Jimmy Falcone is the golden boy, and heir to the Falcone empire. His life is consumed with running the family business. Until he sees her. Jimmy would recognize those legs anywhere. They belonged to his childhood sweetheart, Theresa Romano. In a flash, Jimmy’s old life comes back to him and ignites within him a fire and desire for the woman he left behind. It doesn’t take long to learn that his Theresa has scars that only he can heal. But with the threat of a violent takeover looming. Can Jimmy reclaim Theresa and keep her safe? Publisher's This steamy mafia romance contains themes of power exchange. This book was previously published as "Marked."
This is a new writer for me and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next. I thought the story had a great pace and kept turning up the heat and suspense with each chapter. Her dual POV is well written and I loved the family dynamic in the story. She puts a teenager in the story who isn't bratty or annoying! (loved that). It's a sexy story with high stakes. 5 Stars!
Theresa was nervous about attending Maria Falcone's wake, but she had been the only mother she had ever known. She hoped she could get in and out without running into Jimmy. Maria's son and until they had moved thirteen years ago he had been her best friend. She didn't think she could handle seeing him again.
Theresa was a sports medicine and training blogger along with being a volunteer track coach for the local university. Her douchebag of an ex had used her to get the job they were both vying for.
Jimmy couldn't believe his eyes when Theresa walked through his front door. He was determined that now that he saw her again she would stay in his life. Even if it meant using his twelve- year-old daughter Maggie to make it happen. She may have been the result of a one-night stand, but she was his life.
Jimmy took over the construction firm when his dad retired. And he was doing it his way with his brain. Not that he thought his dad had been into anything illegal, but he liked greasing palms to get things done.
I loved this book! Theresa and Maddie hit is off immediately and I think their relationship helped with some of Theresa's insecurities above herself.
Jimmy was a sexy Italian. A blonde Italian. He was dominating and possessive, but would do anything to protect those he loved.
Theresa and Jimmy's relationship is steamy hot and came together seamlessly as if the thirteen years apart never happened. I loved all the characters. There were a wide variety and they were all fully developed.
The storyline was captivating and I was unable to put the book down. It is full of intrigue, suspense and smoking hot sex. I could imagine this being turned into a movie.
Skylar West is a multi-genre writer. Her Angels and Demons paranormal series is amazing her contemporary suspense romances are just as awesome. I highly recommend this book and if you haven't read Skylar West you're missing out.
A debut novel by a new author for me, and one I will look forward to reading again. I loved the chemistry and interaction between Jimmy Falcone and Theresa Romano. These two were neighbors, best friends, but fate got in the way. Jimmy’s father decided to move his family to bigger and better things as his business expands. With the death of Maria Falcone, it is only proper for Theresa to pay her respects, after all, Maria was like a mother to her when she was a young girl. But will happen when she sees Jimmy again after a dozen years apart?
The story is part of remembering the past, as well as the present. Things have changed over the years, but one thing is still evident, there’s a strong chemistry and attraction between Jimmy and Theresa—but where will they go? Jimmy hasn’t succeeded in business without being a smart player and seeing his daughter, Maggie, and Theresa together is just the ploy he can use to bring her back into his life.
The story has confessions of the troubles that Theresa had to handle, with other boys who taunted her once he wasn’t there to protect her, and then how she was mistreated in college. Jimmy is savvy and uses his money and skills to start the ball rolling to help correct misdeeds. He is determined to have Theresa back in his life, and with Maggie liking her, that makes it all the sweeter. He will even have a way of allowing some poetic justice to play into righting a wrong.
“I feel good, Jimmy, like I just took something back that was mine. Not a job, but my self-respect. I never would have done it if you hadn’t been here, so thank you for that. Jimmy, I have to know you want me because that is what you want, not because I’m a mess, not because you feel guilty, not because you think you owe me anything because you don’t.”
“I never shared my private life with any woman. I dated on and off, but mostly, I went out and had sex. There was never a shortage of volunteers, but not one of them every sparked my desire for me. But fast forward, my daughter is turning thirteen. I’m turning twenty-eight and Theresa, twenty-six. We are at the age when people were settling down and starting a family. I had Mags so you. I chose my bed and was prepared to spend most of my life alone. But with T back, life was a do-over, and I felt a shift in my chest.”
The story is full of mystery, suspense, deceit, betrayal in this second chance mafia based romance. It has the good, the bad, and the ugly of people. Not everyone you believe is your friend is loyal. How far will a man be willing to go, and what is he willing to sacrifice to have the woman he loves finally?
“I’ve got you, cara mia, it’s okay now. I’ll make everything better, I promise.”
The story has some minor violence, explicit sex scenes, and plenty of spanking scenes. It is a stand-alone story with a happily ever after ending.
Skylar West is a new to me author. If you love a mafia read and kink this one's for you. Theresa finds out Jimmy's mom died and it took everything she had to walk up those stairs at his mansion. Jimmy left twelve years ago when his father has to move after his company made it big. Theresa and Jimmy was thick as thieves, but when he moved he thought letting her go was the right thing, besides he couldn’t handle looking at her with all the hurt in her eyes. Now that Theresa is back in Jimmy's life he plans on making her his with the help of his daughter.
This was a great book. It was not a traditional mafia read as it focuses on the relationships between Jimmy and Theresa, Theresa and Maggie (Jimmy’s daughter), and Maggie and Jimmy. Jimmy and Theresa relationship is hot and steamy with him always wanting control and absolving Theresa’s guilt and brokenness through their kinkiness (which is flaming hot,, Kindle melting be aware). They had quite a few hot scenes written beautifully and classy. I really liked Maggie’s character and hope maybe one day we will get her story. This story has twists and turns and kept my interest to read this in one sitting. They may have a few triggers for some readers. If you are willing to dab your toes into a little bit of kink this would be a good book to start with.
He ‘marked her as his at 15. She lost her protector at 13. That was when Jimmy was forced to be moved away from Theresa. Now 14 years later and a funeral will bring these two old best friends together but with Jimmy, now is 28, he has a few new things to add into this reunion, a kink for booty spankings, stronger feelings for Theresa and his soon to be 13 year old daughter (from a one nighter). Theresa is 26, attending a wake for a woman who she loved as a parent since her mom passed away and her father was never there for her growing up, her adopted mom was Jimmy ‘s mother, she not only loose her best friend but she also lost a mother figure and people who cared for her. After the move, Theresa’s life became worse then ever and being bullied forced upon and bested was her everyday life even in college. Theresa shares dark times and even deep dark secrets to Jimmy that will tear you up. While Jimmy shares his true reasons why he ‘marked’ her as a young teenager and what would happen if he stayed... like hinting towards 16 & pregnant! This has a ‘mafia’ ring to it, since Jimmy’s family is from Sicily and debts to be repaid by blood, but who’s blood will be spilt...
Jimmy and Theresa grew up next door to each other as best friends. His mother, Maria, became Theresa's second mother when her own mother died. His family moved as his father became more successful, and they grew apart. She comes back to pay her respects when Maria dies. She's only seen him once since he moved, and holy cow! is there ever chemistry between them. He wants her back in his life, and plots to get her back with his daughter's help. There are undertones of organized crime - there's hot sex - there's a lot of spanking. I loved the book. After so long apart, these two fell right back into their old friendship, and took it to the next level. This is my first read from this author - looking forward to more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a romance with mafia ties that blew me away. Theresa and Jimmy grew up next door to one and other, they were each other's best friend and it devastated Theresa when his parents moved away when he was fifteen. Years later when his mother passed away she called to pay her respects and knew the magic between them had only increased with age. Theirs was no longer a childhood friendship but a full on romance with spankings she loved and and calling him "Sir" which he loved. Then the mafia ties entered the picture intent on destroying their love. There was a lot of drama and suspense in the final chapters of this book which I loved and the happy ending I desired.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed this book.
"Marked" is the first book from author Skylar West, and I look forward to further output from her. What's a bit unusual here (though it really shouldn't be) is the protagonists (Jimmy & Theresa) are a bit older (in their 30's, best guess), have always had fond feelings for each other (no insta-love here), and Jimmy has a teenage daughter (and one that isn't the protagonist's high school bully--sorry, that previous read is still on my s**t list)
Anyway, it's a more realistic look at love, both erotic (aka power exchange) and emotional. It's a "smaller" story in that sense, and a bit of change of pace for me.
A highly recommended read from a writer to keep your eye on.
Now, back to my fire princes and spanking gargoyles...
This was a wonderful story about two interesting people, Theresa and Jimmy. They had been close as teenagers, but separated when he moved away. They meet again, 12 years later; she is a blogger and almost a recluse – while he runs a big family construction business. I liked both main characters and Jimmy’s daughter, Maggie, who is 13 and energetic and lovable. There is a lot of spanking, a lot of sex, and a lot of love as they renew their relationship – combined with a mystery that involves some violence as they work to an ending that is good for both of them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A good story of second chance love. The thing I really liked about this book was the connection between the two main characters. They felt like family and I loved how the author spent most of the story detailing their relationship - past and present. The added character of his daughter gave a special vibe to the story as it gave a lightheartedness to the story. I found the writing to be a bit choppy as the gangster style seemed forced. I thought having what happened to his best friend to be disappointing as it didn't feel necessary to the plot. The story had an intense feeling throughout which I liked.
I really enjoyed this story. Theresa and Jimmy were childhood sweethearts. They were next door neighbors and best friends from Theresa's birth. Then when Theresa was 13 and Jimmy was 15, Jimmy's father moved them away. They meet up again in preset day at Jimmy's mother's funeral. She learns that he has a 13 year old daughter, Maggie (btw, if you do the math, Jimmy was 15 when she was born. Not sure that is right) Theresa and Jimmy fall in love again and then try to solve the big mystery surrounding Jimmy's family. It is a very enjoyable story. I
Theresa and Jimmy have been friends when they were young. After about twelve years after Jimmy's father moved his family, they meet again. This story is about the reconnection between Theresa and Jimmy. Especially Theresa had a hard time after Jimmy moved away. Together they work through what has happened and also work on having a future.
This was an interesting story with many discipline scenes and mystery and suspense. I liked reading Marked.
This was a enjoyable read. The only disappointment was where the author said Jimmy & Theresa were separated for 12 years, but in the story he has a daughter turning 13 from a one night stand he had after he moved away ... Add in the 9 months of pregnancy & it's like 14 years ... Kind of screwed up the storyline. If you could look past that it's still a good read.
Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Theresa does not do much these days after Jimmy leaving along time ago. Jimmy's mother died Theresa decided to go because she was like a mother to her many years ago before they moved. Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a new author for me, and she has written a really great story, granted there are some issues with mentioned ages and timelines with some of the characters but it’s minor and doesn’t detract from the actual plot. There are some triggers in this book as there is some recounting of some dark events. I really enjoyed this story and it’s nicely written with a great plot.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a wonderful romance with complications. All the characters were well developed and the story was action packed The ending was the best part, love triumphs over all. Cheers to Jimmy and Theresa