An Indecent Proposal (O'Malleys, #3)

by Katee Robert

[kimbacaffeinate]

Cillian O’Malley is still struggling with the death of his younger brother and assuming his role as the family bookkeeper. A former party boy, he has given up drinking and troublemaking but his family still sees him as a selfish indulgent player. Despite his rough edges, I really liked Cillian. He is what I would call a sensitive. He may not always agree with things, but he is able to see all sides. He also feels a great deal and for the right woman he could be a prince.

Olivia Rashidi grew up in the shadows of a dysfunctional Russian mob family. She has left that life behind to protect her daughter and immediately smells trouble when she meets Cillian…but that does not stop him from getting under her skin. Olivia may have made some mistakes, but she knows what she wants, and faces her fears. The way she stands up to her brother made her kick ass in my book.

The two begin a heated romance that starts with passion and slowly develops into more. I liked both characters. Cillian may seem tough and confident but there is a soft side to him and he carries a great deal of pain and guilt. Olivia is fearless and her love for her daughter had me connecting from the onset.

The heat between these two was sizzling and my ears caught fire as Robert brought that passion to life. She mixes in suspense, heart and quieter times that made their relationship feel genuine.

The suspense angle brings us into contact with the New York mob family that plagued us in The Marriage Contract. Robert notched up the fear, shared the inner workings of these families and allowed us to spend time with the O’Malley, Halloran and Sheridan families. We had two villains in this tale that will send shivers down your spine. The storyline was strong and at times, I found myself holding my breath. These families are scary and disposing of bodies is as routine as going out for coffee.

While these siblings grew up with all the comforts money can buy I would not trade places with them. The overall ARC of the series sees this younger generation changing the way things work and I appreciate that aspect. We get to witness growth, change in loyalties and hopefully an end to the manipulation and violence of their father's generation.

Charlotte North continues to narrate this series and captures both the emotions and accents of these characters. The story is told in dual perspectives and she handles the change well. I could not imagine listening to this series without her narration.

Audio provided by publisher . This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer