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Ajax. My world as an MMA trainer for the Irish mob was supposed to be temporary. Just a debt I needed to pay when the big boss saved my life. Then I watched her fight, and she was brought into my gym. I unravelled her secrets, bit by bit, as we laid it bare on the mat. Now I'm joining a war I wanted no part of, because she needed me in her corner.

Sin. My mission was simple. Get my sister out of foster care. I had a plan. But the sins of our father came knocking at the locker door and offered a smooth path to reuniting my family. But can I get through the vipers den with my soul and secrets intact?

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2023

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121 people want to read

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Molly Briar

45 books134 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Mikaela T (mikaelabooks_).
537 reviews66 followers
January 2, 2024
Female-led Mafia you can sink your teeth into

She was born Irish Mafia, and now they’ve forced her to come home. But she’s not the little princess she was when she left. She’s a decorated soldier and one hell of a fighter. Her one weakness is that she’s always been on her own.

In steps the HOTTEST MOST SWOON WORTHY martial arts trainer, Ajax LeBlanc!!! In the previous books, he tried to save his last fighter from Russian thugs and nearly d*ed. But the Irish mafia kept him alive and now he’s training their soldiers to pay off the debt.

And all he sees is Sinead. Gosh the two of them are dynamite together!! He loses all composure. Her walls crumble. There is a lost of wrestling and chasing that turns into the hottest smex between two of the loneliest people. It’s pr*mal in the most literal sense. So good!!!!

Certified standalone while also revealing the biggest series secrets! So fans of Briar will love the payout. More than a few bru*sed knuckles. Sinead will face off her worst ab*users and take her ultimate r*venge. Nobody writes action as good as this!
Profile Image for Genoveva.
1,500 reviews12 followers
December 31, 2023
Please check CW and TW before starting this one. Strong FMC yes please. One major thing I’ve loved about this series is the FMC being a baddie. I eat that up. I’m glad to see more of Ajax he intrigued me in Iron Rose.
Profile Image for Noe Crockett.
319 reviews10 followers
December 31, 2023
Yep, this seals it - I'm fangirling for Molly Briar now.

Her books are like part action, part suspense, part spicy romance, and pure enjoyment and this latest book doesn't disappoint. Briar drew me in with the spice, but kept me around with incredibly good writing, well-developed and interesting characters, and a page-turning plot.

Like Iron Rose, Steel Rain dives right in with the smut/erotica/spice, but it's almost a bait and switch because this book is SO MUCH MORE. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, because it's what drew me in to this series and I am not sorry about it at all.

I wasn't as attached to Sinead and Ajax as I was to the characters of the first book, but I still enjoyed them enough to keep reading and care about what would happen with them. I'm not sure if it was a me thing, but something just felt a little off there as far as really feeling like I knew who they were. This might be because Ajax is more of a cinnamon roll MMC and I don't think that's really my thing, I prefer my MMCs a little darker. Also, he was a little too philosophical for me, I was eyerolling a lot during his little speeches and analogies.

TBH, I was WAY more interested in Eoghan Green and he wasn't even the MMC, but one I really hope to know more about in future books. I was also intrigued by Sinead's friend from the military who we met early on in the book.

I did enjoy the whole anti-patriarchy/feminist vibe happening with Sinead and the deep dive into the Irish Mafia and its inner workings. Everything written in this book is so rich and clearly well researched. There was some all out world building happening by this author and I am here for it.

The description of Rose and Alastair's relationship in this book was epic and proof that perspective is everything: The man had an obsession with his lady that was a bit disturbing, but also romantic...if they ever split up, the proper British gentleman was likely to go on a serial killing spree, ensuring that no man came within a mile of her, his fixation on her was so laser focused.

And also, OMG TWINS!!! I love little Easter eggs like these in books from the same series/universe.

Great quotes:
- Really? We're getting this dramatic? I'd rather take the flogging.
- Kintsugi is the act of repairing old ceramics with lacquer and gold. (I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS)

Odds and ends - please stop overusing the word "pistoning," surely there are other ways to say this??? Love love loved the description of the Green cousins as "the Irish embodiment of Gemini," seriously, that was fire. This book would have really benefited from including a playlist - I'm thinking Dropkick Murphys at the top of it. If you're going to include Gaelic, please also include phonetic pronunciations and/or glossary. Why so many snake references? Penthesilea for a name is too weird for me, y'all.
Profile Image for Naj_ana_reads.
376 reviews18 followers
December 31, 2023
✨ Steel Rain: An MMA/Irirsh Mafia Romance by Molly Briar ✨

OMG Molly!!! I've said this before and I will say it again. You are absolutely amazing at your work and are and will continue to be an auto-buy author for me. Whatever you write I know I will freaking love and this one was no difference. I love that your stories have the perfect amount of spice and plot. You keep me hooked to the story right from the get go. The characters are so freaking awesome but what I love even more is how you write such strong and fearless FMC and the freaking devotion from their love intrest. How they will kneel for their queens and will protect them at no cost and with zero hesitation. I didn't even thing Ajax was going to have his own story but I'm so glad he did. When he was introduced in Iron Rose we got to see a little bit of him but the way you brought this character to life was just WOW! Who would of guess how primal Mr. LeBlanc was when I tell you chapter 23 had me feeling all sorts of ways.

If you love
💫 Forced Proximity
💫 🔪 Kink
💫 Found Family
💫 Primal Play

Type: MMA/Irish Mafia
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stand Alone or Series: Steel and Iron Series
Tropes: She is Irish Mafia, He's a Mixed Martial Arts Trainer, Revenge and Retribution , Tortured, Forced Marriage
TWs: 🩸 oaths, violence, unaliving, mention of 🍇 of the FMC (of page).

💋naj_ana_reads💋
Mood Reader
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3,147 reviews
January 8, 2024
A simply captivating addition to this MMA series of books that will hold you riveted to the finish

No one said that life was ever going to be easy but being born into the Irish Mafia and a girl she has now been forced to return and she knows its not for a happy homecoming or a great love and roses story that does not exist in her world.

She is a decorated soldier and her fighting skills are beyond belief and as she begins to MMA train with Ajax swho is having to train the Irish Mafia soldiers to pay off a debt he owes them for having saved his life.

Sinead is a dynamite fighter and he is able to recognise her potential, it seems that these two individuals have a lot in common and both are trapped in lives they do not want but are unable to see a way out. Their interaction with each other is so bound to happen and whe it does well its smoking and you will not put this down until you reach the end.

I guarantee that you will love this book as much as the first and will be left looking forward to future books by Molly Briar.
I assure you that you will love every moment of this book it is simply a fantastic read.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Paige Marie.
3 reviews
December 29, 2023
Incredible!! Steel Rain was even better than Iron Rose, if that's possible. I just felt like I connected better with Ajax & Sins' story. Ajax is definitely held back as a character in Iron Rose, but I was so pleasantly surprised with him in Steel Rain. He is the definition of "book boyfriend" gold!

Anyways, in Steel Rain, Ajax is fulfilling his debt to the Irish Mafia and training their soldiers. He and the Mafia leaders attend an underground boxing match. Ajax is taken aback by the female boxer with no one in her corner. Feeling nostalgic over his days of being a trainer, of his time training Rose, and his dreams to get back to those days. Turns out, the "she-wolf" in the ring is the same girl he'd had a quickie with in the alley.. who has a long childhood trauma filled history with the same Irish Mafiamen Ajax is attending the show with.. Things get crazy, Sin is given a series of choices. She must decide if she can trust these Irish Mafiamen again or if she's going to risk the lives of those whose secrets she holds. Love is in the air, friendships are rekindled, and blood bound Oaths are made. I can't wait for book 3 to be released, so the rest of this story can be explained!!
Profile Image for Maddie Watson.
77 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2024

Arc Review!!!!

Absolutely Mind Consuming….

This book had me in a chokehold from the very beginning.. The story starts off spicy and ends with spice and an hea. I mean come one who doesn’t love a good HEA!! I mean it’s one of my favorites!!
Sin is the bad a$$ Alpha wolf, trying to get custody of her sister. I mean I wholeheartedly agree, Family comes first and I would do whatever’s necessary to take care of mine.
She is honestly so strong.
I love strong FMC’s. ESPECIALLY when they don’t need a man to protect and take care of them but still wants them. I mean the only one she wavers for is Ajax, and honestly I don’t blame her!! I love how Ajax protects her from her ex and even his boss Eoghan head of the Irish Mob.
Ajax honestly gives off Protective Daddy Vibes and Touch her and ☠️ 🥵 Vibes and LAWWWD IM HERE FOR IT!!! Like all the puppy pads are needed!!!
He takes the oath for her to protect her. I loved every bit of this story, what I need next is Eoghand story. I NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!
Profile Image for BookishBarbie (Annette).
292 reviews10 followers
December 27, 2023
This series just keeps getting better and better. And who knew Ajax was so delicious!?
From being indebted to the Irish mob, Ajax was the trainer for the army Eoghan had in place ready for war. Seeing his "Snow White" in the ring all alone, he knew she needed him in her corner in more ways than one. Sinead's life changed in just one moment and she never looked back. Changing herself and her appearance, the weight of the world sat on her shoulders. Meeting Ajax again was a coincidence, but that day also changed her life forever.
This was such a heartfelt read that had my swoon meter on high alert!! We get to know Ajax on a more personal level and how his life changed after that night with Rose. (Iron Rose, book 1) And we get to know more about Eoghan and his feelings about his missing wife, Kira. I love how these books are standalone, but mention previous characters from other books by Molly and A.N. Stauber. It brings more life to the characters after their stories have been told. I can not wait to read what's next!
Profile Image for Sarah.
165 reviews10 followers
December 25, 2023
With a deal to be made, Ajax agrees to train the Irish mafia. As "Coach," he comes in contact with Shiny in a dark alley. Then she's in the ring, and he realizes she doesn't have a team on her side, so he steps up. He finds out later that she has a sister she's trying to get out of foster care since her father was murdered . If Sinead, aka Shiny, agrees to be trained by Ajax, his boss promises to get her sister back for her. Next thing you know, she cones face to face with her fiancee Keith that she ran from 10 years ago.
Profile Image for Justine.
79 reviews8 followers
April 18, 2024
As usual Molly has done it again. I am not a fan of mafia romance but even though these books are classified in that category they are so so much more than that. Molly never fails to pull the reader into her stories and Steel Rain was no exception. I could feel the tension and pull between Sin and Ajax throughout the whole book. I just loved this book. One other thing I love about Molly’s books is that her characters never truly leave. They continue to make appearances throughout other books and as someone who gets very attached to her characters I appreciate that!
Profile Image for Erin Loveforallbooks Alford.
183 reviews15 followers
December 29, 2023
Soul Snatching!!!

Absolutely Soul Sucking..
This book sucked me in from the very beginning.. The story starts off with spice and ends with spice and an hea. Ajax's life was spared, but with it came a debt. Train the Irish Mafia. He wanted no part in this life until Shiny came into his life. He tasted her in an alley and then took her side in the ring. Sinead is the she wolf, an Irish by blood trying to get custody of her sister running from the old ways, and a fiance meant to take her out. She is so strong. I loved her character, and I love strong women. I love how Ajax protects her from her ex and even his boss, the feared crazy man Eoghan, head of the Irish Mafia. It's such a great read. Molly is an amazing author, and I hope yall enjoy her work like I do.
Profile Image for Amy Acree.
383 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2024
Sin and Ajax. She was on the run from her past. He was a MMA coach indebted to someone from her past. And then they collided. This second book in this series gave Sinead a chance to prove to herself that she was not broken from the past she had escaped but ended up back in. I liked that Ajax supported her and encouraged her strength. I hated Keith. Still do. And now I can’t wait to read Eoghan’s story.
Profile Image for Dewey.
2,066 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2025
Trigger warnings: past SA and present violence against Sin. There is a great compelling, ominous, beginning. I have read a lot of so-called 'dark' Mafia stories, but this one really is dark. It crackles with menace. Wonderful characters. Action-packed and page turning. Crazy Irish MF'ers. The writing is very powerful, yes violent too, but this is actually an epic love story. One small annoyance for me was in the epilogue, of all places. It was jarring to read the unpronounceable name of their daughter. That makes no sense at all.
Profile Image for Melissa Willis.
209 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2025
Sin and Ajax

I loved this classic story of boy meet girl. Except girl ran away from her ex to join the army. Then girl joins the underground fighting ring to get her sister back, where she meets boy. Freaking love that girl gets to not only kick the butt of her ex and his friends, but also gets extreme payback for the wrongs he did to her. Loved the wedding scene and the reception. Heck I loved every minute!!!!
Profile Image for Michelle Crisp.
196 reviews5 followers
August 13, 2025
3.5⭐️A great read. Sinead was a true fighter and so worthy of Ajax's devotion. A great couple. I dont understand why we didnt get to see the renion between Sin and her sister? Why have that storyline and not go anywhere with it?

Damn I dont know how I feel about Eoghan Green. He comes across so villainous. A pefect dark mafia boss. But we know there is more to him. But can his actions be forgiven? About to read his story and find out!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
930 reviews53 followers
December 30, 2023
This is an action packed story that keeps the pages flying. The author does a great job developing the characters and we feel connected to them even if we do not have any similarities. The tension is palpable as we try to figure out the how Shiny will try to overcome obstacles facing her and her sister and how Ajax will be there to help them through it.
3,768 reviews12 followers
December 31, 2023
Steel Rain by Molly Briar
New author for me so I had to get to know her writing style and I was floored! She’s has captured our imagination with the characters that are deep. Each strong to protecting the ones they love. They’ll do anything for them. The chemistry was sizzling. Fantastic read and we’ll worth your time.
Iron Rose is the first book in the series.
Profile Image for Savannah.
290 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2024
I was so not ready to be done with Ajax. I normally don't like the second book in a series as much as I do the first but that's absolutely not the case here! Molly has created an amazing world and I can't wait to see where she takes it from here! I have loved the way she portrays her FMCs. When you add in the chemistry between Ajax and Sin I honestly couldn't put this book down!
18 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2024
This book is the perfect balance of romance spice and plot. Love the way that Molly gave us a teaser in Iron Rose to the MMC Ajax and left us wanting more. And boy did she deliver.

The MFC is a bass ass mafia boss lady who doesn’t think she needs anyone until Ajax crashes through her walls. The smut is on point with these two!

A definite read! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
30 reviews
January 8, 2024
Oh Molly my girl you have done it again!! From the moment Ajax stepped out on the page I lived him (yes lived). Then in strutted Sin. The “power” couple. They are to die for and just to eat up.

Molly has this amazing way to make you see her words come to life on a page and I live for it.

ARC copy voluntary leaving feedback
8,812 reviews63 followers
January 9, 2024
Sin is trapped in a mafia world she wanted no part of, and Ajax is trapped in a debt to the irish mob, when these two meet sparks come to life but can they ever be free of the ties that hold them? well written engaging, steamy suspsense action and more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for AJ.
293 reviews10 followers
December 30, 2023
A great read to end the year!

Leblanc was introduced in Iron Rose and I am so glad he got his own book! I loved his and Sin’s story just as much as Alistair and Rose. It was spicy and ends with a HEA.
I can’t wait to read Eoghan’s story!!
759 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2024
I am in Love with Molly Briar's books. Ajax and Ronnie's story is no different. This story as every story she writes kept me reading till the end. I did not want it to end and I did not want to put it down. Ajax and Ronnie were good together.
Profile Image for Ann Brown.
3,453 reviews22 followers
January 12, 2024
A fantastic story that absolutely gripped me. Ajax and Sin's story was spicy, emotional and brutal at times with plenty of violence. With plenty of spice, secrets revealed and bloody revenge taken, this was an amazing read.
Profile Image for Kim Says It's Time To Read.
335 reviews6 followers
September 15, 2024
Ekkkkkkkk, this was amazing!!!!!!! So so so so so so SO good!!!!! Sin and Ajax's story was just incredible!!!!! I love that no story ends up being the same. Yes, same characters, for the most part, but no story ever has the concept. They're incredible and I cannot wait for more!!!!
Profile Image for Gina Burkart.
3,552 reviews52 followers
December 29, 2023
This series is a great read and I devoured this book in one setting. This book is so good and loved this. This story is full of chemistry and energy on the edge of your seat.
Profile Image for Sheila.
1,163 reviews11 followers
January 7, 2024
5 Stars for Steel Rain by Molly Briar

Readers should review content warnings this is a darker MMA & Irish mafia read.

This author is quickly becoming a favorite from gut wrenching angst , sizzling chemistry and flawed characters to a well crafted intense storyline.

Ajax LeBlanc is perfection hands down a winning hero in my books from his protective nature and sensitivity! He falls hard for Sin -The She Wolf Grady !

Intense well written storyline that is a page turner with tug at your heartstrings emotion !

I loved Ajax and Sin !

I highly recommend this read as well as this author!

Loved Steel Rain !

Profile Image for Angel.
433 reviews19 followers
January 6, 2024
Check those TWs!! Who doesn’t love a mafia romance with a strong female lead?! Especially once where the MMC is Irish!! This was just a great read! Loved every second of it!!
Profile Image for Amber.
516 reviews13 followers
January 16, 2024
It was a good story. I just wasn't completely vibing with it. But still good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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