Hans

Alliance #4

by S.J. Tilly

CASSIE

How to make the handsome, brooding man across the street notice me.

Step one: Deliver baked goods to his front porch, even though he never answers his door and always returns the containers when I'm not home.

Step two: Slowly lose my mind as a whole year passes without ever running into him, no matter how hard I try.

Step three: Have my boudoir photos accidentally delivered to his mailbox instead of mine. Have him open the package. Then have him storm into my home for the most panty-melting scolding of my life.

Step four: Still figuring out step four.

HANS

I'm a dangerous man.

A man who has spent the last two decades removing so many souls from this earth that it's a miracle my hands aren't permanently stained red.

I'm a man who belongs in the shadows.

I certainly don't belong in my pretty little neighbor's bedroom when she's not home, touching her things and inhaling her scent.

I shouldn't follow her. Shouldn't watch her. Because no number of cookies on my doorstep will change the fact that love isn't an option for me.

The only option left for me is violence.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Stalker, Dark, Grumpy Sunshine, Contemporary

435 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2023

About the author

S.J. Tilly lives in Minnesota with her husband and their herd of boxers. She spends an unhealthy amount of time with her face buried in books, reading and writing. If she’s not nose deep in text, or harassing her dogs, she’s probably playing with her plants, pretending she knows how to garden.

You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor

https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

During spicy time he called her “little girl” and made her call him daddy. Excuse me while swallow back my vomit.

[S.J. Tilly]

Available now!

Grab your copy today! Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
https://books2read.com/HANS-SJTilly
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3rVp5TL

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Make them pay, Hans. Make them suffer."

Hans is a dangerous man.
And even saying that would be an understatement.
He lives in a world of ghosts and shadows and blood.
Ever since that day 20 years ago everything changed and his life has been about one thing.
Vengeance.
Until she moved in next door…
His butterfly. The bane of his existence.
And since then he has been a man obsessed.
So when a mistake in the mail leads Hans to march over to her house.
It's game over for them both.

"Because this crush I have on my hot neighbor is getting out of control."

Cassandra Cantrell has been obsessed with her neighbor ever since she moved in.
She remembers his smell, she can't stop thinking about him.
Ever since she moved in she has been baking cookies in hopes to get him to talk to her.
But every time it's the same.
She leaves the cookies and the next day the box is cleaned and left next to her mailbox.
No words. No thank you. Nothing.
So why is her super hot neighbor currently knocking at her door and yelling her name?

"Because you know I need to own you."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Does she not realize what a fucking temptation she is? Does she have no sense at all?"

He is obsessed with her. She wants to get to know him. But what happens when his life starts to creep in? Will his butterfly fly away? Or stay with him and burn?

"Yeah, Cassandra Lynn Cantrell, I'm obsessed with you."

This is one of the most bittersweet reviews I think I will write.
"The Alliance" has become one of my favorite series of 2023. If not my favorite series. And it is all thanks to S.J. Tilly.
From Nero, to King and Dom, and now Hans. I love this universe. I love these characters and Hans is no exception.
Because OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS BOOK!! THIS MF BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!! THE ONES WHO KNOW THEY KNOW AND THE ONES WHO DON'T TRUST ME YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!

"He touched something Cassandra touched. Life fades from his eyes."

First we have Cassie. And S.J. Tilly proves once again that plus size badasses are the most fun FMC to read (I will take no objections). I mean her baking for him each time, caring for him, and then the possessiveness!! I was here for it, I was here for all of it!! You have this fluffy bubbly girl with a backbone and that is exactly what I needed!! Plus her relationship with Hans was just amazing!! This butterfly has a backbone trust me (as Hans would say -> continues to giggle profusely.)

"When are you going to learn that there are consequences for being a brat?"

And moving on to the man of the hour. This wait was so worth it!! Hans has quickly risen up the ranks and has become my new obsession because I will be thinking of this man for months to come and you can place your bets on that because OMFG the fact that he eats everything she touches and makes. Do not lower your standards people!!! And the Butterfly!!! I was melting! I was actively melting throughout this book and I am not apologizing!!

"A girl like her should wear absolutely nothing, and she should spend her nights on her back with her thighs spread, her hands pinned, and her body heaving… underneath-mine- where no one can ever lay eyes on her."

This playlist is classics (in my opinion) and it fit so well!!

(Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Y5... )

🎵 "Daisy 2.0" - Ashnikko, Hatsune Miku
🎵 "Cruel Summer" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Doin' Time" - Lana Del Ray
🎵 "Candy" - Doja Cat
🎵 "Morally Grey" - April Jai and Nation Haven
🎵 "Heaven" - Julia Michaels
🎵 "I Wanna Be Yours" - Arctic Monkeys
🎵 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds Of Summer
🎵 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎵 "Devil In Her Eyes" - Bryce Savage
🎵 "Work From Home" - Fifth Harmony, Ty Dolla $ign
🎵 "Private Show" - Little Mix
🎵 "A.D.I.D.A.S" - Little Mix
🎵 "Angels Like You" - Miley Cyrus
🎵 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎵 "Like A God" - Lia Marie Johnson
🎵 "The Summoning" - Sleep Token
🎵 "THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND" - Bad Omens
🎵 "STAY" - True North, Loveless
🎵 "She Looks So Perfect" - 5 Seconds Of Summer
🎵 "Tattoo" - Loreen
🎵 "Dangerous Hands" - Austin Giorgio
🎵 "The Devil Wears Lace" - Steven Rodriguez
🎵 "Freak" - Doja Cat
🎵 "Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine
🎵 "Sway With Me" - Saweetie, GALXARA
🎵 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎵 "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" - USHER
🎵 "Hello" - Evanescence
🎵 "Bella Ciao" - Becky G
🎵 "Confident" - Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper
🎵 "When You're Gone" - Avril Lavigne
🎵 "Beggin'" - Maneskin
🎵 "nameless" - Stevie Howie
🎵 "OHMAMI" - Chase Atlantic
🎵 "Elastic Heart" - Sia
🎵 "Electric Love" - BORNS
🎵 "If I Killed Someone For You" - Alec Benjamin
🎵 "Bonbon" - Era Istrefi
🎵 "Red Flags" - Mimi Webb
🎵 "Wonderland" - Natalia Kills
🎵 "Desperado" - Rihanna
🎵 "Ruin My Life" - Zara Larsson
🎵 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎵 "Wanted" - Todrick Hall
🎵 "Savage" - Bahari
🎵 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Sterling, Lzzy Hale
🎵 "Bring Me To Life" - Evanescence
🎵 "Tantrum" - Ashnikko
🎵 "BRAT" - Chrissy Chlapecka
🎵 "BABYDOLL (Speed)" - Ari Abdul
🎵 "Perfect" - One Direction
🎵 "AMERICAN HORROR SHOW" - SNOW WIFE
🎵 "Can You Feel My Heart?" - MOTHICA
🎵 "Love On Top" - Beyonce
🎵 "FMRN" - Lilyisthatyou
🎵 "Animals" - Nickelback
🎵 "Salvation" - Christabelle Marbun
🎵 "Seven Nation Army" - Stevie Howie
🎵 "Paper Rings" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Dirty Thoughts" - Chloe Adams
🎵 "Hrs & Hrs" - Muni Long
🎵 "Holding Out For A Hero" - Nothing But Thieves
🎵 "The Reason" - Hoobastank
🎵 "Nonsense" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "I'm yours sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎵 "Massacre" - Kim Petras
🎵 "Hurry Up And Save Me" - Tiffany Giardina
🎵 "Hayloft" - Mother Mother
🎵 "Us And Pigs" - SOFIA ISELLA
🎵 "Church" - Chase Atlantic
🎵 "Spectrum" - Florence + The Machine
🎵 "Heathens" - Twenty One Pilots


And S.J. Tilly proves once again that she can set us on fire with her words…

"All fucking night. Teasing me with this fucking dress."

"I should make this pretty ass so sore you won't be able to sit still on that plane tomorrow. Should make it so you think of me every time you sit for the entire week."

"That's it. That’s my good girl."

🔥 Tropes 🔥

🍪 Plus Size Romance
🍪 Dark Vigilante Romance
🍪 Stalker/Obsessed MMC
🍪 Neighbors
🍪 Forced Proximity
🍪 Age Gap

https://www.instagram.com/p/C04A6booj...

[Marissa | goingonbookcation · Rating 1 out of 5]

He called her “Little Girl” and she called him “Daddy”.

Absolutely fucking not. Get therapy.

DNF @ 70%.

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC review)

''Because vengeance is rarely clean''

Safety warnings:
- H 39 / h 30
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of human trafficking
- Mention of s*xual abuse/r*pe
- Kidnapping
- Violence/d*ath
- Stalking
- Loss of loved ones
- Attempted assault
- HEA

This book turned out very differently than I imagined it. For some reason I had this elaborate plot in my head after Hans' appearance in Dom's book and what we discovered about him. I am not saying it’s a bad thing that it didn’t pan out how it imagined it in my head but that it’s nice to be surprised.

I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll just say a few things:

Let's just say Hans out of all the guys in this series is the most complex one, he deals with the guilt and pain from what occurred in his life two decades ago. His mission in life has only been about one thing until his vixen of a neighbor shows up and everything changes for him. The obsession that he felt for Cassie was unhinged but at the same time it kept him grounded in a world of chaos.

Cassie was a great addition to this series, and she was a fun FMC. She comes from a normal life and never in a million imagined herself immersed into the life that Hans's leads of the Alliance.
We got great cameos from everyone, and I have to say seeing Nero in each book that is not his own makes me like him even more every time. He is so funny in other POV's.

The ending of this series made me sad as we said goodbye to the group of people we have grown to love and care for. S.J. Tilly gave us a great farewell! I really enjoyed this series and definitely recommend it!

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only neighbor on Cassie Cantrell’s deserted cul-de-sac is a standoffish recluse. What she doesn’t know, Hans Eklund is always watching, ensuring he doesn’t bring danger to his Butterfly’s door.

Guilt-ridden and on a path of vengeance, Hans’ lifestyle is not conducive to love. Yet once he lets the bubbly baker in, there’s no path forward without her.

I can’t think of a series that I’m more sad to see end. I was late to the SJ Tilly fan club, but she brought it with this series and, in particular, this book. Seeing all the pieces come together, including cameos of all the previous couples, made this final chapter bittersweet. With his complex backstory and emotional baggage to work through, with the help of his perfect match, Hans was easily my favorite MMC of the Alliance. If you’ve been sleeping on SJ Tilly like I was, this is your sign to grab a book and dive in!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: ☹️😊🫠😳😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}

🗄️ Genre: Dark Romance
🗂️ Subgenre: Suspense

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (9), Neighbors, Stalker(ish)
💫 Microtropes: Alphahole, Curvy Woman, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessed, Tracking/Spying, Vigilante

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Spanking

⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties wet and reaching for BOB.

🚩 Safety Squad: Unalìvíng, Vìolençė, and other potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Hans is part of the Alliance series, but can be read as a standalone. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Tiffanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have loved every other book in this series but I DNFd this book. There is absolutely 0 character development of Cassie. The only thing she is, is obsessed with Hans. No thanks. Everything was so rushed too. This one was a miss.

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When he avoids her publicly but stalks her privately 👀 bad boy assassin falls for the girl next door and WORSHIPS the ground she walks on!

“Side by side, we probably look mismatched. The girly girl and the intense assassin. But my palm fits in his perfectly.”

Cassie is just a regular HR manager girlie until she unknowingly moves in next door to an assassin. Well she doesn’t know he is eliminating his enemies on the weekends but she doesn’t have a MASSIVE crush on the her older neighbor, Hans. But our assassin boy avoids her since his life is too dangerous. Well…he still breaks into her house to check her appliances & sleep in her bed 👀✨ hilariously unhinged dark romance!

💛 he cannot stop touching her AT ALL times

💛 ott obsessed mmc (this man scarfs down her leftovers just because she touched it)

💛 plus size fmc (she is 30!)

💛 yes, of course he puts a tracker on her *consentual*

💛 her racy photos get accidentally delivered to his house & he immediately stomps to her house

Hans is a GIANT CINNAMON ROLL and you can’t convince me otherwise. When Cassie brings over her terrible culinary creations he force feeds himself scarfing down everything in a single sitting 🤢 and this is by far the funniest and sweetest thing in the whole book! Him feeling possessive of all the food she touches is the level of mmc possessiveness I really need!!!

THE SMUT. AAAA. Perfect mix of mmc obsession and absolutely filthy ways he loves to make her fall apart. Their dynamic definitely has some Daddy/bg vibes with the age gap & when that translates to their sex life 😮‍💨 HANS JUST GETS IT!!! Also helped that Cassie was equally as obsessed with Hans.

One thing I’m really enjoying about the series is rational fmc (sometimes iffy in mafia romance) & NO 🛑 third act breakups. In this book I like how Cassie and Hans are not get into repetitive arguments over mafia-overprotective-alpha male stuff. Hello, this is a mafia romance what did you expect!! And Hans does some absolute unhinged things BELIEVE ME


grumpy x sunshine ☀️
dd/lg dynamics
overprotective mmc
assassin mmc
plus size rep (loved this the most!)
🍑
stalking
breeding kink (lite)
found family
HEA

[nush 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯 · Rating 2 out of 5]

*sigh* & i was so fucking excited also. im so sad

[Hannah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

second read - 2026

This is maybe my #1 comfort read ever. This book has the perfect balance of action without becoming too stressful. YES, the nicknames are weird, but WHATEVER. If you're freaky enough, you can look past pretty much anything hahaha.

We all know that S.J. Tilly writes some of my favorite FMCs, but can we have a moment for Hans?!?! I think I really resonate with S.J. Tilly’s characters because she manages to give them absolutely heartbreaking, tragic backstories without also traumatizing me in the process. Hans lost his sister to human trafficking 20 years ago and has been working against human trafficking in any way he can since then. He’s dark, flawed, and possessive and just so yummmmm. Definitely my favorite MMC of this series.

I mean, Hans implants a tracker into our FMC, Cassie, so he can always find her. I know it’s crazy, but I think it’s hot, sue me!!!! And it works because Cassie is just as unhinged as Hans. I absolutely love that she doesn’t bat an eye at Hans’s possessiveness and instead is just as unhinged as he is. There’s no moral back-and-forth about loving him, she’s on board from the first minute, and I looove it.

first read - 2025
Do yourself a favor and read these books!!!!!!! Every book in this series was SO good and they just kept getting better. This was definitely my favorite of the series. I absolutely love when an FMC is 100% on board with the unhinged-ness of the MMC. There's no moral dilemma or big relationship drama and all of the drama comes from outside of the relationship.

[glavreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

sj simply delivers EVERY. SINGLE. TIMEEEEEE.

of course hans delivered us crazy, obsessed, stalker who's rich and hot and FREAKAYYYY. of course we got another amazing curvy heroine and a hero who's DOWN SO BAD FOR HER that he eats all of her absolutely inedible creations.

100000/10. i will miss this series so much but i cannot wait for what's in store.

[vana ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was so bad that it was funny

[Kiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah… I didn’t stand a chance.
This was a beautiful, strong finale to the Alliance series — and without question my favorite of them all 🖤

🦋 The Setup

Cassie has been hopelessly drawn to her handsome, brooding neighbor for a year. Her strategy? Leaving baked goods on his porch and quietly losing her mind while he never once answers the door. Hans, meanwhile, is a dangerous man — a vigilante who’s spent two decades carrying a kind of loss that never really leaves you.

One mistake in the mail.
One knock on her door.
And it’s game over for both of them.

🐻 Hans Eklund (39)

Big. Broody. Blonde Viking.

Hans is obsessed in the most delicious, unhinged way. He eats all of Cassie’s terrible baking — every crumb — simply because she made it. And the way he gets irritated when anyone else eats it??

“It doesn’t matter how bad her creations are, my deep-seated need to consume every bit of Cassandra won’t let me throw them away.”

He’s morally gray and fully convinced he doesn’t deserve love — but his backstory gives his character real weight. Before everything fell apart, Hans was just a nineteen-year-old college kid who wanted to be a lawyer. That version of him is gone — and watching Cassie slowly bring pieces of him back felt deeply earned.

“But if decades of working to rid the world of evil has taught me anything, it’s to embrace the good. I haven’t had much good. But the woman next to me, she’s my good in this world. And losing her would destroy me.”

🍪 Cassandra Cantrell (30)

Sassy. Feisty. Worst baker known to man.

Feeding people is Cassie’s love language, and I loved how perfectly she matched Hans’s intensity.

She’s possessive (putting his phone calls on speaker the second she hears another woman’s voice 🤭), fearless, and completely unbothered by his darkness. To the point that when Hans assumes she’s panicking after witnessing his violence… she’s actually breathing heavy because she’s turned on 😂

I adored that she was never written as fragile. She’s clumsy but confident, knows exactly what she wants, and walks straight into Hans’s life like she belongs there — because she absolutely does.

“A pretty little butterfly I can’t help but want to protect.”

🖤 My Thoughts

This book felt deeper and more emotionally rich than the others in the series. The chemistry between Hans and Cassie was all-consuming, tender, and addictive, and watching their relationship grow completely melted me🥺

I’m really going to miss the Alliance banter. Nero trying to steal Hans’s katana had me in tears 😂 His ongoing fixation with new weapons will never not be funny — I swear I love him.

And the ending? Perfect. So satisfying. Seeing everyone together again felt like a love letter to the entire series, especially with Cassie’s parents becoming this warm, unexpected found family for them. I closed this book smiling—and a little emotional 🥹

Tropes / What to Expect

🦋 Neighbors to lovers
🔪 Morally gray vigilante
🍪 Plus-size FMC
🔥 Obsessed MMC
🫶 Found family
☠️ Touch-her-and-die
⏳Age gap (9 years)
🤭 Spanking
⛔ NO third-act breakup

Series Ranking
1. Hans — Book 4 (5⭐️)
2. Nero — Book 1 (4⭐️) My review
3. Dom — Book 3 (4⭐️) My review
4. King — Book 2 (3⭐️) My review

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
✧･ﾟ Pre-Read ･ﾟ✧
I’ve been waiting to get to Hans since book one, so I’m VERY excited ✨

[Yelena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I genuinely thought that I'll rate this one 4 stars because IT HAD A PLOT!!! Unlike the other books this one had a solid plot that could've been so interesting but of course after %60 the book went downhill (this seems to be a theme here) and I got the ick to many times I just wanted to DNF it honestly and if I wasn't listening to the audiobook I would have.
I like Hans but definitely didn't like Cassie she has no personality and she's just there lol anyway I'm glad I'm done with this series here's a final ranking 🙌🏻

Books:
King
Dom
Nero
Hans

Women:
Savannah
Valentine
Payton
Cassie
I don't want to rank the men cause I don't like any of them enough to do that also I do not recommend this series even though most books were 3 stars for me I just don't think it's worth the time unless you just want to have fun then go ahead😭😭😭


------------------------------
Might as well just rip the bandage off cause I'm scared of this one👀

[Olga · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3,5/5 🦋🧡

Llegué al cierre de la serie Alliance con bastante curiosidad por Hans. Por lo que recordaba de mis lecturas anteriores, como interés romántico no me gustaba para nada, pero desde las pocas escenas donde apareció en el libro anterior me pareció un personaje interesante de explorar. Y la verdad es que no me equivocaba: objetivamente, este es el libro mejor ejecutado de toda la serie junto con el tercero, y esto tiene mucho que ver con Hans.

Para mí, lo que de verdad sostiene la historia y le da una identidad propia a Hans (dentro de todos los protagonistas de la serie) es su trasfondo. Su pasado con su familia y su hermana Freya me dolió muchísimo.

Específicamente, el capítulo 53 te destruye en mil pedazos y te hace empatizar de golpe con todo su dolor; ver cómo una pérdida tan abrumadora en tan poco tiempo puede transformar por completo a una persona es desolador. Como hermana mayor (con una diferencia de edad similar a la de Hans y Freya), pensar en el dolor de perder a tu hermanito de esa forma me dejó un nudo horrible en el pecho.

​A nivel de sentimientos y carga emocional, Hans se posiciona junto con Val como los dos mejores personajes de toda la saga. El duelo aquí está muy bien llevado y el dolor que carga por la pérdida de su familia se siente totalmente real.

En medio de toda esa carga emocional, la experiencia fue rara porque la leí a la par de Cementerio de animales, usando a Hans como mi lectura “chill” cuando quería descansar la mente. Se podrán imaginar el desastre en el que estaba al combinar ambas historias (obviamente ando sensible con el tema del duelo), jajajaj

Y bueno, Hans es, por lejos, el menos red flag de los cuatro protagonistas de la serie. A ver, sigue siendo un stalker en toda regla, pero en términos de dark romance es el mejorcito. El detalle de que se comiera todo lo que Cassie horneaba aunque supiera horrible me pareció curioso y hasta un poquito tierno. Sin dudas, el capítulo 121 es sanador.

​Es tanto así que me gustó Hans que no suelo subrayar frases cuando leo esta clase de libros, pero hubo un fragmento de los pensamientos de Hans que tuve que marcar porque me apachurró el corazón. Puede sonar cliché, pero viniendo de un tipo con semejante historia de duelo, y considerando que los tres dientes de peineta (Nero, King y Dom) anteriores no habían dicho una sola cosa bonita en sus vidas, pega distinto:

​"It’s been twenty years since I’ve loved someone. But I recognize the feeling. It’s like hearing a song for the first time after years and years but remembering every lyric the second it starts. It’s a heavy sort of comfort. But it also terrifies me.

​Cassandra was my obsession.

​My Butterfly to love at a distance.

​A pretty creature on the other side of the glass.

I never wanted her to know me. Never wanted to take the chance of trying. Because her rejection… It would crush me. I’d known that much. Known that if she was afraid of me, it would smother the last bit of humanity I still held. From afar, I could pretend. I could dream. I could fantasize and prepare. But never believe any of it could be real. Never think I’d ever have her close enough to touch. I made a point to never get close enough to touch. Not once, not ever, did I think she’d reach for me.

​And now I’ll settle for nothing less than all of her.”

Por otro lado tenemos a la protagonista, Cassandra, que me cayó súper bien. Es divertidísima, sus papás son un amor y, siendo sincera, la chama está tan loca como Hans. Lo único es que su instinto de supervivencia es nulo (para que el libro avance tiene que ser así): enterarte de que tu vecino es un acosador con una fijación heavy y además un asesino... ¿y que tu mayor preocupación sea si el tipo tiene novia porque no te gusta andar con hombres comprometidos? Oigan a esta, jajaja. Cero reacción realista, pero qué más podemos esperar.

​Hans y Cassie como pareja me dieron exactamente igual; me gustaron mucho más como personajes individuales.

Además, "Butterfly" es el ÚNICO apodo bonito y rescatable de toda la bendita serie. La vara estaba en el piso con los tres idiotas anteriores, pero este apodo sí se sintió genuino (aunque sea cliché no me importa en lo más mínimo). Eso sí, los OTROS apodos y las dinámicas del spicy de este libro a mí personalmente me cortaron el rollo total. Sobre todo desde la escena del hotel, que para mí hizo que la historia decayera bastante. Si ignoramos que esa escena existió, la experiencia mejora muchísimo.

Con respecto a los otros personajes, me hubiera gustado ver más a Karmine y a su ejército a lo largo de la historia porque le habrían sumado un plus gigante, pero igual funcionó bastante bien. De hecho, este de todos es el libro con más crossovers, ya que salen todos los protagonistas anteriores. Además, Nero sale en casi todos lados y conserva la versión cómica de los libros anteriores (no la de su propio libro, que nada que ver). Y de hecho este libro la autora se lo dedicó a Nero; se nota que es su personaje favorito dentro de este universo.

Bueno, siguiendo con los personajes en general, un detalle que noté al ver a la Alianza desde los ojos de Cassie es que, si bien yo los distinguía porque venía con las relecturas frescas, en verdad todos los personajes masculinos y femeninos actúan exactamente igual. Si les quitas los rasgos físicos, nadie se distingue por su personalidad. Tampoco entendí qué les dio a King y a Nero por meter a tanta gente a la Alianza como si nada, pero ajá, desde el libro anterior cargan ese dolor.

​Pasando a la trama, tiene picos súper intensos tanto del lado bueno como del malo. El capítulo 57 me dejó en absoluto shock, todo pasó demasiado rápido. También, la reacción de Cassie en el capítulo 88 me terminó de confirmar que ninguna mujer de la Alianza está bien de la cabeza: esos capítulos del 87 al 90 parecen sacados de una película de terror con Hans vuelto loco y ella mirándolo como si nada (y hasta piensa que es hot... 💀), JAJAJJAJA.

Sin embargo, tuve que pausarlo unos días en el capítulo 92 porque me empalagó cuando nos vamos de lleno al romance y me fui a leer la mitad de otro libro antes de volver. Pero ajá, cuando lo retomé empezó el conflicto del tercer acto y se puso buena la cosa. Profundizando un poco en esto, el conflicto del tercer acto es increíble. Probablemente sea el punto más fuerte de la autora y este fue el mejor de todos; le aporta un ritmo brutal al libro.

Otra cosa que quiero recalcar, algo que siempre le rescato a la autora, son los epílogos, y este definitivamente fue mi favorito porque es narrado por partes por todas las mujeres de la Alianza (Payton, Savannah, Val y Cassie), además de Hans (porque es su libro, no lo podían dejar fuera del epílogo). Me pareció una propuesta muy inteligente no poner a los sarnosos de Nero, Dom y King que me caen malísimo, por si no se notaba (King no me caía mal, pero el tercer libro me hizo sentir cosas negativas por él, jajaja), y que solo las mujeres tuvieran la voz del cierre.

​Al final, aunque el spicy y los apodos le restaron puntos, la construcción general de los dos personajes, el manejo del duelo, el ritmo y el conflicto final hacen que no pueda ponerle menos de 3 estrellas. Es un cierre bastante decente y entretenido para la serie: bueno para pasar el rato sabiendo a lo que vas, pero nada de otro mundo.


​P. D.: Una disculpita si escribí mucho, no tenía luz y me inspiré con la reseña. La Olga del futuro me lo va a agradecer. Además, me quedé con las ganas de un libro de Aspen, gente. :(

[Noor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was the author on a time crunch bc why was it so rushed and just sex?

[devangi · Rating 1 out of 5]

worst experience of 2023. WORST.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: stalker, vigilante
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

Boy oh boy - SJ Tilly just cannot miss with these Alliance men. She completely knocks it out of the park with Hans. Once again we have a hero that screams more read flags than a Chinese PLA parade field, yet somehow he manages to be the sweetest, most thoughtful hero for our beautiful FMC. His backstory is crushing and you will cry tears. I know I did. And while our story is fantastical, his "reasons" for being the way he (a stalker assassin, lol) is comes across as somewhat valid 🤷🏻‍♀️. The story is beautifully written and paces well. The pages totally flew by and I was at the end before I knew it. It was wonderful to see all our Alliance friends and made me that much more sad to see them go. There is a gloriously long epilogue that will make you shed some more tears, but ultimately leave with a smile on your face. Definitely recommend. The whole. fucking. series. ❤️

[Morgann Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD.

I didn't think anything could beat Dom, and then Hans happened. This. man is a WALKING RED FLAG. A STALKER. AN UNHINGED COLD-BLOODED KILLER. And I fucking loved him. The build-up and tension was so addicting to read and I genuinely couldn't put it down. Even though it's a dark romance book, we also got bits of humour that had me grinning from ear to ear. I loved them

[Irina (trying to catch up) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 61%

Can‘t stand it any longer. Both main characters are just stupid and obsessed. I constantly eye-rolled. And „daddy“ fucking his „little girl“ was too much, finally. That‘s a no-go for me.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is my favorite one. I enjoyed it so much. Hans was so sweet, possessive, and a great big teddy bear.

I wish my neighbor was so caring. Haha!

5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale

CW: sex trafficking, kidnapping, violence, slight Daddy kink, breeding kink

[Kristie (read_between.the_wines) · Rating 5 out of 5]

your honor, I love a hitman.

this is the perfect ending to the Alliance series (although I wish it wasn’t over).

Hans is unhinged like Nero, and even more obsessive than king and dom in his own ways.

Start to finish loved it. Will read this entire series again

**arc review**

[sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

was it actually good or did i just picture him as charlie hunnam the whole time

[alana ☁️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i do NOT know why all the girlies on tiktok are eating this up because i again, could not

[˙⋆☆ Pameee ☆⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2026 || 4'5 ✮⋆˙ || ¿Creen que exista alguna posibilidad de que Tilly escriba a la segunda generación de la La Alianza? Lo siento, es que soy una lectora con apego emocional a sus series favs 😔🤚

Que linda relectura, extrañaba mucho a Hans y su mariposa (Cassie), son tal para cual, los amooo 😭💖 lo malo es que ahora también quiero releer a los anteriores JSKAJKS.

Los epílogos son de mis partes favoritas de un libro y aquí no es la excepción. Sobre todo porque salen todos: Nero y Payton, King y Sav, y Dom y VAL (Rob y Aspen también, super graciosos jskajs). LOS TQM A TODOS, es demasiado lindo la familia que forman al final. Osea, los padres de Cassie son los verdaderos chill de cojones al saber q todos ellos eran mafiosos JSKAJKSJA nah, los amo, LEAN ESTA SERIE 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Ahora sí ESTOY LISTA PARA EL LIBRO DE STOLEMAN EN FEBRERO (Y LUEGO EL DE CAÍN) AAAAHHHHHH

*recién inicié la relectura, pero andaba de curiosa leyendo algunas reseñas y me encanta tener tantas amistades por aquí que amen esta serie (a Hans en especial) tanto como yo, q bonis chicas las tqm 💕*


2024 (julio):

Sigo pensando lo mismo: amo demasiado a estos personajes y el final de cada pareja 💖

Me urge el de Caín, tiene potencial 😎

2024 (abril):

4,2 💫

¿Estoy siendo objetiva? Tal vez no. ¿Me importa? Ni un poco.

Todo este mundo que creo Tilly, La Alianza, las parejas, como están conectados cada uno de los libros, es exactamente lo que me gusta leer.

Esta saga es de mis favoritas, y sin duda las releere en algún momento.

Sabía que HANS era otra cosa, lo amo. De mis favs ❤️‍🩹

Sus notitas 🥺

Esos epílogos, ayudaaaa 😭 Exijo más contenido de todos, por favor 😫

Ahora: COMO ME SUELTAS ESO ASI NADA MÁS, Tilly. CAIN? CONTEXTO.

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱ · Rating 2 out of 5]

From sweet to meh

☀️ This book started out sweet. The author immediately makes it clear the hero saw the girl a year and some months ago and that he hasn't slept with anyone since.

↠ Plus points for that
How divided, the magic...

I fear alienating so many of my GR friends with this one, because I didn't like this book as much as seemingly everyone else did...
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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[Ehss · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot believe this is by the same author that wrote Nero. The writing was abysmal and the story itself fell tired and lacked effort. This is one of the cringiest books I’ve ever read. I have literally nothing good to say

[Марія Маргуліс · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF на 66%
Це було не жахливо, але дуже гротескно і місцями нагадувало скоріше ненавмисну пародію на любовний роман. Перша половина ще якось читалася через трішки схожі вайби з Lights Out, але потім стало надто крінжово і не дуже цікаво.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

** One of my Top 20 of 2023 Picks on www.JeevesReads.com! **

This deliciously addictive romance takes the "boy obsessed" trope to a whole other level while wrapping up the series with a neat little bow - I loved it! We knew very little about either character before diving in, but it only took a few minutes to get a feel for the dynamic. It's easy to see that both characters have been sneaking glances at the other for quite awhile now, and it just took a little push to shift their relationship in a very big way. Like the other books in the series, Hans is a walking red flag, but the kind who is incredibly endearing and kind of a sweetheart at the same time. It's clear that he is absolutely obsessed with his girl (I think that's a compliment, lol), and I loved the brightness that she brought to his otherwise-dark life. There's spice and suspense and so much sexual tension, which cranks up the moment these two starting interacting face-to-face. It was everything I could want from a finale AND a standalone romance, and I cannot even tell you how quickly I flew through the pages.

The story follows Cassie, a woman who has lived across the street from a handsome stranger for the last year. She's been trying to get closer to Hans ever since their brief introduction, but he's dodged every attempt she's made. Their only interactions have been exchanges of the baked goods Cassie makes for him all the time, and she's close to giving up. But one very unexpected event changes the whole situation, and suddenly Hans is everywhere. He's overwhelming Cassie's senses and making it clear that he wants her, which is a shock to the system. The closer Cassie gets to Hans, the more she sees the dark side of him, but it's easy to see that he's a good man on the inside. Hans is a little bit broken, and finally having all of Cassie's attention seems to bring something back to life in him - which may be the the end of them both.

I've been loving every installment of this series, and this was such a fitting conclusion. It's got the same over-the-top, delicious vibes, while still feeling like its own thing. Hans might actually be the most obsessed of the antiheroes in this series, which is really saying something, lol. But I could not stop my love for him, which developed almost as quickly as his love for Cassandra. These two are absolute FIRE together, heating up the pages with their mutual attraction. I liked that Cassandra was such a sweetheart and a bright spot in Hans' life, though she also clearly had a backbone and knew the trouble she was getting into. I loved watching Hans come alive again under Cassie's care, and he really was a great guy underneath all of his grief and darkness. Be sure to check the CW on this one. The vibes are suspenseful, spicy and playful, with a ton of banter and humor mixed with all the darkness. I didn't even mind the light "Daddy" vibes, because it seemed to fit the dynamic of these two. Also, there isn't a major age gap (30/39), so that was a factor too. All in all, this was a powerhouse of a finale, and such a wild ride. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this extra-spicy romance.

[❥ Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: Bumped to 5. Who was this person that rated this gem 4 stars? I don’t know her

I laughed & smiled so much reading this! This series is just bingeable fun. SJ Tilly has a knack for writing these OTT obsessive men and making them seem adorable. They lose all sense when it comes to their women and it’s absolutely hilarious. What I really liked about this one is that Cassie is just as obsessed with Hans and adores his dangerous, obsessive ways. Her narrative had me cracking up when she could be so nonchalant about the dangerous things she witnessed. She is her man’s biggest fangirl

Highlights:
💀Hans eating Cassie’s terrible baking like it’s manna from heaven
💀Hans meeting Cassie’s parents
💀Hans fighting a man with his mouth full of post-its because Cassie wrote them for him
💀Hans assuming Cassie is freaking out about seeing him kill people, but she’s breathing heavily bc she’s turned on
💀Cassie + skittles = Hans 🤯
💀The light daddy & breeding kink