Olivia Gates

This was an intensely emotional book. Ivan is one of those who was taken as a child and raised by "The Organization" to do their bidding. Ivan has spent many years struggling to overcome the feelings of betrayal from his years there. Strangely enough, unlike his "brothers," he doesn't look for revenge against them, he just wants to be able to move on.

The book opens as Ivan watches over Anastasia, who is recovering from an attack that left her brother dead. Ivan and Anastasia have a history show more together. Seven years earlier, they were lovers until Ivan disappeared from her life without a word. Devastated by the loss of the man she loved, she has devoted herself to the work that she and her brother Alex did together. She had no idea that Ivan watched over her carefully, and was distraught over arriving too late to prevent the attack.

It was evident from the opening pages that Ivan still cared deeply for Anastasia. She is wary around him, knowing that to get close again risked having her heart destroyed. She has no idea of the terrible secret that drove him away seven years earlier. I ached for Ivan, who wants nothing more than to protect Anastasia from anything that could harm her, even himself. I loved seeing the way he supported her through her recovery at the hospital, and the actions he took that ensured those responsible paid for what they did. It didn't take long for Anastasia to realize that her feelings for Ivan had never died and that she would take the risk of being with him for as long as possible.

I loved watching the development of their relationship. Even though to the rest of the world Ivan was a ruthless businessman, around Anastasia he was kind, caring, sweet, and anxious to do anything to make her happy. The passion between them was intense, but Ivan kept rigid control over himself, worried that he would hurt her. I loved watching Anastasia regain her strength and independence under his care. I ached for her as she felt him holding back and had to laugh when she finally had enough of his overprotectiveness. I could also feel her frustration as he resisted every attempt by her to get to know all of him - especially his past. I hurt for Ivan, who was caught between his feelings for Anastasia and his unwillingness to hurt her by telling her everything. He was also afraid that if she knew the full truth about the things he'd done that she would be disgusted and grow to hate him. The depth of her love for him made her persistent in her need to know it all. I cried for them both as she finally succeeded, and he was blown away by her reaction. Just the act of finally having someone to share those feelings with enabled Ivan to let go of those feelings of betrayal and ultimately move past them. But now it was Anastasia who couldn't move past what had been done to him. I loved watching her confront his betrayers on his behalf, her love for him craving justice for what he'd been through. I was stunned by the unexpected twist in the story of his past. The effect on Anastasia was devastating. I loved the support and understanding from Ivan and how it helped her deal with what she learned.

I loved the ending, as five brothers and their wives arrived for Ivan and Anastasia's wedding. I loved seeing all the previous couples together, happy in their marriages and no longer as profoundly haunted by what was done to them. I laughed out loud over the argument over who was the happiest man in existence. The book ended in a cliffhanger about a seventh brother. This is the last book written by Olivia Gates that I know of, and I am dying to know if this brother will ever get his story told. show less

Good book with some very intense emotions. Raiden is on the verge of gaining everything he has worked for during the last ten years. Taken as children and forced to work for organized crime, Raiden and his "brothers" finally escaped. They all swore to do whatever necessary to bring down those that harmed them and save others from the same fate. Raiden also wants to reclaim his heritage and is about to enter the highest echelons of Japanese society through marriage. It doesn't matter to him show more that there is no love between them, only understanding. Then, the night of his engagement party, the one woman he's never forgotten reappears in his life.

Five years earlier, Raiden and Scarlett had met under different circumstances. Their attraction was explosive, and they couldn't stay away from each other. Raiden opened up to her in a way that he hadn't with anyone else, until the day he discovered it was all a lie. Furious at the betrayal, and helpless to do anything about it, they parted ways, but Raiden has never forgotten her. Though she looks completely different now, Raiden knows that this is the same woman. Determined to purge her from his system, he proposes a short affair.

Scarlett had her own reasons for her actions back then, ones that haunt her to this day. She never expected him to recognize her, but since he has she accepts his proposal as a way to make amends. It's also her last chance to make memories that will have to last her a lifetime. But she has secrets from her past that could drastically change everything he believes about her.

I really liked both Raiden and Scarlett. Raiden has a well-earned reputation for ruthlessness, but he isn't a cruel man. Though he doesn't love Megumi, he still treats her with kindness and respect. Because of what he's been through he guards his emotions, with his "brothers" being the only ones who know all of him. Scarlett is an amazing woman. She has reinvented herself so many times that she frequently wonders if she knows who she really is. My heart broke for her as her past was slowly revealed.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Raiden and Scarlett. There was no denying the explosive chemistry between them. But along with that chemistry was a deeper connection. Being with Scarlett made Raiden feel again, something he wasn't too sure he was happy about. As his feelings for Scarlett deepened, Raiden also needed his questions answered. I ached for Scarlett as she shared a small part of what had brought them together, and the guilt she feels because of it. An unexpected twist comes when Raiden asks one of his brothers to do a full investigation into her past. I was brought to tears as her full story was revealed and Raiden learned of the horrors she'd been through. His support of Scarlett as she confessed all was fantastic. I had to laugh at his actions when she fainted, even as they revealed the depth of his feelings for her. But there are still some serious obstacles to them having a future together. I loved the fierceness of the other men of Black Castle as they banded together to help Raiden. I loved how everything came together at the end, with an especially fun scene to close it out. show less

Intensely emotional second chance love story. Two years earlier Kassandra and Leonid had been involved in a secret, passionate affair. She had just discovered she was pregnant when he was involved in a horrific traffic accident. When she was finally allowed to see him, he broke off their affair, saying some really cruel and heartless things to her. Devastated, she fled, hoping he'd come after her, but eventually moving on with her life. Then Leonid shows up at her home, informing her he'd show more come for his daughters. He is determined to be part of their lives and refuses to listen when Kassandra tries to send him away.

Kassandra's emotions are all over the place when she sees him again. First, she is angry that he thinks he can do so after the things he said and ignoring them for two years. Second, she is afraid that he is going to try to take them away from her. Last, she can't believe that she is still attracted to him after all he said and did. I loved her strength and that she had no intention of just caving in to his demands. I loved the support she got from her friends and their husbands. When she calms down and allows him to see the girls, she is moved by his obvious love for them. She sees hints of the man she had fallen in love with, but is hesitant to trust him with their hearts and lives.

Leonid appears back in Kassandra's life after disappearing for two years. Part of his reappearance is that he is in line to become the king of Zorya and he wants his daughters to be part of that new life. Though he appears distant and cold to Kassandra herself, he is actually trying to keep a tight rein on his emotions around her. He wants her just as much as he ever did, but believes that he has ruined any chance of her forgiving him. There is also something else that is keeping him from pursuing her.

I loved seeing the two of them come back together. Overall, it doesn't take all that long for Kassandra to realize that she had never stopped loving Leonid. She is confused by the mixed signals she gets from him, as he nearly blackmails her into coming to Zorya with him, but also tries to make the move as painless as possible for her. He obviously respects what she has become and the way she cares for the girls. She also sees that the heat that was between them is still there, but that something is holding him back. A quick giving in to the passion between them results in Kassandra hoping for an improved relationship between them, but Leonid pulling back even further. I loved seeing that Kassandra was much stronger willed than she had been two years earlier and confronted him about his attitude. Her persistence pays off and he finally opens up with the truth.

I ached for Leonid after hearing his story. I had been at least partially right in my suspicions about his reasons for breaking up with her. He had loved her and sent her away because he didn't want to tie her down to him as he was. He never stopped loving her and kept watch over them though he stayed away. He still doesn't believe that she could care for him as he is now. His confession showed a vulnerable side of him that hadn't been seen before. I had high hopes for them after this, as their love for each other was confessed and embraced.

But both of them still have their doubts, and Kassandra learns something that makes her wonder about his motives all over again. Her actions then play into his insecurities, causing an unexpected reaction. The final confronting of fears and expectations broke down all their barriers and they were finally able to accept the truth of their feelings. It was intensely emotional, but also ended on a lighter note thanks to the actions of family and friends. show less

Good addition to the Black Castle series. Numair, the head of Black Castle Enterprises, is the latest of the "brothers" to pursue his revenge against those he holds responsible for the horrors he endured growing up. Known to be cold and ruthless in pursuit of what he wants, Numair focuses on Princess Jenan as the key to his plans.

Jenan is beautiful, intelligent, and will do anything to protect her family. Though she escaped her stifling homeland years ago to pursue her ambitions, she can't show more stand back and see her father and country destroyed. She consents to her father's arranged marriage to a neighboring king, but she dreads it.

Everything changes when Numair walks into the engagement party. He has a plan, and this is the first step in it. He doesn't expect the instant connection and intense chemistry that hits him the moment he sees Jenan. The feeling is entirely mutual despite Jenan's familiarity with Numair's reputation. Intrigued by his offer to get her out of the engagement, her first reaction is wariness when she hears his terms. A baby and marriage were not on her radar at all. His promises, his intensity, and the heat between them convince her to give in.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Numair and Jenan. From the moment he saw her, Numair's plans for revenge took a back seat to his complete absorption in Jenan. From the incredible home he made for her to keeping his promise to help her father, Numair's intensity is all for her. Jenan blows away the walls that kept his emotions buried within him, stunning him when he realizes he loves her. Jenan makes the same discovery, but having been burned once, hesitates to tell him so. I ached for Numair, who knows he must come clean with Jenan but wants the timing to be right. He picks a poor method of delaying that conversation, creating doubt and insecurity for Jenan just when she needs him. Add in a premature revelation of Numair's original motivations, and the devastating results are off the charts.

I ached for both of them. Jenan feels betrayed and duped and heartbroken at the thought he never cared at all. Numair realizes his mistake in keeping secrets and is devastated by the pain he caused Jenan and the fear he's lost her forever. There's an interesting twist resulting from that fear, changing Numair's view of part of his past. Help comes from an unexpected source, and Numair finally gets his chance to face Jenan. The depth of emotion as he bared his soul and his past was heartwrenching, and its effect on Jenan was no surprise. Jenan also realized that her lack of trust contributed to the problem and finally let go of those fears. The ending was great, and their future looks bright.

The secondary characters of Richard and Najeeb were great. Richard, aka "Cobra," and Numair have a rocky relationship. Richard's actions in the past had a devastating effect on Numair and his fellow Black Castle brothers. Numair doesn't trust him, and Richard seems to enjoy pushing his buttons, but they work together when necessary. Najeeb is the oldest son of the king Jenan was supposed to marry. He was originally the prospective groom, but he and Jenan feel more like siblings, so they refused the arrangement. Najeeb is a good friend of Jenan's and protective of her. The first meeting between Numair and Najeeb was hilarious, with the two pawing and snorting at each other. I laughed out loud at Jenan's comments and attempts to settle them down. Najeeb plays some important parts later in the story. show less