Mark by Jessica Gadziala

I wanted to pull her apart and see how the pieces worked. I wanted to know what made her tick the way she did. Then I wanted to put her right back into her own particular, perfect working order and enjoy the fuck out of her until the both of us were just piles of sweat and orgasm-sated, numb, tangled limbs. Then we could go from there. That seemed like a good jumping-off point.

Mark-
Love and commitment might be great. You know, for my brothers. Not for me. But then, in a chance meeting, I came across her. Why was she different? I couldn’t say for sure. Maybe it was the fact that she was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. Maybe it was the the sharp edges she wore like a shield that made me want to see what was beneath. Or maybe it had something to do with whatever secret she was trying so desperately to hide.

Scotti-
Love and commitment weren’t even in the realm of possibilities for me. My life had one purpose, one mission, and I couldn’t afford to let anyone get in the way. But then there was Mark Mallick - ladies man, loanshark enforcer, and very determined to know my secrets.

That was problematic any day, but especially so with him. Why? Maybe because the things he would offer me, the things he would show me were possibilities for my life could make me completely reevaluate the mission that had completely consumed the last ten years of my life.

But could I have those things? Could I escape the life I had been trapped in for so long? With Mark Mallick by my side, I was thinking maybe it was possible…

Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35121584-mark

-- My Two Cents --

5 stars!

With how easily I fell in love with both Mark and Scotti and this story, I had to give it all the stars!

⭐ as you know, Mark and his brothers were enforcers for their father's loansharking business. They all had successful legit businesses as well. Mark was really great with his hands (hot right?) and did construction and landscaping. Seriously, who isn't impressed with a man who knows how to use his hands???
⭐ Scotti and her brothers weren't strangers to crime, but I loved how the author created their purpose. They weren't seeking riches and I had to admire their honorable, if a bit misguided, cause.
⭐ I'm trying to think of what there was not to love about this book. Scotti had finally found a man who understood her. A man she could truly be herself with. Someone who knew what it was to be on the other side of the law, who understood her fears. And despite her being a flight risk, Mark proved time and time again how determined he was to make their relationship work.
⭐ their families were amazing. I think Scotti's brothers will only add to the beauty that the Mallicks offer.

Honestly, there was so much to love about this book. The push and pull between Mark and Scotti was at once hilarious and delicious. The smoothness of their relationship, even when Scotti was scared to trust it, was something that gave me the warm fuzzies. Now, with all of the hints dropped since Shane's book about Eli, I'm ready to find out what's going on. I get that it's out of the reading order, but after learning what I did in this book, I need his book NOW!