I had no idea that this was part two in a series, but it was still a great read. I will be going back to read the first book again and then will reread this one to see what I missed. It was a great read and could be managed as a standalone if you aren't a stickler for reading in order, but I need to go back so my brain can read the story as it was meant to be read. Great story!

Thank you so much for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Definitely worth reading!

I didn’t know this was the 2nd book in a series. Whoops but I believe it can be read as a standalone. I personally didn’t feel lost listening to this but I might go back to the first book to see if there’s any backstory/extra information I might be missing in this series. There isn't any backstory about Oliver and Mina’s relationship so it just starts off as two couples navigating their struggles.

Mina is strong, smart, and stubborn in my opinion. Mina is constantly trying to save Oliver from trouble and Oliver is trying to protect Mina. So, there’s a lot of issues between the characters and they are separated throughout the book often. Mina is forced to be trained as a spy and Oliver is trying to find Mina.

I think the writing was well written, I enjoyed the story and it was very interesting. I actually like the voices and accents that the narrator used for certain characters. It definitely helped me stay connected to the story.

There were a lot of twists and if I am being honest be aware that it ends in a HUGE cliff hanger. SO, I AM DYING for the 3rd book now.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I did not read the first book prior to reading this, and I probably would have gotten more out of it if I had. I still enjoyed it overall and would consider reading the whole series, especially with that cliff hanger!

I'll admit I should have listened to the preview for the narrators, but the male voice was just so aggressive and cold. I couldn't get into it. I do plan to read the physical copy when I have a chance as the story line is really interesting to me!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this in exchange for this review.
I have not read any in this series. I would have to recommend reading the first one because it is referenced a whole lot in this book. Where something has happened and an attack took place and a knife and whatever. Things like that were referenced several times but I didn't know what they were. Most of the story though I could follow and it was actually an interesting story. I don't know it's so believable that these are high school kids. Early college would make a lot more sense. But they do point out they are underage. But this is pretty brutal and deals with human trafficking not heavily but be aware it does exist and is seen but also kidnapping as was the case for our female protagonist in this book. She was taken to become a spy of some sort. While her boyfriend doesn't know that she was taken to a foreign country is attempting to find her and knows I guess from the first book that it was somebody Russian that took her and so he's trying to get in with Russian people to find her. Probably the whole series would be a better story. But also if the kids were aged up a bit because the things they are dealing with in this certainly are aged up and it would be a little more believable that way.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. While I wanted to love the book more cause the narrator does a great job unfortunately this book is not for me. It’s marketed as a standalone, but is part of a series so I was confused when it drops you in the middle of the story. Highly recommend reading her other book first , and wished that it was listed as a sequel.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!

Wow wow wow. I didnt know what to expect going into this, but it was so good! There are definitely alot of things here that could trigger some, so be sure to read those warnings first, but its worth the read!

I am itching for the next installation after that cliffhanger. Everything seems messier than ever and i have no idea what could happen next.

DNF at 46%. The story was good up to this point, it just wasn't my type of book. I have solely listed/read romance books to this point and really wants to try a different genre. Turns out YA thrillers are not my cup of tea.

This was marketed as a standablone, but with some Googling, I realized it is a sequel. The beginning was good and the narrators were amazing. The romance aspect fell a little flat, for me. There were some scenes that probably could have used a better trigger warning - especially the graphic SA depiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and SERA Press for providing me with a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

A wild ride! Loved the narration! This story was deftly told and I will look for more from this author for sure.

This book definitely doesn’t fall victim to the “book 2 slump” that so often happens in series. And holy cow, I am STILL reeling from the cliffhanger! Thrillers aren’t my typical read, but I really enjoyed Love and Other Sins, and this book was just as good, if not more so! Mina and Ollie are incredibly dynamic characters that reel you into their story fast and hard. I read this as an audiobook and found myself listening every spare minute I had. I loved that this book was a blend of new information and answers to questions that we didn’t get in book 1. I loved seeing how both Mina and Ollie developed as individuals and as a couple. They both had a lot of character growth in this novel. Mina at the end of the book, is a very different character than she was at the start. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to see how this series continues!

This book is emotional rollercoaster-heart-pounding suspense, deep character growth, and a love story that truly tugs at your heartstrings. Mina and Oliver's journey is intense, gripping, and beautifully written. It's dark at times, but the raw emotions and twists kept me hooked. If you love romance with high stakes and thrilling drama. this one's a must read!

This is a dark YA romance and second book in the Love and Other Sins series featuring Mina and Oliver. Mina and her mother are under attack, and she gets abducted by the Russian mafia, forcing her by blackmail to work for them. Oliver, through his side hustle connections, begins a relentless search for Mina to save her and gets caught up in some shady situations himself. One thing after another just keeps happening to prevent their happiness and living normal lives. There is plenty of action and suspense throughout the plot. The ending is left on a cliffhanger that I assume will be picked back up in book three. Overall, this was a pretty good story and kept me interested in Mina and Oliver's plight.

This will definitely be a book I will be recommending to our readers!
The narration was very well done, I enjoyed this audiobook.
It ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what comes next in book three!

This book kicks off with an emotional gut punch between young lovers before diving straight into suspense. Mina’s life is turned upside down when men break into her home, forcing her to make an unthinkable choice—leaving behind her mom and Oliver to protect them, even if it means sacrificing herself.

I didn’t read book one, but I had no trouble following along. This definitely reads as New Adult rather than YA, and while the pacing had some hiccups, it was still easy to stay engaged. If anything, I’d say this is a good gateway for readers looking to dip their toes into darker romance without diving into anything too extreme.

What Worked:
The narration was the highlight. Emilia Ares and Will Collyer did a great job bringing the characters to life. Having the author narrate gave Mina’s emotions an extra layer of authenticity.
Fast start. The beginning pulls you in right away with high-stakes action.
Dual POV. Seeing both Mina’s struggle and Oliver’s desperation added depth to the story.

What Could’ve Been Stronger:
The middle dragged. After the strong start, it felt like I was stuck in a loop of Mina’s despair and Oliver’s panic. The tension dipped, and some scenes could have been trimmed to keep the momentum.
The ending felt abrupt. It left me wondering, is there a sequel? If so, it would help to make that clear because the resolution wasn’t super satisfying.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re into forbidden love, kidnapping, and suspense, this is worth checking out—especially if you’re an audiobook listener. The narration carries the story, making up for some of the slower moments. I’d recommend it for New Adult readers who like their romance with a bit of danger.

3.5/5 Stars

I started listening to this and realized it’s the 2nd book in a series and would really like to read the first before I give a review. It may be okay to read out of order but that feels wrong to my reading process. I’m not sure I will get to reading both by the archive time of 3/18 so in case I don’t, I will say - what was read to far was well-written and intriguing enough that I definitely added the first book to the TBR.

Unfortunately this was marketed as a standalone and I could not truly connect with the characters since I have not read the first book containing these characters. I think those that have read the first however, will enjoy this story.

Thank You to Sera Press and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review

This book had a strong, engaging hook and started off with a quick pace and high stakes. The audiobook dual narration was great and brought life into the plot, so I flew through the book quickly. Unfortunately, as the story unfolded, what began as a promising thriller turned into a fairly basic mafia-spy plot without much tension.

The prose quality was decent. I think the audiobook did a lot of heavy lifting, because the narrators did a great job bringing life into the characters and smoothed out some clunky moments in the writing. They did their best to elevate the material, but for me, the story lacked depth and impact. I wish the book had delivered more intrigue and stronger character dynamics.

This was also marketed as a standalone, but I found out after reading it that it’s actually a sequel. The story made sense without reading the first book, but I felt disconnected from the characters, and I think jumping in at this point contributed to that.

Their romance felt bland to me. They spent most of the book apart and the dynamic of Mina pushing Oliver away to protect him while he chased after her to save her didn’t pull on my heartstrings.

I was put off by some of the content choices as well. This book includes graphic sex and violence, including a detailed sexual assault scene involving the main character. It felt gratuitous. I didn’t expect that from a book that’s published as and reads like Young Adult, even though it slapped the “New Adult” label on it. I don’t think the warning of “violence and dark themes” is sufficient.

I think readers who enjoy simple mafia and spy plots and don’t mind some meandering along the way will enjoy this more, especially if they connect with Mina and Oliver’s romance. I’d only recommend it to those who are comfortable with graphic content, and advise younger readers to be cautious.

Trigger/content warnings: explicit sex scenes, sexual assault (on page to MC), torture, physical and gun violence, kidnapping

Thank you to Netgalley and SERA Press for providing me with a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, SERA PRESS and the author of the ALC.

Rating: 3*
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Young Adult/New Adult

After listening to the book, I realised this was not a stand-alone. I was a bit confused at the beginning. This book started with a bang. it was difficult to listen when Mina was abducted and tortured just to be forced to become their spy and be given a mission. It was so interesting. Also shifted gear to Oliver as he was trying to find Mina. the suspense and action were gripping. I wish I had read the 1st book I would have enjoyed the second book even more.

3.5 stars audiobook

I did not know that there was a first book before I started this one. Based on the reviews, it can be read as a standalone, so that is what I did. I thought the majority of the book was good until the end. I was looking at how much I had left and kept thinking how is this going to be wrapped up? It was odd how everything was so detailed, and then, at the end, we were left without much information. I felt like I missed a few chapters or something.

The audio was done really well. I enjoyed both narrators. I don't know if there is going to be another book, but the ending wasn't an ending.