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The Firm #4
Allegiant
Some ghosts never stop haunting you.
Mine wears the face of the only boy who ever knew the real me.
His blood stains my conscience, and the guilt I carry keeps everyone in my life at arm's length. I don't deserve love. I don't deserve forgiveness. After what I've done, I only deserve the darkness.
Then a handsome lumberjack of a stranger walks into my dance studio. And I crave him. I need him.
Not to save me, or to fix me. I need him to help me forget. Just for a little while. Samson Buckingham is the perfect distraction.
But getting involved is dangerous. Not because of his family ties or the violence he's clearly capable of, but because I promised myself I'd never let anyone get close again. And Samson is the only man who could make me risk unearthing the parts of me long buried…
Mine wears the face of the only boy who ever knew the real me.
His blood stains my conscience, and the guilt I carry keeps everyone in my life at arm's length. I don't deserve love. I don't deserve forgiveness. After what I've done, I only deserve the darkness.
Then a handsome lumberjack of a stranger walks into my dance studio. And I crave him. I need him.
Not to save me, or to fix me. I need him to help me forget. Just for a little while. Samson Buckingham is the perfect distraction.
But getting involved is dangerous. Not because of his family ties or the violence he's clearly capable of, but because I promised myself I'd never let anyone get close again. And Samson is the only man who could make me risk unearthing the parts of me long buried…
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2026
About the author
Cora Rose
49 books3,274 followersCora Rose loves any kind of romance and consumes way too many books each year. She currently lives in the U.S. and spends her days daydreaming about the characters inside her head.
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
He’s built exactly how I like my bed partners. Tall, dark, and with enough danger to make a sensible man think twice. I am not a sensible man.
Beautiful and talented dancer Rowan is consumed by guilt after the death of his best friend. He's barely making it through his days when he meets Samson, the perfect distraction. Samson's gorgeous, gentle, kind, and fantastic in bed- just what Rowan needs. What Rowan doesn't realize that they only met because Samson's there to kill him.
Every time I’m happy, life takes it away from me.
As Samson gets to know Rowan, he can't deny his attraction to his little dancer. He starts to question whether Rowan really deserves to die for his role in his friend's murder. And yet Samson can't help but recognize Rowan's feelings of guilt and depression over what happened.
I’m falling for a man I can’t have. He’s too good. Too good for me. And I don’t deserve anything good. This has to end before someone gets hurt.
This book shows what happens when a protector (Samson) meets a caretaker (Rowan). The love and care they had for each other was adorable. They're both sweethearts and I enjoyed their love story. The only part that felt out of place was the juvenile humour with weird unhinged behaviour during family game nights, strange side characters and potty humour. It's an odd juxtaposition with this serious crime family of assassins torturing their foes.... and the inane ways they interact with each other as a family. I guess it's comedic relief from the darker aspects of the romance, but for me personally they detracted somewhat from the overall coherence of the story. For those who like their dark romance on the lighter side, I think those aspects of the story will appeal.
I turn back to stare at him, this wonderful, perfect creature. And I wonder how I got so lucky. How I’m going to make him stay.
I really liked Rowan's character. His struggles with grief were very visceral and raw. And of course, the preview for the next couple has me hooked yet again!
Rating: 3.5 stars
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 2/5
Poop jokes/references: 5 (none related to human feces)
I received an advance copy of this book from the authors and this is my honest review.
August 29, 2026
I knew this book was going to be chaotic the moment I remembered Samson trying to learn how to dance with axes in the previous book.
I loved the depth beneath the surface. Samson is such a different person when he's away from his intimidating family. Him embracing "softer" interests without shame was beautiful. Rowan creating that safe space for him was really sweet. I also really appreciated how Samson helped Rowan work through his own grief and guilt in return.
Of course, we always have the unhinged family game nights. They have me cracking up every time. Harley never fails to put something in his mouth. I adored our grumpy snarky elderly side characters as well. Dotty with her spray bottle and Larry with his cane were hilarious.
I already can't wait for Harley's wild ride in the next book!
I loved the depth beneath the surface. Samson is such a different person when he's away from his intimidating family. Him embracing "softer" interests without shame was beautiful. Rowan creating that safe space for him was really sweet. I also really appreciated how Samson helped Rowan work through his own grief and guilt in return.
Of course, we always have the unhinged family game nights. They have me cracking up every time. Harley never fails to put something in his mouth. I adored our grumpy snarky elderly side characters as well. Dotty with her spray bottle and Larry with his cane were hilarious.
I already can't wait for Harley's wild ride in the next book!
Want to Read
April 9, 2026pleaseee be about Dalton & Jackson pleaseeeeee
Read
March 30, 2026genuinely so poorly written, it almost had me go back to the first two novels and see if i was just insane when i said they were enjoyable. i still might just because i miss the certain. je ne sais quois those ones had….something about this felt so ridiculous to me and i knowwww the very premise and nature of the series is supposed to be ridiculous like with the exception of harley + jules and wyatt + matthias it’s insta love at its finest! but the believable and sweet darling connection between the mc’s is what CARRIES the book and this one just did not hit in the slightest. also why do we keep tiptoeing around the abuse the buckinghams faced. it was so straight up in the first one but slowly we’ve just gone to “he was a bad man…” well he was abusive. can we start to say that again.
anyway i did skip like five pages here and there bc i lost interest in their chapters i just did not care! i SKIMMED that big gesture public declaration and let me tell you embarrassing yourself like that is NEVER going to win me over you are NOT heath ledger in 10 things i hate about you get OFF that stage stop it. i really don’t know something about this read was just not good. and not in a fun way. the insta love grated on me and the way we slowly and slowly just lose the plot of their whole murder family business is like Okay. whatever. overall, just not a fan! which is sad! #ididmytimeandididnotenjoyit
will say i DIDDD enjoy the harleyjules crumbs i WILL be tuning in the way that epilogue gave their story depth almost immediately was like woagh. they’re not just in love and not acting on it…… but the namedrop of the other two families makes me think we’re in a long haul of interconnected standalone after this series finishes…will keep my eyes out if they’re decent or not…
pre review: if this isn't harley's book im deleting my review and im serious. idc about anyone else in that family if he doesnt bag jules and i get to read about their lovely sweetie love story soon i dont know what ill do.
anyway i did skip like five pages here and there bc i lost interest in their chapters i just did not care! i SKIMMED that big gesture public declaration and let me tell you embarrassing yourself like that is NEVER going to win me over you are NOT heath ledger in 10 things i hate about you get OFF that stage stop it. i really don’t know something about this read was just not good. and not in a fun way. the insta love grated on me and the way we slowly and slowly just lose the plot of their whole murder family business is like Okay. whatever. overall, just not a fan! which is sad! #ididmytimeandididnotenjoyit
will say i DIDDD enjoy the harleyjules crumbs i WILL be tuning in the way that epilogue gave their story depth almost immediately was like woagh. they’re not just in love and not acting on it…… but the namedrop of the other two families makes me think we’re in a long haul of interconnected standalone after this series finishes…will keep my eyes out if they’re decent or not…
pre review: if this isn't harley's book im deleting my review and im serious. idc about anyone else in that family if he doesnt bag jules and i get to read about their lovely sweetie love story soon i dont know what ill do.
September 19, 2026
4/5 ⭐
I really like this book, it’s the best one in the series, even though I don’t like how quickly feelings develop, this book executed it in a way that made me lose track of time.
I really like this book, it’s the best one in the series, even though I don’t like how quickly feelings develop, this book executed it in a way that made me lose track of time.
September 6, 2026
unfortunately this was the weakest book in the series for me. Definitely does not mean it’s bad, just didn’t hit quite as hard as the other books. I, however did love the relationship between Roman and Samson’s family!!! I looooved the new connections like Harley and Row, with Ansel and Neo!! It was soo sweet. I even loved Jules and row and it made the betrayal feel 10 times worse when it finally came out. I was definitely crying with row at that point.
But the relationship between the two main characters didn’t hold my attention much. Most probably a me thing though so I wouldn’t recommend against it.
The CRUMBS of dalton and JACKSON. YUM. HELP. NEED. MORE.
I’m soooo exited for Harley and jules!!!
But the relationship between the two main characters didn’t hold my attention much. Most probably a me thing though so I wouldn’t recommend against it.
The CRUMBS of dalton and JACKSON. YUM. HELP. NEED. MORE.
I’m soooo exited for Harley and jules!!!
September 15, 2026
It's interesting that Samson got his romance before Harley and Jules as they were so established by this point but we were just meeting Rowan for the first time in this book. Not that I wasn't excited for Samson and his love interest, but wow these ladies are holding out on us on our most anticipated couples, Harley/Jules and Dalton/Jackson!
Anywho, Samson is perhaps the most "strong and silent" type of all the brothers, except for maybe Wylder. Although Samson seems even more silent than Wylder, so that's why he fits the bill so perfectly.
When he's sent to kill Rowan when they're asked as The Firm by someone who thinks he killed Adam - who was Rowan's best friend - Samson knows pretty soon into knowing him that he can't do it, he can't kill Rowan.
Rowan is a sweet, kind dancer who bakes for the other people in his dancing group, who is always sweet to them, encouraging and happy to praise them instead of the cliche of backstabbing and jealousy you think of often with dancing/theater type things.
He doesn't seem the type to murder someone, especially his best friend.
And he didn't, but he blames himself so heavily for it that to himself he may as well have. And sure, perhaps he was a bit self involved at the time, but he couldn't have known Adam's stalker would escalate to murdering him that very night. We later find out Adam's sister, Adi, ignored two calls from Adam that night as well and blames herself too. They could go back and forth on it, but the one at fault is his murderer.
We only see Adam in flashes of flashback from Rowan and him and Adi talking about him, but it's plain to see that he was a sweet, loving guy who had something horrific happen to him.
This did a really good job of doing so much with so little. Any more of Adam and I would have been a sobbing mess. What we did get of him really did show such a sweet guy and he was horrifically murdered by this psychopath who stalks and kills young men. Thankfully we didn't get enough of Adam for it to hit too bad and it was mostly through Rowan and his grief that we get to know Adam at all.
He and Adam were like brothers, they were never romantic, but they were like platonic soulmates and them not being romantic doesn't take away from the grief and devastation Rowan deals with day in and day out.
He thinks so badly of himself but really he's just a sweetie pie who has been dealt some really bad shit in his life. Losing his parents in a car accident at twenty, losing Adam some years later.
It's made him jaded and scared to have anything more in his life, but Samson comes along and blows that all out of the water.
Samson is the second oldest brother and so one of the ones to get the worst of it from his father. Learning that he used to be pretty sweet and sensitive and that he used to carry around a stuffed animal until his father burned it after their mother died and then beat a lot of his softness out of him was sad to read.
But he still has some of that in him, that only really starts to come out around Rowan. Rowan changes everything for Samson, who didn't get close to many in his life - seems he's just close to his brothers and even then he's still pretty stoic - but with Rowan he starts to let go pretty quickly.
I did enjoy these two a lot and they had great chemistry. They were so sweet together and I did absolutely love Samson's over the top possessiveness. I'm ALWAYS a sucker for that trope.
There was just a few things that bothered me, and made me give this one star off.
The big one being how Rowan reacted to finding out, from 3 separate people that they either: A) Lied to him, B) Tried to kill him, or C) were an assassin, or a combination of all 3.
Now did I think he had a reason to be angry at Samson and the rest of the Buckingham's? Yes. About the intent to kill him and then never telling him about it. Especially by Samson. About them being The Firm and not telling him immediately? Eh, no. That I don't get his problem with, as he and Samson know each other for a few weeks and then he barely knows the whole family for like...what a week or so? before he finds out.
Like I'm sorry but no, they can't know you're trustworthy right away and they DO need time to trust you, man, especially with a secret that big and they're fucking assassins. Like who expects people to just come out and say "I'm assassin, I kill people for a living and pretty brutally sometimes" LIKE?! What did Rowan expect? Maybe if it had been months, years, but know this was like a week, a few weeks with Samson. Like give me a BREAK, Rowan!
And to be fair, Samson DID say he was an assassin to Rowan several times and Rowan just didn't take him seriously. If he had paused and said more, would Rowan have believed him then? Eh, maybe not? He accuses Samson of not expanding on hiss "I'm an assassin" statement and fair, but after your reaction, my man, would you really have believed him or taken it well? HMMM....
But the thing that pissed me off the most about this is that he IMMEDIATELY forgive Adi after she fucking but he's angry at Samson??? He's all "oh she wasn't well, it was understandable" NO?! Grief doesn't give you a pass to try to ???? hakfhaskfh like if Samson hadn't been so taken with Rowan, he would have killed him and like!!!
And he he finds out his friend next door, Larry, is an assassin as well - retired, but still an assassin and was active for years which meant he killed people FOR YEARS - as part of the equivalent of The Firm on the east coast, as part of another family (spin-off series, here we come!) - and he just...gets over that. After he gets angry at Samson for being assassin, he's fine with Larry being one? AND lying to him about it for months if not years? FAR longer than Samson lied about it?! WHAT IS THIS LOGIC?! Because he isn't killing people NOW he's okay? Doesn't mean he didn't murder many people in the past! FUcking hell, Rowan!
I wanted to shake him. It was SO stupid. I would have accepted his anger at Samson and the whole family more if he'd been just as angry at Adi and Larry. It would have been justified and made a lot of sense. Instead Rowan comes off hypocritical and ridiculous for forgiving those two for essentially the same thing as with Samson and his family.
And if he forgives Adi and Larry just because they didn't mean as much to him as Samson and his family...yikes for Adi and Larry? Lmao like damn! Not such good friends, then?
Anyway, that whole part of this book pissed me off - Rowan pissed me off with his faulty ass logic - and I couldn't get passed it. I don't know WHY he couldn't stay angry at ALL 3 parties! Like what? And then learning that that was just a bit much for me. Like have him angry at all 3 or none of them. There is no in between to me. Adi and Larry were both close friends of his, he should be as angry and unforgiving as with Samson/The Buckinghams and their partners.
He knows them for less time than Adi and Larry though and had a harder time forgiving them lol sucks to suck Adi and Larry!
Anyway, also he does eventually get passed his issues and forgives Samson but I felt it kind of came out of nowhere? He was so stubbornly holding onto his fear, and then he just lets it go because it just was a weak way to come about him getting passed his issues and forgiving Samson in my opinion.
I also felt like a lot of the sex scenes were written by wrote. They were just kind of phoning it in for most of them. I wanted more passion and details with their sex scenes. And aside from a few, they just...weren't. It was very quick and glossed over.
Also, I will always dislike when authors do this - the epilogue being about Harley and Jules and not THIS couple. Like just make that epilogue the prologue of the next book - WHY are we putting a whole new couple as the epilogue? STOP doing that, authors! This book is about Samson and Rowan and it should END with Samson and Rowan for fucks sake. Putting the next couple for the next book in the epilogue is such a cheap gimmick in my opinion. I hate with authors do it with such a passion.
I'm excited as fuck for Jules and Harley but I'm more pissed than happy to get what is essentially their prologue and now having to wait months to read more of their story.
So yeah, all that bothered me and I had to give this a star off. I was considered just .5 stars off for Rowan's weird logic and how that bothered me, but then I had those two other problems (and little niggles here and there under the umbrella of Rowan's logic problem with Adi and Larry) and it just felt more fitting to give this a star off.
Samson and Rowan, overall, were great characters (Rowan truly is a great character outside of his stupidity near the climax) and I did love them together, vague sex scenes aside. Their chemistry still carried this story and the few detailed sex scenes we got with them were great.
Overall, this could have been better but it was still a solid entry in this series. And also I loved that they were strict, I love when I come across a strict roles couple which is so few an far between these days (especially with Cora Rose who loves having her couples switch or the bigger be the bottom) and I think these are the first strict couple of the series so far.
I'm excited for Harley and Jules all the same, and we've been waiting for their story since like book 1, so it's finally coming and I can't wait to read it.
Until then! 😘
My Ratings for The Firm Series:
✨ Covenant: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Deviant: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Vigilant: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Allegiant: 4 stars
Anywho, Samson is perhaps the most "strong and silent" type of all the brothers, except for maybe Wylder. Although Samson seems even more silent than Wylder, so that's why he fits the bill so perfectly.
When he's sent to kill Rowan when they're asked as The Firm by someone who thinks he killed Adam - who was Rowan's best friend - Samson knows pretty soon into knowing him that he can't do it, he can't kill Rowan.
Rowan is a sweet, kind dancer who bakes for the other people in his dancing group, who is always sweet to them, encouraging and happy to praise them instead of the cliche of backstabbing and jealousy you think of often with dancing/theater type things.
He doesn't seem the type to murder someone, especially his best friend.
And he didn't, but he blames himself so heavily for it that to himself he may as well have. And sure, perhaps he was a bit self involved at the time, but he couldn't have known Adam's stalker would escalate to murdering him that very night. We later find out Adam's sister, Adi, ignored two calls from Adam that night as well and blames herself too. They could go back and forth on it, but the one at fault is his murderer.
We only see Adam in flashes of flashback from Rowan and him and Adi talking about him, but it's plain to see that he was a sweet, loving guy who had something horrific happen to him.
This did a really good job of doing so much with so little. Any more of Adam and I would have been a sobbing mess. What we did get of him really did show such a sweet guy and he was horrifically murdered by this psychopath who stalks and kills young men. Thankfully we didn't get enough of Adam for it to hit too bad and it was mostly through Rowan and his grief that we get to know Adam at all.
He and Adam were like brothers, they were never romantic, but they were like platonic soulmates and them not being romantic doesn't take away from the grief and devastation Rowan deals with day in and day out.
He thinks so badly of himself but really he's just a sweetie pie who has been dealt some really bad shit in his life. Losing his parents in a car accident at twenty, losing Adam some years later.
It's made him jaded and scared to have anything more in his life, but Samson comes along and blows that all out of the water.
Samson is the second oldest brother and so one of the ones to get the worst of it from his father. Learning that he used to be pretty sweet and sensitive and that he used to carry around a stuffed animal until his father burned it after their mother died and then beat a lot of his softness out of him was sad to read.
But he still has some of that in him, that only really starts to come out around Rowan. Rowan changes everything for Samson, who didn't get close to many in his life - seems he's just close to his brothers and even then he's still pretty stoic - but with Rowan he starts to let go pretty quickly.
I did enjoy these two a lot and they had great chemistry. They were so sweet together and I did absolutely love Samson's over the top possessiveness. I'm ALWAYS a sucker for that trope.
There was just a few things that bothered me, and made me give this one star off.
The big one being how Rowan reacted to finding out, from 3 separate people that they either: A) Lied to him, B) Tried to kill him, or C) were an assassin, or a combination of all 3.
Now did I think he had a reason to be angry at Samson and the rest of the Buckingham's? Yes. About the intent to kill him and then never telling him about it. Especially by Samson. About them being The Firm and not telling him immediately? Eh, no. That I don't get his problem with, as he and Samson know each other for a few weeks and then he barely knows the whole family for like...what a week or so? before he finds out.
Like I'm sorry but no, they can't know you're trustworthy right away and they DO need time to trust you, man, especially with a secret that big and they're fucking assassins. Like who expects people to just come out and say "I'm assassin, I kill people for a living and pretty brutally sometimes" LIKE?! What did Rowan expect? Maybe if it had been months, years, but know this was like a week, a few weeks with Samson. Like give me a BREAK, Rowan!
And to be fair, Samson DID say he was an assassin to Rowan several times and Rowan just didn't take him seriously. If he had paused and said more, would Rowan have believed him then? Eh, maybe not? He accuses Samson of not expanding on hiss "I'm an assassin" statement and fair, but after your reaction, my man, would you really have believed him or taken it well? HMMM....
But the thing that pissed me off the most about this is that he IMMEDIATELY forgive Adi after she fucking but he's angry at Samson??? He's all "oh she wasn't well, it was understandable" NO?! Grief doesn't give you a pass to try to ???? hakfhaskfh like if Samson hadn't been so taken with Rowan, he would have killed him and like!!!
And he he finds out his friend next door, Larry, is an assassin as well - retired, but still an assassin and was active for years which meant he killed people FOR YEARS - as part of the equivalent of The Firm on the east coast, as part of another family (spin-off series, here we come!) - and he just...gets over that. After he gets angry at Samson for being assassin, he's fine with Larry being one? AND lying to him about it for months if not years? FAR longer than Samson lied about it?! WHAT IS THIS LOGIC?! Because he isn't killing people NOW he's okay? Doesn't mean he didn't murder many people in the past! FUcking hell, Rowan!
I wanted to shake him. It was SO stupid. I would have accepted his anger at Samson and the whole family more if he'd been just as angry at Adi and Larry. It would have been justified and made a lot of sense. Instead Rowan comes off hypocritical and ridiculous for forgiving those two for essentially the same thing as with Samson and his family.
And if he forgives Adi and Larry just because they didn't mean as much to him as Samson and his family...yikes for Adi and Larry? Lmao like damn! Not such good friends, then?
Anyway, that whole part of this book pissed me off - Rowan pissed me off with his faulty ass logic - and I couldn't get passed it. I don't know WHY he couldn't stay angry at ALL 3 parties! Like what? And then learning that that was just a bit much for me. Like have him angry at all 3 or none of them. There is no in between to me. Adi and Larry were both close friends of his, he should be as angry and unforgiving as with Samson/The Buckinghams and their partners.
He knows them for less time than Adi and Larry though and had a harder time forgiving them lol sucks to suck Adi and Larry!
Anyway, also he does eventually get passed his issues and forgives Samson but I felt it kind of came out of nowhere? He was so stubbornly holding onto his fear, and then he just lets it go because it just was a weak way to come about him getting passed his issues and forgiving Samson in my opinion.
I also felt like a lot of the sex scenes were written by wrote. They were just kind of phoning it in for most of them. I wanted more passion and details with their sex scenes. And aside from a few, they just...weren't. It was very quick and glossed over.
Also, I will always dislike when authors do this - the epilogue being about Harley and Jules and not THIS couple. Like just make that epilogue the prologue of the next book - WHY are we putting a whole new couple as the epilogue? STOP doing that, authors! This book is about Samson and Rowan and it should END with Samson and Rowan for fucks sake. Putting the next couple for the next book in the epilogue is such a cheap gimmick in my opinion. I hate with authors do it with such a passion.
I'm excited as fuck for Jules and Harley but I'm more pissed than happy to get what is essentially their prologue and now having to wait months to read more of their story.
So yeah, all that bothered me and I had to give this a star off. I was considered just .5 stars off for Rowan's weird logic and how that bothered me, but then I had those two other problems (and little niggles here and there under the umbrella of Rowan's logic problem with Adi and Larry) and it just felt more fitting to give this a star off.
Samson and Rowan, overall, were great characters (Rowan truly is a great character outside of his stupidity near the climax) and I did love them together, vague sex scenes aside. Their chemistry still carried this story and the few detailed sex scenes we got with them were great.
Overall, this could have been better but it was still a solid entry in this series. And also I loved that they were strict, I love when I come across a strict roles couple which is so few an far between these days (especially with Cora Rose who loves having her couples switch or the bigger be the bottom) and I think these are the first strict couple of the series so far.
I'm excited for Harley and Jules all the same, and we've been waiting for their story since like book 1, so it's finally coming and I can't wait to read it.
Until then! 😘
My Ratings for The Firm Series:
✨ Covenant: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Deviant: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Vigilant: 4.5 stars (my review)
✨ Allegiant: 4 stars
September 13, 2026
I had high hopes for Samson and his HEA. It started out well but devolved into a whiny mess. Rowan was just so annoying with his self pity and whiny behavior. It got tiresome. It was very anti climactic when the Adam thing came to a head. Meh.
The best part of this book was the Jules and Harley part at the very very end, now that book should be epic! They are next. Sorry Dalton and Jackson fans you are going to have to wait even longer for that HEA. AND potential spinoff alert 🚨 to The Firm… The Windsors
The best part of this book was the Jules and Harley part at the very very end, now that book should be epic! They are next. Sorry Dalton and Jackson fans you are going to have to wait even longer for that HEA. AND potential spinoff alert 🚨 to The Firm… The Windsors
September 17, 2026
DNF @86%
September 12, 2026
Poor Rowan is really going through it when he meets Samson-the grief he is experiencing over the death of his best friend is so raw & felt so real, it had me heartbroken for him. And the way the guilt he was living with was so crushing, I just felt so bad for him. And then we have Samson, Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome who has sworn he’ll never fall in love (which he basically does at first sight of Rowan). Things start off hot & heavy, but both of them are reluctant to really open up due to different reasons (Samson because Rowan is literally his mark, & Rowan believing he deserves no happiness in due to his supposed role in the death of his best friend).
Things got complicated quick, but their journey to trusting each other is something beautiful, as is the found family in here of course. Rowan’s sunshine caretaker personality & Samson’s broody protector one fit perfectly together. & I adore all the Buckingham brothers & their crazy selves! I loved the ending & how the whole family won Rowan back over. Neo & Ansel becoming his besties was so freakin sweet, when Rowan walked away before it had me crying a lil 😭
Loved the side characters also-Dotty of course & then we’re introduced to Larry who is a hoot! Looking forward to the next book. I need Jules & Harley expeditiously, that preview of them made me sick!
Some things to expect:
🩰Grumpy/Sunshine
🔪Assassin/Dancer
🩰Hurt/Comfort
🔪Stalking
🩰Found Family
🔪Touch Him and Die
🩰Secret Society
My fav parts:
“You give me hope for a life I thought was out of reach. One where I can dance. Laugh. Love. I want all of it. And I want it with you.”
“My name is Samson Buckingham, and I have always loved dancing. I got it from my mom. Never was any good at it, but did it anyway. I was taught to hide it away, to be ashamed of it. And then I met someone—the lead in this show, Rowan Mitchell—and fell in love all over again. With dance, with music, with him.”
“You were worth waiting for,” he says huskily. “I’d go through every minute again, every second, if it means ending up with you at my side. I love you, Rowan Mitchell.”
Thank you so much for the review copy-these are my honest thoughts!
Things got complicated quick, but their journey to trusting each other is something beautiful, as is the found family in here of course. Rowan’s sunshine caretaker personality & Samson’s broody protector one fit perfectly together. & I adore all the Buckingham brothers & their crazy selves! I loved the ending & how the whole family won Rowan back over. Neo & Ansel becoming his besties was so freakin sweet, when Rowan walked away before it had me crying a lil 😭
Loved the side characters also-Dotty of course & then we’re introduced to Larry who is a hoot! Looking forward to the next book. I need Jules & Harley expeditiously, that preview of them made me sick!
Some things to expect:
🩰Grumpy/Sunshine
🔪Assassin/Dancer
🩰Hurt/Comfort
🔪Stalking
🩰Found Family
🔪Touch Him and Die
🩰Secret Society
My fav parts:
“You give me hope for a life I thought was out of reach. One where I can dance. Laugh. Love. I want all of it. And I want it with you.”
“My name is Samson Buckingham, and I have always loved dancing. I got it from my mom. Never was any good at it, but did it anyway. I was taught to hide it away, to be ashamed of it. And then I met someone—the lead in this show, Rowan Mitchell—and fell in love all over again. With dance, with music, with him.”
“You were worth waiting for,” he says huskily. “I’d go through every minute again, every second, if it means ending up with you at my side. I love you, Rowan Mitchell.”
Thank you so much for the review copy-these are my honest thoughts!
September 9, 2026
Allegiant was such a fun read! I really enjoyed reading about Samson and Rowan. Also always love the cameos of the brothers and their partners, they are hilarious.
I especially enjoyed the mix of romance, angst, and emotional moments. There’s plenty happening throughout the story, but the relationships the highlight and such a strong part of the book. I loved how they shared dancing, I thought that was cute.
Overall, this was an entertaining and fun read with characters I enjoyed getting to know. There are some struggles and darker parts but it is well balanced. A solid 4 star read for me, and I’m definitely looking forward to more from these authors! I have been waiting for Jules and Harley’s book, I can’t wait.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I especially enjoyed the mix of romance, angst, and emotional moments. There’s plenty happening throughout the story, but the relationships the highlight and such a strong part of the book. I loved how they shared dancing, I thought that was cute.
Overall, this was an entertaining and fun read with characters I enjoyed getting to know. There are some struggles and darker parts but it is well balanced. A solid 4 star read for me, and I’m definitely looking forward to more from these authors! I have been waiting for Jules and Harley’s book, I can’t wait.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
September 10, 2026
I say this after every book in The Firm series, but I absolutely love the Buckingham family.
Samson was so incredibly sweet. He was like a big, dancing teddy bear when it came to Rowan. He was so lovable, and everything he did to prove his love for Rowan made my heart melt.
Rowan, geez… the guilt and sadness he carried was heartbreaking. He deserved all the happiness in the world.
What I’d do to be part of the Buckingham family game nights! They are absolutely hilarious and so entertaining. Seeing the family interact and step up for each other was really beautiful. As crazy as they all are, their father didn’t destroy the love they have for one another.
Now, that epilogue… my jaw hit the ground! Some questions were answered, but now I’m even more excited for the next book. And this one is the book I’ve been the most excited for, so I honestly cannot wait!
Samson was so incredibly sweet. He was like a big, dancing teddy bear when it came to Rowan. He was so lovable, and everything he did to prove his love for Rowan made my heart melt.
Rowan, geez… the guilt and sadness he carried was heartbreaking. He deserved all the happiness in the world.
What I’d do to be part of the Buckingham family game nights! They are absolutely hilarious and so entertaining. Seeing the family interact and step up for each other was really beautiful. As crazy as they all are, their father didn’t destroy the love they have for one another.
Now, that epilogue… my jaw hit the ground! Some questions were answered, but now I’m even more excited for the next book. And this one is the book I’ve been the most excited for, so I honestly cannot wait!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A MM romance with Assassin x Dancer, Grumpy/Sunshine, Hurt/Comfort, a Secret society, Dark themes but Sweet love, Found family, fun-est climax & HEA!
Their love for dance brings them together ❤️. I loved Samson & Rowan, devoured my #ARC in 13hrs! I love this family 😁.
🪩Samson is in The Firm, one of the assassin brothers. He's a quiet, broody, short-tempered grump; one who's not put away from killing. But S is also thoughtful, protective & cute. He may be an awkward dancer but his love, passion & vulnerability for it shines.
🪩Rowan is a Dancer. Despite being a lead, he's poor (I wondered why, but it must be the pay cuts...). R thinks life takes away whatever makes him happy 🥲. After his bestie's death, R's filled with guilt & looks for distractions. R's sunny, caring, sweet, traumatized but fierce too, stands up for what he believes in. His doggo is chaos 🤣.
R was meant to be S's mark, but their love for dance & the hot attraction changed it all. Poor S is conflicted, but it didn't take him long to get focused 😏. S+R are sweet together, even if R fears it can't go on 😅. The way they care & encourage eachother, teased & defended, ugh cute. Sexy dancing is GREAT.
I had a feeling this'll turn into murder mystery as past got revealed. But that part was taken up by hacker team, so the book majorly focuses on relationship (duh) & family. We got clues for next couples too 😳. R's reaction was realistic to finding it all out 😅. This series is filled with 3rd act drama! But omg, this had the fun-nest, emotional climax ever 🥹. I'm glad we got revenge & healing! R got a family again 😭. Omg, Jules was hiding so much, I'm excited for his book!!
Story Ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Enjoyed? —> YES!! 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥲🤣🥹😳🥰😍😁😅😈😤🤪🥳😞😭🤔😩😬🥵🤗😏
4) Steamy scenes: 3/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.5/5
Angst/Emotions: 3/5
Dark: 2.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Dance lovers, Mark to Love) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5
Their love for dance brings them together ❤️. I loved Samson & Rowan, devoured my #ARC in 13hrs! I love this family 😁.
🪩Samson is in The Firm, one of the assassin brothers. He's a quiet, broody, short-tempered grump; one who's not put away from killing. But S is also thoughtful, protective & cute. He may be an awkward dancer but his love, passion & vulnerability for it shines.
🪩Rowan is a Dancer. Despite being a lead, he's poor (I wondered why, but it must be the pay cuts...). R thinks life takes away whatever makes him happy 🥲. After his bestie's death, R's filled with guilt & looks for distractions. R's sunny, caring, sweet, traumatized but fierce too, stands up for what he believes in. His doggo is chaos 🤣.
R was meant to be S's mark, but their love for dance & the hot attraction changed it all. Poor S is conflicted, but it didn't take him long to get focused 😏. S+R are sweet together, even if R fears it can't go on 😅. The way they care & encourage eachother, teased & defended, ugh cute. Sexy dancing is GREAT.
I had a feeling this'll turn into murder mystery as past got revealed. But that part was taken up by hacker team, so the book majorly focuses on relationship (duh) & family. We got clues for next couples too 😳. R's reaction was realistic to finding it all out 😅. This series is filled with 3rd act drama! But omg, this had the fun-nest, emotional climax ever 🥹. I'm glad we got revenge & healing! R got a family again 😭. Omg, Jules was hiding so much, I'm excited for his book!!
Story Ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Enjoyed? —> YES!! 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥲🤣🥹😳🥰😍😁😅😈😤🤪🥳😞😭🤔😩😬🥵🤗😏
4) Steamy scenes: 3/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.5/5
Angst/Emotions: 3/5
Dark: 2.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Dance lovers, Mark to Love) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5
September 14, 2026
2 stars. This was the book I was most excited for from this series. Samson was my favorite brother, but this book was BORING. Something about the dynamic was uninteresting to me, and the plot was really stupid I’m ngl. Them bonding over dancing was sleep-inducing 😭 Now I’m just waiting for Dalton and Jackson’s book atp…
September 10, 2026
Allegiant is another great addition to Cora Rose and Lark Taylor's The Firm series! This is Samson and Rowan's story.
I’ve been intrigued by the quieter, angrier Samson Buckingham from the beginning, so I loved finally getting underneath all of that brooding and seeing the very different man he lets Rowan discover.
And Rowan absolutely broke my heart. He carries so much grief and guilt that watching these two slowly become somewhere safe for each other was surprisingly emotional, for a book that starts with the fairly significant problem of Samson being sent to terminate him!
There’s plenty of spice, danger and morally questionable behaviour, but I loved the softer moments between them, particularly their connection through dancing, and of course the completely unhinged Buckingham family dynamic!
Emotional, funny, hot and just the right amount of dark. Can't wait to catch up with Harley and Jules (finally!) next.
4 unhinged stars ⭐
I’ve been intrigued by the quieter, angrier Samson Buckingham from the beginning, so I loved finally getting underneath all of that brooding and seeing the very different man he lets Rowan discover.
And Rowan absolutely broke my heart. He carries so much grief and guilt that watching these two slowly become somewhere safe for each other was surprisingly emotional, for a book that starts with the fairly significant problem of Samson being sent to terminate him!
There’s plenty of spice, danger and morally questionable behaviour, but I loved the softer moments between them, particularly their connection through dancing, and of course the completely unhinged Buckingham family dynamic!
Emotional, funny, hot and just the right amount of dark. Can't wait to catch up with Harley and Jules (finally!) next.
4 unhinged stars ⭐
September 10, 2026
WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT ENDING OMGGGGG I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL 2027 FOR THE NEXT BOOK
I absolutely loved this book. Lark & Cora absolutely nail the epilogues where they give some insight into the main characters of the next book and the gist of the plot, and I was so bloody excited for Samson & Rowan's romance after the epilogue in Vigilant -- literally took the day off work today so I could binge-read this with no interruptions.
I do feel like this book was a touch sadder/had more trauma than the previous books because we are dealing with the off-page murder of Rowan's friend and then Rowan's emotional trauma in the aftermath, and that alone made me so sad but also gave us the initial meeting point for our two MMCs.
And the found family aspect between Rowan, Ansel, Neo, and especially Harley?? Ugh, obsessed.
This book also touched FANTASTICALLY on Dalton & Jackson's ever-changing dynamic, I'm so keen to read about what's in store for them. And the change in Harley & Jules' dynamic as well? Author, I am HOOKED. ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. I AM IN MOURNING. And I have no clue what book to delve into next to solve this problem.
I am so damn excited for Piquant 😍😍
In summary:
I absolutely loved this book. Lark & Cora absolutely nail the epilogues where they give some insight into the main characters of the next book and the gist of the plot, and I was so bloody excited for Samson & Rowan's romance after the epilogue in Vigilant -- literally took the day off work today so I could binge-read this with no interruptions.
I do feel like this book was a touch sadder/had more trauma than the previous books because we are dealing with the off-page murder of Rowan's friend and then Rowan's emotional trauma in the aftermath, and that alone made me so sad but also gave us the initial meeting point for our two MMCs.
And the found family aspect between Rowan, Ansel, Neo, and especially Harley?? Ugh, obsessed.
This book also touched FANTASTICALLY on Dalton & Jackson's ever-changing dynamic, I'm so keen to read about what's in store for them. And the change in Harley & Jules' dynamic as well? Author, I am HOOKED. ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. I AM IN MOURNING. And I have no clue what book to delve into next to solve this problem.
I am so damn excited for Piquant 😍😍
In summary:
September 25, 2026
Jezus Fk this book was a roller-coaster in the craziest most awesome way.
The way Samson made me fall in love with him was so unexpected I am still in shock. Not because he doesn't deserve my love, oh, he definitely does, but because I never expected to have such a soft spot for Samson of all the brothers.
Rowan, oh, our little dancer Rowan, our broken boy, I want to give him everything his heart desires because he deserves it.
This book has both plot and character development, no surprise here since this whole series is like this. This is one of the reasons why I am so obsessed with it.
Samson's and Rowan's meet cute was, in Rowan's words, sinister, which... fair, but I feel like it was so fitting for them. The torment Rowan was going through needed an outlet, and Samson was the perfect target for all that. Both Row and Samson have gentle souls, and Row needed someone with the same kind of energy to bring him back from that dark place he fell into. What happened to him was one of the worst things that could happen to someone, but with Samson's love and the Buckingham's care he was able to come back to himself. To his true self.
The (found) family in this series is one of my favs ever, and I can't believe we're two books away from saying goodbye. Also, that ending? What the....???? I did NOT expect that.
This family is the perfect brand of crazy, and I love them so much its not even funny. The way all of them groveled to get Rowan back had be crying. Samson? OK, understandable, but ALL of them? 😭 stooop.
Seeing Rowan heal, and then help Samson heal parts of himself as well was absolutely beautiful. As I said, gentle souls and all that. I seriously can't with how much I love them.
Ah, and Neo's shenanigans? Omg, hilarious. The way Ansel, Neo and Harley made Rowan part of their group was heartwarming. They are the best of friends and Rowan deserve the best, we already established that.
Also, did Larry's presence hinted at another part of the universe? Are we gonna meet The Order too in a future series? Jfc, I hope so. Also, Dotty, you minx, I love you.
4.75✨️. I loved everything about this book. Everything, BUT... As I mentioned in my other reviews, as a standalone this would be a 5✨️ no questions asked, but compared to Wyatt and Matthias' story... Idk, I can't. Those two have a hold on my soul like no other so the best I can do is give this beauty a 4.75. Close to perfection, but Wyatt and Mathias said no.
I can't wait to finally read about Jules and Harley. I NEED THAT BOOK ASAP. 😭😭😭
The way Samson made me fall in love with him was so unexpected I am still in shock. Not because he doesn't deserve my love, oh, he definitely does, but because I never expected to have such a soft spot for Samson of all the brothers.
Rowan, oh, our little dancer Rowan, our broken boy, I want to give him everything his heart desires because he deserves it.
This book has both plot and character development, no surprise here since this whole series is like this. This is one of the reasons why I am so obsessed with it.
Samson's and Rowan's meet cute was, in Rowan's words, sinister, which... fair, but I feel like it was so fitting for them. The torment Rowan was going through needed an outlet, and Samson was the perfect target for all that. Both Row and Samson have gentle souls, and Row needed someone with the same kind of energy to bring him back from that dark place he fell into. What happened to him was one of the worst things that could happen to someone, but with Samson's love and the Buckingham's care he was able to come back to himself. To his true self.
The (found) family in this series is one of my favs ever, and I can't believe we're two books away from saying goodbye. Also, that ending? What the....???? I did NOT expect that.
This family is the perfect brand of crazy, and I love them so much its not even funny. The way all of them groveled to get Rowan back had be crying. Samson? OK, understandable, but ALL of them? 😭 stooop.
Seeing Rowan heal, and then help Samson heal parts of himself as well was absolutely beautiful. As I said, gentle souls and all that. I seriously can't with how much I love them.
Ah, and Neo's shenanigans? Omg, hilarious. The way Ansel, Neo and Harley made Rowan part of their group was heartwarming. They are the best of friends and Rowan deserve the best, we already established that.
Also, did Larry's presence hinted at another part of the universe? Are we gonna meet The Order too in a future series? Jfc, I hope so. Also, Dotty, you minx, I love you.
4.75✨️. I loved everything about this book. Everything, BUT... As I mentioned in my other reviews, as a standalone this would be a 5✨️ no questions asked, but compared to Wyatt and Matthias' story... Idk, I can't. Those two have a hold on my soul like no other so the best I can do is give this beauty a 4.75. Close to perfection, but Wyatt and Mathias said no.
I can't wait to finally read about Jules and Harley. I NEED THAT BOOK ASAP. 😭😭😭
October 4, 2026
2.25⭐
I barely survived.
I barely survived.
September 16, 2026
3,5 kinda more accurate. I genuinely like this series. I love this weird family. Game night! I have very active imagination, when I’m reading I am there, I can picture everything as if I am there. So I wish to be at one of those game nights. Now to the romance between Rowan and Samson. These two were kinda insta on lust and attraction, but slow burn on an emotional side and connection. Rowan broke my heart, sweet man, so giving, yet he judges himself so so harshly. The closet episode, in the high of his grieving was truly heartbreaking. I absolutely loved Samson! That Man! 🫠 He is an assassin, but here he played the part of saviour perfectly. Yeah at the end everything is so over the top and ott, but was very entertaining.
I wasn’t prepared for the ending, that was 😱Poor Jules… Can’t wait for the next book!
To be honest personally I so wanted the next to be about Jackson and Dalton, but alas. Either way, this is very enjoyable series 🌸
I wasn’t prepared for the ending, that was 😱Poor Jules… Can’t wait for the next book!
To be honest personally I so wanted the next to be about Jackson and Dalton, but alas. Either way, this is very enjoyable series 🌸
May 10, 2026
When I read the excerpt for this book in Book 3, I was immediately invested. The premise of an assassin falling for his mark is always one I'll be excited about. The cat-and-mouse dynamic is just too good. Rowan also seemed like an interesting character. He was snarky, capable, and seemed more than able to hold his own against Samson. While he initially lived up to those expectations, I enjoyed seeing the layers beneath that exterior as the story progressed and revealed just how much help he needed despite insisting otherwise.
I want to put some of the blame for my lack of enjoyment on myself (and I really do mean some, because I still loved this book and rated it highly!). I went into this story with a very specific idea of what it was going to be, and that wasn't entirely fair to the book. I expected a longer chase and a more adversarial relationship between the two leads, but the romance ended up being much softer and sweeter than I anticipated despite the dark circumstances surrounding their first meeting.
Rowan and Samson were genuinely wonderful together. I loved how supportive they were of one another and how their relationship was built on mutual care and understanding. It was also so much fun watching Rowan interact with the family. We're only two books away from the end of this series, and I'm really starting to feel it... Can we get a surprise half-brother or something? I'm not ready to say goodbye.
My biggest issue, and honestly one I've had throughout the entire series, is the pacing. The first half always seems to move very quickly, while the second half slows down considerably. I found myself wishing we had spent more time developing Rowan and Samson's relationship before moving into the larger family dynamic. Because of that, the assassin-and-target premise never quite delivered the level of tension or chase that I was hoping for.
Even so, I'm incredibly excited for the next book. My heart absolutely broke for Jules, and I continue to adore Harley. Getting to see more of him here was a treat. His interactions with his brothers' partners are always so cute.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: assassin x mark, assassin x dancer, grumpy x sunshine, insta-love, insta-lust, possessive MC
NSFW Tags: size difference, lingerie/lace, 🍑eating, face f**king, face sitting, 69
Triggers: mentions of stalking, mentions of past child abuse
Third act break-up: Yes
OM/OW: None
Pre-Reading Comments:
I am scratching at the walls. What do you mean I have to wait until next year?!
Everyone is hating that it isn't about Dalton or Harley, but I personally am so excited about this book. (It doesn't help that I'm not at all interested in Dalton's book, especially after how he was moving in Vigilant) I think the concept of Killer x Killer's Mark is always a banger, and from the small glimpse we got of Rowan (the love interest), he is a perfect match for Samson. This book has the potential to be my favorite in the series! I can't wait to read more interactions between these two. I have never wanted to be a beta reader more in my life!!
I want to put some of the blame for my lack of enjoyment on myself (and I really do mean some, because I still loved this book and rated it highly!). I went into this story with a very specific idea of what it was going to be, and that wasn't entirely fair to the book. I expected a longer chase and a more adversarial relationship between the two leads, but the romance ended up being much softer and sweeter than I anticipated despite the dark circumstances surrounding their first meeting.
Rowan and Samson were genuinely wonderful together. I loved how supportive they were of one another and how their relationship was built on mutual care and understanding. It was also so much fun watching Rowan interact with the family. We're only two books away from the end of this series, and I'm really starting to feel it... Can we get a surprise half-brother or something? I'm not ready to say goodbye.
My biggest issue, and honestly one I've had throughout the entire series, is the pacing. The first half always seems to move very quickly, while the second half slows down considerably. I found myself wishing we had spent more time developing Rowan and Samson's relationship before moving into the larger family dynamic. Because of that, the assassin-and-target premise never quite delivered the level of tension or chase that I was hoping for.
Even so, I'm incredibly excited for the next book. My heart absolutely broke for Jules, and I continue to adore Harley. Getting to see more of him here was a treat. His interactions with his brothers' partners are always so cute.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: assassin x mark, assassin x dancer, grumpy x sunshine, insta-love, insta-lust, possessive MC
NSFW Tags: size difference, lingerie/lace, 🍑eating, face f**king, face sitting, 69
Triggers: mentions of stalking, mentions of past child abuse
Third act break-up: Yes
OM/OW: None
Pre-Reading Comments:
I am scratching at the walls. What do you mean I have to wait until next year?!
Everyone is hating that it isn't about Dalton or Harley, but I personally am so excited about this book. (It doesn't help that I'm not at all interested in Dalton's book, especially after how he was moving in Vigilant) I think the concept of Killer x Killer's Mark is always a banger, and from the small glimpse we got of Rowan (the love interest), he is a perfect match for Samson. This book has the potential to be my favorite in the series! I can't wait to read more interactions between these two. I have never wanted to be a beta reader more in my life!!
August 31, 2026
4-4.5⭐️
September 14, 2026
first one I didn’t like
This was the first book in the series I didn’t like at all.
Look, I danced ballet in a company for over years, many of that on point. I’ve never heard outside a few specialty groups of men wearing point shoes. Especially in established major productions. Can they? Sure, I’ve even seen some clinics teach it, but a major principle ballerino? No. So that was the first strike. Also, while we are on the topic, you would go through at least one if not two a week, more if you are doing a major role. This might be a case of I know too much and there are too many inconsistencies in terminology and just setting for me to settle into the story.
Second star dropped was for Larry. He worked as a cantankerous old man, but then half way though he’s not that old and a retired hit man living in a small apartment with no food and no friends but skills. His story line seemed spliced from a different story after changing directions halfway through editing.
The apology at the end also knocked a star off for me because it’s the Dancers’ night. I would be livid if a bunch of billionaires upstaged a production that took months to prepare to do a pop dance song to say sorry.
Final star knocked off was at some point the martyr syndrome gets old. I could understand being upset that you were the Firm’ target, but then to sob into the sky you don’t deserve to be happy because you didn’t stop the bad thing from happening to your friend at 95% when you have acknowledged it wasn’t your fault was ridiculous. I also felt if he believed he was at fault to the degree he did (crying and drinking in a closet for hours on the anniversary) he Had to have done more than just go to his regularly scheduled performance.
I am super excited for the next book (Jules’) but this one was just not a good read for me.
This was the first book in the series I didn’t like at all.
Look, I danced ballet in a company for over years, many of that on point. I’ve never heard outside a few specialty groups of men wearing point shoes. Especially in established major productions. Can they? Sure, I’ve even seen some clinics teach it, but a major principle ballerino? No. So that was the first strike. Also, while we are on the topic, you would go through at least one if not two a week, more if you are doing a major role. This might be a case of I know too much and there are too many inconsistencies in terminology and just setting for me to settle into the story.
Second star dropped was for Larry. He worked as a cantankerous old man, but then half way though he’s not that old and a retired hit man living in a small apartment with no food and no friends but skills. His story line seemed spliced from a different story after changing directions halfway through editing.
The apology at the end also knocked a star off for me because it’s the Dancers’ night. I would be livid if a bunch of billionaires upstaged a production that took months to prepare to do a pop dance song to say sorry.
Final star knocked off was at some point the martyr syndrome gets old. I could understand being upset that you were the Firm’ target, but then to sob into the sky you don’t deserve to be happy because you didn’t stop the bad thing from happening to your friend at 95% when you have acknowledged it wasn’t your fault was ridiculous. I also felt if he believed he was at fault to the degree he did (crying and drinking in a closet for hours on the anniversary) he Had to have done more than just go to his regularly scheduled performance.
I am super excited for the next book (Jules’) but this one was just not a good read for me.
September 6, 2026
It’s time to head back to St. Dismas with Cora Rose and Lark Taylor’s new book Allegiant. After a request comes into The Firm, Samson is tasked with getting rid of Rowan who is a dancer who holds immense guilt over his friend Adama's death. After Samson meets and gets to know Rowan he begins to question if Rowan truly is the reason Adam has died.
Rowan and Samson’s relationship may start off with a strong spark however, it takes them time to truly open up with each other. Samson is initially hesitant to start anything because he has been sent to kill Rowan while Rowan feels he does not deserve to be happy after losing his friend. I loved seeing these two slowly but surely fall more for each other. Their relationship progresses in such a natural way and the spice!! Oh my god it was fantastic.
There is a third act breakup but in my opinion it both made sense and was needed for these two to truly get their HEA. There is also some amazing groveling after this from quite a few individuals.
I really loved Rowan’s friendship with Neo, Harley, and Ansel. Rowan, Ansel, and Neo cracked me up with some of the shenanigans they got into. I also really enjoyed the fact that we got introduced to new characters who also introduced us to the larger world and another Firm type family. There is the typical mystery in this that keeps the plot moving and keeps you fully invested.
Now let’s talk about that epilogue/sneak peak chapter for the next book because Cora Rose and Lark Taylor, you are killing me with that! I can’t wait till 2027 for the next book! This series just gets better and better with each book!
Allegiant is perfect for those who like: touch him and die vibes, found family, angst, an adorable and chaotic dog, and a sweet romance!
Rowan and Samson’s relationship may start off with a strong spark however, it takes them time to truly open up with each other. Samson is initially hesitant to start anything because he has been sent to kill Rowan while Rowan feels he does not deserve to be happy after losing his friend. I loved seeing these two slowly but surely fall more for each other. Their relationship progresses in such a natural way and the spice!! Oh my god it was fantastic.
There is a third act breakup but in my opinion it both made sense and was needed for these two to truly get their HEA. There is also some amazing groveling after this from quite a few individuals.
I really loved Rowan’s friendship with Neo, Harley, and Ansel. Rowan, Ansel, and Neo cracked me up with some of the shenanigans they got into. I also really enjoyed the fact that we got introduced to new characters who also introduced us to the larger world and another Firm type family. There is the typical mystery in this that keeps the plot moving and keeps you fully invested.
Now let’s talk about that epilogue/sneak peak chapter for the next book because Cora Rose and Lark Taylor, you are killing me with that! I can’t wait till 2027 for the next book! This series just gets better and better with each book!
Allegiant is perfect for those who like: touch him and die vibes, found family, angst, an adorable and chaotic dog, and a sweet romance!
September 14, 2026
I was hooked immediately!
Samson and Rowan were such a perfect match. Rowan is sweet and charming but carrying so much guilt and sadness, while Samson comes across as the roughest of the Buckingham brothers but is actually the biggest softie underneath.
I absolutely adored Samson’s gentle, protective side and the way he constantly supported Rowan. And Rowan completely accepting Samson for who he is made their relationship so special. Samson was basically a giant, dancing teddy bear when it came to Rowan, and I was completely in love with him!
The Buckingham family continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series. Their game nights had me laughing, and I loved seeing how fiercely they show up for each other. Nugget, Larry, and Dotty also provided some much-needed comic relief during the heavier moments.
And that grand gesture at the end?! My heart! I was crying and smiling like an idiot.
Then came the epilogue… WHAT?! My jaw was on the floor! Some questions were answered, but now I’m even more desperate for the next book. And considering this is the one I’ve been waiting for the most, I cannot wait!
Tropes:
🔥 Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤 Assassin/Dancer
🔥 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Stalking
🔥 Found Family
🖤 Touch Him and Die
🔥 Secret Society
🖤 MM Romance
Samson and Rowan were such a perfect match. Rowan is sweet and charming but carrying so much guilt and sadness, while Samson comes across as the roughest of the Buckingham brothers but is actually the biggest softie underneath.
I absolutely adored Samson’s gentle, protective side and the way he constantly supported Rowan. And Rowan completely accepting Samson for who he is made their relationship so special. Samson was basically a giant, dancing teddy bear when it came to Rowan, and I was completely in love with him!
The Buckingham family continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series. Their game nights had me laughing, and I loved seeing how fiercely they show up for each other. Nugget, Larry, and Dotty also provided some much-needed comic relief during the heavier moments.
And that grand gesture at the end?! My heart! I was crying and smiling like an idiot.
Then came the epilogue… WHAT?! My jaw was on the floor! Some questions were answered, but now I’m even more desperate for the next book. And considering this is the one I’ve been waiting for the most, I cannot wait!
Tropes:
🔥 Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤 Assassin/Dancer
🔥 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Stalking
🔥 Found Family
🖤 Touch Him and Die
🔥 Secret Society
🖤 MM Romance
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Assassin & the Dancer
The Firm has become one of my favourite series, and I eagerly await each new addition. ALLEGIANT was another exceptional read, keeping me thoroughly invested until the early morning hours.
Samson Buckingham has a mark and he's been stalking him waiting for the right moment. Rowan Mitchell is a dancer who has been mourning the death of his closest friend. Rowan is barely making it through each day, his grief is so profound his only escape is through dance. When the two finally meet the sparks sizzle and Rowan's life is dramatically altered.
OMG, I didn't think I've ever fallen harder for two men. Both are hurting from past events and become a comfort to each other. Samson falls hard as Rowan slowly begins to open up to him. His growly, protective, and obsessive nature is in direct contrast to Rowan's softer, sweeter nature. Rowan is scared of the feelings Samson brings out in him, everyone he has loved has been taken from him. It is Samson's gentleness and care for Rowan which really stood out, this beast of a man had a heart of pure marshmallow when it came to Rowan. I adored that Rowan encouraged Samson's secret passion, he saw how happy it made him. Samson is hiding a secret though, one which could destroy everything they have been building together.
As usual the Buckingham brothers provided plenty of mayhem, chaos and laughter. Their family game night was insane as usual, even more so when you add in Rowan's dog, Nugget. Their group apology to rowan, after Samson's secret is revealed, was an absolute highlight, never thought I would see the brothers doing that! Crank Larry, Rowan's neighbour was hilarious, I knew there was more to him than met the eye.
ALLEGIANT was a fantastic read. it was heartfelt and emotional but also had the added humour for some terrific levity. Harley Buckingham is up next in Piquant , and after that epilogue I need it now!
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨5 STARS
The Firm has become one of my favourite series, and I eagerly await each new addition. ALLEGIANT was another exceptional read, keeping me thoroughly invested until the early morning hours.
Samson Buckingham has a mark and he's been stalking him waiting for the right moment. Rowan Mitchell is a dancer who has been mourning the death of his closest friend. Rowan is barely making it through each day, his grief is so profound his only escape is through dance. When the two finally meet the sparks sizzle and Rowan's life is dramatically altered.
OMG, I didn't think I've ever fallen harder for two men. Both are hurting from past events and become a comfort to each other. Samson falls hard as Rowan slowly begins to open up to him. His growly, protective, and obsessive nature is in direct contrast to Rowan's softer, sweeter nature. Rowan is scared of the feelings Samson brings out in him, everyone he has loved has been taken from him. It is Samson's gentleness and care for Rowan which really stood out, this beast of a man had a heart of pure marshmallow when it came to Rowan. I adored that Rowan encouraged Samson's secret passion, he saw how happy it made him. Samson is hiding a secret though, one which could destroy everything they have been building together.
As usual the Buckingham brothers provided plenty of mayhem, chaos and laughter. Their family game night was insane as usual, even more so when you add in Rowan's dog, Nugget. Their group apology to rowan, after Samson's secret is revealed, was an absolute highlight, never thought I would see the brothers doing that! Crank Larry, Rowan's neighbour was hilarious, I knew there was more to him than met the eye.
ALLEGIANT was a fantastic read. it was heartfelt and emotional but also had the added humour for some terrific levity. Harley Buckingham is up next in Piquant , and after that epilogue I need it now!
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨5 STARS
September 16, 2026
Emotional and heartwarming grumpy/sunshine romance!
"Samson, well, he feels the most real, the most true… the most."
I have to say, Samson has always been a bit of a wild card when it comes to the Buckingham brothers. We never really knew much about him and while I was looking forward to his story, I was more excited for the others just cause we know a little more about them. But Samson's story took me so completely by surprise and that's primarily because of his partner, Rowan.
Rowan is a sweet, sunshine character who cares so deeply about everyone around him. But for the last year, he's been drowning in guilt and sadness after losing his best friend. Rowan is one of those characters who truly empathises with people and feels others' feelings like they're his own. So to see him fake his sunshine because of things outside his control just broke my heart. Luckily, Samson arrives at just the right moment to bring that spark back into his heart.
“Yes. Because you’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Rowan Mitchell. I can’t regret that.”
Though their first meeting was anything but a meet-cute, it's basically love at first sight for Samson. There's no rule book for falling for your target, but Samson is captivated by Rowan and it doesn't take him long to be all in on him. The way he constantly protects Rowan and showers him with the love he's been missing for so long is so special. I loved the way he constantly put Row first and gave him everything, even the things he didn't even know he needed.
"You give me hope for a life I thought was out of reach. One where I can dance. Laugh. Love. I want all of it. And I want it with you.”
This book is a little lighter on the danger and the Firm content, but it works for these two. It gives you more time to dive into the emotions and they have a lot of them to work through. These two had me sobbing as I watched them work through their grief and loss and find their joy for life again. The way they constantly stood up for each other and truly cherished and protected each other is what made this book so amazing.
"My eyes sting at the sentiment, at the way his family loves one another. And maybe… if I stick around, they can love me like that too."
I loved seeing Rowan connect with each of the Buckingham's in his own unique way. Harley, especially, built such a sweet bond with Row and it just made me even more excited for his story which we're finally getting in the next one! I've been waiting for Harley and Jules for so long and I can't believe they're almost here. I'm so ready for them to find their HEA, but first you should dive into Samson and Rowan's grumpy/sunshine romance full of hurt/comfort goodness and a heartwarming love that I enjoyed so much!
"Samson, well, he feels the most real, the most true… the most."
I have to say, Samson has always been a bit of a wild card when it comes to the Buckingham brothers. We never really knew much about him and while I was looking forward to his story, I was more excited for the others just cause we know a little more about them. But Samson's story took me so completely by surprise and that's primarily because of his partner, Rowan.
Rowan is a sweet, sunshine character who cares so deeply about everyone around him. But for the last year, he's been drowning in guilt and sadness after losing his best friend. Rowan is one of those characters who truly empathises with people and feels others' feelings like they're his own. So to see him fake his sunshine because of things outside his control just broke my heart. Luckily, Samson arrives at just the right moment to bring that spark back into his heart.
“Yes. Because you’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Rowan Mitchell. I can’t regret that.”
Though their first meeting was anything but a meet-cute, it's basically love at first sight for Samson. There's no rule book for falling for your target, but Samson is captivated by Rowan and it doesn't take him long to be all in on him. The way he constantly protects Rowan and showers him with the love he's been missing for so long is so special. I loved the way he constantly put Row first and gave him everything, even the things he didn't even know he needed.
"You give me hope for a life I thought was out of reach. One where I can dance. Laugh. Love. I want all of it. And I want it with you.”
This book is a little lighter on the danger and the Firm content, but it works for these two. It gives you more time to dive into the emotions and they have a lot of them to work through. These two had me sobbing as I watched them work through their grief and loss and find their joy for life again. The way they constantly stood up for each other and truly cherished and protected each other is what made this book so amazing.
"My eyes sting at the sentiment, at the way his family loves one another. And maybe… if I stick around, they can love me like that too."
I loved seeing Rowan connect with each of the Buckingham's in his own unique way. Harley, especially, built such a sweet bond with Row and it just made me even more excited for his story which we're finally getting in the next one! I've been waiting for Harley and Jules for so long and I can't believe they're almost here. I'm so ready for them to find their HEA, but first you should dive into Samson and Rowan's grumpy/sunshine romance full of hurt/comfort goodness and a heartwarming love that I enjoyed so much!
September 28, 2026
I loved this book! Rowan and Samson had such a complexity to their story, and Lark and Cora did an amazing job of giving them their HEA. It was so interesting to see how Samson handled falling for a target of the Firm's, and I thought the way that it showed that the Firm has flaws in their system was handled so well. Rather than skating over the issue, the Firm dove into how Rowan became a target of theirs, and seeing the vulnerability that Samson displayed was so sweet to witness. I am so excited for the next book!
October 4, 2026
Samson and Rowan.
When it comes to these Buckingham brothers I never know what to expect. Allegiant did not disappoint. I was not expecting the reason behind why Rown and Samson met. For that reason I was hooked.
Samson and his love for dancing pulled at heart strings. Having a man with such a hard exterior find something he loves that he has always loved but was beat out of him made me want to give him the biggest hug.
Enter Rowan. The perfect companion for Samson. Rowan is going through his own turmoil. Adam…. Enough said. Rowan needed Samson and turns out Samson needs Rowan just as much.
I know I’m being vague but I don’t want to spoil the plot. I loved these two. Read this book.
OH AND DONT GET MY STARTED ON THE EPILOGUE. I NEED HARLEY AND JULES NOW!!!!
When it comes to these Buckingham brothers I never know what to expect. Allegiant did not disappoint. I was not expecting the reason behind why Rown and Samson met. For that reason I was hooked.
Samson and his love for dancing pulled at heart strings. Having a man with such a hard exterior find something he loves that he has always loved but was beat out of him made me want to give him the biggest hug.
Enter Rowan. The perfect companion for Samson. Rowan is going through his own turmoil. Adam…. Enough said. Rowan needed Samson and turns out Samson needs Rowan just as much.
I know I’m being vague but I don’t want to spoil the plot. I loved these two. Read this book.
OH AND DONT GET MY STARTED ON THE EPILOGUE. I NEED HARLEY AND JULES NOW!!!!
September 19, 2026
Lumber jack x dancer = MY SHAYLAAAA
Sampson wasn’t my favourite character in previous books and I was cheering on Harley as he shat the iron, so my disappointment of it not being hules or jalton (don't say anything about the names. its too late) is understandable.
Kind of went in expecting Sampson to be the ml who’s just a soggy sandwich and when they’re thwop thwoping is just constantly hitting the emote:
While Sampson still displayed attributes of the emotionally constipated man of dreams I was for the large part happily wrong and instead Sampson showed typical, albeit welcome, Buckingham behaviour when in loooove, and not the unattached-grump-whose-only-in-it-for-the-seggs.
Side note: I’m not gonna lie the concept of the firm is balancing a fine line of cringe and intrigue but the fact that every climax of the series is the firm stuffing up.. it begs the question is the firm really powerful or genuinely just playing make believe??
real evidence of wylder playing with the fairies :
Neo carried the humour in Allegiant because wtf is this ✌️😭:
By rod and rising tide, let my wand be glorified.
Through winter months, through summer sun,
Make my shaft weigh a ton.
In depths I swim, in seas I fare,
Let my wand grow with care.
The sun is hot, the grass is green,
Let my bean become a peen.
My house is built on solid rock, I really need a bigger cock!
P.s. I was this 🤏 close to dropping it whenever the monster was mentioned
Tropes:
Sunshine x grumpy
Hurt/comfort
Opposites attract
Dual pov
Obsessive/ protective
I AM COMING FOR YOU JULES AND HARLEY I SAW YOU IN THE EPILOGUE AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY IVE REREAD THAT SHIT 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS TO GET OVER MY DEPRESSION. 2027 IS TOO FAR AWAY. I HAVE BEEN WAITING AND RECEIVED CRUMBS. don't think youre safe either dalton and jackson. I'm coming.
Sampson wasn’t my favourite character in previous books and I was cheering on Harley as he shat the iron, so my disappointment of it not being hules or jalton (don't say anything about the names. its too late) is understandable.
Kind of went in expecting Sampson to be the ml who’s just a soggy sandwich and when they’re thwop thwoping is just constantly hitting the emote:
While Sampson still displayed attributes of the emotionally constipated man of dreams I was for the large part happily wrong and instead Sampson showed typical, albeit welcome, Buckingham behaviour when in loooove, and not the unattached-grump-whose-only-in-it-for-the-seggs.
Side note: I’m not gonna lie the concept of the firm is balancing a fine line of cringe and intrigue but the fact that every climax of the series is the firm stuffing up.. it begs the question is the firm really powerful or genuinely just playing make believe??
real evidence of wylder playing with the fairies :
Neo carried the humour in Allegiant because wtf is this ✌️😭:
By rod and rising tide, let my wand be glorified.
Through winter months, through summer sun,
Make my shaft weigh a ton.
In depths I swim, in seas I fare,
Let my wand grow with care.
The sun is hot, the grass is green,
Let my bean become a peen.
My house is built on solid rock, I really need a bigger cock!
P.s. I was this 🤏 close to dropping it whenever the monster was mentioned
Tropes:
Sunshine x grumpy
Hurt/comfort
Opposites attract
Dual pov
Obsessive/ protective
I AM COMING FOR YOU JULES AND HARLEY I SAW YOU IN THE EPILOGUE AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY IVE REREAD THAT SHIT 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS TO GET OVER MY DEPRESSION. 2027 IS TOO FAR AWAY. I HAVE BEEN WAITING AND RECEIVED CRUMBS. don't think youre safe either dalton and jackson. I'm coming.
September 12, 2026
The way this entire universe and found family owns my whole damn heart at this point 😭💖 I LOVE these chaotic idiots and the way they show up for each other without question… usually while threatening someone, bickering, or causing absolute mayhem 😂🔪
And Samson & Rowan?! Yeahhhh… I was NOT prepared for how hard I was going to fall for these two 🥹🔥
This book definitely had a softer feel than the previous books in the series, and I actually really loved that. It felt so deliberate because we finally got to see behind Samson’s hard exterior and meet the softer, more vulnerable man hiding underneath. 🥹💖 And excuse me?! Who gave you permission to come for my heart like that?!
I loved the pacing too because it gave us time to really get to know Samson & Rowan, watch their relationship develop, and see Rowan slowly find his place amongst the Buckingham chaos. 🥹
There was a little less action and spice than we’ve had in the previous books, but honestly? I never felt like anything was missing. Their story didn’t NEED it. The emotional connection, the grief, the vulnerability and the way these two really SAW each other carried this book perfectly. ❤️🩹
Now… would my nosy little ass have liked ALL the details about the case happening in the background?
ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY. 😂🔎
But a lot of it didn’t directly involve Samson or Rowan, so I completely understand why we weren’t privy to everything this time around. And honestly, it didn’t detract from the story for me at all.
BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT ROWAN AND LARRY’S NOT-FRIENDSHIP?! 😂😭
Those two had me giggling every damn time they were together. Rowan basically just decided they were friends and Larry was apparently never consulted on the matter. 🤣
And then there’s NUGGET. 🐶💀 That tiny menace was MADE for the Buckingham household. The amount of shit that little dog got up to?! Absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely perfect. No notes. 😂
Of course, the found family was ON POINT as always. The banter. The bickering. The unhinged game nights. The OTT protectiveness. The absolute certainty that these people would burn the world down for each other. 😭💖 GAHHHH, I just adore this family so fucking much.
Samson & Rowan surprised me in the best possible way, and I loved getting this softer little pocket of the Firm universe with them. 🥹✨
And nowwwww… 👀
HARLEY & JULES ARE NEXT.
AFTER FOUR DAMN BOOKS OF TEASING US WITH THESE TWO, IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING. 😭🔥
And after that epilogue?! Cora. Lark. You absolutely knew what you were doing. 😈
I am already FERAL for these two and the wait might actually kill me. 😂🔥
*I received a complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary review!*
And Samson & Rowan?! Yeahhhh… I was NOT prepared for how hard I was going to fall for these two 🥹🔥
This book definitely had a softer feel than the previous books in the series, and I actually really loved that. It felt so deliberate because we finally got to see behind Samson’s hard exterior and meet the softer, more vulnerable man hiding underneath. 🥹💖 And excuse me?! Who gave you permission to come for my heart like that?!
I loved the pacing too because it gave us time to really get to know Samson & Rowan, watch their relationship develop, and see Rowan slowly find his place amongst the Buckingham chaos. 🥹
There was a little less action and spice than we’ve had in the previous books, but honestly? I never felt like anything was missing. Their story didn’t NEED it. The emotional connection, the grief, the vulnerability and the way these two really SAW each other carried this book perfectly. ❤️🩹
Now… would my nosy little ass have liked ALL the details about the case happening in the background?
ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY. 😂🔎
But a lot of it didn’t directly involve Samson or Rowan, so I completely understand why we weren’t privy to everything this time around. And honestly, it didn’t detract from the story for me at all.
BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT ROWAN AND LARRY’S NOT-FRIENDSHIP?! 😂😭
Those two had me giggling every damn time they were together. Rowan basically just decided they were friends and Larry was apparently never consulted on the matter. 🤣
And then there’s NUGGET. 🐶💀 That tiny menace was MADE for the Buckingham household. The amount of shit that little dog got up to?! Absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely perfect. No notes. 😂
Of course, the found family was ON POINT as always. The banter. The bickering. The unhinged game nights. The OTT protectiveness. The absolute certainty that these people would burn the world down for each other. 😭💖 GAHHHH, I just adore this family so fucking much.
Samson & Rowan surprised me in the best possible way, and I loved getting this softer little pocket of the Firm universe with them. 🥹✨
And nowwwww… 👀
HARLEY & JULES ARE NEXT.
AFTER FOUR DAMN BOOKS OF TEASING US WITH THESE TWO, IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING. 😭🔥
And after that epilogue?! Cora. Lark. You absolutely knew what you were doing. 😈
I am already FERAL for these two and the wait might actually kill me. 😂🔥
*I received a complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary review!*
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