It's the most wonderful time of the year because there's a new Katie Reus holiday hitman rom com! A Very Merry Hitman follows How the Hitman Stole Christmas. Theo was our leading man in the first book and this one features his sister, single mom Aileen. Aileen had a traumatic incident happen when she was a young girl in college. Since then she lives in the same neighborhood as her parents and brother where she's been busy raising her daughter. Her closest friend is Dante. He's a fellow hitman with her brother who also has been keeping a secret. He's been in love with Aileen from the moment that he met her. When Aileen approaches Dante with an unconventional idea, he's shocked but also very interested. The problem is that strange Santas keep attacking Aileen. Dante plans to not only get to the bottom of this mystery but he also plans to get his girl! A Very Merry Hitman was so much fun! lots of laughter, some action and a bit of heat for the holidays. It was told from dual POV and stands alone, however I highly recommend reading How the Hitman Stole Christmas too because it was equally wonderful.

Fast paced and packs a punch. Suspense, action, mystery, humor, and a sexy romance. What more cab you ask for? Read it and fall in love with Dante and Aileen!

I loved the family dynamics here and even though the book was pretty short, it was filled with entertainment, love, mystery, excitement, and holiday spirit. After Aileen is robbed by men in Santa suits twice, her group of family and friends that mostly consist of hitmen or other related professions, helps her get to the bottom of it all, and who is trying to come after her. It was very heart warming to see a close knit family that was willing to go through all kinds of lengths for Aileen to keep her safe. And very glad Nessa got her Christmas wish :)

Thank you to KR Press, Katie Reus, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

It is wonderful to touch base with this group of assassins once again If you haven't read the first book How the hitman stole Christmas then make sure you grab it because this is how we are first introduced to this crazy group. Now Dante is fighting his feelings for Aileen as he doesn't want to destroy his friendship with her but when she goes on a date and is accosted by Santa and other things start to happen he knows something is afoot Now he will step up to help her and in the process may find that she has feelings for him as well. This is a fun read that is the perfect way to start thinking of Christmas

I enjoyed every minute of Dante and Aileen's story, and it was so much fun to see Elliana again. She's one of my favorites! I love this series and can't wait to see whose story is next.

This is a friends-to-lovers holiday trope with spiccccccce. (Not cinnamon and nutmeg… 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️). And I was NOT prepared for just how spicy it was haha. Spicy spicy is not my reader’s choice and it’s the only reason it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫. The story is soooo good. The characters are soooo fun. I stayed for the storyline and characters even though the spice was a bit too spiiiicy for me- insert me speed reading past paragraphs. I also didn’t realize it was a series until after I started which I think would have made me even love the characters more- so definitely start with book 1!

That being said… I know I have some friends here that LOVE spice and they’re going to adore this story and, very likely, the whole series.

Aileen is the only non-hitman/hitwoman in her family. She’s a single mom to Nessa, whose Christmas wish is that her mom’s best friend, Dante, be her dad. Nessa shares this wish with her Aunt Elli who would never deny her niece anything in the world. As the family meddling begins, there’s a secondary storyline where Aileen is being targeted by aggressive Santa’s mugging her to get a hold of her cell phone. It’s a fun twisty turny ending that was really well crafted.

This cast of characters may live by a different set of rules, but where family is concerned, they are ride or die making them so lovable. This one is a quick read. If you love 🌶️ and Christmas then you’re VERY welcome and Merry (hitman) Christmas.

Pub day is 10/22/24. Thank you to @netgalley and @katiereusauthor for this #advancedreaderscopy

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When a wee favour from your crush turns into everything you’ve wanted for years you grab it with both hands. If along the way you can use your profession to keep her safe even better.
Loved this quirky suspenseful read. A town full of hitmen certainly gave me a chuckle here and there, but it also had a serious side too. Full of great characters, with my favourites being Nessa and her aunt Elli, I certainly look forward to getting more stories from this unusual towns population.

I received a review reader’s copy of the book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

After reading the first book last year I knew I wanted to continue the series with this one.

This book is a lot of fun! Full with twists and humor, plus a great cast of characters. I enjoyed the romance too. The story felt exciting and romantic.

Would recommend!

I’m glad this was a quick read because this book was not for me. I found it corny. The main character is surrounded by hitman. Her daughter is scheming to set up work Dante who lives a few doors down to be her new dad. Which I feel like Nessa is a little old for that at 11. Dante is also a hitman. Aileen gets mugged by Santa and all the hitman needs to step in to protect her and figure out why. I really wanted to like this book because I loved Katie Reus’ Red Stone Security Series but this holiday rom com just wasn’t for me.

I love a quirky romcom and you can't get more quirky than a cinnamon roll hitman and his fellow band of assassins for hire!

Aileen has overcome a lot in the last decade. Her assault in college, bringing up her daughter, her r*pist trying to gain visitation and her family treating her like a fragile female. Nessa is a well adjusted 10yr old who will never know her father, his family or the horror that brought her into the world. She loves her mum, her family and the entire neighbourhood of trained killers dotes on her!

Dante has loved Aileen from afar. He's been her best friend, confidant, protector and favourite "uncle" of Nessa. He'd love more but he just doesn't want to cross that line and ruin their friendship. But Aileen has been asked on a date...and she accepted. Now Dante is all up in his feelings, mainly jealousy, and he's even willing to accept help from his archnemesis to disrupt the date. However, it would seem that Aileen has caught the eye of someone else, someone who wants to hurt her. Oh boy, have they picked on the wrong woman!

This is a true joy to read. Their weirdly functional bunch of misfits, who unalive people for a living, are all the biggest bunch of saps! They'd do anything for each other - ok they'd beatch about it and insult each other while helping them out but still. Aileen and Dante are perfect as friends to lovers and their personalities mesh so well. Dante may want to protect her but he's going to have to learn that Aileen is also capable of surviving worse things and has. The banter is brilliant and this crew really does feel like a family.

There is spice but it's not over the top and I thought the suspense elements were just right.

Thank you, Net Galley for the ARC! This was such a cute and easy read! It definitely gets you in the holiday spirit. Dante and Aileen have crushes on each other, but Aileen is the first to make the move. Go girl! I thought the book would have more Hitman parts in it, but it didn't. It had more spice than I thought it would, but I loved it! Aileen has been mugged several times, and Dante will not stand for it and will find out who was behind all of it.

A Very Merry Hitman is book 2 in the Holiday with a Hitman universe and is Aileen and Dante's story. Aileen's daughter Nessa and Elianna come up with a plan to get Dante and Aileen together, but when she keeps getting attacked by men dressed in Santa suits, the whole family steps up to try to find out who is behind the crimes.

This was such a cute and fun read. I love this romantic suspense world that takes place during the holiday season. The plot was easy to follow but still had twists to keep you entertained. I enjoyed the friends to lovers trope and appreciated the foundation that this couple had. Dante was very protective but also loving of both Eileen and Nessa. Of course I was super excited to get mentions of past characters. You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend reading How the Hitman Stole Christmas for the ultimate enjoyment.

Overall I really enjoyed this and it was a great start to getting in the holiday spirit. I eagerly await more stories from this universe.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

• Thank you to NetGalley, author Katie Reus, and Victory Editing for a chance to read an early e-arc of this book •

I liked the plot of the book.
I enjoyed the characters in the book; I might have enjoyed the side characters more than the main characters, though.
I appreciated the festive vibes, the cookie decorating, and the Christmas shopping.
I loved the mystery and finished the book in one sitting because I was invested and needed to know who was behind the Santa's.

The book's tone is really just fun and unserious. And it is a very fast paced book.

With that being said,


* spoiler ahead *


Why did we have to add in the SA and our FMC asking the MMC for a "friendly favor"?
This did not add anything to the storyline; on the contrary, I felt it deterred me from parts of the book. I felt so uncomfortable reading the spice that after the first scene, I started skimming the smut.

But I did stay for the actual plot which was really enjoyable. And I will be picking the first book in this series to read over the holidays.

Still, I recommend this book if you are in the mood for a fun mystery that takes place over the holidays where you can just shut your brain and enjoy the ride.

This was steamy and suspenseful, an entertaining easy going read that kept me engaged throughout, really enjoyed this perfect for getting into the festive mood! Would love to read more with this cast of characters!

Aileen’s is surrounded by hitmen, her parents and brother. Her neighborhood is filled with hitmen and women. Her daughter would love a dad for Christmas and Dante who lives in the neighborhood is the perfect candidate.
When Aileen goes on a date her SIL set-up her purse is stolen and of course; the family found out who did it. They realize he was paid to steal her purse; later during a sting operation they let her purse get stolen again. They are hot on the trail as to who wants her purse and why. Dante has loved Aileen for years and just been waiting until she was ready to date so he could marry her.
Delightful story.

A Very Merry Hitman gives you a fast-paced, steamy holiday romance that’s great for readers looking for an easy, engaging read with a dash of suspense. The story revolves around Aileen, a woman who has endured trauma and is now reclaiming her life, and Dante, her fiercely protective best friend. Their relationship evolves from a close friendship to friends with benefits, though it's clear early on that their bond is much deeper.
Dante, as the protective male lead, shines in this story. He’s not just tough; he genuinely cares for Aileen and stands by her as she navigates her inner strength.

It’s a short, fast read, but it doesn’t feel rushed. However, I did find myself a little let down by the danger element in the story. Given Aileen’s connection to a hitman family, I was expecting something more intense or tied to that world. Instead, the threat came from a cheating incident she catches on camera, which felt somewhat anticlimactic compared to what I had anticipated.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so much fun. I actually felt a teensy bit sorry for the antagonist because who’d think you’re targeting a woman that is literally surrounded by hitmen and women. The whole premise was crazy and I loved it. It was the perfect book to read if you’re in the mood for something light and fun with a little mystery and steam. Elli was a top tier side character so I’m going to have to go back and read her little misadventure with Theo.

Dante and Aileen were the sweetest couple together. Giving in to their feelings after so long, aah so cute. His protective streak was a mile wide, just how I like my MMC’s. Nessa, the little matchmaker had that whole family wrapped around her finger, and rightfully so.

A super quick read and I had the best time with it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Katie Reus for the arc and this is my honest review.

I didn’t realize I needed a found family of hitmen, an 11-year-old’s Christmas wish, and mysterious Santa muggings in my life, but this book delivered it all—and I loved it! The story kicks off with Aileen’s daughter wishing for a new dad, and she has her heart set on Dante, a hitman. This sets the stage for a fun, entertaining romance filled with shenanigans. Katie Reus’s descriptive writing pulls you into a world full of mystery, heartwarming moments, and a spicy romance between Aileen and Dante. If you need a wholesome, action-packed holiday read, this is the one!

3* Unusual

Once I got over the hideous thought of a community of hit men and women, this tale of friends to lovers wasn't very different from other books with a similar plot. Except for the unexpected humour. It's all a bit tongue in cheek, i.e. a collection of cold blooded murderers who cease their slaughtering during December to enjoy the Christmas season, then it's back to work in January.

A raunchy tale of a hitman and his determination to win the woman he loves, aided and abetting by her daughter who's Christmas wish is to have him for her dad.

3.5* A quick read.

With thanks to KT Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

This is such a fun, silly read. Im impressed how I much I got to like the characters in this short book. Perfect for the cold season to snuggle up with this book and feel protected by all the hitmen. Im almost sad to let these characters go and wish to spend more time with them. Totally recommend to anyone looking for something short, easy, a bit ridiculous (I mean we are talking a family of hitmen) with a nice little romance. Perfect as a palate cleanser inbetween series
Will def be checking out more of the authors work.