Dark Rage

Sweet Atonement #3

by Rora Noir

Don’t Touch Me…
Fiona
After being trafficked in my youth, I’ve finally found peace. It’s my own little safe haven where everyone knows and respects my boundaries. Until my new intern’s father shows up. The son of a mafia don shouldn’t be allowed to be that sexy or sweet. He keeps trying to push my boundaries and break down my walls. Which is especially dangerous coming from a man who’s patient and persuasive. When my past comes back to haunt me, Max steps up putting even more people at risk.
Max
The greatest joy and biggest sorrow of my life is being a single father. Losing my wife when we were just teenagers tore apart my heart. No one told me it would take more than a decade for me to mourn her loss. But thanks to my stubborn daughter and meddling grandmother, Fiona keeps popping up in my life, making me remember what it feels like to love someone again. Only she won’t let me. I thought I was a patient man, but waiting for her tries every ounce that I have. How can I keep her safe when she keeps pushing me away?

Dark Rage is a no spice dark suspenseful romance, featuring steamy kisses with a decided lack of cursing and violence.

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance, Mystery, Dark Romance

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

Reviews

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is officially my favorite in the series. All the feels. Be patient with this one, because the payoff is SO worth it.

Fiona’s carefully built life is turned upside down when she takes in a new intern Hope, who happens to be Max’s daughter. With a shared past, buried secrets, and a dangerous threat from Fiona’s horrible past resurfacing, Max steps in to protect both his daughter and the woman he’s drawn to ... no matter the cost!

I tell you the romance is a bit of a slow burn to start, but once the story hits the halfway point, And the chemistry, totally there. And let me tell you... those side characters? I NEED more... Sasha, Hope, Canyon, Gabe, Knight… I’m so ready for what’s next!

I gave this 4.5 stars, rounded to a 5!

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[BookishVibesClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the sweetness of a small town romance set in a mafia world. I love the FMC finding strength to overcome her brokenness and the trauma from her past. And I just adored the MMC being there to prove to her she is worthy and able to heal 🥹 This one had even more exciting suspense than the last books and I really enjoyed the side plots going with a mystery character, raising teenagers, and dangerous but sweet men that respect ladies.

💜 second chance romance
💜 protective MMC
💜 broken FMC
💜 suspense
💜 small town feels in an urban setting
💜 mafia romance
💜 caretaking
💜 broken to healing
💜 mine
💜 Single Dad

🫑 no spice, kisses only
No language

[Rachel Luke Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily a top favorite no spice dark romance!

Being able to see the MMC Max from an infant in his parents love story, to teen and finally adult with his own second chance at love was everything!

This book is as the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, slow burn, yearning, hope and healing.

It kept me on my toes and had me turning page after page.

Watching both Fea and Max have their hearts healed and find happiness with each other healed my own heart.

Plus all the side characters made me smile and laugh out loud.

I love that these books just take me on a journey but I am always guaranteed a twisty mystery, swoony romance, light vs dark and banter in all the right places. Just perfectly balanced and will always be my top favorites.

I am already counting down to the next one!

Swoony Kisses. Zero Swearing.

Trigger Warning: non graphic mentions of self harm

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a really good dark romance. There aren’t too many no spice dark romances out there. This romance centers on a single dad, son of a mafia don, and a baker who has a heart for children and was enslaved in a prostitution ring as a child. Seeing Max’s protective heart for Fiona was lovely. This may be my favorite book I’ve read by these authors so far. I appreciate that some of the dark aspect (illegal killing and torturing of bad guys, etc) was toned down a bit in this book and felt more natural and u the plot rather than feeling like things were thrown in just for the shock and awe value. I did feel like they did a turn around 180 very quickly when the relationship got together, but I really enjoyed the read. I liked grabbing more pieces to put together to the mysteries and having more mysteries branch off as well. I’m excited to see where these series take us next. The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 2. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Content warnings: very little on page violence however there is sex trafficking, self harm, some interrogation, and mentions of abuse, prostitution, rape, drugs, and assault

I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rage by Rora Noir is a secret filled thriller that you can't help but flip the pages.

This is the third installment to the Sweet Atonement Series and we are back running. We are set up with the characters that we already know and love and we are seeing a whole new side of them. There was a lot to unpack and there were a lot of layers that we had to get past, but it was beautiful. The set up for the mystery and the next book was thrilling and I can't wait to read more.

Fiona and Max were characters that were dancing around each other, and everyone knew it. Both of them were so dense, and it was really funny to read. The relationship between the family was super cute, and I loved the author's dedication to being there for family. Family you have or family you make.

If you love mafia romance, this is the book for you.

Thank you Rora Noir for the free book.

[sam | the bookish soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why it took me so long to read this book, when I know I love this series. This story wasn’t any different. Max had my heart melting time and time again. I was happy to see Fiona get her happy ending after her heartbreaking start to life. I love the appearance of the characters from books 1 and 2. Vex is my main man! Also, I’m gonna need Hope’s story asap!

[Amanda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

If they write it/
- I’m reading it
- I’m devouring it
- I’m loving it.

Top tier romance .

[Grace Spillers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lowkey 6 ⭐️ this book had me in a chokehold!!! I couldn’t put it down the story line the twist and turns the suspense the danger!!!!!! Perfection!!!!! Rage was such a good MMC!!!!!

[Marlene Protzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to finally get more of Max’s story because he’s easily my favorite character in the Sweet Atonement series.

That said, I do think I preferred his personality in Dark Love. In that book, he felt much more layered. He wasn’t just protective. He was funny, charming, a little cocky, incredibly capable, and had a softness underneath it all that made him stand out. Here, a lot of his personality revolved around being the overprotective dad whose “baby girl” is growing up, the brooding protector, and the tech genius. I still enjoyed him a lot, but I found myself missing some of the humor and nuance that made him such a standout the first time around.

It also made me realize that several of the male leads in the Sweet Atonement series are starting to feel a little too similar. They’re all protective, brooding alpha types, and while that’s definitely part of the appeal, I would’ve loved to see Max lean into the qualities that made him uniquely Max instead of blending in with the rest of the cast.

Fiona was a wonderful heroine. I really appreciated how thoughtfully her trauma was handled. As a survivor of human trafficking, her need for physical boundaries and control over her own space felt believable. Watching her slowly confront her past and work through her self destructive habits was really good.

One thing I really liked was that Max never tried to rush Fiona or bulldoze her boundaries. Considering everything she’d been through, it would’ve felt wrong if their relationship had moved too quickly.

My favorite scene was probably when they finally kissed. After all the tension and slow build-up between them, it was incredibly satisfying. I also loved the moment when Max finally stepped in to address Fiona’s self destructive habit. It showed just how deeply he cared for her while still respecting the difficult road she was walking.

I also really liked that adoption became part of the story. It was a sweet addition that fit naturally into everything else that was going on and added another layer of warmth to the book.

One thing I continue to struggle with is the ongoing twin DNA mystery. I understand the author is intentionally holding back information to build suspense, but those sections often felt more confusing than intriguing. It wasn’t that I couldn’t follow what was happening. I just felt like some of the explanations didn’t fully come together. We shall see how I feel about it by the end of the series.

One improvement I noticed right away was Hope’s characterization. In the previous book, she often came across like an eight or nine year old even though she was supposed to be around sixteen or seventeen, which felt really distracting. Here, she finally sounded much closer to her actual age, and I enjoyed every scene she was in.

Even with my criticisms, Max is still my favorite character in the entire series. I do kind of wish this book had featured him as the main main character, but that’s mostly because I wanted more of him. He has so much potential, and I couldn’t help wishing more of what made him so special in Dark Love had carried over into this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Dark Rage. The romance was sweet, the suspense kept me invested, Fiona’s healing journey was handled with care, and I continue to appreciate how Rora Noir writes dark romance.

I’m looking forward to finishing the series and seeing how everything comes together.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and it was so fun getting back to the Vincenti family and Willow Street crew! In short, this series has characters who are part of the Vincenti mafia family, and people who run, and protect the kids of, Willow Street - a street that’s been designed to take in and provide safe places for orphaned, homeless, and abused kids. There are also other characters who also work in the underworld to keep the innocent people of Urbium safe. While all those protectors definitely operate outside the law sometimes, they are ultimately always trying to protect the innocent from evil and the darkness of the world and their hearts are total softies when it comes to their women, their families and innocent victims of evil.

And speaking of families. Family’s everything to these people and they are tight! However, they also include almost anyone in their family! They may have a blood ties, they may not. But they take people in and extend the same care and protection they would offer their immediate family. It’s so fun and beautiful to see.

In Dark Rage, the MMC was Max - the son of a mafia don. He falls in love with Fiona, who runs a bakery on Willow Steet after arriving there years earlier as a teenager escaping abuse. I loved how Max treated Fiona - though he could have upped his communication game at parts!!! But he loves her despite her past. They met many years earlier but Max was still grieving the loss of his wife at the time and now when they meet face to face again thanks for Max’s teenage daughter, it’s basically instalove. For Max anyway ;) His inner monologue was so entertaining as well.

This is book 3 in the Sweet Atonement series. There are a lot of characters in this book and a lot going on. I would definitely recommend reading the two previous books first. I know most of these characters or events referenced have been introduced in previous books by the author’s other pen name so I would have loved either a character legend to see who everyone is, or a sentence or two giving a brief explanation of a situation (eg. references to Max’s mom having been gone) or character when a new one is mentioned. For me, it was a little difficult to understand some timelines and backstory pieces and that pulled me out of the story a bit. This author’s writing style has lots of dialogue which means it’s quick snd not boring to read!

This book (and series) has no swearing, no spice and no violence on page. There are definitely some hard topics mentioned (such as rape, self harm, death of spouse).

Looking forward to the next book! Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy; all opinions are my own.

[Brit’s Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m 47% in and I’ve already cried at least twice and squealed like a school girl with a crush! There are so many twist and turns and so many questions that I had from the previous books are being answered! I love seeing Characters from this entire world that Rora Noir has created! I can’t wait to finish it!! Max and Fiona have been through so much and I love seeing their love story play out!!😭

Update: Amazing!!! This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. You have to give this series a try if you’ve been hesitating! The level of suspense and chemistry was off the charts! The love was so beautiful between Max and Fiona! Like, I can’t put into words what this book means to me!

💫Tropes:
💜Touch her and D!3
🖤Morally gray mmc
💜Single Father
🖤Mafia
💜One Bed

🍪Blurb:

Don’t Touch Me…

Fiona

After being trafficked in my youth, I’ve finally found peace. It’s my own little safe haven where everyone knows and respects my boundaries.

Until my new intern’s father shows up. The son of a mafia don shouldn’t be allowed to be that sexy or sweet.

He keeps trying to push my boundaries and break down my walls. Which is especially dangerous coming from a man who’s patient and persuasive.

When my past comes back to haunt me, Max steps up putting even more people at risk.


Max
The greatest joy and biggest sorrow of my life is being a single father.
Losing my wife when we were just teenagers tore apart my heart. No one told me it would take more than a decade for me to mourn her loss.

But thanks to my stubborn daughter and meddling grandmother, Fiona keeps popping up in my life, making me remember what it feels like to love someone again.

Only she won’t let me.

I thought I was a patient man, but waiting for her tries every ounce that I have. How can I keep her safe when she keeps pushing me away?

✨Dark Rage is a no spice dark suspenseful romance, featuring steamy kisses with a decided lack of cursing and violence.✨

Trigger ⚠️ : non graphic mentions of self harm, human trafficking, abuse, assault, prostitution, rape, drugs, and rape.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it, but sometimes confused

I love this series! I read all of this at once, except the last hour of it, because it was 8am, and I still hadn’t gone to sleep. Lol My body finally shut it down.

I enjoyed seeing more of Max’s family, and their dynamic. And appreciated Fiona’s character development.
However, I feel like there are a lot of loose ends, or maybe it’s loose beginnings??
I know part of that is because it’s weaving a story over the entire series. But too often there were things referred to, as if I’d missed an entire chapter, or book, or even a whole other series, prior to the part of the book I was in. (And yes, I have also already read Maddox’s MC book.)
For instance, the first time they met is mentioned several times, but never truly elaborated on.
I know that, overall, I will continue to love wherever the series takes me, but I feel like for this particular book, there needed to be more back story. There were just too many open threads. Not sure how else to describe it.

*edit* Ok, I just learned that there might be some information in the Aurora Darklight series starting with “Not Ready” I believe. I’m still keeping it at 4 stars, because honestly, I don’t love that.
How would I know to read that whole series first, when the pen names aren’t even the same? I find it strange that I would need to read a series, seemingly from a different author, for back story on a totally different author’s series. So weird.

[Tia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming from someone who has read all the books in this universe, I was disappointed. Who hasn’t loved Max since he was a child, but I expected more for his 2nd chance at love. Fea isn’t the issue, I just think the execution was off. Their love wasn’t the main focus of the book even though it’s portrayed as such. I didn’t get the feels and you only get a declaration of love 60% into the book. I’m all for a slow burn but this wasn’t that. There were so many other moving parts which distracted you from them admitting their love for one another. Yes, the author is know for connections and clues throughout their books but this one was different to previous ones. When I think about the OG couples like Talon and Temperance, Aleksie and Lilianna their love stories developed with all the feels. Max and Fea went from a short fake dating episode to declaration of love to steam rolling ahead to moving in together without any vulnerable conversations. I’m sad to say this book just didn’t do it for me. Again, this is coming from someone who has re-read the OG’s love stories multiple times, including Ethan & Emilia, Luisella & Matthew etc. we waited a long time for Max’s love story, I just hoped for more. On the flip side we’re closer to understanding the backgrounds of the kids (now adults) who inspired Willow Street all those years ago.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

I read this one in a day. Like shut my life down and just read.
I have loved every one of them and this is no exception!
Max is finally ready for his forever and he is a protective, emotionally mature, supportive, strong, teddy bear for Fiona (and Hope, too).
Fiona has had a rough start in life and definitely deserves all the love Max has to give her (She has an issue with self-harm so if that is a trigger for you, be aware that it comes into play in the story on several occasions.) Max and his family are just the people to surround Fea with love and a support system that can help her.
These stories are about imperfect people that love deeply, they are willing to make any sacrifice for those they love and have a moral standard that they won’t compromise (Nobody gets away with hurting a woman - family or not!)
I absolutely love this series (and all the ones that feed into it) and I love that they’re all starting to feel like old friends when they appear in each other’s stories.
This can be read as standalone but it’s so much better in the context of the series.
🚫🤬🚫🌶️
-Mentions of abuse, trafficking, self harm, violence, prostitution. Dark but not gritty.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Internal thoughts while reading⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
- Ok Max has me giggling and kicking me feet with how tongue-tie and scatterbrained he gets around Fea😂😂
- Fiona why?!?! Just why would you do that? You’re killing Max here😂😂
- When I tell you I’m am screaming and kicking my feet over here…I literally am😍😍
- Umm I need a book for Hope and ***** (you know who, no spoilers here) immediately!!
- He calls her Tesoro Mio, officially swooning over here🫠
- I’m not crying, I’m not crying, I’m not crying…ok I’m crying😭😭

This was absolutely phenomenal🙌🏼Ok 5⭐️ is not enough for this book! 6⭐️ all the way!!! I am in love🙌🏼 this book was impossible to put down and I literally read it one sitting(minus a snack break lol) it is a favorite🤩 there were so many moments I loved and was screaming and kicking my feet! Please, please hear me and read this book as soon as you can(just make sure to check the trigger warnings!)

💜Single Parent
🕷️Dark Romance
💜Only One Bed
🕷️Morally Grey MMC
💜He Falls First
🕷️Mafia
💜Billionaire MMC
🕷️Protective MMC

🤬: None
🌶️: Kisses Only

Trigger Warnings: Self harm, human trafficking, sexual assault(not on page), death

[Hannah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Book Review! ✨

Dark Rage is the first book I’ve read by Rora Noir, and it definitely won’t be the last! This is also the first no spice, dark romance I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to reading more in this genre. The book is also clean, with no cursing. It does include adult content related to characters who have experienced very difficult life events.

This is book three in the Sweet Atonement series. I read it as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the previous books. There are a lot of side characters, and it would be helpful to know their backgrounds.

Fiona is a strong female main character. She is caring, protective, and selfless. I enjoyed reading her story and seeing how much she has overcome.

Max, a single dad, is very protective of his daughter and the woman he loves. While he is tough, he definitely has a sweet side.

The romance starts off slow and then picks up toward the end. I definitely laughed a few times because of the characters’ silly ideas.

If you’re looking for a dark, no-spice, clean romance, then this is the series for you!

✨ I received a copy of this book and chose to review it. All opinions are my own. ✨

[Ellen Helpman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun ride this book was!

Max and Fiona are the two main people in this story of mafia adventures.

Max is the heir to a mafia empire, worth billions, and an overprotective father to his only daughter, Hope.

Fiona is a survivor of a trafficking ring, working in a bakery/coffee shop which serves as a haven for young adults coming from the streets.

It was so enjoyable seeing these two fall for each other, as well as getting to know the entire Vincenti family!

My only drawback was having SO many characters that it was hard to keep track of them at times. I think a character list at the beginning of the book would be helpful.

Personal favorite characters were Fiona, Max, Hope, Vex, and Daria (I really want a book devoted to her!)

TRIGGERS: Depiction of self-harm, Discussions of human trafficking, mentions of prostitution/abuse.

SPICE CONTENT: minus a few swoon-worthy kisses, none!

I really appreciated reading a story about the mafia and romance without all of the sexual content and cussing. Brava Rora Noir!

[Debra Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance follows Max a single dad son of a mafia don and a kind-hearted baker Fiona who survived an unthinkable childhood. Watching his protective instincts toward her was truly lovely, and the emotional connection between them felt genuine and heartfelt. I especially enjoyed the family dynamics, particularly the strong bond of love and protection between father and daughter.
I appreciated how the darker elements were more toned down and naturally woven into the plot rather than overpowering the story. While the relationship did feel like it shifted to full commitment a bit too quickly, I still found the romance engaging and rewarding. I also loved uncovering pieces of the mystery and how new questions continued to branch off, keeping me invested until the end.
Overall, this no spice Dark Romance was a solid and engaging read filled with heart, intrigue, and emotional depth.
Thank you to the author for providing me an eARC, this is my voluntary honest review.

[Readingmytbrlist · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Single dad
- Touch her & d!e
- Mysteries
- Healing
- Fostering rep
- One bed
- NO spice

This could quite possibly be my new favorite from Rora because we see so much more of the man Max has grown into, who Fea truly is, and more of my favorite characters (Daria has seriously climbed the ranks for me lol). Some mysteries are solved, more mysteries are revealed, and the team keeps getting bigger and better. There’s literally nothing here not to love about this group. Also, Hope’s love interest?! I’m sorry - WHAT????🤭🖤

If you loved book #1 💜Dark Love💜 you’re going to binge this book.

It’s worth noting that there’s a trigger of self harm in this book (non graphic but a storyline), SA, and human trafficking. If that’s something that may bother you it may be wise to skip this story 💜

[Beth DeLong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read from these authors, the more I enjoy their books.

Speaking of, there are a lot of characters, and many of them have backstories in other books (check out their own name Aurora Darklight). I haven't had a chance yet to read those books before getting into this series, but if you have time I think it would help you get more out of the series.

If you're into overprotective, rich men who love their women deeply, this is a great series! But it's dark romance for a reason with its darker themes.

And I can always count on this series to throw an unexpected plot twist in around 80%! Definitely didn't see that connection coming...

After other books in the series, I was happy to learn Fiona's backstory and see her happy ever after!

⚠️ No cursing
🫑 Kisses only

Thank you so much for the chance to ARC read! It's always a pleasure! 🫶🏻

[Brenda S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read all 3 books in this series trying to decide if I enjoy this author's writing and I have come to the conclusion that I don't. This was the worst of the series for me but i struggled to finish it. There are way too many plots and characters to keep straight. It felt really choppy and convoluted to me. I absolutely despised how the MMC character referred to the MFC as "my woman". I also was thoroughly confused by one of the characters not wanting to speak with the MMC because she was a bigot and he isn't white. Are Italians not considered white? I thought they described him as having blond curly hair. What am I missing? Or is someone named Massimo Vincenti not Italian (which wouldn't make sense because he's a mafia don). I don't know. It really confused me and further added to my annoyance of the whole book.

[Hannah Svenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 words. Girl. Power.
Loved this book! Fea is an absolute force to be reckoned with. This series has had me hooked. It's so captivating.
I'm counting down the seconds for the next book to come out in November.
The previous plot and characters tied together so well in this book. I am typically a Christian romance/rom-com girl, but believe me when I tell you this closed-door, no spice, dark romance checks all my boxes anyways.
I can't wait to read her other stuff.
Max made me laugh so much.
I love a man that people today would describe as "toxicly masculine"
Basically he is what society is missing today in men. We'd be better off if we had more of him.
Fea definitely doesn't need his protection, but she'll have it forever anyways.

I also fell in love with all the minor characters.


I think Max is my favorite so far between him, Maddox, and Vex
But they're all so great.

[Suri (suriscozyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Max and Fiona's story!! This entire series is fantastic and each couple brings so much to this world. It was great seeing the dynamic of the Vincenti family. They are such a wild bunch. But since meeting Max and Hope in book 1 of this series, I couldn't wait to see his story play out.

Fiona is so fierce and determined to protect those she loves and deems worthy. I loved seeing her growth and how Max was the only one to help her be stronger. The suspense and tension is there right from the get-go and you won't want to put this book down.

This series is perfect if you want morally grey men that protect their women and family with all they've got. Let me tell you, these men fall hard and first for their ladies.

[Brandy Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rage by Rora Noir
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
He’s a computer genius & she owns a bakery.

About the Book:
Don’t Touch Me…
Fiona doesn’t like being touched. She was trafficked in her youth and has finally found peace. That is until her new intern’s father shows up and keeps trying to push her boundaries and break down her walls. He’s patient and persuasive. When her past comes back to haunt her, he steps in to keep her safe.

My Thoughts:
The Darklight sisters can do no wrong! I am obsessed with everything they write. I have read almost all of their books and LOVE them. This one is no exception. Reading about Max in Temperance’s books made this so much better and I highly recommend going back and reading those first. I am so invested in these books! I love the world, the characters, the setting, and everything about them.


Couple: Max & Fiona
Spice: None - Clean Romance - just kisses
Language: None
TW:. Sex Trafficking, Self-Harm, Mentioning of abuse, prostitution, rape, drugs, assault, violence. While this book has it all, it doesn’t ever promote them. The characters are against these things.

🩷ARC received, but all opinions are my own.

Review on Instagram

#bookreviews #cleanromance #bookaholic #bookreviewer #romance #darkromance

[Sekoia Nostrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book!

I’ve enjoyed reading every book in this series. I love the alpha male type and I also love how the FMC’s always find away to work through their mental health.

The way the love was slowly brought on through the book was amazing. I love how Fea and Max grew together with all they went through.

There was a pothole or two and there were some small grammar mistakes, but they were easy to ignore when trying to focus and the main points of the book.

I’m so excited for Payne and Immie’s book to come out. I’ve very much enjoyed every single book so far.

Totally recommend!!

*Some mature topics are mention throughout the book. While there is no spice I would still recommend to readers 16+*

Enjoy your reading!

🫶🏼

[Alayna (the.bookstrovert) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:
“No, you’re the woman I love. You’re my entire world. Let me protect you. Woman, let me do my job caring for you. It doesn’t matter what you could have done. I need to know that you’re safe, always.”


Why are mafia men so perfect?! Seriously, I think I swooned a little harder every time Max went all caveman! 🫠
I devoured Max and Fiona’s story in about 24 hours. I was in the edge of my seat for most of the ending, these 2 had me in tears, 😭 ❤️‍🩹 and I loved seeing cameos from Vex and Maddox!

I cannot wait to see what happens next! 😆
Thank you to the author for the advance copy, all thoughts are my own.

[Dina Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and Fiona’s story gave me all the feels and heart squeezes and totally, epically blew my mind a few times. Just a few things I couldn’t get enough of:

💜 Max - so all-in, so smart, so protective, his thoughts, him being her hero!
💜 Fiona - so much kindness & heart, her chats with Hope, her insecurity, her bravery
🩵 Hope & Dash - these two are just so adorable! Their timing, their charm, Dash being a baby genius, and Hope being a total sunshine, loved them!
🩵 Sasha Kamenev - I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF HIM!! Y’all - heart eyes!! He’s just one of my favorites already, just like his dad!!!
🩵 Vex - he’s my other total favorite! I loved him so much in this one!! He’s just amazing!

[Taylor Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to a 4!
I love this series. This wasn’t my favorite out of the series so far, and I think the main reason for that is it’s basically confirmed very early in the book that the two main characters will end up together. However, this is the first of Noir’s books to make me cry both sad and happy tears and that’s a big deal 🥹 I also really loved a lot of the authentic portrayals of life after traumatic experiences like what some of these characters go through. So raw and real. Ultimately, this book was such a sweet combination of redemption and family and I can’t wait for the next books by Noir.

[Kat Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like protective MMC that watch over women, children, innocent people, and their community, then this book is for you. This definitely has some dark elements to it but it’s the kind that is full of heroes.

One of the things I love about this book and this series is the family. Whether it’s found family or born family they are there for each other. Family is the most important thing in the world to them and they would do anything to protect them.

I had a difficult time putting this book down. There is so much intrigue built up in this series and there were answers in this book that I needed! I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[HayvinsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is phenomenal. The way they bring the trauma, the knight and shining armor but make him a Mafia prince with pew pews. Mafia prince falls for broken girl, who thinks she we will never have anything good. She pushes him away but he still goes after her. Loving her and all her broke pieces. 🫠

I’d love a follow up book to see how they raise Dash. Does Hope get the boyfriend and do Max & Fiona have more kids of their own. 😉 I don’t think I’ve read a book that I didn’t enjoy from Aurora Darklight.

5/5 ⭐️’s

No spice. No foul language.
Mentions of h*man tr*fficking, mention of ch*ld a*use, dr*g use, bl*od. S*lf ha*m.