To Reflect the Sun

by Carrie Cotten

Hopelessly trapped, Grace Goodwin turns to the only man she can trust—the one who’s been chasing her all over the globe under orders to eliminate her, of course. Her Italian penpal comes to her rescue, but Grace wonders if she truly knows the man dubbed “The Shadow.” Trusting her life and heart to a mafia enforcer sounds like the perfect trap for more betrayal and misery.

Rafael Moretti’s determination to get Grace to safety is tested at every turn. He promised not to let anything hurt her again, but each day she spends with him seems to increase their danger. Finding himself unable to protect this woman he is coming to cherish, Rafe has to choose whether to trust the God who has brought them this far or go back to his old ways of crime and deceit.

As the world’s syndicates and the elusive Ghost close in, is there any hope of a future for Grace and Rafe together?


This is the epic conclusion to Grace and Rafe's duology. A continuation of book one. If you like a little rom-com with your angst, this is the duology for you.

Genres: Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Mafia Romance, Suspense, Christian Romance

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2026

About the author

Carrie is a Louisiana born, Texas transplant and recent North Carolina resident. She earned her BA in English from East Texas Baptist University where she met and fell in love at first sight with her hunky husband, Jeffrey Craig Cotten.

After a short tour in Alaska with the Army, Carrie and Jeff returned to Texas to start a family. Fifteen years and four kids later, they answered God's call to enter the ministry, embarking on a wild adventure that led them to the Appalachian mountains.

When Carrie isn't writing, you can find her cuddling a chicken, petting a pig or snuggling a sheep on their small family farm. She loves the freedom they've found in homeschooling and the unlimited opportunities to explore the mountains. Camping, farming, and watching movies are some of their favorite family activities. Carrie and Jeff serve together at a small church where Jeff is the youth pastor.

Her favorite thing to do is steal a quiet moment to sit on her front porch and take in the most beautiful view she's ever seen in her life.

Reviews

[Lila'sbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ ARC REVIEW (thoughts and content notes below)

Redemption & Ruin book #2
Release Date: 11/10/26


☀️🌕What This Book is About🌕☀️
"Hopelessly trapped, Grace Goodwin turns to the only man she can trust—the one who's been chasing her all over the globe under orders to eliminate her, of course. Her Italian penpal comes to her rescue, but Grace wonders if she truly knows the man dubbed"The Shadow." Can she trust her life—and her heart—to a mafia enforcer, or is she just setting herself up for more betrayal and misery?

Rafael Moretti's determination to get Grace to safety will be tested at every turn. He promised not to let anything hurt her again, but each day she spends with him seems to increase their danger. When Rafe finds himself unable to protect Grace, he's forced to let go of his own need for control and trust the God he's just met.

As both ruthless mafia and the elusive Ghost close in, is there any hope of a future for Grace and Rafe together?"

☀️🌕My Thoughts🌕☀️
I'm so so grateful to have gotten the ARC for this book! Its literally so amazing! What a great conclusion to Grace and Rafe's story! The ending had me tearing up; I was so happy!

Not that I've read any other mafia romances, but I'm so incredibly impressed that the author could write one that is so filled with faith. The redemption in this book is so beautiful and I think that it's a great example of how true redemption comes from Jesus and you can't get to that place without Him. The way salvation was discussed and portrayed was done so well! This book has some of the best faith content I've ever read and the best character development. It was even better that the character development came from a relationship with Jesus!

The plot is so good! There's something very interesting and entertaining about following characters that are on the run. There was never a dull moment!

The romance. THE. ROMANCE. I love it. The romance just works which is crazy because it has every reason not to. Like, how was Carrie Cotten able to write their relationship in a way that wasn't toxic? You wouldn't think the romance would make sense, but it does. Why do I kinda want it? Don't tell anybody but I kinda want this. I was swooning so hard and I hate using the word swoon but that's what I was doing. I will say though, there was a lot of physical touch. Not anything inappropriate but it did feel a bit much and at times that wasn't necessarily fitting for what was happening in the story.

As with all of Carrie Cotten's books, the characters are amazing. I love Grace, she's so sweet and I love how bold she is for Jesus. RAFE. I love Rafe. I was scared I wouldn't like him in the first book because I don't like the "morally-grey" type was mmc but I LOVE him. He has the best character development I have ever seen and I am so amazed. Also, there were cameos of characters from some of the author's other books and I was absolutely thrilled to see them!

I wholeheartedly recommend this duology! Whether you love mafia romances, or (like me) you haven't read one before, this is a great option! I need Stella's book.


☀️🌕Content Notes🌕☀️

🤬 Language:
• mention of characters swearing but the words aren't said on page.

🌶️ Spice/Sexual:
• no spice.
• kissing/making out.
• attraction.
• lots of flirting.
• remembering a kiss.
• wanting to kiss/touch.
• embraces & touches (arms, hands, etc).
• forehead, cheek, and hand kisses.
• fmc sits on the mmc's lap.
• a kiss scene where the mmc stops the fmc, saying they'll regret it later if they go too far but he'll "happily give [her] free rein" when they're married.
• the mmc says he likes the fmc's "unmentionables" (he thinks that's what sweatpants are called).
• reference to the Bible story where David sleeps with another man's wife.
• mmc tells the fmc that he doesn't trust himself to be in a bed with her.
• other mentions of wanting till marriage.

🏳️‍🌈 LGBT: none

💀 Violence:
• talk of kidnapping, hitmen, shooting, murder, attempted murder, and other crimes.
• recounting of when someone got stabbed.
• blood.
• death by getting shot.
• poison.
• near death experience.
• being held at gun point.
• fights.

🍻 Drinking/Drugs:
• Grace is asked if she and Rafe take drugs (they don't).

⚠️ Other Content Warnings:
• mention of stockholm syndrome.
• talk of past abuse of a child and wife.
• mention of a dog being killed in front of a child.
• mention of human trafficking.
• grief.
• loss of a loved one.
• mention of child murder.

Age Rating: 16+


I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

[Ella Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this masterpiece, and I am unwell 🥹🥹

☆5

Oh my gosh! Where do I even start!?🥹
I can’t believe I finished this duology. It was absolutely incredible!
One thing that especially touched my heart were the faith and gospel elements. Carrie did an impeccable job with these themes. Seeing the way God redeemed Rafe was everything! It was so deeply rooted in Gods grace and forgiveness.
The way this book also portrayed trust in Gods timing just really stuck with me. I just know I’ll be thinking about this book all the time!
Rafe is a “cinnamon roll wrapped in a red flag wrapper” (according to Grace ;)
He always made sure Grace was safe. He took care of her and fed her. He was the absolute sweetest, I love him so much. I love the way he respected and kept her boundaries. And I love the way he called her ‘baby’. I’m completely obsessed with Rafe and Grace!🥹
Ugh and Grace was such a sweetheart. I love her so much. She was such a sunshine character. I love that she took every opportunity to share the gospel. And she was just so funny, I had the best time with reading her pov!
I could just keep talking about this book for hours, I loved it so much! Here are some more of my favorite things in this book:
- Rafe’s name in the Bible (iykyk)🥹
- the elevator kiss!!
- Grace comforting him after his nightmare
- “I choose you”
Please go and do yourself a favor by reading this book. It’s an absolute masterpiece and I just know you’re gonna love it!

tropes:
💛Christian mafia romance
💛mafia boss x missionary
💛lots of caretaking
💛protective mmc
💛he’s absolutely obsessed with her
💛touch her/him & d!e
💛book 2 in a duology
💛dual pov

CONTENT:
- kisses only (no-spice)
- no language

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one tells a story like Carrie Cotten, especially a story that will give you all the feels all with the Gospel masterfully and intricately interwoven within its pages. Who knew a Christian Mafia Romance was just what I needed?! This novel will wreck you in the best of ways and put you back together again. You will experience a gamut of emotions as you laugh, cry, and hold your breath with suspense. To Reflect the Sun has a beautifully written redemption arc full of faith, forgiveness and salvation. You will not want to miss this duology which “starts with ruin and ends with redemption.”

[Tiffany Hubbard · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

The perfect ending to this Duology.

This book was ACTION PACKED from start to finish. Full of love, Jesus, redemption, banter, kittens, & bookish MMC things 😌

This is one of those stories I want to bully everyone to read

📖: 1st person, dual POV
🌶️: kisses only
🤬: no foul language
⚠️: mafia things (murder, weapon use, blood, etc on page), death of parent (past, off page), parental manipulation (mafia things??)

Thank you for the ARC, Carrie. I'm so impressed by your storytelling and how well rounded & complex your characters are 🫶🏼

[Emisreadingfantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was literally the most fun

[Coley · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED this conclusion to Rafe + Grace’s story!!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carrie Cotten is such a talented writer! After reading this duology, I just marvel at how she wrote an intricate plot, with such well rounded characters (she captured a mafia guy who was hardened and broken but still had such a soft heart and a quirky missionary girl with big emotions who was so endearing!) AND naturally wove in so much rich faith and Gospel content.

To Reflect the Sun picks up in the exact scene book 1 (Made Like the Moon) ended on. We get more of Rafe and Grace and their run from danger, combined with clear Gospel elements.

Some things I specifically loved:
- he calls her “baby”
- “your name is in the book” and the whole train scene 😭😍
- “unmentionables” 😂
- “I don’t know what you’re talking about” 😂
- Rafe’s heart and protectiveness
- their communication
- Grace’s thoughts and words!

Just such a fabulous read! I will be eagerly waiting for what comes next from Carrie!

Thank you to the author for a complimentary early copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marlene Protzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafe and Grace. ❤️‍🔥😭 These two had me from beginning to end.

There was SO much here that I loved, and after waiting very impatiently to get my hands on this sequel, getting to jump back into this story and finally see where Rafe and Grace were headed was everything I’d been waiting for.

With that said, let’s dive right in.

Made Like the Moon had SO many interesting side characters, and those relationships added so much personality and life to the story. This book is much more focused on Rafe and Grace as he tries to get her home safely, which makes sense for the story being told, but I really missed that larger cast.

And Grace. 😂

I love Grace. I really do. Her quirky personality was one of the things that made her so endearing and funny in the first book.
But GIRL.
WHY ARE WE STILL FOLLOWING RANDOM ANIMALS INTO DANGER?!

At first, I kept thinking maybe these little detours were going to be providential, like God was using them to move her away from something worse.
Nope.

Every time this woman followed a creature, CHAOS. 🤦🏾‍♀️😂 At some point I needed Rafe to put her on one of those toddler backpack leashes. STAWP, Grace.

But Rafe and Grace together? Yeah. That worked for me. ❤️‍🔥

I loved their relationship. The banter, the ridiculous conversations, the heart to hearts, the pet names (I preferred “kitten” to “baby,” but I wasn’t exactly complaining 😂), the yearning, the nearness, the tenderness, and YES, all those kisses. Their chemistry was SO good, but what I loved even more was watching the emotional relationship underneath that chemistry deepen.

They were learning each other’s histories, fears, regrets, and hopes while desperately wanting a future neither of them knew they could actually have. I loved watching Rafe realize that he didn’t just want to protect Grace. He wanted an entire ordinary life with her.

The Paris date was one of my favorite parts of the entire book.
And THAT ELEVATOR SCENE.
Excuse me. 😂❤️‍🔥

Rafe’s character arc was another huge highlight for me. This is a man carrying an enormous amount of guilt over the things he’s done and wrestling with whether someone with his past can truly become someone different. Watching him begin to understand grace, both the woman and the actual grace of God, gave his story so much depth.

There’s one moment in particular that I think may have been my favorite part of Rafe’s entire faith journey. He compares himself to the Roman soldiers who drove the nails into Jesus’s hands. When he looks at the story of Christ, that’s who he sees himself as. Not one of the disciples. Not one of the people following Jesus. The man holding the hammer.

That comparison was SO moving and so incredibly well written. It captures exactly where Rafe is at that point. He knows what he’s done and sees the worst of himself clearly, and yet he’s beginning to understand that the same Jesus he would have nailed to a cross is offering grace to him. 😭 For me, that was the absolute best moment in the evolution of Rafe’s relationship with Christ. And probably my highlight of the entire book.

And then Grace realizing that Rafe had written his own name in her Bible.
WRECKED. 😭

After everything he had wrestled with, seeing that simple evidence that he had finally begun to make this faith his own was EVERYTHING. It was such a small, quiet detail compared to so many of the bigger moments in the story, but it said so much about how far he had come.

My biggest disappointment, though, was The Ghost.

After everything surrounding that mystery and all the danger attached to it, the eventual reveal and the plan to catch The Ghost felt underdeveloped and surprisingly underwhelming. I had spent so much time wondering who this person could possibly be that I expected the answer to have much more impact.

Instead, my reaction was basically…
All of THAT because of a scorned woman?! 😅

At one point I became convinced The Ghost might be Sio, which honestly made more sense to me narratively while simultaneously causing me to threaten to FLIP A TABLE. 😂 Thankfully, that wasn’t the answer either. I’m not mad about the direction the book took. I just wanted the reveal and resolution to have more complexity.

Thankfully, Sio still gave me exactly what I wanted elsewhere because I KNEW that man and Stella were getting a book. 😂 Their dynamic was way too suspicious. The epilogue confirmed it, and YES, I will absolutely be reading their story.

As for Rafe and Grace’s ending, this is where my feelings get complicated.

I loved so much of it. Rafe finding Lagarto for her was PERFECT. 😂💗 After everything they survived, seeing them finally safe and building a life together was exactly what I wanted.

But somehow, the ending managed to wrap everything up a little too perfectly while also leaving me wanting more. And I don’t mean more plot. I didn’t need another villain, another chase, or another problem for them to solve.

I needed more Rafe and Grace.

We get their new life, their home, dinner, their new identities, and then the story begins handing things over to Sio and Stella. And while I am VERY ready for those two, I wasn’t ready to leave Rafe and Grace yet.

I wanted one more truly intimate, romantic moment between them before we said goodbye. And no, I don’t mean a more explicit scene (obviously). I wanted emotional intimacy. Romance. After all that yearning and uncertainty about whether they could ever have a future together, I wanted to sit in that future with them for just a little longer.

Also, I am sorry, but you cannot make me spend two books knowing this man as Rafe Moretti and then suddenly tell me he’s WES. 😂

WES?! 🫠
Absolutely not. His name is Rafe. End of discussion. 😅

The weirdest part is that it’s been hours since I finished this book, and I STILL have that anxious book hangover feeling. That almost never happens to me. I can only think of one or two other books that have done it.

It’s this strange combination of being genuinely sad that the story is over while also not being completely satisfied with where I had to leave these characters. I think I just needed another chapter. Another five or ten pages. One more quiet moment where I could look at these two and think, Okay. They’re home. They made it.

And after ALL of those paragraphs of opinions, let me make something very clear. 😂

Do I plan on rereading both of these when my physical copies come in? 💯 Am I going to TAB THE MESS OUT OF THEM? 💯 I mean, this is an EXCELLENT Christian Mafia duology.

Ultimately, To Reflect the Sun gave me the thing I wanted most from this sequel: Rafe and Grace. I laughed. I swooned. I yelled at Grace to STOP FOLLOWING ANIMALS. I highlighted an embarrassing number of things Rafe said. I got emotional over his faith journey. I loved the kisses, the pet names, and Lagarto. And I finished the book already wanting Sio and Stella’s story.

Made Like the Moon was one of my favorite reads of the year, so this sequel had an incredibly high bar to meet. While I ultimately still preferred the first book, To Reflect the Sun was an excellent sequel with a whole lot to love.

——————

A huge thank you to Carrie Cotten for allowing me to ARC read To Reflect the Sun! 💗 I’m so grateful I got the chance to jump back into this story early.

[Megan Schaulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever connected so deeply with characters that you missed them when the book ended? When I finished, I was genuinely sad that I wouldn’t be spending time with Grace and Rafe anymore. Carrie Cotten can write any genre, and I will apparently love it.

Without giving spoilers, this book shifts from the cat-and-mouse game of book one to a run-for-our-lives romantic suspense plot. The twists were the perfect blend of total shock and well-laid breadcrumbs. (I re-read Made Like the Moon and was amazed at how well Cotten wove in little hints along the way.)

The romance in this book is next level. I’m not sure I’ve ever rooted so hard for a couple to find a way, make it work, don’t give up. While too many romances rely on over-fluffed conflict that real adults would resolve with a simple conversation, these two have major roadblocks to their HEA. It shouldn’t work. It would never work. But God.

That’s the real beauty of Cotten’s story. At its heart, it is a testimony to the radical grace of Jesus and His ability to transform lives and bring light into the very darkest of the dark.

This book is the conclusion to Made like the Moon, and you must read book one first. It’s a clean romance with no swearing and just kisses, but the themes are very adult. The violence isn’t grotesque, but it is a mafia story. I wouldn’t suggest this for young or sensitive readers.

I received an advanced reader copy from the author with no requirement of posting a review or sharing a positive opinion of the story. All thoughts are my own.

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the conclusion to this Christian no spice mafia romance duology. I love this duology! These were my first books from this author and I’m super excited for more. Especially Sio and Stella. I don’t want to give away spoilers for book 1, but, suffice it to say, this book has it all: faith, crime, romance, humor, pain, murder, assassination attempts, and more. There is all of the swoon and tenderness blended with the hard mafia enforcer exterior with deadly skills. I totally want a copy of this series in print on my shelves. If you are looking for a dark mafia romance that doesn’t excuse or glorify their illegal actions and crime, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Rounding it all out with the faith aspect is perfection. I need her to write more of these! The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 1.5.

Content Notes (may include spoilers):
Grief, Loss of Family, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Murder, Attempted Murder, Death, Injuries

I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lindsey IG: BookishlyLindsey · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

First and foremost, a round of applause to Carrie for bringing the gospel into a mafia romance! 👏 I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion to this duology. We pick up right where we left off, and I loved the forced proximity, the danger, the race to “the end,” the comedy, and Rafe’s character arc. Bonus the conclusion was satisfying!

The pacing was great for me. I was engaged and invested the entire time. Carrie’s gift for writing is phenomenal!

Personally, I felt the nickname was overused. I really just can’t stand “baby.” It’s a personal thing. Insta-love isn’t my favorite, but I think it was done well in this story. Again, that’s just a personal preference. I also felt like certain things were a little repetitive.

Basically, my biggest qualms were personal preferences. Otherwise, I think this book is well-written and carries a great message for Christian fiction!
Favorites:
Rafe’s OCD
The Eiffel Tower
Finn
The gospel message
“Grace, if you kiss that reptile, I think I might perish.”
“I remember everything.”
The ending
🦎

[Jenny x Carolena · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Reflect the Sun wastes absolutely no time and throws you right back into the action where the first book left off. I was hooked. The danger, the twists, the constant wondering who could actually be trusted...this one kept me on my toes!

Rafe was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. After everything Grace went through feeling like she was "too much," I loved seeing someone encourage her to be exactly who she is instead of making herself smaller. Their relationship had so much heart in the middle of all the chaos happening around them. This was a suspenseful, twisty, and really enjoyable continuation of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Bethany Giinthir · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Redemption and Ruin Duology by @authorcarriecotten !!! This series was a RIDE! it was me sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next and then worse case scenario would happen.

And I loved it!

Grace is the sweetest girl ever. The overly sunshiney girl who loves everyone and sees the good in everyone! Shes a missionary, who is always on a mission to save someone, but this time she is the one saving!

Rafe reminds me a bit of Monk! Like give this man some baby wipes and hand sanitizer and hes as happy as a kid in a candy shop. Rafe, after hunting Grace down is now trying to save her and get her home safely. Which is quite the challenge! I loved his Redemption ARC and how carrie wrote it and his struggles.

I loved this Duology and highly recommend it!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I call this a mafia book a sweet romance story..? Yep.
Rafe and Grace are finally together, and it’s super sweet and funny and quirky, but they still have a lot of mountains to climb together and a lot of mafia to dodge together. Only God’s grace, providence and perfect timing will provide a way out for them.

There’s always a point in Carrie’s books where you’re pretty sure everything will work out, but you’re still not sure, but you’re almost sure. She keeps you guessing.

This ruin and redemption story arc is so beautifully written. You'll feel all the feels.

If you haven’t ready any of Carrie’s books, this duology is the perfect place to start.

[Melia (more than a blurb!) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I'm pretty amazed at how good of a job Carrie does at creating characters that are not the same but are full of depth and walk through so many moments of growth. Reading this made me thinking about my insecurities and giving them to God, I found myself identifying with the thoughts Grace was actively working on changing and I felt empowered to make the same changes in my own life. This was also just a fun read, I liked the pacing of it and that sneak peak at the end has me craving more!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even tell you how excited I was to finish Rafe and Grace's story and as always, Carrie Cotten delivered a beautiful story of redemption and grace. If you've ever had one of Carrie's books, you know. If not, why not??? She’s a master at weaving together the gospel, page-turning action, and beautiful romance without sacrificing anything. And don't even get me started on the Easter eggs! I loved this duology and can't wait to read more!

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was too good! I need Sio & Stella’s story now! I don’t know how every book by Carrie is so good but I haven’t found one I didn’t love yet. The redemption in this book was powerful and I definitely saved several lines! The romance was perfectly done and I enjoyed every bit of the adventure! Thank you Carrie!

[Macy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5
I need more pls ❤️
After reading this duology, I am indeed putting a certain monopoly card in my Bible 👀

[Lyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the first book, I could not put this down! I absolutely love Rafe and Grace and loved how their story unfolded and the characters developed. I loved all of the bookish references and the banter ❤️

I definitely plan to reread this duology

[KellyK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enthralled with Rafe and Grace!! Enjoyed the 2nd book almost as much as the 1st!!! Such a precious picture of Christ's, saving grace, redemption and love! ❤️

[Heather Wood]

Riveting conclusion to Made Like the Moon. I loved these characters and their heart-pounding and heart-tugging journey so much, and their story is very well written. I liked the first book best because the physical touch seemed over the top in this one (nothing inappropriate! Just so much of it) but I'm grateful for characters who firmly establish a boundary and seek to honor the Lord in that area. So happy to see Grace and Rafe get their happy ending (he is NOT a Wes! ha!).

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes this is a SIX STAR read!

I’ve laughed, cried, swooned, and made some family members give me some concerned glances. (Although they should have expected any and all reactions when I read works of art by the wonderful Carrie Cotten)

The easter eggs from all of Carrie Cotten’s books is absolute heaven!

Even though Rafe has a dark past, he is a prime example of what to look for in a man. He is respectful, caring, and puts Grace’s needs before his own. He would even burn the world for her but won’t because he knows she wouldn’t want that. Plus many more things to describe him but you would just need to read the book to find out.

I also love how Grace is so relatable-y awkward. Her and animals. Love for God and sharing the gospel. She truly does reflect the Son.

Lastly I will leave you with this:
“I’m dead. I’ve died. Slain. Deceased. Unalived.”

I've received this as an ARC.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting conclusion to this duology! I loved this story so much! Carrie Cotten did a great job building this story up in book one, and book two continued to an epic conclusion.

This book was an edge of your seat wild ride. Rafe and Grace are an amazing couple. I like watching their romance unfold and seeing how God was very much at work in their story. That’s another thing I loved about this book, how much God showed up on the pages of this story. Carrie Cotten does an amazing job of sharing the gospel in her books. She used the characters of Rafe and Grace to show how God can redeem anyone who places their trust in him. Rafe turned from darkness to light and learned how to trust God. Grace showed us how even in the midst of chaos God can keep us anchored and he is trustworthy even when we don’t know what the results will be.

I have enjoyed every book I have read by Carrie Cotten. I can’t wait to see what she has for her readers next!

I received an ARC of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Kristi W - Book Love By Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I want every minute of every day for the rest of our lives.”

Oh my! This fantastic book picks up right where Made Like the Moon left us. I have no words! None. At. All.
Prepare for an emotional roller coaster of happiness, fear, contentment, anxiety, and swooning. The action and danger are intense, and the twists are perfectly twisty and shocking. Rafe’s faith journey is absolutely amazing and the way Grace encourages and guides him incredible. Oh to be as bold and confident as Grace!
Grace & Rafe are now two of my most favorite characters ever. I love their chemistry and the way they know and understand each other. They have so many heart melting and swoony moments in the midst of the chaos that has become their life. Every page of this two book series is FANTASTIC!!

If you are looking for fiction that will challenge your faith this series is it. It will remind you that NOONE is beyond the saving power of Jesus’ blood. It will challenge you to be prepared to share your faith at any moment. And, it will remind you that God can and does work miracles in His time.

A few more quotes:
“You’re just enough. Not too much, not too little. Everything you are is the right amount. What I was going to say is that you’re incredible.”

“How many more assassins can I expect? Because I feel like I’ve met my quota for a lifetime.”

“I’d give you the world if I could, you know that?” “Yes.” “And I’d burn it down if you asked.” “I would never ask for that.” “I know. See how much I love you; I’m willing to lay down my matches.”

Note: This is book two in the Redemption and Ruin duology and should be read after Made Like the Moon.

This complimentary copy was provided by the author. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

[Susie nospiceandeverythingnice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gasp* Sigh* Giggle*

This booooook! I absolutely adored this finale of Grace and Rafael’s story! Also excited that we will get some of the side characters’ story next! YAY! I’m not ready to leave this story line!

Carrie’s writing is so unique and absolutely my jam! The way she writes dialogue is perfection! God has gifted her with a special craft to be able to tell a very unique story and we’ve so many solid biblical truths throughout the story was unlike any book I’ve read before

This book is unapologetically a Christian fiction! It bears the truth of the Bible over and over again throughout the story.

The story picked up right where book one left off. that Grace and Rafe are on the run from the mafia and trying to figure out their path forward.

Grace remains quirky and joyful despite hard circumstances, but in a realistic way that shines for love of Christ and confidence in her future in Christ.Rafe where do I even begin! He’s protective, Broady and needs to be in control but become such a green flag mush ball for Grace and all her quirks. The love that they have towards one another is just absolutely adorable to read! I’m Trying to leave out any spoilers! 😅

Tropes
Protective MMC
Mafia
My wife



Spice level- kisses only
Language- none
Content- gun violence, death

[Hannah Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

great ending!

Slam dunk on book 2!
I adore Grace. Her inner dialogue, quirky habits, her fire for the Lord. Her willingness to love and forgive truly does help encourage myself in my own walk. So I appreciate Carrie and her allowing the Lord to work through her in this writing. Proving that you can have a faith filled book with all the swoony, kick your feet moments while keeping it clean of language and spice. One that encourages as much as it entertains.
And Rafe. His redemption from the beginning of book 1 to the end of book 2 had me smiling so big. I absolutely love reading him coming to Christ, and his passion for Grace and the Lord. His OCD tendencies while coming from a real trauma for him, were put in such a way that were light and funny and was a good way to show his struggles but not make it heavy.
Also, all the bookish references had me giggling.
“What?” I shrug. “It’s a total main character move, but don’t worry, no love triangles here.”

And these moments:
🐢 😂
🛗 3️⃣🤭🫠
🧫👩‍🔬🤭

[faith_family_fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CONCLUSION YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR ✨

The conclusion to the Mafia Redemption Duology is absolutely AMAZING! 😍 If you thought the first book sounded good, just wait until you get to this one!

The chemistry and yearning between Grace and Rafe? Absolutely swoon-worthy. ❤️‍🔥 Rafe is seriously every book girl’s dream husband. 🥹

But what made this series stand out to me even more was the way God’s grace is woven throughout the entire story.The quotes and conversations continually point back to Christ, His grace, and His perfect plan in such a beautiful and meaningful way. ✝️🤍

This duology has romance, suspense, redemption, and SO much heart—and I truly cannot recommend it enough!

📖 Book 1 releases October 6th
📖 Book 2 releases November 10th

And trust me when I say… you do NOT want to miss this series!

[Simone Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christian, Mafia romance with love and redemption weaved throughout. I loved this sequel to Made Like the Moon and I so happy that others are finally able to read it as well. The writing is so well done and the Grace that God has for us is so prevalent.

Grace and Rafè are fleeing for their lives now and he is bound to get her back to America and to safety. The twists and turns they make are the best and I love how the comedy peeks into the scary world that they are in.

The Grace that God gives us when we finally turn to Him is overwhelming to someone who realizes the depth of their sin. We struggle with accepting that Grace sometimes when we think our sin is too great but… God. Nothing is too great for Him.

#arcread #mafiaromance #christianromance #lagarto #redemptioninJesus

**I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

I positively inhaled this page-turning story like the hungry book dragon that I am. After the heart-pounding cliff I was hanging on at the end of book one, my greedy fingers nearly gave way with the wait for book two release. This book was everything I had hoped for and more!

I love the message of salvation in this story and the reminder that God can, and has, turned even the most difficult and broken situation into something good for His glory. That God continues to pursue the heart of His children, even when we cannot see a way, God has a way.

I’m happy to report that while I’m excited and looking forward to reading book three, I’m happy to not be on tinder-hooks while I wait. I highly recommend this book!

[ChristyW · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Reflect the Sun is an amazing redemption story that is the second in a duology! It tells perfectly the way to salvation and how we can still struggle with believing ourselves saved while still being transformed by God’s love, grace, mercy, and Spirit! All of this wrapped up in a story of found love, found family, action, adventures, romance, and laughter(Grace, the FMC, is a hoot)! Rafe, the MMC, is a great example of how God can redeem ANYONE! There is so much to this story that I find myself thinking on it quite often! And if you’re familiar with Carrie Cotten’s first book series, you’ll be pleasantly surprised! It isn’t “lost” on me that this surprise is a finder of lost things just like my Savior! But you don’t have to have read her first series to understand this book!❤️