Enzo and Maria are two people that were meant to be.
When this story opens, we get the moment that shows that these are two people that are supposed to be together, but life and thoughts keeps hem apart. Six years later, Maria is a single mom after her jerk of an ex cheated on her, and Enzo is still keeping her at arms length. Maria is done with this thought, either he moves towards her or she is letting him go. And she makes the moves to do that. Enzo however, wants nothing to do with that choices and doesn’t hold back with his feelings.

I enjoyed the way in which their relationship moved forward. The devotion he showed to Chiara, Maria’s little girl was exactly what I want. However, Enzo’s character arc was a little bit all over the place. Is he good… Is he bad… What is his history? He has a mixed bag of a backstory, and you understand it. But the lines blur as to the direction on which Sahin wanted to take this book. Is it just a protector, is it dark, is it mafia? There was a mix of all and it didn’t seem like she was 100% sure which direction she wanted to take Enzo until the very end. That being said. I did enjoy the story itself, but I think that if you haven’t read previous books of her’s, there are small intricacies in the story and some of the characters that you don’t understand.

This story was very heavy on the character driven moments, and the complexities of their personalities.
But at the same time, there was a lack of connection with some of the qualities/descriptions of the main characters. Again… this didn’t bother me because I had read the previous stories and you get a glimpse into how the characters work. But also, you are left wanting more detail when it comes to the suspense element of the story. Don’t let these ideals discourage you though, because it is a compelling story that pulls you in.


POV: Dual 1st person
Pop: 67%
Tropes: Single Mom, Second Chance at Love; Mutual Pining; Age Gap; Romantic Suspense;
Type of Series: Interconnected Standalone
Is there a 3rd act break up: No

Oh wow. I absolutely adored this book. The characters are brilliantly written, the background is heartbreaking but the whole concept captures your heart and holds on. It’s one of those books that you won’t put down once you start. It’s a must read series for me.

Let Me Love You has everything that I have come to expect from Ms. Sahin’s books. It is the perfect combination of romance, suspense and intrigue and non stop action that keep the pages turning.
Enzo is a complicated character that I found endearing as he fought for years against what he really wanted when it came to Maria. He just didn’t think he could love her the way she deserved. Destiny, however, had different plans and put these two back in each others lives after years of being apart in order for them to find that love and passion that was always simmering under the surface.
Maria is now a single mom after her divorce and knows that it is Enzo that she wants. He may not think he can be what she deserves but she is bound and determined to show him otherwise.
This story was action packed with a few twists and turns that kept it interesting and Enzo and his brothers definitely had their hands full keeping the members of their family safe and were determined to take down the real killer of their sister once the secret was unlocked.

Another great book by Brittney! Love the relationship between Maria and Enzo. It all started for Maria years ago. Now, Maria is available again and Enzo is an integral part of her life. But he holds himself back because he thinks he isn’t good enough for her. The story line is fantastic and captures your heart an everything unfolds. This is a wonderful book to start reading Brittney’s books. You will be hooked and going back for more!!

Once again Brittney has me reading all night. Enzo and Maria story was fantastic filled with action and suspsense and great chemistry. And once again I felcl in love with the characters. Lots of steam and action and great secondary characters and some twist along the way to make it interesting. Loved it!!

Enzo Costa made a promise long ago to protect the daughters of his close family friends, the Romanos. His secretive past with the Mafia and his former military career make him the perfect man for the job. Staying close to the youngest daughter, Maria, has proved to be a torment over the years. Being able to keep her safe, but not love her the way they both want means watching her marry and have a child with someone else. When a friend from Enzo’s past shows up with new information regarding his sister’s murder from over a decade ago, Enzo is thrust back into shady confines of the underground world, putting himself and Maria in the crosshairs. He would do anything to protect her, but who will protect him when he falls even more in love with Maria?

———-
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advance copy of Let Me Love You in exchange for an honest review.

Like with most of this author’s books, this was a highly entertaining, swoony, and spicy romantic suspense read! While I haven’t read all of Brittney Sahin’s books, I’ve read enough to know she weaves a really fantastic web of characters that link between series. While this could be read as a stand-alone, the previous book Until You Can’t, and the Falcon Falls Security series would give you great backstory on some of the other characters that make appearances here. I really liked the characters of Enzo and Maria, and the plot was fast-paced and enjoyable. Enzo was the best kind of anti-hero- stern, gruff, and all-business, but a total softy for Maria and her daughter. I read this one fairly quickly because I had a hard time putting it down. I can’t wait for the next book in the Brittney Sahin world of romantic suspense (Enzo’s brothers!!).

Tropes- romantic suspense, Mafia romance, friends to lovers, single mom

Let Me Love You
By Brittney Sahin

This book has every feeling packed in a fast-paced suspense thriller.

Wow! Let Me Love You by Brittney Sahin is an incredible suspense romance. This book’s emotional pull and fabulous pacing kept me riveted from the beginning through the epilogue. I experienced EVERY feeling while reading this book. Joy, affection, sadness, hate, jealousy, humor, steam, family affection, and the desire and overwhelming need to love and protect. Plus a few I haven’t mentioned. Enzo is the type of book boyfriend we all want. He has a bad-boy side to him, and he struggles to be good and do the right thing. In his mind, that is to stay away from Maria and her daughter Chiara, but be close enough to protect them... He wants to be everything for them…

Brittney Sahin creates characters you quickly fall in love with. Whether they are good, bad, or over the top. She creates a world I would love to live in, people I want to know and be friends with, and men I would love to have at my back if I needed protecting. You can’t help but get pulled into this story and become invested in the people. Let Me Love You came together in a fast-paced suspense thriller kind of way. I held my breath through much of this book whether from the suspense and intrigue, or the white-hot steam radiated by Enzo and Maria. I want endless epilogues and bonus scenes to follow them through their life together. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Enzo and Maria’s story was absolutely brilliant and by far, my new favorite read of the year!!!

The cast of characters are incredible! Like dream worthy but also so very relatable!

Let Me Love You was everything I expected and so much more! Brittney Sahin writes the best nail biting suspense stories ever and this time she’s really shown us a stunning and powerful one that will stick with me for years!

Also l loved getting to catch up with some of my favorite past characters!

Overall, this was so far beyond a five star read!! Very much recommended!!!

Lorenzo (Enzo) is a former soldier, now a chef in his best friends restaurant. He's been fighting an attraction to her sister, Maria, for years. But this self-confessed bad guy has some lines he won't cross and taking Maria's V-card is one of those lines. But now that she is divorced and a single mum, he's finding it harder and harder to resist.

Maria and the others in the Romano family have been around the Costa family for years. But her infatuation with Enzo, led to a hot clinch, which led to him ghosting her for years! They've managed to work together for over a year without fireworks. But when her ex starts making waves and Enzo's military (and secret agent) past comes back to haunt them, Maria is going to get way more time with Enzo than she bargained for.

Maria and Enzo are flaming hot together, They're all unfulfilled potential, strong chemistry and crossed wires. Enzo is definitely happy on the grey side of the spectrum but he's still very much a good guy, even if he doesn't see it himself. The trauma of his twins death really shaped his past vigilante-like exploits.

This book grabs by the first chapter. I absolutely couldn’t put it down and read it all in one sitting. Enzo is such a strong protector and he has only ever wanted one woman but he could never have her. Maria has always wanted Enzo but he turned her down. Their lives went separate ways and they end up back in each others lives when he comes to be the chef at her sister’s restaurant. Lots of things unfold and feelings are revealed. Will things end like Maria’s favorite books? Will she get her happy ever after? I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brittney Sahin always writes an intense storyline filled with emotion, suspense, intrigue, surprises and wonderful multidimensional characters. This story has so many awesome cameos which I loved so much.

Enzo is such a super protective male character and with his past, he doesn’t feel worthy of letting himself love Maria. He has fought his attraction to her for several years, but now that she is divorced and living across the hall from him, he has little resistance to her.

I wasn’t really a fan of Maria initially because she just seemed so immature, but she has a strong backbone and isn’t willing to let Enzo push her out of his life once she realizes he is attracted to her and is nearing the end of his self control.

I’m hopeful for more books about the Costa siblings in the near future.

I received a free ARC from the author; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

Let Me Love You is another great book by Brittney Sahin. It’s full of twists and turns, some of them dark and some sweet, she sure knows how to write the morally grey leads and make me fall for them. I love Enzo and Maria! And it was great to check back in with Ryan and Natalia <3

The story starts off a bit slow, but the tension and the slow buildup still grabbed me until everything was unraveling so fast that it was impossible to put the book down! Loved it!

I was lucky received this book as an ARC on NetGalley.

In Let Me Love You, crafts a gripping tale of love, danger, and redemption that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This blistering novel weaves a story of two souls with haunted pasts, drawn together by fate and a longing for love.

Six years after a fleeting but unforgettable encounter, Maria Romano finds herself divorced and open to romance once more. Her chance at love comes in the form of Enzo Costa, now the new head chef at her sister's restaurant. Enzo is a gentler man than the one she remembers, yet the fire between them still burns bright. But warnings of keeping a safe distance from him linger, and for a good reason.

Enzo's life is marked by a dark and dangerous past, with blood on his hands and shadows from his damaged history. Despite his efforts to change, the impulses drawing him back to Maria are undeniable. When his secrets resurface, they plunge Maria into a world of danger, forcing Enzo to confront his old demons and become the man he once was to protect those he loves.

Let Me Love You is a story of second chances, redemption, and the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds. Brittney Sahin masterfully combines romance and suspense, creating a narrative that will keep you guessing until the very end. Will Enzo lose himself to his past, or will Maria's love be enough to save his soul? This is a must-read for fans of thrilling, heart-wrenching love stories.

Rating: 4 / 5⭐️’s

4.5 stars

Picking up where “Until You Can’t” ends, leading us on a slow burn, suspense filled, edgy leaning to darkness, twisty story that I could not put down. Starting from chapter one and “the kiss” the emotional roller coaster ride carries you to the end. From the secrets to the angst, Maria and Enzo’s story will be hard to beat.

First Read, May 2023, Second Sept 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake; this is my voluntary review.

Let Me Love You by Brittney Sahin is a book that I recently read and I must say that it was a great experience. As a fan of romance novels, I was excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint.

The story is not your typical mafia romance. It is a slow-burn romance between two people who have been pining for years. The intense feelings between Maria Romano and Enzo are palpable, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. The pacing of the story is well thought out, and the author did a great job creating a fabulous character in Enzo. The plot is well-developed, and the author keeps you engaged throughout the story.

The two main characters, Maria and Enzo, are well-developed and have their own unique qualities that make them likeable. Maria is a strong and independent woman who is trying to protect her family from danger. Enzo is a mercenary who is sworn to protect Maria and her family. The author did a great job of creating a character that is both tough and vulnerable. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the story.

Brittney Sahin's writing style is engaging and descriptive. She has a way of making you feel like you are right there with the characters. The dialogue is well-written, and the descriptions of the settings are vivid. The author's use of suspense and romance is well-balanced, making it a page-turner.

Their story is a great read for anyone who loves romance novels with a touch of suspense. The slow-burn romance between Maria and Enzo is heartwarming, and the suspense keeps you on edge throughout the story. The ending is satisfying and leaves you wanting more. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance novel.

In conclusion, this is a book that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves romance novels. The plot, characters, and writing style are all well done, making it a great read. The slow-burn romance between Maria and Enzo is heartwarming, and the suspense keeps you on edge throughout the story.

LET ME LOVE YOU by Brittney Sahin. This was a great read! I loved Maria and Enzo. It is a second chance romance that is based on a friendship first. I loved the way Enzo was with Maria's little girl - she had him wrapped around her finger! There is danger and threats, but all along, the reader never loses sight of the true love brewing. Ms. Sahin has written a tale that truly held me captive and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Thank you. (received ARC from NetGalley for honest review)

The long awaited story of Maria and Enzo has finally arrived. Heartbreaking secrets and a love that is sole deep. Brittney is a brilliant story teller, her talent enables you to become completely immersed in the world that she has created. Brittney’s character development has both depth and complexity. If you love broken, haunted and the most alpha hero’s and heroines who know they are, what they want and fight for their own happiness this is the story for you!

Let me love you - Brittney Sahin

A great slow burn, with lots of teasing from the author. Loved the story line, and made me feel lots of emotions throughout. I also really enjoyed the side characters, which can sometimes be a little bit of a let down. This is the first book I have read by Brittney Sahin but I would love to read more in the future. Thanks so much Netgalley and Montlake for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

4.5 Stars

I've read almost every book by Brittney Sahin, and while this one still has all the markings of one of her books, it was also different, not in a bad way, just different. I still absolutely loved my time reading this book and I'm eager to see her revisit these character in what I hope will turn into a series. The side characters introduced in this book have me very intrigued as to the stories that could be told for them.

Maria and Enzo were some great characters. I loved the quasi morally grey characteristics of Enzo's character and I love the way Maria loved him. I say quasi because I feel like in order to be truly morally grey the character isn't as aware of his "faults" has Enzo was. Enzo's struggles with his past were a major part of his character and I just loved his growth throughout the book around his past. I also loved the way he loved Maria's daughter and that he just wanted to keep them both safe and protected. The mystery elements of this one honestly kept me guessing the entire time. I tried to guess how everything was going to play out, but I was wrong every time. I think the mafia adjacent story also created a really interesting element to the story that kept everything very interesting as well.

As a side note: While I absolutely loved this book, I can understand why others might have issues with it. While this is marketed as a standalone, and is a complete story on it's own, all of Brittney's books exist in the same world, and it is a guarantee that you will see characters from her previous books. So it can easily feel like you are missing part of the story. I won't lie, it's hard for me as I literally spent a month binge reading her entire backlist a few years ago, so I get all the nuance involved in her world/books. I do think this is a book anyone could pick up an enjoy. Again, the story within these pages is complete on it's own, without having read a single other book from her, but I do think you might find more enjoyment from the story having read her other work.

✔️ Single Mom
✔️ Age Gap (8 Years)
✔️ Neighbors
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Mutual Pining
✔️ Ex-Military Hero
✔️ Mystery/Suspense
✔️ First Person Dual POV

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

This story starts out with Maria Romano and her friends celebrating her 21st birthday. What she really wants is a birthday kiss from Enzo. The only guy she has ever wanted in her life.

Enzo Costa and his brothers were brought up as protectors for Maria and her sister, they were never to be anything more.

Years later and Maria is celebrating her 29th birthday. Now a divorced, single mom, she is ready to find real love and it comes in the form of Enzo Costa. Who happens to be the head chef of her sister's restaurant.

When Enzo gets news that he wasn't expecting, it takes Maria to calm him. And she will go with him to New York to see that a wrong is corrected. And hopefully, no one gets hurt.

This story is a slow burn for Maria and Enzo, but the suspense and intrigue are there from the beginning.

I didn't realize this was book two, so I will be going back to read book one soon.