i would be lying if i said that i was only interested in the plot of this book as kattee roberts writes the best spice and its a huge draw for me, but as always, she surprised me with how much i enjoyed the story. it was a quick and indulgent read and one i would recommend

Dramatic but not engaging. I was looking forward to James and Carrigan's story after their super hot scene in "Dark Succession," but "Heated Rivals" wasn't packing the same heat—lots of horny desperation but not much romantic chemistry. The writing was stuck in the characters' heads: thinking and wallowing but lacking dialogue and action.

I've gotten the sense that Katee Robert isn't into world-building. Maybe it's just her style, but all this drama without the detail or context to back it up feels meaningless.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Katee Robert is an auto buy author for me. I am never surprised at how good every book is. I really enjoyed how snarky and sarcastic Carrigan is. The banter between Carrigan and James had me laughing so hard. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this book truly delivered. I loved reading about all of the dates that Carriagan went on with the men on her father's approved list but while ticking off the men on the list all she could think about was James. I loved that James fell for Carrigan first. The spice in the book just like every other Katee Robert book was SPICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sobbing when James tells Carrigan what his dad had done to him and his brother. The last 20% of the book read more like a romantic suspense that left me on the edge of my seat.

Katee Robert does it again! Absolutely love this family and the drama/ enemies to lovers! Carrigan (eldest sister) is strong and so cleaver that you root for her to find her own happiness. Can’t wait for the next book following the next sibling!

Book is adult romance.

I really enjoyed this quick, suspenseful read by Katee Robert. It was super spicy, which lives up to her other books that I've read, and was set in O'Malley's mafia world. I love mafia romance and this was a solid read. I enjoyed the chemistry between Carrigan and James, as well as the focus on them finding their own places in a world where so much is decided for them! I read this in a day and definitely recommend if any of the above sounds good to you! Can't wait to read the third one because I know I haven't had enough of the O'Malleys!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Heated Rivals
By Katee Robert

This is the second book in the O’Malley series by Katee Robert. I loved this novel, I knew that I was going to love this cause I loved when I met Carrigan and James in the first book so to have a whole book about them was delicious. This was a tasty treat for lovers of enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and arranged marriage.

Mafia romance that started as a kidnapping and turned into a love story. I found that the pacing in this book was much faster than the first and I had a better connection with the characters! Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Carrigan O’Malley always knew that she would have to marry for the family business and not for love. When her father gives her a list of potential husbands that he has approved, James Halloran is no where on the list… he’s the one man that can make her feel things she has never felt before. But she has to do what’s best for the family…
I would check for trigger warnings.

Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶
Plot points: 💥💥💥💥
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I felt the premise of this story was stronger than the first but it ultimately fell flat for me. Carrigan and James were fine but I was much more interested in seeing the assassination plot be explained. Overall it was ok, nothing great but was a quick read with ok characters.

Heated Rivals is spicy enemies-to-lovers romance that takes place in Boston. On the precipice of war, James Halloran is trying to find a way to establish peace between his family and the other two major mafia families. His father, now incarcerated, left him with a huge mess that doesn’t have any resolution in sight. How can he think about business when dark-haired beauty with piercing green eyes haunts his every thought? Carrigan is the oldest daughter of the O’Malley family and therefore next in line to be married to a suitable partner. Her father demands that she marry before her birthday but all the options SUCK! How can she focus on some stuffy “life partner” when she can’t stop thinking about her amazing night with James? …and the catastrophe that followed shortly after. Her father would never approve after all the Hallorans took from them. Told from a third-person POV, we follow Carrigan and James as they navigate the cutthroat mafia world of Boston to find a way to be together.

James, the reluctant leader of the clan now that his oldest brother has passed and his father is gone. Just know that James is my favorite right. I loved how he talked to Carrigan both when he was being sweet and when he was being spicy 😉 He was lethal and loyal for his people but he doesn’t love the job. He’s rough around the edges where Carrigan is composed. He loves to get under her skin and banter back and forth with her. But James is the only person in Carrigan’s life who actually sees the real her. Carrigan is sharp like knife! I loved her sassy personality but she was cunning! Never underestimate her! I really loved her growth in this story and how she really came into her own. Her struggle for freedom and independence while staying involved with her family broke my heart. They have their sexy hookups, which are HOT, but it’s the vulnerability from both of them when they are together that made me fall for this couple’s story.

One thing I really loved in this book were their conversations. Those late night secret calls had me in knots, just swooning my little heart away. I laughed at their banter and at the truths they would share. But also in their secret little meet ups too. Looking back at the quotes now, I am still giggling at them.

I loved the romance arc for this couple. I am obsessed with both of these characters but I also am looking forward to Cillian and Olivia’s story next! I love the ongoing story of the O’Malley Clan. I am such a big fan of this mafia series and high recommend this if you love enemies to lovers and dark romance.

Thank you to the author and Forever Publishing for a copy of this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the ARC!

- I’m not usually a fan of mafia romances, but I’ve been really enjoying this series! Katee Robert does a great job of “child of cruel mafia boss tries to legitimize business and do a few good things while also trying not to get killed”
- I felt like the foreshadowing about the new big bad introduced in this one was a little heavy at times.
- I love getting to see how different and yet similar all the families are, which is super clear as Carrigan and James get closer.
- on the flip side, I did struggle to remember who was who in the different POVs. While I love that Roberts writes through some of the side characters as well, I had trouble remembering who belonged to which family sometimes.
- the chemistry between those two is wild!! And the tension!!!

Quick, entertaining, and spicy! Really the perfect Katee Robert combo. A great read if you're looking for some romance and spice set in the world of mafia families.

Based off of the first book in this series, I already knew this one was going to be good.

Carrigan is being forced into an arranged marriage while also sleeping with James, the enemy. They know they can't be together. Their families hate each other, yet they also can't seem to stay away either.

The two of them are so hot together. They have so much chemistry. But I think what I really love about them is how strong they both are but also how vulnerable they were with each other. They were so many sweet moments in this book as well.

I love how Katee creates characters who are strong but vulnerable and loveable. You can't help but root for them while they take down the bad guys.

Again, Robert sets up the next books in the series with hints at Cillian, Sloan, and the rest of the O'Malley's lives. I can't wait to read Cillian's book next.

💕thanks @readforeverpub for this eARC

Did I read this right after book one and skip all my to do list- yes, yes I did! These two I knew where going to be wow 🤩 but man oh man did they have to fight for it. Rival families after a mafia war - you know it’s going to be drama with a capital D! I can’t not wait for the rest of this series reissue because I’m a big fan and got me back into a bit of mob/ mafia dark romances again!

I really hate the instalust. It’s just not my thing. I’ve read several books by this author so far and every single one just feels like the same book, with different versions of the same characters. There’s no tension or suspense. The plots are very thin. The world-building nearly nonexistent. I feel like the mafia aspect was not done very well, even though it had so much potential. Everything falls extremely flat for me. I couldn’t even really get into the smut scenes because there just wasn’t enough build up. Sometimes I love a fun, fast, exciting romance to breeze through and enjoy as a guilty pleasure type of read. But this was not that kind of experience for me. It was all rather meh. I ended up DNFing this series because I just have no interest to continue and this may just not be an author for me.

(3.5 stars, rounded to 4)

Another great book by Katee Roberts!

I loved James & Carrigan’s forbidden attraction, SO HOT!

I do feel like I should have read book one before i requested this. I was able to follow the plot, but there are a lot of characters and I think that would have made it easier.

One thing Katee Robert is going to do is make HEEEAAAAATTTTT!

This title is a rerelease making it an exciting piece for fans of Katee Robert's writing to pick something up while waiting for her other titles to release!

However, I will concede that I mostly loved this book because I love Katee as an Author, and while entertaining this is not one of my favorites from her. In general, I am not much of a Mafia romance lover but I am a sucker for a good Romeo and Juliet esq love story. (And let me be so real the spice is unmatched). I love how she builds tension and connection between characters but I found I just wasn't completely feeling the direction this story was taking. Even while it is not one of my favorites I feel that those who really enjoy mafia romances will definitely be excited by this one!

I usually really enjoy Katee Robert's books, but this one was a bit of a letdown. I'm not sure if it's because it's the second book in the series and I'm not totally connected to the characters, but the whole plot seemed a bit forced and rushed.

I wanted to like it so badly, but I just couldn't get into this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I always love a good Katee Robert and this one did not disappoint! Full of spice, wild moments and all around fun

I do love the new packaging of these books and am so happy that Katee Robert is getting the recognition she deserves. I think that mafia romances, however, are just not my cup of tea. I found the main characters to be quite bland. Characters actions’ - good and bad - have to be justified in a way that waters everything down. James does some pretty extreme things which are just glossed over. I think they were more interesting in the first book - and I fear this is what will happen to every other side character during their starring novel. I was glad about who saved who in the end, flipping the dynamic that seemed to be the whole basis of the heroes’ relationship. I’ll read the other books because I am curious about what will happen to Carrigan’s siblings, but I’d definitely recommend Katee’s newer novels to anyone interested in her work.

So good! I can't believe I haven't read this yet. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

Katee Robert is an instant buy author for me! I know I can always count on diversity, inclusivity, and next level spice. Heated Rivals is the second book in the rebranded O’Malley series and all I can say is “more please!” I love that Katee also incorporates secondary characters from other series, giving them their own stories in a completely different setting. She is amazing with character crossover and breaches different genres with a fluid ease that I love. The tension between the O’Malleys and the Carrigans can be felt through the pages and the passion that develops is scorching. I preordered these all in paperback and I’m so excited for the next one!