I think the plot is interesting, but the writing left a lot to be desired. It pulls you out of the plot a lot because it wasn’t the best written. There was a struggle with the adjectives, grammar, and overall flow of the novel.

Where do I even start? Marriage of convenience with a mafia/assassin twist will always have a place in my heart. Callie and Alessandro have a chance encounter as charity auction event. Callie performs a few covers, including that of Chris Stapleton (who Alessandro doesn’t known of) and he becomes instantly smitten with her. Only to soon learn this the reason he was sent to the event was to meet this elementary level history teacher….because she was the illegitimate and ONLY heir to the largest and older mafia family. If Alessandro can’t convince Callie to flee her life, he has to convince her to marry him (temporarily of course…) so she isn’t kidnapped by her estranged birth father and forced to marry an even worse monster to produce a viable male heir.
There is a healthy amount of banter and bickering and sass from both main characters to really give you an idea on their personalities and how the bring out the best and worst in each other. Throw in some espionage, explosions, kidnapping, coercion and LOTS of steamy sex and you have the perfect light grey romance read.
I’ve never read anything by Brittany Sahin before but not I need to read the next story about Izzy and Hudson!

Thank you #Netgalley and publishers for this arc

Love this author and her combination of romance danger and twists and turns!
The romance between Alessandro and Calliope was hot, both trying to fight it since it was (supposedly) only for appearances . But the more time and emotions shared together the harder it was. This the first of the Costa series I have read, but going back to read the first, Enzo and Maria’s story.
If you like your stories with suspense, hot romance with a little Mafia thrown in,
Grab this book.

Thank you to netgalley, for the copy of this amazing story

I love how Brittney Sahin continues to create such amazing characters and storylines that match their personalities so perfectly. Alessandro is absolutely one of my favorite Brittney heroes and Callie is way up there on my favorite Brittney heroine list. They are perfect for each other, and their story (which can definitely be read as a standalone) brought the intensity, the heat, and a lot of serious heart!

What I Love About It:

"My Wife"
Chapter 28
So much delicious tension
Gripping Suspense & intrigue
Fast paced action
Growly protector with a hidden soft side
Sunshiny heroine with serious backbone & determination
Plot twists
Explosive chemistry
Familiar faces (names) from another favorite series
Family bonds

Brittney Sahin did it again! The Costa's aren't your typical veteran family, but they have so much depth to offer. When you find out why Allasandro is so determined not to fall for Calliope, you'll be rooting for them even more. This book has action, spice, and a HEA. What more can you ask for? Now, to not so patiently, wait for Hudson and Izzy's story.

Absolutely loved Alessandro and Callie’s story. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved their banter and her smart mouth. I highly recommend this book and all of Brittney’s other books as well. She’s a talented author and I love her writing!

I absolutely loved Alessandro! This was a great story. Well developed story line kept you reading page after page.

I received this book as an ARC.

I have been reading Brittney’s books for years, and every single one of her books gets better than the previous!

The sexual tension between both main characters is off the charts! Some of the best banter between main characters, I have ever read.

Tough acting, morally gray, main male lead, and a female lead that gives as good as she gets. Forced togetherness and shared spaces! So many 🥵🥵🥵 scenes.

5 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Highly recommend this book!

Side Note I would check out book order if you have never read any of Britney’s books before. This book can be read as a standalone, but it may contain some slight spoilers from the first book in this series if you skip ahead.

Happy reading ❤️

my first read from this Author and so enjoyed .it has it all twist s and someone will do anything to get what they want and a very hot read. Calliope. just wants a normal life and to become a famous singer, Alessandro bumps into her at a fundraising event he was invited to. he try's the charm on her but not works. then he gets the call, and he know knows why he is there and when he takes a job on, he does everything to protect the client. but this one a bit different he has to marry Calliope, and it won't be easy as Calliope is a very strong woman it's an amazing read.

Brittney is the Queen of romantic suspense Not Mine to Keep is the second book of the Costa Family series and brings us Alessandro and Calliope. We also get mentions of a favorite Falcon Falls couple as well as quite a few of some of the Dublin Nights crew.

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Brittney has an uncanny ability to get your heart racing from the suspense and action as much as the spice. She’s also a master of crafting lovable and relatable main characters while simultaneously creating villains worthy of all the hate. It’s a balance not everyone can master, but Brittney definitely has.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Alessandro and Callie each navigate through past and present trauma to find their happily ever after. I can’t wait for Izzy and Hudson’s story next.

Give me a marriage of convenience to a mafia princess, toss in the hero’s too involved family, a reluctant bride and solving the mystery of who wants to have her eliminated. What you’ll have is Sahin’s next best seller, Not Mine To Keep.

NMTK mixes action, suspense, romance and smoking hot chemistry between Alessandro & Calliope. All of the elements we have come to appreciate and devour in a Brittney Sahin story.

A chance meeting (was it really) between Alessandro & Callie becomes a game of cat & mouse with the dark forces determined to stop her ascension to the DiMaggio family throne. The only way for Alessandro to help keep her safe is to marry her, in name only. And as in all good romance novels, the tension between the two builds until it’s palpable and can no longer be denied.

Some of our old friends from Sahin’s Dublin Nights series make a guest appearance and offer an assist in rooting out the bad guys. Izzy & Hudson almost steal the show with their antics and smolder. Good thing their story is next!
Looking forward to the continuation of this series.

wow! what can I say about her writing that hasn't already been said. I swear she can't surprise me but continues to do so with each new book and this one is no exception. Alessandro has the heart of a warrior but cares so much for everyone. how he pays attention to the wants and needs of Calliope is unmatched. makes me wish and want someone just like him in my life. way to go Brittney can't wait for the next one!



please never stop writing I live through your characters

Suspense, action, and emotion in a cinematic-worthy story.

Brittney Sahin creates the most swoon-worthy heroes. And none better than Alessandro a slightly morally grey playboy who’s a teddy bear underneath for the women in his life. Calliope Anderson is the current woman in his life as much as a mission of protection can be. But with every moment that passes the feisty school teacher/ singer burrows deeper and deeper under Alessandro’s skin. He agrees to marry Calliope to settle a debt and to protect her from the intended husband her mafia boss “father” wants her to marry. A fake marriage for three months and they’ll both be back to their normal lives. Well, there may be one or two ‘eliminations’ in between…

If you’ve never read a Brittney Sahin novel, get ready to be lured into a fantastic unputdownable book by a master storyteller. The action, suspense, steam, and buildup of emotions throughout her stories keep you enthralled and reading well past bedtime. Her characters will live long in your mind after you’ve finished the story; you’ll crave more of them and hope she brings them back as a cameo in a future book. They are multi-faceted, well-written, and people I’d like to be friends with (or protected by <3). I love the supporting characters and hope they (in time) will get their own stories. I enjoy her crossover cameos, it’s a chance to catch up on people from previous books. The action and suspense are written so well that the movie plays in my mind as I read. These books would transition effortlessly to the big screen. Ms. Sahin’s stories are unique and captivating, and I can’t wait to read them. Next up in the Costa series is Hudson and Izzy, and I can’t wait for the tension and suspense to come.

Music city meets the city that never sleeps. A mafia princess meets the prince of justice, who does what’s right no matter the job.
Brittney has outdone herself again! The journey of Alessandro and Calliope is intense, slow burning and will take you on the rude of a lifetime.

There is never enough stars for Brittney’s work

Wow! Another fantastic read from Brittney Sahin! This story is the second book in the Costa Family series. I enjoyed how the relationship between Alessandro and Calliope evolved throughout the book. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like Alessandro but his teddy bear moments had me swooning. This is an action packed read with lots of twists and turns. I loved how Brittney wove in characters from previous books and series. It was great to get little updates and a few easter eggs. If you are looking for a spicy, action packed mafia, alpha male story, then this is your book!

An awesome suspenseful mafia romance. Two people with amazing chemistry thrown together by wild circumstances, with twists and turns that will keep you hooked. And the spice doesn’t hurt.

I have read all of Brittney’s books and this was another enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the beginning and end of this book, I did feel the middle dragged on a bit but in the end it didn’t really take away from the story. There was just a little too much I can’t have her for my taste. I was glad to see Enzo in this book, I was afraid we wouldn’t see him much since his story is complete. I also appreciated the glimpses into Hudson and Izzy’s story.

An emotional roller-coaster ride is what you get. The longing, fustrations, pain, slow burn & love pours out of the pages. You enjoy & love the bonds within the Costa family. Suspense keeps you on edge. Brilliant. Honest review

I am in love with the Costas. This was another great read from Brittney Sahin. I'm not sure how she does it but she easily pulls you into another world with her books where you become fully engaged with what is happening, cheering on the characters and feeling what they are going through. I loved this book from the first chapter to the last. The minute I started reading and discovered the plot line I fell in love more.

One of my favorite parts about this book was the texts between Alessandro and Enzo. I appreciated that Alessandro commented multiple times that he went to a therapist and he was using Enzo as a therapist during this mission. I thought that it strengthened Enzo's character to admit that he needed someone to talk to even though he was a very Alpha male character. I enjoyed Calli's banter with Alessandro and her sass. They were so great together and the way the family came together to help them was perfect.

One thought I kept having while reading this book was how perfectly it was named. It's not something that I usually think about, but both the characters said it so often it stood out to me. Both characters struggled so much with the fact they were falling in love with each other, but the arrangement they were in didn't match with how they were feeling and they both pushed each other away because of it adding to the issues they were already facing.

Another 5 stars for sure. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Not Mine to Keep" by Brittney Sahin is a captivating romance that expertly weaves together themes of billionaire, mafia, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and age gap.

Alessandro Costa, a playboy billionaire with no intention of ever marrying, finds his world upended when he meets Calliope, a school teacher and aspiring country music singer. Determined to protect her from her Mafia boss father and those who seek to prevent her from inheriting the empire. The plan is marriage of convenience, ostensibly to produce an heir, while he and his brothers work to eliminate their enemies and settle old scores. What was meant to be a temporary arrangement soon complicates as Alessandro realizes that Calliope is becoming more than just a duty—she’s someone he might not be able to let go.

Sahin's writing style is engaging and evocative. The pacing is slow burn with a blend of heartfelt moments and sizzling chemistry and romance.