Not Mine to Keep is a romantic suspense novel about Calliope DiMaggio, who is trying to escape her family's mafia ties. Despite her efforts to live a normal life as a teacher and singer in Nashville, her father's dying wish forces her back into the mafia lifestyle. Even worse, she finds herself in an arranged marriage to a wealthy billionaire, Alessandro Costa.

What started as pretend, soon turns real and as Calliope and Alessandro's relationship deepens, they find themselves caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse involving secrets, betrayal, and a deadly threat to their lives.

Great mixture of romantic suspense, strong characters, intense plot twists, and a thrilling storyline, The characters are well-developed and relatable. A fab combination of romance, danger, and family drama, but at times quite dark, with themes of violence and betrayal.

"She’s the kind of friend that points out your crown is slipping, not quietly helps fix it."

(second book in the series, I had not read the first one.)

I absolutely adore Alessandro and Calliope’s story. Brittney Sahin never fails to impress with her ability to weave a story that keeps you in the edge of your seat. The way she incorporates characters from previous stories is unparalleled. I highly recommend this book. I wished I could give it more than 5 stars

When billionaire Alessandro Costa shows up to settle an old debt at a party, he has no idea the woman he meets, and is immediately attracted to, is going to be his next "job". Calliope Anderson is a teacher, and secret mob heiress, who wants nothing to do with her mafia boss biological father. After learning that her father is speeding up the timeline for her to get married and produce an heir, she has to decide how much trust she's willing to put into this handsome stranger, and his plan to protect her by marrying her himself.

I loved the flirty and fiery banter between Alessandro and Calliope. The chemistry and tension between them was fantastic! Alessandro was such a swoony hero even when he was fighting what he was feeling for Calliope. We all know that even the strongest end up falling in the end. The action picked up pretty quickly and it kept me glued to the pages. This book was an incredible mix of adventure, suspense, romance and steam.

If you are looking for a fast paced marriage of convenience between a bit of a morally gray vigilante and a fiesty but sweet mob princess, this is one you should definitely read!

Every time I read a Brittney Sahin’s book, I end up in a book reading slump. Mainly because I love the way she develops her characters and plot.

Alessandro has met his match by convenience in Callie, a newly Mafia princess. Both characters have issues they need to deal with before they eventually have their happily ever after.

As always, this book has action, plot and steam! Thanks Brittney for another great one! :)

4.25 ⭐
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: forced marriage, reformed playboy


Playboy billionaire Alessandro wants to marry country singer and teacher Calliope…but only for a few month so he can take down her father’s empire and settle a debt. A reluctant mafia princess, Calliope knows she has to marry and produce an heir before she’s 35. Callie will figure that out “eventually”, until someone makes an attempt on her life, and Alessandro shows up to keep her safe and convince her of his plan. Neither of them expected to fall for the other.


This book is definitely a mafia book, but it’s more mafia lite- which I really enjoyed. You find out quickly that Alessandro and his siblings are more like superheroes (without superpowers) than a typical mafia family flexing their muscle to bend people to their will. I thought it was a unique approach to the mafia trope.


Another thing I enjoyed was Alessandro’s sarcastic inner monologue, it definitely had me giggling.


And the scene where they finally admit their feelings to each other is amazing!!!


Not Mine to Keep is an enjoyable satisfying read that I recommend to any romance reader, even if they aren’t really into mafia books.


I received an advanced copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I love a mafia romance! Alessandro and Calliope’s relationship had its ups and downs as this is a marriage of convenience story, but when it was on, it was ON! This book is both steamy and dreamy.

Yet again Brittney gives us an amazing story with the perfect HEA. Alessandro and Calliope are simply dynamite. Their banter from the start gives a lot of personality to their characters and their relationship as a whole. How easily Calliope was able to tame the wild beast is adorable. How protective Alessandro is with no qualms of doing WHATEVER is necessary. Chef's kiss. He goes from growly beast at work to cinnamon roll when he's with Calliope. All the action. All the romance. All the personality. Couldn't get enough.

This book is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Britney once again you have created a wonderful story, full of characters you want to spend time with. I don't like to give spoilers with my reviews, so I'll just say, you'll regret not reading this book.

Calliope is the smart mouthed, sultry siren of the south who immediately captures the attention of our broody playboy, Alessandro Costa, while attending a charity event.

Little does he know just how much the alluring spitfire is about to take over his world & quite possibly his heart.

How far are you really willing to go to repay a friend for saving your own flesh & blood? Is there anything you wouldn’t do? A line you wouldn’t cross for them? Unalive someone?Check, been there done that. Marry a stranger? Guess there’s a first time for everything.

Alessandro swiftly contemplates these questions and more when his childhood friend comes to collect on that life debt.

To repay his debt, he must marry the beautiful, innocent Calliope to protect her from her estranged, dying father, the head of the Cosa Nostra, before he can marry her off to a wicked man to fulfill his final wish to have an heir to his throne - one way or another.

But when protecting Calliope becomes something more than just a job, can Alessandro prove he’s a reformed playboy and ready to be Calliope’s forever man? Will Alessandro be able to let his guard down & let love in or is their relationship written in the stars as not mine to keep?

Tropes: forced proximity, my wife, touch her & I’ll unalive you vibes, cinnamon roll hero with smoldering alpha-hole attitude when you want it, dirty talking billionaire, marriage of convenience/protection

Not mine to keep
Alessandro- leading man. Strong, Charming, but emotionally unavailable.
Calliope- Callie- leading female. Teacher/aspiring singer, fun, independent.
Now while this may sound like familiar characters you’ve read before; add in a fantastic plot dealing with the mafia, an unwanted forced marriage, a loving, but no boundaries family, humorous texting and friendships, suspense and secrets, smoldering chemistry and you have another amazing Brittney Sahin one of a kind story. This is the second book featuring the Costa family. Equally as good as the first one. You will find yourself wanting to be part of this close knit, intense but loving family. What starts out as a chance meeting full of smoldering flirting, quickly turns to their pasts coming to collect. On the journey of trying to figure out how they will solve their obstacles and challenges, you get to see Callie break through Alessandro’s defenses while they wrestle with emotional events of their pasts. You’ll be reunited with favorite past characters, experience the perfect action packed plot, the right amount of romance and spiciness and finally an unexpected pull the heart strings ending.
While this story is a stand alone, I recommend you read Let Me Love You first so you too can enjoy this creative, well written, action packed, romantic story. Buckle up and enjoy another fantastic ride.

Alessandro and his siblings are billionaire crime fighters. Calliope is a teacher and part time country singer. Their worlds collide when a long ago debt is called in and Alessandro is tasked with marrying Calliope to keep her safe from a dangerous man in the Italian mafia. It doesn't take Alessandro long to realize he'll do anything to protect Calliope...anything but keep her forever.

Sahin's attention to detail is found in her descriptions of Sicily and in the military references. Her trademark suspense makes the book impossible to put down. She's a one-click author for me and Not Mine to Keep doesn't disappoint!

Not Mine to Keep is the 2nd in the Costa Family series, but reads as a standalone.

I absolutely loved Alessandro and Callie’s story! Funny, sexy, suspenseful, it had it all. I thought the plot was unique and enjoyed cameos of characters from previous books. And the ending was just absolutely perfect! I cannot wait for Hudson and Izzy’s story, and I would definitely start with Let Me Love You, just to appreciate cameos and understand a few references.

This is yet another hit by Brittney Sahin. I loved the chemistry between Alessandro and Calliope. Alessandro is dark, but has a tender side that she brings out in him and she is not timid and has the sass he needs. They are perfect together! There were quite a few twists in the story that kept you guessing on just exactly who you could trust and it definitely kept the suspense going. I always love how Brittney weaves past characters into her new stories and this one had some of my favorites. I look forward to the next book, meanwhile, I think I will go back and revisit a few of those favorites from past books. One thing I always know, when I pick up a book by Brittney Sahin, I am NEVER disappointed!!!

Not Mine to Keep is the second installment in the Costa Family series. Brittney Sahin met and exceeded every expectation I had. A billionaire with a playboy reputation who's addicted to hunting and eliminating those who inhabiit the dark underbelly of the world. A Nashville songbird and teacher whose world is turned upside-down when she discovers she's the daughter of an Italian Mafia Kingpin. A debt repayment called in. Multiple bad actors with revenge and murder plots in play. You get the picture; lots going on in this book.The suspense, intrigue, danger, plot twists and emotional highs and lows couple with a sizzling, white hot romance will keep you glued to Not Mine to Keep, cover to cover.

Allesandro Costa starts falling for Calliope Anderson at their first encounter but he doesn't do love or relationships. At least that's what he's convinced himself of. When she becomes a job it gives him the perfect excuse to keep her at arm's length. Calliope has Allesandro's number just by looking at him: urbane, gorgeous and self assured in his ten thousand dollar suit. Having him suddenly thrust into her life and marrying him in order to be protected is nit what she bargained for. Finding out that underneath his stoic aeemingly emotionless faćade is a teddy bear of a man with a big, big heart cinches her feelings for him. You'll ride the highs and lows and the ins and outs of taking down those who want Calliope gone from this earth as these two fall deeply in love.

"Not Mine To Keep" will make you want to keep reading and reading. Just like all of her books I never wanted the story to end! The characters in the book along especially Callie and Alessandro, the chemistry is out of this world with the two of them. It will leave you wanting more with all of the drama, fun, and some spice! I can not wait for the next book. if i could give this 10 stars i would, 5 just does not seem like enough.

I am not a fan when life gets in the way of a fantastic read. Unfortunately, that is what happened with this book, and it took longer to read than I had planned. I cannot say enough about Alessandro and Calliope's story. From the beginning, you knew that whatever walls Alessandro had up would eventually fall for this sassy Southerner.

There is intense chemistry between these two that you can feel coming off the page. We were introduced to Alessandro in Let Me Love You, and he is a playboy with a side of vigilante. We now see what makes him tick and why he has not allowed himself to love.

This book has action and suspense, allowing Brittney to bring back some of her characters from her Dublin Nights series to offer assistance, which is always a plus. I cannot wait for Hudson's and Izzy's story.

A marriage of convenience to a mafia princess, what could go wrong? A chance meeting between billionaire Alessandro Costa and Calliope DiMaggio at an event we see lots of chemistry, but they both go their separate ways.

Callie is a school teacher and musician on the side. She grew up away from the Mafia world that her family is trying to pull her back into by having her marry someone they approve. Alessandro is a billionaire vigilante who is asked to help keep her safe. Well, that means getting temporarily married.
Brittney Sahin sure continues her series with intrigue, suspense, chemistry, witty banter. She creates characters that are real and well developed. I love how she always includes past characters into her books.

There is so much chemistry between Alessandro and Callie. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Their interaction as they learn about each other is soo swoony. Callie brings Alessandro back to a life he didn't think he deserved. A great love story between two unlikely people.

I just loved their story. Brittney Sahin sure knows how to write with subplots that make up a well written love story.

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Action, adventure, suspense & intrigue all wrapped up in red hot romance 🔥

I love Brittney’s particular blend of Action, Suspense and Romance - for me, she mixes those ingredients together in exactly the right measure, like the perfect Margarita! The cinematic, sweeping locations; the flowing, suspenseful plot twists; the seamless, fluid character development are all written with a finesse which is rare and special and satisfies my little romantic suspense loving heart - and this book has all of that in spades!

I'd class this book as 'Mafia adjacent' as both the MCs are merely on the periphery of that life, but the FMC’s family ties are pulling her into it against her will and the MMC tries to help save her from that.

Calliope is brave, feisty and sassy - the kind of FMC that makes me want to be her bestie. She gives as good as she gets and her bantering conversations and flirty text chats with Alessandro (MMC) are highly entertaining.

Alessandro is a little damaged, with some red flags on display. He thinks he’s more ‘anti-hero’ but as the story unfolds we see the true heart of his character. He’s a delectable mix of gentle and kind with a morally grey edge - flawed, but a true, self-sacrificing, inherently 'good' hero. He’s also gloriously spicy hot 🔥 and those 'my wife' moments are delectable!

The chemistry between the MCs is so beautifully written it's tangible. They try to restrain it, but the forced proximity of their evolving circumstances teases their sexual chemistry to tantalisingly explosive levels!

This can absolutely be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first book in the series, 'Let Me Love You' (cos it's damn good!)

Looking forward to the audio release!

Whenever I’m in the mood for a romantic suspense, I always go to Brittney Sahin books. She always delivers! Not Mine To Keep is another winner. Great balance between swoon and suspense, between light and dark. I love the Costa family, and Callie is amazing! She’s such a good character, and her struggles felt so real. Alessandro is best described by his sister, a tough guy but a teddy bear underneath. And if that’s not the best combination, I don’t know what more you need! Loved it!

Brittney has done it again! Not mine to keep definitely wants you waiting for what happens next. It has it all romance, intrigue, action and touching moments. Can't wait for the next book in the series.