Hunter's Keep: A Mafia Bodyguard Age-Gap Romance

The Moretti Men #3

by Jill Ramsower

From Amazon Top 35 Bestselling author Jill Ramsower comes a lite Mafia bodyguard age-gap romance.

Terina
My husband was murdered on a rainy Tuesday afternoon,
Leaving me widowed and harboring an unbearable secret shame.

I never want to know that sort of guilt again.

Five years later, when my life is threatened by the Russian mob,
My older brother assigns his best friend as my bodyguard.
But I refuse to allow another man to risk himself for me.

DiAngelo Farina doesn’t care about my refusal.
He vows death to anyone who touches me.

The man is ruthlessly loyal and heartless in the execution of his duties.
He values his Mafia oath above all else.

And in his attempt to break my will,
He exposes a side of me I never knew existed.
A side that craves submission and surrender.

My protector turns to teacher,
But can I learn to trust him with my body and my life?


What to expect in Hunter's Keep:
-Intro to BDSM
-Bodyguard alpha hero
-Age gap
-Tragic past-emotional healing
-Touch her and die
-Has an HEA
-Can be read as a standalone
-Dual POV
-Content warnings—The book deals with matters of self-harm, loss of a spouse, and intimacy power play. For a more detailed list of possible content triggers, you can visit the Extras tab on my website.

Note from the Author: For those of you who are new to me, I write what I'd call "mafia lite." My heroes are hardened criminals with soft spots for their heroines. There may be violence and cruelty in my books, but never between the main characters. Enjoy!

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, BDSM, Forced Proximity, Audiobook, Dark

416 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she's a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

Find her on Facebook here-->https://www.facebook.com/jillramsower...
Never miss a release! Sign up for her newsletter here-->https://jillramsower_234b.gr8.com/
Check out her website here-->https://www.jillramsower.com/

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Russian mob targets Terina Donati, her brother puts the one man he trusts implicitly on duty as her bodyguard.

DiAngelo Farina has known loss and takes his duty as protector seriously. When the threats against Rina escalate, D’s instinct is to become duty-focused. As the days wear on, however, he realizes that he’s not simply protecting her out of loyalty, but also out of love.

This was another new author for me. Jill Ramsower has been on my TBR for a long time and I have no idea what held me back before. She describes her writing style as mafia lite and that’s a perfect description.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

Ending: 💕 {HFN}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
Emotions: 🤭😳🥵🫠😍
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (~10), Billionaire, Family Saga, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Hurt/Comfort, Love After Loss, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, One Bed
 
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, “Good Girl”, Lap Sitting, Pet Name (Firefly), Size Difference

🔆 Character: Bodyguard, Mafia Princess

💋 Kinks: Bondage/Restraints, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Impact Play (Flogger), Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Power Exchange, Toys as Teammates

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀

⛔️ Safety Squad: Self-Harm (by FMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: New York City, New York 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Hunter’s Keep is part of the The Moretti Men series of interconnected standalones. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline carries across the series. As such, this series will be best enjoyed when read in order.

⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and damp panties.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 ⊹
╰ ✦ •

FINALLY got DiAngelo's bookkk omg

This was a wild ride!! I loved every minute of this!! This was so emotional, I actually cried when she finally was able to tell him her biggest secret.
Their chemistry was everything!!


ALSO THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING!! I neeeed Isa's book RIGHT NOW! (idk if i can wait till Fall for it😭😭)
rtc!

⁀➷𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
Wooo!! My ARC copy just came in, I can't wait to continue this series!! Thank you for the ARC, Jill!

_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨BOOK REVIEW✨💜

💚HUNTER’S KEEP by Jill Ramsower
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4 1/2 stars!

Where do I even begin with Hunter’s Keep? I absolutely LOVED Terina and DiAngelo’s story.

The brother’s best friend/bodyguard trope was executed flawlessly, but what truly made this story unforgettable was the emotional depth behind these characters.

Terina, the daughter of a mafia family, is haunted by tragedy and constantly shadowed by danger. Her pain felt raw and real, making it impossible not to connect with her.

Then DiAngelo. Protective, tortured, and carrying demons of his own after a devastating mistake from his past. Watching him unravel the truth while battling his need for revenge had me completely hooked. The intensity of his obsession and devotion to Terina was EVERYTHING.

This is the third book in the Moretti Men series, and while I enjoyed the first book and the novella, this one hit on a completely different level. I am fully obsessed with these characters, their family dynamics, and the layers of backstory woven throughout the series.

Jill Ramsower absolutely nailed Terina and DiAngelo’s story. The ENDING?! I finished the book and immediately messaged her because I desperately needed to know if the story would continue. There was no way I could accept that Hunter’s Keep was truly over, and thankfully, it isn’t.

Now I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next book because I NEED to know what happens. I don’t even want outside opinions influencing my thoughts before I read it myself. The way DiAngelo was consumed by Terina is exactly how I feel about this series right now.

A huge thank you to @jillramsowerauthor @hambright_pr and @valentine_pr_ for the gifted ALC and ARC.

An extra special THANK YOU to @jillramsowerauthor and @valentine_pr_ for the stunning book mail. I absolutely love it and appreciate it more than I can even express! 💜🤍💚

TROPES ✨
🚫 Age Gap
👯 Brother’s Best Friend
🪢 Dom/Sub Introduction
🧲 Forced Proximity
❤️‍🩹 Tortured MMC
💪🏻 Bodyguard

*As always, check trigger warnings.

#HPRHuntersKeep
#JillRamsower
#HambrightPR
#valentinepr

[Kari Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Jill Ramsower book, but it won't be my last. I'm going to have to dig into her backlist as soon as possible. Even though this is book 3, it wasn't a problem to start with this book in the series.

I loved Terina and DiAngelo! I really enjoyed the flashbacks into both of their pasts to see what happened to them and to see how those events are affecting them even now. I loved how they each used their own trauma and heartbreak to help heal each other.

Duet narration by Ellory Lane and Gregory Salinas was top notch. Ellory is a new to me narrator, and I really enjoyed her voice and narration style. I will always love any book narrated by Gregory Salinas as he is one of my absolute favorite narrators.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟, 3🌶️

If you love a man who would do anything for his girl, you need this book.

It dives straight into a world where loyalty is everything and the stakes are constantly high. Jill Ramsower calls her style mafia lite and that is the most accurate way to describe this vibe. It gives you the perfect amount of danger and family drama without ever feeling too dark or overwhelming. The world building feels so rich and layered that you feel completely immersed in the lives of these characters from the get-go.

The chemistry between DiAngelo and Terina is absolutely off the charts. There is nothing better than a possessive bodyguard who also happens to be the brother's best friend. Watching DiAngelo try to stay professional while clearly falling for Terina made for some incredible tension. The age gap and forced proximity just added more fuel to the fire, making every single interaction feel so intense and real.

The emotional aspect of their journey truly resonated with me. Both of them are working through some heavy grief and past trauma, and seeing them finally heal together was really moving. The flashbacks gave so much heart to their guarded personalities and made the payoff of them finally opening up feel so earned. Even with all the spice and suspense, the story is grounded in this beautiful message about finding love after loss.

This was such a solid read that I am definitely going back for more.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Jill Ramsower and Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Christabel Hazel Ashring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was good! What a ride this story took you on. This was my first read of the series but it was easy to pick up.

I really loved how throughout the story Terina and DiAngelo became a healing force for the other to work through their past guilt to find peace and realize they’re not to blame for the trauma involving those they loved. Also, the nickname “firefly” is really cute! Overall the book was well written and I enjoyed the character development in addition to the romance aspects.

While I loathe cliffhangers I found the one in the epilogue to be bearable because the main story of Hunters Keep had already been wrapped up and this was simply to whet the appetite for the next book. A good example of when a cliffhanger is acceptable!

[Wendy Marie (myrisingphoenixera.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
2.5🌶️
🔥Age Gap
🔥Brother's Best Friend
🔥Dom/Sub Introduction
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Tortured MMC
🔥Bodyguard
🔥Dual First Person POV

With threats against the family, Terina is assigned a bodyguard. But not just anyone, her brother’s best friend and right hand man, DiAngelo. Terina doesn’t want a bodyguard, she doesn’t want anyone to put themselves in danger because of her. DiAngelo knows she doesn’t want him around, but makes it known right away that he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. As the present unfolds we’re shown the loss they have both suffered in. DiAngelo has been blaming himself for his twin brother’s kidnapping and death. He threw himself into his work, shutting off any emotions. His need for control stems from not wanting anyone to suffer because of his decisions. Terina shut herself off from any kind of relationship for fear of them getting hurt because of her. But behind her facade of happiness and care free attitude she’s been carrying the guilt for her husband’s death. DiAngelo is relentless in his mission to protect her but she struggles with the idea of him getting hurt. Terina turns to old habits when her feelings of fear and panic are too much for her to handle. The danger is lurking in the background while their feelings and attraction for each other ratchets up to a point where neither of them can ignore them. The banter was fun and steamy. The spice was hot and a little kinky. It hurt to see how they have been suffering, but when they open up to each other they are able to find peace and safety. Now, the ending is not a typical cliffhanger, but it is still just as shocking while setting up for the next book.

Plot: 4
Engaging: 5
Character: 4.5

Thank you Jill Ramsower and Valentine PR for the gifted advanced copy.

📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦‍🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦‍🔥

A Few Favorite Quotes:
“I watch breathlessly as my brother’s best friend—the man who has been forced to babysit me—carefully sucks two of my fingers deep into his mouth.”

“Yet the chemistry simmering between me and DiAngelo overrides logic and scrambles my thoughts like a rake through sand.”

“This is me showing you that it’s not my job to touch you. It’s my duty because your body belongs to me.”

“DiAngelo fills every nook and cranny of my awareness until there is no room for anything else.”

“Do you know how perfect these would look pierced? Platinum bars with my initials engraved in them so that you think of me every time these perfect peaks get hard.”

“I’m saying you’re mine, and I’ll bleed this city dry until you’re safe.”

“I had forgotten what love was until you reminded me. You have become my everything, firefly.”

“No matter how much I try to blame myself for the past, I know I must have done something right or the universe wouldn’t have given me you.”

[Vanessasbooksta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up to 5.
Hunter’s Keep is a seductive, high-tension read from Jill Ramsower. It’s a standalone within an interconnected world, though that brutal cliffhanger has me wanting that next book immediately.

TROPES ✨
🚫 Age Gap
👯 Brother's Best Friend
🧲 Forced Proximity
❤️‍🩹 Tortured MMC
💪🏻 Bodyguard
👀 Mystery
��️ Spicy

Thank you to Hambright PR for the audiobook!

[Romance_book_obsessed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC 🫶🏻

Terina’s husband was k*lled years ago and she has been afraid of becoming close to anyone. When Diangelo is tasked with protecting her from the Russians, he can’t help falling for her!

They both have their own demons including loss of loved ones and mafia families. When they open up to each other, they find peace!

If you like an age gap, bodyguard romance with mafia vibes, then I highly recommend.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for Terina & DiAngelo😭

Look I love a mafia romance but when the MMC is the bodyguard and the FMC is his best friends sister you know I am gonna devour these tropes again and again👏🏼

Terina or Rina as she goes by is Renzo’s (Craving Chaos) sister. If you have read Tommy and Danika’s book you will know that even though Biba is no longer a problem, his son is and this is how our story starts. Renzo believes that his sister is a target and thus she needs protection so who better to do that than someone he trusts and knows will protect her. Of course Rina is furious but she understands the dangers and compromises.

Rina my sweet, she is a woman who keeps a lot buried beneath the surface. Rina quickly married a man she thought she loved when she was only 22 but things only went downhill when her husband was too focused on his job to give Rina a glamorous lifestyle that she was used to. Rina of course did not want any of this and all she wanted was his love, but now all Rina felt was loneliness in her marriage. Not long after her husband is unalived and this brings us to the present day where Rina feels enormous guilt because she knew the dangers associated with her family name and she got Craig caught up in this.

On the other hand we have DiAngelo who is also carrying grief. He lost his twin brother when one day when they were younger they decided to switch places and his brother was taken instead of him. It is a regret that DiAngelo always carries and he doesn’t forgive himself.

Jill does a brilliant job weaving between past and present so we get an insight to both DiAngelo and Rina’s past and this also helps readers understand how the characters are feeling in the present.

Now when I say you could cut the tension between these two with a spoon would be an absolute understatement🤭. Rina has closed herself off from a relationship as she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt but DiAngelo is from this world and he understands the dangers. DiAngelo also tries to keep his distance on the principle that she his best friends sister but you just cannot deny fate and chemistry.

I loved how slowly but surely these characters walls decided to come down and they opened up about their pasts. They were supportive of each other and gave each other the strength that was needed to work through that grief that they carried.

When the tension came to its peak it was like fireworks and the heat was turned up a lot🤭.

I won’t give too much away about this book but I absolutely loved it. There is a character that has a hidden identity throughout this series and I had quite a random theory about this at the beginning of this book but that’s all I’m gonna say👀.

Also Jill that cliffhanger??? Excuse me you can’t leave a woman like this, I need the next book pronto as this couple is gonna be interesting 👏🏼👏🏼

Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im just going to dive straight into this review. Every time I pick up a Jill Ramsower book, I’m instantly hooked. This story is incredibly thrilling, packed with plot, family drama, and the danger of being targeted by an enemy, all while the chemistry and tension between Terina and DiAngelo continues to build.

Starting with the characters, both are dealing with loss, grief and have found ways to cope. I loved the amount of character depth we got from both Terina and DiAngelo. My heart hurt for Terina and the blame she places on herself. I honestly feel that if the people around her had been more honest instead of forcing her to uncover things on her own, it could have saved her a lot of pain. She comes across as quietly tough, especially when it comes to her bodyguard, DiAngelo back chatting him, risking her safety, yet always aware of his presence.

I absolutely loved watching these two circle each other. DiAngelo takes his job seriously when it comes to protecting his best friend’s sister, but he’s also a deliciously dominant and highly protective man. I’m also a sucker for a jealous MMC, and that yoga scene? Heated. And honestly, Bonnie the Rottweiler completely stole the show. I loved her.

The storyline hooks you straight away with so much happening, yet it’s incredibly easy to follow. Jill always creates such immersive worlds that pull you right in.

And that ending? I need the next book immediately because my jaw was on the floor. I genuinely did not expect what happened. I will also need to go back and read the first and second book in the series.

Lastly, the audiobook was brilliant. Gregory and Ellery aren’t narrators I listen to often, but it’s always such an enjoyable experience when they pop up. I highly recommend picking up the audiobook.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC and Kindle ARC
Pages: 356
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 7mins
Narrators: Gregory Salinas and Ellery Lane - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Spicy Chapters: 17, 18, 29, 30, 41, 46, 51 and 62
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Three In The Moretti Men Series
Tropes or Themes: Mafia, Brothers Best Friend, Bodyguard, Age Gap (10yrs), Love After Loss, Forced Proximity, Past and Present Timeline, When He Massages Her, Chemistry, Tension, Jealousy, Family Drama, Mine, Panic Attacks, Self Harm, Mental Health, Violence, Injured, Blood, Kidnapping, Torture (Water Boarding not MC), Sexual Content, Praise, Dirty Talk, Oral Play, When He Catches Her In The Act, WHCIHP, Dom, Sub, Toys, Toys As Teammates, Restrictive Play, Impact Play and Outdoor Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[Thao Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm saying you're mine, and I'll bleed this city dry until you're safe"

AHHH KICKING AND SCREAMING. Idk what Jill does to her books, but I am always SO obsessed! This is my mafia series ever and I am so happy I found it. Hunter's Keep is the 3rd book in The Moretti Men series. I still think the second book is my fav one yet because who doesn't love a hot neurodivergent man.

Di'Angelo is THE bodyguard you'd want by your side ;) This book was so spicy and I loved all of the mafia aspect to it. Def add this series to your TBR!

[Kersten MommyReadsForFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap I just loved this book and couldn’t stop reading. DiAngelo and Terina had the push/pull and banter down! I loved how they were both holding guilt and anger and pushing people away but it also allowed them to heal together. It was a beautiful story 💕

The mafia and organized crime element was just heavy enough to keep it interesting. I can’t wait for the next book with the cliff I am dangling from over here!!

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I will always eat up a body guard trope & this one mixed with the age gap & brothers best friend?! It did not disappoint!! The narration for this was just done so well!!!

Jill has a way of sucking me in with her characters and i absolutely loved Di’Angelo & Terina! He was such a protective MMC!! I loved how seriously he took his job. The tension & chemistry between these two were off the charts. I loved the added aspect of the tragic pasts & them both dealing with their own struggles. It made them seem so much more relatable and added to the character development in this book!

This book was plot & spice, but added emotion & healing that just pulled me in and had me so invested! If you love a mafia vibe book with all the tension, heat, and chemistry this one definitely brings it! Highly recommend this one!!

[Kristi Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

”why do you call me that? why firefly?”
“because you’re my light in the darkness”

bodyguard AND brothers best friend?? sign me up!! ugh i loved this so much. both of our MCs have lost someone in the past that shaped the way they see relationships.

Terina’s husband was murdered a few years ago and she blames herself, which means she’s terrified of being the reason someone else gets hurt. DiAngelo lost his twin brother when he was a teenager and he blames himself because the kidnapper thought their family had money because of something D said..his twin was also kidnapped when he was covering for D at work (as in pretending to be him).

with a new threat on the horizon, Renzo assigns DiAngelo to protection duty for his younger sister, Terina. D has intentionally kept his distance because he feels things for Rina that he knows he shouldn’t. it doesn’t take long for those feelings to surface and for them to the cross the line into something more than bodyguard and charge. D would’ve done anything to keep Rina safe but now that she’s his woman? no one is safe, he would but the world down for her

-mafia lite
-bodyguard romance
-touch her and die
-brothers best friend
-widow FMC
-age gap
-BDSM lite
-forced proximity
-flashback chapters from both POVs
-protective/possessive

kicking my feet at the cliffhanger!!! i cant wait for the next book and im having mixed emotions for D. cliffhanger is a set up for the next book, we get a HEA for D and Rina

[Joleen Turns Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoutout to HambrightPR for the eARC and ALC!

Interconnecting standalone mafia romances surrounding the Moretti men.

Hunter's Keep was such a solid 4 star mafia romance for me. Jill Ramsower really knows how to write emotionally guarded characters with insane chemistry, and DiAngelo and Terina absolutely delivered. I loved that beneath all the bodyguard tension, possessiveness, and “touch her and d*e” energy, this story was really about grief, healing, trust, and learning how to let someone in again.

DiAngelo was peak obsessive protector energy without losing the softer emotional layers that made him feel human, and Terina’s journey through guilt and vulnerability added a lot more depth than I expected going in. Their dynamic had that slow-building tension that keeps you glued to the page, and the forced proximity mixed with the age gap and power exchange elements worked surprisingly well together.

I also really appreciated that the darker themes and spice never completely overshadowed the emotional core of the story. The mafia backdrop added stakes and suspense, but the relationship development is what carried this for me. And that ending?? Jill Ramsower really said “good luck waiting for book four.”

If you love mafia romance with emotional healing, protective alpha heroes, high tension, and a little bit of danger wrapped around a surprisingly tender romance, this one is absolutely worth picking up

[Hollie Feathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this ARC on behalf of Hambright PR!

When I first saw the sign up for this one through the PR company, I had to immediately sign up! Age gap, brothers best friend, forced proximity, bodyguard and dom/sub introduction... need I say more?

Terina, who is Renzo and Tommy's sister who you meet in books 1&2 has led a tortured life. Someone who didn't want to be apart of the mafia; but didn't really have a choice. She tried to marry out of the mafia, but what she didn't know is that wasn't going to take her away from the life. Due to this she is now in danger after the events of what happened in book 2! Her brother Renzo decides that his best friend is the best person for the job!

You get to meet D in book 2, but you get everything when it comes to book 3! He also comes from a tortured background with prison in his background; but no matter what that makes him even better at his job at protecting his little firefly. He doesn't let anyone talk down to her, hurt her, or even think about doing anything malicious to her! He most definitely gives off the "touch her and unalive" vibes!

That cliff hanger has my brain spinning; make sure you also read the bonus epilogue at the end of the book! It's worth it!

"Don't allow him to darken a single day of your sunshine. Just let him go, okay?"

"There are as many what ifs in the world as there are drops of water."

#HPRHuntersKeep
#JillRamsower
#HambrightPR

[Samantha Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Jill Ramsower and @hambright_pr for the opportunity to receive this alc in exchange for my honest opinion .

This is the third book in the moretti men series and I absolutely ate it up . It can be read as a standalone as well .

Terina was such a strong , beautiful fmc . She blamed herself for the loss of her husband and dealt with a lot of guilt and shame . 5 years later , I was assigned a body guard due to her life being threatened by the Russian mob and that body guard was her brothers best friend .

Diangelo - mmc who has dealt with a tragic past of his own took his job of protecting Terina seriously . A true touch her and ☠️ . But not only protection was he giving Terina but also exposing her submissive side 🔥 . But is Terina willing to trust him ?

The way she dealt with her stress just broke my heart - and the way Diangelo wants to be there for her when she feels this way . The chemistry between her and Diangelo was hot as heck . I couldn’t get enough of them . And the spicy scenes had be frothing at the mouth . Absolutely delicious .

@voice.of.greg & Ellory Lane did such a great job with the audio for this ! Ate it up like my favorite meal .

If you love a m@fia romance on the lighter side with age gap , intro to bdsm , and a book you can listen to in one sitting ? Please read this one !

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC/BOOK REVIEW ✨

Hunter’s Keep by Jill Ramsower

Thank you to Jill Ramsower and Valentine PR for the ARC of a book that had me completely hooked from page one — and honestly, how is this my first Jill Ramsower read?! I have been missing out and I am so glad that changes now.

Jill describes her style as mafia lite, and that is truly the perfect label. You get all the loyalty, danger, and family drama your heart craves without it ever feeling too heavy or overwhelming. This world is rich and the stakes feel real from the very start.

And the chemistry between the leads? Electric. But what really got me was how deeply they show up for each other through their trauma. Watching two people heal side by side while navigating all that tension and danger hit different. Absolutely perfect.

That climax though. Jill knows exactly how to pull every single thread together at just the right moment — and then she hits you with that ending. I actually gasped. The cliffhanger is everything. 🫣

Now I need Isa’s book immediately, and I will absolutely be going back for Jill’s entire backlist. If you love mafia romance with spice, drama, and so much heart — this one is not optional. 🖤

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hotness! DiAngelo and Terina are 🔥🔥🔥!

Terina, or Rina as most people call her, is the sister of a mafia boss and is needing protection because someone is threatening her and her family. So her brother, Renzo, assigns his best friend DiAngelo, who is 10 years older than Rina, to be her bodyguard.

Rina and D don’t really get a long at first, but it’s only because they can’t be honest about the chemistry between them. Once things finally explode between them, there is nothing stopping them from being together. But they both have relationships in their past that have molded who they are now, and it’s hard to get past their own thoughts of themselves. But they are there to help each other through it.

When DiAngelo’s past comes to the present, everyone is stunned. And we will get that part of the story in book 4, about the Reaper.

Tropes:
Age gap
Bodyguard
Brother’s best friend
Forced proximity
Touch her and d!e
He falls first and hard

Trigger warnings:
Death on page
Slight BDSM
Self harm on page
Mafia families
Animal death on page (venomous snake)

[Emm · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - Hunter's Keep by Jill Ramsower, releasing on May 6, 2026!

Tropes -
🖤 light dark mafia romance
❤️‍🔥 brothers best friend
🌶️ body guard
🤍 trauma healing
🥀 forced proximity
 
 Terina & DiAngelo’s story is here !!! These two are two broken souls destined for each other! Age gap and brothers best friend with a bodyguard romance you know you’re in for a good time.

Did we mention a 4 legged bestie with painted nails !?

I loved crossing back over with Tommy and Renzo and how the interconnected standalone all comes together !
Highly recommend reading them in order so you can keep up with the reaper clues as well.

Oh my life that cliffhanger !!! I had a sneaky suspicion of what was to come but DAYMNNNNNNN Jill you got me good !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥


Pre-order your copy today!
Amazon: http://bit.ly/3HN1IUs      
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3VnyWN9
 
 #DarkRomance #MafiaRomance #AdultRomance #RomanticSuspense #JillRamsower #HuntersKeep #ARCreview

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. Now that is how a cliffhanger is done. Lol. Thats my first initial thought after reading. Note: the cliffhanger is not about the main couple in this book but leads up to the next couple in the next book.

Hunter’s Keep is fantastic. The characters, plot and execution were all perfect. If you are looking to dip your toes into the mafia world this is the perfect book. While it’s a book in an interconnected series it can be read as a standalone.

After threats from the Russians amp up, Terina ends up with the one thing she dreads.. a bodyguard. She doesn’t want someone risking their life for her especially her brother’s best friend D’Angelo and especially since he makes her feel things she hasn’t in years. D’Angelo knows what it’s like to feel responsible for someone and lose them and he vowed to never let that happen again.

The plot was fast paced and lets you experience the mafia world without being too dark. Great for a beginner. Both Terina and D’Angelo had serious baggage but it made the tension between them that much better. The chemistry was electric.

I cant wait to read the next book.

Favorite Quote:
“Fate is for cowards, so you need to decide real quick—are you a coward, or are you a fighter?”

Tropes:
-mafia
-brothers best friend
-bodyguard

-ARC READ. Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for an e-arc of this book for my honest review.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Mafia Romance Reader and haven’t read a Jill Ramsower book, what are you waiting for? In addition, if you are still a newbie or want to start reading Mafia Romance, Jill’s books are a great place to start. Her books are described as Mafia Lite, but they certainly don’t sacrifice on the story, romance, or spice.

Terina and DiAngelo have gone through so much. Readers will see the parallels between Terina and her husband and DiAngelo and his twin brother as the story unfolds. The trauma that both characters experienced and continue to have challenges with healing from is one that brings them together. Author Jill Ramsower delivers this so well. I loved how DiAngelo, though he’s Terina’s bodyguard, is protective, but moments of jealousy hit, and he doesn’t try too hard to hide it.

Some sensitive themes are incorporated and are critical to the story. I loved how DiAngelo and others respond to it.

In Hunter’s Keep, it’s not just DiAngelo fighting his feelings; it’s Terina as well. She holds a lot of guilt. They’re just two peas in a pod. But they do work through it to a beautiful HEA.

Thank you to Jill Ramsower for the gifted copy of Hunter’s Keep. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[turnthedamnpage · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wanted to kill him and kiss him in the same breath.” Um, girl. *cheeks blushing* Me, too. 🙋🏻‍♀️🫠 This book was so delicious. I finished it in one day. I don’t do that very often. 😅

Telling this story in a past/present way was perfect when detailing these two lives. We have questions throughout that eventually do get answered - and in perfect time, too. The pacing was enjoyable. It kept me on my toes the entire time.

The tension is delicious because you know they're going to but the entire build-up is so f— hot It's the perfect and most painful kind of tease. So much that I actually want to read more mafia men. 👀 Fortunately, this book is part 3 of a series of interconnected standalone novels. I don't even have to leave *this* world to get my fill. (Pun absolutely intended.)

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? Excuse me, ma'am. I literally growled and gasped in the same breath! My husband eyeballed me: Who died?" Jill, we need to talk. I've got words.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was such a fun, dark and spicy mafia romance and I really enjoyed it. The forbidden romance aspect added so much tension; he’s her brothers best friend and also her bodyguard (who can’t stop being a creeper and stares at her while she sleeps). It’s adorable how hard he tries to stay “professional’ but that man was whipped from the very start. The plot was great, just regular mafia shenanigans where she’s being hunted by the Russian mob, and there were some really shocking plot twists. For me, this book felt very charecter driven, with the dual plot lines, going into the past and retelling both Terina and DiAngelos trauma. Both of them went through so much, and I loved how they helped heal each other. I give this a 4/5

[M Darnoc]

3.9

I received an ARC ebook copy. I didn't even remember signing up for a chance but was ecstatic when I got the email.

I liked this latest book in the series but I am a little more partial to book #2 (Deaths Favor).

In this story both main characters have some intense baggage but I felt Hunter dealt with it better than Terina.

I will say that something didn't sit right w/ me after reading chapter 27. I had a thought of "maybe" there was a possibility that there was a different outcome & I got my answer lster in the book (I was actually right...so excited). I cannot wait for the next book in the Moretti Men series; really interested in seeing what the author comes up with.

P.S. there is a cliffhanger at the end (not always a fan of that) BUT in this case I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mafia romance that remembered to have an actual personality instead of just men in expensive coats glaring at each other over vodka 🔥 🔥 🔥

The bodyguard trope absolutely stole the show. Add in the “best friend’s sister” angle, the age gap, and his very “dominant” personality (wink wink), and it’s basically engineered to ruin your standards for real men.

The tension was excellent. The chemistry… Off the charts. And the spice definitely delivers without overshadowing the story.

This was just pure fun from start to finish.

TROPES ✨
🚫 Age Gap
👯 Brother's Best Friend
🪢 Dom/Sub Introduction
🧲 Forced Proximity
❤️‍🩹 Tortured MMC
💪🏻 Bodyguard

[Bookbingewithdebbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to valentine PR and Jill Ramsower for the ALC of hunter's keep.
4.5⭐ rounded up for Goodreads.

Firstly I loved the duet narration. Both narrators nailed the brief !

Our FMC Terina is such a soul! She has gone through so much with previous marriage and I really liked how real and raw her feelings were.
Our MMC DiAngelo has sent through the most awful loss and is so protective. I enjoyed the back and forth between the MCs and how they deal with each others trauma. At times I did struggle with some of the wording for the spicy scenes that took me out which is why it's not a 5⭐ for me. That being said , I enjoyed it and do recommended.
Also that ending... I need the next book now!

This is a spicy emotional read covering topics of grief and loss, as well as healing.

[Jacklyn B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good bodyguard romance - and make it mafia related!! The tension and chemistry and forbidden vibes between Terina and DiAngelo were so good!!

Both of them had walls up - and yes the banter spicy scenes were really good - but when those walls start to crack is when they really start to heal 💕

✨What To Expect:
🥀 Mafia Lite Romance
🛡️ Bodyguard Alpha MMC
❤️‍🩹 Emotional Healing / Tragic Past
💋 Age Gap
👯 Brother's Best Friend
🔪Touch Her & 💀
🪢 Dom/Sub Introduction
🧲 Forced Proximity
❤️‍🔥 Tortured MMC