Tuesday, 6 February 2018

The Bastard's Bargain by Katee Roberts

Synopsis:

Married to the enemy

When Keira O'Malley was a child, she used to picture her perfect wedding. The flowers. The dress. Her husband. But nothing could have prepared her for saying "I do" to Dmitri Romanov-cold, domineering, and always one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City. She agreed to his bargain to secure peace for her family, and she may want the bastard more than she'd ever admit, but she'll be damned if she'll make this marriage easy for him.

Dmitri knows better than to underestimate Keira for one second. Molten desire smolders between them, a dangerous addiction neither can resist. But his enemies are already on the move, and he needs every ounce of his legendary focus and control to keep them alive. Keira could just be his secret weapon-if she doesn't bring him to his knees first.

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Review:

I have such mixed feelings about this book. As the final book in the series, featuring two previously-introduced characters, I wanted to love it.

For a romance, it was great! Dark, steamy, fast-paced, and both Dmitri and Keira learn and grow from being around each other. I adored Keira’s character growth as she took ownership of her life and choices for possibly the first time. Dmitri is just as dangerous and sexy as you would expect, with hidden depths that make him even more alluring. I was a bit let down by some unexplained plot twists at the end – they felt rushed, but didn’t detract from the overall experience. However, it wasn’t just a romance, it was an ending.

For the last book in the O’Malley series, I was disappointed. There was surprisingly little O’Malley presence, save Keira herself, and no closure. Keira’s downward spiral started with Devlin’s death – and no one talks about this. This omission felt glaring given how much it affected Keira. Would it have been too much to ask for some real family interaction?

If you’re looking for a dark romance with criminal characters, don’t miss this. If you have been waiting for the youngest O’Malley sibling to wrap up her family’s story, lower your expectations.

Three unsatisfied stars

I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review