She was my enemy… I was her new captor…. She was the enemy…a tiny little temptress of a woman that made my blood sing for vengeance. I should be punishing her…breaking her from the inside out after finding her in my father’s clutches. But when I discover the truth that she is just as much as a victim of my father’s wrongdoings as I am I can’t follow through. I know then that I can’t break my … then that I can’t break my little mouse…not after she’s lured me in with her big blue doe eyes, and strawberry blonde hair, and those pink painted lips that beg to be kissed again, and again.
I don’t think things can get any better…but then she makes me an offer I can’t refuse… her body, her virginity, and her complete submission, and she wants only one thing in return: help finding her sister.
What she fails to realize is that even after helping her find her sister I can’t just let her go she knows to much, she’s become a liability…but I have a plan to make certain she’ll never leave or escape me.
A plan that involves filling her womb with my filthy seed until I make certain a piece of myself sticks, a plan that will make her the Queen of the Rossi Empire.
*This is book two in the series but it can be read as a complete standalone. It is a full-length novel that contains NO-CLIFFHANGERS, NO CHEATING, and has a HEA. It is a dark mafia/crime romance and contains subject matter not suitable for all readers. *
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When I started reading this story, I could not put it down. I read the book in one day. This author is an awesome writer. I can not wait to read more of their books. Keep up the great work. You should definitely read this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While I was a bit on the defense after reading Protect Me (book 1 in The Rossi Crime Family series), Keep Me certainly was worth the read. The character development and the plot worked much better this time, although I felt some details were still missing. Ella and Xander’s story was much tighter and made for an intriguing read.
The captor-captive relationship worked for the most part. I missed having more details about the Rossi’s as a mafia family, despite the fact that the book is full of drama as Xander and his brother try to take their father down. Let’s see what happens next, maybe the mafia world-building will be better.
I felt for Xander during the first book and more so during the prologue. Having taken years of brutality from their father, trying to spare his younger brother Damon until they all mentally, emotionally, and physically snap.
Ella, searching for her sister, finds herself an unwilling captive of the Rossi brothers’ father. Then, becoming an unwilling one to insta-lust and love captive of Xanders.
Noted a few edits need to be made with spelling, grammar, and word usage; did not deter from their story though.
Xander is definitely harder than Damon. But I wouldn’t expect anything less after surviving his father and all he did to protect his little brother. But sometimes it was a little hard to swallow. You could tell he wasn’t like his father and way closer to Damon than he thought. But in order to protect those who he cares about and himself. He puts on a front and mask to remain hard. I like how Ella softens him. She is good for him. I also liked seeing Keira and Damon. She has definitely grown a back bone. Hated how he didn’t trust his mouse. Especially when she protected Q.
This who series is unbelievable, but this book is my favorite! Romance with a few twists and turns. Yes, please!
Our heroine is looking for her missing sister and goes missing herself. Our hero is looking to find his father, but finds his victim, our heroine, instead. Can these two help each other in their quests?
This is book three in the series, but works perfectly fine as a stand alone. Any background information you need is provided early on.
This is indeed a dark romance, with some harsh materials early on, but the story itself is very well written and gets past that into our developing chemistry between our characters. The hero is not a very likable guy and our heroine is not ready to stand on her own, but together they might just be able to form a real bond. I enjoyed watching the characters interact and the growing chemistry between them. Parts of the story were not easy to read, but overall it was very enjoyable and I liked the HEA at the end.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is the next installment in the Rossi Crime Family books and this is the story of Xander and Ella. Ella is searching for her missing sister and finds herself captured by the evil senior Rossi family member. Xander and Damon had thought that their father was dead but he is still alive and spreading his terror. Xander and Damon catch up with him and drive him off before he can do too much damage to Ella but he leaves her there thinking that his sons will kill her. Xander instead captures Ella thinking she will lead them to their father. There are many twists and turns and surprises in this story. Will Ella convince Xander that he is not the monster that he thinks he is? What does the future have in store for the Rossi’s? This was an engaging story and I look forward to continuing the series.
This is an outstanding story. The storyline is arresting and the characters are absolutely sexy together. Love Cassandra Hallman’s writing style. This is a book I recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is turning into one hell of a series. Xander is a monster through and through and he really didn’t redeem himself to me even after what happened in the HEA. He just did to much to Ella IMO, yes he saved her but still being threatened every day that your with him, yea no Prince Charming, this was a great read and I did love it just not Xander he was a little to much for me. Loved seeing Keira and Damon again boy did he do a complete turn around, maybe one day if I see more of Xander in his new light I’ll begin to like him, maybe. The Villains got what was coming to them and the HEA. I missed who was the leak in Xanders hose of merry men, who was the traitor, anyone remember will you let me know please.
When Ella gets caught up in a slavery ring she hopes for an escape. When she meets Xander she thinks that her luck has changed. Xander is drawn to Ella however she is a means to an end for him. He saves her from his father but is unsure what to do with her so he keeps her with him until he does. The more time they are together the harder it is for Xander to keep things platonic. He feels Ella breaking down the barriers he has built to keep him from feeling things and isn’t sure what to do about that. Will Xander claim Ella for his own before its too late?
This is a great story that will draw you from the first page. The chemistry between them is off the charts hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Xander is the head of the Rossi crime family after an incident several years ago with his father. He is such a complex character with dangerous and evil behavior but under his mask he believes he undeserving of one thing “love”. He knows that his underworld organization is seeding and dangerous but determined to protect the one he care about by all means. Ella is the only provider for her sister(Violet) because she’s her only family. Violet was missing and Ella decided to seek her sister whereabouts in the wrong place. She is suddenly pulled into an dramatic situation. This story has dark obsession, suspense and a mystery that will ultimately leave you gasping for more when all you can do is ride it out. There are many twists and uneventful turns to the story but it’s amazingly written. This is the third book in this series and I’m anxious to read about Violet and Ivan. ******I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and voluntarily leaving an honest review******
This book is a must read if you are a fan of this genre! Ella comes face to face with the sex slavery business whilst looking for her missing sister. She is only saved by Xander because he hates his father. From there the story really begins to pick up speed and heat! These two characters are well-rounded and have chemistry, neither one was looking for a romance but that doesn’t stop it from happening. The problem is they are completely different and don’t really belong in each other’s worlds let alone together. This is really well written and stays on point, it’s a great novel in a great series with wonderful characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The story is fast-paced with lots of drama and plenty of steam. Ella is trying to find her sister and winds up in some trouble of her own, Xander finds her but is he really her savior? Great characters and amazing chemistry. I am looking forward to more in the series.
What amazing read that will have you hooked from the very first page in this series. This is a amazing read that will have you on the edge of your seat.
I’m actually giving this fantastic book 4 1/2 stars. I wish there was a way to give half stars. Anyways, this book was exciting with heart pounding action and the sex was off-the-charts hot!!! Xander is not a nice man, as you found out in the previous book in the series, Protect Me. I have to say for most of the book I did not like him AT ALL! There were snippets of a good man that Ella brought out, but he would easily slip back into monster mode when he was angry. When I had about an hour left in the book I tore through it! I couldn’t read fast enough because I had to find out what was going to happen, and let me tell you, that ending is epic! I definitely recommend this book and this series! It’s exciting and crazy and sexy and even heartwarming! So get comfy and brace yourself for a wild ride and a HEA that you will love! Enjoy!!
I enjoyed reading this story with its fast paced delivery and intriguing bad guys who may or may not be good guys in disguise – well as good as can be when they are the mafia! Well written with great characters and an compelling storyline, I was engaged from the first page until the last and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Recommend
Where has this J.L. been? Never did I ever think I would have a dark theme, disturbing theme or abuse with a J.L. Beck story but hot dang here it is, and I freaking loved it. Keep Me was so beautiful, I had to read it in one sitting. I had been waiting for this book and was not disappointed at all.
We met Xander Rossi in the last book Protect Me. He is a big jerk and has no issue with hurting people. It is pretty much what he does to protect his family and his business. When he and his brother Damon find their father, they don’t expect to see Ella in their father’s bed. Ella is scared and about to be rapped by their father who has run away and can’t be found.
Ella is searching for her sister who was kidnapped; she had no idea that she would be kidnapped herself. When she is about to be rapped, she is saved by Xander and Damon. Alternatively, at least she thinks Xander saves her although Xander refuses to act as if he rescued her, but she won’t give up on him. No matter how bad he treats her.
These two characters are fantastic. I loved Ella, she is so strong and makes herself an equal to Xander no matter how he treats her. Moreover, Xander makes himself worthy of her at the end, which you can’t ask for more of a man.
I highly recommend this series. Moreover, I can’t wait to see what is next.
This series is getting so good. They are each standalone, but I feel you get more out of them if you read them in order. This is Xander and Ella’s story. You met Xander in Protect Me and learn he is Damon’s brother. These two brothers are searching for their father whom they thought was dead. Ella is searching for her sister and ends up caught. When Xander and Ella meet, she is put at ease. She thinks he will save her. However, Xander is a cold and cruel man who never does anything unless there is something in it for him. Though he does save her, he keeps her at arms length. He doesn’t understand his feelings towards Ella. Ella can’t understand his hot and cold towards her. The more time they spend together, the closer they get and the more the walls Xander has in place starts to crumble. These two have such an intense attraction towards each other and their chemistry is hot enough to melt your kindle. This is a dark and intense read with suspense, deception and action in and out of the bed that will keep you on the edge of your seat and not stopping until it’s the end. This series keeps getting better and better and this is my favorite one so far. Xander May be an a****le, but he is all alpha and extremely hot. Those are the best kind. If you haven’t started the series, get on that, you won’t be sorry.
Xander is a crime boss. Ella or Mouse as he calls her was found in his fathers home. She is scared but he whisks her away. She is unsure of what the future holds for her. He is unsure of his feelings for her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Rossi family continues to evolve…When Xander and Damon find their Father’s hide out and attack, it’s just in time to save Ella. She had been searching for her sister when she was kidnapped. Xander is afraid of love. But he’s more afraid to lose his Mouse. Steam 10/10 * Sweet 9/10 * alt 1st POV * HEA