3 3/4 Stars. I always get excited when a new Cain Casey book comes out. This series has been a favorite of mine for a long time. What’s nice about this book is it is basically a prequel. That means for readers new to the Casey series is you can start with this one, not having to read any other books first.

This is the story about how Cain and Emma first meet. While we were told small bits and pieces in the other books, it was great actually reading the whole story. This is also shortly after Cain’s father has been murdered and she has to now step up to lead the family. For anyone who isn’t familiar with these books, Cain is the head of a Mob family in New Orleans. This book is still at the beginning before Cain loses all of her innocence.

What is interesting about these books and what hooked me into this series… in any other book Cain would be consider a “bad guy” (girl actually, but you get my point). She is absolutely deadly, but you can’t help but cheer her on. The people you want to fail most are the FBI. It’s pretty impressive how Vali is able to suck you into “the dark side”.

While I enjoyed this read, I did think the chemistry between Cain and Emma was not quite what I was hoping for. In future books Cain and Emma are pretty hot together. They absolutely have a spark; I just didn’t feel it was as noticeable here as I had expected it to be.

I did really like getting to see some characters that are no longer in the series. It made me a little melancholy to know some of their fates, but it was nice to get to know them more. The crime/intrigue factor was well done like Vali does with all her Cain books. Cain always has plans to put other mobsters or the FBI in their place, but you don’t know them as a reader until the slowly unfold. Vali is pretty imaginative.

If you are new to this series, you can start with this book. It might not be as meaningful not knowing what happens to everyone, but if I was new to the series, I’d want to start here. I hope Vali has more plans for Cain books in the future. I’m not ready for this series to end.

I received this book as an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in return for an honest review. First let me say the Cain Casey Series is the only think I’ve read by Ali Vali that I love. I LOVE these books. I think Cain is crazy and wonderful at the same time. I find Emma a bit annoying. As far as this book it was good to learn about their courtship. It was an interesting part of their story that we finally got told.

I do think there was an issue with calling Bryce’s brother Sammy the first time we hear about him and Charlie the next time we hear about him. Why Is that?

My favorite part of these books is how well Cain Casey gets over on everyone else. It seems like the FBI is really bad at their jobs. Overall a great way to start the Cain Casey series. It was really enjoyable.

I usually enjoy books by Ali Vali but this one didn’t totally capture me. I liked both characters - and how the author portrait Cain as a criminal in the making but still showed her kind and soft side behind her hard facade. Emma’s character was the complete opposite of Cain - a poorer, small town girl that is a bit naive. The relationship between the two built a little too fast for my taste and made it a bit unrealistic. They hardly knew each other and were already a couple which also didn’t help with their chemistry for each other in my opinion. There weasn’t a lot of chemistry between them. I wanted to like this book but there was just something off-putting about it.

Ali Vali has a terrific series in the Cain Casey novels! This book delivers and goes back to the style of telling the story of how the two main characters meet and become a couple.

This book also shares a good look into who Cain is a woman before her family is fully taken away from her and the author does a wonderful job at crafting Cain into 'yes' a criminal, but yet leaving a veil of 'innocence' that is still in place before the death of her mother, brother and sister.

I'm glad the author wrote this book. It's well done and I don't want to give away a lot of the plot. But I enjoyed the setup. It was just enough of other antagonist to keep the book interesting, but not where there are so many plot lines and stories going on that you get lost.

The last book, while well done, had so many plots and characters, it was difficult to find a cohesive story. and focus on one or two couples. This book goes back to that mix of action, thriller, and romance and just enough supportive characters to enjoy and stay in a good pace with the story arch.

I am hoping to see the new book soon in the Devil series, as I am hoping Muriel finally finds love. I'd love to see a book devoted to her as she has been Cain's solid family from the start of the series.

Brilliant as expected. Once I started this book I just could't put it down. I love the Devil Series and have read it several times over. Ali Vali has made my year by writing the story about Cain and Emma's romance. The story was a constant page turner. Reading about the characters was like visiting old friends and learning more of their purpose in each others lives. It was sad, frustrating and full of angst. It was simply astonishing. My students are excited they will get to read this next month. Well done, Ali. This is a keeper.