Through Any Fire is a Mafia Romance about a marriage of convenience between two people on opposite sides of warring drug families….who happened to be childhood sweethearts gone wrong. When Loren’s brother goes missing and Callahan is the only one left who she can ask for help all the feelings that had been buried come crashing back in. The action is fast paced and non-stop, the secrets just keep unraveling themselves, and there is just enough spice to keep you coming back for more! As always check the trigger warnings and happy reading! Thanks to Katherine Carter and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity!

Unfortunately DNF’d at 24% nothing had happened at this stage it was all very boring and predictable. If you’re not used to reading mafia romance maybe you’d like this more than I did! I didn’t like the MMc either

The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet in this marriage by convenience/second chance romance novel. That's a lot of tropes in this fast-paced, but still makes you swoon story, Through Any Fire, by the talented Katherine Carter.
Loren & Cal are affiliated with opposing mafia families, but love brought them together when they were young. Mistakes were made & family obligations ripped them apart. Fast forward a few years & a missing brother brings them back together. A marriage by convenience, lots of mafia-related action scenes, & plenty of passion make this a fun to read story that's hard to put down.
Thank you, #NetGalley! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you enjoy some family drama, action scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat, & a bit of spice, then you'll enjoy Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter.

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review, all thoughts are my own

Tropes: second chance, marriage of convenience
Microtropes: touch her and die, my wife, he washes her hair
Spice: 3/5

I signed up for this ARC because I absolutely love a good second chance/marriage of convenience story. They're forced to spend time together and slowly develop feelings? SIGN ME UP. As I was reading I discovered the microtropes and they worked so well for the story! My wife, touch her and die and he washes her hair are some of the favorite microtropes I see mentioned often on social media. Loren and Callahan definitely had an underlying pull towards each other throughout the story and I'm glad they were able to get their happy ending.

There were several things that drew me out of the story however. First of all, the cover implies a historical/period piece but the setting of the story was contemporary. Also, the marketing of book implies contemporary romance but I felt the content leaned more towards dark romance as both the FMC and MMC are involved in the darker aspects of the story. Second of all, the story is advertised as single POV and while the majority of the story is from the FMC's POV, there were at least 4 chapters from the MMC's POV and the epilogue is entirely in third person. Thirdly, I struggled with Loren's constantly changing motivation. She initially agreed to the marriage to save her brother, then halfway through the story, she was like oh well Mason knew what he was getting into - I gotta stay in this to rescue my friend, and by the end she's back to her brother as motivation and her friend falls by the wayside. I also disliked how Loren was not there at all for her friend Alice after she was rescued. Loren literally thinks that she should go check on her friend but allows herself to be distracted by sex. I was disappointed in how Alice's trauma was framed as Loren also has thoughts of "with any luck she'll be back to herself in no time" after Alice had gone through a terrible kidnapping and implied multiple sexual assaults. Finally, there were some things that just did not make sense. There's no such thing as a surgically implanted IUD and when cars are constantly being blown up and fires are constantly being set, an oxygen tank in a car is the absolute worst idea as it is combustible and greatly enhances the burning of other objects.

This book would be a good fit for fans of darker contemporary romance who enjoy warring crime family drama, second chance romance and marriage of convenience. It would also be great for fans of the microtropes touch her and die, my wife, and he washes her hair.

While I love my mafia romance reads this one didn’t hit the mark. I do believe that it was more so my instant dislike for the MMC. Reformed player can be 50/50 for me and unfortunately I just couldn’t help but feel that Cal fell under the category of not being likeable and rather gave me the ick. Although Loren is describe as a strong female I felt that at times she would easily cave in. I do wish the author would have kept that strong headed female role like Loren started out in the book. I will admit that the plot was a bit too long IMO. Overall I would give this read a 2.75 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

First and foremost, I’m a sucker for a second chance romance so this one got me. I really enjoyed Loren and Cal’s story (and all the twists and turns throughout).

The book is written mostly from Loren’s POV but we get a few snippets of Cal’s POV as well, which I loved!

There were a lot of side characters in this one which makes me hope there will be more than 2 books in this interconnected standalone series. I know Alice’s story is next and I’m excited to find out who her MMC is (I have a guess of who it might be!).

Thank you, Katherine Carter & NetGalley, for the ARC!

“Has he not kept tabs on me like I have on him? Something about that stings, and I fight the urge to reach for the old ache in my chest.”

This was my first mafia related romance read and I absolutely loved it! Thank you to Kathrine and NetGalley! Cal(MMC) and Loren(FMC) reconnect after years of being apart due to Cal’s betrayal. Loren’s brother has gone missing and she’s seeking helping locating him. As luck would have it, Cal is looking for a favor to fulfill as well. He is looking for a wife. They strike a deal to find Loren’s brother in exchange for her hand in marriage. This sets off our journey with both characters. Secrets are revealed along the way, enemies appear causing damage in all sorts of ways, and will Loren and Cal’s marriage go beyond convenience? I totally recommend you find out! I loved how much of a badass Loren was being able to fight and stand her ground. While Cal’s “touch her & die” vibes over Loren were what kept me reading to the end. Cannot wait for the next book!

HELLO??!!! I finished this, no joke, in two nights. When I'm telling you I. ATE. THIS. UP.
This book has a bit of everything, mafia romance, second chance, childhood lovers of rival families to enemies to lovers that would burn the world for one another. The tension between them, the feelings of things that they never got the chance to say because of what would other people say or do. I felt like I could relate to bits and pieces of Callahan not only because I was the oldest, but also having the weight of the world in your shoulders having to carry the legacy of your family, the pressure of having to be someone your family wants you to be. As well as Loren, doing anything in her power to save her brother no matter the price it takes.

The whole structure and how the story unfolds gives us the perfect balance of backstory, tension, action, and twists that will keep you hooked wanting more and more! I'll be posting a review on my Instagram account @nellaas.books soon!

Through Any Fire was the perfect book I needed as a pallet cleanser from a very emotional romantasy book.

This book had everything I could have wanted:
- Mafia rival families (Romeo & Juliet vibes)
- Marriage of convenience
- Rivals -> Friends -> Lovers -> Strangers -> 👀
- Second Chance (even though this isn’t what I gravitate towards the most)

Every time I was reading this book I felt like I couldn’t stop. It would always be one more chapter because something crazy happened and I needed to see immediately how it was resolved.

I will definitely pick up the next book in the series!

Thank you to the author for the ARC! ✨

Honestly, I requested this book by accident and I am glad I did. I don't read too many mafia romances and the ones I've read, I can't say I loved them.

This story has Romeo and Juliet vibes with the family rivalry. Loren and Cal were each other's first love and broke up and 11 years later, she needs his help finding her brother. He needs a wife and as a marriage of convenience, they help each other out.

This story is a bit antsy and Cal is possessive in the best alpha male way. I love that Lorne is a strong defiant character and doesn't put up with anything.

The plot is crazy and moves quickly and I am here for it. I am so glad I stumbled on this gem.

Thank you Katherine Carter for a copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Through Any Fire. Katherine Carter truly drew me in with a story that’s raw, emotional, and impossible to put down. If you’re into second chance romances with a bit of edge, this one’s for you.

Callahan and the narrator’s history is complicated in all the best ways: teenage love torn apart by family rivalry and betrayal, then years of pain and distance. Eleven years later, they’re forced back together when her brother goes missing in enemy territory, and suddenly the only way to save him is to swallow pride, old wounds, and agree to a marriage of convenience with the one man she thought she’d lost forever.

What really hooked me was the way their past hurt clings to them, but also how slowly, carefully, they begin to heal. Callahan’s no perfect hero. He’s rough around the edges, a reformed playboy with a tortured soul and that made his growth all the more satisfying to watch. The forced proximity and “my wife” trope were done really well here, adding tension without ever feeling cheesy or rushed.

This book is intense and mature, so it’s definitely not a light read, but if you appreciate stories with real emotional depth, old wounds that still bleed, and a love that fights through every obstacle, Through Any Fire will totally deliver.

Highly recommend if you love:

*Rivals to lovers with real history

*Marriage of convenience that actually feels believable

*Dark, emotional, slow burning romance

*Heroes who aren’t perfect but fight for love anyway

Can’t wait to see what’s next in the Any x Series!

4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #ThroughAnyFire, #KatherineCarter, #EnemiestoLovers

THROUGH ANY FIRE | 5★
WOW!! Just wow. This book broke me and put me back together. I was captivated from start to finish. This book is packed full with tension, action, and organized crime rivalries. Not to mention, this book is a Romeo and Juliet inspired love story and these characters deliver on the tragic love story! The chemistry— explosive! Cal and Loren have the most beautifully heartbreaking love story. Cal is so swoon-worthy and broody but I couldn’t imagine him any other way. He may be a tad conniving and his actions a bit questionable at times but I promise—you’ll love him for it. And Loren, god, my love for this FMC is insane. Loren is a real badass. She will go to whatever lengths for her loved ones and time and time again in this book does she prove that she is your ride or die girl. Literally, I need Loren as my bff. I have nothing but high praises to sing for this book!

•childhood rivals to lovers to strangers
•marriage of convenience
•old wounds still bleed
•forced proximity
•groveling
•slow burn
•second chance romance

Thank you to Katherine Carter and NetGalley for this early copy! Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I mean it had all the ingredients for a SNACK.

Rival Families
Betrayal
Enemies to Lovers back and forth multiple times (yo-yos are fun)/Second Chance
Forced Prox
Marriage of Convenience
Reformed Bad Boy

The pace is fast and there really isn't any, 'down time,' reading this book. The plot and characters just go go go. It was a fast read because I kept saying, 'one more chapter,' until there were no more chapters.

The tension is there, the lines these characters spit at eachother, fantastic. Just all around a lovely little treat of a book. Exactly what you want in a mafia dark romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loren Catrone enters a marriage of convenience with the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Callahan Keane, in exchange for his help on finding her brother, Mason. Mason has gone missing after being sent on a mission by the mafia family their family worked for, the Bianchis.

I actually devoured this book. It's been awhile since I've finished a book so quickly, but the pacing and storyline was perfect for me. There are secrets, lies, and plot twists that I somewhat felt like I saw coming but didn't???, and just good old fashion mafia plots like car bombs, rival families, a hate to love relationship between our FMC and MMC. This year, I've discovered that I just love the second chance at love trope and don't even get me started on a Romeo and Juliet theme.

Another thing that I just love in a mafia romance is when the FMC can handle her own. Yes, Cal did save Loren in some areas of the book (as an overprotective MMC would), but this girl is a FIGHTER. She can fight grown men twice her size and would run into a fire to save her man (literally!). It's so refreshing to not always be the damsel in distress all the time! I absolutely cannot wait to read the next books in this new series. Fantastic job, Katherine! I was hooked!

My first ever MAFIA ROMANCE?

SIGN. ME. UP. FOR. MORE!
OH HAWT DANG! I loved this marriage of convenience emotional rollercoaster this book had me on was top tier. I cam for the forbidden love. I stayed for the rival families!

The chemistry between Loren & Cal was electric!!!!!!!
I loved how complex and flawed Cal was but loved even more understanding Loren!

This book was so good. Mafia man Cal is going to get Ren back at any cost, too bad she hates him for breaking her heart. It is the perfect not quite enemies to lovers, second chance book. The twists and turns were interesting and kept me in my toes and the romance was spicy and sweet. I felt like there was a good balance to the story, just the right amount of tension and build up to the romance. The storyline kept me interested (didn’t want to put this one down).

Sexy, swoony, suspenseful. Everything I want in a second chance romance! I feel like I conjured this from my dream list of tropes!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶

Review:

This was my first time reading anything by Katherine Carter, and what an introduction.

"Through Any Fire" follows the trials and tribulations of a long-standing family feud between two powerful mafia households. At the heart of it, is a romance between the heir of one family and the daughter of the rival’s second-in-command.
With years apart, and scars of a heartbreak, they find themselves drawn back together…but their reunion comes with secrets that may be too heavy to hold and a danger that could end in death.

What I enjoyed the most about "Through Any Fire" wasn't that it took core parts of R&J, it's how author Katherine Carter was able to breathe new life into a classic, while keeping it modern without over doing it.

The main characters, Cal and Loren have a ton of baggage and both seem unable, or unwilling to unpack the emotional trauma.

I think that's what makes this story so entertaining. As much as I personally hate a miscommunication trope, Carter wrote it in a way that brought through so much tension that kept me on my toes. I found myself gasping, talking out loud, and of course bothering my husband with theories, like he gave a fuck. lmfaoo

The way that Carter writes was so engaging, I couldn't believe that I devoured this book as easily as I did. There were moments where I was getting closer to the end that I panicked not wanting it to wrap up.

Loren was such a feisty strong headed woman. She came with one task, and one task only.
Finding her brother.
It didn't matter what it took or what favours she had to make.

Cal, despite being the newly head of the family, knew that all he wanted was Loren back in his grasp (kind of controlling but in the way that makes you swoon) and safe from the dangers that lurked at every corner.

There were a few things that I didn't like about the book, as there were times that it dragged on or tropes that were kind of forced into the story to, I guess, keep it going. But those little discretions didn't keep me from wanting to figure out how the book ended, who dunnit, and what the (obvious) outcome of Cal and Loren would be.

Even though we get to wrap up on Cal and Loren, the fates of some of the other characters are still a mystery and I truly hope we get to find out more about Loren's brother, and of course Cal's gaggle of deadly brothers.

Over all, I found this book to be wonderful. It blended elements of a dark romance without it being over the top, but also kept everything fresh when it comes to a mafia romance.

A huge thank you to author Katherine Carter, her PA that reached out to me, and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read Through Any Fire, ahead of it's release date. My review, though very chaotic and probably not so cohesive, is my own true and honest opinion. For any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

I only read mafia/dark romance on occasion, and I think this would fall in the same vein as what I’ve read in the past. There’s a second chance trope, forced proximity trope - the overall storyline feels pretty typical for a mafia romance. There’s a lot of action and Loren has that strong woman I don’t need anyone attitude but clearly needs lots of help from all sides. For someone who grew up in this lifestyle she seemed pretty naive and missed some major red flags throughout. It was an easy read, the pacing is pretty quick and overall if you enjoy mafia dark romance you’d probably enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up

Callahan was so protective and in love with Loren. Every little bit that he exposes of himself, I fell for him more. He was down BAD for Loren and his LETTER, omgosh!! Loren was a refreshing FMC. I loved that Loren wasn't the "wait for someone to come save her" type of girl. She was fierce and determined. Her actions to protect the people she loves was admirable and inspiring. Their story felt very unique and different. They've been through so much together and separately and it's kinda beautiful when it all brings them back to eachother.

This story was action packed which was very new for me, but also extremely fun to read. It was so difficult to put this book down and I would have finished in one sitting if not for life getting in the way. This story had all the ups and downs you would look for in a mafia romance and more!