Off The Record (With Me In Seattle Mafia 3) by Kristen Proby-Review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 11, 2021.

Rafe “Rocco” Martinelli was never one for the family business. Alas, being born into a crime syndicate means doing the family’s bidding and making sure you’re connected—and, yes, breaking a few kneecaps. Rafe would love nothing more than to hang up his enforcer apron and live a quiet life, but as more and more higher-ups in rival clans turn up dead, Rafe realizes he doesn’t have a choice. Especially not when the captivating and gorgeous bratva princess needs his help.

Dr. Annika Tarenkov learned early on that her life belongs to her family. She’s a pawn in the long game, a bargaining chip for power and prestige. She gave up the only person in her life she thought she could be happy with, all for the greater good of the family. Now, a newly made widow and desperately seeking answers, she’s forced to confront her past as it converges with her present. But all it does is make her wonder about her future and how she can make Rafe hers again. While being with him is like wrangling a toddler at times, he still makes her heart race and her breath catch. And she wouldn’t feel safer with anyone else.

With the chips seemingly stacked against them, they must work to uncover the perpetrators of the nefarious plot that’s been brewing for some time—before it’s too late.

••••••

REVIEW:OFF THE RECORD is the third (and final?) instalment in Kristen Proby’s contemporary, adult WITH ME IN SEATTLE MAFIA erotic romance series- a spin-off from the author’s With Me In Seattle Series. This is pilot/Mafia son Rafe ‘Rocco’ Martinelli, and Dr. Annika Tarenkov’s story line. OFF THE RECORD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines (or series) is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspective (Rafe and Annika) OFF THE RECORD follows the rekindling romance and relationship between is pilot/Mafia son Rafe ‘Rocco’ Martinelli, and Bratva daughter Dr. Annika Tarenkov. Years earlier Rafe Martinelli and Annika Tarenkov had fallen in love but their families were rivals in the criminal underworld, and Annika was sent away to destroy their bond. Fast forward to present day wherein, Annika, now a widow whose husband had been abusive and controlling, finds herself a target of blackmail by an unknown source but Rafe has promised his undying protection, and calls in the ‘families’ to help with the woman he loves. As the threats against Annika increase, several mob boss families are found tortured and murdered, and the Martinelli family may be next on the list. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Rafe and Annika, and the potential fall-out as the past demands retribution and revenge seeking power and control of the criminal underworld.

Annika Tarenkov believes she is damaged goods but has never stopped loving our story line hero. Rafe Martinelli had never stopped loving the woman that was torn from his arms but Annika’s marriage to a man she never loved threatened the possibility of a future for our storyline couple. A target has been placed on the families in both the Mafia and Bratva, and in this everyone comes under the protection until the killers are found.

The relationship between Rafe and Annika is one of second chances; a rebuilding romance that begins as friendship as Rafe bides his time in the wake of the threats against our story line heroine The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including mob boss son Carmine Martinelli, and thirty year old, Mafia princess Nadia Tarenkov (Underboss1), mob boss’ son Shane Martinelli, and medical receptionist Ivie Jordan (Headhunter 2); cousin Elena and her husband Archer; Annika’s uncle Igor; and Rafe’s parents. The requisite evil has many faces.

OFF THE RECORD is a story of power, greed and control; a tale of family, relationships, betrayal and loss. The fast paced premise is twisted, spicy and inviting; the romance is spirited and seductive; the characters are lively, strong willed and spirited. OFF THE RECORD is a wonderful addition to Kristen Proby’s WITH ME IN SEATTLE MAFIA series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Underboss
Headhunter

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen lives in Montana with her husband and their four pets, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.