This is Book 3 in the Las Vegas House of Spades series, as an interconnected standalone. I have not read the prior books, but I definitely want to now!! I did not have a hard time following along - which I appreciate... the author did a fantastic job of filling in blanks so it's easy to understand - without having things be too repetitive for those who have read the books... that's a fine balance that most don't achieve & I LOVED!

I really enjoyed all the characters - part of why I want to read the rest of the series - you can tell they're a great group of people - they have a lot of fun & respect for each other.... I love their monthly game day.... that was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I loved Ivan & Alexa - their witty banter is top notch.... and their chemistry is sizzling!! There was such tension - the push & pull, back & forth... until they stopped fighting it and just gave in to the fiery connection they have... and the corporal punishment clause!!! (for a "lawyer"... she sure didn't read that contract very well!!! LOL)

The book is fast paced & I had a hard time putting it down!! Can't wait to read more!!

Spice level: 3.5/5

*Dark Mafia Romance
*enemies to lovers
*she's a "Robin Hood" style hacker
*she's a college student in the law field
*he's a billionaire
*forced proximity
*morally grey characters
*found family
*romantic suspense
*kidnapped/rescued
*obsessive/possessive Alpha MMC
*interconnected standalone

Thank you to the author (J. L. Brannick), publisher (Smart Mouth Publishing, LLC) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Alexa is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. She’s smart, stubborn, and always one step away from causing absolute mayhem. Ivan is intense, possessive, and surprisingly hilarious in all the best ways. Watching these two clash while being forced into each other’s orbit made for nonstop entertainment.

The story perfectly balances dark mafia vibes with laugh out loud moments, keeping things tense without ever feeling too heavy. There was action, danger, witty dialogue, and enough twists to keep me flying through the pages.

If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally gray characters, and dark romance sprinkled with black humor, this one is definitely worth picking up. I had an absolute blast reading it and couldn’t wait to see what kind of trouble these characters would get into next

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc opportunity!

I love Brannick's work and this one was no exception. Great writing, great spice, and great character development. The story was nicely paced with an easy flow to it.

Definitely a good one to read!

Recieved this as an advanced readers copy. While its book 3 in a series it can be read as a stand alone. After reading this I will definitely be getting the previous 2 books and this one upon its release. I needed something to get me out of my book slump and this one did just that. No spoilers here. Just a well written enemies to lovers mafia that I definitely needed. I don't usually go for mafia books because they all seam to blend into one but not this one. Can't wait for the paperback version so I can add all 3 to my collection.

This book was absolutely amazing. I could not put it down once I picked it up. Easily able to give it five stars.

I just finished reading this book at almost 2 in the morning because it was that good! It was hard trying to put the book down. I love it when there is a strong fmc who isn’t afraid of cowering over men. And an mmc who supports her and does anything to keep her safe. I definitely recommend this book

The was Dark and so fun. I couldn't put this book down and the MMc is everything you want in a dark romance. I had so much fun reading this book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Smart Mouth Publishing for providing me with the ARC of Revenge & Ruin in exchange for my honest review.

I had a really good time with this one!

First of all, can we get a round of applause for making the hacker a woman? Strong FMCs are always a win in my book (<- see what I did there 😉), and this one certainly delivered. Alexa was funny, smart and independent while trying to balance the societal scales of injustice. Loved her 😍

Sonia was an absolute badass, and by the end of the story I had decided I’d happily claim her as my honorary aunt. A bit deranged? Sure but still, totally awesome.

Was FUCK a ridiculous name for a law firm? Absolutely. Did it make me laugh every single time it came up? Also absolutely.

The story did feel a bit repetitive in places, and I would have loved a few more in-depth conversations between the characters to further strengthen the relationships. Even so, I still felt the bond between them, and I found myself invested in their journey.

For anyone who has ever wanted to see monsters held accountable, this book delivers a revenge fantasy that refuses to pull its punches. Watching justice finally catch up to predatory abusers-especially at the hands of women who refuse to be victims-was incredibly satisfying.

I will also admit that I have a soft spot for stories where pedophilic rapists don’t escape the consequences of their actions. Seeing truly terrible people receive the justice they’ve spent so long avoiding will always make for a compelling read in my eyes.

Overall, this was an entertaining, empowering thriller with a memorable cast, a fantastic female lead, and plenty of moments that had me cheering right alongside the characters.

I received this book from NetGalley

This is a:
-billionaire
-enemies to lovers
-found family
-broken family
-dark
-he’s possessive
-She’s defiant

This book has great banter, humor, and deep emotional moments; it’s well-written and flows great. Characters are well described. I love that this is book 3, but you wouldn’t know it reading it; it’s so well written and descriptive that it just makes me want to go back to books 1-2.

This book was a pleasant surprise. First, the hacking totally drew me in with a more than competent FMC who has an interesting and complex history. Even popping into the series at book three, did not leave me confused. Already added the first two to my TBR. Good combo of plot and spice. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

If there's one thing I know, it's that I love a good mafia romance, and Revenge & Ruin by J.L. Brannick definitely delivered.

This interconnected standalone follows Alexa, a law student by day and a "Robin Hood" hacker by night, stealing from corrupt companies and funneling the money to those in need. When she hacks into a company owned by Ivan, a powerful and ruthless man with an almost impenetrable security system, she catches his attention in the worst possible way. Determined to find the person who breached his defenses, Ivan ends up face-to-face with the last person he expected: the sharp-tongued woman who wants nothing to do with him.

Alexa was easily the standout of this book for me. She's intelligent, fierce, and refuses to be intimidated by anyone, including Ivan. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved the cat-and-mouse dynamic between them.

The story is fast-paced, addictive, and filled with twists, tension, and plenty of steamy moments. I also appreciated that, despite being book three in the series, I never felt lost. The author does a great job filling in the important details without making it feel repetitive.

Fantastic!
So good!
I love J.L. Brannicks style of writing - she manages to mix so many genres, and does it so well! Its got rom, its got com, its got suspense, some borderline horror, action - lots of action, in both senses of the word !!

I can’t remember quite what this is described as but I think its along the lines of gangster, billionaire, mafia, dark comedy, enemies to lovers?! Anyway, this all fits. Essentially, cute college girl plays with rich gangsters who don’t know her family connections.

Loving the introduction of Sonia. Can we start a petition for Sonia to get her own spin off book please?

Absolutely loved and devoured this book! It pulled me in from the very first chapter and never really let go. Set in an academia backdrop, the story immediately throws you into the action, and I was obsessed with our FMC Alexa being both a skilled hacker and a modern-day Robin Hood. She is fiercely independent, protective, and has some of the best comebacks. Then, there is our MMC Ivan. He is grumpy but fiercely protective and doesn’t let go easily.

The tension between Ivan and Alex is absolutely top-tier. Their chemistry builds in a rocky foundation after she hacks the wrong people, delivering a little bit of enemies to lovers as Alexa tried to navigate a family member stepping way past boundaries. While I did notice some repetitive phrasing throughout, it wasn't enough to take away from how addictive the pacing was or how invested I became in the story.

Also, I didn’t realize this is part of a larger universe but it is well written that it felt like a true standalone. The appearances from other characters added depth without making me feel lost—in fact, they gave me enough bread crumbs that I want to read the other books in this series too!

If you love mafia styled romance, an independent FMC, a brooding MMC who can't help but want to take care of her, plenty of tension, and a story that balances spice with an engaging plot, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

I really liked this and had no idea it was apart of the series. This was super bingeable! I read it in about a day. The story immediately takes off with Alexa and Ivan when she hacks into his company and distributes his and his partners money to charities. I loved how they meet and then tension between the two of them. The issues Alexa faced with her family kept me on my toes. I would 100% recommend reading the other books in order before reading this. There were some parts I wondered why we weren't getting more of backstory with. And then I saw that books 1 and 2 were already out and likely the backstory I am looking for is in there. There were moments in the relationship between Alexa and Ivan that felt a little jarring. We went from not acknowledging the sexual tension to suddenly spanking and dirty talk... alright then but I was there for it!

This was my favourite of the series so far.
The timeline overlaps with the previous books so we do get some of the previous characters but nothing new.
Whilst I'm guessing Xander is next, being the only one left from the Firm, I have no idea who the love interest will be, so I'm excited to find out.

Also I am bursting at the seams for a Fennick Spade story. I need it immediately

✨ Revenge & Ruin : A Las Vegas House of Spades Series — Book 3 ✨

I jumped into this book without reading the previous installments in the Las Vegas House of Spades series, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to follow. Even though this is part of an interconnected series, it works beautifully as a standalone. The author does an excellent job introducing the important characters and their connections without making longtime readers feel like they're rereading old information. It gave me enough background to understand everything while still keeping the story fresh, which is something that can be difficult to balance.

After finishing this book, I definitely want to go back and read the earlier books because the House of Spades group was one of my favorite parts. Their friendship, loyalty, and genuine care for each other made the entire story feel more complete. I especially loved their monthly game nights—it showed the fun, playful side of this group and gave such a great contrast to all the danger and drama happening around them. ❤️

Alexa was such a fantastic heroine. She is intelligent, fearless, and has a sharp sense of humor that made every scene with her entertaining. As a skilled hacker, she uses her abilities to help people who have been overlooked or unable to fight for themselves, almost like a modern-day Robin Hood. Of course, that kind of mission comes with consequences, and Alexa has a habit of putting herself directly in the line of fire.

Ivan was the perfect match for her. A brilliant lawyer and computer expert, he is confident, protective, and very much an alpha hero. His need to keep Alexa safe—even when she clearly doesn't want to be protected—created so much tension between them. Watching him discover that the hacker he was hunting was actually Alexa completely changed the dynamic between them, and his reaction was absolutely entertaining. 😏

The chemistry between Ivan and Alexa was incredible. Their relationship was built on constant challenges, clever arguments, and a never-ending battle of wills. Their banter was one of the highlights of the book because neither of them was willing to back down. The push and pull between them created so much anticipation until they finally stopped fighting the obvious connection between them.

Their contract situation added an extra layer of humor and tension, especially considering Alexa's profession and the fact that she may not have read the agreement as carefully as she should have. 😂 The dynamic between them was playful, spicy, and full of moments that kept me smiling.

I also enjoyed how much more the story had going on beyond the romance. There were multiple problems to solve, secrets being uncovered, and unexpected twists that kept the pacing quick. Alexa's roommates and Ivan's partners at the firm added even more depth to the storyline, making it feel like there was always something new happening.

The world-building around the Las Vegas House of Spades was really well done. The combination of mafia elements, powerful alliances, found family, and high-stakes situations created an exciting backdrop for Ivan and Alexa's romance. The enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity elements worked perfectly with their personalities and made their journey even more satisfying.

Overall, this was an action-packed, funny, and addictive romance filled with clever characters, intense chemistry, suspense, and plenty of heart. Ivan and Alexa were such an entertaining couple because they challenged each other while still bringing out the best in one another. Their story delivered everything I love in a dark romance with a satisfying happily ever after. 🖤✨

I may have started with book three, but I definitely won't be stopping here—I need to see what the rest of the House of Spades series has in store!

I loved the fact that the mafia family was on the FMCs side, it was such a nice switch from it always being the MMC who has mafia ties. I would’ve liked to know more about Ivan’s background, there wasn’t much information on it just small details to keep you wondering, but then I never found anything out. I love the relationship between Alexa and Ivan it was true enemies to lovers until the end!! I would recommend this book as it was fast paced and something was always going on!

I really enjoyed this book: great romance, an engaging plot that kept me reading all night and excellent spice!