I really wanted to love A Favor Owed, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While the premise was intriguing and had so much potential, the execution just didn’t deliver. I found it difficult to connect with the characters, who often felt one-dimensional and whose motivations weren’t fully developed. The pacing also felt uneven — slow in parts where the story needed momentum and rushed during key emotional moments that deserved more depth.

The romance itself, which should have been the highlight, didn’t feel earned, and some plot points felt more like conveniences than genuine character-driven choices. There were moments where the writing showed promise, but overall, the story didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped.

I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy and can see how others might enjoy this if they’re looking for a lighter, surface-level read, but sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

So, it's here, My review of A Favor Owed. In short: 2 stars. I did not enjoy this book. I did like the premise from the start. A struggling law student who escaped from her mafia family? A girl who falls in love with a guy hiding a large secret and his smile brings trouble? I was sat and READY for this book. It was not ready for me...

For being 300 pages this book felt longer than some of the 500+ paged books I've read. When the first line of the blurb is 'struggling law student' one thinks they're going to see more of a classroom than maybe 3 times in the whole book. I did appreciate the fact that our FMC, Angie, was a determined girl. She was not going to let anything get in her way. Brady on the other hand was persistent. His inner monologue being 'if a girl didn't put out in the first date or two I'm done with her....but Angie is different' made me want to gag. Their relationship somehow moved fast and slow at the same time? I literally have no other words to describe it. I also didn't feel the chemistry. Absolutely no spark. I think I had more chemistry with the pickle jar I couldn't open than Angie and Brady did. Trust me, I LOVE a good mafia romance and I appreciate what the book is trying to achieve with the plot, but it could of been done in a different, more efficient manner.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the e-arc.

A solid 4 star read!

For a debut novel, this one was great! I'm not typically a Mafia romance girl, but I don't think this was your typical Mafia romance since it focuses on the Boss's daughter, Angela, who was outside of the The Business.

What can I say about Angela and Brady. Angela, trying to start over and escape her past while doing some good in the world. Brady trying to save his dad, but falling for the enemies daughter.

I loved the slow burn and I loved the banter between these 2. It was the perfect amount of each which made this book a quick and easy read.

Thank You Entangled Publishing, NetGalley and Marisa Calcara for this eArc in return for my honest review.

A Favor Owed is one of those books you simply don't want to put down. It has a recognizable, solid plotline that pulls you in right from the start, but what really stood out to me was the character development. Both the FMC and MMC had unique and rich backgrounds that made them feel so real, and Marisa Calcara wove the layers of their romance so smoothly that I found myself rooting for them almost instantly.

I appreciate any author who can create such a strong emotional connection that it actually brings me to tears, and Calcara absolutely accomplished that. I also loved that the story gave full closure by the end — a rare but wonderful thing when reading a single, standalone book.

Despite the author's description of the MMC, I kept picturing him as Matt Damon from Good Will Hunting — maybe because of the rough-around-the-edges charm. And as I read, the underlying tone reminded me a lot of Boondock Saints — it had that familiar feel but added a fresh twist and layered in a romance I hadn’t seen paired with this kind of gritty backdrop before.

The chemistry between the two main characters was so strong that honestly, I found myself wishing for a sequel. The bit of banter between them was some of my favorite parts, and it definitely made me fall even harder for their romance.

If I had to name one thing I would have liked more, it would be for the story to dip a little darker — to raise the stakes and make the conflict feel even more real and threatening. But I also understand that might have taken away from the strong focus on the romance, which is really the heart of the book.

Overall, I would definitely recommend A Favor Owed to anyone looking for a fast-paced, emotionally satisfying romance with just enough action and tension to keep you hooked. It's a quick, heartfelt read that leaves you feeling completely satisfied — and maybe just a little bit wistful for more.

Do yourself a favor and read it!

✨ARC Review✨

A Favor Owed by Marisa Calcara

What a great romance book! This is my first “mafia” related romance story, and I am hooked. From the beginning, I was invested in the story of Angela and Brady. The story was well-paced with the right combination of mystery, humor, heartbreak, and romance.

I loved the way Angie was written. She was loyal, brave, and had a sense of right and wrong. She did not rush headfirst into a relationship with Brady because of the complications in her life. She was also dedicated in her mission to take accountability for the things her family did.

Brady was also very interesting. I have a special place in my heart for MMCs who respect the FMC’s boundaries. Brady was funny, yet sensitive. He was also very loyal to his family especially his dad. Also, Brady’s dynamic with his family made me miss my own family.

Angie and Brady had incredible chemistry. The slow burn was worth the wait.

I think that even though the plot point of the story was resolved eventually, it left room that can be explored if a sequel is ever written. I wish there was more to the epilogue though!

Overall, I loved this book. I cried in some parts of it. I can’t wait to read more from Marisa Calcara!

From the first chapter, A Favor Owed delivers an addictive mix of tension, mystery, and slow-burn romance. Angela Pines is a law student with a secret past, determined to leave it all behind and start fresh. But when she crosses paths with the charming and too-curious Brady McDaniels, her new life begins to unravel.

This story explores identity, redemption, and how far we’ll go to right our family’s wrongs. The chemistry between Angela and Brady crackles with tension, layered with secrets and emotional stakes that make every interaction feel like a fuse waiting to blow.

Even in this early sneak peek, Marisa CalCara builds a world that feels dangerous and deeply personal, where trust is fragile and love is never simple. If you’re into morally gray characters, second chances, and romance born from chaos—this one’s for you.

Huge thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC of A Favor Owed by Marisa Calcara! I was immediately drawn in by the premise — a former mafia princess hiding out in a sleepy California town, trying to outrun the sins of her family, and falling for a guy who’s harboring secrets of his own? Yes, please.

The plot is fast-paced and easy to follow, with a solid dual POV setup that lets you see both sides of the brewing tension and romance. I appreciated the dual narrative, but I have to admit, I found myself constantly questioning some of the FMC’s decisions. Given her dangerous past and high-stakes situation, a few of her choices didn’t entirely make sense, and it made it harder to stay connected to her character.

I wanted to love this book because the plot concept is so promising — mafia ties, secret identities, dangerous liaisons — but it fell just a little short of what I was hoping for. That said, it’s still an enjoyable, quick read for fans of secret identity romances and suspenseful contemporary fiction. I’d definitely give Marisa Calcara’s future books a shot, because the storytelling potential is absolutely there.

So many secrets! Some great banter. I loved the spice. This was an entertaining story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

This was a sweet and mildly suspenseful romance, with fast pacing. I really liked the exploration of how secrets affect people, both as individuals and in relationships. Especially seeing Angela’s desire to be truly known.

The next part of my review contains potential, mild spoilers:

I really enjoyed the romance portion of this story, but how the suspense portion of the plot wrapped up left me a little underwhelmed. It felt like there was a lot of build up around this being a dangerous situation- and yet it was resolved with relative ease. I expected the conflict to have a slightly more climatic moment outside of Angela and Brady’s relationship. I also was perplexed by Brady’s decision to visit Angela’s dad at the end… it worked out but it read as unrealistic. It felt like a decision that realistically would have put them both in more danger. And even if the dad could forgive Angela, it seems like he had put together Brady’s involvement and I find it hard to believe he would let that slide just because Angela loved him.

Overall, I would still recommend this book!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the eARC of this book!

This was an interesting read. I went in expecting the drama, danger and angst of a Mafia romance, and I definitely got 2 of those....

One of the reasons I love Mafia romances is because of the tension and the sense of danger lurking around every corner. Sadly, I didn't feel either of those while reading this. Angela is kind of willfully obtuse, and Brady is ???? an Irish firefighter from New York, with boy next-door charm. (loca, what are you doing here?)

I didn't love that we were in Brady's head from the beginning, because it made things feel a touch overexplained, and it undercut some of the tension. I also wish that Angela's split from her family felt a little more precarious - have some men in suits mysteriously follow her around, threatening phone calls in the night, something like that. (her dad's admission at the end made me go 'well duh')

All that being said, this was a quick easy read - the writing flows excellently, and the romance, while a bit instant, was sweet and pretty believable. I really loved Brady's family (his mom showing up to yell at him was a top ten scene for me), as well as the discussion of 9/11, and the grief and lingering impact it still has on families today.

Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, I really enjoyed it and needed the pallet cleanser! This was a debut novel from Marisa Calcara and I am definitely excited to read more from her in the future - she is a talented author and I'm happy to see her getting her books out there! I'm not a huge reader of Mafia Romance, but this wasn't too overwhelming - Angela is trying to leave that life behind her and has enrolled undercover in Law School in a new state. I read through this book very quickly, its fast paced and easy to become absorbed. If you enjoy contemporary romance, some drama and a little Mafia Princess, then pick up and enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book! Will they won't they romance full of secrets. In law school, Angela is trying to start new and keep to herself as Brady enters her life. But Brady had secrets too. You can't deny that they have chemistry!

A Favor Owed, a heart won.

Woah, the way I sped through this book! It is addicting like sugar, I craved more and more and couldn’t help but devour chapter after chapter. This is a fabulously engaging read featuring two leads that will tug at your heartstrings.

Angela Pines flees her home state of New York after tipping off authorities over the nefarious activities of her mob boss father. She arrives in California under an alias and enrolls in law school in the hopes of becoming a lawyer who can give back to the public, after her family has taken so much. She keeps her heart firmly guarded until fellow student Brady slowly but surely tears them down and carves a place in her heart for him. But much like Angela, Brady harbors a secret, one heavily intertwined with her own…

I dearly adored Angela. Her heart is pure gold. She may be a former mafia princess, but she is not meant for that world, which is exactly why she gets out. She is trying to build a life for herself, one that gives back to the community. Not to ease any guilt associated with her family, but to take responsibility where they have not. Seeing her come into her true self was a beautiful sight to witness. She is the one who captured my heart most, with her courage, her defiance, and her forgiving heart.

That’s not to say I don’t love Brady! For I most certainly do, even when I came to dislike him at times. Even when I knew his lies would cause a tremendous amount of hurt to Angela. I still loved Brady because I got to know him. I got to see the inner workings of his heart and mind, and how his misjudgement of Angela leads to realizations and an urgency to set things right. Ultimately, Brady is between a rock and a hard place, with loved ones on either side, so I do find him sympathetic even during those moments where disappointment arises. Can I also mention how much I love his dialogue?! He’s a total playboy and the author works it into an authentic dialogue perfectly, where it toes the line between wanting to roll your eyes at his antics while wearing a smitten grin. I couldn’t help but love him!

Angela and Brady’s romance is intense, heart-aching, swoony, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. You are waiting for the other shoe to drop and trying to stop it because what they form is so comforting and real, as ironic as that may sound given their circumstances, but there is an sincerity in their love that simply cannot be denied. But can the lies be forgiven? You’ll have to read to find out! My heart cried along the way, but ultimately it settled with great satisfaction, so I hope the same for yours!

There is definitely some suspension of disbelief required with this exhilarating, multi-layered storyline. At times I did waver on this, but I always reeled myself right back, and that is 100% due to the book’s showcase romance. It was so incredibly well done!

I did not expect to come to love this book as much as I did, and now it’s one I will be running to pick up the second it releases. Count me first in line at the bookstore!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy. I leave this honest review voluntarily.

4 ⭐️. There are two kinds of families. The family you’re born into, and the family you choose. If you had no choice but to pick between the two, which would you pick?

This is the first book I’ve read from Marisa Calcara, which my understanding is that it’s her debut novel, and it was a pretty good debut!!

The story follows Angela Pines and Brady McDaniels, who could not be more different, yet have more in common than they bargained for. They are both first-year law students, both from New York, both moved to California due to the same problem, both want to avoid falling for the other, and both have a huge secret to hide. Sometimes the saying is true—ignorance is bliss; but so is the other saying—everything eventually catches up to you.

Despite Brady’s initial intentions, he is such a sweet guy. He makes mistakes along the way, acts like an asshole at times, and things happen that are out of his control, but when he communicates with Angela, he’s patient, and pushes her out of her comfort zone AND THE BANTER. Amazing. Such a good Catholic boy… but not too good.

And Angela. She carries such a burden that she shouldn’t have to carry, and tries to right wrongs that were not her doing. She has so many emotional walls put up, which I relate to, but I enjoyed the way she works through them and opens herself up to him, both eventually working around their deal and boundaries.

There are some things Angela does that have you questioning the believe-ability of the story, like the hair, the name, etc. which obviously could’ve been better if she was trying to cover her tracks, but at the same time she’s not a pro. It’s evident throughout the story that she wasn’t a part of that world, didn’t want anything to do with it, wasn’t exactly trained, and this was done in a haste so she was working with what she had.

This had so many things I love in a book: relatable characters, emotional depth, romantic tension, a bit of suspense/high(ish) stakes, drama. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. If you want an intro to mafia/mob stories, this is a great one to start with!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading more of Marisa’s stories in the future. Thank you to Entangled Insiders and Marisa for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my honest review 🤍

Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

While I found this story pretty enjoyable, I didn't really think the FMC was all that clever. If I was trying to run from the mafia and various government alphabet agencies, I would not change my name from Angelina Pini to Angela Pines (Pini is Italian for pines). Second, I wouldn't have kept my clothes, shoes, etc from my previously lavish lifestyle OR have dyed my hair silver and purple. Next, I probably would have questioned someone who clearly is trying to insert themselves in to my life a little more.

So, if you can suspend your disbelief over all that long enough, you might find this a solid read.
The tension is high and the two MCs have a lot of chemistry, even if it starts off superficially.

I think this book also brings up whether doing something wrong for the right reasons is acceptable, and to what degree. Angela insists on burying her head in the ground (to some degree, at least), but her desire to attempt to be a good person won't let her be the victim, which I can respect.

Quick read. A bit of a different take on your typical mafia read.

Angela is a mafia princess on the run hiding away in California while Brady is also in California keeping an eye on Angela, unknowing to her at first. They both are keeping secrets about their identities, but slowly realize even with danger lurking, they will do whatever it takes to protect one another.

This was my first e-ARC from Entangled Publishing and this is my honest review

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC.
This was my first read by Marisa Calcara and I fully enjoyed it. I read this book in 2 evenings, it was a quick pace and hard to put down. I don't typically pick up Mafia/Mob related books but since this one didn't deal too much with the mob aspect I decided to try it. The story is easy to follow and I enjoyed the romance aspect while 2 characters are also trying to find themselves. Both Angela and Brady are young and trying their best to save their families while also growing up and finding out who they are away from family. Calcura portrays the early 20's just how I remember them, rash decisions, emotional decisions, falling quickly for someone, and the struggle to maintain independence. I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick read and a HEA.

When you hear the term mafia romance, you automatically think of Alpha males, the protective guys who will do anything to you and for you. Sometimes we get the blood and gore, depending on the writer.

This story has some mafia romance flair, but it’s written in a different aspect and from a different view. Plus, the female lead doesn’t really know who he is, which brings another level to the story along with some suspense.

The characters are pretty well developed, even though they’re both working with lies about themselves.

She’s hard-working and intent on taking care of herself by doing everything she can to make a life of her own. He is smoldering and sexy and falls for her pretty darn quickly, with a lot of guilt attached.

The tension between them is strong, and you can feel why they’re a good fit. I love the slow ramping up of the relationship, knowing that something‘s gonna blow at any second.

Together, they are sexy and steamy, and Calcara throws in enough tension that we want to keep reading straight through. There are a few places where there are some inconsistencies in the story, but they didn’t really bother me too much.

A Favor Owed has good flow. The storyline is interesting and unique. For a first-time author, the story is enticing and memorable, delivering a good twist of a romance.

This book almost hit 5 stars for me—it had everything I wanted: chemistry, emotional stakes, and two characters who are way more adorable than they have any right to be given the heaviness they’re carrying.

Their slow unraveling into each other? So soft. So real. The kind of “falling in love” that sneaks up on you while you’re trying to stay angry or distant or just survive. And the “don’t lie to me” / “my whole life is a lie” moments? Gut-punch. I was blinking back tears at 2am whispering “just let them be happy, damn it.”

The reflections on 9/11 were handled with care and emotional depth—fictional, yes, but grounded in a reality that still echoes for so many. It made the grief feel heavier, and the love feel more urgent.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars is the communication breakdown. I love a bit of tension, but this one dragged out the silence and stubbornness just a bit too long for my taste. Still, a beautifully written, emotionally grounded story that I’ll absolutely be recommending

I was so excited for this one, mafia princess, yes please. The execution just didn't work for me. I thought it would rely more on the mafia aspect than it did. There were just some parts that didn't work fully for me. The characters were definitely fun and their romance was great.