Thanks to NetGalley & author for the arc!

**1.5 stars** I came across fanart of the two main characters on Instagram and LOVED it so much that I looked on my kindle app to see if this book was available. When I saw the arc on NetGalley, I never clicked apply so fast. Sadly, the fanart did not live up to my expectations which led me to dnf at 30%.

When Loren’s brother goes missing, she turns to none other than Callahan Keane–the supposed love of her life when they were teenagers. After Callahan’s betrayal, the two don’t speak for the next 11 years until Loren walks into the Keane family establishment to beg for help. Only Callahan has been waiting for their reunion and proposes a mutually beneficially arrangement: marriage. Conflicted, Loren accepts his marriage proposal and then spurs the ongoing search for her brother.

As a lover of mafia romances, this one didn’t work for me. The writing wasn’t terrible and it definitely fits the genre but everything else needed some flourishing. While arranged marriages are a common trope in mafia romance, I haven’t read a second-chance arranged marriage before, so I was intrigued. The opening chapters pulled me in, and I initially thought Loren was a strong female lead. But as the story progressed, her supposed strength gave way to constant begging. It began to feel like I was reading the inner monologue of a 17-year-old girl on summer break—stubborn and convinced she knows everything.

Despite this book being 400 pages long, the foundation of the story was not solid enough for the story to be built off of. We’re told they had a relationship as teens, then didn’t speak for 11 years—but we’re never told their actual ages, which made it hard to place them. The constant repetition of “the past 11 years” and “as teenagers” became grating, especially since so many questions about their history remained unanswered. I kept hoping the details would come later, but I couldn’t push through.

I understand this is the first book in a new standalone series, which likely explains the overwhelming character dump at the beginning. It became confusing quickly, though I assume each Keane sibling will get their own book.

If you're an avid mafia romance reader, this one might be worth skipping—there are stronger books in the genre, especially on Kindle Unlimited. But if you're new to mafia romance and looking for a low-stakes introduction, this might be a decent starting point.

“𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏…𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔.”

I picked up Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter because the pretty cover and the character art caught my eye, and the tropes definitely got me curious. Marriage of convenience, rival families, and second-chance romance? How could I pass that up? I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, so this felt like the perfect book to shake things up. I don’t usually go for darker themes, but this one turned out to be such a refreshing change.

The story follows Loren and Callahan, whose past is tangled with betrayal and family rivalry. I really liked how the single POV mainly from Loren kept certain things hidden, especially what really happened in the past between them. Callahan does get a few POV chapters too, but they’re spaced out just enough to give insight without that overwhelming back-and-forth you read in other books. I had a feeling there was more to his past actions than Loren believed, and as the story unfolded, those suspicions proved true. The way it was revealed felt realistic and built up well, keeping me curious to the end.

As I said earlier, the book has a good mix of romance, action, betrayals, and a few 'explosive' moments that kept things moving quickly. Loren’s choices had me frustrated at times, but they felt believable with everything she was dealing with. I also liked that not everything was wrapped up nicely at the end, it leaves room for the next book, and I’m curious to see where her friend’s story will go. And Cohen? I like him.

Thanks to the author @katherinecarterauthor & @netgalley for the early copy.

*I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

4.5/5⭐️
Loren is such a bada$$. I loved how she was able to defend herself and rescue others when she herself was in danger. Strong female characters who can stand up for themselves are just so sexy.

As for Cal, who can resist a man who loves his wife wholeheartedly, putting her safety first before his own. While he resorts to various tactics to win over Loren, deep down at the core of his motive is true love.

I wished we had more scenes of them from their younger days. In the present, while their relationship is full of animosity initially…the sparks soon turn into blazing hot chemistry and an eventual explosion of deep love between them. The suspense also kept the pace interesting and I can’t wait for Alice’s book next.

4.5 stars......"I’d follow you anywhere, Ren. Anywhere you lead, I'll be your shadow. Every step I take is toward you. Through any fire, through any agony, I'm yours."

Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter delivers everything I want in a mafia romance — tension, angst, action, and a marriage of convenience that had me hooked from page one.

When Loren’s baby brother goes missing, she turns to the last person she ever expected: Callahan Keane — her childhood ex and the leader of a rival mafia family. Cal agrees to help… in exchange for one thing: a wife. The deal is struck, the wedding is fast-tracked, and suddenly we’re neck-deep in a forced proximity, high-stakes marriage brimming with unresolved feelings and undeniable chemistry.

There’s no shortage of action here — from tracking Loren’s brother to navigating explosive mafia turf wars — but what really had me feral was the slow burn tension between Loren and Cal. I devoured this book in under 24 hours. Marriage of convenience is one of my all-time favorite tropes, and this one hit every mark.

I cannot wait to continue this series. If you love second chance romance, forced proximity, and intense emotional stakes — grab this immediately!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Carter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Through Any Fire is a Mafia Romance about a marriage of convenience between two people on opposite sides of warring drug families….who happened to be childhood sweethearts gone wrong. When Loren’s brother goes missing and Callahan is the only one left who she can ask for help all the feelings that had been buried come crashing back in. The action is fast paced and non-stop, the secrets just keep unraveling themselves, and there is just enough spice to keep you coming back for more! As always check the trigger warnings and happy reading! Thanks to Katherine Carter and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity!

Unfortunately DNF’d at 24% nothing had happened at this stage it was all very boring and predictable. If you’re not used to reading mafia romance maybe you’d like this more than I did! I didn’t like the MMc either

The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet in this marriage by convenience/second chance romance novel. That's a lot of tropes in this fast-paced, but still makes you swoon story, Through Any Fire, by the talented Katherine Carter.
Loren & Cal are affiliated with opposing mafia families, but love brought them together when they were young. Mistakes were made & family obligations ripped them apart. Fast forward a few years & a missing brother brings them back together. A marriage by convenience, lots of mafia-related action scenes, & plenty of passion make this a fun to read story that's hard to put down.
Thank you, #NetGalley! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you enjoy some family drama, action scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat, & a bit of spice, then you'll enjoy Through Any Fire by Katherine Carter.

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review, all thoughts are my own

Tropes: second chance, marriage of convenience
Microtropes: touch her and die, my wife, he washes her hair
Spice: 3/5

I signed up for this ARC because I absolutely love a good second chance/marriage of convenience story. They're forced to spend time together and slowly develop feelings? SIGN ME UP. As I was reading I discovered the microtropes and they worked so well for the story! My wife, touch her and die and he washes her hair are some of the favorite microtropes I see mentioned often on social media. Loren and Callahan definitely had an underlying pull towards each other throughout the story and I'm glad they were able to get their happy ending.

There were several things that drew me out of the story however. First of all, the cover implies a historical/period piece but the setting of the story was contemporary. Also, the marketing of book implies contemporary romance but I felt the content leaned more towards dark romance as both the FMC and MMC are involved in the darker aspects of the story. Second of all, the story is advertised as single POV and while the majority of the story is from the FMC's POV, there were at least 4 chapters from the MMC's POV and the epilogue is entirely in third person. Thirdly, I struggled with Loren's constantly changing motivation. She initially agreed to the marriage to save her brother, then halfway through the story, she was like oh well Mason knew what he was getting into - I gotta stay in this to rescue my friend, and by the end she's back to her brother as motivation and her friend falls by the wayside. I also disliked how Loren was not there at all for her friend Alice after she was rescued. Loren literally thinks that she should go check on her friend but allows herself to be distracted by sex. I was disappointed in how Alice's trauma was framed as Loren also has thoughts of "with any luck she'll be back to herself in no time" after Alice had gone through a terrible kidnapping and implied multiple sexual assaults. Finally, there were some things that just did not make sense. There's no such thing as a surgically implanted IUD and when cars are constantly being blown up and fires are constantly being set, an oxygen tank in a car is the absolute worst idea as it is combustible and greatly enhances the burning of other objects.

This book would be a good fit for fans of darker contemporary romance who enjoy warring crime family drama, second chance romance and marriage of convenience. It would also be great for fans of the microtropes touch her and die, my wife, and he washes her hair.

While I love my mafia romance reads this one didn’t hit the mark. I do believe that it was more so my instant dislike for the MMC. Reformed player can be 50/50 for me and unfortunately I just couldn’t help but feel that Cal fell under the category of not being likeable and rather gave me the ick. Although Loren is describe as a strong female I felt that at times she would easily cave in. I do wish the author would have kept that strong headed female role like Loren started out in the book. I will admit that the plot was a bit too long IMO. Overall I would give this read a 2.75 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

First and foremost, I’m a sucker for a second chance romance so this one got me. I really enjoyed Loren and Cal’s story (and all the twists and turns throughout).

The book is written mostly from Loren’s POV but we get a few snippets of Cal’s POV as well, which I loved!

There were a lot of side characters in this one which makes me hope there will be more than 2 books in this interconnected standalone series. I know Alice’s story is next and I’m excited to find out who her MMC is (I have a guess of who it might be!).

Thank you, Katherine Carter & NetGalley, for the ARC!

“Has he not kept tabs on me like I have on him? Something about that stings, and I fight the urge to reach for the old ache in my chest.”

This was my first mafia related romance read and I absolutely loved it! Thank you to Kathrine and NetGalley! Cal(MMC) and Loren(FMC) reconnect after years of being apart due to Cal’s betrayal. Loren’s brother has gone missing and she’s seeking helping locating him. As luck would have it, Cal is looking for a favor to fulfill as well. He is looking for a wife. They strike a deal to find Loren’s brother in exchange for her hand in marriage. This sets off our journey with both characters. Secrets are revealed along the way, enemies appear causing damage in all sorts of ways, and will Loren and Cal’s marriage go beyond convenience? I totally recommend you find out! I loved how much of a badass Loren was being able to fight and stand her ground. While Cal’s “touch her & die” vibes over Loren were what kept me reading to the end. Cannot wait for the next book!

HELLO??!!! I finished this, no joke, in two nights. When I'm telling you I. ATE. THIS. UP.
This book has a bit of everything, mafia romance, second chance, childhood lovers of rival families to enemies to lovers that would burn the world for one another. The tension between them, the feelings of things that they never got the chance to say because of what would other people say or do. I felt like I could relate to bits and pieces of Callahan not only because I was the oldest, but also having the weight of the world in your shoulders having to carry the legacy of your family, the pressure of having to be someone your family wants you to be. As well as Loren, doing anything in her power to save her brother no matter the price it takes.

The whole structure and how the story unfolds gives us the perfect balance of backstory, tension, action, and twists that will keep you hooked wanting more and more! I'll be posting a review on my Instagram account @nellaas.books soon!

Through Any Fire was the perfect book I needed as a pallet cleanser from a very emotional romantasy book.

This book had everything I could have wanted:
- Mafia rival families (Romeo & Juliet vibes)
- Marriage of convenience
- Rivals -> Friends -> Lovers -> Strangers -> 👀
- Second Chance (even though this isn’t what I gravitate towards the most)

Every time I was reading this book I felt like I couldn’t stop. It would always be one more chapter because something crazy happened and I needed to see immediately how it was resolved.

I will definitely pick up the next book in the series!

Thank you to the author for the ARC! ✨

Honestly, I requested this book by accident and I am glad I did. I don't read too many mafia romances and the ones I've read, I can't say I loved them.

This story has Romeo and Juliet vibes with the family rivalry. Loren and Cal were each other's first love and broke up and 11 years later, she needs his help finding her brother. He needs a wife and as a marriage of convenience, they help each other out.

This story is a bit antsy and Cal is possessive in the best alpha male way. I love that Lorne is a strong defiant character and doesn't put up with anything.

The plot is crazy and moves quickly and I am here for it. I am so glad I stumbled on this gem.

Thank you Katherine Carter for a copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Through Any Fire. Katherine Carter truly drew me in with a story that’s raw, emotional, and impossible to put down. If you’re into second chance romances with a bit of edge, this one’s for you.

Callahan and the narrator’s history is complicated in all the best ways: teenage love torn apart by family rivalry and betrayal, then years of pain and distance. Eleven years later, they’re forced back together when her brother goes missing in enemy territory, and suddenly the only way to save him is to swallow pride, old wounds, and agree to a marriage of convenience with the one man she thought she’d lost forever.

What really hooked me was the way their past hurt clings to them, but also how slowly, carefully, they begin to heal. Callahan’s no perfect hero. He’s rough around the edges, a reformed playboy with a tortured soul and that made his growth all the more satisfying to watch. The forced proximity and “my wife” trope were done really well here, adding tension without ever feeling cheesy or rushed.

This book is intense and mature, so it’s definitely not a light read, but if you appreciate stories with real emotional depth, old wounds that still bleed, and a love that fights through every obstacle, Through Any Fire will totally deliver.

Highly recommend if you love:

*Rivals to lovers with real history

*Marriage of convenience that actually feels believable

*Dark, emotional, slow burning romance

*Heroes who aren’t perfect but fight for love anyway

Can’t wait to see what’s next in the Any x Series!

4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #ThroughAnyFire, #KatherineCarter, #EnemiestoLovers

THROUGH ANY FIRE | 5★
WOW!! Just wow. This book broke me and put me back together. I was captivated from start to finish. This book is packed full with tension, action, and organized crime rivalries. Not to mention, this book is a Romeo and Juliet inspired love story and these characters deliver on the tragic love story! The chemistry— explosive! Cal and Loren have the most beautifully heartbreaking love story. Cal is so swoon-worthy and broody but I couldn’t imagine him any other way. He may be a tad conniving and his actions a bit questionable at times but I promise—you’ll love him for it. And Loren, god, my love for this FMC is insane. Loren is a real badass. She will go to whatever lengths for her loved ones and time and time again in this book does she prove that she is your ride or die girl. Literally, I need Loren as my bff. I have nothing but high praises to sing for this book!

•childhood rivals to lovers to strangers
•marriage of convenience
•old wounds still bleed
•forced proximity
•groveling
•slow burn
•second chance romance

Thank you to Katherine Carter and NetGalley for this early copy! Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I mean it had all the ingredients for a SNACK.

Rival Families
Betrayal
Enemies to Lovers back and forth multiple times (yo-yos are fun)/Second Chance
Forced Prox
Marriage of Convenience
Reformed Bad Boy

The pace is fast and there really isn't any, 'down time,' reading this book. The plot and characters just go go go. It was a fast read because I kept saying, 'one more chapter,' until there were no more chapters.

The tension is there, the lines these characters spit at eachother, fantastic. Just all around a lovely little treat of a book. Exactly what you want in a mafia dark romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loren Catrone enters a marriage of convenience with the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Callahan Keane, in exchange for his help on finding her brother, Mason. Mason has gone missing after being sent on a mission by the mafia family their family worked for, the Bianchis.

I actually devoured this book. It's been awhile since I've finished a book so quickly, but the pacing and storyline was perfect for me. There are secrets, lies, and plot twists that I somewhat felt like I saw coming but didn't???, and just good old fashion mafia plots like car bombs, rival families, a hate to love relationship between our FMC and MMC. This year, I've discovered that I just love the second chance at love trope and don't even get me started on a Romeo and Juliet theme.

Another thing that I just love in a mafia romance is when the FMC can handle her own. Yes, Cal did save Loren in some areas of the book (as an overprotective MMC would), but this girl is a FIGHTER. She can fight grown men twice her size and would run into a fire to save her man (literally!). It's so refreshing to not always be the damsel in distress all the time! I absolutely cannot wait to read the next books in this new series. Fantastic job, Katherine! I was hooked!

My first ever MAFIA ROMANCE?

SIGN. ME. UP. FOR. MORE!
OH HAWT DANG! I loved this marriage of convenience emotional rollercoaster this book had me on was top tier. I cam for the forbidden love. I stayed for the rival families!

The chemistry between Loren & Cal was electric!!!!!!!
I loved how complex and flawed Cal was but loved even more understanding Loren!

This book was so good. Mafia man Cal is going to get Ren back at any cost, too bad she hates him for breaking her heart. It is the perfect not quite enemies to lovers, second chance book. The twists and turns were interesting and kept me in my toes and the romance was spicy and sweet. I felt like there was a good balance to the story, just the right amount of tension and build up to the romance. The storyline kept me interested (didn’t want to put this one down).