Sienna MynxRezensionen

Illusion of Love was just that. With a name like Valentine you would feel that love would be at your door step. Well this was not true for Valentine Anderson. She was unlucky enough to have not one or two breakups in close proximity to Valentine's day but this year was different. Her sister was to marry on the day and she was without a date. The pity, the displeasure, the let down of yet another relationship was all just beginning to be too much for her. With the chance to make a change this year around, she embarks on an arrangement that turns in to more. This year may just be different. She may just find love. That as not part of the plan but a girl could hope.

This one was too short. I wanted more. More depth, more insight, more Val, less mom, sister and even dad. There were some really good characters in this one. They had presence, possibility.

An ARe Café top pick!

La Sposa is the third installation in Sienna Mynx’s Battaglia series. The series started with an introduction to Giovanni and Mira and continued in part two when they became parents. Now Giovanni Battaglia and Mirabella Ellison have made peace with their earlier separation and are looking forward to their upcoming wedding and expecting their second child. Unfortunately, chaos still surrounds them as Giovanni works to strengthen his control over the trade Triangle and uncovers unbelievable information that could impact his marriage to Mira.

La Sposa keeps getting better and better, and hotter and hotter. Sienna Mynx has created a masterpiece in the Battaglia series. Mynx finds a way to throw in one cliffhanger after another, and each installation gets better. The story is reminiscent of the TV series Scandal with its many twists and turns, unexpected revelations and overall great story-telling. There isn’t a single predictable element except Giovanni and Mira’s constant love and even that is challenged and shaken, and seems irrevocably broken at times. La Sposa has it all: intrigue, drama, suspense, passion, pain and satisfaction. I am now firmly entrenched in the Mynx camp and look forward to anything and everything she pens. Mynx novels always have a sophisticated plot, bigger than life but relatable characters, and just really, really good writing. I look forward with much anticipation to reading the next installation in Mira and Giovanni’s story. In fact, I can hardly wait.

~ Susan for AReCafe

An AReCafe top pick!

Bad Habits is the story of four people facing traumatic events that will determine the very essence of what their lives will be if they can weather the worse. Simone is trying to break free of a toxic, abusive marriage and in the middle of this chaos finds true love with none other than her married next door neighbor. He is also in a bad marriage and trying to get out. Simone’s sister, Kim, seems to be a resilient widow who has it together on the outside, but behind closed doors she is a prescription drug addict endangering the lives of her children and her patients. A new doctor on staff reads the pain in Kim’s eyes and wants to be there for her, but ends up ignoring the signs of her drug abuse because of his desires.

Bad Habits has it all, intrigue, suspense, passion, problem solving, interesting and realistic characters, a sophisticated plot, and one jaw-dropping scene after the next. All the characters’ lives are intertwined in one of the most intriguing novels I’ve read in some time.

No Regrets is the final chapter in the story of Daisy and Aiden Keane.
This series consists of three books and I highly recommend they be read in sequence to fully experience the thrill.

There is only one word that adequately sums up this book-- superb. The characters are multifaceted and well thought out. The plot is intricate and makes the reader work a little to follow it, not because it is difficult, but because it pulls you in and leaves you ensnared. The scenes are developed in a way that prepares you but doesn't give away the surprises. There is an element of suspense and intrigue throughout and shocking revelations come one after the other.

The relationship between Daisy and Aiden is complex. They are both flawed characters who bring out the best and worst in each other, but are perfect together. They finally come full circle in this final chapter. Their tale began in
Aiden's Game, followed by Daisy's Choice and concludes in No Regrets.

It is larger than life tale of a small town girl who leaves home to find fame and fortune, but who learns a hard lesson that impacts not just her life but everyone around her.

~
Susan for AReCafe

I read this novel with it was fiction on valent chamber and I enjoyed it. It was a quick and satisfying read.

Recommended by Susan for ARe Cafe.

Leoti by Sienna Mynx is an interracial romance featuring a famous black, female lawyer who finds her soul mate while trying to escape the pressures of her life. Mynx has a way of creating stories that are multi-layered and intricate, but at the same time easy to follow. The many layers of plot unfold into a beautiful tapestry that becomes Josie and Elu’s story. Some of the layers involves Josie’s amnesia and what propelled her to leave home in the first place: her strained relationship with her mother, her rock star boyfriend and her younger sister. Other just as entertaining layers include Elu’s land and the mystery behind his refusal to sell, and finally what happens when Josie’s old life collides with her new one. All these subplots add up to one heck of a tale. Leoti is a great novel with many surprising twists that makes it a definite must read.

Renowned attorney, Josie Eastman is overwhelmed and unhappy by the direction her life has taken and decides to get away for a break. The once-child prodigy excelled in school, became a successful attorney, won a major case against a powerful company, and used the knowledge she garnered from her research to write a bestselling book that earned her a Nobel Prize nomination. Despite all these successes, Josie simply wants a life outside the limelight. Distracted by her worries, she gets into a car accident and ends up with amnesia. Her rescuer, Elu Takotie, is a local land owner who is certain their accident is really fate, as he believes Josie is the woman he is destined to marry. It is in this quiet, mountain town and with this quiet yet strong man that Josie finds what she’s always wanted, love and with it the courage and support she needs to live her life on her own terms.

The Heist by Sienna Mynx had me hooked from page one of this attention grabbing, interracial, romance. I've read several novels by Sienna Mynx and I'm always blown away by her stories. The intricacy, interesting characters and well thought-out plots are so satisfying; I don't want the stories to end. What I enjoyed most about The Heist is that although the characters are criminals, their dishonesty fades into the background as it becomes clear there is much more to their personalities. Lee Sullivan may steal but he lives by a code of honor. He may be cold and calculating but he's warm and caring with Chocolat. As for Chocolat, she is more a jewel thief. She is beautiful, smart and simply wants to be loved by a man who seems incapable of loving her. Her sister Sasha is horrible for putting the chaos into motion but her conniving behavior leads Chocolat and Lee to each other.

The Heist is a great novel and although the ending isn't quite the end, there is enough closure to make readers happy. I can't wait to see what follows in For the Love of Chocolat and The Golden Chalice.

After her father is murdered, Michelle Dixon aka Chocolat is determined to leave her life as a jewel thief behind. However, her sister Sasha's thirst for the game sucks her back in, forcing her to make a deal with the devil -- Lee Sullivan. Lee is a member of an illusive organization know as the Order; powerful men who govern the underworld of high stake heisting. Lee is also the man Chocolat foolishly believed she loved but who refused her naive advances. Lee forces Chocolat to make one last heist in exchange for her sister's freedom. Unfortunately Chocolat knows a deal with Lee means she will be sucked in the game for good. As she goes after the treasured artifact, Michelle finds herself caught up in the passion Lee evokes and old feelings become new and dangerous. She is determined to make this one last score, and then disappear before she is loses her heart to Lee again.

~ Susan for ARe Cafe

Harmony by Sienna Mynx is an interracial romance set in the 1920s. The first thing that drew me to the story was the author, who I find a true genius at building unforgettable plots. Second was the time period in which the novel is set. I’ve read several contemporary romances from Mynx and I couldn’t wait to see how she handled a story from a unique era. The main character, Harmony, is a single woman trying to make a life with very little resources. Back then a woman sought a husband or a suitor if she wasn’t born into wealth. Harmony doesn’t do either, but decides to work for a living. Unfortunately her younger brother gets caught up in the seedy side of Harlem. She is forced to seek help from an unlikely source, known gangster Vincenzio Romano. The irony of the overall story is that while Harmony initially sought Vinnie’s help, in the end, Harmony ends up being the one who has to save him from being killed.

This story would make a great movie. Harmony Jones is a jazz singer during the Prohibition and the Harlem Jazz era. Life is hard and people do what they must in order to survive. It is a time when interracial couples are often seen as a taboo. Harmony’s brother has gotten himself in some trouble and is missing. Harmony is left no choice but to seek help from the man who knows the ever-shady dealings in Harlem. Vincenzio “Vinnie” Romano is the ruling king of the bootleg trade. Unfortunately his kingdom is about to come crashing down, orchestrated by his brother who views Vinnie as the obstacle to his happiness. Harmony seeks Vinnie’s help and this sets into motion a chain of events that almost leads to their demise.

~ Susan for AReCafe

An ARe Cafe Top Pick!

Lauren Bishop is a junior financial consult who worships her mentor Dylan McGuire until he steals her contract and crushes her dreams of advancement. Jaded and angry, Lauren moves on, following her other dream of running a vineyard. Years later Dylan reappears wanting to mend fences by helping to save her failing vineyard, but Lauren wants nothing to do with him. Dylan is determined to show Lauren he’s nothing like the man she knew. Dylan realizes he’s loved Lauren since the first time he laid eyes on her, but all Lauren sees is deception in his every move.

Lauren’s friend, Dena LaCroix, and Dylan’s best friend, Chet Davis, have been friends-with-benefits for years. At one point, Dena wanted more, but Chet dispelled any notion she had of a happy-ever-after. Suddenly, Chet is having a hard time sticking to his rules as he realizes along the way to discovering Dena’s body, he’s discovered he is hopelessly in love with her. Unfortunately for Chet, Dena insists they stick to the rules he imposed for years. Time has made Dylan and Chet better men, but they’ll need more than time to convince Lauren and Dena to give them a chance.

Love After War by Sienna Mynx grew on me because the more I read, the deeper and richer the plot became. When I first started, it read like a novel that would satisfy my desire for a good, fun read, but then it took on so much more dimension and meaning as the plot developed. This contemporary, interracial romance features two couples and their riveting story as they try to find love and a purpose to their lives. The couples are a myriad of ethnicities. Lauren is Japanese and Black, Dylan is White, Chet is Korean and Black, and Dena is Haitian-American. Each of the main characters has something from their past that explains a lot about the people they’ve become as adults. Lauren’s abusive background is slowly revealed and is quite shocking, to say the least. Dylan came from a broken home with a mother who showed him no love. Chet is also from a broken home with a father who taught him to objectify women, which is exactly what he does most of his life. Dena has had to grow up real fast when at only fifteen years old, she’s the only one capable of caring for her dying aunt. They’ve all had a tough time growing up and, like most people, it shows in the way they live their lives as adults. It is easy to disagree and even dislike the character until more of their past is revealed and suddenly it all makes sense as to why they are flawed.

The characters gradually become more than just characters in the pages of a book, but people I could relate to, and feel their pain and suffering. I know this is a romance novel, but I enjoy a story that deals with real life issues and situations. It is rarely a bed of roses on the journey to love and here we see that both couples go through hell not just to find love and each other, but also to find a meaning and purpose to their lives. The storyline regarding the dog is very poignant. I couldn’t help tearing up and was rooting for the poor dog. It was very heartwarming when Dylan brings home a new pet.

Again, this book is rich and filled with intricate and interesting characters, a well-developed and enjoyable plot, and a great ending. I was thoroughly invested and didn’t want to take a minute to put it down. I have read several Sienna Mynx novels and one thing they have in common is well written plots and well developed, three-dimensional characters. Love After War is another testament that Sienna Mynx is a very gifted author.

~ Susan for AReCafe

For the Love of Chocolat by Sienna Mynx is the continuation of Lee’s Girls Series. The story began in The Heist and continues with the same intensity and excitement. This interracial romance features a biracial woman and a white man. With her father’s death now avenged, Michelle is determined to leave the life behind. However, this is impossible because she’s made several powerful enemies and Lee won’t let her go because he loves her. The story is sophisticatedly written and the attention to details in developing the plot and characters makes it an even greater experience. The characters come alive and their scenes are interesting from one event to the next. Lee should be a bad guy but it’s hard to hate a man who so passionately loves his woman. Michelle is conflicted and I felt her confusion in wanting to stay and also wanting to leave Lee because of his shady lifestyle. The suspenseful moments add to the overall entertainment and there is a climatic ending. Start with The Heist to get the full entertaining effect of this gripping story.

Jewel thief, Michelle Dixon has gotten her revenge against the people who killed her father. However, she is no closer to freedom from the life or from Lee Sullivan. She loves but resents Lee for pulling her back into the life of jewelry heisting after she worked so hard to leave it behind. Michelle remains determined to buy her and her sister’s freedom. As it stands, only retrieving the mythical Chalice will guarantee safe passage for them. They will finally be free of the Order and of Lee but can Michelle ever be free of Lee when he owns her heart? Determined to try, Michelle breaks into the Briscol Bank vault to retrieve the Chalice based on clues left by her father. She is able to successfully recover the rare artifact but in the process learns secrets between her sister and Lee that irrevocably damage their tenuous relationship. Heartbroken and disillusioned, Michelle plans to leave him the minute she can. Her escape from the vault is thwarted and she is injured in the process. Michelle and Lee suffer an unthinkable loss and they’re lives remain entwined as they seek comfort in each other.

~ Susan for AReCafe

An ARe Cafe top pick.

Diego Andes is a man who meticulously plans every step of his life. He did not plan on meeting or falling in love with Marcella Garcia. Diego keeps rigid control over their relationship until Marcella has enough of his abusive behavior and leaves. Now that she’s pregnant, Marcella knows her child deserves a normal life; one it’ll never have with Diego’s controlling ways. Learning of Marcella’s pregnancy, an incensed Diego kidnaps and forces her into seclusion. His over-handed actions push Marcella away and make her more determined to leave at the first chance at freedom. Finally realizing he can’t force Marcella to love him, Diego tries to rebuild their relationship. Unfortunately Diego has enemies that want to see him suffer and foremost is his mother. Diego must neutralize the threats and doing so will require him going back to a dark side of his life that is foreign in Marcella’s world. Marcella is saddened by Diego’s decision to leave her and their son but he knows being with Marcella means making her a target. He wants his family but not until he can guarantee Marcella and their son’s safety and happiness before his own.

Mi Carina – Diego’s Wrath by Sienna Mynx is the much awaited ending in the saga of Diego Andes and Marcella Garcia which first began in Mi Carina – Risky Love. This contemporary interracial romance tells the story of Diego Andes born into poverty and left to die in the streets of Columbia by his evil and conniving mother. Diego rises to power using his thirst for revenge as a catalyst. On the way to delivering the final blow in his plan of revenge against his mother, Diego meets museum director Marcella Garcia and his priorities become clouded. Once driven by revenge, Diego’s new motivation for living is now hinged on having Marcella as his possession. Despite being in love with Diego, Marcella refuses to be mistreated by him. Realizing Diego is a man consumed by pain and hate Marcella tries to reach out to him by expressing her feelings and baring her soul only to see Diego retreat. After several attempts at trying to get Diego to open up and his continued abusive treatment, it becomes too much to deal with and Marcella leaves Diego. At this point we finally get to see Diego the man. He’s so broken after Marcella leaves that he almost seems human for a change. Marcella’s relationship with Diego is far from over when she discovers she’s pregnant with his baby. Now a baby is involved and as much as Marcella loves Diego, she must do what is best for her unborn child.

Their love is tempestuous, oftentimes surrounded by violence but at the heart of it are two people who clearly love each other very much. Noteworthy about Mi Carina – Diego’s Wrath is the attention to detail given in shaping the background and build up the climatic ending. The supporting characters are also very well developed and given storylines that meld into the central story. Diego’s best friend Lance and Marcella’s best friend Susan in particular come to mind and I do hope that something will come of the passion neither seems to be able to walk away from. The plot is intricate and does require reading the first part of the story to better understand. There are many tense moments when Diego’s questionable past catches up with him and Marcella is caught in the crossfire, but through it all their love remains believable. These are two passionate people and this is evident in everything they do. Mi Carina – Diego’s Wrath is a wonderful conclusion to a page turning novel. Readers will be thoroughly entertained as they journey through the pages of this thrill ride of story.

~ Susan for AReCafe

An ARe Cafe top pick.

At seventeen years old, Kennedy first laid eyes on twenty-two year old Liam and decided he was the man for her. Liam knew being with Kennedy was wrong but feels powerless to resist the connection they share. Their love suffers its greatest test when Liam is declared MIA during a SEAL mission. Kennedy clings to the hope he’s still alive but after five years and no word, she remarries, hoping to give her and Liam’s daughter some stability. The life she pieced together shatters when a broken but very much alive, Liam returns home. Elation and sorrow become her constant companion as she tries to reestablish the life she had with Liam while dismantling the new one she created. Liam is devastated that Kennedy moved on and married his arch enemy. Despite the turmoil, Liam is not giving up on Kennedy, and Kennedy refuses to ever again let go of the man she gave her heart so many years ago. Unfortunately their personal problems are not the worst of it because powerful people in the military want to use Liam to further their cause and Kennedy could lose Liam for good this time.

Before Sunrise by Sienna Mynx is a riveting contemporary, interracial romance. Mynx pulls the reader into every novel by creating a world that is very believable and engaging. The characters are well developed and multi-faceted. They evolve and become more lifelike as the story progresses. In Before Sunrise the plot unfolds over several years and Mynx does a great job of depicting the growth each character experiences throughout. Kennedy begins as a self absorbed teenager who takes what she wants from life without thinking of repercussions. As the story gets more involved, she matures into a beautiful and capable woman who realizes that actions do result in consequences that affect more than just her happiness. When she defied her parents to marry Liam, she destroyed the bond she had with her mother. When she marries Liam’s nemesis, she nearly destroys the bond of trust she has with Liam and it is only because their love defies all reason and boundaries that they are able to make it despite her actions.

Liam was and still remains an alpha male through and through but after nearly losing his life and family he realizes nothing is more important than his family. He’s always loved Kennedy but he also loves being a SEAL. The story begins with a touching and romantic scene as Liam leaves for a SEAL mission. As always, his departure creates urgency to their lovemaking but there’s also the promise they make that they’ll see each other again “before sunrise.” Five years pass before either sees each other. During this time Liam is captured and tortured to within an inch of his life. It is a miracle he is found and rescued. The world has changed drastically in the time Liam is gone. His teammates have moved on to higher ranking positions and one in particular who always had a thing for him, believes she can finally have him now that his wife has remarried someone else. Several other key characters round out the book and again, each one is fleshed out and blended into the plot, making it very cohesive. The primary story is about Liam and Kennedy but the other subplots taking place makes for one very engaging and entertaining story. One couple worth mentioning in particular, Eric and Harper, reminiscent of Liam and Kenney, also engage in a forbidden love.

Passion abounds in the novel and Kennedy and Liam have their own special brand of loving. Once again, Mynx shows how good writing is done with a moving and memorable story.

~ Susan for AReCafe

Five years ago Daisy Johnson and her boyfriend Pete left their hometown for Vegas with dreams of making it big. Disaster follows when Daisy makes a dirty deal, losing Pete and her pride. Alone and too ashamed to return home Daisy sets out to reinvent herself starting with her name. Over the next five years, Daisy uses the money from the deal to start what eventually becomes a lucrative spa.

Hotelier Aiden Keane boxes his way from a life on the streets to becoming one of the most powerful men in Vegas. He can buy anything he wants and five years ago he wanted Daisy. He never imagined one night of unimaginable bliss would turn into something he never experienced before; love. Unfortunately, Daisy ran away but he has never forgotten her or gotten over his feelings for her. Aiden finally finds Daisy and one shocking revelation after the other follows. To have any chance at a love, they must face the worst and best parts of their personalities because they share a connection neither expected nor can explain.

Author Sienna Mynx often delivers intricate and beautiful interracial romances and Daisy’s Choice is no exception. This very enjoyable novel is a follow up to Aiden’s Game in which Daisy Johnson and Aiden Keane are first introduced. Although I haven’t read Aiden’s Game, Daisy’s Choice provided enough background information that I didn’t feel lost. The story is very detailed and filled with many characters all brought to life with clarity and vividness. This story will break your heart at some points and make you laugh at others. Daisy’s life is filled with more heartache than one person should ever suffer but it is also filled with a love most people imagine but never experience in their lifetime and so her heartbreak is balanced by her unbelievable joy in the end. Daisy is the only one who sees beyond Aiden’s dark side. When he looks at her with his clear green eyes Daisy sees his wounded soul; something he never allows anyone to see. Some of the things Aiden does are shocking in their meanness and at times I was hard pressed to empathize with him, but in this game of love he will break every rule to possess Daisy.

Aiden learns money can’t buy love. Daisy allowed him to put a price on her body but her love is priceless. He must earn it and only in doing so can they truly move past how their relationship began. Aiden puts it best when he says, “Black, white, yellow, brown no woman in his bed had affected him this deeply before or after Daisy.” It isn’t Daisy’s ethnic beauty that ensnares Aiden but something far more primal that he can’t put a name on. There are many casualties in this war of wills between Daisy and Aiden. Daisy loses the love and support of her family. Her daughter gets caught in a tug of war between two men who want to use her to make Daisy submit. Pete is also a casualty because he watched helplessly as Daisy is stolen right before his eyes for money and then because she feels something for Aiden she never felt for him. Aiden loses his mentor and attorney Donovan who resented Aiden loss of control over a young woman of color. Love should not be this difficult but with all these two go through, thankfully there is a happy ending. This story is a real emotional rollercoaster and at times I wanted to cry, laugh, scream or hold my breath anxious about what was coming next. However, as with most rollercoaster rides, the rush was worth it and so was Daisy’s Choice. I definitely plan on getting Aiden’s Game and reading this together with Daisy’s Choice. Of the three books I read this month by Sienna Mynx, On the Wings of Love, Queen Isra Daughter of the Sun and Daisy’s Choice; Daisy’s Choice was by far my favorite.

~ Susan for ARe Cafe

The Accidental Mistress by Siennx Mynx is another winner for me by this author. While the main characters Christophe and Zuri are similar in their affluent upbringing, they are from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Their differences don’t create a problem for them, but are eventually used as a weapon against them by Christophe’s scheming mother. There is much detail and description given to bringing the island of Martinique to life and this breathes life into the setting and into Zuri and Christophe’s story. Christophe can be a bastard but I found his character really sexy and while he is ruthless in business, he is very giving in bed. Other characters such as her sister, Joi, and Christophe’s cousin, Elliot, add to making this story even more enjoyable. Joi is a rebel from the very beginning but later Zuri comes into her own. Elliot is such a snake trying to manipulate Christophe but he’s no match for Christophe. Readers will like this book because it is like vacationing away from life on a lush island and being immersed in a story that has a great plot, entertaining and realistic characters, and a wonderful ending.

Zuri Batiste’s is the older of two daughters and she’s trying to map out a life for herself outside of the family’s hotel business. For her twenty-first birthday she decides to get rid of something special; her virginity. Christophe Montague is reeling from his fiancée’s betrayal and is drowning his sorrows in a bottle. Their paths cross in a bar and before the night is over, Zuri becomes a woman and Christophe expels the demons of his ex from his system. When the alcohol wears off regret sets in and Zuri and Christophe part ways after harsh words and accusations. Four years pass and Zuri is no longer the unsure girl she once was but Christophe is even more calculating than he was back then. Zuri’s father’s resort is in trouble and Christophe’s business is to take over the lucrative but failing business. Zuri however, is determined to save her family’s legacy at all cost, even if it means bartering with her body. Christophe has never forgotten Zuri and the way they parted. Maybe this was fate’s way of giving them a second chance to get it right.

~ Susan for ARe Cafe

An ARe Cafe Top Pick!

Two years have passed since Giovanni Battaglia’s love Mira Ellison was murdered. He’s spent that time exacting revenge on everyone responsible. He is a harsh and brooding man to live with until his cousin Lorenzo discovers the unimaginable. Not only is Mira alive, she has had a baby. Giovanni’s baby. A livid but relieved Giovanni travels to Switzerland to confront Mira. He promptly takes them back to Italy because nothing will separate him from Mira again, not even her ex-boyfriend Kei who protected her for the last two years. Mira’s old flame is determined to get them back and that means Giovanni has one more enemy to contend with. New and old grudges have to be settled and Giovanni’s adversaries are cunning and will stop at nothing to destroy him. Fortunately, Giovanni is a worthy adversary. Unfortunately, enemies are like weeds just waiting for the right moment to wreak havoc and for Giovanni and Mira another storm is brewing.

Ti Amo by Sienna Mynx is a continuation of the Battaglia Mafia Series. In the first story, Mi Amo, Giovanni and Mira are introduced and their pathway to love is fast and furious with many highs and some costly lows. Mi Amo ends on a somber note as Mira and Giovanni are separated by circumstances beyond their control. Waiting for book two was a lesson in patience. but it is finally available and worth every torturous day of waiting. Giovanni Battaglia is the charismatic don of an Italian mafia family and he marches to the beat of his own drum. He respects traditions but is not ruled by them as evidenced when he falls in love with a woman who is not from an Italian background, but in fact a black American woman. He makes no apologies for who he loves and loves her fiercely enough to break with generations of tradition. I was captivated by this story because the whole plot reads like a movie script.

The main plot of Giovanni and Mira’s love story is like a tree with many branches and involves some interesting subplots. There is a sophisticated complexity with many players involved. Mynx successfully keeps each subplot connected to the next and commands the reader’s interest throughout every scene. Another interesting point about the novel is that nearly every character has a secret with a domino effect that could lead to far reaching consequences for themselves and others in the family. This book does not give you a moment for wool gathering and honestly, I barely wanted to blink because the story is just that good. I couldn’t read it fast enough because I wanted to see what would unfold next. There are parts of the story that require a bit of concentration but as with any good plot, it means keeping abreast of the many characters and their role as the story takes shape. I’ve read several novels by Sienna Mynx and I am always astounded by how interesting and multifaceted her books are. The more layers to the plots, the better the experience and Mynx masterfully manages to keep the whole story very engaging and entertaining. I can’t say enough about the Battaglia Series and can’t wait to see what book three will bring.

Is a B- four stars or three? I'll just say four stars to make it easy.Harmony is set in early 1920s Harlem and features a Sicilian gangster and a black jazz singer caught in the turf wars between racketeers and bootleggers. I've always loved Harlem of this period, where the interaction between blacks, whites, and immigrants was thorny, with all groups barely tolerating one another, yet fascinated by the music, the literature, and the glamour of the neighborhood. Mynx manages to capture all of this--the violence, the pettiness, the racism, the crime, but also the hope and mythology of American culture (where you can come from nothing in your home country and be Somebody in the USA). But back to the romance. Vincenzio Romano stalks Harmony Jones's performances at the Cotton Club, and when her younger brother Willie disappears after double-crossing a few Harlem gangsters, she approaches Romano for help in finding him. Romano is no gangster-in-name-only: he's violent, short-tempered, and self-contained. Yet, he is drawn to Harmony despite their different racial backgrounds and her possible accomplice in her brother's crime. The relationship between Vinnie and Harmony heats up very quickly, and though I wished for a few more pages devoted to their relationship--and a few less to the twists and turns of the plot--their romance was sweet and believable. I was rather meh about the big villain reveal, since I already had an inkling as to where it would go, but I did really like the impact it had on Vinnie and Harmony. This is an unconventional, yet conventional, historical romance, but I really enjoyed the detail Mynx put into the setting and building realistic characters, and am interested in more of her work.