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Sins of the Father #2
Sweet Vengeance
Cillian
I can’t figure out why I’m so intrigued by Ollie Gibson.
He’s nothing like me—soft where my world is hard, sweet and kind while I’ve grown up around violence.
But there’s a fire to him that sparks the one inside me, loyalty that calls to me, and bravery I respect even if it gets him in trouble.
When Ollie’s hurt and we don’t know if the men who attacked him will come back for more, I can’t stop myself from claiming him. There’s nothing I won’t do to protect him, even go behind his back for vengeance.
I crave him—both the sweetness and the fire, the innocence and the dirty boy he turns into under my touch.
I’ll kill for him, turn my world upside down for him, share my pain and secrets with him. Ollie helps me deal with it all—even the drama with my father.
It’s supposed to be temporary. I’m not supposed to want more, but I’m determined to keep him, and for a reason I can’t understand, Ollie wants me too.
The future lawyer and the criminal. The Good Samaritan and the killer. We’re living between two worlds, this place where vengeance can be sweet and our differences don’t matter. But we both know it can’t go on like this forever. If the violence of my world doesn’t tear us apart, one day Ollie will walk away…and I don’t know how to let myself lose him.
Content Warning: Sweet Vengeance contains discussion and grief over the loss of a parent, violence, darker themes, drug use, and morally gray characters with no redemption arc. This is still a Riley Hart romance though, so you can expect a happily ever after for our guys.
I can’t figure out why I’m so intrigued by Ollie Gibson.
He’s nothing like me—soft where my world is hard, sweet and kind while I’ve grown up around violence.
But there’s a fire to him that sparks the one inside me, loyalty that calls to me, and bravery I respect even if it gets him in trouble.
When Ollie’s hurt and we don’t know if the men who attacked him will come back for more, I can’t stop myself from claiming him. There’s nothing I won’t do to protect him, even go behind his back for vengeance.
I crave him—both the sweetness and the fire, the innocence and the dirty boy he turns into under my touch.
I’ll kill for him, turn my world upside down for him, share my pain and secrets with him. Ollie helps me deal with it all—even the drama with my father.
It’s supposed to be temporary. I’m not supposed to want more, but I’m determined to keep him, and for a reason I can’t understand, Ollie wants me too.
The future lawyer and the criminal. The Good Samaritan and the killer. We’re living between two worlds, this place where vengeance can be sweet and our differences don’t matter. But we both know it can’t go on like this forever. If the violence of my world doesn’t tear us apart, one day Ollie will walk away…and I don’t know how to let myself lose him.
Content Warning: Sweet Vengeance contains discussion and grief over the loss of a parent, violence, darker themes, drug use, and morally gray characters with no redemption arc. This is still a Riley Hart romance though, so you can expect a happily ever after for our guys.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2025
401 people are currently reading
1077 people want to read
About the author
Riley Hart
115 books7,224 followersRiley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
won-t-read-bc-nopes
October 9, 2025Just putting on the dnr to remind myself this one includes sharing. I greatly appreciate the author giving a heads up for that in her newsletter! And if it won't bother you, I hope you love the story.
September 23, 2025
Sweet Vengeance is the second entry in the Sins of the Father series, and this story features Cillian, Tiernan's right-hand man, and Ollie, Dean's former roommate. Their story is filled with possessiveness, intensity, and primal desire. Their connection is evident from the start after a terrifying incident threatens Ollie's life, which makes Cillian reevaluate his feelings and his need to protect and care for the sweet, smart, and meek Ollie.
Overall, this is a great follow-up to the previous story. It continues building on the dynamics and relationships introduced in the first story and gives you a clearer understanding of why certain characters behave and think the way they do. Ollie and Cillian share a strong connection that I enjoyed exploring.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Overall, this is a great follow-up to the previous story. It continues building on the dynamics and relationships introduced in the first story and gives you a clearer understanding of why certain characters behave and think the way they do. Ollie and Cillian share a strong connection that I enjoyed exploring.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
February 19, 2026
This one hurts to review.
Because the potential? To the sky.
The ingredients? All there.
The execution?fumbled.
Going in, I was excited. We already met Cillian (Tiernan’s cousin) and Ollie (Dean’s roommate) in the first book, so I was ready. I knew these characters. I was invested.
And listen there were things I absolutely loved.
Ollie being needy? Obsessed.
The horny, desperate energy? Delicious.
The over-the-top lovey-dovey intensity? Give it to me.
The steam? Very much present and appreciated.
This series does not shy away from being dramatic and heightened, and I enjoy that. If you’re going to be extra, be fully extra. And for large chunks of this book, it was working.
But.
Let’s talk about the sharing scene.
It didn’t blindside me. From the way Rory was discussed how he and Cillian used to share lovers, how that was their bond I knew something was coming. So no, I wasn’t shocked.
But did I love it? Not really.
If this had been an MMM where all three were fully committed to each other? Exclusive, equally invested, emotionally locked in? I would have eaten it up. No hesitation.
But Rory isn’t part of the romantic core. He’s loved, yes but he’s not in it.
And that made the dynamic feel off.
The story honestly would have been stronger without that scene. Or without that dynamic being there at all.
And that’s frustrating because this book could have been just as strong as Bittersweet.
Now let’s talk about the ending.
Supportive families? We love to see it.
Ollie’s father accepting Cillian? Beautiful. Necessary. Heartwarming.
But why was that the final scene?
The last page of a romance belongs to the main characters. Period. I want to close the book on them. On their happiness. On their future. On their “this is us.”
Ending on a parental hug? That’s misplaced focus.
It’s not that the elements were bad they just weren’t placed right.
And that’s what makes this one so frustrating.
Because the chemistry was there.
The intensity was there.
The characters were there.
But small decisions chipped away at the connection.
I don’t think this is just me nitpicking either I’ve seen other readers point out similar things. It feels like a case of an author being a little too confident in certain choices without fully reading the emotional temperature of the audience.
And that’s what stings.
I wanted this to hit as hard as Bittersweet. I wanted to come out feral and obsessed again.
Instead, I came out slightly annoyed. And I’m kinda scared of picking Rory’s book though I really love how unhinged his character is described but I hear another bigger sharing scene is there 😱😱
So I guess I’m going to step away for now.
Because the potential? To the sky.
The ingredients? All there.
The execution?fumbled.
Going in, I was excited. We already met Cillian (Tiernan’s cousin) and Ollie (Dean’s roommate) in the first book, so I was ready. I knew these characters. I was invested.
And listen there were things I absolutely loved.
Ollie being needy? Obsessed.
The horny, desperate energy? Delicious.
The over-the-top lovey-dovey intensity? Give it to me.
The steam? Very much present and appreciated.
This series does not shy away from being dramatic and heightened, and I enjoy that. If you’re going to be extra, be fully extra. And for large chunks of this book, it was working.
But.
Let’s talk about the sharing scene.
It didn’t blindside me. From the way Rory was discussed how he and Cillian used to share lovers, how that was their bond I knew something was coming. So no, I wasn’t shocked.
But did I love it? Not really.
If this had been an MMM where all three were fully committed to each other? Exclusive, equally invested, emotionally locked in? I would have eaten it up. No hesitation.
But Rory isn’t part of the romantic core. He’s loved, yes but he’s not in it.
And that made the dynamic feel off.
The story honestly would have been stronger without that scene. Or without that dynamic being there at all.
And that’s frustrating because this book could have been just as strong as Bittersweet.
Now let’s talk about the ending.
Supportive families? We love to see it.
Ollie’s father accepting Cillian? Beautiful. Necessary. Heartwarming.
But why was that the final scene?
The last page of a romance belongs to the main characters. Period. I want to close the book on them. On their happiness. On their future. On their “this is us.”
Ending on a parental hug? That’s misplaced focus.
It’s not that the elements were bad they just weren’t placed right.
And that’s what makes this one so frustrating.
Because the chemistry was there.
The intensity was there.
The characters were there.
But small decisions chipped away at the connection.
I don’t think this is just me nitpicking either I’ve seen other readers point out similar things. It feels like a case of an author being a little too confident in certain choices without fully reading the emotional temperature of the audience.
And that’s what stings.
I wanted this to hit as hard as Bittersweet. I wanted to come out feral and obsessed again.
Instead, I came out slightly annoyed. And I’m kinda scared of picking Rory’s book though I really love how unhinged his character is described but I hear another bigger sharing scene is there 😱😱
So I guess I’m going to step away for now.
September 27, 2025
Cillian and Ollie were so much sweeter together than I was expecting and I really enjoyed it!
It didn't feel like as much happened as in book one, but this book was only set over around three months, whereas book one spanned almost all of Dean's freshman year.
We still get the mini mob in action but this book is solely focused on Cillian and Ollie's relationship. Ollie becomes a great support for Cillian and encourages him to do things he's been avoiding, and Cillian brings Ollie out of his shell.
There isn't as much interaction with the wider group, but I adored how Rory was such a big part of the relationship too. The sharing scenes with Ollie, Cillian and Rory really emphasised the strong bonds between them and that different types of love exist.
I am excited to see who Rory is paired with though and how that will work with Cillian and Ollie too, because it feels natural that there's always going to be some degree of a poly relationship with these guys.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from The Author Agency, and this is my honest review
It didn't feel like as much happened as in book one, but this book was only set over around three months, whereas book one spanned almost all of Dean's freshman year.
We still get the mini mob in action but this book is solely focused on Cillian and Ollie's relationship. Ollie becomes a great support for Cillian and encourages him to do things he's been avoiding, and Cillian brings Ollie out of his shell.
There isn't as much interaction with the wider group, but I adored how Rory was such a big part of the relationship too. The sharing scenes with Ollie, Cillian and Rory really emphasised the strong bonds between them and that different types of love exist.
I am excited to see who Rory is paired with though and how that will work with Cillian and Ollie too, because it feels natural that there's always going to be some degree of a poly relationship with these guys.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from The Author Agency, and this is my honest review
October 12, 2025
those sharing scenes were so hot but i genuinely wasnt sold on them. like it would've been bettwr for ollie to have two boyfriends. i would've liked it better, because they kept TALKING about cill and rory's connection, but i didnt see it.
i’m curious to see how it will move forward tho
i’m curious to see how it will move forward tho
Did not finish
October 12, 2025Book 1 was 5⭐ read - this one will be no rating. It came to my attention, early on thankfully, that the "possessive MC" shares his beloved with his best friend. Nope.
February 9, 2026
A mafioso boy and a pre law nerdy boy, opposites in every way. Yet they were attracted like magnets and kept together by a need for comfort and vengeance. Very erotic moments with many many ILUs. A pretty low angst homey book considering the world they live in.
A tame yet very sexy story.
The 'Sweet' in the title says it all.
*to reread
📖reread February 9, 2026
As I said before, tame and sexy.
reread to better get into Sweet Obsession (book 3)
A tame yet very sexy story.
The 'Sweet' in the title says it all.
*to reread
📖reread February 9, 2026
As I said before, tame and sexy.
reread to better get into Sweet Obsession (book 3)
September 26, 2025
Couldn’t put it down! I love this mini mob family so much. I was so excited when I found out we were getting a Cillian and Ollie story and it was even better than I hoped! I already can’t wait for Rory’s book.
October 10, 2025
"That doesn’t mean I don’t know what he does is wrong… it just means I love him more than I care about that. The future lawyer and the criminal. How will this ever work?
Sweet Vengeance is book 2 in the new, darker romance Sins of the Father series from Riley Hart and this is Cillian and Ollie's story. It's way cuter than Tiernan and Dean's relationship in book 1 Bittersweet Revenge, but there are are still some dark themes.
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤College mafia
🖤Dark themes
🖤Opposites attract
🖤Bi-awakening
🖤First times
🖤Forced proximity
🖤Morally dark grey MC
🖤HEA
4 stars
Sweet Vengeance is book 2 in the new, darker romance Sins of the Father series from Riley Hart and this is Cillian and Ollie's story. It's way cuter than Tiernan and Dean's relationship in book 1 Bittersweet Revenge, but there are are still some dark themes.
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤College mafia
🖤Dark themes
🖤Opposites attract
🖤Bi-awakening
🖤First times
🖤Forced proximity
🖤Morally dark grey MC
🖤HEA
4 stars
Read
February 28, 2026DNF @ 29%
October 14, 2025
Nope, this was not for me. Didn’t vibe with Killian + Ollie or their relationship. Don’t even get me started on the pet names. Sadly this was a miss.
October 12, 2025
Umm... no. Maybe? Definitely not a yes. I honestly don't know what i feel rn so maybe come back later for a detailed word vomit?
October 4, 2025
So, I really can’t decide which of the books from this series I loved more. After reading the first one, I thought Tiernan and Dean would be my favorite, but after finishing this one I'm not so sure anymore 🙈
Cillian and Ollie probably altered my brain for good. Cillian is such a complex guy, I needed a minute to get him fully. He is both tender and rough, tense and relaxed, good and bad. It's like two sides of a coin. I really get it, Ollie, I do 🤭 Ollie is a sweet guy, but don't get fooled too much, he has claws, too.
This book has one bigger sharing scene with the MCs and Rory, Cillian's best friend and other half, but this is not an MMM book.
Will definitely need to re-read this book 💞
Cillian and Ollie probably altered my brain for good. Cillian is such a complex guy, I needed a minute to get him fully. He is both tender and rough, tense and relaxed, good and bad. It's like two sides of a coin. I really get it, Ollie, I do 🤭 Ollie is a sweet guy, but don't get fooled too much, he has claws, too.
This book has one bigger sharing scene with the MCs and Rory, Cillian's best friend and other half, but this is not an MMM book.
Will definitely need to re-read this book 💞
October 5, 2025
Sweet Vengeance is book two in the Sins Of The Father series. This MM mafia romance story is about Cillian and Ollie.
We first met these guys in book one with Cillian being Tiernan’s right hand man and Ollie being Dean’s roommate. This story starts with Ollie moving into a single dorm and ready to start his next year in college. When Ollie gets hurt and they don’t know if he is still in danger, Cillian steps in to protect him.
Cillian and Ollie are definitely opposites. Ollie is a future lawyer and believes in playing it safe and doing the right thing. Cillian on the other hand is a criminal who sells drugs and kills people. We see how their attraction leads to more, and in the end all that matters is how they feel for each other. Ollie feels safe with Cillian and can let go. Because of Cillian, Ollie now sees the world isn’t as strict as he wanted it to be. And while Cillian is hurt by the absence of his father and death of his mother, Ollie is there to support him and help Cillian heal.
I definitely enjoyed getting little snippets of Tiernan and Dean as well as Aislin. Rory is a great character and has a special bond with Cillian. I appreciated the content warning about the sharing scene with Cillian, Ollie and Rory. In all honesty, the sexual dynamic with the three of them wasn’t for me.
I found this story to be low angst which I thought was surprising since it was a mafia romance. And I do have to say everything seemed to work out a little too easily for me. Overall, Cillian and Ollie were sweet together and I was happy to see them get a happily ever after.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
We first met these guys in book one with Cillian being Tiernan’s right hand man and Ollie being Dean’s roommate. This story starts with Ollie moving into a single dorm and ready to start his next year in college. When Ollie gets hurt and they don’t know if he is still in danger, Cillian steps in to protect him.
Cillian and Ollie are definitely opposites. Ollie is a future lawyer and believes in playing it safe and doing the right thing. Cillian on the other hand is a criminal who sells drugs and kills people. We see how their attraction leads to more, and in the end all that matters is how they feel for each other. Ollie feels safe with Cillian and can let go. Because of Cillian, Ollie now sees the world isn’t as strict as he wanted it to be. And while Cillian is hurt by the absence of his father and death of his mother, Ollie is there to support him and help Cillian heal.
I definitely enjoyed getting little snippets of Tiernan and Dean as well as Aislin. Rory is a great character and has a special bond with Cillian. I appreciated the content warning about the sharing scene with Cillian, Ollie and Rory. In all honesty, the sexual dynamic with the three of them wasn’t for me.
I found this story to be low angst which I thought was surprising since it was a mafia romance. And I do have to say everything seemed to work out a little too easily for me. Overall, Cillian and Ollie were sweet together and I was happy to see them get a happily ever after.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
December 12, 2025
I didn’t like this book as much as the first one (with Tiernan x Dean). Maybe it’s because this book had Cillian x Ollie, and it was the classic bad boy/experienced MMC with the good boy/virgin MMC. Ollie’s character arc took a while for the freak4freak dynamic to solidify. I didn’t mind the sharing aspect, but the repetition of “dirty boy” vs. “kitten” or “baby” during intimate scenes started to annoy me. The “mini mob” found family aspect in this universe is great though, so I’m still hopeful about the series.
October 6, 2025
Rating: 3.5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Cillian and Ollie
I adored the relationship between Cillian and Ollie. I loved how much of a caretaker Cillian was. He truly was the most soft- and big-hearted boy. His love was so strong and obvious for everyone around him. His pain and insecurities were up front and there for anyone to see and despite trying to push away love to protect himself he actually embraced it when it came. I loved him. Ollie was sweet but snarky and extremely strong when it came to his voice and autonomy. The relationships within the group were beautiful like in book one and I loved seeing the relationships when their dads were involved.
This is an MM romance with scenes of MMM. There is violence (a physical attack on one of the MC's - not done by the other MC), m*rder, and darker themes. But there is a lot of heart, sweet moments, and soft scenes in between. Plenty of moments within the group so we get to see lots of the characters from book one. And some great steamy scenes.
I did struggle a bit with the relationship dynamics between Cillian, Ollie, and Rory. We get plenty of information that it's coming, and it's made obviously in book one as well as several times throughout this book. It just didn't quite work for me.
I have read everything Riley Hart has released and can confidently say Riley is one of my all-time favorite authors. I love the darker side with the mafia element in this series and love how it's balanced with sweet and vulnerable.
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Cillian and Ollie
I adored the relationship between Cillian and Ollie. I loved how much of a caretaker Cillian was. He truly was the most soft- and big-hearted boy. His love was so strong and obvious for everyone around him. His pain and insecurities were up front and there for anyone to see and despite trying to push away love to protect himself he actually embraced it when it came. I loved him. Ollie was sweet but snarky and extremely strong when it came to his voice and autonomy. The relationships within the group were beautiful like in book one and I loved seeing the relationships when their dads were involved.
This is an MM romance with scenes of MMM. There is violence (a physical attack on one of the MC's - not done by the other MC), m*rder, and darker themes. But there is a lot of heart, sweet moments, and soft scenes in between. Plenty of moments within the group so we get to see lots of the characters from book one. And some great steamy scenes.
I did struggle a bit with the relationship dynamics between Cillian, Ollie, and Rory. We get plenty of information that it's coming, and it's made obviously in book one as well as several times throughout this book. It just didn't quite work for me.
I have read everything Riley Hart has released and can confidently say Riley is one of my all-time favorite authors. I love the darker side with the mafia element in this series and love how it's balanced with sweet and vulnerable.
October 16, 2025
5 stars
I'm struggling to find the words to say how much I enjoyed this book.
We're back at Ashford College, where Tiernan and his best friends, Cillian and Rory, run their own side of the O'Shea family business.
The three of them are always together and they've supported each other since their childhood. Being part of such a family left scars in all of them and they've always leaned and put their trust on one another.
Cillian has a special bond with both of them: Tiernan is his cousin and the future leader of the family and their closeness has always been solid, like brothers, and he also has a very strong connection with Rory, they're like platonic soulmates. They're used to sharing everything without any jealousy, even women.
Cillian has always been curious about guys too and his curiosity is heightened when Ollie makes his appearance in their lives as Dean's (Tiernan's boyfriend) roommate.
Ollie is everything Cillian is not, he's a rule follower, he studies hard to become a lawyer, he doesn't like what Dean's new friends do. But they also have some common traits, they're both brave and loyal to the people they love, they're caring and they suffered the same pain in their young ages, when they lost their moms. Ollie has something more, though, he has a father who loves him unconditionally, while Cillian's basically avoids his own son.
When Ollie is beaten pretty badly in order to try to save an old man, the mini mob gets into protective mode and takes him under its wings (even if a little reluctantly on Tiernan's part).
Cillian, who's been attracted to Ollie for quite some time, becomes even more enthralled by him and he can't stay away from him despite knowing very well that they belong to different worlds.
I adored the development of their relationship, physically but, above all, emotionally.
Cillian is unexpectedly soft and caring, he dotes on Ollie constantly while pretending to not be in love with him. In fact he's scared after seeing what the loss of his beloved wife did to his father and how cold he became.
Ollie, instead, grew up in a loving home and when his mom died, his father kept him even closer. Ollie dreams of a love like that and he never imagined he could find it in Cillian. But the way he holds him, he cherishes him, he makes him feel safe and protected will make him fall hard.
Everyone in their review is talking about the sharing scene: I usually despite this kind of situation, where all the people involved are not committed and in love with each other.
But Riley Hart did his magic and wrote a wonderfully emotional threesome.
This part could be a little spoilery
Rory is tender and respectful with Ollie, not only because he's his best friend's boyfriend, but also because he genuinely likes him as a friend, they have their special bond when they help each other and have space to grow closer. And Cillian is not jealous of that bond, he doesn't see it like a threat, he's actually happy that they have built their own friendship and sharing his boyfriend with his best friend, for Cillian it means also sharing something special, all three of them.
One of my favourite moments is when Rory tenderly kisses Ollie and thanks him for loving Cillian.
The last chapters and the Thanksgiving scenes were also wonderful, I'm loving how all the characters' dynamic are evolving.
I'm so very curious about what will happen once Rory will have his forever love too.
I literally can't wait for the next book.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
I'm struggling to find the words to say how much I enjoyed this book.
We're back at Ashford College, where Tiernan and his best friends, Cillian and Rory, run their own side of the O'Shea family business.
The three of them are always together and they've supported each other since their childhood. Being part of such a family left scars in all of them and they've always leaned and put their trust on one another.
Cillian has a special bond with both of them: Tiernan is his cousin and the future leader of the family and their closeness has always been solid, like brothers, and he also has a very strong connection with Rory, they're like platonic soulmates. They're used to sharing everything without any jealousy, even women.
Cillian has always been curious about guys too and his curiosity is heightened when Ollie makes his appearance in their lives as Dean's (Tiernan's boyfriend) roommate.
Ollie is everything Cillian is not, he's a rule follower, he studies hard to become a lawyer, he doesn't like what Dean's new friends do. But they also have some common traits, they're both brave and loyal to the people they love, they're caring and they suffered the same pain in their young ages, when they lost their moms. Ollie has something more, though, he has a father who loves him unconditionally, while Cillian's basically avoids his own son.
When Ollie is beaten pretty badly in order to try to save an old man, the mini mob gets into protective mode and takes him under its wings (even if a little reluctantly on Tiernan's part).
Cillian, who's been attracted to Ollie for quite some time, becomes even more enthralled by him and he can't stay away from him despite knowing very well that they belong to different worlds.
I adored the development of their relationship, physically but, above all, emotionally.
Cillian is unexpectedly soft and caring, he dotes on Ollie constantly while pretending to not be in love with him. In fact he's scared after seeing what the loss of his beloved wife did to his father and how cold he became.
Ollie, instead, grew up in a loving home and when his mom died, his father kept him even closer. Ollie dreams of a love like that and he never imagined he could find it in Cillian. But the way he holds him, he cherishes him, he makes him feel safe and protected will make him fall hard.
Everyone in their review is talking about the sharing scene: I usually despite this kind of situation, where all the people involved are not committed and in love with each other.
But Riley Hart did his magic and wrote a wonderfully emotional threesome.
This part could be a little spoilery
Rory is tender and respectful with Ollie, not only because he's his best friend's boyfriend, but also because he genuinely likes him as a friend, they have their special bond when they help each other and have space to grow closer. And Cillian is not jealous of that bond, he doesn't see it like a threat, he's actually happy that they have built their own friendship and sharing his boyfriend with his best friend, for Cillian it means also sharing something special, all three of them.
One of my favourite moments is when Rory tenderly kisses Ollie and thanks him for loving Cillian.
The last chapters and the Thanksgiving scenes were also wonderful, I'm loving how all the characters' dynamic are evolving.
I'm so very curious about what will happen once Rory will have his forever love too.
I literally can't wait for the next book.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
October 14, 2025
4 ⭐️
3 🌶️
What a follow up in this new series! I get nervous whenever I love the first book as much as I did with this Sins of the Father series because it can be easy to be disappointed with the second; I am so happy that this is not the case with Sweet Vengeance! Riley Hart has once again crafted an intriguing story with beautifully flawed characters filled with witty banter and lots of spice!
While we didn’t get much time with Ollie in the first book, what we did see definitely left me wanting more! I loved getting insight into his state of mind – there is something so endearing about his protectiveness and views of how the world should work. Having him evolve, however, and not only accept but learn to love the “mini mob” was so well written.
Cillian is everything I hoped he would be and more! I love his devotion to Tiernan and Rory and the way this branched out to include Dean and eventually Ollie was quite a ride. There are a lot of nuances to his character that I was not expecting and the way he allows himself to also grow and develop with Ollie was really beautiful.
These two boys have such a special connection and what I love most is their openness with each other. There is honesty and acceptance that can be hard to find and I adore how they compliment each other!
I have loved every book I’ve read by Riley Hart and this is no exception! I am looking forward to next story in this series 😊
3 🌶️
What a follow up in this new series! I get nervous whenever I love the first book as much as I did with this Sins of the Father series because it can be easy to be disappointed with the second; I am so happy that this is not the case with Sweet Vengeance! Riley Hart has once again crafted an intriguing story with beautifully flawed characters filled with witty banter and lots of spice!
While we didn’t get much time with Ollie in the first book, what we did see definitely left me wanting more! I loved getting insight into his state of mind – there is something so endearing about his protectiveness and views of how the world should work. Having him evolve, however, and not only accept but learn to love the “mini mob” was so well written.
Cillian is everything I hoped he would be and more! I love his devotion to Tiernan and Rory and the way this branched out to include Dean and eventually Ollie was quite a ride. There are a lot of nuances to his character that I was not expecting and the way he allows himself to also grow and develop with Ollie was really beautiful.
These two boys have such a special connection and what I love most is their openness with each other. There is honesty and acceptance that can be hard to find and I adore how they compliment each other!
I have loved every book I’ve read by Riley Hart and this is no exception! I am looking forward to next story in this series 😊
October 16, 2025
This book was extremely different from the first book in the series with regard to the romance, but it also followed the same lines of showing just how truly loyal and bonded this "mini mob" is. The fierceness in which anybody in their small family circle will protect not only each other, but also their chosen partners is enviable. For Ollie, who has only ever had his father as a friend in his life it's something he's never even dreamed of.
I really enjoyed seeing Cillian work through realizing he had fallen in love with Ollie. That all his blustering about not being interested in a relationship was all for nothing because he fell in love anyways. He was terrified of loving Ollie, but he was even more terrified of not having him in his life.
The spice was HOT. Cillian is a caretaker underneath his gruffer exterior both in and out of the bedroom. There was nothing Cillian liked more than giving his man what he needed. And the scenes with Rory? They added a depth that I wasn't expecting and it truly worked for these men in a beautiful way.
Though Ollie was starting to see his world shift from black and white to shades of gray, he still held onto the core of who he was. I liked that about him. He was going to need that backbone for a life with Cillian, but I have no doubt that Ollie would say the love he got in return was worth it in the end.
I really enjoyed seeing Cillian work through realizing he had fallen in love with Ollie. That all his blustering about not being interested in a relationship was all for nothing because he fell in love anyways. He was terrified of loving Ollie, but he was even more terrified of not having him in his life.
The spice was HOT. Cillian is a caretaker underneath his gruffer exterior both in and out of the bedroom. There was nothing Cillian liked more than giving his man what he needed. And the scenes with Rory? They added a depth that I wasn't expecting and it truly worked for these men in a beautiful way.
Though Ollie was starting to see his world shift from black and white to shades of gray, he still held onto the core of who he was. I liked that about him. He was going to need that backbone for a life with Cillian, but I have no doubt that Ollie would say the love he got in return was worth it in the end.
September 30, 2025
Omg I loved this book so very much!! Cillian was everything I didn’t know I needed and the way he fell for Ollie was just amazing! They were absolutely perfect together and the way Ollie also excepted Rory just made me swoon! Riley couldn’t have written a more perfect couple and I loved every page! I definitely recommend this one!!
January 19, 2026
Sometimes this dragged but for the most part I really enjoyed it. Ollie and Cillian are a good fit and I really like that Ollie embraced Cil and Rory’s strong connection.
Can’t wait for the next 2.
Can’t wait for the next 2.
November 5, 2025
Overall I loved this book. I was obsessed with the first book, and I started the second right away. I loved how Cil was able to open up so much, find love, and be true to his sweet nature. Ollie was so kind, fierce, and brave. Their love story unfolded so beautifully, twisted, and a little dark at times. This is a darker book in themes, so I was expecting that. I didn’t expect Cil to be so sweet, and love Ollie so intensely.
Once I hit 80% and I entered the scene…. (Sharing) I just couldn’t get over it. I really disliked it to be honest. I think because Cil and Ollie had such a natural love, and fought for it so much not only with each other but internally it almost felt wrong? It didn’t feel romantic, or about connection, it felt so uncomfortable. I didn’t find it to be this bonding experience, or connection that was pure of friendship and love. I really wish it wasn’t apart of their story because to me personally it took away the love and intensity of Ollie and Cil. Don’t get me wrong I love Rory so much. I want him to find his happy ending. He deserves that happiness and joy so much, I just it wasn’t dependent on his best friend too. It felt forced, awkward, and co-dependent without mutual desire.
I debate on giving this at three or four and I still might go back and change it as of right now I’m leaving at a four star because up until this point I actually love this book. I devoured it I couldn’t put it down.
Once I hit 80% and I entered the scene…. (Sharing) I just couldn’t get over it. I really disliked it to be honest. I think because Cil and Ollie had such a natural love, and fought for it so much not only with each other but internally it almost felt wrong? It didn’t feel romantic, or about connection, it felt so uncomfortable. I didn’t find it to be this bonding experience, or connection that was pure of friendship and love. I really wish it wasn’t apart of their story because to me personally it took away the love and intensity of Ollie and Cil. Don’t get me wrong I love Rory so much. I want him to find his happy ending. He deserves that happiness and joy so much, I just it wasn’t dependent on his best friend too. It felt forced, awkward, and co-dependent without mutual desire.
I debate on giving this at three or four and I still might go back and change it as of right now I’m leaving at a four star because up until this point I actually love this book. I devoured it I couldn’t put it down.
October 28, 2025
dnf @ 70% — i don't care what happens, this feels too similar to the first book and i don't really understand what the plot is supposed to be since big thing from the beginning seemingly gets resolved pretty quickly... so to put it harshly, i'm bored
November 7, 2025
Dnf
0 chemistry
0 chemistry
September 26, 2025
Ugh these two had me in love even before their own book!
I loved the chemistry, the characters growing and changing and how much love they shared between them all, this found family was the best thing ever.
Rory and Cillian are the best written platonic soulmates ever. You can feel that connection between them and it’s never weird or sexual, they just are themselves and love each other so deeply it feels fated.
Now Cillian with his boy Ollie was different than anything he was like before. He didn’t fully understand it, but his desire to know more about Ollie, to protect and care for him, to watch him and touch him was not something he needed to understand; Cillian just knew he wanted Ollie and nothing was going to come between that. I liked the sweet side of Cillian we got to see in this book. He was so stoic and dry in book one, but the depth of his character and his feelings was so intense and beautiful. The way he fell for Ollie was amazing and I was in love by page 20.
And Ollie? He’s my baby, the one that learnt than not everything is black and white, and that you can love someone so much it makes you change yourself because they unlock and love every part of you back. Ollie needed that. He needed Cillian accepting and being in love with ever single side Ollie showed, it made him gain more confidence (because he was already a brave little shit) and made his dream of that family/band of friends that make you feel like you have found your true identity and home.
Spoilers ahead:
I am VERY intrigued about that Rory development. He was giving me all the brat vibes and I can’t wait to read about him getting a big teddy bear of a man that keeps him grounded when needed and punishes him when he also needs it, I know it’s going to be glorious.
Riley, I absolutely love this series and I kinda wish you’d added more guys into the mini-mob so the books could keep coming, but alas, this family is perfect and you are writing an incredible story.
Thank you, TAA and Riley, for this e-arc. As you can see I couldn’t wait to read it (literally the second the book hit my kindle I was screaming lol)!
Quotes:
"You sound like you're talking to someone who's choking."
"Not yet, but you can be later if you want."
This is the first time I'm tasting him, and it goes straight to my head, making me feel drunk off him.
Deep down, I want Cillian forever.
I'm in love with Cillian O'Shea despite all the things he does, despite the fact that I just felt a gun against his body when I hugged him...and I want to be in love with him.
"Fuck, I'm never going to be able to get enough of you. I'm fucking obsessed."
There's not a force in nature that can keep my mouth from his.
"Good. I'm dying for you too. I fucking worship you. There's nothing I won't do to keep you."
"I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but I'm going to fucking treasure you. I won't make you regret it-not any of it. We're going to have the best fucking life."
I loved the chemistry, the characters growing and changing and how much love they shared between them all, this found family was the best thing ever.
Rory and Cillian are the best written platonic soulmates ever. You can feel that connection between them and it’s never weird or sexual, they just are themselves and love each other so deeply it feels fated.
Now Cillian with his boy Ollie was different than anything he was like before. He didn’t fully understand it, but his desire to know more about Ollie, to protect and care for him, to watch him and touch him was not something he needed to understand; Cillian just knew he wanted Ollie and nothing was going to come between that. I liked the sweet side of Cillian we got to see in this book. He was so stoic and dry in book one, but the depth of his character and his feelings was so intense and beautiful. The way he fell for Ollie was amazing and I was in love by page 20.
And Ollie? He’s my baby, the one that learnt than not everything is black and white, and that you can love someone so much it makes you change yourself because they unlock and love every part of you back. Ollie needed that. He needed Cillian accepting and being in love with ever single side Ollie showed, it made him gain more confidence (because he was already a brave little shit) and made his dream of that family/band of friends that make you feel like you have found your true identity and home.
Spoilers ahead:
I am VERY intrigued about that Rory development. He was giving me all the brat vibes and I can’t wait to read about him getting a big teddy bear of a man that keeps him grounded when needed and punishes him when he also needs it, I know it’s going to be glorious.
Riley, I absolutely love this series and I kinda wish you’d added more guys into the mini-mob so the books could keep coming, but alas, this family is perfect and you are writing an incredible story.
Thank you, TAA and Riley, for this e-arc. As you can see I couldn’t wait to read it (literally the second the book hit my kindle I was screaming lol)!
Quotes:
"You sound like you're talking to someone who's choking."
"Not yet, but you can be later if you want."
This is the first time I'm tasting him, and it goes straight to my head, making me feel drunk off him.
Deep down, I want Cillian forever.
I'm in love with Cillian O'Shea despite all the things he does, despite the fact that I just felt a gun against his body when I hugged him...and I want to be in love with him.
"Fuck, I'm never going to be able to get enough of you. I'm fucking obsessed."
There's not a force in nature that can keep my mouth from his.
"Good. I'm dying for you too. I fucking worship you. There's nothing I won't do to keep you."
"I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but I'm going to fucking treasure you. I won't make you regret it-not any of it. We're going to have the best fucking life."
October 8, 2025
I’d been hoping Cillian and Ollie would get their own book ever since I clocked these mofos on their first encounter in Bittersweet Revenge! This is the second book in the Sins of the Father series starring the nerdy moralist Ollie and his very own member of the mini mob, Cillian. They lived up to every expectation I had. How sweet and protective Cillian was to Ollie and how Ollie was that safe space for Cillian made my heart melt. Even though these men were complete opposites, they molded together so well and couldn’t have been a better fit.
I really loved Cillian and Ollie, but I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t live for the Rory aspect. I’m not someone who gravitates towards books with sharing partners, but I know Riley said to trust her, so I went into this with an open mind. Ultimately their dynamic wasn’t for me, and that’s ok. I adored Ollie and Rory’s friendship and how Ollie understood how important Rory was to Cillian and how much Rory cared for Ollie and took his safety very seriously. I didn’t skim any of their moments because I really did want to understand, but it just wasn’t working for me. This didn’t mean I enjoyed Cillian and Ollie's romance any less. I’m very excited to see the continuation of this series.
What to expect…
~ Found Family
~ Opposites Attract
~ Touch Him & 💀
~ Pet Names
~ Morally Gray MC
~ Close Proximity
~ Protective MC
Thank you so much for the complimentary copy 💖
I really loved Cillian and Ollie, but I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t live for the Rory aspect. I’m not someone who gravitates towards books with sharing partners, but I know Riley said to trust her, so I went into this with an open mind. Ultimately their dynamic wasn’t for me, and that’s ok. I adored Ollie and Rory’s friendship and how Ollie understood how important Rory was to Cillian and how much Rory cared for Ollie and took his safety very seriously. I didn’t skim any of their moments because I really did want to understand, but it just wasn’t working for me. This didn’t mean I enjoyed Cillian and Ollie's romance any less. I’m very excited to see the continuation of this series.
What to expect…
~ Found Family
~ Opposites Attract
~ Touch Him & 💀
~ Pet Names
~ Morally Gray MC
~ Close Proximity
~ Protective MC
Thank you so much for the complimentary copy 💖
February 17, 2026
DNF @ 67%
What the previous book lacked, it made up with tension and hot sex scenes. This book, unfortunately, did not.
I can't count the number of times I cringed and questioned wtf I was reading.
- The relationship and build didn't feel real at all. There were real conflicts present with these two but they were glossed over too easily. There was a lot of inner monologue and not much actual talking and growing together.
- Why did Cillian even care about Ollie in the first place?? There was nothing to show even a semblance of connection before Cillian forced himself into Ollie's life. No moments where they actually felt like they were falling for each other.
- “You’re mine. Do you know that?"
Wtf are you talking about?
You made sure you were on the same page about it just being sex and next time you're saying shit like this? No growth and communication in between these btw. We see none of it.
- A lot of telling about Rory and Cillian's connection but we didn't see shit. The amount of times we had to read about how they LOVE each other and like sharing but it's nothing more was fucking ridiculous. We get it. And it doesn't matter how many times you say it, it still doesn't work for the story. I didn't see a point in them still sharing. The way the story was written made it more plausible if Cillian and Rory stopped sharing once Cillian "claimed" Ollie.
I'm all for sharing btw. But it didn't make sense for this story.
-The plot was lacklustre too. Barely anything happened. There was only one overarching thread and it wasn't exciting enough for a mafia book. Action was severely lacking.
- I feel like this author goes overboard with kinks to the point of silly/cringe.
- Expanding on the aforementioned point, Ollie's desperation for warming Cillian's dick was off-putting and felt out of character.
- Terrible dialogue when it came to dirty talk. Like, really really terrible. Cringey af.
Eg.
“God, I love your enthusiasm for sex with me.
and
“I like it when you say my name.”
“Cillian.” He leans down and kisses me. “Cillian.” Another kiss. “It’s like you turn me into someone else…Cillian.”
- Odd syntax at times
- Lack of proofreading evident
- Feels like author is just using phrases from other books in the genre for the sake of it, even if they don't make sense and become overdone. Eg. everyone talking about burning the world down for each other. Hot tip: it loses its impact if everyone uses it so casually.
Look. I know this author is well-loved in the romance space, but I don't know if this subgenre is for them. It's like they read a few books in the genre, took note of a few phrases and jumped onto wattpad.
What the previous book lacked, it made up with tension and hot sex scenes. This book, unfortunately, did not.
I can't count the number of times I cringed and questioned wtf I was reading.
- The relationship and build didn't feel real at all. There were real conflicts present with these two but they were glossed over too easily. There was a lot of inner monologue and not much actual talking and growing together.
- Why did Cillian even care about Ollie in the first place?? There was nothing to show even a semblance of connection before Cillian forced himself into Ollie's life. No moments where they actually felt like they were falling for each other.
- “You’re mine. Do you know that?"
Wtf are you talking about?
You made sure you were on the same page about it just being sex and next time you're saying shit like this? No growth and communication in between these btw. We see none of it.
- A lot of telling about Rory and Cillian's connection but we didn't see shit. The amount of times we had to read about how they LOVE each other and like sharing but it's nothing more was fucking ridiculous. We get it. And it doesn't matter how many times you say it, it still doesn't work for the story. I didn't see a point in them still sharing. The way the story was written made it more plausible if Cillian and Rory stopped sharing once Cillian "claimed" Ollie.
I'm all for sharing btw. But it didn't make sense for this story.
-The plot was lacklustre too. Barely anything happened. There was only one overarching thread and it wasn't exciting enough for a mafia book. Action was severely lacking.
- I feel like this author goes overboard with kinks to the point of silly/cringe.
- Expanding on the aforementioned point, Ollie's desperation for warming Cillian's dick was off-putting and felt out of character.
- Terrible dialogue when it came to dirty talk. Like, really really terrible. Cringey af.
Eg.
“God, I love your enthusiasm for sex with me.
and
“I like it when you say my name.”
“Cillian.” He leans down and kisses me. “Cillian.” Another kiss. “It’s like you turn me into someone else…Cillian.”
- Odd syntax at times
- Lack of proofreading evident
- Feels like author is just using phrases from other books in the genre for the sake of it, even if they don't make sense and become overdone. Eg. everyone talking about burning the world down for each other. Hot tip: it loses its impact if everyone uses it so casually.
Look. I know this author is well-loved in the romance space, but I don't know if this subgenre is for them. It's like they read a few books in the genre, took note of a few phrases and jumped onto wattpad.
February 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25)
Listen, I don’t like threesomes or poly relationships. It’s not my thing , I never read about it and I avoid it as much as I can.
But God knows that if this book hadn’t been just about Cillian and Ollie and had actually been about Cillian, Ollie AND Rory, it could’ve been perfect. Because man… I can totally see Ollie with two boyfriends, and I would’ve loved everything about that.
I’m still hating Cillian’s dad tho. I didn’t like that he forgave him so easily
Listen, I don’t like threesomes or poly relationships. It’s not my thing , I never read about it and I avoid it as much as I can.
But God knows that if this book hadn’t been just about Cillian and Ollie and had actually been about Cillian, Ollie AND Rory, it could’ve been perfect. Because man… I can totally see Ollie with two boyfriends, and I would’ve loved everything about that.
I’m still hating Cillian’s dad tho. I didn’t like that he forgave him so easily
October 22, 2025
Prefered this couple over Dean and Tiernan, but the plot was better in the first book. But I enjoyed this one! 😊
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