The Breaker: Roman Republic, Book 3

Roman Republic #3

by Penelope Sky

In New York Times bestselling author Penelope Sky’s explosive conclusion to the Roman Republic series, an exiled emperor must make his final save his city from a dangerous takeover—or protect his beloved from a lifetime of danger.

I fell in love with the most dangerous man in Rome, knowing exactly who he was. And he fell for me too, knowing one day he’d have to me or his empire.

He chose me.

As brutal as it was, I thought his exile would be good for us. I thought we’d find peace together in a small village outside of Rome, in the comfort of running his family’s restaurant and the promise of our future. In the life growing inside me.

But there’s no peace for a man like Constantine.

No matter where we go, his past will always follow. I see the war waging inside him—the need to protect us battling the urge to reclaim what was lost. To avenge what was taken.

Now, as deadly enemies threaten the empire and his friend clings to life, the decision is mine. Do I ask him to keep his promise and stay with me? Or do I set free the emperor Rome desperately needs?

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Audiobook, Crime, Dark, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

A New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Penelope Sky is known for her dark romance that makes you fall for her characters….no matter how dark they seem. Her books are being translated into several languages around the world, and she’s sold more than a million books worldwide. She lives in a small town in California with her husband, where she spends most of her time writing on the back porch.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

2 Lackluster Stars

I'm not sure what happened with this trilogy...but it definitely didn't hold up to other similar series by this author.

The romance was pretty tepid and seemed to take a backseat to...almost everything else, really. I felt like Constantine had more heartfelt discussions with his mother than with Aurelia. And Aurelia more with Constantine's sister than Constantine himself.

And don't even get me started on the ex...there were way too many discussions with and about her.

I mean really though.



And there was almost zero action or serious conflict. Constantine was supposed to be some serious badass, but there was zero badassery on his part in this book; and almost none in the series at large, now that I think on it.

Overall:
Fair to middling chemistry.
Zero alpha badassery on the part of our "hero."
Zero stakes.

[♡Naz♡]

✨Pre-Read✨

Guys I am completely desperate to see how Constantine handles the fallout of that massive book two cliffhanger. He's proven he'll do anything for Aurelia, and I'm buckled in for the ultimate showdown to see them get their happily ever after.

[Lauren Hipskind]

I’m heartbroken this series is over! But let me tell you Con is my NEW book husband!! Like seriously he is the definition of perfection. He loves with his whole heart, family is everything, AND he loves his dog! Like what more could a girl want! It has spicy scenes that will leave you sweating. The plot keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat especially the very end! You’ve got to read this to find your new book husband… not your book boyfriend, because Con is the man you settle down with and start a family! I’m not kidding add this to your TBR now!

[Shelly’s Kindl3]

The Emperor & His Empress

I love the progression and growth of the characters. I loved when Aurelia stood up for herself against Constantine sister and ex girlfriend. That’s the kind of fire that strong FMC are made of. I appreciate her growth throughout the story. The realness and flaws of the characters added so much to the story. The family dynamic in Constantine family was challenged in regard to the mom. That conversation was such a tough one but he handled it with so much empathy and grace. Constantine is a man of his word and he stands on business every-time. I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants to read something new. I gave this book 4 stars because of the characters continuous growth and the plot was really good.

[Arianna ✨]

I have been waiting for this book for weeks, since I binge read the first two books in the trilogy! Constantine and Aurelia are some of my favorite characters I've ever read about. He might be a morally grey mafia man, but his love & loyalty to Aurelia were SO perfect. This was the most incredible conclusion to the trilogy for these two. Although Medusa was 100% the best character of the entire series!

This was the first series I've ever read from Penelope Sky & it certainly will not be my last!

[Brina's Emotional Borrow]

3.25⭐

This was probably my least favorite of the series. I did enjoy getting a satisfying conclusion with the Skull King and a sweet HEA and epilogue.

However, there were many parts that felt predictable, and certain things seemed to resolve too easily. I also felt like there was a lot of miscommunication between Constantine and Aurelia. My biggest gripe was how hardcore Constantine was about being truthful, yet he really struggled with that in this book. He expected Aurelia to be open and transparent, but he stayed closed off for much of the story.

I did appreciate his character growth by the end. He finally seemed to get closure over Edric and over not being Emperor anymore. He felt more willing to be open with Aurelia, and he flew off the handle much less. Despite his issues, Constantine still came across as a man with strong convictions and morals, and he always set firm boundaries with other women while being transparent with Aurelia, which I appreciated.

Aurelia, on the other hand, always felt so passive and worried about making a wrong step with him. And while I get it, he cuts people out of his life at the slightest hint of deception, she came off weaker than I would’ve liked. It also felt strange that she so readily gave up her passion for photography, and there was never any mention of her friends in Rome. It was like her life there just vanished. I did appreciate how hard she tried to embrace Constantine’s family and how she eventually called people out on their nonsense.

I’m a sucker for found family, and that ran strong throughout this series, especially in this book. It felt even more meaningful since Aurelia had no living family of her own.

Overall, it was a decent ending to a three‑book series, even if I felt conflicted about the main characters. Despite that, I’m still interested in reading more about the other characters in the world Penelope Sky has created.

[Kayla W]

Great Characters, Slow Pacing, & Suspense

It was incredibly satisfying to watch the relationships between the characters continue to grow alongside a thrilling suspense that kept me constantly turning pages.

However, the pacing did feel like it dragged on a little bit in the middle with the back-and-forth storyline of him being coerced back into becoming the Emperor. While I understood the final outcome, I think the book could have spent less time on that repetitive conflict and focused more on expanding the suspense aspects instead.

Despite that slower middle section, the final payoff makes it a highly satisfying and worthwhile conclusion for these characters.

[Jo C]

I really enjoyed The Breaker and thought it was a satisfying conclusion to the series. It wrapped up the story well and gave the characters the ending they deserved. Once again, Constantine completely stole the show for me. He’s such a compelling character, and every scene he was in kept me invested.

While I enjoyed the overall story, there were a few moments that felt a bit predictable, which is why this wasn’t quite a five-star read for me. Even so, it was an emotional, entertaining finale that tied everything together nicely. If you’ve followed the series from the beginning, I think you’ll be happy with how it ends.

[leanna (semi-hiatus) (nikobran's version) 🦋]

SUCH AN AMAZING SERIES. i loved these books sm

[Satan’s toe]

This series is trying to be feminist and progressive so bad, but fails on so many levels

[Hooked On Romance]

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While I enjoyed the hell out of this series, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The Fifth Republic series (same world) was a 4.5–5 star read for me, and believe me, I'm stingy with those stars. 😅

Don't get me wrong—there's a lot to love about the Roman Republic series, namely our MMC, Constantine, who is pretty much the perfect specimen of a man in every way. Tall, built, handsome as sin, good to his mama, devoted to his dog, honest, faithful, loyal, and willing to sacrifice everything for the safety of the woman he loves. ❤️🐕🔥

Seriously. Con is damn near perfection.

Our FMC, Aurelia, meets Constantine shortly after being abandoned by her fiancé during what was supposed to be their vacation. After discovering he's been cheating on her, he runs off to be with the other woman. Understandably cautious, Aurelia doesn't want Constantine to become a rebound relationship, so she takes things slowly. Meanwhile, Constantine is ready to hit the fast-forward button on their romance. 😍

All three books focus primarily on Constantine and Aurelia's relationship, which I was absolutely here for. What didn't live up to my expectations was the storyline involving Con's role as the Roman Emperor.

There just wasn't much of it. And what was there felt brief, underdeveloped, and not particularly well executed. It almost felt like a complete romance set in a gorgeous Italian locale had already been written, and the Roman Republic elements were added afterward. I was really looking forward to the author leaning hard into the Roman Emperor narrative, and I came away disappointed by how little attention it received. 🏛️👑

One other small annoyance—and here's my rant. 😒

There was some general man-bashing throughout the series, and I hate that. Even our MMC occasionally denigrated his own gender. There are jerks in every demographic. I dislike it when books lump all men or all women together based on the actions of a few. Bash the asshole, not half the population. 🤷‍♀️

Okay, rant over. 😂

Overall, this was still a really good series with genuine 5-star potential. Unfortunately, it was just too lacking in the Roman Emperor storyline I was most excited to see explored. ✨🏛️

[Amber is Always Reading]

The Breaker is a fitting and well deserved happy ending for Constantine and Aurelia.

Suspenseful,heartfelt and full of family drama…which is exactly how I want my stories to be.

I truly enjoyed the development of Aurelia’s relationships with members of Con’s family. Her compassion,and steadfast loyalty make me love her character even more.

Constantine is a very strong man’s man,a true alpha hero,and seeing him brought to his knees by a sweet and loving woman was immensely satisfying.
He’s very stubborn and immovable for everyone but her,and I loved the way he loves her.

As difficult as the circumstances of this story was for our characters,I enjoyed the moments of levity and found myself smiling often while reading.
This series is another example of Penelope’s great storytelling,and I can’t wait for more.

[Alina-Madalina]

4.5⭐️

[Kayla Evette]

I am so sad this series is over. I really enjoyed these books and the whole storyline.

[Britney]

4.5
Would I ever read this series again? No but it was still a good read just not a reread. I also didn't feel that this needed to be 3 books. Glad for the ending as parts did drag.

[Pam]

What a finale! The ending was perfect. I definitely did not expect that!! Loved every minute of this series.

[Bryana]

I wish....

I want to like these books because the idea is fantastic but the execution is really poor. Penelope is not a bad writer but consistency and plot holes abound. Telling instead of showing. And the fact that these are supposed to be Italians but talk like bad mafia characters from Jersey was grating. Also, as a woman I support women always. But I feel like the thoughts and character of Constantine was written as if he was there ro parrot the authors views rather than existing as a separate entity. I wish the characters and story just actually made sense. I can get lost in a fantasy if it makes sense but this series struggles on that point.

[Simoné Wolmarans]

I can certainly appreciate that this story will absolutely work for a lot of readers, and I can understand why people may connect with the characters and their dynamic. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me personally.

My biggest struggle was with the communication between the main characters. The conversations and arguments often felt extremely juvenile, and instead of creating tension or emotional depth, they left me feeling frustrated and disconnected from the story. I kept waiting for the characters to mature in the way they handled conflict, but it never really happened for me, which made it difficult to fully invest in either the romance or their journey together.

There were definitely moments where I could see the potential, and I do think other readers may enjoy it far more than I did. Sadly, I just couldn’t look past the immaturity in the interactions, and it ultimately prevented me from connecting with the book as a whole.

[Faleila Tuisaloo]

Not Enough Excitement

Compared to the first and second books, this was by far the least favorite. Too domesticated and not enough action. It could have been intertwined to have a better read.

[Gabby Maw]

I finished this book quickly, not because it had me sucked in, but I felt like I had to finish it considering I read the other two. I'm glad the ending has come, and interesting to see that the leader has actually stepped down. Usually the men in these positions never leave and the woman learns to deal with the new lifestyle. The comeback of Darius I saw coming. It was hinted at too much that no one found his body so of course he was still alive. Plus with how much more of the book was left. It was nice to see the Sofia go crazy and kill him herself. Never mess with the rage of a mother and her child. This series I would consider to be a cuteish dark romance series if that makes sense.

[Romana]

last one in trilogy

Ok this book was dissapointment for me 😔 Constantine is depressed and scared in this book for most of the time and I am asking what happend with our emperor??? With these type of books I expect powerfull mafia boss who doesn’t kneel but finds a way to protect what is his. Aurelia is ok, but why is she alwys so scared of him to say something??? Like he would be mad at her or he would left her🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ I didn’t like their dynamic. Finally when the biggest battle comes it takes few pages and its done? Like really? I am not fan of this conclusion, but writting is great and italian scenery perfect.

[Carrie W]

I loved this series. My review is for all 3 books.

Aurelia booked a relaxing vacation for her and her boyfriend, Enzo, to a quiet little town in Italy. They've grown apart and she had a niggling sense that he was having an affair so she thought this time away would help fix them. But, the few days they spent together, he was distant and distracted. He got several calls and texts from his married with 2 kids boss, and he would answer every time. Finally, she'd had enough and confronted him. He said it was over and left her there to go home. She spent a day in bed to grieve but then she wanted to make the most of her time in the quiet little town.

She was at a restaurant when she saw the most beautiful man she'd ever seen in her life and she couldn't take her eyes off of him. She openly stared and he locked eyes with her for several moments before his attention was drawn back to his friends. Another chance encounter in a hotel bar had them staring at each other again. This time, he went to her. He introduces himself as Constantine. They hit it off and she was like, Fuck Enzo! I'm bagging this gorgeous hunk of man-meat tonight! And she does.

Over the course of her vacation, they spend most days and nights together. He knows everyone in the town and he takes her around to restaurants and introduces her to friends. It's a whirl-wind romance. They realize they both live in Rome, he's the Emperor of Rome, and she's a photographer. He polices the criminal world and makes sure the criminals don't prey on women and tourists. He's filthy rich and she's struggling to figure out her living arrangements when she gets home. She wants to take it slow after getting out of a 2 year relationship and he wants her to move in with him. But she's scared and he's finally ready to move on after his one and only serious relationship ended in betrayal 9 years earlier.

Once they are back to reality in Rome, he pursues her. He wines and dines her and they are both smitten. She gets her own tiny apartment and they start to live their lives until Enzo shows back up, groveling, and Constantine blows into her apartment in a jealous rage and stakes his claim. They argue and Con says he's done. He leaves Aurelia there in tears chasing after him. He ignores her calls and texts until she's out with a friend one night who brings her boyfriend and another guy. The friend and boyfriend leave and Aurelia just wants to go home. She goes to the bathroom and the guy says he'll wait for her and take her home. When she returns, she drinks the rest of her drink and starts to feel sick. The guy tries to smash her into a van but she has the foresight to try to call Con. He and his team show up just in time to save her. There's been a black market team stealing organs from victims and selling them..and Aurelia would have been the latest victim. Con takes Aurelia back to his house and they make up. She never wanted to be without him and he felt the same.

She moves into his palace but when a demon from his past comes back to overthrow Constantine as Emperor, the Skull King doesn't go after Constantine, he goes after Aurelia. Darius (the Skull King) has something that Con wants and Con's life, for the past 6 years, was leading up to his revenge against the Skull King for what he did to Con's family. But, when confronted with a gun to Aurelia's head, Con gives up everything and accepts his defeat. He is exiled back home, with Aurelia, back where they met and their romance started.

They make a life together but the state of Rome in ruins has Con depressed and edgy. He tries to get on with his life but the President of Italy and Con's ex best friend both try to persuade him to come back to fight. He chooses Aurelia over everything and refuses to fight a war he doesn't think he can win. When Con learns he's going to be a father, his choice is made. He will not risk his family to try to save Rome. It can all burn for all he cares.

But, when he sees the carnage and destruction on the news, he knows he has to try. If he fails, his whole family will be killed in the worst ways imaginable. He tries...and fails. But when Darius shows up at Con and Aurelia's wedding, Con's mother takes matters into her own hands and gets her own revenge. Con passes the Emperor torch to his best friend and chooses his family.

This series was just....Chef's kiss! It's not a typical mafia story...similar but not, if that makes sense. The whirl-wind romance was exactly what I needed. The spice was great but not the focal point..even though there was a lot of it. I wish I could read this again for the first time because I got through each book in a day. Couldn't put them down. But, that's the way with everything Penelope Sky/Barsetti writes. She's just awesome and one of those authors that I will read everything she writes! Highly recommend this series.

[Brandi Clark]

Romance Reader Report Card

❤️ Chemistry: 5/5

🔥 Tension: 4/5

🌶️ Spice: 4/5

😭 Emotional Impact: 5/5

👨 Book Boyfriend Status: Certified Wife Guy Emperor

📚 Reread Worthy? Absolutely

Tropes

* Mafia Romance
* Criminal Empire
* Devoted Hero
* Pregnancy
* Established Couple
* Found Family
* Touch Her and Die
* Political Intrigue
* Wedding Drama
* Series Finale

What I Loved

One of my biggest fears going into this book was that Penelope Sky was going to manufacture conflict by making Constantine and Aurelia keep secrets from each other.

She started down that road…

…and then immediately did exactly what I wanted.

Aurelia tells Constantine she’s pregnant.

Constantine tells Aurelia about Tommaso’s ridiculous request that he take another woman on a date.

Done.

No chapters of pointless miscommunication.

No “I’m protecting you by lying.”

Just two adults communicating.

It was such a relief.

The heart of this trilogy has always been Constantine’s unwavering devotion to Aurelia, and this book reinforces that over and over again.

Even while Rome falls under the Skull King’s control, Constantine refuses to sacrifice his family for power. When Aurelia encourages him to step in and help reclaim the city, he does it because it’s the right thing to do—not because he misses being Emperor.

And when he’s offered the throne again?

He says no.

That moment completely sold me.

He isn’t chasing power anymore.

He’s choosing Aurelia.

He’s choosing their child.

He’s choosing the quiet life they built together.

That’s exactly the kind of romance hero I love.

I also really enjoyed the storyline involving Constantine’s sister. Watching him finally recognize the way his mother treated her—and immediately step in to defend her after Aurelia helped him see the situation differently—was one of my favorite pieces of character growth in the entire trilogy.

What Didn’t Work for Me

The Tommaso subplot felt incredibly contrived.

I never bought the idea that a father would insist Constantine take his daughter on a date after learning he was deeply in love with Aurelia…and that Aurelia was pregnant.

It felt less like something the characters would naturally do and more like a device to inject relationship drama where there didn’t need to be any.

Fortunately, the drama doesn’t overstay its welcome, and Constantine’s honesty with Aurelia keeps it from becoming the kind of frustrating miscommunication plotline I usually dislike.

The Skull King’s return at the wedding was also pretty easy to predict. I don’t know if it was intended to be a surprise, but I spent the entire wedding scene thinking, “Okay…so when is he showing up?”

That said, knowing it was coming actually made those chapters more suspenseful rather than less enjoyable.

Favorite Moment

Constantine declining to become Emperor again.

For three books we’ve watched this man wrestle with duty, power, and responsibility.

When he finally has the opportunity to reclaim everything he once sacrificed…

He walks away.

Not because he’s weak.

Not because someone forces him to.

Because he’d rather spend the rest of his life with Aurelia and their child.

That is peak Book Boyfriend behavior.

Final Thoughts

This may not be my favorite book in the trilogy—that honor still belongs to The Ruler—but it’s an incredibly satisfying conclusion.

Penelope Sky resists the temptation to manufacture unnecessary conflict between Constantine and Aurelia and instead lets us enjoy what we’ve spent three books building: a relationship grounded in trust, respect, communication, and unwavering devotion.

Constantine never stops choosing Aurelia.

Aurelia never stops believing in Constantine.

That’s what made this trilogy work for me from beginning to end.

If You Like…

* Mafia Romance
* Established Couples
* Devoted Heroes
* Healthy Communication
* Protective but Respectful MMCs
* Political Intrigue
* Family Loyalty
* Strong Heroines
* Series with a Satisfying HEA

Recommended For

Readers who want a mafia romance where the hero’s greatest strength isn’t his power—it’s his devotion. If you’re tired of controlling alpha heroes and want one who consistently chooses love over ego, this trilogy is absolutely worth the read

[Wendy Rodgers]

A SAVAGE’S LEGACY

What a perfect ending to an incredible trilogy.

This series started with power, politics, danger, and a fierce romance, but it ended with something even better—family, sacrifice, legacy, and the realization that true strength isn’t just found in ruling an empire, but in protecting the people you love.

One of my favorite things about this trilogy was watching Constantine’s journey come full circle. Throughout the series, we watched him fight for his Republic, sacrifice everything for his people, walk away from the very thing he built, and ultimately struggle with the decision of whether he should return. His internal battle never felt forced because his choices always came from a place of love, responsibility, and loyalty.

Aurelia continued to be exactly the partner Constantine needed. She never felt like a passive character standing on the sidelines. Instead, she became his equal, his support system, and the person who could see the leader inside him even when he struggled to see it himself. Their relationship felt earned because they continuously chose each other through every challenge they faced.

What surprised me most was how beautifully Penelope Sky tied together all the loose ends from the previous books. The political conflicts, family relationships, enemies, sacrifices, and personal growth all came together in a way that felt satisfying and complete. Nothing felt rushed, and every major storyline received the attention it deserved.

The standout moment for me, however, was Constantine’s mother.

After everything she endured, watching her step forward and take down Darris when he least expected it was absolutely unforgettable. It wasn’t a grand political move or a calculated power play. It was a mother protecting her family. That scene perfectly captured the strength she had carried throughout the series and proved that sometimes the most dangerous person in the room is the one everyone underestimates.

I absolutely loved that she became the one who ultimately helped save everyone. It felt emotional, meaningful, and completely fitting for her character.

The ending itself was exactly what I hoped for. Constantine and Aurelia finally found their peace, built a beautiful life together, and welcomed their daughter into the world. After everything they endured, seeing them receive their hard-earned happiness was incredibly rewarding.

And now I have one lingering question:

Will Julia get her own story?

Because after everything that happened, I would absolutely read a future book about her as the next Emperor of Rome. The foundation is there, and I would love to see the next generation carry on Constantine’s legacy.

Penelope Sky delivered everything I love in a series: emotional depth, romance, political intrigue, family loyalty, sacrifice, character growth, and a conclusion that honored everything that came before it.

This trilogy was powerful, emotional, beautifully connected, and incredibly satisfying from beginning to end.

A perfect conclusion to Constantine and Aurelia’s story and a reminder that the greatest legacies are not built through power alone, but through the people we choose to protect.

[The Romantic Rush Blog]

An EPIC finale! The Breaker was everything I wanted from this finale. Emotional, suspenseful, romantic, and packed with the kind of action and character arcs that makes saying goodbye to a series both satisfying and painful.

And Constantine? Yeah, he's delicious. This man is the total package. Fiercely loyal, protective without being controlling, obsessed with his family, devoted to his dog, and absolutely gone for Aurelia. What I loved most about him throughout this book was that his love never wavered. There was no denying his feelings, no unnecessary push and pull. He loved Aurelia with his whole heart from the beginning and never stopped choosing her. Honestly, it was refreshing.

This installment shifts some of the focus away from nonstop danger and puts the spotlight on Constantine and Aurelia's relationship, which I loved. Watching Aurelia become part of Constantine's family was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. After everything she's been through, seeing her finally find a place where she belonged felt incredibly rewarding. And Constantine in his future dad era? Absolutely adorable.

The family dynamics were easily one of the strongest parts of the story. Sophia remains an icon, and Aurelia's growing bond with Constantine's family added so much heart to the book. There were definitely a few characters who tested my patience along the way, and I occasionally wanted to shake Aurelia for carrying certain burdens alone when Constantine had proven over and over that she could trust him. But those moments never overshadowed how much I was rooting for them.

I also loved seeing so many long running conflicts finally come full circle. Constantine gets the closure he's been chasing for so long, both personally and emotionally. His relationships with his family, his past, and the responsibilities he left behind all come to a head in a way that felt earned. Watching him finally step up and face what needed to be done was exactly what I wanted.

The suspense still delivers, especially toward the end. There were moments where I was fully on edge wondering how everything would come together. I do wish a few of the action scenes had been explored a little more, but honestly, the emotional arcs were so strong that it didn't take away from my enjoyment. But what really made this finale work for me was the amount of resolution. So many storylines come full circle, loose ends are tied up, relationships heal, and we get the kind of closure that leaves you feeling satisfied while still wishing you had one more book with these characters.

And yes, I loved getting the full wedding experience.
And yes, Medusa remains the best girl.

The Breaker is easily my favorite book of the trilogy. A heartfelt, emotional finale full of love, family, sacrifice, healing, and one unforgettable hero who completely stole my heart.

What to Expect
❤️ Dark Mafia Romance
❤️ Alpha Hero Who Falls Hard
❤️ He Falls First and Harder
❤️ Touch Her and D!e
❤️ Found Family
❤️Exiled King/Emperor
❤️Protective Hero
❤️Pregnancy
❤️High Stakes Suspense
❤️Emotional Healing
❤️Series Closure
❤️Man Obsessed
❤️The Best Dog Sidekick

[Vic]

The Breaker is the final book to this wonderful series. After the tragic events we left off in the last book, Constantine has no choice but to take Aurelia and his beloved dog Medusa back home to Taormina. They move back to his old home and try to settle into a quiet life near family. Constantine loves spending time with his girls and he is happy but sometimes his guilt comes in waves. He is extremely disappointed in himself because he failed his people. He will never regret his decision but he feels he will not completely be at peace until he stops Darius. However, when he realizes their lives are gonna change for the better, he is filled with the most utter joy and is grateful to have what he has in his life. He loves Aurelia with all of his heart and decides to let go of the past. Will he truly be happy letting go knowing he could help Rome rebuild and stop Darius with help and his resources? Is it too much of a risk to try?

Aurelia has never been happier than in Taormina. She likes to go sightseeing with Constantine and exploring the city. She likes being near his family and wants them to accept her. So she tries to get a job with them to spend time with them and get to know them. She feels safe and loves living there because it is where she fell in love with Constantine. There are moments when she is consumed with guilt. She knows they are only there because he chose her safety over everyone else. When she gets the surprise of her life she is scared of what will change but Constantine is thrilled and assures her they will be fine and he is very happy. She knows he will never be at peace until he avenges his brother. As hard as it is, will she tell him to go fight and reclaim Rome or will she just try to move on from it?

Penelope Sky had me crying throughout the book. I not only cried tears of sadness but tears of joy. I just love Constantine. I love the man he is. Not once did he ever regret his decision to pick Aurelia before anyone else. He may have felt bad for the people that were gonna suffer in Rome, but not once would he pick differently. Furthermore, when he discovered their lives were gonna change, he was the happiest he’s ever been, and it was so admirable. I love that Aurelia wanted to be a part of the family now that they were gonna be living there. She wanted to have a normal life, another job, and just settle into the quiet town. I felt that that she was always consumed with guilt because she was the reason they were there, but I love that no matter what, Constantine always made her feel so desired. Their love was stronger than ever, through obstacles and challenges, nothing would tear them apart. Their chemistry was off the charts and their scenes were still really hot. This was such an emotional rollercoaster. It was filled with drama, humor, danger, surprises, heat, suspense, tender moments, and crazy twists. I loved this series so much and I am gonna miss these characters. Bravo again! Another series that I can only describe as perfection!!

[Shalee Hill-McCarthy]

First and foremost, I absolutely loved Constantine's love for Aurelia. It was unwavering from the very beginning. He never questioned his feelings or tried to deny them, and honestly, it was such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other male characters in the series who spent so much time fighting what they felt.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️

I genuinely thought Aurelia was going to turn herself over to Darius, and I was very happy when she didn't. That said, I was frustrated that she continued to keep some very important things from Constantine. At times, it felt like she didn't fully trust him, even though he had given her every reason to.

I have to say it again—I loved Constantine's devotion to Aurelia, and I loved his family. I was especially pleased with his reaction to the pregnancy. Honestly, I feel like Aurelia should have known he would be excited. He was so deeply in love with her that there was no way he would see their baby as anything but a blessing and another connection between them.

I was also happy to see Aurelia embrace Constantine's family. Her confrontation with Isabella had me cheering her on. However, I do wish she had told Constantine about the situation sooner. Once again, it felt like she was carrying burdens alone when she didn't have to.

Tommas drove me crazy when it came to his daughter, but at the same time, he was right—Constantine has always been a man of his word. His daughter, on the other hand, was incredibly annoying. I was worried that situation was going to end badly, and while I think it was resolved a little quickly, it still worked for the story.

Speaking of frustrating characters, Isabella and Constantine's sister, Beatrice, really had me irritated for a while there. On the brighter side, I was thrilled when Crow returned to bring Constantine back, and I loved seeing Constantine and Rocco finally resolve their issues.

I was also glad Constantine went back to Rome to handle business. Before that, I was starting to wonder if he was avoiding what needed to be done. Watching him step up was exactly what I wanted to see.

One of my favorite parts of the book was getting the full wedding experience. It felt earned, and I loved every minute of it. And can we talk about Sophia? She is an absolute badass and easily one of my favorite side characters.

What I loved most about The Breaker was the amount of resolution it provided. So many storylines came full circle, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch everything come together.

This is officially my favorite book in the series. Bravo, Penelope Skye—you absolutely knocked it out of the park.

One final thought: I am really hoping Rocco and Beatrice end up together. I'd love to see a future book where the hero falls for a woman who already has children. I think that would make for a beautiful story and a refreshing change from the usual romance dynamic.

[The Heathens Book Nook]

Strong emotional core and a satisfying resolution, let down by manufactured relationship conflict and a subplot that didn't need to exist.

Picks up exactly where things left off, with Constantine and Aurelia in exile in Taormina, both still healing physically and otherwise, their relationship shifting into something more emotionally honest even while physical intimacy takes a backseat early on. Don't worry though it doesn't last and the spice does spice as we would expect from these two.

The pregnancy reveal raises the stakes in a way that feels earned, and I appreciated that Aurelia's panic about not being ready is treated with weight rather than brushed past. What I didn't appreciate, the miscommunication or lack of open communication is perhaps more fitting. These two have been through enough together that the constant relapse into not telling each other things particularly around Tommaso's push for an arranged marriage to his daughter. It feels like manufactured tension rather than organic conflict.
Constantine not telling Aurelia the first time it comes up, then being genuinely surprised she's furious about it, is frustrating in a way that doesn't serve the story.
The Tommaso subplot itself is a low point for me pushing an arranged marriage plot at this stage reads as unnecessary drama for drama's sake, and Isabella's continued presence doesn't help.
Where the book redeems itself has to be the family material with Beatrice and Sophia, it is genuinely well done. The confrontation over Sophia's coldness toward her own daughter, and the "old school, you made your bed" mentality underneath it, adds real texture to a family that could easily have stayed one-note.

Once Rome starts to unravel and Constantine has to decide what he's willing to risk for the city, for his family, for the people he's lost, the book finds its footing again. The political stakes are handled with real weight, and the toll on the people around him (Rocco especially) lands hard. The spice, when it's there, is relentless and well-earned, particularly once Constantine's obsessiveness over Aurelia carrying his baby, ramps up he literally can't keep his hands off her.
The ending has a twist I won't spoil, but it's a genuinely satisfying, poetic piece of payoff for a loss that's been sitting under this whole trilogy, I just wish the road there (the wedding confrontation especially) had built more tension rather than relying on an inevitability the reader can see coming from a mile off.

Heads up on content:
violence
death/murder
terrorism
on-page spice

[Mandy Stafford]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️

The Breaker broke me.

This book had me kicking my feet, clutching my chest, laughing, screaming, and questioning my emotional stability from beginning to end.

From the moment Constantine built Medusa a way to move around after her injury, I knew this book was going to own me. The man is terrifying one second and impossibly soft the next.

And then came the pregnancy.

The second Aurelia missed her period, I was already spiraling. Watching everyone unknowingly talk about future children while I sat there holding the secret was torture in the best possible way. Every near-discovery had me internally screaming.

What I loved most about this book was how much heart it had. Yes, there’s power, danger, family politics, and empire-building, but underneath all of that is a story about love, family, healing, and finding where you belong.

Sofia absolutely stole scenes whenever she appeared. The relationship she builds with Aurelia was beautiful, and her fierce devotion to her family made some of the most emotional moments hit even harder. By the end, she had me cheering just as loudly as the main characters.

The second Rome erupted into chaos, my stress levels reached critical levels. Every chapter felt like disaster was waiting around the corner. I spent multiple chapters convinced Penelope was about to destroy me emotionally.

And then the wedding happened.

What should have been a beautiful celebration somehow became one of the most intense scenes in the entire trilogy. I was horrified, emotional, and absolutely unable to stop reading. The balance between heartbreaking moments, adrenaline-fueled action, and perfectly timed humor is something Penelope does exceptionally well.

The relationships in this book are what made it unforgettable. Constantine and Aurelia’s love feels earned. Rocco continues to be a favorite. Sofia is iconic. Medusa remains the goodest girl to ever exist.

The epilogue completely wrecked me. Seeing where everyone ended up five years later was the perfect ending to a trilogy that has put my heart through absolute warfare.

This entire series delivered romance, family, loyalty, sacrifice, healing, heartbreak, and hope in a way that kept me emotionally invested from beginning to end.

A beautiful, heart-wrenching conclusion to an unforgettable trilogy.

She’s his Empress.

And may the gods help anyone foolish enough to disrupt his empire.

[Dora Harvey]

Wow! THE BREAKER is a good book—a page-turner indeed for Book 3 of the Roman Republic!! The Breaker starts off where book 2 (The Savage) left off. We find out why Constantine and Aurelia had to leave Rome. This is a MUST READ with plenty of heart-thumping moments! Penelope Sky never ceases to amaze me… she weaves a tale that combines dark, steamy romance with intense action and thrilling suspense—creating a story that is as captivating as it is unpredictable. Get ready to be engaged in a story like no other. It’s an emotional turmoil! It’s nail-biting action! It’s suspenseful! It drags you deep into its darkness! It’s full of heartache! What a ride!! Constantine and Aurelia are full of surprises—I was flabbergasted with the unexpected revelations that happened, but it was jaw-dropping good! This story will keep you on the edge of your seat to find out what happened next. What an epic ending for Constantine and Aurelia’s story!

I loved Constantine’s personality. At first, I wasn’t sure, but he showed Aurelia that she was the only woman for him. When Aurelia finds out what Cobstantine has to do to keep her safe, he becomes progressively protective and will do whatever he needs to do to keep Aurelia and Medusa (female German Shepherd dog/Baby girl) safe. Besides Constantine, his mother, proved to be formidable when someone messes with her family. What happens when you find out the truth isn’t always what it seems? Well, find out what happens as secrets from the past begins to unravel, long forgotten truths are starting to be revealed. The road to Constantine and Aurelia’s happiness seems wrought with threats, heartache, danger, betrayal, and drama. Then an incident occurred that will put Aurelia and his family’s life in danger. The threat is now more discernible than ever after the incident happened. I was thinking this story was going to go one way when BAM—out of nowhere it turns! There are several twists and turns within the story that will tempt the characters in ways they could have never envisioned. What happens next? Well, read this amazing story and find out. Penelope Sky delivered a powerful and emotional, intense, and all-consuming story that left me obsessed. You won’t regret reading THE BREAKER (Book 3).