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Meet Me in the Mountains
I left home expecting a vacation in the mountains. What I got was something entirely different.
It was supposed to be a short trip that would help my struggling relationship. Instead, I had to accept the hard truth—my boyfriend was not the man for me. That was especially true when I walked in on him cheating.
But then he showed up.
Giovanni Caruso changed my life. He certainly didn’t intend to, but his kind gesture led me to make my life my own. Including moving across the country on a whim.
He helped me navigate my fresh start by offering me a place to stay and a job when I needed it the most.
One problem…I’d never been more attracted to anyone in my life. He was handsome and intense, with an edge to him that drew me in.
We decided we could have one night together. That was it.
But now, a year later, working side by side, the tension between us has only grown.
With the way he quietly shapes the world around me, and with the shadows that follow him, I’m forced to ask myself if I’m ready to face how deep my feelings for him really go. Sometimes I wonder…am I alone in wanting more than that one night?
And will I be able to get an answer before danger finds us?
Meet Me In The Mountains is book 1 in the Tahoe Made Men series and is a spicy mafia romance that only borders on dark, but with all the possessive, morally grey that we love.
It was supposed to be a short trip that would help my struggling relationship. Instead, I had to accept the hard truth—my boyfriend was not the man for me. That was especially true when I walked in on him cheating.
But then he showed up.
Giovanni Caruso changed my life. He certainly didn’t intend to, but his kind gesture led me to make my life my own. Including moving across the country on a whim.
He helped me navigate my fresh start by offering me a place to stay and a job when I needed it the most.
One problem…I’d never been more attracted to anyone in my life. He was handsome and intense, with an edge to him that drew me in.
We decided we could have one night together. That was it.
But now, a year later, working side by side, the tension between us has only grown.
With the way he quietly shapes the world around me, and with the shadows that follow him, I’m forced to ask myself if I’m ready to face how deep my feelings for him really go. Sometimes I wonder…am I alone in wanting more than that one night?
And will I be able to get an answer before danger finds us?
Meet Me In The Mountains is book 1 in the Tahoe Made Men series and is a spicy mafia romance that only borders on dark, but with all the possessive, morally grey that we love.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2026
About the author
Sara Evou
9 books49 followersSara Evou loves love more than anything. Her favorite thing to write is curvy, older women and their down bad men.
After years of being unable to express her creativity in her job as an accountant, she decided to channel her love of romance into her own stories. She’s lived everywhere from Reno to Colorado to DC, but currently calls Nashville home. When she isn’t reading, writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys traveling, pole dancing, baking at home, and playing with her sweet pup.
Follow her on social media and sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all the exciting news about upcoming books.
For a free ebook novella, sign up for her newsletter below!
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/r93t980da1
After years of being unable to express her creativity in her job as an accountant, she decided to channel her love of romance into her own stories. She’s lived everywhere from Reno to Colorado to DC, but currently calls Nashville home. When she isn’t reading, writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys traveling, pole dancing, baking at home, and playing with her sweet pup.
Follow her on social media and sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all the exciting news about upcoming books.
For a free ebook novella, sign up for her newsletter below!
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/r93t980da1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 29, 2026
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! If you’re looking for a billionaire romance with mafia vibes, this is definitely for you.
Giovanni was easily my favourite character. He could be stubborn at times, but I honestly loved how obsessed he was with the FMC. He was protective, intense and actually really cute with her.
I also loved the side characters, especially Emilio and Luca. They completely stole some scenes, and now I really hope the next books are about them because I need their stories immediately!
Definitely recommended this book for anyone who loves possessive billionaire heroes, strong chemistry and mafia romance vibes.
Thank you to Sara Evou and Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
Giovanni was easily my favourite character. He could be stubborn at times, but I honestly loved how obsessed he was with the FMC. He was protective, intense and actually really cute with her.
I also loved the side characters, especially Emilio and Luca. They completely stole some scenes, and now I really hope the next books are about them because I need their stories immediately!
Definitely recommended this book for anyone who loves possessive billionaire heroes, strong chemistry and mafia romance vibes.
Thank you to Sara Evou and Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
May 19, 2026DNF @ 40%
This far in and I really know nothing about either of these characters - other than he's mafia adjacent and she's impulsive and would probably be the first to die in a horror movie - nor do I feel any connection between the two of them. There is nothing so far in the story line that's making me want to pick up this book and I've found myself switching to other books and finishing them first.
This far in and I really know nothing about either of these characters - other than he's mafia adjacent and she's impulsive and would probably be the first to die in a horror movie - nor do I feel any connection between the two of them. There is nothing so far in the story line that's making me want to pick up this book and I've found myself switching to other books and finishing them first.
Did Not Finish
May 15, 2026I wish I enjoyed this, but I just can't get into the writing style. A lot of "I did this, then I did that, and I did this other thing." I also can't invest in the storyline when the leads internal thought processes come across as identical on the page, and so very stilted.
Unfortunately this one is going to be a DNF.
*****
I was sent a complimentary advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you Love Notes PR.
Unfortunately this one is going to be a DNF.
*****
I was sent a complimentary advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you Love Notes PR.
June 3, 2026
Danke für die Möglichkeit dieses Buch als ARC-Leser vorab zu bekommen.
Angetan war ich von der Idee das die Protagonisten der Geschichte nicht mehr 20 sind wir sonst so oft.
Vom Verhalten, hat man das nicht gemerkt.
Giovanni und seine Dynamik mit deiner gefundenen Familie haben es mir angetan. Und das Claire Freundschaften schließt und ihr Leben nicht auf Warteposition hält auch!
Angetan war ich von der Idee das die Protagonisten der Geschichte nicht mehr 20 sind wir sonst so oft.
Vom Verhalten, hat man das nicht gemerkt.
Giovanni und seine Dynamik mit deiner gefundenen Familie haben es mir angetan. Und das Claire Freundschaften schließt und ihr Leben nicht auf Warteposition hält auch!
May 27, 2026
Claire Thompson llega a Lake Tahoe convencida de que está viviendo unas simples vacaciones, sin imaginar que unos días bastarán para poner su vida de cabeza. Lo que comienza como una escapada para reconectar con su pareja termina convirtiéndose en un momento que la obliga a preguntarse si realmente estaba viviendo la vida que quería o solo la que se había conformado a aceptar.
Giovanni no suele involucrarse en los problemas de nadie, mucho menos en los de una turista de paso. Sin embargo, desde el momento en que Claire entra en su mundo, ignorarla deja de ser una opción.
Gracias Love Note PR por el ARC.
Giovanni no suele involucrarse en los problemas de nadie, mucho menos en los de una turista de paso. Sin embargo, desde el momento en que Claire entra en su mundo, ignorarla deja de ser una opción.
Gracias Love Note PR por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Claire’s life is already in pieces when she meets Gio after he steps in to help her during a dangerous situation. What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something bigger when Claire impulsively leaves Nashville behind for Lake Tahoe. Gio offers help at every turn, and while the chemistry between them is immediate, the relationship develops through a steady build of tension, acts of care, and emotional denial from both sides.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the dynamic between Gio, Luca, and Emilio. The constant teasing and gossiping whenever Gio acted even slightly out of character made some of the funniest moments in the story. Emilio especially was the unofficial voice of reason throughout the book, repeatedly calling Gio out for being emotionally repressed while also enabling him at every opportunity.
Gio as a love interest worked for me because he showed his feelings through actions long before he ever verbalized them. This man was completely gone for her from the beginning. Sometimes it bordered on ridiculous levels of interference, but the book fully leaned into that possessive, quietly obsessed energy.
Claire was likable overall, especially seeing her build an independent life in Lake Tahoe with friends, work, and eventually Ripley the dog. I did struggle at times with how easily she accepted some of Gio’s involvement in her life, especially considering they started as strangers. There were several moments where common sense completely left the building.
The romance itself is very slow burn despite the strong attraction early on. I was honestly shocked when the story jumped ahead by an entire year after their first night together. Watching Gio spend that entire time jealous and miserable while pretending not to care was both entertaining and frustrating. The tension during the gala, the Vegas trip, the helicopter ride, the constant touching and lingering looks, they were basically dating long before either admitted it.
I appreciated that when Claire finally realized how much Gio loved her, it wasn’t because of one giant speech. It was all the small things he had quietly been doing for her the entire time. That realization hit harder emotionally than a dramatic declaration would have.
That said, I never felt fully obsessed with the story. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t give me huge emotional highs or leave me desperate to keep turning pages. Some parts dragged, and the lack of communication between them became frustrating after a while. Still, the third-act breakup actually felt necessary here, especially after Gio confessed the full extent of his meddling.
I also appreciated the slight twist of having Gio be the one kidnapped instead of Claire for once. It felt refreshing compared to the usual direction these stories take. And the quieter moments, like Claire’s conversation with Luca near the end, added some emotional warmth that balanced out the drama well.
Overall, this was a solid mafia-adjacent romance with strong chemistry, entertaining side characters, and a hero who fell first, hard, and never recovered from it.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the dynamic between Gio, Luca, and Emilio. The constant teasing and gossiping whenever Gio acted even slightly out of character made some of the funniest moments in the story. Emilio especially was the unofficial voice of reason throughout the book, repeatedly calling Gio out for being emotionally repressed while also enabling him at every opportunity.
Gio as a love interest worked for me because he showed his feelings through actions long before he ever verbalized them. This man was completely gone for her from the beginning. Sometimes it bordered on ridiculous levels of interference, but the book fully leaned into that possessive, quietly obsessed energy.
Claire was likable overall, especially seeing her build an independent life in Lake Tahoe with friends, work, and eventually Ripley the dog. I did struggle at times with how easily she accepted some of Gio’s involvement in her life, especially considering they started as strangers. There were several moments where common sense completely left the building.
The romance itself is very slow burn despite the strong attraction early on. I was honestly shocked when the story jumped ahead by an entire year after their first night together. Watching Gio spend that entire time jealous and miserable while pretending not to care was both entertaining and frustrating. The tension during the gala, the Vegas trip, the helicopter ride, the constant touching and lingering looks, they were basically dating long before either admitted it.
I appreciated that when Claire finally realized how much Gio loved her, it wasn’t because of one giant speech. It was all the small things he had quietly been doing for her the entire time. That realization hit harder emotionally than a dramatic declaration would have.
That said, I never felt fully obsessed with the story. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t give me huge emotional highs or leave me desperate to keep turning pages. Some parts dragged, and the lack of communication between them became frustrating after a while. Still, the third-act breakup actually felt necessary here, especially after Gio confessed the full extent of his meddling.
I also appreciated the slight twist of having Gio be the one kidnapped instead of Claire for once. It felt refreshing compared to the usual direction these stories take. And the quieter moments, like Claire’s conversation with Luca near the end, added some emotional warmth that balanced out the drama well.
Overall, this was a solid mafia-adjacent romance with strong chemistry, entertaining side characters, and a hero who fell first, hard, and never recovered from it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to Sara Evou + Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC copy.
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. If you're on the hunt for a billionaire romance with *light* mafia vibes, forced proximity, and an obsessed hero, this book should be on your TBR.
Giovanni was easily my favorite part of the story. He's genuine, protective, generous, and completely devoted to Claire and his found family. While he could be stubborn and stuck in his ways at times, I couldn't help but love how infatuated he was with her. The way he constantly tried to make her life easier, offering her stability, a home, and unwavering support - even when she didn't know all the time what he did - made him incredibly easy to root for.
Claire's decision to leave Nashville behind after catching her boyfriend cheating and start over in Lake Tahoe was one of the strongest aspects of the story - You go girl! I loved going along with her as she built a new life for herself, and the setting added a cozy charm to the romance. I felt this was a great character development for Claire as she figured out exactly what SHE wanted, not what everyone else thought she wanted.
That said, the romance itself was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The tension between Claire and Gio is there, but it often became frustrating because both characters spent so much time avoiding honest conversations about their feelings. The constant "will they, won't they" dynamic dragged on longer than necessary, especially considering they're supposed to be mature adults. So many of their problems could have been solved if they had simply sat down and communicated. At times, the emotional conflict felt less like tension and more like unnecessary miscommunication. I loved their friendly banter, it was enjoyable, where sometimes I felt they were better as friends, but the romance occasionally felt more lustful than earned and developed connection.
The side characters added so much to this book. Emilio and Luca completely stole every scene they were in, and their dynamic with Gio and Norma was one of my favorite parts of the book. The poking fun, evident loyalty, and friendship added so much personality to the story. Norma and the cutest little pup was so precious and I loved how Norma took Claire under her wing from the moment they met.
Overall, this was an enjoyable light read that was easy to get through in a sitting or two. Despite the mafia trope being advertised, this really didn't hit the mark as full mafia ties. The mafia element sits in the background while the romance takes the lead. It delivered exactly what it promised: a obsessed hero, a fresh-start, small town romance, strong supporting characters, and just a hint of danger lingering around the edges. If that's your kind of romance, you'll likely have a great time with this one.
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. If you're on the hunt for a billionaire romance with *light* mafia vibes, forced proximity, and an obsessed hero, this book should be on your TBR.
Giovanni was easily my favorite part of the story. He's genuine, protective, generous, and completely devoted to Claire and his found family. While he could be stubborn and stuck in his ways at times, I couldn't help but love how infatuated he was with her. The way he constantly tried to make her life easier, offering her stability, a home, and unwavering support - even when she didn't know all the time what he did - made him incredibly easy to root for.
Claire's decision to leave Nashville behind after catching her boyfriend cheating and start over in Lake Tahoe was one of the strongest aspects of the story - You go girl! I loved going along with her as she built a new life for herself, and the setting added a cozy charm to the romance. I felt this was a great character development for Claire as she figured out exactly what SHE wanted, not what everyone else thought she wanted.
That said, the romance itself was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The tension between Claire and Gio is there, but it often became frustrating because both characters spent so much time avoiding honest conversations about their feelings. The constant "will they, won't they" dynamic dragged on longer than necessary, especially considering they're supposed to be mature adults. So many of their problems could have been solved if they had simply sat down and communicated. At times, the emotional conflict felt less like tension and more like unnecessary miscommunication. I loved their friendly banter, it was enjoyable, where sometimes I felt they were better as friends, but the romance occasionally felt more lustful than earned and developed connection.
The side characters added so much to this book. Emilio and Luca completely stole every scene they were in, and their dynamic with Gio and Norma was one of my favorite parts of the book. The poking fun, evident loyalty, and friendship added so much personality to the story. Norma and the cutest little pup was so precious and I loved how Norma took Claire under her wing from the moment they met.
Overall, this was an enjoyable light read that was easy to get through in a sitting or two. Despite the mafia trope being advertised, this really didn't hit the mark as full mafia ties. The mafia element sits in the background while the romance takes the lead. It delivered exactly what it promised: a obsessed hero, a fresh-start, small town romance, strong supporting characters, and just a hint of danger lingering around the edges. If that's your kind of romance, you'll likely have a great time with this one.
May 28, 2026
3 stars.
"Meet Me in the Mountains" by Sara Evou is a back-and-forth, forced proximity, mafia-adjacent romance between Claire, who came to Lake Tahoe on vacation with her boyfriend, promptly caught him cheating on her, then decided to move there from Nashville, and Giovanni, a 40-something casino owner and rugged mountain man with strong community ties, a mafia background, and a complicated, multifaceted job. For a story that starts out so strong, I am disappointed to say I did not love this one like I thought I would. I liked Claire's impulsive decision to leave her life behind and reroute to Lake Tahoe. I liked that Gio wanted to make her life easier in any way he could. I did not buy into the insta-love premise all that much. My main complaint is that these characters are supposed to be in their 30s and 40s, but they frequently act much younger and more immature than they should. I've read other books with characters in their 20s who act more mature than these fully grown adults do! Maybe it's just because there is a constant "will they, won't they," after they give each other one night together, but they refuse to actually talk about what they want from each other/mean to each other. This is a very slow-burning romance, and I am not sure I mean that as a compliment. As I stated, there is a lot of miscommunication going on between Gio and Claire. He doesn't "do" relationships, and she's constantly nervous he's going to wake up one day and want something different than a potential life with her... but they act like a couple in public??? I don't know, it was sort of annoying! I feel like the author meant all of this to be growing tension between the two of them, but it came off as annoying and childish to me. Just have an honest conversation, and everything will be fixed!! Problem solved! I did not feel a huge amount of chemistry between Claire and Gio despite some good, friendly banter between them every once in a while. I did like Giovanni quite a bit on his own, though. He was willing to do anything and everything for Claire. My favorite part of this book was the dynamic between Gio, Emilio, and Luca. I loved their joking and poking and prodding of each other. All in all, I think some readers will enjoy this one if they are into insta-love, mafia-light/adjacent stories, but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Sara Evou and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Meet Me in the Mountains" by Sara Evou is a back-and-forth, forced proximity, mafia-adjacent romance between Claire, who came to Lake Tahoe on vacation with her boyfriend, promptly caught him cheating on her, then decided to move there from Nashville, and Giovanni, a 40-something casino owner and rugged mountain man with strong community ties, a mafia background, and a complicated, multifaceted job. For a story that starts out so strong, I am disappointed to say I did not love this one like I thought I would. I liked Claire's impulsive decision to leave her life behind and reroute to Lake Tahoe. I liked that Gio wanted to make her life easier in any way he could. I did not buy into the insta-love premise all that much. My main complaint is that these characters are supposed to be in their 30s and 40s, but they frequently act much younger and more immature than they should. I've read other books with characters in their 20s who act more mature than these fully grown adults do! Maybe it's just because there is a constant "will they, won't they," after they give each other one night together, but they refuse to actually talk about what they want from each other/mean to each other. This is a very slow-burning romance, and I am not sure I mean that as a compliment. As I stated, there is a lot of miscommunication going on between Gio and Claire. He doesn't "do" relationships, and she's constantly nervous he's going to wake up one day and want something different than a potential life with her... but they act like a couple in public??? I don't know, it was sort of annoying! I feel like the author meant all of this to be growing tension between the two of them, but it came off as annoying and childish to me. Just have an honest conversation, and everything will be fixed!! Problem solved! I did not feel a huge amount of chemistry between Claire and Gio despite some good, friendly banter between them every once in a while. I did like Giovanni quite a bit on his own, though. He was willing to do anything and everything for Claire. My favorite part of this book was the dynamic between Gio, Emilio, and Luca. I loved their joking and poking and prodding of each other. All in all, I think some readers will enjoy this one if they are into insta-love, mafia-light/adjacent stories, but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Sara Evou and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
June 3, 2026
I absolutely adored this book. This is book 1 in the Tahoe Made Men Series. Let me tell you Gio and Claire were amazing for this first book.
Let me advise before you read on farther there may be some spoilers in this review please skip if you do not want to know.
Let me start with Claire she was running from a bad situation she ran into Gio who helped her through everything. Spare of the moment she decided she was going to deuce out of Nashville on a whim and head straight for lake Tahoe.
Now Gio there's a couple different caps in this book. He's Clair's constant person she can always depend on. He's her everything essentially. Anything she needs he's right there for her through thick and thin as well as for his men.
I do love the dynamic between Gio, Emilio, and Luca. I love their constant banter it's just amazing. I really love Luca I think he's amazing character. I do like Emilio as well because he's the constant voice of reason. Constantly keeping Gio straight constantly that voice of reason for him.
I love how the relationship between Claire and Gio isn't something that quick it's very slow. It isn't some huge speech it's through little things he shows her for constantly being there and things. That's really how Claire realizes that she does love him. By sitting back and thinking of all the little things that's what made her fall for him hard.
Although he was the first to fall and they'll head over heels hard and never looked back.
Overall this was a slow burn Mafia I guess adjacent kind of book. I love the characters I thought everything about it was wonderful. I really loved how the author did everything. I personally like Claire because I'm like clearing a lot of ways I constantly question things or if I'm not questioning I'm sporadic about it. This was just a really amazing book and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series looks like because I'm hoping that Emilio and Luca get their book as well.
Let me advise before you read on farther there may be some spoilers in this review please skip if you do not want to know.
Let me start with Claire she was running from a bad situation she ran into Gio who helped her through everything. Spare of the moment she decided she was going to deuce out of Nashville on a whim and head straight for lake Tahoe.
Now Gio there's a couple different caps in this book. He's Clair's constant person she can always depend on. He's her everything essentially. Anything she needs he's right there for her through thick and thin as well as for his men.
I do love the dynamic between Gio, Emilio, and Luca. I love their constant banter it's just amazing. I really love Luca I think he's amazing character. I do like Emilio as well because he's the constant voice of reason. Constantly keeping Gio straight constantly that voice of reason for him.
I love how the relationship between Claire and Gio isn't something that quick it's very slow. It isn't some huge speech it's through little things he shows her for constantly being there and things. That's really how Claire realizes that she does love him. By sitting back and thinking of all the little things that's what made her fall for him hard.
Although he was the first to fall and they'll head over heels hard and never looked back.
Overall this was a slow burn Mafia I guess adjacent kind of book. I love the characters I thought everything about it was wonderful. I really loved how the author did everything. I personally like Claire because I'm like clearing a lot of ways I constantly question things or if I'm not questioning I'm sporadic about it. This was just a really amazing book and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series looks like because I'm hoping that Emilio and Luca get their book as well.
June 2, 2026
If you love billionaire romances with mafia vibes, protective heroes, and a man who falls first and falls hard, then this book needs to be on your TBR.
This was a 5.5-star read for me, and once I started it, I didn’t want to put it down.
Giovanni and Claire’s story hooked me from the very beginning. Their first meeting happens when Giovanni steps in to help Claire during a dangerous situation, and from that moment on, I was completely invested in their journey.
Giovanni could be stubborn at times, but I loved him. He was protective, devoted, and completely obsessed with Claire in the best way. Watching him fall first and fall hard was one of my favorite parts of the book. Every interaction between them had tension, chemistry, and emotional depth that kept me turning the pages.
The billionaire romance elements blended perfectly with the mafia undertones, creating a story that felt exciting, emotional, and impossible to stop reading.
I also have to mention the side characters. Emilio and Luca completely stole my attention whenever they were on the page, and I am crossing my fingers that they get books of their own because I would read them immediately.
This was one of those books that reminded me exactly why I love protective, possessive heroes and morally gray romance.
If you enjoy:
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Mafia Vibes
✨ Protective MMC
✨ He Falls First
✨ Obsessed Hero
✨ Suspenseful Romance
✨ Morally Gray Characters
then this book deserves a spot on your TBR.
⭐️ Overall Rating: 5.5/5
🔥 Burn Level: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 4/5
💧 Emotional Impact: 4/5
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this book. 🤍
This was a 5.5-star read for me, and once I started it, I didn’t want to put it down.
Giovanni and Claire’s story hooked me from the very beginning. Their first meeting happens when Giovanni steps in to help Claire during a dangerous situation, and from that moment on, I was completely invested in their journey.
Giovanni could be stubborn at times, but I loved him. He was protective, devoted, and completely obsessed with Claire in the best way. Watching him fall first and fall hard was one of my favorite parts of the book. Every interaction between them had tension, chemistry, and emotional depth that kept me turning the pages.
The billionaire romance elements blended perfectly with the mafia undertones, creating a story that felt exciting, emotional, and impossible to stop reading.
I also have to mention the side characters. Emilio and Luca completely stole my attention whenever they were on the page, and I am crossing my fingers that they get books of their own because I would read them immediately.
This was one of those books that reminded me exactly why I love protective, possessive heroes and morally gray romance.
If you enjoy:
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Mafia Vibes
✨ Protective MMC
✨ He Falls First
✨ Obsessed Hero
✨ Suspenseful Romance
✨ Morally Gray Characters
then this book deserves a spot on your TBR.
⭐️ Overall Rating: 5.5/5
🔥 Burn Level: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 4/5
💧 Emotional Impact: 4/5
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this book. 🤍
Review of advance copy
4.5 ✨ Such an easy, fun and sexy read!
Claire is 36 and vacationing with her boyfriend and HIS friends on Lake Tahoe when she catches him cheating on her. Suddenly she is forced to confront how unhappy she has been in her life. She realizes she was settling back home in Nashville where she has no real support system - no family or friends, and a shitty (ex)boyfriend. So instead of going home, she decides to build a new life for herself on Lake Tahoe.
Enter Giovanni - aka Gio - a 44 year old casino owner and businessman with strong ties to his community. A little quiet, mysterious, attentive and completely unprepared for the way Claire changes his entire life after an unexpected encounter in his casino hotel.
The yearning from this man. 👏🏻🥹
His love language is absolutely acts of service, and sweet Claire doesn’t realize how much he has shown her he cares until one year after their night together. The subtle ways he shows up for her had me melting - fresh tulips put in her office every week, coffee deliveries, quietly making her life easier without asking for any recognition.
This man’s love was gentle, patient and intentional before he could he put a name on it.
🖤reformed(ish) mafia MMC
🤍protective & secretly possessive MMC
🖤one night to get it out of our system because he is going to be her BOSS *hello forced proximity*
🤍second chance
🖤found family 🥹
🤍curvy FMC
🖤 spicy 🥵
Thank you Love Notes PR and Sara Evou for the ARC, I’m in love with the acts of service KING 👑 that Gio is.
Claire is 36 and vacationing with her boyfriend and HIS friends on Lake Tahoe when she catches him cheating on her. Suddenly she is forced to confront how unhappy she has been in her life. She realizes she was settling back home in Nashville where she has no real support system - no family or friends, and a shitty (ex)boyfriend. So instead of going home, she decides to build a new life for herself on Lake Tahoe.
Enter Giovanni - aka Gio - a 44 year old casino owner and businessman with strong ties to his community. A little quiet, mysterious, attentive and completely unprepared for the way Claire changes his entire life after an unexpected encounter in his casino hotel.
The yearning from this man. 👏🏻🥹
His love language is absolutely acts of service, and sweet Claire doesn’t realize how much he has shown her he cares until one year after their night together. The subtle ways he shows up for her had me melting - fresh tulips put in her office every week, coffee deliveries, quietly making her life easier without asking for any recognition.
This man’s love was gentle, patient and intentional before he could he put a name on it.
🖤reformed(ish) mafia MMC
🤍protective & secretly possessive MMC
🖤one night to get it out of our system because he is going to be her BOSS *hello forced proximity*
🤍second chance
🖤found family 🥹
🤍curvy FMC
🖤 spicy 🥵
Thank you Love Notes PR and Sara Evou for the ARC, I’m in love with the acts of service KING 👑 that Gio is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨🏔️Normally, I would stick around for the interrogation, but Claire and I have a meeting in thirty minutes. And nothing, not even killing one of my uncle’s men, could keep me away from that.🏔️✨
Meet Me in the Mountains (Tahoe Made Men 1)
by Sara Evou @saraevou.author
𝚎𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝙴𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎: 𝟻/𝟸𝟽/𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟼
✨🏔️✨
Excellent. Simply a great reading experience. Hits the right vibes from the start- with a not-so-meet-cute. Sexy. Smart. Fun. Frustrating—(in the best ways)
Love what SE did here; and btw liked that Claire was from Nashville… that felt like a tip of the hat to the Nashville Security Series.
▬▬▬➽ 𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚂 & 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝙸𝙴 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝚂:
•Secrets
•Plus Size FMC
•Mafia (lightish)
•Spicy (𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔/𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚔/𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎)
•Found Family
•Shitty Ex
•Possessive MMC
•He’s Smitten
•𝙾𝚗𝚎 night to 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝heir 𝚜𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚖
•𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 proximity
•𝙰 second chance
•𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐
▬▬▬𓐌𓐌▬▬▬
𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎. 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊rt 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎.
❣︎ “He couldn’t really get you fired, could he?”
I can’t help my smirk. “I own this casino. There’s
nothing he could do to me.” ❣︎
★★★★
𝟺 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂
▁
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
Meet Me in the Mountains (Tahoe Made Men 1)
by Sara Evou @saraevou.author
𝚎𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝙴𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎: 𝟻/𝟸𝟽/𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟼
✨🏔️✨
Excellent. Simply a great reading experience. Hits the right vibes from the start- with a not-so-meet-cute. Sexy. Smart. Fun. Frustrating—(in the best ways)
Love what SE did here; and btw liked that Claire was from Nashville… that felt like a tip of the hat to the Nashville Security Series.
▬▬▬➽ 𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚂 & 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝙸𝙴 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝚂:
•Secrets
•Plus Size FMC
•Mafia (lightish)
•Spicy (𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔/𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚔/𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎)
•Found Family
•Shitty Ex
•Possessive MMC
•He’s Smitten
•𝙾𝚗𝚎 night to 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝heir 𝚜𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚖
•𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 proximity
•𝙰 second chance
•𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐
▬▬▬𓐌𓐌▬▬▬
𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎. 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊rt 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎.
❣︎ “He couldn’t really get you fired, could he?”
I can’t help my smirk. “I own this casino. There’s
nothing he could do to me.” ❣︎
★★★★
𝟺 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂
▁
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
Review of advance copy
My first time stepping into Mafia romance, give me more!
I loved so much of this book and getting to know all the characters there was such great banter between Gio, Emillo and Luca. You really grew a connection to all of them and their upbringing yet although in the Mafia they have their morals and are decent people.
Claire is fiery 🔥 and fiesty and with some help from friends along the way finally realises her worth and that she does deserve more than she allowed herself before (looking at you EX! Lucky your not dead if ask me 👀)
Also Norma!! I need a Norma in my life she is the sweetest and I adore her. Oh and not forgetting DOC!!
I did nearly get annoyed by the mis communication trope it's a proper wind up to me lol but thankfully it didnt play out like that for long! (That's a personal thing nothing on the author)
What a fab introduction into Mafia and I can't wait to read more from the same author as it was such a fun page turner. I do need to know more about Emillio, Ava and Luca so please tell me we get more ❤️
"Some men like flat stomachs, but that’s never been my preference, even if I’ve slept with a variety of body types. Curves will forever be my favorite."
I loved so much of this book and getting to know all the characters there was such great banter between Gio, Emillo and Luca. You really grew a connection to all of them and their upbringing yet although in the Mafia they have their morals and are decent people.
Claire is fiery 🔥 and fiesty and with some help from friends along the way finally realises her worth and that she does deserve more than she allowed herself before (looking at you EX! Lucky your not dead if ask me 👀)
Also Norma!! I need a Norma in my life she is the sweetest and I adore her. Oh and not forgetting DOC!!
I did nearly get annoyed by the mis communication trope it's a proper wind up to me lol but thankfully it didnt play out like that for long! (That's a personal thing nothing on the author)
What a fab introduction into Mafia and I can't wait to read more from the same author as it was such a fun page turner. I do need to know more about Emillio, Ava and Luca so please tell me we get more ❤️
"Some men like flat stomachs, but that’s never been my preference, even if I’ve slept with a variety of body types. Curves will forever be my favorite."
May 25, 2026
eARC review, received from Love Notes PR 💖
This is such a great book for readers of lite mafia and small town romance! It was a fast paced read, but had the spice, romance, lite angst, and a morally grey man that I love! I loved the representation of a curvy FMC in her 30s without the added insecurities!
Claire Thompson goes to Lake Tahoe for a vacation with her boyfriend and his friends, in hopes of save her failing relationship, but she finds him with another woman in their room instead.. she’s saved from her emotions by Giovanni Caruso, reformed mafia and current owner of the casino she’s staying at..
Gio doesn’t do relationships, but he feels differently towards Claire. He wants to help her in any way possible, and when she decides to stay in Stateline, he couldn’t be happier.
He ends up shaping her new life and she ends up working as his accountant..
The attraction between the two is not missed!! They give each other one night together.. but is that enough for them?? And will Gio’s connection to the mafia endanger them??
Tropes:
🖤lite mafia
🖤obsessed and protective MMC
🖤dangerous with morals
🖤curvy FMC in her 30s
🖤small town romance
This is such a great book for readers of lite mafia and small town romance! It was a fast paced read, but had the spice, romance, lite angst, and a morally grey man that I love! I loved the representation of a curvy FMC in her 30s without the added insecurities!
Claire Thompson goes to Lake Tahoe for a vacation with her boyfriend and his friends, in hopes of save her failing relationship, but she finds him with another woman in their room instead.. she’s saved from her emotions by Giovanni Caruso, reformed mafia and current owner of the casino she’s staying at..
Gio doesn’t do relationships, but he feels differently towards Claire. He wants to help her in any way possible, and when she decides to stay in Stateline, he couldn’t be happier.
He ends up shaping her new life and she ends up working as his accountant..
The attraction between the two is not missed!! They give each other one night together.. but is that enough for them?? And will Gio’s connection to the mafia endanger them??
Tropes:
🖤lite mafia
🖤obsessed and protective MMC
🖤dangerous with morals
🖤curvy FMC in her 30s
🖤small town romance
May 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️/5 not it for me :(
This book was just not it for me. I liked a lot of aspects of the book and the character but I didn't LOVE it. The plot is very simple and easy to get into which I like but I would've loved a little more drama, more action, more SPICE. The characters are all likeable and have really good banter together. Claire is likeable and funny. Julia and Ava are fun side characters and have great banter with Claire. Norma is so loving and reminds me so much of my actual grandma. Luca and Emilio are great characters as well. They're both funny and interesting and I would love to read a book about their lives as well AND the banter they have with Giovanni is amazing. Giovanni is the star of the show though. He exudes BDE. He's great with Claire as well. He literally treats her like a queen. Anything she wants, he'll find a way to give it to her. A big negative for me though was this trope of "I'm really into her/him but i think he/she isn't into me." I'm not a fan of this trope but if you are then you might enjoy this book more than I did. This does not make it a bad book though there were a lot of other things about this book that I liked.
This book was just not it for me. I liked a lot of aspects of the book and the character but I didn't LOVE it. The plot is very simple and easy to get into which I like but I would've loved a little more drama, more action, more SPICE. The characters are all likeable and have really good banter together. Claire is likeable and funny. Julia and Ava are fun side characters and have great banter with Claire. Norma is so loving and reminds me so much of my actual grandma. Luca and Emilio are great characters as well. They're both funny and interesting and I would love to read a book about their lives as well AND the banter they have with Giovanni is amazing. Giovanni is the star of the show though. He exudes BDE. He's great with Claire as well. He literally treats her like a queen. Anything she wants, he'll find a way to give it to her. A big negative for me though was this trope of "I'm really into her/him but i think he/she isn't into me." I'm not a fan of this trope but if you are then you might enjoy this book more than I did. This does not make it a bad book though there were a lot of other things about this book that I liked.
May 27, 2026
‼️ITS RELEASE DAY‼️
✨🏔️ Such a fun, sexy, and emotional read!
After catching her boyfriend cheating during a trip to Lake Tahoe, Claire decides not to return to the life that was no longer serving her. Instead, she stays behind to rebuild her life — and unexpectedly meets Gio, a quiet but attentive businessman with major acts-of-service energy.
The chemistry between Claire and Gio was so good. The subtle ways he cared for her without needing recognition honestly made this romance stand out for me. Gio was protective, intentional, and completely gone for her before he even realized it himself.
This story balanced spice, romance, found family, and emotional healing really well while still being an easy, entertaining read.
🖤 Reformed-ish mafia MMC
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 One night stand to more
🖤 Possessive MMC
🖤 Found family
🖤 Curvy FMC
🖤 Spicy romance
Overall, such an enjoyable start to the series, and I’m excited to see where these characters go next.
Thank You Love Notes PR & Sara Evou for the ARC in exchange, for my honest review.
✨🏔️ Such a fun, sexy, and emotional read!
After catching her boyfriend cheating during a trip to Lake Tahoe, Claire decides not to return to the life that was no longer serving her. Instead, she stays behind to rebuild her life — and unexpectedly meets Gio, a quiet but attentive businessman with major acts-of-service energy.
The chemistry between Claire and Gio was so good. The subtle ways he cared for her without needing recognition honestly made this romance stand out for me. Gio was protective, intentional, and completely gone for her before he even realized it himself.
This story balanced spice, romance, found family, and emotional healing really well while still being an easy, entertaining read.
🖤 Reformed-ish mafia MMC
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 One night stand to more
🖤 Possessive MMC
🖤 Found family
🖤 Curvy FMC
🖤 Spicy romance
Overall, such an enjoyable start to the series, and I’m excited to see where these characters go next.
Thank You Love Notes PR & Sara Evou for the ARC in exchange, for my honest review.
May 27, 2026
This is an ARC review and all opinions will be my own. Thank you to Lovenotes PR for sending me this book to review!
Meet Me in the Mountains is a perfect mix of small town billionaire romance with a sprinkle of mob/mafia and spicy scenes.
We are following Claire who is our main FMC who has had a hard start with finding her partner in bed with another woman whilst on a trip away.
She meets Giovanni, the owner of the casino she’s staying in, he immediately saves her in this terrible situation and the relationship stems from there.
We have the perfect balance of billionaire romance and mafia for someone who hasn’t read mafia books before (that’s me) and the spicy scenes and the mouth on Gio was top notch!
This felt new and refreshing for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed being in this small town in Tahoe.
Gio had the perfect balance of being obsessed with Claire, but also having that manly side of being a multi business owner and a leader of a mafia group.
Loved it so much and I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet Me in the Mountains is a perfect mix of small town billionaire romance with a sprinkle of mob/mafia and spicy scenes.
We are following Claire who is our main FMC who has had a hard start with finding her partner in bed with another woman whilst on a trip away.
She meets Giovanni, the owner of the casino she’s staying in, he immediately saves her in this terrible situation and the relationship stems from there.
We have the perfect balance of billionaire romance and mafia for someone who hasn’t read mafia books before (that’s me) and the spicy scenes and the mouth on Gio was top notch!
This felt new and refreshing for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed being in this small town in Tahoe.
Gio had the perfect balance of being obsessed with Claire, but also having that manly side of being a multi business owner and a leader of a mafia group.
Loved it so much and I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed this story!
It was an interesting take on a mafia romance since Gio wasn't really too involved with the family in Vegas. I loved how his initial attraction to Claire was so instinctual that he did everything in his power to make her life easier, and keep her by his side.
I did really like Claire's character. She started as a damsel in distress and then took it upon herself to uproot her life and start over in a new state. I loved how she opened her self to new experiences and didn't let her relationship with Gio, nonexistent and eventually exisistant, get in her way.
I know that their lack of communication funneld the angst and tension but sometimes I jusy wanted them to spot it out so they could stop misunderstanding each other! It made the story so good but so frustrating to watch them dance around each other!!
I cannot wait for Emilio and Luca to find love!!
It was an interesting take on a mafia romance since Gio wasn't really too involved with the family in Vegas. I loved how his initial attraction to Claire was so instinctual that he did everything in his power to make her life easier, and keep her by his side.
I did really like Claire's character. She started as a damsel in distress and then took it upon herself to uproot her life and start over in a new state. I loved how she opened her self to new experiences and didn't let her relationship with Gio, nonexistent and eventually exisistant, get in her way.
I know that their lack of communication funneld the angst and tension but sometimes I jusy wanted them to spot it out so they could stop misunderstanding each other! It made the story so good but so frustrating to watch them dance around each other!!
I cannot wait for Emilio and Luca to find love!!
June 4, 2026
🏔️ 🎰 💰
If you’re in the mood for a mafia/mob book but don’t want the blood and the guts and the death this is the one for you!
It’s super mild when it comes to the crime and the bonus is theres a great love story intertwined with it.
I did find at times Claire was a bit impulsive but I guess that’s fair when you’re completely uprooting your life after a bad breakup. You want new experiences and she did exactly that.
Giovanni was really comforting with her from the get go and he was the combination of protector and sweet/thoughtful friend in beginning and then it grew after they expressed their feelings for each other.
I thought for sure Claire would get used against him when it came to his uncle coming after him, so it was a nice twist that they kidnapped Gio instead. The women came Rio the rescue in this one and they delivered.
I am looking forward to seeing if Emilio and Ava get their story! Great job Sara!
I give this one four ⭐️’s!
If you’re in the mood for a mafia/mob book but don’t want the blood and the guts and the death this is the one for you!
It’s super mild when it comes to the crime and the bonus is theres a great love story intertwined with it.
I did find at times Claire was a bit impulsive but I guess that’s fair when you’re completely uprooting your life after a bad breakup. You want new experiences and she did exactly that.
Giovanni was really comforting with her from the get go and he was the combination of protector and sweet/thoughtful friend in beginning and then it grew after they expressed their feelings for each other.
I thought for sure Claire would get used against him when it came to his uncle coming after him, so it was a nice twist that they kidnapped Gio instead. The women came Rio the rescue in this one and they delivered.
I am looking forward to seeing if Emilio and Ava get their story! Great job Sara!
I give this one four ⭐️’s!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This book is the PERFECT start to this new series!
I loved how we met each character and got a sense of their personality without losing sight of the two MCs for this book.
Giovanni Caruso is a casino owner who still lightly dabbles in his former mafia lifestyle when needed.
Claire Thompson is an accountant visiting with her boyfriend and friends when she’s cheated on and ends up being saved by Giovanni.
Gio has a protective nature even when meddling by “helping” Claire unbeknownst to her - harmless fun right?
Claire is a sweetheart with a fierce loyalty to those in her life - I loved her friendships she made when she decided to stick around Tahoe area!
I cannot wait for more from this series - I have my eye on Luca!
Thanks LoveNotes PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I loved how we met each character and got a sense of their personality without losing sight of the two MCs for this book.
Giovanni Caruso is a casino owner who still lightly dabbles in his former mafia lifestyle when needed.
Claire Thompson is an accountant visiting with her boyfriend and friends when she’s cheated on and ends up being saved by Giovanni.
Gio has a protective nature even when meddling by “helping” Claire unbeknownst to her - harmless fun right?
Claire is a sweetheart with a fierce loyalty to those in her life - I loved her friendships she made when she decided to stick around Tahoe area!
I cannot wait for more from this series - I have my eye on Luca!
Thanks LoveNotes PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 28, 2026
Sara Evou's book Meet Me In the Mountains is the kind of romance that wrapped me up in a cozy mountain atmosphere while delivering an abundance of emotional tension and chemistry. Set against the rugged beauty of Tahoe, we get to meet the FMC Claire who left home for a vacation in the mountains, but got more than she bargained for when she met the MMC Giovanni Caruso. At its core, I felt that the strongest aspect for this novel was the setting. The mountain backdrop that Evou created felt immersive and cinematic in a way that allowed the forced proximity and emotional healing between the MC's to create intense romantic moments. Overall, Meet Me In the Mountains was a strong start to the Tahoe Made Men series and I can not wait to read the others!
I received an ARC copy from Love Notes PR. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
I received an ARC copy from Love Notes PR. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for this book and it had enough drama and spice to keep me locked in. I loved the character development of the FMC and MMC G and Claire. They met in an awkward emotional fated way that turned beautiful. He saved her from a mistake and gave her reasons to throw caution to the wind and try something and somewhere new. He introduces her to his family Emilio, Luca, and Norma they all love her. She meets and makes new friends Ava and Julia who love and embrace her which is something she’s never had. Claire and G steal glances and flirt as he helps her get on her feet. Little did they know they’d be just what the other needed. He was busy running a million dollar business and avoiding family drama and she was fresh from a breakup looking to start over. They began to develop feelings but didn’t think the other wanted to act on them so they settled on life as friends with benefits(steam level 10 🔥🔥)until they couldn’t deny what was brewing amongst them. As things progressed his family tried causing havoc and making problems for his somewhat peaceful life. To make matters worse Claire finds out he’s been keeping secrets and falls back. She regrets it as things from here go crazy she learns things about her closest friend Ava and is saddened about what has transpired since she last heard from G. Ava and his family Emilio and Luca assure her everything is going to be okay and that once they are they need to make things right and be honest with their feelings. It was beautiful and honestly love at first sight in their meeting in the mountains.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Meet Me In The Mountains by Sara Evou completely swept me away! If you love mafia romance with the perfect balance of danger, obsession, and emotional depth without being overly dark, this one delivers. Giovanni Caruso is the ultimate protective, morally gray book boyfriend whose quietly obsessed, fiercely loyal, and secretly taking care of the FMC in ways that had me MELTING. 🥵
I absolutely loved the mature FMC representation too. Seeing a curvy heroine in her late 30s getting a fresh start, finding her confidence, and falling for a dangerous man with morals felt so refreshing. The chemistry between Giovanni and the FMC was intense from the start, and the slow burn tension after their “one night only” arrangement had me hooked the entire time.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Meet Me In The Mountains by Sara Evou completely swept me away! If you love mafia romance with the perfect balance of danger, obsession, and emotional depth without being overly dark, this one delivers. Giovanni Caruso is the ultimate protective, morally gray book boyfriend whose quietly obsessed, fiercely loyal, and secretly taking care of the FMC in ways that had me MELTING. 🥵
I absolutely loved the mature FMC representation too. Seeing a curvy heroine in her late 30s getting a fresh start, finding her confidence, and falling for a dangerous man with morals felt so refreshing. The chemistry between Giovanni and the FMC was intense from the start, and the slow burn tension after their “one night only” arrangement had me hooked the entire time.
May 29, 2026
Curvy and insecure meets made man
Claire is on a vacation with her boyfriend and his friends in Lake Tahoe when she catches him cheating on her. She injures herself with a broken lamp she used to attack him and is aided by the hotel/casino owner, Giovanni, who gives her shelter and then continues to help her with moving, a job, and housing. This is their story of insta attraction and the falling in love that followed.
The writing is good, but it got a little disjointed a couple of times and I needed to go back and reread a couple of times to figure out what happened. It ends with some loose strings, but that’s more to encourage the reader to read the next installment.
This book was a giveaway through Goodreads and this is my honest review.
Claire is on a vacation with her boyfriend and his friends in Lake Tahoe when she catches him cheating on her. She injures herself with a broken lamp she used to attack him and is aided by the hotel/casino owner, Giovanni, who gives her shelter and then continues to help her with moving, a job, and housing. This is their story of insta attraction and the falling in love that followed.
The writing is good, but it got a little disjointed a couple of times and I needed to go back and reread a couple of times to figure out what happened. It ends with some loose strings, but that’s more to encourage the reader to read the next installment.
This book was a giveaway through Goodreads and this is my honest review.
June 4, 2026
**ACR Review from Publisher**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Meet Me in the Mountains* was such an enjoyable read! I really loved following Claire as she made some huge life decisions simply because she wanted more out of life. There was something refreshing and empowering about watching her step outside of her comfort zone and embrace new possibilities.
The slow-burn romance between Claire and Giovanni was another highlight for me. Their connection developed naturally, making every interaction feel meaningful and worth the wait. The story balances personal growth, adventure, and romance in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.
If you enjoy stories about taking chances, finding yourself, and a romance that unfolds at just the right pace, this one is definitely worth picking up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Meet Me in the Mountains* was such an enjoyable read! I really loved following Claire as she made some huge life decisions simply because she wanted more out of life. There was something refreshing and empowering about watching her step outside of her comfort zone and embrace new possibilities.
The slow-burn romance between Claire and Giovanni was another highlight for me. Their connection developed naturally, making every interaction feel meaningful and worth the wait. The story balances personal growth, adventure, and romance in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.
If you enjoy stories about taking chances, finding yourself, and a romance that unfolds at just the right pace, this one is definitely worth picking up.
June 7, 2026
**Review of Advance Copy**
This was a cute, lighthearted story that felt like a nice way to kick off the summer reading season. I enjoyed the premise and thought it had a lot of potential, but I felt the execution could have been a bit more polished.
Claire came across as somewhat one-dimensional, often taking situations at face value without much depth or growth. Giovanni’s background as a former mafia member also felt underdeveloped; aside from being mentioned, there were few characteristics or behaviors that made that aspect of his past feel believable or impactful to the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I think stronger character development and more refined writing would have made it even better.
**Thank you Love Notes PR for the advance copy.**
This was a cute, lighthearted story that felt like a nice way to kick off the summer reading season. I enjoyed the premise and thought it had a lot of potential, but I felt the execution could have been a bit more polished.
Claire came across as somewhat one-dimensional, often taking situations at face value without much depth or growth. Giovanni’s background as a former mafia member also felt underdeveloped; aside from being mentioned, there were few characteristics or behaviors that made that aspect of his past feel believable or impactful to the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I think stronger character development and more refined writing would have made it even better.
**Thank you Love Notes PR for the advance copy.**
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the perfect book for when you want to dip your toes into mafia, but don’t want it to be dark romance.
It has touches of suspense throughout the plot, but focuses on Gio’s obsession with Claire and his need to protect her even from their first meeting.
I loved how Claire accepts Gio immediately and they form a friendship and connection before they truly get together. Claire is the light, funny, and sweet girl that Gio never saw coming. With him being grumpy, they are truly the perfect match.
This book is sweet with the found family aspects and Norma being their bonus mom throughout it all.
I really loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the series!
It has touches of suspense throughout the plot, but focuses on Gio’s obsession with Claire and his need to protect her even from their first meeting.
I loved how Claire accepts Gio immediately and they form a friendship and connection before they truly get together. Claire is the light, funny, and sweet girl that Gio never saw coming. With him being grumpy, they are truly the perfect match.
This book is sweet with the found family aspects and Norma being their bonus mom throughout it all.
I really loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a breathe of fresh whilst also being what people term as never will be real because when and where will I find someone willing,capable and worth moving across the world for with no future and a backup plan because he'll figure everything out for without a complaint and he'll protect me from everything while still paving the way for me to enjoy my new life in the mountains.
Regardless Giovanni was definitely a book boyfriend worth reading Thank you to the author for the opportunity to have ARC REVIEW this I'm so honoured and do believe the world deserves to finally meet Gio who stole my heart 💕
Regardless Giovanni was definitely a book boyfriend worth reading Thank you to the author for the opportunity to have ARC REVIEW this I'm so honoured and do believe the world deserves to finally meet Gio who stole my heart 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Meet me in the Mountains is perfect for people who are not into dark mafia romance and want to see somebody loved correctly.
What I appreciated most was the representation of the curvy FMC. So often, plus-size characters are written from a place of constant insecurity, but that wasn't the case here. Her body was not her entire personality or storyline.
The romance felt genuine, the emotional growth was satisfying, and the setting made me want to pack my bags and head for the mountains. While the pacing dragged a bit in places, I still really enjoyed this one and would recommend.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the Tahoe Made Men have in store for us
What I appreciated most was the representation of the curvy FMC. So often, plus-size characters are written from a place of constant insecurity, but that wasn't the case here. Her body was not her entire personality or storyline.
The romance felt genuine, the emotional growth was satisfying, and the setting made me want to pack my bags and head for the mountains. While the pacing dragged a bit in places, I still really enjoyed this one and would recommend.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the Tahoe Made Men have in store for us
May 27, 2026
✨️ARC Review ✨️
🌶 Rating: 3.25/5
Release date: May 27, 2026
Gotta love Sara and her mafia tech guys 😂
Gio is just that man. Honestly, a man like would have totally creeped me out in reality, but in this book 10/10. I love all the initiatives he took for Claire. He was only doing everything to make her feel safe, especially in a new place.
And then when Calire found her own little family with Ava and Julia. Definitely love the females friendships she made along the way.
Also, Emilio is definitely my type of guy for a guy best friend. Him and Ava are definitely going to be something in the futute.👀👀
🌶 Rating: 3.25/5
Release date: May 27, 2026
Gotta love Sara and her mafia tech guys 😂
Gio is just that man. Honestly, a man like would have totally creeped me out in reality, but in this book 10/10. I love all the initiatives he took for Claire. He was only doing everything to make her feel safe, especially in a new place.
And then when Calire found her own little family with Ava and Julia. Definitely love the females friendships she made along the way.
Also, Emilio is definitely my type of guy for a guy best friend. Him and Ava are definitely going to be something in the futute.👀👀
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