Bobby: House of Leone

House of Leone #2

by S.J. Rowe, Hot Tree Editing (Editor)

Willow Hastings doesn’t need a hero. She also can’t afford one. She needs a second job, cheaper groceries, and a few more hours in the day to keep her daughters fed and smiling. Falling apart isn’t an option when two little girls, her entire world, are depending on her.

Then Bobby Leone walks into her life.

As the head of Leone Holdings and a member of one of New York’s most powerful families, Bobby is used to solving problems. Numbers make sense. Loyalty makes sense. Willow doesn’t.

A chance encounter with the exhausted woman who sees the world the way he does leaves Bobby paying attention in ways he never has before. Watching. Protecting. Wanting things he has no business wanting.

What starts as a workplace investigation quickly becomes something far more dangerous. Because Bobby isn’t the kind of man who does anything halfway.

And when someone threatens Willow and her daughters, he learns there’s a difference between protecting what’s important…

…and protecting what’s his.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2026

About the author

After traveling all over the world as a child, S.J. Rowe has found a home in the southwest with her husband. She continues to visit exotic destinations around the world with her best friends, and when she is home, she splits her time between watching baseball and singing in the car. To unwind, she finds herself enjoying a good cup of coffee while curled up watching Star Wars.

Reviews

[Coral - Sebas]

This book grabs you from the very first page and doesn't let go for a second. S.J. Rowe writes in a style that flows like crazy, and when she delves into the Leone family… wow, things get really interesting.
Let me tell you about it: he’s Bobby, a member of that family for whom loyalty and honor are everything; he seems tough on the outside, but on the inside he’s pure devotion when he finds what matters to him. And she… she comes along and throws him completely off balance. Little by little, through glances, silences, and moments that take your breath away, they realize they can’t be apart from each other. He becomes her refuge and she his Achilles’ heel, and when things get ugly… he doesn’t hesitate for a second: he’d destroy everything and anyone to keep her safe.
The pacing is perfect: it never drags, nor does it move so fast that you lose track. There are quiet moments that let you catch your breath and others that make your heart race. You’ll read it almost in one sitting.
There are a couple of moments when Bobby makes decisions that make you say, “What are you doing? and you’ll want to give him a little nudge so he’ll just talk it out instead of acting on his own.
At first, it’s a little hard to get your bearings if you’re not familiar with the series, because there are so many names and family connections that are taken for granted. It’s no big deal at all, though! Just a minor detail!
Some scenes are predictable, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be just as hooked when you get there.
There’s tension, there are secrets, there’s that feeling that something big is about to happen, and above all, there’s a love that grows slowly and feels genuine. You’ll fall in love with Bobby, you’ll get annoyed with him every now and then (just so he doesn’t get too comfortable!), and you’ll end up reading late into the night because you need to know how it ends. It’s one of those stories that leaves you with a silly smile on your face and stays with you long after you’ve finished it.
In short: It’s a story with heart, suspense, family, and a protagonist who’ll steal your heart. It doesn’t need a thousand crazy twists to keep you hooked, it does it simply through who the characters are and how they gradually open up their hearts.

[Diane]

Bobby and Willow’s book is a spin off from this author’s Hounds of the Reaper series and while it’s helpful to have read that series first this one reads well as a standalone. In this series the reader gets to experience the softer side of four ruthless Mafia brothers who rule New York with an iron fist. Bobby, a workaholic without a personal life is the head of Leone Holdings, the legitimate side of their financial empire. When Willow, a brilliant part time financial analyst and single mother of two young daughters, uncovers an irregularity in her assigned work Bobby’s solo existence will never be the same. Between uncovering the roots of a sophisticated and far reaching embezzlement scheme, and his attraction to a kind hearted, generous and impoverished, but proud, single mom Bobby’s bachelorhood ways don’t stand a chance. When danger hits close to home and Willow and her daughters are the target the entire Leone family step in to become her champions. What follows is an emotionally appealing yet turbulent, and danger filled suspense story that kept me engaged from start to finish. Willow’s daughters Ivy, 7 and Lily, 5 are absolutely adorable, especially with Bobby’s hardcore bodyguard Mario, and it’s impossible to resist falling for their little family. I’ve been hooked on Rowe’s addictive storytelling since I read her first Hounds book and if you haven’t had a chance to check out her titles I highly recommend them.

[Victoria]

4.5 stars.

This is the first book from this series that I have read and I have enjoyed it very much, there were some tough moments in this, things that could have been very heavy but they were handled with care in my opinion, these moments were hard to read as a parent, I appreciated that those moments did not drag me down, that from the bad, good was shown. I thought the story was balance well and I enjoyed that there were moments that made me laugh, chuckle and smile, life isn't always sunshine and roses, but it's also not constant danger and darkness.


I liked the connections in this, the chemistry, support, understanding, acceptance and the family moments in this, and seeing two people who truly connected, I believed in them as a couple and that they would get their HEA. Seeing Bobby and his family fall for Willow and her girls has been a lovely thing to read. I am voluntarily leaving this review after receiving an ARC from Hidden Gems.

[Brandi]

Willow is a single mom trying to do the best she can with the limited funds she has. Her two daughters are her world and she will do anything for them. Bobby is her boss but besides her interview, she hasn't had much interaction with him until one day everything changes.
I really enjoyed this book. As much as I tried to make it a on sitting read because I didn't want to put it down, sadly life and responsibilities made me.
I would say it is a "softer" mafia read. It does have some violence but it doesnt get in the way of the story. Great story and great characters. I wish there was more but I think you will hear more in the rest of the series as it comes out.
I was given a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Angie]

Bobby and Willow’s book is a great addition to the Leone series. Compared to the first book this is mafia-light and little to no violence. It’s more about Bobby immediately falling for Willow and her daughters and becoming part of their lives. Willow was amazing how she’s raised her daughters making sure they know they’re loved and making the best of a tough situation. I loved seeing Bobby and his second, Marco, fall over themselves to keep the girls happy and protected. I had no idea what a jerboa looked like but I’m now in love with them as much as Lily and Ivy. I want to hang out with these girls and hope we see a lot more of them in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Gin]

2.5 stars If this wasn't a romance and Willow wasn't into Bobby, Bobby would be a walking red flag. I didn't like that when there was an issue with Willow's kids, Bobby's people notified him first. He also tells Willow's kids that he likes Willow without considering what would happen if he and Willow split. His comment that he was going to make Willow's "neck so pretty" and engaging in breathe play the first time they slept together (without talking about it first!) was creepy because that shouldn't be a first-time-together thing. Willow, for her part, realizes at one point that she has become completely dependent on Bobby... and then that goes pretty much nowhere.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Darcy]

Bobby, as the second oldest, runs the legitimate side of the House of Leone. When he catches Willow working on a saturday, it is inadvertently brought to his attention that someone has dared to embezzle large sums of money from the family. Willow is a single mom just trying to have time for her kids, earn enough to get by and not have to deal with her Ex. Bobby immediately went into protective mode, while Willow wasn't expecting more than boss/employee friendship. When the threats start happening to Willow and her sweet little girls, I loved how the Leone family banded together and accepted her without question. Sweet romance, light on mafia, but enough action to keep you engaged.

[Sarita]

Ivy and Lily Steal the Book!

I love this series which keeps getting better and better. In this book we have Bobby, the numbers Leone, who meets Willow, the financial analyst, and her two daughters, Ivy and Lily. They are struggling and Willow’s ex husband is not helping. She discovers some discrepancies at Bobby’s company and from there the story truly develops. Bobby and his bodyguard Marco fall completely over the girls. Willow follows but more slowly. I love their chemistry and how Willow isn’t a pushover. Mama is also a force to be reckoned with. Can’t wait for Vinny’s story.

[Anna G]

I love the Leone Family series and I enjoyed reading about Bobby and Willow. The story is filled with undeniable attraction, steamy hot scenes, sweet moments with Lily and Ivy, dangerous twists and turns. But the most amazing part is the devotion and care Bobby shows to Willow and her girls. I cannot wait to read about Vinny’s story.

I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel]

Bobby is a great addition to this series. He and Willow were destined to be together because of their like mindedness. She is a woman trying to do well by her daughters and getting the job with Bobby has them connecting beyond the job as he becomes part of Willow and her daughter's lives. It is a well written book that has very little to do with the mafia but is a heartwarming story that had me connecting with the characters.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.

[Yvette]

OH BOBBY! I totally enjoy reading this book and I want some more. Did not want to finished it. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I can not wait for the next one. I wish I had it right now.

[Michelle]

I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving an ARC from Hidden Gems.

It was good. It was a fast and easy read. There is no realt drama to Bobby anf Willow's romance. Bobby slowly inserts himself into Willow's life. Her 2 daughters accept him with ease. Before she knew it, Willow could not remember a time when Bobby was not a part of her life but her ex-husband keeps popping up and disrupting her life. Willow is still recovering from her divorce and have finally started working again to provide for her daughters.