Eyes on You a Mafia Romance

by Evie James

In this forced proximity mafia romance, a Russian mafia king becomes the unlikely protector of a Broadway dreamer targeted by a human trafficking ring—sparking a brutal war in Manhattan’s criminal underworld.

Lyla:
In this city, I’m an easy target…
I came to Manhattan chasing Broadway dreams. Now I dance in a club to pay the rent.

House rules are simple: dance, smile, don’t speak. What the fine print hides: I’m up for auction.

Tonight, the crowd pays to watch me move. Tomorrow they’ll pay to own me. My choices? Be sold by a butcher—or be taken by the man eyeing me from the corner.

The devil in a tailored suit is quiet, cold, and obscenely handsome—scrutinizing me like a problem he intends to solve.

Turns out he’s Nikolai Volkov—newly crowned Russian mafia king. In his world, power isn’t a choice. Neither is loyalty.

Where others see prey, he sees something worth protecting. And once his eyes find me…they never leave.

He becomes my silent shadow.
Watching. Studying. Stalking.
Until watching isn’t enough.

When the bullets fly and I think it’s all over, he speaks my name like a vow.

Suddenly I’m safe from everyone but him.

He tells me protection has a price and sets it high: my freedom, my name, my complete surrender.

He doesn’t seduce—he commands. One word and my pulse obeys. One touch and my knees do.

But I refuse to lose everything I’ve worked for…my dreams.

So I run…


Eyes on You is the explosive first installment in the Sin Syndicate series of standalone dark mafia romances with all the stalker, forced proximity, and possessive vibes. She’s a smart, sassy dreamer who won’t break; he’s a cold, wolfishly handsome king with touch her and die energy who falls first and hard. You’ll get high heat, high stakes, in a brutal underworld with dark themes, violent retribution, and scorched-earth love.

Dual POV • No cliffhanger • HEA guaranteed

What you can expect from Eyes on You:
Forced Proximity
Stalker Hero
Opposites Attract
Untouched
He falls first
Protective Rage
Vigilante Justice
Protective Antihero
Morally Gray Mafia King
Romantic Suspense

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, He Falls First, Slow Burn, Dark, Enemies To Lovers

599 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2025

About the author

Evie James writes dark contemporary romance filled with morally gray men, obsessive love, high-stakes danger, and heroines strong enough to survive it all. From mafia worlds built on violence and loyalty to medical romances with deadly underworld ties, her books blend angst, heat, emotional devastation, and hard-won happily-ever-afters.

She writes strong, sassy heroines who know exactly how to push every button on a man and possessive alphas who would burn the world down for their woman.

Connect with her on Instagram (@evie.james.author), Facebook (@evie.james.author) and on TikTok (@evie_james_author).

Find all of her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: EvieJames.com

A true romantic and animal lover, she’s a Cancer sign to a fault—deeply emotional, fiercely loyal, and guided by intuition. She channels those traits into stories filled with passion, vulnerability, and characters readers can’t forget.

When not writing, she can be found baking, doting on her four dogs, or dreaming up her next emotionally reckless couple.

She'd love for you to read her books!

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ARC Review⭐️

5⭐️/4🌶️

Eyes on You by Evie James is mafia romance crack. Nikolai Volkov is the kind of obsessive antihero your mafia mommy warned you about—dangerous, broody, and watching from the shadows… but in a way that makes you want him to never stop. Lyla is sunshine with a Broadway dream, and watching her light collide with his darkness is pure magic.

It’s twisted, it’s addictive, and it’s the kind of book that makes you question if maybe being stalked by a Bratva king wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. 👀🔥

[Milica's Bookshelf]

DNF @39%

I can't with this story, just I can't. I don't care what happens to these characters at all at the moment.

[destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You taste like sunshine and sin. Like you were made for me to ruin.”

thank you so much evie for the arc !! i absolutely ate this tf up 😍

this is a mafia romance, bratva, age gap, stalker vibes, virgin fmc, grumpy + sunshine, opposites attract, possessive and obsessive, he falls first, duo pov, interconnected standalone 💕

nikolai wanted to avoid the mafia lifestyle but ever since his father was killed, he has been dragged into this world of violence and lies. he becomes the head of the russian bratva which he never wanted to begin with. through all this, nikolai still has his love for hacking and finding secrets about people he has to play nice with. when he catches the eyes of an innocent barista who finds herself oblivious to the dangers around her, he becomes intrigued and wants to know everything about her. lyla is a part time barista, part time dancer at the strip club. she is someone who came all the way across oceans to find her big break and fulfill her dreams. but with that comes spending a lot of money … money she doesn’t have. she doesn’t know much about the gangs and mafia groups who control this city. so when she is also dragged into danger, nikolai won’t stop until she is safe. he even starts a war over her 🤗

i absolutely fell in love with lyla 🥰 she is such a hardworking baddie and she is fierce yet demure 💋 but miss girl literally has no survival skills or a sense of danger around her 😭 she can be so delusional yet so in tuned at the same time it’s actually quite funny 😂 then nikolai is over here stressing out which had me actually DYING 💀 this man is so obsessed. he was intrigued the moment she sassed him and he just didn’t know it then 🤭 they both bicker constantly and it seems to never end. but their moments together was one of the best i’ve ever read 🥹

i’m so hype for the rest of this series !! definitely going to go back to get some glimpses of nikolai in some of evie’s other books 😍

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[gemma.louise.xx.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikolai never wanted power but when his father was killed, he found himself head of a Russian Bratva he never wanted to rule. He’s a hacker at heart so when he encounters Lyla, part time barista and part time dancer in a strip club with dreams of Broadway, he can’t help but dig into her live and soon she’s his new obsession. He stalks her to protect her and when she finds herself in danger, Nikolai will do whatever it takes to save her- even start a war.

Urm. Wow. I need a sec. This was intense and packed with everything I love the most. Lyla isn’t your usual FMC. This girl is feisty and seems to have no sense of danger or self preservation! She fights Nik at every turn and it’s refreshing to read! And then there’s Nik. Oh Nik. How I adore this man! He’s the type of stalker you want (yes, I just said that!) He’s thoughtful and protective and the right amount of obsessive. Plus he’s hot as hell!! I knew I’d love him from the glimpses we’ve had of him in the Broken Heroes series but I was not prepared!! Nikolai Volkov is firmly in my top 5 MMCs ever! I cant wait for the rest of this series and to see how this underlying plot plays out because I am fully invested!!

[Lana *Best left alone with books and snacks* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, the book could be solid, I just can't stand the FMC. Her stupidity is overwhelming, so much so that I dnfed it at 38% in.

Thank you Hambright PR for providing me with the copy of this book, I wish it worked for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Over and out

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Such a fast paced, dangerous life our characters are living. Lyla is a dancer and a waitress, but she keeps auditioning for a role to dance and act professionally. When she meets Nikolai, she has no clue that her whole life will change. But it's more to do with the world she's unintentionally found herself in than with him.

As Nik stalks Lyla, he learns more about her than probably anyone else, and she quickly realizes that he's following her. But she's not sure she's upset about it. Finally calling him out, she realizes a small part of the danger she's in. Not taking the warning she goes back to life as normal, overworked and in danger constantly.

When she finally realizes the reality of what's she's in the middle of, Nik goes from stalker to savior, keeping her safe from worse fates. But being stuck in the middle of a mafia war isn't a picnic for anyone.

[enchantedmelreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🩷Stalker
🩷Alpha male
🩷She's a Virgin
🩷Opposites Attract a He falls first
🩷Possessive/Obsessive
🩷Protective Rage
🩷Touch Her and Die
🩷Age Gap
🩷Romantic Suspense

He calls her “little lamb”

Eyes on you has a whole new meaning after finishing this book 🥵
Absolute best mafia book I’ve ever read. It had my heart pounding and my mind reeling the entire time. Lyla is a fierce FMC that overcomes everything that’s thrown her way and comes out stronger. Nikolai and his obsession with Lyla was everything. I can not wait for more Sin Syndicate books!


The idea that someone like him—dangerous, cold, untouchable—was obsessed with me? It should’ve terrified me. And it did, a little. But mostly? It made me feel alive.


“You taste like sunshine and sin,” he rasped. “Like you were made for me to ruin.”


He didn’t just explore—he claimed. His tongue stroked deep, his teeth grazing my lower lip. Each nip was a dark promise. He was marking me. And I let him.

[Kylie Weigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot. Steamy. Dangerous. Romantic.
Eyes on you captures the underground life that has Nikolai and Lyla thrown into each other's paths. Lyla Oakley trying to make it in the world whilst chasing her dreams ends up being chased by more - monsters in the dark. Yet, one has her eye - she can feel him, sense him and she's not afraid. Nikolai never wanted the throne he sits in now but he's made it his mission to turn around the ways of the Syndicate, he just never anticipated Lyla crashing into his life and his need to claim her overpowering everything. Lyla, as smart and cunning as she is has become a victim and blind to the future that lay ahead and only Nikolai will be able to pull her from the fire. Guarding what's his, rebuilding an empire and trying to erase the feelings he has for her - Nikolai is forced to allow her into his sanctuary, the only place to keep her safe. To keep her his. While playing in a dance of fight or flight and attraction vs salvation, they've loosened each other's restraints (ones put on by their own accord and the other, expectations of following duty, dreams and reality). They let the walls crash down and bare themselves to each other - every secret, sin, piece of pain, every minute of their lives they recount, all shared; whispered into the safety of their new normal, their new dynamic. Roles changing and acceptance given, they emerge as a duo made unstoppable.
Taunting the villain yet falling in love wasn't the plan but it made for one hell of a story and a way to draw out the prey. Lyla and Nik forge on in a new sense of honesty, trust and vulnerability that came easily and crashed into a carefully curated Bratva - rewriting what it means to be loyal, protected and save those that are preyed on in the darkness. Creating a new sense of family and loyalty, Lyla and Nikolai become the rulers of the Syndicate and together only they can fight what lurks in the shadows, stalks the innocent and bring down the worst of the worst - global annihilation and refortifying and reshaping what it truly means to be a part of the Sin Syndicate.

Major thank you to Evie for allowing me to read this for you and be a part of the Sin Syndicate and your world.

[Scarlett Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC: This one had a really intriguing premise and I do love mafia romances… The MMC definitely brings the intensity, and the story has a lot of the classic mafia romance elements like obsession, danger, and a protective anti-hero.

That said, the pacing and relationship development felt a little rushed at times for me, which made it harder to fully connect with the characters. I enjoyed the overall concept and some of the darker romantic tension, but I did wish for a bit more buildup between the leads.

I also felt like the first part of the book was quite a bit better than the second part, which is what led me to finish it.

Tropes:
• Mafia romance
• Stalker / obsession vibes
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Protective MMC
• Touch her and 💀

Overall, a solid mafia romance with some compelling moments, even if it didn’t completely win me over.

Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ARC.

[Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this book up faster than I could have imagined. Less than 24 hours - devoured whole. While I've seen so many mafia and stalker books on the market, 'Eyes on You' surpassed any expectation I had for it. The fmc, Lyla - literal baddie wrapped in southern sass. The mmc, Nikolai - BLOWN AWAY with the multi-faceted personality. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did, or for the pace to be as heart-stopping and fast-paced as it was. For dipping my toe into the realms of Evie James' writing, this was an amazingly solid start. I was locked in from the first page and held captive (in the best way) through the whole dang thing!

Would I recommend? - Absolutely yes to anyone that loves a stalker, mafia, dark romance. The vibes between Lyla and Nikolai are FIRE, but even more than that, the plot and pace of Nikolai's world is literally what had me pulled through the whole thing. So yes, please, give it a read if you need a quick standalone that will have you on your toes the entire time!

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Lyla may be a small-town southern girl from the sticks of Tennessee, but her heart and her tenacity were MADE for Manhattan. She's got the grit of someone that knows how to work for what she wants - it's not given, it's earned in blood, sweat and tears (literally). And I think that's what draws our mmc, Nik, to her just as much as her sweetly sinful sexual nature. I mean, what's more intriguing to the devil than the angel in disguise?

Their banter was off-the-charts fun. Sassy quips from Lyla that brought out that lip-tilted smirk from Nik. And I loveeee a good 'her laugh makes sounds like sunshine' moment that wrecks the exterior of the mmc they once thought bulletproof and James delivered that ten-fold!

I think the most surprising part to me in the entire book was THE PLOT. While it starts out as the tortured stalker-mafia hottie wants to keep the small-town girl for himself, it became so much more than that as the story progressed. When you thought that Lyla was just the girl that was oblivious to the world she was currently walking into and that made her less, James shows us IMMEDIATELY that just because you're unaware doesn't mean you won't fight back harder and fiercer once your eyes are opened. If anything, Eyes on You isn't just about the stalker tendencies of Nik, it's also about the eyes on the entire underworld on Lyla and what she turns out to be. It feels very phoenix rising from the ashes.

I feel like I'm talking so much about Lyla and honestly, top fmc, for me (outside of fantasy books). But Nik needs his time in the spotlight too.

He is what you expect. HOT. TATTED. MAFIA BOSS. LETHAL. But as all morally grey lovers know, it's the protective, i'll burn the world for her, energy that really seals the deal for our favorite mmc's and Nik is EXACTLY that. Sinful, smirk-filled, and sensationally so human underneath it all, he'll have you begginggggg for more of his POV throughout.

Honestly, 10/10 such a good ride the whole way through. Converted to a Evie James supporter 100%! I can't wait to see what else the Sin Syndicate has in store in the next one!!!!

Thank you, THANK YOU, to Evie James for letting me a part of her ARC readers for 'Eyes on You'! I've had the best time getting to know you and my fellow ARC readers in our chat and can't say enough about how FUN this book was!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn’t just knock my socks off-it stripped emotions bare. If you’re into dark romance books, this will definitely be your new obsession. Evie James served up every single one of my guilty-pleasure tropes on a silver platter: stalker vibes, protective rage, a deadly little ‘touch her and ☠️,’ and of course… he falls first (swoon). Plus, the addition of mafia heat and it had me forgetting about sleep, work, life and even my morals! Lyla and Nikolai don’t just tell a story, they drag you on a ride so deliciously dangerous you’ll forget which way is up. Five hundred plus pages (closer to six hundred) felt like five minutes because I was too busy swooning, gasping, and whispering ‘just one more chapter.’ The author, Evie James, doesn’t just write the book - she seduces through her ability to weave a compelling life between the two main characters. Now, I’m shamelessly begging for more of Lyla and Nikolai because once they’re in your head, there’s no taming their flames.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releases August 26

Nikolai is in the Russian mafia. Lyla is a southern belle from Tennessee coming to NYC to live out her dream of becoming a dancer. She works at a cafe and is an aerialist dancer at a club to make ends meet. What she doesn’t know is that she has caught the attention of not one Mafia but two. What happens when she gets in the middle of a gang turf war?
The Sin Syndicate has standards/ order, they don’t go after women and children. Unlike the other mafia, who go after anyone and everyone. Nik begins to stalk her and as a hacker digs into her live and proceeds to push the boundaries. What happens when all eyes are on Lyla? Will she be able to escape the hands of the mafias or is she bound for a life of the unknown?


🌸Strong FMC
🌸Stalker/ hacker
🌸spicy 🥵
🌸touch her and ☠️
🌸mafia dark romance

Favorite quotes
“Watching her was becoming an obsession”
“Make love to the eyes on you”

[Buffy ❤️‍🔥💀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh I really loved this book at first and a small part of me still does I just honestly got so bored… this imo was a slow burn but not a good one- 60% into the book I was starting to get more and more over it and once I got to the 90% I was just done and the dialogue b/t the MMC and FMC started to get lowkey cringy…

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up giving this one 4 stars, but have to admit it was the latter part of the book that brought the rating up for me. During the middle of the story, I had actually considered giving it a 3.

The thing that brought the rating down for me was some of the over-the-top actions of the FMC. Lyla was introduced as a spunky, sassy, hard-working and talented girl from Tennessee with ambitions of making it on Broadway. She worked two jobs to make rent, one as a waitress in a coffee shop (where she meets/collides with the MMC Nikolai), the other as an "aerial stripper" at a club where she has NO idea the kind of danger she's in there.

The first meeting between the MMC and FMC goes wrong on soooo many levels, but I still found it comical, because Lyla has NO idea who she's mouthing off to.
She gets the MMC's attention immediately, and he begins stalking her. And he's not liking the fact she's taking too much of his head space, but can't seem to stop😂

There were times in the story I began to wonder if Lyla was really just "that" stupid, when the facts and dangers to her were right in front of her face. (eye roll) She was single-minded in what she wanted her life to be, not wanting to accept the reality of what it was, and refusing to take the steps needed to protect herself. There were other times when I wondered if she was completely mental, because of some of the crazy things she said and did under stress. I'd like to think we Tennessee women are a little more capable, stable, and able to adapt to situations better than how Lyla's character was portrayed.
So, that was disappointing to me.

There was a lot of action and danger in the story; bad characters and dirty politicians aplenty-and I was invested in seeing whether these people would get what was coming to them (because I'm mean like that😉😂).

I feel I also need to warn: this is more of a slow burn story than I expected it to be, due to both of the characters finding excuses not to give in to one another........

[Lynette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book but I just couldn’t connect with the FMC at all. She runs her mouth and runs from the MMC too much, all while he’s just trying to save her from her stupid life choices. I DNF’d around 65% because at this point she doesn’t even know his name and he’s saved her life like 100 times by now and she’s still fighting him. They really haven’t even spent any time together and it was a struggle to get to this point. I just couldn’t do it anymore.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes On You follows the story of Lyla and Nikolai. Nikolai is the hunter and Lyla is the hunted by not only Nikolai but half of NYC. Lyla is a prize to be cherished and where she is headed no one but Nikolai can cherish her in the way she needs and deserves.

Nikolai is not what he seems to be. He can cook, he is firm with commands, takes no BS and is infatuated with Lyla. Nikolai is drawn to Lyla like a moth to a flame and he is going to get burned one way or another. As the story develops we find out that Lyla has secrets too as well as a little fight left in her. We find out where she's come from and why she's in NYC distracting Nik from his day job.

Once these two clash the world around them burns to ashes. Eyes On You is your introduction to the Sin Syndicate. Welcome.

Buckle in babes.. Lyla is all sass and Nik is all dominance.

Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cristy Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book.plenty of suspense & spice. Nikolai is the perfect alpha male ready to claim his prey. Lyla, the strong, full of life brat, ready to fight him at every turn. They are perfect together. I love this book. my first Evie James read, and I can't wait for more. Eyes On You is the first book in the Syndicate Series. It's definitely worth the read!

[Evie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from the Publisher

Eyes on You is the first installment in Evie James’s Sin Syndicate series, a dark mafia romance that blends danger, desire, and high-stakes suspense. At its heart is Nikolai Volkov, a hacker king thrust into the violent world of organized crime, whose obsession with a small-town dreamer ignites a story of passion, power, and vigilante justice. With evocative prose, rich world-building, and unforgettable characters, James delivers a compelling tale where loyalty is bloodstained, love is perilous, and every choice carries consequences. Readers of mafia romance and dark romance will find themselves captivated by this intense, addictive opening to the Sin Syndicate series.

[sammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

felt like a chat-gpt written book

[Dwan Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-⭐️s
Dark, delicious, and unforgettable.

Eyes on You is the kind of mafia romance that hooks you from page one and doesn’t let go. This is a story of obsession, danger, and forbidden passion between Nikolai—an antihero Bratva boss with a hacker’s mind—and Lyla, the fiery dancer who stumbles into his shadowy world of organized crime.

The romance is twisted and raw, but it’s also layered with themes of loyalty, survival, and vigilante justice. Nik doesn’t just want Lyla—he claims her, protects her, and burns down anyone who threatens her. The way Evie James balances suspense, sensuality, and mafia politics is masterful.

If you love dark romance with an edge—obsessive alpha male, stalker hero, high stakes, and a heroine who gives as good as she gets—this book will wreck you in the best way. Absolutely five stars.

[Jessica Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Wow!!! This played out like a movie in my head. This had everything in it, from Mafia wars to Romantic Suspense. And let me tell you the spice was 🥵🥵🥵.
✨I just loved the witty banter between the FMC and MMC. You really felt that slow burn! 🔥 It was great and had me wanting to read more!
✨This is the first book in The Sin Syndicate Series. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

💗FAVORITE QUOTES💗

“My light in the darkness. I will guard you until the end”

“Lyla was a lamb in a city of wolves, and I had just caught her scent”

“She was a match, and I was soaked in gasoline”

[Michelle Marinello · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC . REVIEW 📖

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eyes on You by Evie James completely wrecked me—in the best way possible. This is hands down one of the best mafia romances I’ve ever read. From the first chapter to the last, my heart was racing and I could not look away.

If you love:
💗 Obsessive alpha male
💗 He falls first
💗 Possessive / “touch her and die” energy
💗 Age gap
💗 Romantic suspense
💗 Protective rage
💗 Opposites attract
💗 Virgin heroine
💗 Stalker vibes

…this book delivers ALL of it.

Nikolai is cold, powerful, and absolutely unhinged when it comes to Lyla. The way he watches her, wants her, claims her—it’s intense, dark, and addictive. But what I loved most was Lyla’s strength. She goes through so much, yet she never breaks. Watching her grow into her power… gosh it was satisfying.

Their chemistry is explosive, dangerous and consuming in a way that makes you question if you should be terrified… or turned on. The obsession, the tension, the way he calls her “little lamb”? I was done for.

This story is dark, seductive, and full of suspense with just enough tenderness underneath the chaos. If you’re looking for a mafia romance that’s intense, possessive, and completely unforgettable—this is it.

Thank you @evie.james.author & @hambright_pr for this ARC! 🖤

#HambrightPR
#HPREyesonYou
#EvieJames
#bookstagram
#booksofinstagram

Book Lover || Book Community || Bookstagrammer

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 4.5⭐️ Review – Eyes on You by Evie James ✨

Evie James delivers a stalker-to-lover mafia romance that’s equal parts addictive, dangerous, and heartbreakingly tender. Eyes on You introduces us to Nikolai Volkov—a hacker king forced into the bloody crown of a Bratva boss—and Lyla Laine Oakley, a sunshine-sweet small-town dreamer caught in the darkest shadows of Manhattan.

From the moment Nikolai lays eyes on Lyla, the wolf finds his lamb. His obsession becomes her protection, his hunger turns into possession, and the city’s monsters don’t stand a chance once he marks her as his. The stalker trope is written with such intensity that every glance feels electric, every interaction pulsing with “touch her and die” energy. Their opposites-attract chemistry is undeniable—his power against her innocence, his obsession against her hope.

What I loved most is how Evie balances the raw violence of mafia life with an achingly tender romance. Nikolai’s protective rage and Lyla’s quiet strength made me root for them even when I knew their love was forged in shadows. The pacing is sharp, the suspense kept me hooked, and the steamy tension? Off the charts.

Why 4.5⭐️ instead of 5? I only wanted more. More pages, more glimpses of their future, because this wolf and his lamb deserve the world.

🖤 Dark. Addictive. Obsessively romantic. Nikolai Volk

[Lisa Ann D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t even have to look up to know she was smiling. Anyone this chipper before six a.m. was either a psychopath or a problem 🎀🌷💝Eyes on You: A Stalker to Dark Angel Mafia Romance 🌸by Evie James
𝗡𝗢 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦

𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗵*𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 ... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲.
This damn book has me perplexed. Such a great start. Loved the ambience and settings. MMC came out like a storm. MFC was interesting.

A few minor things in the beginning that irked me but I could overlook. ::: Repetitive phrases and words::: but ok- I was in- we were rolling along.

Second half of book- 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖾𝗅𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒? 𝖶𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗍 almost all redeeming qualities for the characters. MFC was coming off like a bad joke.

Then after the couple start ‘coupling’… WTF happened to the dialogue? It felt so 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻-𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 that I physically CRINGED… what happened? I’m still asking myself that.

And then we get to the ________scenes & I was laughing because it became fucking ridiculous at that point.
Really?!?!
That’s how this went down.

𝗦𝗢: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻-- 𝖻𝗂𝗀 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇. I’m just simply confused about the entire thing. Seriously feels like 2 different people wrote parts of this novel.

I’m torn on the rating here. Probably 2.5 stars but will round up for Goodreads- but not sure how I even feel about that! WTF

🌷🌷🌷

★•*´¨`*•★• Happy reading ┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ ｡˚ ✧

[Kelly - Kelly's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars!

The WAY this book hooked me from the very beginning and held me until the end. Kudos Evie. Kudos.

What I absolutely LOVED:
* The SASSY female main character (FMC) and she had no problem putting the MMC in his place in the very beginning (even if she didn't know he was a mafia member).
* How hard the FMC was working to make ends meet and to survive. She had such strength and worked many job and barely slept. You go girl.
* The OBSESSION the MMC had with the FMC was alluring and addictive. So good.
*The mafia/dark and action packed plot upped the suspense and had me on the edge of my seat.
*The spice was SPICY! HOT. HOT. HOT.

This was a great dark, mafia romance read! Go check it out!

[Claire Ingledew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since reading Mission shift iv’e been patiently waiting to get my hands on Nikolai book Eyes on you.

His character I loved he’s dark and mysterious with so many layers to peel back i was invested from the start.

Layla she’s a sassy 20 year old country girl trying to get into broadway having two jobs a coffee shop and dancing in a club.

When These two meet in the coffee shop , there first exchanged is cold from Nikolai but Layla she happy go lucky when Nikolai try’s to move her on her quick wit exchange shocks Nik.

The journey that we take with these two it keeps you turning the page, the chemistry is evident there steamy scenes are hot, it not hard not to love these as the characters are easy to like.

I have one issue The tropes in this book hit the spot for a dark Mafia romance but I feel like the Mafia side wasn’t covered enough the love story 100 % but the mafia side was 80%

For me it’s 4 stars

[Cari Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good!! I was hooked from the very beginning. The angst was perfect!! Evie James can write the perfect mafia stalker dark romance!! I loved Lyla and Nik’s story! Lyla came to live out her dream on stage and has several jobs to pay bills. She meets Nik at a cafe and was sassy and he did not know how to take her. But he wanted to know more about her. He stalks her and learns that she is in danger. You have to read this bec some of the twists i didn’t see coming!!

[Nicoles_bookcorner10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m obsessed I absolutely loved this book!!!! I loved the obsession, the mafia part.
I really felt for Lacey and I felt like he was kinda a dick to her but then the last 10% hr was soft and I liked him much better

[Kristin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I wish the MMC was a little softer. Some parts seemed to drag and some went too fast. Overall it set up a new series and the other characters seem interesting.

[lauren dedinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What To Expect:
- Stalker
- Alpha male
- Opposites Attract
- He falls first
- Possessive/Obsessive
- Protective Rage
- Touch Her and 💀
- Age Gap
- Romantic Suspense

4.5⭐️ so i rounded up

oh. my. god. evie you did it again!! literal chef's kiss

lyla is like literal sunshine but she is also very feisty and i loved her so much. even though this book is a little more intense and dark romance, part of me couldn't help but giggle every time she sould fight nik on anything. it was just so amusing to me 😅

and nik, hot damn, i dont even know where to begin with him. i mean yeah you've got the broody, stalker, hacker and alpha vibes from him but there is also a lot more to him. i never thought i would say this but nik is the kind of stalker you might actually want. am i crazy for saying that, probably 😂🤷🏻‍♀️. but man was he protective and a little obsessive over lyla and he would do anything for her.

if you have read the broken heroes trilogy then you would have met nik and i have been craving his story. and it really surpassed every expectation i had set in my mind for his possible story while reading the broken heroes series. so i am sooo beyond grateful to be able to read and review this book as well as being apart of evie's sin syndicate team. thank you so much evie!!