Sex, Revenge, and a Mother’s determination to protect her daughter at any cost creates a firestorm around the Dimarco brothers, especially the one who just met his daughter.
One. Night. Stand.
For Gianna Taylor that’s all it was supposed to be. A night to be someone she’s never been, to be free from the circumstances a tragedy forced upon her.
To step out from the shadows where she hides - if only for one night.
When that night gives her a daughter, desperation forces her into a world she’s spent her entire life avoiding - and towards a man who seems dedicated to freeing her.
But people are not always as they appear.
She seeks out the man who gave her a night she’s never forgotten, to introduce him to a daughter he’s never known, but she doesn’t expect his reaction.
Or the intensity of the feelings between them.
A Dimarco man never abandons his family and never runs from his responsibilities. When Gianna explodes back into his life, the fire he felt one night burns hotter than before. Staying away from her becomes impossible, regardless of the demons threatening to destroy his well-controlled life. As Gianna’s past resurfaces, they’re forced to face their feelings for each other, as well as the fears that plague them, all while trying to stop the man determined to destroy her.
With a future so unclear and a past proving inescapable, will she choose to follow her heart?
Or stay in the safety of the hauntingly familiar shadows?
This is the third book in the Dimarco Series. Can be read as a standalone.
Jennifer Hanks is a busy author and mom. Her stories are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, all with the underlying message of the power and strength in love. She’s also a sucker for a Happily-Ever-After. Her love of reading and books in general started at a very young age and has steadily grown into a love of writing as well. She admits to being addicted to all things romance and has no plans of quitting her habit. Jennifer lives in Pennsylvania with her two children. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found with her kids at their various activities. Her house is frequently filled with any combination of her children’s friends, nieces, nephews and a variety of pets.
The beginning of this book read like a soap opera, from Gia's parents being porn stars to his death and her mom's suicide because she couldn't live without him. Then Gia's financial difficulties because of her parents and her drunken ONS that ended with her pregnant.....whew
Things I liked The DiMarcos Gia as a mom Lexie (I adored her) Brody Pike The DiMarcos
Things I didn't like Gia
😂😂😂😂
Unfortunately Gia robbed me the wrong way, I wasn't a fan of her keeping Lexie away from her dad because she wanted to clear up her debts first. That just felt selfish as not only did the father miss out but Lexie missed out on time with her dad
I love and have a weakness for single parents especially mom's. I liked her determination to do anything possible to provide for her child but it annoyed the hell out of me when she finally tracked down the dad and he bought stuff for Lexie she wanted to pay him back. Really now, she's working 2 jobs and doesn't have money! Sometimes pride and stubbornness have to be put aside for the sake of the child.
Then there's the fact that she's a runner, one of the things that tend to annoy me most. What's wrong with good ole communication?
Then the situation with Kevin and the weird as hell contract she signed. Now Gia left Vegas because she knew Brody would keep her safe and even though Kevin was calling and texting her she never once mentioned it to anyone! When the situation blew up she claimed she didn't think he'd go so far, Because really a porn producer who'd stoop to threatening her child wouldn't illegally film her and post it on porn sites, nope he just wouldn't 🤦
Then the whole filming incident, she basically had a 2 minute reaction to something that intensely violated their privacy! It was just brushed aside.
I like this family and how involved and supportive they are with each other but some of these books aren't working for me. I'm still trying to read them all however.
***** Jax proved himself an idiot here and I'd have liked to see him grovel before Kasey took him back
WHOA!!! This book was so anxiety ridden from the beginning. I knew that Jax was the wrong brother from the snippet, but man was I nervous for Gia. And poor Jax and Kasey. The misinformation that Gia had an impact on so many lives. Once the mistaken identity is sorted out, Brody is so glad to see Gia again and falls instantly in love with little Lexi. As did I! Lexi is pretty awesome. So many times authors write kids into their stories and the reader has to wonder if said author has ever been around real children. Brody and Gia are really unsure where they stand with each other. He wants to keep both of "his girls" but is afraid of what his PTSD will lead him to do. She isn't sure she wants to have romantic love after what her parents put her through. Despite each of their reservations, the love they both have for Lexi and the hot attraction they have for each other can not be denied. Just like the previous books in the series, there is intrigue here. There is a character so despicable, I literally gasped out loud. I also loved the fact that Gia was smart enough not to go half-cocked into a precarious situation. She used her brain and saved herself. And also like the previous books, there is a dramatic cliffhanger that will have you reading the next book immediately!
The start of this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea and I was worried I was going down a somewhat dark rabbit hole, , luckily once Gia makes her way to find Lexi’s dad – one of the Dimarco brothers and let him know he is a dad, things improve. This book is quite an angsty read from the get go, so ensure you're ready for the ride.
Gia’s young daughter Lexi was a ray of sunshine, the author did well in ensuring her cheery personality radiated off the pages. What I liked about Gia is that she is willing to do anything for her daughter, she steps out of her comfort zone to ensure her daughter has the father and extended family she deserves.
The attraction between Gia and Lexi’s dad simmered off the page well, and the way in Lexi’s dad was with her was sweet/lovely. The Dimarco family remain a fun addition to each book, and I enjoyed seeing them throughout the book.
I wasn’t a fan of how Gia thought she was nothing special, a bit like Lucy from book one, she puts her looks down, and yet she had a hot Dimarco wanting her from the first look.
Gianna by Jennifer Hanks is book Three in The Dimarco series. This is the story of Gianna Taylor and Brody Dimarco. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Gia and Brody meet and had a quick sexual encounter in Vegas about two years ago. Not even knowing each others names and Gia slipped away the next morning before Brody awoke. Gia did learn the name of the man she thought he was so when she had saved enough money she came to New Hope to let him know of their daughter. But she didn't get the right first name but she did end up finding the right brother. This was such a cute romance...love the secondary characters a lot!
At the end of Book #2, we read as Gianna walked up to Kasey and Jax door and knocked on it and assumed that Jackson DiMarco was the father of her daughter. Kasey confronted Jax and we later found out the truth. Gianna did have a one night stand with a DiMarco brother but not Jax - she had one with Brody. This took a twist for me as I had assumed with the smoldering looks and awkwardness that maybe Leah- the receptionist at the Security business and Brody would end up together. I have to admit I hated the character of Jax in this book as right through the book, he had this stubborn pride thing going on and he was a freaking jerk to Kasey - it's like what was she supposed to think as the baby was a DiMarco grandchild and Gianna did have Jackson's name not Brody's as the father. I did like Brody's character though as he had his demons from the war and has been one of the more solemn silent brothers in this book you could see the passion rising from the pages and how much he cared for both Gianna and daughter Lexie. I also really hated Julie - which is Jake's wife and Braydon's mother and was glad that she is finally out of the picture hopefully - good riddance. It also seems to be a pattern for the DiMarco brothers that the girls they pick are not only damaged souls but strong survivors. Like Lucy and Sydney, Gianna has had to survive on her own and overcome obstacles after her parents died. Unfortunately, she was naive and now she is trying to escape Kevin who is in the industry as he has made threats - either she does what he wants or he will come after Lexie. In his words - either one will do the task he wants. Now that Gianna is with a DiMarco, she is about to learn that she is never alone and that she will always have an army of brothers/best friends and extended family to protect her and stand by her when she needs any help. I am loving this series and looking forward to reading Book #4 as Gianna ended on an OMG cliffhanger with Luke DiMarco. If you love family sagas, then you will love The DiMarco series as it also reminds me of a more suspenseful and slightly darker than Piper Rayne's The Baileys.
The highest praise I can give to a book is the fact that I could not put it down. I would rush through my daily tasks so I could rush back and see where this story was taking me. I thought Brody and Gia's story was sweet and I loved their dynamic together. The steamy scenes were HOT!!! This is definitely an author I will continue to follow. The interweaving of the rest of the dimarco clan through the story makes me very excited to see where the next story goes.
I'll just be straight-up honest here. This is the 4th book in the series that I have read, pretty much back to back. Gianna's book is probably in my top 2 of the ones I've read. I really did enjoy this storyline. I absolutely love the family dynamic. The interactions between the brothers, their girls, and their parents are the best part of these books. And Jax and Kasey's little arc in this story definitely gave it a uniqueness compared to the others. I also love the addition of Kyle, Striker, and especially Pike to the family! However, the base stories are so similar. It's a different couple for each book with each girl having her own unique "trouble" however every story has follows the same pattern. Guy meets girl, falls instantly in love with her yet knows nothing about her. She resists. They argue they fight, they do everything but talk, and get to know each other until the last 30-%-35% of the book when all the "trouble" the heroine's been hiding throughout the book starts to come out. Now don't get me wrong, I do love the series. It's just a bit predictable up to this point. I do hope the author changes it up a bit in the following books in the series.
I've really enjoyed the Dimarco Series by Jennifer Hanks. I like a good dose of suspense in my romance novels and Hanks always delivers. Like Lucy (book 1) and Syndey (book 2), Gianna has a man in her past who isn't done with haunting her.
Hanks uses Gianna's arrival at Jax and Kasey's daughter's birthday party to weave an intense storyline in that added depth to the book. Not only must Gia and Brody find their way, but Jax and Kasey have a lot to deal with to.
Gia almost made an ill-advised deal with Kevin but to Kevin almost doesn't count. She's still wildly attracted to Brody but not ready to change her entire life and move to be close to her daughter's father until Kevin starts to pressure her to take part in his porn enterprise.
Gia has absolutely no idea how to let others help her and a huge family is a lot to get used to and it takes her a while. She starts seeing how wonderful a family as a strong support group can be. She's falling fast for Brody, his parents and all his siblings.
The characters are all well written, the story both intense and touching and paced well. Book 3 delivers all that I've come to expect from this series.
Book 3. After the epilogue in 'Sydney' of course there was a bit of a cliffy. Did Jax have a child with the young woman crashing his daughter Mia's third birthday? Gianna rang the bell at the Dimarco family home to find the father of her young daughter, the result of a one night stand in Vegas 2 years before.
We soon find it is not Jax' child (not much of a spoiler so I will put it here) but Brody's and soon the couple feels the same fire as they once did in Vegas. But Sydney has some troubles (like the other ladies :-) ) and the Dimarco family is eager to help her.
These books read like a soap series with ease and a bit of suspense. I really enjoy them so on to the next.
*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review. ***
Gianna is the third book in the DiMarco series by Jennifer Hanks. This is the book that begins with the epilogue of Sydney, although reading Sydney first is not required to read this book. Gianna had a one night stand at the hotel where she works as a housekeeper. The daughter of porn stars, Gianna hated that life and rebelled by living rather conservatively, with the exception of one night of loneliness on the anniversary of her parents' deaths. Names are never exchanged, but Gianna has her friend at the front desk look up what name the room is registered under, Jackson DiMarco, when she finds herself pregnant.
A year later, Gianna decides her daughter needs to know her father, so she looks him up and travels across the country to meet him. She is tired of the Las Vegas life and wants a fresh start. She and Lexi, her toddler, show up at Jax's house during his daughter's birthday party, when the entire DiMarco clan is there. Soon she realizes that Jax is not the man she slept with, but his brother Brody is. The friend at the front desk didn't realize that all the rooms for Jax's bachelor party weekend were booked under his name.
Brody is the "quiet brother" of the DiMarcos. He had never forgotten that night and while shocked at the fact that he's a father, he wants to make it work with Gianna and give Lexi a family. Gianna is fiercely independent, so they definitely have struggles as they explore their new family and relationship dynamics. Although Gianna has her own demons to face back in Las Vegas before they can be happy.
What I liked: I love this family. The DiMarcos are a large, loud, and loving Italian family who are always there for each other. Gianna is an only child who practically raised herself, and isn't quite sure what to make of them at first. Mrs Stuben, the hilariously nosy elderly neighbor of Sydney's is back in this book, too, and she's more of a busybody than ever. I love how Brody embraces being a father, too.
What I didn't like: I can't think of anything I didn't like. This whole series has been fantastic so far.
Sigh. I swear this series just gets better and better as it goes! I absolutely adore Brody and Gianna. Their story is filled with so much romance and suspense, I didn’t want to put it down. I love that this series is so connected so we get to see all the characters in each of the books. It is great to see what is going on with the couples from the past books as well as build the anticipation for the books yet to come.
This book had the most suspense of the series so far in my opinion. From page one, Gianna is facing struggles she isn’t sure how to fight, but I love that she never gives up. She may be quiet, but she doesn’t wait around for someone to save her. She is strong, but at times her independence is her downfall. I loved watching her evolve to let the Dimarcos in, and her relationship with Brody had me cheering them on from the start.
Brody is the epitome of the strong, silent type. He sits back and evaluates situations saving his advice and action for when he knows they are needed most. When he speaks, everyone knows it is worth listening. Haunted by the demons of his past military service, he doesn’t see a relationship in his future. Well, at least until he meets Gianna. Their chemistry was off the charts from the very beginning. There is something about watching the broody hero fall hard that is just so satisfying. Like all of the Dimarcos, Brody values loyalty and will do whatever it takes to protect those he loves. Seeing him as a dad was swoony to say the least.
While this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions with the suspense, it was also so sweet to watch Brody, Gia, and Lexi become a family. The combination of sweet, sexy, and edge of my seat drama had me wanting to read straight through this one. And the ending...I don’t know how you could finish without wanting to dive right in with Elaina. While each of these books can be read as a standalone since they each focus on a different couple, I love reading through them in order as we get to check in with each of the couples in each book that follows.
I thought the beginning was ridiculous, but it just got worse as the chapters went on. It's a miracle I made it to the 45% mark before stopping.
I picked up this book because of the good reviews.
Gia shows up to tell "Jackson" that he's a father. She sees that his driveway is filled with cars & "wonders" if he has company.
It turns out that Jackson's wife answers the door. Someone standing behind her invites Gia in after the wife walks away.
It turns out it isn't Jackson's baby, but his brother Brody's. The family is welcoming & doesn't need a DNA test. They are positive the kid is his.
The nonsense goes on & on. Brody hasn't seen her in3 years but is possessive of her in 5 minutes.
Then Jackson isn't talking to his wife because he can't believe her reaction to the "misunderstanding".
Gia leaves and goes back to Vegas without telling Brody. Some guy named Kevin is in her bedroom when she wakes up & advises her that the owes him a favor. She goes back to Brody's hometown that afternoon.
She shows up, doesn't mention the threat Kevin made and agrees to stay in the apartment that his brother's girlfriend is going to let her stay in. There's a crazy, OTT old lady there.
Gia goes to family dinner. She's about to say that this crazy lady said that his brother has a big penis but stops on the word penis. Brody's father encourages her to say the word. Wait, WHAT?
I love small town, big family & especially single parent romance books. This advertised to have it all. I didn't feel any connections, not even with the siblings.
I wish this author a ton of success in the future. I don't pretend to know how to put a story together & get the words on the pages to release to the world. I just won't pick up anymore of her books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
WHAT?!? This book made me scream this more than once. Gianna is a mixture between the first two books with the feel of it. There was action and mystery, but it was also more of a feel good romance. I enjoyed it, but Sydney is still my favorite.
The plot of this book was captivating. What happens when your one night stand turns into an Oops I'm pregnant? Furthermore, you don't even know that mans name? Yeah, this book does that. I really enjoyed that about this book. I also enjoyed Gianna. While she didn't always make the best decisions, she did what she had to for her kid. I loved that. Add in Broody Brody and you have an amazing book. Brody might be strong and silent, but he is also protective and caring. I loved him.
I mean when you have two characters who had one explosive night in Vegas, you would expect them to continue to heat up the pages. This book did not disappoint. The relationship building and adding in the parental factor really helped this book.
The pace of this book is steady. The story is told from a dual point of view. I really loved that we got to see previous characters. I also really enjoyed the parents of our Dimarco family. I feel like this book really showcased their go with the flow attitude.
In conclusion, I enjoyed Gianna. I cannot get enough of this family. I am just dying to see who we get to read about next. Give me more!
Man, what a bomb to drop on the Dimarco family! Gianna and Brody's story is probably my favorite so far. Because this story is so much more than just a blossoming romance between Gia and Brody. It's about them both learning to become the parents Lexi (their daughter) needs. It's about brothers finally fixing the residual hurts that still linger due to Cam's silence. It's Gia, finally discovering to accept the love and family ties that the Dimarco family offer, when she's wanted nothing more than that her whole life.
Gia has spent her life taking care of herself. She had selfish parents, they may never had abused her, but they neglected her emotionally and were always on the road looking for their own happiness. From the minute she could work, Gia's life was always about work, never letting her hair down. But on the anniversary of her parents death, she decided to let loose for one night, not knowing that it would change her life. Brody is the brooding Dimarco that seems to only speak in grunts and one word sentences. Honestly, he's not the one you would expect to be so reckless when it comes to his sexual life. He thrives on routines and structures, after all he was a SEAL for years. Life will definitely be turned upside down for Brody when Gia walks back into his life to inform him of the consequences of their one night stand.
The writing and story telling continues to get better. I liked this one the best so far. The couple has mostly smooth. Gia could have been more honest once routines are establishing, but I understand her shame. Brody was pretty good at being open with his wants and how he would make adjustments for Gia and Lexi. I thought for a 15m old, Lexi was a bit too advanced for real life (credibility: I have 3 kids, I've seen that age).
The real disappointment here was Jax and Kasey. I thought the point of the story line could have been accomplished without basically destroying this couple and their foundation. Months in the timeline pass while he was behaving so badly and she took him back after 1 conversation. That was some serious therapy needing stuff and I thought it was just swept away too fast. He basically emotionally abused her over nothing. I will never see him as the top dog again, he's the bottom of the shoe. If I had seen this before I read his book, I wouldn't have even cracked it open.
My favorite book so far in my binge read of this series. Brock is part of that large, wild, and crazy Dimarco clan. Ugh I love them all. His backstory is that he is dealing with some PTSD issues since he has returned home after serving as a SEAL. He is also part of his brother’s’ PI business.
Gia is my girl. I LOVE her. The beginning of this story and her narrative on her self worth got to me. The death of her belief in HEA due to upbringing had me fluctuating between PO’d and tearful. It is beautifully written and I feel all her pain.
This author got it right. She made Gia a beautiful mother even in her lonely, sad world. I loved her momma bear heart and how she protects her own without relying on the men in her life. BRAVO! Go girl power. She was SO SMART. EEK! I want to tell all. Ok I will stop. EEK! It is SO GOOOOD! Ok really I will stop now. (Whispers) You gotta read this book.
I am hooked on this series! This is book three of The DiMarco series. Each story has characters that have their own insecurities as well as their own strengths. Then there are the side characters. You get a peek at these people and want to see them get their HEA. Each story is a mix is romance, steamy sex, suspense/conflict, and happy-ever-afters. In this book, you somewhat get a two-for-one story that has rolled over from Sydney (Book 2). Can I just say that I want a Jack DiMarco in my life. He's the best!!! Jennifer Hanks is The Queen of epilogues! She knows exactly what to do to hook you for the next book. The only quirk I have is that the foreplay and sex scenes seem to be identical in each book. (The what's happening isn't what bothers me. It's just that I wish each guy would do something a little different.)
Definitely the best of the series so far!!!!!! What I though was lacking in the prior bio delivers here 10 fold!! Tons of family time!!!
Not to mention how freaking cute it was every time Lexie said, “Daddy”!!!! And then Unky and Tee!! So freakin cute and added to the story as humor!!! Loved it!
Yes there were times I got ticked off by Gia but for the most part I loved her! And Brody talked so much here...lol I loved how he never doubted his feelings and went in at 100%!!
Jack and Anna continue to Rock the Family dynamic. Although I miss Stephen and Liam, they make a very brief appearance. I hope we circle back around to all the side characters. They were included so well in the prior books that we have become attached to them too!!!
I received a copy from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.
This series just keeps getting better.... I thought Cam was my favorite, but I have moved on to Brody...
Gia and Brody have a one night stand in Vegas during Jax's bachelor weekend. A misunderstanding has her believing her daughter's father is Jax when in fact it was Brody. Brody falls in love at first sight with his daughter, Lexi. He has very story feeling for Gia, but doesn't feel he can ever be with her (or any other woman thanks to his PTSD).
This is a sweet love story with some action thrown in. Will these two get there happily ever after? Of course they will. It is, after all, I romance story. You just need to read this great story to find out how.
I highly recommend this story. It is book 3 in the series, but you can read it on its own even though I do not recommend doing that with this series.
Book three is not a disappointment at all. Here we meet Gianna or Gia a one night stand to Brody in Vegas. But when she comes to find the father of her child, she mixes up the brother's names and the family has a rift to deal with that isn't easy for a man who values trust above all else. Brody has been the quiet, almost always in the background through the first few books, so it's nice to hear his voice finally. And he immediately takes to fatherhood no questions asked, and he works to win Gia over because as far as he is concerned he's loved her since their one night stand. There's more intense moments in this book and more reasons to love the Dimarco men (and women) for fighting for what's right. If you loved the first two books you will definitely love Gianna!
Gianna met a man 2 years ago that made her feel something no one else has. Now that shes a mom shs knows she has to do what right and le the father know.
Going to New Hope and experiencing the Dimarco family is not for the faint of heart. Gia must learn to deal with having everyone in her business and they are doing it with the best intentions.
Brody is the quiet one who everyone knows is moody. But Gia brings light to his life and with Lexi he knows they are his girls forever no question about it. Now he just has to get her to stop running scared and deal with the darkness that is lingering over both of em.
Brody and Gia’s story was another emotional ride in the series! Between her fierce need for independence, and his need to protect her from everything, including his PTSD, I wanted to knock their heads together a few times, but I loved the passion and plot twists. Once again, the family steals the show! I hope Pike gets a book! Love him! The Jennifer ends each epilogue with a huge surprise event is almost like a mini-cliffhanger and is good for marketing I guess, but can be frustrating if you don’t have time to start the next book right away!😂 But, I can’t stop now, because I have to know what happens next!😂
This family, I am so in love. They remind me of my big Italian family (my mom grew up in a family of 8) Every time I think I have a favorite brother I read the next book and I’m torn all over again. First let me just say my heart was broken for Jax and Kelsey. I’m so glad they figured their stuff out.
Brody is the strong silent type who falls in love with sweet and innocent Gianna after she comes looking for her daughters father, Brody. Like all the other woman the brothers have fallen , Gianna has a backbone that really works for this possessive alpha man.
Absolutely loved this! Brody Dimarco is the strong silent broody brother in the family, but that just means that they have more emotions than they know what to do with it. This man is absolutely fantastic and when he finds out he has a daughter, although shocked, he absolutely wants to be in her and her mother's life. But it isn't always that easy is it? Read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it!!
PS: I received this book as an ARC but am voluntarily reviewing it.
The Dimarco family and their dynamic are the highlight of this series for me. I like that the whole family always seems to play a part in each story. You can tell how close and tight knit they are. So far, though, the romances have been misses for the most part.
This story like the others does deal with some difficult subject matter.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
This is Brock and Gianna’s story. Gianna is one strong woman and determined to protect her daughter and love her with all her heart everything Gianna has no clue about. Brock has demons and is afraid of hurting who he loves but is determined himself to never let go. Amazing book had me on the edge every page and heartbreaking at times but loved it! 5/5 stars
Oh My...⭐️ 4.5 Happy stars!!! ⭐️ the first book I read by this author and I wasn't disappointed, not at all. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Lexi, she's a cutie. Some scenes are simply amazing, some are hilarious. I love when all the Dimarco Family are together Brody and Gia are meant to be. I love this couple.