Mafia Elite Box Set: Volume Two by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Savage Secrets: I swear! The books in this series just get better and better! McKinley does it again with a deeper look into two lesser known characters. I absolutely love the way she develops her characters and she doesn’t disappoint with Elena and Marco. These two have a complicated relationship to say the least. Elena was promised to another mafia boss through an arranged marriage, but her “death,” and a few other factors, lead to that be voided, and Marco couldn’t be happier. Elena, however, has mixed feelings about not only her own feelings towards Marco, but his feelings towards her. I absolutely love seeing these two characters develop over the course of this book.

This book is action-packed and filled with suspense. There are so many twists and turns that you’ll forget which way you are going. While I did see some of the twists coming, there are others that completely blindside you! McKinley does answer quite a few questions leftover from the previous books so a lot of loose ends are tied up. This one really grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end. And we can’t forget the spicy parts! I love the way Marco and Elena are so cautious in their feelings toward each other because it just builds and builds!

As always, I recommend reading the books in order. As a reader, you just get so much more and can appreciate what McKinley does not only with her characters, but also with the plot. Wonderfully written! Honestly one of my favorite series!

Ruthless Heir: Another great installment to the series! I absolutely love the way McKinley develops her characters. They are so well-rounded and she doesn’t play into the stereotypical role of women. I must say that I am missing some of the characters we’ve grown to know and love, but that’s only because I still want to know what’s going on with them! But McKinley doesn’t disappoint with her characters. I love the way Luc and Summer’s story evolves throughout the novel.
McKinley does an awesome job of driving the plot forward without rushing the development of the characters or timeline. And her *spicy* scenes are perfect! There is just enough of them to entertain without being gratuitous. I absolutely love this author! I can’t wait for the next installment to the series!

Collateral Damage: I absolutely love this series by Amy McKinley and (I know I’ve said it before) but this was the best yet! I love the intertwining of all of the characters and their lives and how we never really “lose” any characters once their book is done because they will always show up in another one, one way or another. I love McKinley’s character building and her plot development. She really takes her time building and sculpting her characters, individually and as a couple. The way McKinley moves her plot throughout the novel is just *chef’s kiss*. I don’t feel like the plot is ever stagnant or that McKinley rushes anything. It’s really a perfect pace.
Trey has to be my favorite of the Mafia guys. He’s just so sweet and wholesome (not my typical type) and has a really good heart. While he doesn’t play a full-time role in the Five Families, his role as physician/surgeon is just as integral. He also doesn’t flaunt his connections around, but uses them wisely and discretely. He is still grieving the loss of his girlfriend and has push Hailey away previously. But when she’s in trouble and Trey is asked to help, he can’t help feeling drawn to her once again.
Hailey is no stranger to tragedy and grief. She lost her sister and her father in a tragic accident. Hailey’s mother has remarried and pushed Hailey to the side leaving Hailey to deal with everything on her own. Hailey has been pining after Trey ever since they first met at a gala and they danced the night away. She’s friends with Sofia, Trey’s sister, but has never had the courage to ask her to set them up.
Once Hailey and Trey meet again (cue second chance) the passion and sparks fly. The sexual tension is there; however, it’s pretty PG throughout the book…but hey…we can use our imaginations, right? There are twists and turns you won’t see coming and your heart may break a time or two, but it’s definitely worth it.
I cannot wait for the next (and final?) book in this series to come out. While you can read each one as a standalone, I really recommend reading in order to get the most out of it. You really get a sense of the characters and the family dynamics. But either way…JUST READ THEM!!

Rivals: Amy McKinley has done it again! I know I say this with every book in this series, but this is the best one yet! I cannot believe this is the last one! As always, you can read this as a standalone; however, I would recommend reading the entire series, in order, as you will get the best understanding of the plot line and all of the characters. You will also understand all of the little nuances and seemingly “minor” details better if you read the prior books.
The heat between Mia and Nico is electric *wink, wink* from the first time they meet and only continues throughout their story. With Mia on the run from her horrible family, the only person who can protect her is Nico and the only way he can truly protect her is to marry her. So Mia risks it all and seeks him out, offering to take down her family if he’ll change her last name. Can they trust each other enough to do this? Or will both of their pasts interfere and ruin everything? McKinley definitely saved the best for last with Mia and Nico’s story. I absolutely love how they are both guarded but they bring that guard down for each other. I think their story is my favorite.
I love the way McKinley writes her characters, especially her female characters. They are completely capable of standing up for themselves and getting themselves out of precarious situations. They also stand with the guys during the tough times and are forces to be reckoned with. They are badasses. This has been an amazing series! It’s a definite must-read!

Reviewed by @meggs1717

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