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Callahan Syndicate #4
Dark Secrets
She’s running. He’s lying. Ultimately their secrets could tear them apart. James Callahan has given his entire life in service to Philadelphia’s most powerful criminal organization. The cardinal rule? Don’t date outside the syndicate. It’s a rule he’s never wanted to break—until Delaney walks into his pub and accepts his impulsive job offer. He shouldn’t hire her. He shouldn’t want her. But he can’t help himself. Delaney Williams has been on the run for over a year. After the hell she endured, she’s learned the keys to survival are to never trust anyone and never stay in one place for long. But she didn’t count on how deeply she’d fall in love with Philly or how her new boss would make her feel safer than she has in a long time—even if he is hiding something. But someone is hunting Delaney, and time is running out. By the time they realize she’s in danger, it may be too late to save her.
For a list of TW, please see the author's website.
For a list of TW, please see the author's website.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2022
121 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 17, 2025
Back on track with the series.
The previous one didn't hit the mark, but this one was back on form.
This is the story of James Callaghan (cousin) to declean, brogan, and aiden. He lost his wife in the first book, so it was nice for him to get a second chance at love.
Delaney is on the run from her abusive husband and randomly gets a job at James Pub.
It did have some slow parts as it took a good chunk of the story for us to finally hear what she was running from.
The relationship between the 2 was really nice. It built he didnt pressure her and definitely gave her the power she needed.
It was interesting to get a few chapters from the disgusting PI that was tracking her down. I'm so glad he got what he deserved in the end.
The whole "can't be with anyone outside the syndicate" seemed weird to me. They run the city, and you're telling me that no one in the whole syndicate has been with a random. Eventually, we may have some inbreeding issues, haha
Aiden and Declean continued to annoy me throughout this. Thankfully, Brogan was his usually brooding scary teddy bear self.
Sadly, it's the last book in the Callaghan series. There were a few things set up we won't see how it ended.
1. the whole women training side
2. does Cait ever get a second chance at love?
3. how did Clara and Addy react to everything?
4. was Clara with Mike?
5. Clara said she wanted to do the self-defense training but never did?
5. still don't know what child Cait had in the end?
6. what happened with the Russians?
7. New York???
8. James dad??
9. what story did they say in the end for the husband? it was never mentioned how it ended and got the press?
Very well written.
Chapters aren't too long.
I definitely recommend this series.
The previous one didn't hit the mark, but this one was back on form.
This is the story of James Callaghan (cousin) to declean, brogan, and aiden. He lost his wife in the first book, so it was nice for him to get a second chance at love.
Delaney is on the run from her abusive husband and randomly gets a job at James Pub.
It did have some slow parts as it took a good chunk of the story for us to finally hear what she was running from.
The relationship between the 2 was really nice. It built he didnt pressure her and definitely gave her the power she needed.
It was interesting to get a few chapters from the disgusting PI that was tracking her down. I'm so glad he got what he deserved in the end.
The whole "can't be with anyone outside the syndicate" seemed weird to me. They run the city, and you're telling me that no one in the whole syndicate has been with a random. Eventually, we may have some inbreeding issues, haha
Aiden and Declean continued to annoy me throughout this. Thankfully, Brogan was his usually brooding scary teddy bear self.
Sadly, it's the last book in the Callaghan series. There were a few things set up we won't see how it ended.
1. the whole women training side
2. does Cait ever get a second chance at love?
3. how did Clara and Addy react to everything?
4. was Clara with Mike?
5. Clara said she wanted to do the self-defense training but never did?
5. still don't know what child Cait had in the end?
6. what happened with the Russians?
7. New York???
8. James dad??
9. what story did they say in the end for the husband? it was never mentioned how it ended and got the press?
Very well written.
Chapters aren't too long.
I definitely recommend this series.
April 27, 2023
Well, this was a little bit of an anticlimactic ending to this series for me. It just left me wanting more. I wish we had gotten a lot more.
First off, the plot was great as always. I loved getting James' story and him finally getting a happily ever after. I liked Delaney's character. I loved that she was equal parts broken and strong. I liked their dynamic and the way James was with her was beautiful.
We for the first time got the perspective of one of the bad guys. I get the importance to show what was happening, but that fell short for me. I wanted more, conflict in the end. Or maybe even a confrontation of some sort. It just seemed like a lot of build up to a real quick end.
And it was the same for the other villain. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it ended the way it did, and I loved that Delaney saved herself. Again, I just wanted more. More from the ultimate confrontation.
And then again in the end. All this build up to her not being allowed into the family, to get it solved super quick and then no like extended epilogue showing how it all worked out. I would have loved another epilogue that showed her becoming a lawyer and how that worked into the family. And we never even got to see how Addy and Clara reacted to finding out Delaney's past. They were such large characters and they even supported her with James. Where was that in the end.
I just found this book kinda disappointing for the end of this series. I wanted a lot more and it just was too short and everything wrapped up too quickly.
First off, the plot was great as always. I loved getting James' story and him finally getting a happily ever after. I liked Delaney's character. I loved that she was equal parts broken and strong. I liked their dynamic and the way James was with her was beautiful.
We for the first time got the perspective of one of the bad guys. I get the importance to show what was happening, but that fell short for me. I wanted more, conflict in the end. Or maybe even a confrontation of some sort. It just seemed like a lot of build up to a real quick end.
And it was the same for the other villain. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it ended the way it did, and I loved that Delaney saved herself. Again, I just wanted more. More from the ultimate confrontation.
And then again in the end. All this build up to her not being allowed into the family, to get it solved super quick and then no like extended epilogue showing how it all worked out. I would have loved another epilogue that showed her becoming a lawyer and how that worked into the family. And we never even got to see how Addy and Clara reacted to finding out Delaney's past. They were such large characters and they even supported her with James. Where was that in the end.
I just found this book kinda disappointing for the end of this series. I wanted a lot more and it just was too short and everything wrapped up too quickly.
October 17, 2022
Every time I finish a book in the Callahan Syndicate series, I say it's my favorite...well this one is my favorite. The 4th installment in the Callahan Syndicate series follows James Callahan, who after having lost his wife a few years prior to the events in this book, opens up a bar in her memory. On one busy, short staffed, night; in walks Delaney. She is looking for a place to make some money real quick and move on. She's clearly running from something and despite not knowing what and that she is an outsider, he can't help but be drawn to her. He offers her a job on the spot after she offers to help them through the busy night.
Delaney knows that she shouldn't put down roots anywhere, she needs to stay under the radar, get some money, and move on before her past catches up to her. But James and his staff feel safe. They feel like family.
After feeling devastated for James in the beginning of this series, I am so happy that he has gotten his own story and we are able to root for him and hopefully see him find his happiness. This can be read as a stand alone but why would you do that to yourself when you can dive into the entire Callahan Syndicate. The only thing I'm sad to know is that it ends here. Though I sure would love to read the stories of the next generation..
Delaney knows that she shouldn't put down roots anywhere, she needs to stay under the radar, get some money, and move on before her past catches up to her. But James and his staff feel safe. They feel like family.
After feeling devastated for James in the beginning of this series, I am so happy that he has gotten his own story and we are able to root for him and hopefully see him find his happiness. This can be read as a stand alone but why would you do that to yourself when you can dive into the entire Callahan Syndicate. The only thing I'm sad to know is that it ends here. Though I sure would love to read the stories of the next generation..
October 17, 2022
James & Delaney’s Second Chance Romance ❤️❤️❤️
This final book in an amazing series went off with a bang!! James finally gets his second chance HEA & it is quite beautiful. Delaney is running from her abusive past and when she ends up in James bar it’s as if everything has aligned for her to be there. He offers her a job and can’t keep his eyes off of her. She is beautiful and she does something to him he hasn’t felt since his wife died. Delaney’s past is dark and she’s on the run. She never stays in one place to long for fear of being found but James is making her re-think everything. James is also hiding the Syndicate from her because she is an outsider and he’s not sure if he can keep her no matter how bad he wants too!!
This book is filled with emotion, heartache, second chances, family, friendship, & love. You will thoroughly enjoy this book and the entire series is amazing. Happy Reading!!!
This final book in an amazing series went off with a bang!! James finally gets his second chance HEA & it is quite beautiful. Delaney is running from her abusive past and when she ends up in James bar it’s as if everything has aligned for her to be there. He offers her a job and can’t keep his eyes off of her. She is beautiful and she does something to him he hasn’t felt since his wife died. Delaney’s past is dark and she’s on the run. She never stays in one place to long for fear of being found but James is making her re-think everything. James is also hiding the Syndicate from her because she is an outsider and he’s not sure if he can keep her no matter how bad he wants too!!
This book is filled with emotion, heartache, second chances, family, friendship, & love. You will thoroughly enjoy this book and the entire series is amazing. Happy Reading!!!
October 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, and I like that you get to know James more in this book than you do in the previous 3.
I love that James and Delaney have this immediate connection and are, drawn to each other. It is very sweet to see this love story unfold between James and Delaney and how sweet and conscious James is about making her feel safe and comfortable no matter how much he wants her.
The only thing I wish was different is the pace of the book. It felt so much slower than the previous 3 books, in the previous books you had this constant underlying immediate threat from the bad guys where as with this book, you have the underlying threat but it is not an immediate threat until the end of the book. You don't get the same feel, that you get from the previous books.
I love that James and Delaney have this immediate connection and are, drawn to each other. It is very sweet to see this love story unfold between James and Delaney and how sweet and conscious James is about making her feel safe and comfortable no matter how much he wants her.
The only thing I wish was different is the pace of the book. It felt so much slower than the previous 3 books, in the previous books you had this constant underlying immediate threat from the bad guys where as with this book, you have the underlying threat but it is not an immediate threat until the end of the book. You don't get the same feel, that you get from the previous books.
October 16, 2022
This was a bit of a different turn for the Callahan series, but overall I really enjoyed it. A bit more of a slow burn for the spice (although as always it is really good) - and a lot more intense with the emotional and psychological aspects of it. Although still there, there isn’t as much focus on the strength and importance of female relationships, which is someI really love in the rest of Meaghan’s books. I do really like that James gets a chance at a happy ending, and that Delaney gets to face her demons on her own, rather than relying on her man to face them for her. Overall really good although trigger warnings are needed (which she does give) for sexual assault and abuse.
November 20, 2022
I have really enjoyed this series and am kind of sad it's over! The Callahan syndicate is more ruthless with its own than many other mafia books - which means the main characters (mostly Brogan and James) have to fight their own family to get to keep the women they love. It makes the story more interesting I think.
This was a great one. It's slower than the others but not in a bad way, and you don't get much contact with the other members of the family. I loved Delaney and James and was very pleased with how it ended! Would have liked a longer epilogue to conclude the story really!
This was a great one. It's slower than the others but not in a bad way, and you don't get much contact with the other members of the family. I loved Delaney and James and was very pleased with how it ended! Would have liked a longer epilogue to conclude the story really!
February 14, 2023
Dark Secrets, Love at Last
I read A LOT. And this, as well as the other three books in the series, was phenomenal. If I can picture the characters as they are described then it’s a great book. The sights, feelings, settings all felt real. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Except to sleep.
I highly recommend no only this book but the entire series. You will pull for the hero and heroine, and cheer when the villain gets what he deserves. Get this series. You won’t regret it.
I read A LOT. And this, as well as the other three books in the series, was phenomenal. If I can picture the characters as they are described then it’s a great book. The sights, feelings, settings all felt real. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Except to sleep.
I highly recommend no only this book but the entire series. You will pull for the hero and heroine, and cheer when the villain gets what he deserves. Get this series. You won’t regret it.
January 27, 2023
My rating system:
5 stars - Absolutely loved it! I would definitely read again anytime!
4 stars - Really liked it! Will most likely read again sometime.
3 stars - Liked it. Glad I read it but probably won't read again.
2 stars - Didn't like it. Glad I'm done with the book and I'll never read it again.
1 star - Very rare rating. Absolutely hated the book. Will never read again and I'll probably burn any copies I come across.
Not my favorite of the series but still good.
5 stars - Absolutely loved it! I would definitely read again anytime!
4 stars - Really liked it! Will most likely read again sometime.
3 stars - Liked it. Glad I read it but probably won't read again.
2 stars - Didn't like it. Glad I'm done with the book and I'll never read it again.
1 star - Very rare rating. Absolutely hated the book. Will never read again and I'll probably burn any copies I come across.
Not my favorite of the series but still good.
March 9, 2023
Best I ever read
I read all four book in under a week can I say that it was worth every bit of sleep I lost they where capitivating an I loved each story but I have to say Adrian viv hit me the most
I read all four book in under a week can I say that it was worth every bit of sleep I lost they where capitivating an I loved each story but I have to say Adrian viv hit me the most
January 13, 2025
Sometimes I don't like 2nd chance books because they can be frustrating. I liked that James got his 2d chance. Great story line, the on was very mafia light. Glad Declan had a small part in this one, seemed like every book he was more of an assh*le than the book before.
Read
February 23, 2023Dnf
April 25, 2023
same character different fonts
June 1, 2023
This is turning out to be a really good mafia series. You can read them as a standalone though.
June 16, 2023
wow
Love each books and there happy ever after, would love to had a chance to get to now Finn story and how he meet his wife, but apart from that fab series
Love each books and there happy ever after, would love to had a chance to get to now Finn story and how he meet his wife, but apart from that fab series
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews