Epeolatry Book Review: Savage Hearts by J.T. Geissinger

Ah, it’s spring and love is in the air! What better way to enjoy it than with a good book about someone finding their special someone. Add in a few gangsters, a shot out, and a kidnapping, and you’ll have find yourself one of the funniest romance novels ever!

From J.T. Geissinger comes Savage Hearts, the third book in her Queens and Monsters Series. Savage Hearts follows Riley Keller, sister to Sloane Keller, the protagonist from the second novel. Riley is invited to a private estate in Bermuda by Sloane’s gangster fiancée, Declan O’Donnell, in preparation for a marriage proposal. Riley will soon be caught up in assassination attempts, her own kidnapping, and finding love in all the wrong places. I would highly suggest that if you haven’t read the first two novels, start with book 1, if for no other reason than to familiarize yourself with the reoccurring characters.

Riley is a joy to read as her sarcasm and quick wit make each of her chapters hilarious. Whether making casual observation of the world around her or conversing with various gangsters, there is never a dull moment with Riley. Even when in danger, her fear manifests as rambling which creates a bewildering situation for both her counterpart and the reader. 

Of the female leads in the series so far, Riley seems to go through the most character growth. Her relationship with her sister is rocky at best and while she lives in one of the most populated cities in the world, she isolates herself. Her journey through the mafia underworld helps her to better understand her sister and appreciate solitude over loneliness.

Malek, the lead male, is hyper focused and serious, and his chapters carry a lot of humor. In the beginning, a case of mistaken identity causes him to believe that Riley is a call girl. The internal dialogue and conclusions he jumps to had me laughing out loud. He isn’t the brightest male lead we’ve had so far but it’s fun to see Riley pick at him, almost to her death, just to get his reactions. 

Putting the heavy dose of spicy aside, the writing, character development, and ever-growing cast of characters is a guilty pleasure. Three novels into the series and it’s exciting to see which characters make a reappearance. It’s like a cameo in your favorite movie. The writing is action packed, and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter every time I picked up this book. 

Savage Hearts is an action-packed, non-stop thrill ride of Mafia Romance by J.T. Geissinger. Well written characters add a healthy dose of humor to a series already hard to put down. For those familiar with the first two novels in this series, I would argue that this is the best one so far and I highly recommend it.

/5

Available from Amazon and Bookshop.