Title: Hers to Tame
Author: Rhenna Morgan
Series: NOLA Knights, #2
Length: approx. 85,000 words
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Imprint: Carina Press
eBook On-Sale: March 16, 2020
eBook ISBN & Price: 9781488054167, $3.99 USD
MMP On-Sale: March 31, 2020
MMP ISBN & Price: 9781335962645, $8.99 USD
As an avtoritet for the most powerful crime syndicate in New Orleans, Kir Vasilek doesn’t act without purpose, doesn’t speak without thought and never, ever loses his cool. The lives of his brothers, his family, depend on it. But then Cassie McClintock strolls back into his life, and staying cool is next to impossible. Cassie was the one who got away—and Kir is willing to break all his own rules to keep it from happening ever again.
It’s one thing to report on the Russian mafia; it’s quite another to sleep with one of them, especially one as dangerous, and as sinfully sexy, as Kir Vasilek. Even though the information he once provided helped make her career—and the memory of his touch still keeps her up at night—Cassie knows too much about his world to go down that path.
But when Kir reaches out for help after a rival family comes for one of his own, Cassie doesn’t want to say no, either to investigating a gruesome murder or to the heat that pulls her right back into his arms…and his heart. Taming Kir—and helping to save the family she’s come to call her own—is not the story she thought she’d write, but it’s the one she’s determined will get a happy ending.
Hers to Tame is the highly anticipated follow-up to His to Defend. And don’t miss Roman’s story in Mine to Keep, coming soon from Rhenna Morgan and Carina Press.
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Review
Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't read much in the mafia-type romance trope, but every once in a while, I'll hear about one that piques my interest. Such was the case with Hers to Tame, and I have to say that it did live up to its reputation. The story held my interest from the beginning with a good mix of terrific characters, fast-paced storyline, and even a bit of suspense. But the thing that most won me over was this couple. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kir and Cassie. Their chemistry is off the charts and almost every time Kir speaks, I fell a little harder. This is part of a series, but it works just fine as a standalone, but I will say that I now feel the need to read the first book - not because I feel like something was missing here, but because I want more of this world. All in all, a seriously good read in the genre.
Excerpt
“Please take this in the spirit it’s intended, but you work for a man who’s suspected of leading a growing crime family. I don’t think me telling you where I live is a good idea.”
“1023 South Franklin Avenue.”
Cassie stopped so hard she wobbled slightly in her heels. “How did you… I mean, I only just moved in there.”
His smile softened and his words were offered with gentle deliberateness. “I’m a very thorough man, Cassie. You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t learn everything I could about a person before I shared important information with them.”
Very thorough.
Frighteningly so.
She shook the foreboding off and resumed her trek to the station, albeit on slightly less stable legs. “All the more reason for us to meet someplace public.”
“All right. Then I’ll pick you up and take you somewhere.”
“Not necessary.” She checked both ways on the street and hurried across. “Just tell me where you want to talk, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m afraid my retrieving you and escorting you is nonnegotiable.”
She frowned at him, but kept going. “You’ve got a lot of points you won’t negotiate. Tell me why this one’s one of them.”
“Because while I’m very much interested in hearing what you have to share, I’m not interested in anyone else hearing. The best way to ensure our privacy is to make sure no one else knows where we’re going—including you.”
She stopped just six feet from the station’s front door. “You don’t trust me?”
“Should I?”
Hmm. He did kind of have a point. And given how she’d stiffed him after their second date, he still might be wondering if she’d simply used him. “Fine. Pick me up at my place tomorrow at eight. But don’t pick any place fancy. A coffee shop, or someplace simple. And not Starbucks either. It’s criminal what they charge for coffee.”
His mouth twitched as if it were all he could do to keep a wisecrack trapped behind his lips. “You seem determined to expose me to establishments with limited standards.” He nodded, the picture of gentility and confidence. “I’ll endeavor to pick a location that suits your expectations.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Until tomorrow, then.”
He had great hands. Not too smooth like someone trapped in an office, but a man’s hands. Slightly calloused, with long fingers and blunt fingertips. Of all the things she’d replayed from their time together, his touch had been the most frequent. Which was exactly why she’d be smart to avoid any and all physical contact with him going forward.
Glutton for punishment and well-mannered Texas girl that she was, she slipped her palm against his.
Oh, yeah.
Still amazing.
Electric and warm. Supercharged and bristling with promise.
And that was just her hand.
“Thank you again for the dinner. It wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it all the same.” Hating the breathiness in her voice, she tried to release her hand.
Kir held it tight, the pad of his thumb subtly moving over the tender spot between her thumb and her forefinger. As if he were remembering other, more intimate places he’d touched her. “I assure you. The pleasure was all mine.”
He gently released her, turned without the least amount of hesitation, and strolled toward the parking lot like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Watching him was something to relish. An indulgence she didn’t even realize she’d taken until he
stepped off the sidewalk and turned to open the door to his car.
Great. And now he’s busted you ogling him.
She swung one of the double glass doors open and strode into the arctic reception area.
“Girl, that dude was hot,” Bonnie said before Cassie’s eyes could adjust from the blinding sunshine outside. “He your boyfriend?”
“Oh, no.” She set the paper bag on the counter and shook her head. “Just a contact that helped me out on a few stories a while back.”
And ruined me for other men, but why quibble over details?
Bonnie took the bag and opened it, but the look on her face and her answering chuckle said she didn’t buy a word Cassie’d said. “Uh-huh. Looked to me like he was plotting how to peel you out of your professional getup.”
Yeah, it’d felt like that, too. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. Or ever, if she could help it. “Nope. Just talking business.” She waved toward the bag and headed back toward the newsroom.
“Good business, or bad business?”
Cassie swung the door to the hallway open and cast Bonnie one last look. “I haven’t decided yet. Could have been the lottery, or the biggest wrong turn of my life.”
Copyright © 2020 by Rhenna Morgan
Author Bio
A native Oklahoman, Rhenna Morgan is a certified romance junkie. Whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy you’re after, Rhenna’s stories pack romantic escape full of new, exciting worlds, and strong, intuitive men who fight to keep the women they want. For advance release news and exclusive content, sign up for her newsletter at http://RhennaMorgan.com. You'll also find all of her social links there, along with her smoking hot inspiration boards.
Social Media Links
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Author Q&A
Your latest release, HERS TO TAME, is the second book in the NOLA Knights series. What three words best describe HERS TO TAME?
Steamy, possessive, and colorful.
The NOLA Knights series is a spinoff from your Men of Haven series. Where did the inspiration for NOLA Knights come from?
A fellow writer friend of mine shared an article she’d read about what it was like to date Russian men. The more I read about their possessive—almost hunter/prey—approach to dating, the more I wanted to write a hero that embodied those characteristics. I was writing TEMPTED & TAKEN from Men of Haven at the time, and before I knew it, Sergei was on the page! I knew as soon as I “saw” him that I wanted to write a series for him and his men.
What is Cassie’s most surprising quality?
Many of my heroines have gotten themselves into some tricky situations—which makes it mighty handy for my possessive alpha heroes to step in and help. What’s different about Cassie’s story is that it’s less “life or death” and more of a work and ethics conundrum. I really like that aspect of her story because I think it’s more relatable to women who read my books.
What quality do you love most about your Kir?
I love his intelligence and refinement. (Though, Cassie does manage to strip a lot of his calm, cool collectedness rather quickly.) Where many of my heroes are edgy and on the darker side, Kir is smooth and classy. A businessman, if you will, who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty when the time comes.
What would you like readers to take away from reading Cassie and Kir’s story?
As always for me, it’s the underpinning messages from the story that I hope touch people the most. Cassie’s always been the odd duck in her family. The misfit. Kir’s issue is the inability to trust women. Through the course of their story, they each address their individual hang ups and find healing. And of course, they do it within the confines of a family built by choice.
Writing about the Russian mafia (bratva) must have resulted in some interesting research for the NOLA Knights series. What’s the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned so far?
It’s the origins of the bratva that most captivated me and anchored the type of family Sergei would set out to build when he moved to New Orleans. Bratva first appeared during imperial times when the Tsar held everything. Those who were bratva (or brothers) were very anti-government, stealing and giving back to those who had little. A spin on the Robin Hood theme, if you will. That’s when I realized I wanted Sergei to base his actions on helping those under his care rather than forcing his way into a neighborhood.
Both HIS TO DEFEND (NOLA Knights, #1) and HERS TO TAME, have a bit of a Cinderella twist to them. What is it about Cinderella’s story that makes it so fun to use in your contemporary romances?
I love fairytales and I love happily ever after. I think the reason a Cinderella element always finds its way into my stories is because life is really hard. And, at the end of a rough or demanding day, I want to read about magical endings.
The NOLA Knights series features a trio of Alpha males conquering New Orleans. What do you love most about writing Alpha males?
My absolute favorite thing about all of my heroes is that, while they might be demanding, possessive and (sometimes) a little gruff, every single one of them have a tender spot for their women. For them, they are vulnerable and driven to keep them safe.
Your love for New Orleans shines in the NOLA Knights series! If you could go to New Orleans this weekend, what’s the first thing you would do or place you would visit?
Oh, that’s easy. Find a place with some fantastic Cajun food and stuff myself with gumbo, red beans and rice, and etouffee!
MINE TO KEEP, the next NOLA Knights book comes out later this year. What can readers expect from Roman’s story?
Oh, man. I just turned this one into my editor and I abso-freaking-lutely LOVE how it turned out. (Which is kind of funny, because the first third of the book, I wasn’t 100% sure if the characters were showing on the page the way I saw them in my head.)
Roman is gruff. A man of as few words as possible and deadly. Having seen Sergei and Kir find love, he believes it exists, but he doesn’t believe any woman would be able to accept him with the things he’s done in his past.
Bonnie is salt of the earth. A girl born into a den of liars, cheats, and thieves. To say that she knows what it means to eek by and live paycheck-to-paycheck is an understatement. But she’s determined, honest, and VERY spunky.
What happens when the two of them meet is absolute magic. A rags to riches Cinderella story with so much heart it makes me sigh a bit just thinking about it. I honestly cannot wait for everyone to meet them.
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