Two for One! Two quick (at least it seemed that way to me), great reads!
Based on the series title "Men of Inked", I was expecting a couple of MC stories! After all....tattooed men....what would you think????? But, instead it's 2 stories about people with mafia ties (the Gallo family). The Dad, (who's been in jail (not the first time) for a while when the first story begins) is a small time Chicago mafia criminal who never seems to be able to stay out of the "business". His children (3 sons and a daughter) have never been involved in the family "businesss". Instead they own and run (honestly) a family bar they bought from their Dad when he went to prison the last time.
The first story is about the second oldest son Luca Gallo and Delilah. Delilah is not from the South side. She's a single mother living in luxury with her father. But he controlls everything and is a mean, verbally abusive drunk when things don't go his way. Her mother abandoned them years before. Delilah has never really known family love and support. She meets Luca when her drunk father forces her and her baby out of the car at midnight on the south side of Chicago and leaves her without her purse, cell phone or money. The only light she sees is the Gallo family bar a block ahead. She walks there hoping to be able to use a phone. With the Gallo's Daphne learns what family can and should be.
The second story is about the daughter, Daphne Gallo and Leo Conti, the son of a rival mob boss. Like the Gallo children, Leo has never been involved in his father's business and has made his own fortune legally. Their father's had once been partners, but split with bad blood between them. As family enemies, Daphne tries to avoid involvement with Leo and he knows it will make things difficult, but the heart wants what the heart wants and they have to navigate and units their families.
In both these stories, love happens quickly! It's that instant spark or electric shock at a touch, the sudden attraction, goosebumps at a voice heard, it's going from playing the field and not wanting to settle down to no other person existing for them in 0 to 60 flat. Almost too quickly to be believed, but the author manages to make it work for an enjoyable read. And who am I to say it's not possible...my hubby asked me to marry him 2 weeks after our first date (we spent a lot of time together in those 2 weeks) and we were married 3 month (to the day) after we met. (Sept 14th we celebrate 35 yrs together ... So yeah....it can happen!)