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The Lawless Brotherhood #1
The Life I'm Owed
Some oaths are whispered in love. Others are forged in blood.
When Imani Rivers left behind the chaos of city life, she craved quiet. A fresh start. Peace. What she got was Dominic Marchetti—her troubled, inked-up landlord with a reputation as dangerous as his smile. He's everything she was trying to temperamental, intimidating… and infuriating gorgeous.
From the moment they meet, sparks fly—but not the good kind. Their tension crackles with resentment, suspicion, and a heat neither one of them is ready for. Imani wants nothing to do with Dominic—or his secrets. But Oakwood Falls has a way of pulling people in… and Dominic’s little girl might just be the one to break through Imani’s guarded heart.
Then enemies begin to circle. Shadows from Dominic’s world—and Imani’s own buried past—threaten to drag them both under. Suddenly, the line between foe and flame blurs.
Now Imani must walk away, or become the kind of woman who fights.
For the man she swore she hated.
For the child she never expected to love.
And for the future she thought she'd never deserve.
Looking for your next steamy mafia obsession? The Life I'm Owed is a full-length novel featuring a scorching hot bad boy and high-heat romance. For adults only—explicit scenes ahead.
When Imani Rivers left behind the chaos of city life, she craved quiet. A fresh start. Peace. What she got was Dominic Marchetti—her troubled, inked-up landlord with a reputation as dangerous as his smile. He's everything she was trying to temperamental, intimidating… and infuriating gorgeous.
From the moment they meet, sparks fly—but not the good kind. Their tension crackles with resentment, suspicion, and a heat neither one of them is ready for. Imani wants nothing to do with Dominic—or his secrets. But Oakwood Falls has a way of pulling people in… and Dominic’s little girl might just be the one to break through Imani’s guarded heart.
Then enemies begin to circle. Shadows from Dominic’s world—and Imani’s own buried past—threaten to drag them both under. Suddenly, the line between foe and flame blurs.
Now Imani must walk away, or become the kind of woman who fights.
For the man she swore she hated.
For the child she never expected to love.
And for the future she thought she'd never deserve.
Looking for your next steamy mafia obsession? The Life I'm Owed is a full-length novel featuring a scorching hot bad boy and high-heat romance. For adults only—explicit scenes ahead.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2025
153 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 26, 2025
Poorly done
The first two chapters were interesting. The third chapter was so poorly executed. People were introduced into the story as if they had already made an appearance. Actions made no sense. Everything after the second chapter made my head hurt
The first two chapters were interesting. The third chapter was so poorly executed. People were introduced into the story as if they had already made an appearance. Actions made no sense. Everything after the second chapter made my head hurt
July 22, 2025
Ummmmm!!
I enjoyed most of this book , but it seemed like Imani was in competition with Dom throughout the entire book and I get that she was a strong person and could protect herself but at times it seemed like no matter what he did she had to try and one up him. It also seemed never ending with them defeating the enemy and having a battle to find out that , that it wasn’t the ones pulling the strings .The one thing that really stuck in my craw was that they kept letting people go who was trying to destroy them an one thing you don’t do is give an enemy a chance to retaliate against you . I am hoping that the next book will be better
I enjoyed most of this book , but it seemed like Imani was in competition with Dom throughout the entire book and I get that she was a strong person and could protect herself but at times it seemed like no matter what he did she had to try and one up him. It also seemed never ending with them defeating the enemy and having a battle to find out that , that it wasn’t the ones pulling the strings .The one thing that really stuck in my craw was that they kept letting people go who was trying to destroy them an one thing you don’t do is give an enemy a chance to retaliate against you . I am hoping that the next book will be better
July 27, 2025
THIS BOOK IS FIRE!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
First, I fell in like with the cover art for this book. Then, I was highly intrigued by the synopsis for this book. But after reading only 30% of Dominic and Imani's action-packed drama filled sexual overtone dialog, I fell head over heels in LOVE with this book!!
I've read many books by this author and loved every single one of them. But this book was something totally different. Right from the beginning, I knew this book had grit, fire, and presence that you felt deep in your bones. I can't explain how this book felt like a hand wrapping me in the strongest chokehold of my life. Every page was full of details that kept me engaged and hungry for more.
The dynamic relationship between Imani and Dominic is absolutely insane. I love how they gel together. How as much as Dominic tries to fight it him and Imani were always meant to be the beginning and the end for each other. The alpha and the omega, the yin, and the yang. They both come from worlds that folded and molded them individually into the most calculating, disarming, dangerous, ride or die, stay ready so you don't have to get ready, you come for me and mine and we won't stop until we burn this place down to the ground type of couple.
What do you do when your past won't stay in the past?
No lies, the drama that goes on throughout the book was some of the best stuff I've read from Niya James! It was giving me Antonio Banderas in Desperado mixed with Zoe Saldana in Colombiana vibes. I was on the edge of my power wheelchair soaking up the amazing flow from those digital pages. Dominic and Imani went through some ish!! Now let me not forget Mia Dominic's beautiful and sweet daughter. I loved how she gravitated to Imani with such an openly curious nature. Both Dominic and Imani would KILL ANYONE who messed with that little girl! And to think all Dominic and Imani wanted was to live peaceful, happy, and healthy lives in a small town where everyone knows your name and your business.
To say I highly recommend this book doesn't do it justice imo. I think the book is an absolutely amazing must-read. I can not find anything I didn't like about it. It truly was next level high on my top 10 reads for 2025.
I received this advanced reader copy from BookFunnel, and I'm happy to leave this honest review.
First, I fell in like with the cover art for this book. Then, I was highly intrigued by the synopsis for this book. But after reading only 30% of Dominic and Imani's action-packed drama filled sexual overtone dialog, I fell head over heels in LOVE with this book!!
I've read many books by this author and loved every single one of them. But this book was something totally different. Right from the beginning, I knew this book had grit, fire, and presence that you felt deep in your bones. I can't explain how this book felt like a hand wrapping me in the strongest chokehold of my life. Every page was full of details that kept me engaged and hungry for more.
The dynamic relationship between Imani and Dominic is absolutely insane. I love how they gel together. How as much as Dominic tries to fight it him and Imani were always meant to be the beginning and the end for each other. The alpha and the omega, the yin, and the yang. They both come from worlds that folded and molded them individually into the most calculating, disarming, dangerous, ride or die, stay ready so you don't have to get ready, you come for me and mine and we won't stop until we burn this place down to the ground type of couple.
What do you do when your past won't stay in the past?
No lies, the drama that goes on throughout the book was some of the best stuff I've read from Niya James! It was giving me Antonio Banderas in Desperado mixed with Zoe Saldana in Colombiana vibes. I was on the edge of my power wheelchair soaking up the amazing flow from those digital pages. Dominic and Imani went through some ish!! Now let me not forget Mia Dominic's beautiful and sweet daughter. I loved how she gravitated to Imani with such an openly curious nature. Both Dominic and Imani would KILL ANYONE who messed with that little girl! And to think all Dominic and Imani wanted was to live peaceful, happy, and healthy lives in a small town where everyone knows your name and your business.
To say I highly recommend this book doesn't do it justice imo. I think the book is an absolutely amazing must-read. I can not find anything I didn't like about it. It truly was next level high on my top 10 reads for 2025.
I received this advanced reader copy from BookFunnel, and I'm happy to leave this honest review.
July 23, 2025
I fell in love with Dominic as soon as I started reading “The Life I’m Owed.” He’s grumpy and sexy all at once, and dare I say more than a bit bossy. Imani, on the other hand, is sassy, bad-assed, and likes to push his buttons. Imani and Dominic both carry more deep-held mafia secrets than you can imagine. I loved that they could spar one moment and then plot to kill the next enemy who was coming for them.
Dominic, his four brothers, Jake, and their crew go into each battle with the same precision as if it’s their last fight to save not only Imani but Dominic too from the mafia families that want Imani back.
Between the lulls of fighting, Imani and Dominic badger each other in a flirty manner that leads to lovemaking, not always tender but always sweet and worth the risk of losing themselves to each other.
The culmination of the book ends but doesn’t totally put to rest the mystery about Imani, but with Dominic, Imani, and the family safe for the time being.
Each brother will have their own story and love interest.
Dominic, his four brothers, Jake, and their crew go into each battle with the same precision as if it’s their last fight to save not only Imani but Dominic too from the mafia families that want Imani back.
Between the lulls of fighting, Imani and Dominic badger each other in a flirty manner that leads to lovemaking, not always tender but always sweet and worth the risk of losing themselves to each other.
The culmination of the book ends but doesn’t totally put to rest the mystery about Imani, but with Dominic, Imani, and the family safe for the time being.
Each brother will have their own story and love interest.
July 30, 2025
I received an ARC for this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
99.9% of the time when I read an ARC, there's a few typos or one or two minor issues that I am confident will be resolved when the final version is released. Overall, I liked the premise for this book but I had issues with some of the details as well as with how exposition was handled, particularly in terms of Imani's backstory. An early tone shift was too abrupt for me and left me feeling like I had missed a part of the action. Characters make throwaway comments that feel like they are referencing information imparted to the reader earlier in the book but they aren't.
I'm hoping that an editor worked some magic because the story had promise and I've previously enjoyed other works by this author.
99.9% of the time when I read an ARC, there's a few typos or one or two minor issues that I am confident will be resolved when the final version is released. Overall, I liked the premise for this book but I had issues with some of the details as well as with how exposition was handled, particularly in terms of Imani's backstory. An early tone shift was too abrupt for me and left me feeling like I had missed a part of the action. Characters make throwaway comments that feel like they are referencing information imparted to the reader earlier in the book but they aren't.
I'm hoping that an editor worked some magic because the story had promise and I've previously enjoyed other works by this author.
August 3, 2025
Firstly I loved Dom, he is everything I like in a book like this. What I did not like was that the book just suddently shifted into a different gear. I felt like I had blinked and a big chunk of it had passed. One minute they were flirting and then next they were fighting the bad guys. The fighing the bad guys just never ended all while the daughter seemed to be sleeping in the bedroom. I liked Imani but give Dom a break, it was like she wanted to be the badass in the relation ship. I will admit that I did skip over a lot of the book when it came to the fight scenes. The scenes always started with a car pulling up or bullets flying in the window etc. Just too much going on for me.
July 25, 2025
Imani has moved to Oakwood Falls to get away from her past with the mafia. She encounters Dominic who is the landlord. Dominic has a past with a different mafia. Dominic is a single dad to Mia who falls in love with Imani. The connection between Imani and Dominic is sometimes explosive, they can argue and then have fantastic sex rapidly. Mia is a bridge between Imani and Dominic. When the mafia groups want Dominic and Imani back or dead, they decide to fight back.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Fantastic Claiming Freedom romance!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Fantastic Claiming Freedom romance!
August 1, 2025
Dominic & Imani's story is EXPLOSIVE!!!💕💕❤️🔥🔥🔥
The Life I'm Owed is Book 1 of The Lawless Brotherhood Series by Niya James and it was EXPLOSIVE!! Pure action, shootouts, fist and knife fights, just brutal, and I loved it. The MMC is Dominic Marchetti and the MFC is Imani Rivers. These two along with the other Marchetti brothers had me locked in. There was so happening that I couldn't wait to turn the page. Check out this book, you'll love it. I can't wait for what's next in this series. Outstanding job Niya!💣💥 💣 💥💣💥
The Life I'm Owed is Book 1 of The Lawless Brotherhood Series by Niya James and it was EXPLOSIVE!! Pure action, shootouts, fist and knife fights, just brutal, and I loved it. The MMC is Dominic Marchetti and the MFC is Imani Rivers. These two along with the other Marchetti brothers had me locked in. There was so happening that I couldn't wait to turn the page. Check out this book, you'll love it. I can't wait for what's next in this series. Outstanding job Niya!💣💥 💣 💥💣💥
November 8, 2025
This book was horrible. I got a little over 50% into it and could not take it anymore. I had to abandon it. There are scenes literally out of order. A character gets killed in one scene, but then shows up two things later. Continuity is crap. Characters undefined. It says that it’s book one in a series, but there are characters that pop in and out like we’re supposed to know who they are. Just horrible.
August 2, 2025
Opposition at every meeting.
These two are always butting heads, but neither realize that something was brewing in the making of attraction, feelings and yes love blooming behind that on going attraction.
These two are always butting heads, but neither realize that something was brewing in the making of attraction, feelings and yes love blooming behind that on going attraction.
October 19, 2025
confused
This book through me off, great story. To many different parties involved. It’s like parts were skipped. I kept feeling like something was missing, or how did we get here so fast. I’m so confused!
This book through me off, great story. To many different parties involved. It’s like parts were skipped. I kept feeling like something was missing, or how did we get here so fast. I’m so confused!
July 23, 2025
I really liked the repartee between Imani and Dom in the beginning. Good start for a new series.
August 5, 2025
Arc review for a honest review in my own words on a book I read. When the past is not a ghost no more and comes for you. Fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews