Dangerous

Made & Broken #1

by Nora Ash

Killer. Heartbreaker. Husband…?

Blaine
I hurt, break and kill for a living. The Family point, I deliver.
But this time, they ask too much. This time, they want me to marry the one woman who knows my secret. She has reason to hate me, I know, but I'll take her, I'll break her, and I'll make her mine.
That's the only way I can keep my secret.

Mira
When I ran away eight years ago, I thought I’d escaped the underworld I'd always known.
I made a life for myself. I thought I was free. Then my past came knocking at my door.
Now I’m marrying the son of London’s biggest crime family. A man who hates me as much as I hate him. He’s ruthless, brutal, and dangerous—everything I’ve always feared.
He's taken away the life I built, he's taken my freedom. And now, I fear he's taken my sanity, too.
How else could I have ended up pregnant with his baby?


**Dangerous is a full-length romance novel with a guaranteed HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger!**

Genres: Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance, Contemporary Romance

179 pages, ebook

First published May 28, 2016

About the author

I am Nora Ash, and I write a plethora of different romance books. Some of them are really dirty, some of them are only kinda-dirty, some are paranormal, some are contemporary… Basically, I have a rampant imagination and no way of controlling it, except from just writing down whichever idea pops into my head at the time.

The one thing my books always have in common, though? A great story and a guaranteed HEA.
If you’re ever in doubt about what you’re about to read, have a look at my book page. It has a flame rating for each series, so you know what you’re getting yourself into!

I’m originally from the cold North (AKA Scandinavia) but these days I live in rainy England with my amazing fiancé and our two pesty cats. When I’m not writing, I’m probably reading, watching Real Housewives of Wherever (reality tv it’s my shameful addiction) or hiking in whatever bit of woodland I can find.

Three fun facts about me

I once ran away with a traveling circus
I’m bilingual. Almost-kinda trilingual, but my Spanish is terri-bad these days.
I’m a decent rider (English style only, though)


You can (and definitely should!) keep in touch with me via my newsletter or by joining my Facebook group.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*


This is the first book I've read from this author and for the most part I enjoyed it, it also made a change reading a British crime book that actually felt British.
I really liked Blaine and his brothers particularly Marcus and while the story isn't new I enjoyed the read with one exception, Mira.
All my problems revolved around Mira and started in the first chapter and to be honest after this I put the book down and decided I'd had enough but it's not often I come across a British crime book and eventually curiosity won out.
Now Mira is a 'professional' psychologist and Blaine is her client. Blaine is obviously upset and uncomfortable as you'd expect with this being his first visit.
".......I see you got your diploma at Liverpool John Moores University. Not exactly Stanford, is it?”
And Mira the professional responds with:
"It’s a hell of a lot better than being a petty thief, or whatever you did instead of educating yourself.”
Seriously?
After a break I continued reading and like I said I enjoyed it, Mira continued to have annoying moments but since I was enjoying the rest of the book I let it slide but then she has a huge TSTL moment and I'm left thinking "not again" I'm so sick of this 'stupid' epidemic which is plaguing romance books these days.
That said the next book belongs to Marcus and so I intend to continue on since he intrigued me, I'm just hoping Evelyn is playing with a full set of functioning brain cells.

[Lučka · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Mafia book with the forced/arranged marriage. No cheating or OM/OW drama. Cold ruthless hero. And so on...
I live for these kinds of books.

But after reading Dangerous...


I don't know how I feel about it. I can't even decide if this author writing style worked for me or not. There were things that really bothered me. The heroine was a Psychologist and she didn't act like one. Nope. I can't even go there.
SPOILER ALERT!
When she threw herself, pregnant, in front of the gun I thought this was the last straw and she should be sheleved under the TSTL shelf.

The H was a cocky jerk who didn't act like a true mafioso, he was not cold and dangerous in my eyes. I'd say this book was more contemporary romance with hate-love trope than a true mafia. IMHO.

It had some good parts that I enjoyed, but overall, it was too short and inconsistent to make me feel it deserved more than 2.75*. I might read the 2nd in the future (or not) bc the H's brother is intriguing and looks the part.

I'm extremely picky when it comes to mafia genre so this book might work for you.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3 Stars

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

OTT manwhore is no bueno

[Willow Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Blaine. I loved his brothers, especially what's his name ???? (the brother the next book is about) The theme of this story has been done over and over again but I like the way this author did it.
She kept me entertained and rooting for the couple to come to love each other.

Mira was trying to get on my nerves a little but this author knew what she was doing to keep it from fully happening.

I don't have much to say about this one besides I really liked it. I'm going to read the next book in this series just as soon as I get something to eat.

[ashlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning really pulled me in..it had all the right setup and potential. But as the story went on, I started to lose that connection with the characters. It didn’t really pick back up until around the 80% mark, which made the middle feel like a bit of a drag.

You don’t really see much of Blaine’s true characteristics until the end, which was kind of a bummer. With a title and cover like Dangerous, I expected to feel that sense of danger and intensity throughout the book…but it never fully delivered.

✨ T r o p e s ✨
👫🏻 Arranged Marriage
😡 Enemies to 💕 Lovers
🤰🏻 Pregnancy
💘 HEA

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars. Blaine was so awesome!

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arranged marriage between English mob x Irish mob, fast burn, surprise pregnancy.

The FMC was dumb despite being a psychologist. Nothing special or memorable, but was a quick read for sure.

[Jac K]

DNF @ 25%
This starts with the most unprofessional therapy session ever and goes down hill from there. The book opens with Blaine attending a therapy session with Mira. The entire scene is confusing… First, I don’t understand why he’s even there. He clearly doesn’t want to be there, and no one is making him… so why go?? Next, Mira’s behavior is so unethical… I get he was baiting her, but she’s supposed to be a professional, and the majority of individuals seeking therapy probably aren’t bringing their A-game (hence the need therapy), so IMO, she should’ve handled it better.

The blurb sets up the rest, both are forced to enter an arranged marriage, and SURPRISE it’s to each other. I just can’t anymore. I find neither likable, and I’m confused why they hate each other so much.

[Tennille Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!

Oh the battles in this book with the two main characters were epic. I love the love between them. Couldn't get enough of it!

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was something about this book that turned me off right from the start. I hated how Blaine baited Mira during the appointment. I was glad that Mira stood up to him and then kicked him out. Later when Blaine saved Mira from some randy boys I found myself rolling my eyes, because of course that would happen. I know it was early in the book but that just made me not want to read more. This one wasn't for me.

[Josiane]

I don't do this often but I'm tapping out as in DNF!
Reached chapter 11

The MC's reactions to the events hijacking her life are just unrealistic combined with her complete inability to control her hormones in the most dire of situations made it a really hard read for me.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

The irony of the author characterizing her books as having "a lot of plot" when the plot was MIA in this one...

Doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining, though!

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (9/23/2017)!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was conflicted on what to give this one, because I actually enjoyed the last 2/3rds of the book. Has the events in the first third been written differently I would give this 4 stars, but, alas, it is not.

Plot
Blaine is a hitman/torturer/whatever his father wants in the mafia. He's tortured by an event and finally decides to seek a therapist.
What he didn't expect was that he would be forced to marry said therapist not long after.
Mira has been one the run for 8 years. She got a degree and started practicing a psychologist. If she doesn't meet the previous ass-hat patient again, that will suit her just fine. But her mafia father has other plans.

What did I like?
· Marcus: He didn't have many appearances, but Blaine's brother Marcus was right up my alley. The silent "no one know how to talk to him" thing is just me. Will definitely check out his story and hope for the best.
· Mira: for a romance heroine I'll say that for the most part she didn't annoy me. My issues with her are mainly related to why I didn't like the handling of the first third of the story, which I will get into later. Mira actually took some hard decisions to save her baby. I can respect that.
· The sex in the last 2/3: was pretty hot and steamy.

What didn't I like?
This will get mildly spoilery, as I will be using quotes to illustrate my points.
I did not like that dub-con went mostly ignored. Now hear me out! I'm not here to shit on your kink or fetish for dub-con/rape, but I do have an opinion on how you write stuff like this responsibly.

After they're married they retire to their suite and fight over who should have the bed and who the couch. Blaine doesn't care if Mira stays in the bed, but he's not leaving. The fight turns somewhat physical. It should be mentioned that they're both very, very drunk.

"Blaine shifted on the bed and I kicked out, hitting
him square in the stomach. But before I could retract my foot,
Blaine grabbed me by the ankle and pulled, sending me flat on
my back with an undignified huff.
“Let go you arsehole!”
“Seems like you’re the one who can’t stop touching me.” He
pulled on my ankle again, making me slide further down toward
him, and then he put his other hand on my free leg, effectively
keeping me from kicking out again."

...

“I don’t want to sleep with you.” I was pretty proud of the sneer
in my voice, despite how the word “fuck” whispered into my
ear in his molten voice nearly made my ovaries explode. “Keep
your hands to yourself!”
“No dice.” Blaine shifted his hold on me so he could keep
both my wrists in one hand, spread my legs with his knees—and
then proceeded to reach down, his fingertips grazing against the
front of my panties.

...

Then he slipped his fingers underneath the fabric and
brushed up and down my slit a few times before caressing my
taut clit.

...

“You’re an obnoxious prude.” Blaine’s snarl had all the
richness of a prowling tiger. He tugged on my panties again,
once to test and then once more, hard, snapping the waistband
with ease. “And you’re gonna get fucked.”

...

“Inside! I need you inside!” I arched my back up, desperate to
feel what my body craved with every pulse of blood through my
veins. It didn’t matter that he was a cocky bastard, nor that I was
faintly aware that I was meant to be scared of him. All that
mattered was his hard body and the thickness I’d glimpsed
between his legs earlier. He had what I needed, and I needed it
now. I dug my nails into his chest to make sure he understood
my urgency.

I tried to paint the picture without just pasting the entire scene. This doesn't even include how he spanks her against her will. So through all these quotes Blaine does not have consent until the very last one. She repeatedly earlier pushes him away, kicks him, and tells him verbally that she is not into it. Yet he continues touching her clit and folds because she is wet.
Let me make something clear: BEING WET IS NOT CONSENT.
This is really dub-conny. I hope we can agree on that. But it's okay to be dub-con and it's okay within the story that Blaine is a bastard.

The next morning this happens...

She soaked so easily for me, it was a wonder she’d managed to
put up so much of a fight before finally caving. I smirked at the
knowledge that the prim and proper psychologist who had
thrown me out of her office for asking for a fuck was as attracted
to my body as any other red-blooded female I’d come across
since hitting puberty. Perhaps even more so, if her pussy’s slick
welcome was any indicator.
I slipped another finger into her while keeping my thumb
busy on her clit, and this time, her response was a full-throated
moan. Seemed like she was coming to. I pumped her slowly,
aching to bury my tongue between her thighs, but ego made me
hold back. I wanted to see her face fall apart when I sucked on
her clit, and she’d have to be fully awake for that to happen.
Maybe after the first round.

...

“That was for molesting me, you absolute twat!” Apparently,
she’d had enough of not being able to focus all that anger at my
face, [...]
“Molesting you? You just came all over my hand! While
moaning my name, I might add. Jesus fucking Christ, what about
a ‘thank-you’ instead of kneeing me in the gut?”
“A ‘thank-you’?” Her voice turned shrill, and I winced as it
went right through my brain. She leveled a glare at me through
the black-rimmed glasses that could have turned a more easily
intimidated man into stone. “Right! Then thank you for taking
advantage at me while I was drunk and emotionally fucked up
after the worst week of my life. Which, I might add, is a pretty
goddamn bad week. And while I’m at it, thank you so much for
marrying me against my will and ruining my life! Now kindly get
the fuck out of my bed!”
Awesome. We were back to this, then.

The morning after Blaine decides to finger her in her sleep. A woman he barely knows. A sleeping person cannot consent. It was not dicussed beforehand if waking each other up like this was okay.
Mira accuses him of taking advantage of her and molesting her. This is the last time his actions are ever acknowledged. Blaine clearly doesn't believe he's done anything wrong.

So as I said: it's okay for Blaine to be an A-hole and it's okay to have dub-con. I just need one of at least two things to happen:
1) The rape/dub-con is addressed within the story with impactful consequences for the perpetrator. Eg. Blaine comes to regret his actions and makes meaningful amends, or Mira makes a decision to leave him based on this.
2) If not addressed within the story, then there needs to be a warning in the blurb of the book.

If neither of these two things happen, the rape/dub-con is basically okay-ed and swept under the rug. That is not okay. That is not a responsible way to write dub-con. It is normalizing this kind of behaviour, which we actually see happen in real life all too often.

Much later Blaine actually asks to kiss her...

“Say you want me to,” he whispered, and his breath made
electricity spark off every nerve in my body.
I reached up and tangled my fingers in his black, tousled hair.
It was silky soft and so completely at odds with his hard body
hovering above me.
“I do.”
Blaine kissed me, his soft lips descending on mine with
urgent need.

I like that he asks this time, but throughout the story so far he has expressed no regret or thought to the way he took advantage of her the first night and morning. This does not come as a consequence of his regret. It feels hollow and cheap.

So this is why I dislike the first third of the story. A dub-con scene happens that is never done anything with. Blaine never makes amends, he never apologises, and it's arguable if he has learnt his lesson. Because neither of the two reasons I mentioned earlier happens, it feels like the authour is saying that Mira being wet and attracted to him was consent enough. I take huge issue with this. So I'll repeat: BEING WET IS NOT CONSENT. She was kicking and pushing him, yet he continued anyway. Blaine never saw her no as valid, only a challenge to push against and overcome.

Mafia romance is often on the darker side, which I enjoy. But mafia romance ≠ rape romance. You can write the story with consensual sex. Rape/dub-con is not the only way to write dark romance. But if you do write it with, then you need to address it within the story or outside of it.

This is the whole reason that I land on 2 stars.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Dangerous
Read By: Ebook and Audio
Author: Nora Ash
Narrator: Rachel Knight, Shane East
Genre: Dark Romance
Main Characters: Blaine and Mira
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️ 🌶️️ 🌶️️
Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:

I loved this book!

“Don’t leave the house without an escort Don’t go into the shed Don’t invite anyone over Don’t ask questions about visitors Don’t speak to visitors unless spoken to Don’t open the door without permission Stop sulking”

I love mafia romance. And this was really really good.

“Finish your wine. I’m calling Blaine, and then he and I will talk before you go home. He won’t ever scare you like that again.” The way he said “talk,” I couldn’t help but wince internally. Seemed like I’d gotten an unexpected ally.”

Not super long either so you can enjoy this over the span of 1 day:)

“If you ever scare her like that again, or hurt her, you and I are going to have a problem.”

Dangerous follows Blaine and Mira, 2 children of Mafia family. Blaine met Mira when he went to see a shrink and she was the shrink. After they had an anger filled explosive meeting they parted ways.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Blaine shot me a dark look. “They harmed you. That’s exactly what I needed to do.”

Only for Mira family to find her and make her marry someone for the family business. The person just so happens to be Blaine. They spend the first few weeks fighting, arguing, and ignoring the attraction they have for one and other.

“There comes a time in all our lives when we have to take a step back and decide if the path we’re on is one we have freely chosen, or if we are blindly following because it is what is expected of us,”

Until Mira runs away pregnant and Blaine come in to save her from her own family.

“They are battle scars, Mira. Proof of how strong you are. They just make you even more beautiful.”

Book ends with a HEA. And a massive need to start book 2!
I wanna know all about Marcus, like yesterday so naturally I have book 2 and starting now:)

“I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you,” he said, his voice rough.”

[Averie]

I honestly have no idea what to rate this book😂

I know that there are people who will love this book, and people who will absolutely hate it.

And I have no idea where I fall on that scale lollll

[Lori Kays]

DNF. Bitchy TSTL heroine

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love watching Blaine fall for Mira-and not realize it

Blaine isn’t a bad boy because he has tats, a hard, muscled body and looks dangerous. He’s the real thing-- a criminal and a killer and everything Mira ran from. Now, he's her husband.

Mira and Blaine both grew up in organized crime families, but after a horrible event, she escaped. Mira and Blaine are forced to marry, and neither are happy.

The level of fury and denial that Blaine and Mira have about how much they want and care for each other, makes it all the sweeter when they both finally give in and admit their feelings. I like there’s a nice build up, and a learning curve for Blaine. At times, he really is dense, but when Mira’s life is at stake—no holds barred.

I can’t wait for a book about Marcus, Blaine’s brother. We’re introduced to other characters that could easily get their own books.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

DELICIOUSLY DARK AND OH SO SEXY!!!
Title: Dangerous
Series: Made and Broken
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length Standalone, NO Cliffhanger
Author: Nora Ash
Platform: Kindle Ebook and Audible Editions
My Rating: Five Sinfully Delicious Stars*****
Wow! I loved, loved, loved Dangerous! I've been a diehard Nora Ash fan for years and never tire of her raw, gritty, seductive, and deliciously dark tales. I'm the first to admit my tastes in reading are extremely eclectic and often quite adventurous for an old bird. However, one thing that never changes is my passion for romance, any kind of romance but sometimes, I prefer my love stories to be edgy and unordinary. And folks, the writing style of Nora Ash can be described as many things, but ordinary is never one of them. It's actually quite extraordinary and so is Dangerous, the first release In Ash's Made and Broken Series. I truly loved this story and look forward to listening to Monster, the next book in the series. The Kindle and paperback editions are already available. And yes, I've already read it and loved it too! Each of the books in the Made and Broken Series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order of their release to enrich your reading experience. But as usual, I digress so let's talk about Dangerous.
Dangerous is a riveting, fast-paced, well-crafted, well-edited and deliciously dark stand-alone full-length bad boy mafia romance with a beautifully written his and her first-person narrative and filled to the brim danger, drama, heartbreak, angst, suspense, violence, treachery, betrayal, passion, romance, and sex. Now, folks, let me be perfectly clear. Dangerous is not erotica but it is erotic. In romance novels, there are wild, steamy sex scenes that are just about the sex, and then there are explicit, exquisitely written love scenes that are all about the romance and emotion. In Dangerous, you get the best of both worlds, the perfect combination of heated attraction, wild fiery passion, sweet romance, and dreamy sex... and though plentiful and prominent in the story, it's secondary to the actual plot and only serves to enrich the story. The sex is not 'the story'. I know that may be a little confusing to some, but I believe most of you know exactly what I'm trying to say. The dialogue is smart, snappy, raw, emotional, seductive, well executed and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite component is the magnificent cast of well-developed characters. I found them to be captivating, fascinating, complex, intriguing, engaging and sexy as sin. I was immediately drawn into the story by the two protagonists, beautiful, intelligent, and sometimes quite fiery psychologist Mira Holler, and handsome, trash-talking, and very cocky but emotionally troubled mafia bad boy Blaine Steel. They were absolutely perfect together and played off each other brilliantly. Their banter was entertaining and, at times, hilarious. Their attraction to each other was undeniable and their sexual chemistry was so hot it sizzled! At times, it was like two six-year-olds squaring off against each other on the playground. But as I listened to Mira and Blaine come to life through the skilled and realistic narration of the story by the very talented Rachel Hine and Joel Froomkin, I could literally see the fireworks exploding every time these two lost souls came together, both in anger and passion. The interaction between Mira and Blaine was captivating. I laughed with them, empathized with them, shook my fists in anger at the injustice each suffered, and sobbed as my heart broke for their lost innocence. Rachel and Joel's voice portrayals of Mira and Blaine were both exceptional, enhanced by their delightful and sometimes amusing London accents, skilled voice inflections, and effortless cadence. Their perfectly delivered performance was nothing short of magical and truly brought the entire story to life. It was fabulous!

Psychologist Mira Holler has worked diligently for years to become who and what she is today and it didn't come easy. After running away from her abusive family at only eighteen, she's changed a heck of a lot more than just her name; she's changed her entire life. She had plans and they don't include any sexy bad boys patients like the one who just invaded her office with all his good looks, arrogance, swagger and cocky attitude. She had no intention of ever becoming involved, professionally or personally, with any man that could hurt her again, and she certainly would never fall for one as crude as Blaine Steel. But we all know, you should never say never. But Doctor Mira Holler isn't really Mira Holler and unfortunately for Mira, the ghosts from her past have resurfaced to claim her. Mira is really Aigneis Clery, the only daughter of the infamous Clery crime family of Belfast. Oh my! And they've finally found her! And if that isn't bad enough, her family intends to use her as a pawn to broker a business deal by forcing her into a prearranged marriage with one of the sons of William Steel, the patriarch of the notorious Steel family, the most powerful crime family in London. Could her life get any worse? Yes, it could! Her groom could turn out to be the arrogant bad boy patient she recently threw out of her office. Oh no! What's a girl to do? Well, she could fall in love with said bad boy and run away again, of course!

Cocky bad boy Blaine Steel didn't like being forced into anything, especially not a marriage arranged by his father with the daughter of the most vicious and violent crime family of Belfast. He may the son of the most notorious crime boss in London but he and his brothers learned long ago, family always comes first. And because of his loyalty to his family, he knew he'd have to do as his father ordered. He may have to marry the pathetic bird but that doesn't mean he has to love her. He doesn't even know what she looks like so that couldn't be good, right? He'd just marry her, dump her at a house somewhere, and then go about his business as usual with the many other beautiful women vying for his attention. But once he saw the woman hidden behind the veil, he can't believe his eyes. It couldn't be, but it is! It's none other than his plucky therapist, Mira Holler - the one who threw him out of her office. Wait...What? Her name is Mira Holler, not Aigneis Clery. What the heck? It seems he's not the only one keeping secrets. But Blaine never counted on the undeniable desire he feels for the fiery auburn-haired Mira as well as her voluptuous curvy body. And he certainly never counted on falling in love with the beautiful feisty psychologist. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. But will Blaine be able to protect her from his family, her family and even from herself? We'll see!

Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet and I am but only for adult readers since it does contain explicit language and sex. Will I make another audio purchase from this author? Absolutely! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! One advantage of an audio book is being able to continue your routine as you listen to a book, but have you ever listened to a story so well done that you had to stop what you're doing because you were affected so profoundly by the story and characters coming to life in your mind? And, you were so overcome by emotion that you simply had to sit down as you eagerly awaited each word? Well, that's what happened as I listened to Dangerous. I was preparing dinner but had to stop because I became completely engrossed in the story. I was riveted to my seat with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as I hung in suspense waiting for each new word. Once I started listening, I simply could not stop! And yes, it was that good! I loved every single minute! Fabulous entertainment!

[Hart's Reader Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Nora Ash book.... I am torn between liking it and loathing it entirely (insert Jim Carrey as the Grinch voice here). I liked the plot, as ridiculous as it was, but it felt shallow. The sexual tension was there, but it was overshadowed by the heroine's bursts of rabid immaturity. She goes from spouting psychological insights to throwing wine and screaming obscenities... She might need to be checked for a personality disorder.

Blaine was a great anti-hero; criminal with a heart of silver (gold would be too good for him). He played his part well, he stood up for the heroine, and he routinely beat the shit out of disgusting douche bags. I liked him. Mira...not so much--which is why this book is getting three stars instead of four.

[JL Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

First meet as shrink and patient then as bride and groom the next week. Because of course after eight years of running from her crime family she's found and married off to a more powerful crime family and her groom happens to be her obnoxious patient that did nothing but hit on her the whole time. Yeah, he's hot but she also hates him and everything he stands for. Her plan, befriend him so she can one day gain his trust enough to hopefully run away. Only hormones get in the way, and she ends up knocked up by her husband.
I didn't hate the story just wish there was more to it. More Character building, more of the characters interacting and maybe a little less inner dialog. I will continue with the series just because Marcus intrigued me and I can't wait to get this quiet, bruting brothers' story.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a pretty average mafia romance that stayed pretty surface level. Also, it was super hard to find the love interest sexy when, for some reason, my mind gave him Danny Dyer's voice. I'm not sure why, and that's probably on me.

[SamS · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasnt that dark as i thought it would be. The blurb is not how the vibe of the book goes. It feels more like a college bad boy romance than mafia romance, heck even some college bad boys are more dark and threatening than Blaine. He seems like a teenager on his rebellion stage than an actual crime lord with anger issues.
And Mira is ridiculous. She has to be the most undeserving Psychologist in the world. I mean who gave her the license? She can't even keep it together for 2 minutes of conversation. She is so volatile and short tempered that you'd think she herself needs therapy- oh wait! She does. Even she herself says so. Lol.
At first it worked as she showed Blaine his place when he tried to intimidate her. She wasn't spineless heroine who went mush on the first mating call from the hot bad boy. But then the act got a little frustrating when she started acting out without any trigger.
But seriously, how can a matured woman of age 26 act like a 16 year old high school prude who gets irked by the bad boy at the canteen and throws tantrums around?? She can't make a decent conversation work without name calling and acting like an angry toddler. Even she herself acknowledges she shouldn't have acted like this, but then goes on doing it again. And this becomes repetitive to the point of boring. I seriously feel bad for Blaine at one point, because sometimes he even doesn't do anything and this woman starts throwing shit around.
And the amount of blueballs she gave him has to be painful. She was leading him on and then playing victim. I really hated that part. She was frustrating and not at all likeable. She has serious victim complex and there was no sympathy for her "past trauma" from me. And certainly not when she was being a scheming bitch to use her vulnerability to manipulate her way out with Blaine. I actually felt bad when she was all alone for weeks in the house and became sick and cried. But the moment she used her vulnerability and thought out a plan to manipulate it by being a timid woman infront of Blaine, I lost all little sympathy that had bubbled up in me once again. There are other ways to plan your escape than emotional manipulation. Beauty in the Broken by Charmine Pauls has such a concept where the heroine is strong and vulnerable at the same time but doesn't use a victim mentality to manipulate her husband. Instead she tries everything to NOT be a victim even though she has been abused all her life. But this woman has some few scars on her stomach and thinks she is the most abused and wronged woman in the world and somehow Blaine is her tormentor. Lol give me a break.
Both the MC s are immature and lack depth in character. The story started intersting then became meh. It was so repetitive I wanted to come back and give 1 star again and again. The plot doesn't seem to progress at all. 50% in and we are still on the same push and pull and avoidance level with an annoying "i m an overgrown toddler with a dubious psychology degree I will fuck with u for no reason so respect me bitches even though I do nothing to earn respect" heroine who has no clue how to have a normal human conversation. And you'd think she'll make it up for sex scenes but no, we only had one, that wasn't even that detailed or properly elaborated, and then we have only blueballs.
I had high hopes from Nora Ash on this one. I think she should stick to supernatural/paranormal shit, mafia trope isn't her cup of tea.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous : Made & Broken by Nora Ash

Designation: Standalone.

Blaine Steele is a British bad boy and his family is the largest mob family in London., Blaine has done and seen things that no one should see but there's one thing in his past he can't seem to forget and the guilt eats away at him until he goes to see a psychologist.

Mira Holler is a psychologist who hides a secret past and is hiding from her family but she can't fully forget thanks to the scars on her stomach. Mira meets Blaine when walks into her office. There is instant attraction to Blaine but Mira sees the danger and recognizes it as part of her past and knows to stay away from Blaine. He is one client she hopes to never see again.

Mira is kidnapped and held for a week by her father and her brother and they are going to use her to gain power by using her to bargain with the Steele family. Blaine is also forced by his father to take a bride that he doesn’t know to appease the Clery family.
Although they are attracted to each other, she wants nothing to do with the family and he can’t admit that she means anything to him. He tells her that she is in danger now that she could be used to get to him and she is locked away in their estate and everything needs to go through guards. Even though she realizes she loves him, the fear of the family is stronger and she is still determined to leave him. But will she be able to escape from everyone who is a threat to her?

I really liked Blaine and Mira. She was a very strong character who escaped a twistedly wicked family. Blaine was so hot and sexy even though he was a powerful member of the mob. There was quite a few unexpected twists and turns that keep me guessing. I hope there is more to come from this series.

*REVIEW STARS*
Hero: Blaine 5 stars
Heroine: Mira 5 stars
Steam Level:5 stars
Plot: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Cliffhanger: no
Keys: Troubled Past, Her POV, His POV, MF, HEA, Violence, Abuse, Kidnapping, Suspense

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jaime Fertal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira already lived in the dangerous mafia world once, she was abused growing up and had a lot of heart ache. As soon as Mira was 18 she disappeared from her family to start a life that was normal and legal, one day another dangerous man would walk into her office and things will never be the same again. Blaine is one of London's most dangerous crime family leaders, he never wanted to settle down with a wife or children, but one day he will get news that is his to Marry another crime families daughter a sacrifice for the family since he is the oldest available son. Together they will learn after all the hard and tough times what it is like to really feel happiness together after everything they have both lived through in their lives.

What I enjoyed most about Dangerous Made & Broken is watching Mira be strong and waiting out to leave an unhappy situation, willing to break her own heart so her own child will never know and live like she had, watching Blaine finally realize his own true feelings for her and search every where for her. Watching both of them going from hating each other and not wanting to be in each others company to falling in love. With that love he will do whatever it takes to protect her at any cost. Finally Blaine becoming a family man that wouldnt have it any other way.

This book was fantastic and I couldnt put it down, This story has a dangerous Mafia family added with another one that make a Marriage agreement deal without the Bride and Groom with any choice, The two have already met in her office and she knows his weakness, lots of fighting with some funny fighting moments, some hot intimate moments and a love story. Added with her crazy family that is willing to do anything for revenge, even at the cost of their own flesh and blood. If you like stories like this, then Dangerous Made & Broken is a must!!

I received an ARC from Hidden Gems in exchange for my honest review!

[Suzi Vanderham · Rating 5 out of 5]

How a Mob Romance Should Be Written!

Gritty, violent, and crime-filled is how you expect a mob book to be written and Nora Ash does not disappoint in “Dangerous”. What you don’t expect to find is the layers of relationship between the Steel brothers and the romance that builds between Mira and Blaine. Listening to two people that cannot stand each other only find out their familial past & present bind them in a way only they can understand is heart wrenching and moving. Even better than reading the excellent story Ms. Ash wrote was listening to the magnificent voice of Shane East as Blaine Steel and the new-to-me narrator Rachel Knight.

Mr. East gives a performance that is remarkable in the variation of characters voices and the ferocious main character that is Blaine Steel. His cockney accent and growly voice are pure aural perfection when he’s communicating the passion Blaine feels for Mira. When speaking as the patriarch of the family, East’s speech turns into a combo of Bob Hoskins & Michael Caine (circa Italian Job) letting you know the Father is in charge of this family and is ruthless enough to turn on his own family to stay in control.

Mira is given voice by Rachel Knight and while her cadence and acting emotion are spot on for the characters, there is something different about the production that is just off dragging me away from the performance. Ms. Knight appears to be speaking directly into the microphone while narrating, but steps back when speaking the character dialog. However, the performance given to the various character voices is fantastic and the excellence continues throughout the series. Her conversations with Marcus were so emotional that I couldn’t wait to get more of his character – and I was not disappointed to see he would lead Book 2.

More Nora Ash books are definitely in my future and I need more of this “Dangerous” world of Blaine & Mira.

[Demetra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I’ve read this book I didn’t review it. This time around I had to!

Dangerous was one of my first ever mafia romances. I really liked it the first time and I wanted to do a reread for a while! I loved Mira and Blaine’s dynamic. It was really interesting to see a mobster’s softer side. Blaine is being tormented because of things that happened in his family that he seeks out a psychologist. Mira is that psychologist with her own secret past. They find themselves forced to marry one another and they aren’t happy about it. Blaine is strong, sexy and ruthless when it comes to protecting his family. Mira is smart, headstrong and gives as good as she takes. These two complement each other perfectly!

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous is a fabulous gateway mafia dark romance for any bookworm looking to dive into this sub-genre.

I am a bit of an odd romance bookworm. I say this because I adore such a wide range of romance books. On the one hand, I love charming Hallmark closed-door romances, but if the mood strikes me, I will swing to the other end and devour a good, darkish, spicy romance. For those new to dark romances and mafia romances, this is a great gateway book for dipping your toes into these sub-genres. This book, and the next books in this series, are darkish. The story flirts with that dark romance line and might cross over to the dark side a few times, but it’s not an overwhelming dark romance story. The same goes for the mafia elements in this story. There is definitely this alpha male mafia vibe to this book, and we dive into that mafia world, especially as the series progresses. However, the majority of the violence happens off-page, so it’s not a particularly gory story. But if you are new to the mafia world, be warned that the men in these books hold all the power. They are violent and feared and used to getting what they want. Our male heroes will sometimes use that power over the female MC, but they never hurt or abuse women in this series.

This is a quick and dirty read. I devoured this whole series (three books in total) in one day. I picked this book out at my Kobo store because of its synopsis. I was hoping that there would be a great hook at the beginning of the book that would suck me in and I’m happy to say there was. Mira has fled her family and her previous life, creating a new life for herself as a psychiatrist. The beginning of this book opens with Mira in a session with a man who oozes danger, sex, and that alpha male attitude. She knows that she shouldn’t be attracted to this man, but the heart, or should I say the lady parts, want what they want. After a disastrous session, Mira thinks she will never see this man again, but alas, her past comes back to haunt her, and she finds herself forced to marry the son of London’s top mafia family. Enter Blaine Steel; he is the eldest sibling and enforcer in his family’s mafia organization. In a moment of weakness, he decided to go to a psychiatrist to talk about some family issues, but he thinks he will never see Mira again. He is shocked to discover that Mira is the woman he is to marry, and he knows that he has to make sure she doesn’t say anything about their therapy session. Maria and Blaine are forced to marry because of mafia romance reasons. There is this historical world vibe to their marriage situation. Any bookworm who has read a medieval or Viking romance knows that usually, any marriage that happens at the beginning of the book is done for the betterment of both families. And that tends to be the case in a lot of mafia romances. In this case, Maria and Blaine are marrying so that both families can expand their power in Ireland.

The pacing of this story is quite quick. There is a lot going on in this book. First, you have this forced relationship that Mira and Blaine find themselves in. Next is Mira’s family, who is awful; finally, there is turmoil in Blaine’s family. Blaine and his brothers begin to realize that their father has used his power to hurt one of their brothers. The Steel siblings believe that you protect family above anything else and are having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that their father would betray them as he has. This book is super entertaining. I was never bored while reading it. There is always something happening, and Nora gives her readers just a little bit of information or alludes to something much bigger that just made me want to turn the page. I loved the fact that this book is set in London, and I adored all that London slang that was sprinkled throughout the dialogue.

Blaine is a great MC. He operates in that morally gray area. He’s technically a criminal, but he is considered a good guy in this book. He only kills and tortures men who are a threat to his family. Blaine is the eldest of the Steel brothers, and you can see that he feels a lot of responsibility for ensuring that his family’s empire runs smoothly. He’s used to being feared and used to having those around him obey his orders. When Mira becomes his wife, he goes into protector mode and has vowed to keep her safe at any cost.

The romance is spicy, but there isn’t an excessive amount of banging going on, which surprised me. Things get pretty hot and heavy at the beginning of the book, but then we have to wait quite a bit for Mira and Blaine to get back together physically. I really enjoyed Mira and Blaine. Their relationship is full of hurdles that they have to overcome. There is plenty of miscommunication, anger, and distrust between these two. But surprisingly, there are also a fair amount of sweet, quieter moments. The sparks and emotions that fly between these two are electric. Some pretty high emotions are happening, leading to some pretty spectacular fights. I just drank up all the drama. It was great. If you are a fan of forced marriage, alpha male, one bed, install-lust, touch her and die, secret baby, and miscommunication tropes, then you will enjoy this story.

Dangerous is a spicy, quick, and dirty mafia romance, perfect for those looking to try out this sub-genre.

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[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaine is a real bastard in the beginning and I wanted to slap him right along with Mira. Mira was hiding from her past and both of them are forced into a situation neither wanted. Lots of twists and turns with LOTS of sexual tension and very hot times.
The narrators Rachel Knight and Shane East were both excellent! Is it wrong that I wanted more of Shane's bad boy Blaine voice?