on the man who cost him his entire family and if it means taking out his enemy's own family, well, an eye for an eye and all that. But his carefully laid plans are about to be torpedoed by the one person he never expected or planned for and he'll have to make a choice between happiness and revenge.
 
It's fun watching a strong woman wield her power, as Callie and Carrigan did, but it's also so much fun to see a timid woman grow into her power with the support of the right man and I loved that Sloan and Jude were that couple. They had really great chemistry and very little drama between them, but they also knew the world they came from as well as its limitations and didn't pretend to be anything different. Sloan found her confidence once she put some distance between herself and her family, but she really grew into herself with the help of Jude.
 
For Jude, relationships, family and a future had no place in his life but once Sloan came into it, he had to decide if he could give up his quest for vengeance for the happiness she could bring into his life. His career choice also means that he has made a lot of enemies who would not hesitate to use Sloan against him, but the future he can have with Sloan is worth more to him, so walking away from all of it may not be such a loss after all.
 
I enjoyed Jude and Sloan a lot but Carrigan has a special place in my heart and I loved that she and James made and appearance in this book and that she made her peace with Sloan. 
 
This is one series I wish did not have so much time between installments because of how engrossing the stories are and also because a refresher is needed before starting every addition. At the heart of it are the three Boston crime families jousting for turf and trying to fend off the encroaching Russian mob from New York and the Feds, but with the families getting all tangled up in marriage and relationships, who's going to be the first to tell them that working together could be better for them? 

Besides, with Dmitri Romanov unable to stay away from Keira O'Malley, what does the future hold? And who really is Aiden O'Malley? What does the O'Malley patriarch have to say about what's going on? So many questions that I can't wait to find answers to and if the hints dropped in this book are any indication, the next two books to come are going to be explosive and I cannot wait!

4.5

Last we saw middle sister Sloan O'Malley, she was making the daring escape from her family's stronghold in An Indecent Proposal, and now in Forbidden Promises we find her trying to make a life for herself, on her own terms, outside of the complicated mob life in Boston. 

What, or I should say Who, Sloan finds, however, is surly, mysterious next door neighbor Jude MacNamara. Jude, while intrigued by his new neighbor, can't let that interest deter him from his original reason for being in the small town of Callaway Rock. Still, Sloan is right in the crosshairs of Jude's assignment. He might be able to assuage his interest in her and still accomplish what he's in Callaway Rock to do. 

Along with breaking away from her family, Sloan is determined to break out of the protective shell she's formed around herself since she was old enough to know that, where he family and their life is concerned, it's better to be able to fade into the background. Jude presents a perfect opportunity for Sloan to finally learn what freedom tastes like. That is, until her past inevitably hunts her down. Then she'll have to rely on the mysterious stranger in more ways than one. 

Some readers of the series will recognize who Jude is by his name alone. If you're like me and that detail kind of flew right over your head, don't worry it's quickly cleared up exactly who Jude is an what he's doing in Callaway Rock. But I'm not going to spoil it for anyone. 

However, I'd say mainly because of who Jude turns out to be, Forbidden Promises really amps up the feeling of how tangled and messy the woven web is between these families. But it doesn't read messy whatsoever. Katee Robert deftly navigates the feelings of divided loyalty that the O'Malley siblings feel for one another. So far each of them have ties to another Boston crime family, yet they're at odds because of their blood ties to each other. The scope of it all is really quite impressive. 

And Sloan is just the latest in the O'Malley clan to go against the norm and form an attachment with someone who would not be first on her father's list (admittedly he wouldn't even make the list). I really liked the image of Sloan breaking out of her shell. Of coming into her own and she really can only accomplish this by being out of the influence of her family. She feels like she's the weak link of the O'Malleys but truly, I feel like she's one of the strongest. Dropping everything you've ever known and thrusting yourself into the unknown without looking back takes an insurmountable amount of courage and strength. I love that Jude is the person (impartial to a point) to help her realize this. 

Jude has long held onto the main objective / goal in his life without remorse and without question. I like that Sloan comes along, and for him, gives a different perspective which allows him to let go of some of the anger he's held onto for so long. They form this really great relationship, but I'd say one of the downsides is that I felt with the whirlwind going on around them, I wanted more time for just them. A lot of things happen between Jude and Sloan in this book, and I can only hope that they appear more in the next books to come so we can pretty much just see how they're doing. They are probably my favorite couple since Teague and Callie from The Marriage Contract. 

Along with being Jude and Sloan's story, Katee Robert sets up things nicely for Aidan for his book Undercover Attraction and also toys with the notion of things to possibly come for youngest O'Malley sibling Keira. I'm not sure how I feel about her storyline thus far, but I know in Katee Robert's hands, it'll turn into a great read. 

Overall, I've been really impressed with this series. I think that, now being four books in, it would be more beneficial to start from the beginning rather than start in the middle so you can really see the development of these characters and the tensions arising, but trust me, this should be no hardship as each book is one that you won't want to put down once you start it.

Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert had everything I enjoy in a mafia romance. There’s the subterfuge between rival families, forbidden love with two opposite, but magnetic characters, and enough steam to fog up the cabin windows. And while I had a hard time connecting with this book, I would still recommend this one.

Sloan O’Malley is on the run from her family. She ends up in a tiny town where she hopes to make a new name for herself. That’s hard to do when her next door neighbor has a beef to pick with an ally of Sloan’s family. Can Sloan ever get out from her family’s past or will she be forced to fall back into the fold?

I enjoyed Sloan. Even though she has been sheltered much of her life, Sloan picks up the pieces and strikes out on her own. She’s willing to do the work to get the life she’s always wanted. She’s a little naive, but never to her detriment and it made her a heroine to admire and root for. The last thing she expects is the solitary and grumpy Jude McNamara to catch her eye—or be her unwilling neighbor.

Jude is definitely rough and brawny, wily and resourceful, and oh, I do love a protective hero. He lives for revenge (his past is absolutely tragic!) and that’s all he’s focusing on. Then Sloan comes in with her innocence and quiet bravery, and he’s enraptured by her. These two have this push-pull thing going on. The attraction is pushing them together and it’s dirty and breathless and exciting. But there’s also this hesitancy and the secrets between them holding them back. Can they give in to each other? It’s only more complicated when both their pasts collide and there’s so much animosity rolling in the background.

By all accounts, I expected to love this story, but something just didn’t vibe with me, personally. I wasn’t connecting with their story. Things happened a bit too fast in the beginning, and by the middle, I found myself drawn more to the secondary characters. I had to put this one down many times which is the only reason I’m giving it 3 stars. I also read this as a standalone. Though I got the gist, I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the other books in this series first. There are so many players and backgrounds and connections that I think the momentum would have been greater if I had.

Overall, I think fans of the O’Malleys series will love this one. I enjoyed the banter and how everything came together, and it kept me reading to the end. 

3 stars!

Ms. Robert has another winner on her hands this book was both thrilling and sexy. I enjoy how no one is all good or all bad . Ms. Robert characters  live in the gray world that make the gang life a way of like, Very enjoyable series.

Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert
Book #4: The O’Malleys Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review: 

At the end of book three, An Indecent Proposal, I felt like the series was at a crossroads and I sincerely hoped book three was just a launching pad for the next phase of the series.  How dare I doubt Katee Robert ☹  

Sloan O’Malley is the first of the O’Malley siblings to break all ties with her family and get the hell out of town.  It wasn’t easy and being totally isolated with no real skills isn’t easy, but it’s immensely better than being under her mafia-ensconced family’s thumb and a pawn in their never-ending schemes.  Sloan’s self-imposed isolation is terrifying, but with a bit of help, she’s slowly finding her feet and discovering just how much she enjoys being free.  The only thorn in her side is her mysterious and seriously sexy next door neighbor, Jude MacNamara. 

Jude is a man who shouldn’t be alive and in that spirit, he has spent his life in the shadows.  He has honed his skills and is one of the most accomplished assassins in the world.  He has iron-clad rules and has spent his life in pursuit of justice for his family.  Until Sloan O’Malley, Jude has never wavered in his commitment to his cause and pursuit of his goals.  Until Sloan O’Malley.  Sloan is everything Jude should avoid, in large part because she taps into emotions he didn’t even know he had.  Jude has long been fueled by anger and single-minded determination, but Sloan ignites another kind of passion in him that takes him completely by surprise.  What’s even more surprising, in a ridiculously short amount of time, Sloan becomes the center of Jude’s world and his single-minded determination shifts to protecting Sloan.  

Jude is hard for Sloan to resist.  He’s more than she ever could have imagined and while that’s exciting, Jude brings trouble with him that Sloan has worked hard to escape.  Trouble is, with one very explosive moment, Sloan and Jude’s lives become inextricably linked.  More trouble is, both Jude and Sloan’s past comes crashing in on their isolated little world and in the blink of an eye, their safe, isolated space has been violated and they’re on the run.  Though Jude has a tremendous amount in the way of resources, so do the people who are after them and each must suck it up and call in help from some seriously unexpected sources.  To be sure, the situation gets damn ugly before it gets better and it’s a wild ride right on through to the end, but Sloan and Jude are committed to one another and the possibility of a real HEA far away from the violence, anger, and treachery that has littered their respective pasts.

The Bottom Line:  Forbidden Promises is a sort of slow burning read with some action populating the early chapters and then BOOM, the awful hits hard and fast and doesn’t let up until the very end.  I. LOVED. IT.  Sloan and Jude are both incredibly strong characters who become stronger as their awful situation becomes increasingly more awful.  Sloan takes absolute control of her life and once she does so, nothing and no one stands in her way.  Under her influence, Jude becomes more human, more able to be the man Sloan risks it all for.  In case you missed it the first time, I LOVED IT!!!!  I sincerely hope there is more to come for the O’Malley’s from the twisted mind of Katee Robert whom I shall never doubt again 😊

It’s time for the quiet O’Malley to tell her story, if there is such a thing!

I love this series so much but boy is it confusing with all of the family members and their overlapping relationships. I need a family tree just to be able to remember where the story is up to before starting each new book. This time we’re spending time with Sloan O’Malley and another new crime family character, Jude McNamara.

Jude’s family have been wiped out by Colm Sheridan and now he’s ready to exact his own brand of revenge. With Sorcha O’Connor (nee Sheridan) his first target, he is shocked when he finds Sloan living in her house. Sloan, having escaped the family ties thanks to her brother Teague who smuggled her out without Aidan’s knowledge, is now trying to live a more peaceful and happy existence. Sloan has found herself a job and is carving out a happy life for herself in a sleepy seaside town but her mysterious neighbour causes her some consternation. Frustratingly attracted to Jude, Sloan finds him rude and distant especially after their initial unfortunate meeting but when Jude realises exactly who Sloan is, he decides to act on his attraction to her and to use it to his benefit. The only problem…. he didn’t anticipate falling in love with Sloan.

With Sloan coming to realise that Jude isn’t who he initially appeared to be, she soon comes to realise that she is no longer as safe as she had hoped to be, especially with Dmitri Romanov hunting her down.

I have to say, Dmitri is a bit of a favourite character of mine and I love his interactions with the youngest but perhaps most determined O’Malley, Keira. She may party hard but she also knows how to protect herself and despite goading Dmitry at every opportunity, he’s yet to break his resolve where she is concerned. I can’t wait to see where their story goes next. 

This book clearly leads readers towards a shown down of epic proportions between Jude, Dmitri and the Sheridan's but just when you expect a lengthy and embittered clash between the warring families, the story just fizzles out and the book ends. As I was watching my reading percentage reaching 90%, I was starting to wonder if this book would end on a cliff-hanger but it didn’t, I was instead left slightly disappointed by a rather flat conclusion to the story. I enjoyed Jude and Sloan’s connection and developing relationship, probably more so when they were away from the O’Malley’s etc but it was inevitable that Sloan would be found and she would once again become a political pawn. 

The next story is Aidan’s and the ex-cop he has been investigating, Charlotte Finch. It is already clear that Aidan is going to meet his match where Charlotte is concerned and I can’t wait to read it.

JUDE FREAKING MCNAMARA. 

Katee Robert found the perfect match for Sloan! After Cillian's book An Indecent Proposal you're left with knowing  Sloan asks Teague to get her "out". Well Sloan is finally out of her shell, through out the book she comes into herself. It seems like Jude brings out the strong woman in her, she holds her head high and does not let him steamroll her (only in the bedroom). The character development of Sloan throughout the book is something amazing and Katee did her justice. My only complaint was that it all seemed rushed, they just seemed to fall into bed together but the chemistry between them was very palpable. 

I really enjoyed a seeing Aiden's point of view. He's always seen as the Seamus 2.0 but here you learn he truly cares about his family. Those little tid bits not only helped introduce him and his book, but made him more human to us readers. Don't get me started on Dmitri's part!! Ugh *fanning myself* can't wait for his book. 

Overall steamy, romantic, well developed read!

This is the first book in this series that I have read and I have to go back to read the other books, this one was so good. Great characters, intense drama, sexy times and a great plot. Between Jude’s brooding, revenge-seeking, badass attitude and Sloan’s quieter, strong, protecting ways, it was hard to put the book down. LOVED, LOVED this story. 

I cannot wait to read Aiden’s book. Thinking Dmitri will need a story also.

3.5 Stars - This would have probably been a 4 star book if I had read the previous books in this series but I haven't and there was a lot of backstory that took place in these books that was referred to.  I wasn't lost but I did feel like I was missing some pieces of the puzzle and that I would have had a deeper understanding of some of the characters had I read the previous books.  Although you can read this as a stand alone I don't think I'd recommend that since I believe the enjoyment level would be higher if you read the previous books.

This book centers around Sloan who is the quieter and usually obedient sibling in an Irish Mafia family.  Sloan knows that she is to be married off to another Family for the purpose of an alliance and so with the help of one of her brother's and his wife she disappears.  She just wants a fresh start and to be able to do some of the things she's never been able to previously.  Sloan is staying in a cabin that belongs to her sister in law's aunt and working for the first time as a waitress at a diner.  Her next door neighbor is a gorgeous, mysterious man who has made it obvious he doesn't want to get to know her but she can't help but be intrigued.

Jude MacNamara is pretending to be a writer but he's really there for vengeance and he has no time for the innocent woman who is staying next door.  Jude is the last surviving MacNamara and he wants revenge on the family who ordered the slaughter of his father and brothers.  His mother raised him to seek retribution and that is his only goal in life.  Jude knows that the cabin Sloan is staying at is connected to the family he wants vengeance on but he doesn't know who she is or how she fits into the picture.    

The background of three Irish Mafia families who have ruled the underworld of Boston for generations is fascinating.  Things have started to change recently though with the mixing of the families through marriage and the new Russian Family that is trying to move in.  Sloan's family is in a state of flux dealing with the rapid changes of marriage, family members in prison and different goals between siblings.  

The dynamic changes once again when Jude discovers who Sloan is.  He has a lot of tough decisions to make and forces from varied places pushing him in different directions.  He wants Sloan but can he give up his need for revenge in order to keep her safe?  I really enjoyed both Sloan and Jude and the chemistry was intense.  Jude and Sloan had some hot sex scenes and Jude's dirty talk was explosive.  Sloan was able to go from quiet, obedient good girl to a woman who knew what she wanted and who was willing to go after it.  I loved watching her come out of her shell during this story.  She has very complicated but loving relationships with her siblings and this book kept me on the edge of my seat to see how it would all play out in the end. 

The typical forbidden romance trope took on a new and fresh life in this book and the secondary characters have me wanting to go back and read the previous books.  An intense, suspenseful story with complex characters and motivations!

I cannot believe I gave this only two stars. I didn't think I lived in a world where this was in the realm of possibility! I love Katee Robert and I LOVE The O'Malleys series. I've been looking forward to Jude and Sloan's book for ages and fully expected to enjoy it. 

Instead, I found myself feeling disconnected from the characters and overall disengaged from the story. There were elements of Jude and particularly Sloan I liked but the characterization and dialogue came across as formulaic and at times over the top. (I cannot believe I just wrote that. It's killing me I didn't like this book more. I'm quite certain I'll be the exception, not the rule.) At the same time, the novel moved the overarching plot of the series forward and I'm very much looking forward to reading Aiden and Keira's respective books when they're released.

Sloan has finally escaped from her controlling family and is just starting to live her life.  Jude is looking for the woman whose house Sloan is living in so he can kill her. Sloan is drawn to tough sexy Jude and he's fascinated by her good girl attitude. Unfortunately a blood feud between two families, criminal pasts, and a vendetta come between them. A good romance about second chances.

Katee Robert expertly continues the suspense and steam filled O’Malley series with Forbidden Promises, the tale of Sloan O’Malley, the quiet, yet fiercely strong sister who just happens to fall for the one man who might just single-handedly bring down the Boston crime world.

Sloan comes to live in Callaway Rock because she’s had enough of her life in Boston. She’s always been the quiet one. The one who has done what was expected of her because she knew there was nothing that she could do about it. Except that all changed when her brother Devlin was killed. She knew she had to get out. With the help of her brother Teague she’s whisked off to the small island where she knows no one, but that’s okay because she’s learning to become self-sufficient. It also doesn’t hurt that her new neighbor is incredibly easy on the eyes and quite possibly just as interested in her as well.

Jude MacNamara is out for vengeance. Colm Sheridan slaughtered his entire family before he was even born and added to the horrendous childhood he endured because of the trauma his mother faced, Jude is out to get each and every Sheridan there is. Which brings him to Callaway Rock. He’s just biding his time for Colm’s sister to make her way back to one of her many properties so he can strike one more name off his list. What he wasn’t expecting was to find Sloan. He figured she had some connection to the Sheridan’s but to find out she’s an O’Malley? It just complicates everything.

I’m completely gone for the O’Malley series. Katee Robert can just take my money and run with it because she has created such rich, multi-dimensensial characters that I cannot help but fall in love with. Sloan and Jude are no different. I never thought much of Sloan in the other books other than she’s a bit whiny. Hell, most of the time no one even knew she was in the room until she said something, usually a complaint, as she wanted to be as invisible as possible. But she really came into her own in Promises. She showed that she’s definitely the strongest of all the siblings, in my opinion, because she actually got out of Boston, and the family dealings. And with Jude’s help, she started to realize that all she really needed was someone to actually believe in her to see how much potential she really had, herself.

And then there’s Jude. Lord, Jude. If you’re like me and you like your heroes to be a big, dirty talking alpha, than you’re going to love Jude. He never would have given someone like Sloan the time of day but there was just something about her that drew him in. She was his own personal siren. Maybe it was her veiled innocence, maybe it was her hidden strength. Whatever it was, it made for amazing chemistry. And to see Jude grow from this brute who only cared about vengeance to a man who not only cared about Sloan, but wanted a future filled with a family, it filled me with hope. I loved how Sloan knew exactly what Jude was going through, knew how he felt, knew that she would feel exactly how he was feeling, because she would feel the same if something happened to her family. But that didn’t mean that vengeance was the right choice. And for him to learn that, to finally see that, I loved it.

It would be truly remiss of me if I didn’t mention how much I enjoyed how Forbidden Promises set up the next two book in the series. First, with Aiden’s book next. I’ve never cared much for Aiden, and I’m not sure how much I’m going to if I’m being completely honest. But learning a bit about Charlie’s backstory and knowing that Aiden’s going to fall for a cop? That’s the best. Thing. Ever. I can’t wait to see how he struggles with that one. Second, and most importantly, Kiera and Dmitri. Holy smokes. These two really stole the book for me. Their scenes together had me wanting more and more and I cannot wait for it. I wanted to hate Dmitri so much for the things he’s done in the past against James and the O’Malley’s, but I’m really starting to love him. And Kiera. Guh. Need these two books and I need them now.

Katee Robert has taken everything that makes the O’Malley’s work and honed it to bring Sloan’s story to life that’s full of not only excitement and suspense, but hope as well. It’s definitely my favorite of the series thus far, and they just keep getting better and better with each book.