Thank you to Kath Richards & NetGalley for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook!

I truly can’t say enough good things about this book. I’ve recommended it at least 20 times since first reading it last September, and my hype for the sequel coming this fall cannot be overstated.

The Morelli family is funny and sweet and strong and I LOVE getting to know them in this book. I loved them even more on the reread! Nate is so babygirl, Vanessa is so badass, and they make the ultimate power couple and the spicy scenes are 👨🏻‍🍳💋. This book just has so much to love and the series is off to such a strong start.

As for the audiobook specifically, as an avid audiobook reader who can be REAL picky about narrators and their voices, this was perfection. Kelsey Navarro Foster & Tim Paige were perfect choices for this book and I am so grateful that neither of them do annoying opposite-gender voices lol. Five stars, no question.

“I am criminally, fatally in love with you.”

Kath Richards pulled at each of my heartstrings with this book! Holy Moly that was a ride! The fact I can’t determine who my favorite character is, is mystifying. Kath took 4 sets of families (and friends) and in 354 pages hooked me, I may even need Papa and Mama Morelli’s story!

Vanessa is the BossB we all want to be, and seeing the internal and external struggles she faces was wonderfully detailed in this story. Whether it is caring for family, or her business (illegal and not 🤭) she has to deal with the typical feminist BS and sidestep it all with class and a little violence. Them crashes in Nate, oh sweet unsuspecting, just wants to be a good human Nate. Golden retriever energy, wonderful human who even breaks the hard shell of the badass enforcer sister, Nate.

When they say opposites attract and then to make the perfect couple, this is who they should point to. Nate is soft to Vanessa’s hard. He’s the math loving numbers cruncher to Vanessa’s aptitude to handle crisis and sign multimillion dollar deals while nodding approval for a cleanup crew.

Love this story and am ready to see Where the Morelli’s take is next.

A Love Almost Fatal by Kath Richards took a trope I don’t usually vibe with—the “nice guy” MMC—and made me absolutely adore him. His dynamic with the FMC was electric in all the right ways, and their banter had me grinning constantly.

This isn’t your typical mafia romance. It’s fresh, clever, and challenges toxic masculinity and misogyny in ways that feel authentic and grounded without sacrificing any of the grit or tension you'd expect from the genre.

I received this as an ALC, and the narrators genuinely enhanced the experience—they brought the story to life and kept the pacing tight. The spice? Deliciously balanced. Just enough heat to keep things simmering, but never so much that it overshadowed the plot.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a romance that’s bold, heartfelt, and just a little bit dangerous. 🔥💀💘

3.5⭐️ for this cute mafia rom-com! 👏🏼

I absolutely loved the idea of this storyline, a badass Mafiosos boss lady and a nerdy (in the most adorable way) math teacher falling in love. With a premise like that you just know you’re going to be in for a hilarious time. It’s probably the only time I will fall for a wimpy man who fantasizes about staying home with the kids to be a home dad and have dinner prepared when the wife comes home after a long day of mafia crime. 😆

The reason I went lower on my review was because I would have loved to see the author go a little deeper with her writing. There were some really good parts but most felt almost surface level. It still had me giggling but there were just some scenes I wanted a little bit more so I could have a clear picture in my mind of the story and its characters.

If you are looking for an easy, lighthearted audio while multitasking this is a great option.

Thank you, NetGalley for an ALC of A Love Most Fatal in exchange for my honest opinion. 🥰

This was my first Kath Richards book and I LOVED EVERY MOMENT of Vanessa & Nate! A Love Most Fatal is a mafia romance unlike any I've read and quickly became one of my favorites: I loved reading Vanessa being the boss, Nate being the unconventional hero, and the two falling in love despite the forbidden touch in their love story. I really loved that the author gave me so many moments of the Morelli family being so close and loving too, and of course, now I'm dying to read the next book and I'm crossing my fingers for the author to gives me Leo's love story too.

Vanessa is THE character of this book, a strong, brave, very intelligent andso good runing the family business, who is also the head of the Morelli family, a part of her plot that I loved because with it, the author explores the misogyny and machismo that this character has to face within her world (and the world in general), I loved reading a Vanessa who knows how to command respect, who demonstrates time and time again why she is the leader of the Morelli family, but who also has a vulnerable side that makes her doubt her abilities at times, and which she only shares a little with Nate. I also really liked her relationship with her family, the importance of her dad's legacy, how different and beautiful her bond with each of her sisters is, and how important it's to her to keep Artie & Angel protected from the world they live in. Plus, I think having a lot of moments of the Morellis just being a regular family made them even more endearing and made me obsess over this family even more.

Nate became one of my favorite male characters! I fell in love with his clumsy, dreamy personality, especially when he imagines all those scenarios of his life with Vanessa while trying to stay away from her, It's simply hilarious. I also love that he's obsessed with sharing everything with his best friend Jenna, and that she's the complete opposite of Nate. But what I liked most about this character was that Kath Richards gave me an attractive hero in an unconventional way, with a masculinity rarely seen in mafia romance, plus, reading how well he fits in with the Morelli family was a delight, especially the bond of friendship he forms with Leo, how terrified he is by Mary's attitude and how this relationship grows, and what can I say about how much Artie & Angel love spending time with him, I think Nate is just perfect!

Vanessa & Nate meet because he's Artie's (Vanessa's nephew) math teacher, and although that first meeting doesn't go well at all, the attraction between these two is quite obvious, also, I love that the closeness between them occurs because Vanessa feels the need to protect him after her enemies threaten Nate's safety and I LOVE that because of that they find things they have in common, that Vanessa ends up falling in love with Ranger, Nate's dog, and that she realizes that she can be who she is with him because Nate respects her, trusts her and supports her unconditionally.

🎧Audiobook review

❤️Narrators: Tim Paige & Kelsey Navarro Foster
❤️‍🔥Narration: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5

This audiobook was a work of art, and it's the story that made me completely fall in love with Tim Paige's work. He's the best Nathaniel we could have had, and I loved listening to him bring this character to life, especially his constant fantasies about his life with Vanessa. And of course, Kelsey Navarro Foster gave me all that strong, vulnerable energy that makes Vanessa a realistic, original, and charming character!

❤️‍🔥Vanessa: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Nate: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Plot: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Love story: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Secondary characters: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5



Este fue mi primer libro de Kath Richards y AMÉ CADA MOMENTO de Vanessa & Nate! A Love Most Fatal es un mafia romance diferente a todos los que he leído y se convirtió en uno de mis favoritos muy rápido: amé leer a Vanessa siendo la jefa a Nate siendo un héroe poco convencional y ambos enamorándose a pesar del toque prohibido en su historia de amor. También me gustó mucho que la autora me diera tantos momentos de la familia Morelli siendo tan unida y amorosa, y claro que ahora muero por leer el siguiente libro y estoy cruzando los dedos para que la autora me de la historia de amor de Leo también.

Vanessa es EL personaje de este libro, una mujer fuerte, valiente, muy inteligente y buena para dirigir el negocio familiar, que además es la jefa de la familia Morelli, una parte de su trama que me encantó porque con ella la autora explora la misoginia y el machismo a la que este personaje se tiene que enfrentar dentro de su mundo (y el mundo en general), me encantó leer a una Vanessa que sabe como hacerse respetar, que demuestra una y otra vez porque es la líder de los Morelli, pero que también tiene un lado vulnerable que la hace dudar de sus capacidades por momentos, y del que solo comparte un poco con Nate. También me gustó mucho la relación que tiene con su familia, la importancia que le da al legado de su papá, lo diferente y bonito que es su vinculo con cada una de sus hermanas y lo importante que es para ella mantener a Artie & Angel protegidos del mundo en el que viven, además, creo que el tener tanto momentos de los Morelli como una familia común y corriente los volvió aún más entrañables, y me hizo obsesionarme con esta familia aún más.

Nate se convirtió en uno de mis personajes masculinos favoritos! Me enamoré de su personalidad torpe y soñadora, especialmente cuando imagina todos esos escenarios de su vida junto a Vanessa mientras trata de mantenerse alejado de ella, es simplemente hilarante, también amo que esté obsesionado en compartir todo con su mejor amiga Jenna y que ella sea completamente opuesta a Nate. Pero lo que más me gustó de este personaje fue que Kath Richards me dio un héroe atractivo de una forma poco convencional, con una masculinidad poco vista en los mafia romance, además, leerlo encajar tan bien con la familia Morelli me encantó, especialmente ese vinculo de amistad que forma con Leo, como lo aterroriza la actitud de Mary y el final que esta relación tiene, y que decir de lo mucho que Artie & Angel aman pasar tiempo con él.

Vanessa & Nate se conocen porque él es el profesor de matemáticas de Artie, el sobrino de Vanessa, y aunque ese primer encuentro no sale nada bien, la atracción entre estos dos es bastante obvia, además, me encanta que la cercanía entre ellos se de porque Vanessa siente la necesidad de protegerlo después de que sus enemigos amenacen la seguridad de Nate y AMO que debido a eso encuentren cosas en común, que Vanessa terminé enamorándose de Ranger, el perro de Nate, y que se de cuenta de que puede mostrarse tal cual es con él porque Nate la respeta, confía en ella y la apoya incondicionalmente.

🎧Reseña del audiolibro🎧

❤️Narradores: Tim Paige & Kelsey Navarro Foster
❤️‍🔥Narración: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5

Este audiolibro fue una obra de arte, y es la historia que me hizo enamorarme por completo del trabajo de Tim Paige, él es el mejor Nathaniel que pudimos tener y me encantó escucharlo darle vida a este personaje, especialmente a las continuas fantasías de su vida con Vanessa. Y claro que Kelsey Navarro Foster me dio toda esa energía fuerte y vulnerable que hace a Vanessa un personaje realista, original y encantador!

❤️‍🔥Vanessa: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Nate: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Trama: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Historia de amor: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Personajes secundarios: 5/5
❤️‍🔥Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 4/5

This is exactly what the mafia romance genre needed. A little mix up with a ✨female✨ led organization hooked me from the start.

Vanessa Morelli is a force to be reckoned with. As her father’s predecessor, she’s not only the CEO of a successful construction company, but the head of the mafia. A total badass. To her, nothing is more important than family. When it becomes apparent that the best way to protect them is by marrying and producing an heir, she knows what she has to do.

Cue Nate, a middle school math teacher living a normal, crime-free life. That is, until he meets Vanessa - by rear-ending her. The universe keeps bringing them together and eventually, Nate finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, he’s stuck under Vanessa’s protection (forced proximity, anyone?) where his world has been turned on its head.

This could have gone so terribly wrong, but somehow, it just worked. All of the best character attributes of your “typical” mafia MMC & FMC were perfectly represented in this role reversal.

Vanessa wasn’t too cold, which would’ve been what I expected. Instead, you see her heart throughout. She’s not afraid to feel her emotions. And Nate, my dear, sweet Nate. Where do I even begin? He is the absolute sweetest, cinnamon role of a character. He’s never once intimidated by Vanessa’s power or wants that power for himself. He just wants to be supportive and watch her kick ass. Although he can hold his own after some training 😉 But he’s down so so bad and it is just the best to see. Somehow this didn’t come off cringey at all, despite my preference for an alphahole.

Some details I loved:
• Golden Retriever 🦮/ Black Cat 🐈‍⬛
• Mary being the enforcer 💪🏻
• Maxim so clearly being in love with Mary 😍
• “Just tonight” 🥹
• Nate in general 🤷‍♀️
• A dog who’s so ugly he’s cute 🐶

I felt like I knew Vanessa, but Nate’s life felt like a mystery after he moved into the Morelli home. Friends were mentioned but never really materialized. Family wasn’t brought up much if at all. It just felt like his life pre-Vanessa ended, which was a little disappointing.

The ending was what threw the entire thing off for me. It felt rushed, but had good bones. I just wish it was slowed down and more relationship development was seen before it jumped into the equally rushed-feeling epilogue. At some point, it felt like I was reading a story I missed a few chapters in.

I listened to this one! The audiobook was well done. I especially liked Tim Paige as Nate. His narrating is some of my favorite to listen to. Kelsey Navarro Foster didn’t overly impress me, feeling a bit monotone at times, but I wasn’t annoyed or put off, so it worked for me. I prefer when the narrators speak their own parts, so that was really my only qualm with it.

Maxim and Mary’s book is next and I can’t wait to read their story! These two had me intrigued from their very first on-page interaction.

The Basics:
Math Teacher 👨‍🏫 // Mafia Boss/CEO💰
1st Person Dual POV
1st in the “Morelli Family” series
Narrated by: Tim Paige & Kelsey Navarro Foster
HEA 🖤 + epilogue
CW: murder, violence
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley & Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review 🤍🎧

I had so much fun with this book! Vanessa and Nate were everything and they had me giggling and kicking my feet from the very start. I loved their whole dynamic. Vanessa was such a bad ass and Nate was understandably obsessed with her. It was perfect.

And I’m so glad I ended up waiting for the audiobook to read this book because the narrators did such a good job with it! I cannot wait for the second book so I can dive back into this world again.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

This was a great magic romance with a fun female power twist. I loved that Nate had zero toxic masculinity and Vanessa was just a badass. The whole family was awesome that gave it a golden retriever mafia vibe. Really just good fun.
The narrators did a fantastic job and they brought a whole new element to the story in the best possible way.

This was a really fun and unique twist on a mafia romance. Vanessa and Nate started out flirting, but when he finds out she’s in the mafia and witnesses a murder, he tries to stay away from her. But now, his life is at risk, and he has to stay in her protection. What else would he do while bored but help her find a husband? I laughed and gasped throughout this book, and honestly, I fell in love with these two. This was also due to the fabulous dual narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster and Tim Paige. Truly a wonderful story and audio!

Favorite line: And really, just what does she need with a dimple like that anyway?

This is the mafia romance I have been waiting for! It is not the typical mafia romance formula and I absolutely love when authors shake up the tropes. Author Kath Richards gave us a book that is equal parts funny, spicy and with so much heart. The pacing was perfect, the character voice was strong and oh, the tension! The longing! So, so good!
I received this audio arc from Netgalley and once again, Tim Page and Kelsey Navarro Foster are a great pair! These narrators have range and my favorite thing about the both of them is how they are able to adopt all the different voices giving a truly immersive experience. Great casting for narrators.

I can't wait for the next book in the series :)

I love this book and thoroughly enjoyed it months ago when I did my first initial read. I had the best time being able to dive back into this story through this audiobook. The narrators did a great job, capturing the emotions of the characters.

This is not your typical mafia romance—and that’s precisely what makes it so enjoyable. Despite the cutesy cover, the story delivers actual grit: blood, guns, and power plays. It never ventures into dark romance territory, but it doesn’t shy away from the morally complex choices that define its characters.

Vanessa Morelli is a mafia boss who commands respect without posturing. She’s sharp, emotionally complex, and grounded in her authority. Opposite her is Nate Gilbert, her nephew’s maths teacher, a man with a rigid moral compass, an ageing dog, and absolutely no desire to get involved with organized crime—or with Vanessa. He’s a cinnamon roll with a spine and a slow-burn arc that made my heart melt. And heir chemistry is undeniable.

The dynamic between them is a standout. Their banter is clever and full of tension, and both characters are written with real emotional depth. Nate’s internal conflict feels authentic, and Vanessa’s softer, vulnerable moments are handled with care. The side characters, especially Vanessa’s family, add richness and comedic timing that complements the main arc.

Now, let’s talk audiobook:
Kelsey Navarro Foster nails Vanessa’s subtle complexity. But Tim Paige as Nate? STELLAR. His dry humour, the softness creeping into his voice as Nate falls harder and harder — I could listen to him narrate Nate’s moral crisis on repeat. Honestly, the narration added so much heart and charm, I’d recommend the audio even if I’d already read the eBook.

My only reservations lie in the predictability of the plot twist and a slightly rushed resolution. I also wanted more time with them as a couple. Just a few more scenes (or an extended epilogue) to let things breathe. But that doesn’t change the fact that this was an absolute joyride — funny, emotionally grounded, and surprisingly fresh in a genre that often leans on clichés.

4.5 stars (so gladly rounding up). I had so much fun and can’t wait for Book 2.

A MAFIA ROM-COM. That’s the pitch. And I loved it!

I was hooked on the premise, and the execution did not disappoint. Our goofy math teacher Nate goes on a date with a mafia-boss hottie, Vanessa. He ends up in danger and needs to stay at her house for the summer under her protection. Oh and he’s also interviewing husbands for her 🤭

I absolutely loved the role reversal of the badass female mafia boss and the goofy male teacher who needs a makeover and training…it was too good and had me giggling like a schoolgirl. Add in a sprinkle of man-obsessed and it was almost perfect.

This was seriously fun and so impressive as a debut novel. I will definitely be following along for what Kath has in store for us in the future. The narrators and audio production were very enjoyable definitely did this book justice! Thank you Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an ALC.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mafia Rom-Com!! Oh I needed this in my life! I have never read anything like this where SHE is the mafia queen and HE is the “damsel” in distress. This was so adorable but also unhinged in the most perfect way, have to have murder and turf wars in a mafia book! I was shocked by who the bad guy really was, the dark romance lover in me was silently rooting for him for most of the book, but the chemistry between Nate and Vanessa was sizzling and of course I went to root for him.

I listened to this on audio and narrator for Nate was absolutely amazing and EXACTLY how you would imagine a middle school teacher to sound. I also LOVED Vanessa too, she had a very strong aura and I was excitedly enthralled through this whole book!

Spice 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook

I often see authors give this piece of advice to aspiring writers during panels/interviews : If you find yourself wishing a specific book was written , write it yourself . I like to think that Kath Richards lived by that when writing A Love Most Fatal because , and I mean this as a compliment, how and why else would someone think “hmm...wouldn’t it be fun to write a story about a dorky maths teacher falling in love with a mafia don?”

I had a lot of fun reading this and you could tell that Richards had fun writing this too ; she was unafraid of leaning into the absurdity of the plot without making it too gimmicky .I’m sure that this also applies to to other romance sub-genres, but I’ve found that gender essentialist ideas are more explicit in a mafia setting , so it was refreshing (and hilarious) to see the roles reversed . Vanessa and Nate’s relationship was sweet and earnest , built on mutual respect which perfectly led into , and explained their internal and external conflicts about their relationship . I was invested and could not put it down.

Thank you RB media for the ALC ! Tim Paige and Kelsey Navarro Foster were well cast and I'm excited to listen to A Love Most Brutal!

This was such an unexpectedly cute romance. I loved Vanessa, I really liked Nate, and all the side characters were super fun too. And the romance was built up so well with Nate just pouring his heart out.

It was a refreshing surprise, and I would love to read book 2.

The narration was on point as well.

#netgalley #ALoveMostFatal

This was a fun book! One where she’s in the mafia and he’s the sweetheart who doesn’t know what he’s getting into. -
- He falls first
- Marriage of convenience almost?
🌶️🌶️
I liked the audio

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I absolutely ate this up. The narration was soooooooo dang good their narrators voices were absolutely what I thought would sound like when I read the synopsis. I loved the mafia and school teacher vibes running to sign up for the authors next release. I have a feeling it will be an absolute banger.

Suggest giving it a try.

5/5☆

Vanessa need to get marry find a husband because shes a boss of the mafia and a woman so the an in the world doesnt respect her. She meets Nate a teacher of her nephew. Nate parents want him to get married as well but both live in different worlds literally when Nate invite Vanessa to a wed and after they are attack and now Nate has to be protected and when some leaves a tony dæd in his bathroom Vanessa takes him to her house. Nate helps Vanessa with finding her a husband.
They spend time together know each other.
Tim Paige; Kelsey Navarro Foster

3.75 🌟I don’t usually gravitate toward Mafia books, but this one felt different — a Mafia boss and a school teacher? Not only that, but a female Mafia boss paired with a male teacher. Their initial meeting over her nephew leads to an unexpected second encounter, and before you know it, he’s asking her to be his plus one. It did feel a little sudden how quickly their lives became entangled, but honestly, if you know teachers, we tend to dive headfirst into situations to "save" others — in our own well-meaning way (if that makes sense, lol). Because of that, I found the male character much more believable.
I received the audiobook version through @NetGalley, which I really appreciated. I'd rate the audio experience a solid 4.5 — having two narrators for the dual POVs made it even more enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a cute and engaging story — especially if you're into Mafia romance — with a fair amount of spice thrown in.