As promised for my September 1st post, today I’m reviewing Cusp of Redemption, book two in The Cusp Series, a contemporary mafia romance by Olivia Preya.
Title: Cusp of Redemption
Series: The Cusp Series, book #2
Author: Olivia Preya
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Mafia
Publication Date: August 28, 2023
Salvatore de Marco
It was always about her.
Taking care of her.
Making sure she had everything she needed.
School. Apartment. Living expenses.
I took care of it all. For her.
And I’ll never regret the decisions I made to keep the smile on her face.
But she left me once, and I’ll be damned before I let her leave again. As the Cafarelli family enforcer, I can provide her with more than I could before–money and protection. I’ll do everything in my power to protect her from whatever demon made her run the first time. But what if it turns out the demon was me?
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that our connection is undeniable; I can feel how hot she is for me.
Even if she won’t admit it.
Yet.
Naya Okpara
It took a long time to get to where I am now.
From foster kid to private investigator, I do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Even if that means working for the Cafarelli family.
I thought he was long gone—a distant memory tainted by a figure from our past. But time and distance did nothing to ease my hunger for his touch. Nor did it erase the betrayals that shattered me.
When the man who lights my skin on fire appears before me, I’m forced to face the realities I spent years avoiding. Now, Salvatore and I are working for the same family, and I can’t let the connection of our past ruin my future.
But what if he is my future?
Cusp of Redemption is book two of the Cusp series but can be read as a standalone. It has a guaranteed HEA, swoon-worthy anti-hero, and badass heroine. This is an interracial mafia romance containing explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, and is recommended for readers 18+.
I love dark mafia romance, so when this book came up for review, I was in. It is the second in the Cusp series but can be read as a standalone. But I’d recommend reading the first book because there is a series plot/arc that makes for better reading enjoyment.
It’s a second-chance romance, and as stated in the blurb, Salvatore and Naya, who grew up in the foster-care system, went their separate ways after becoming lovers in their youth.
The conflict does hinge on the big misunderstanding, but the author uses it well since it fits with the personalities of Salvatore and Naya. And Naya does have every right to be mistrustful since Salvatore was all she had before everything blew up in her face at the age of eighteen.
Now twenty-eight, she’s on a case as a PI working for the notorious Cafarelli crime family when she comes face to face with the man who broke her heart.
I really enjoyed this read. Yes, at times Naya could be more careful, especially considering she’s a PI and should know about tracking devices when she jacks Salvator’s car, but she is an emotional person, so she lets her instincts guide her first before thinking. I did like this about her. She wasn’t perfect, and sometimes her emotions led her into trouble, but she wouldn’t be Naya if that didn’t happen. She’s a tough cookie and fights not to wear her heart on her sleeve.
As for Salvatore, he’s controlling and domineering. But when it comes to Naya, he’s a big ol’ teddy bear. But since he protected her as a kid, he can’t quite stop going into bodyguard mode when it comes to her, and it’s something the two fight about constantly.
I enjoyed the plot that bordered on romantic suspense as the duo face their past together (the man responsible for their breakup) and also see unfinished business from the first novel (you don’t need to read it, but I recommend you do).
The writing is excellent. The characters are true to form. And I love the dialogue between the two. The author doesn’t skimp on the reality of being deep in the dark world of organized crime and this pleased me. It gave a realistic vibe to the story. The hero does some bad things, but he is who he is. I liked Salvatore once Naya set her boundaries with him.
This is a great second book for the series, and I recommend you get yourself a copy.
Maggie Blackbird 