REVIEW: The Gun Runner by Scott Hildreth

In The Gun Runner (Mafia Made #1) by Scott Hildreth, Ex-Marine Michael Tripp might be a gun runner but he does have a code of ethics. And being involved with the Mafia doesn’t sit well with him. When he and his crew are called upon to right a previous wrong, they become involved in a situation that could easily get them killed. Michael normally wouldn’t worry much about his own safety as long as everyone else is okay, but meeting Terra changed all that. Now he has someone to call his own. Someone to love, who will love him back. And no one will come between them. Ever.

“Life isn’t perfect, and it never will be. But a bad day with you will always be better than my best day at war.”

Terra Agrioli doesn’t like people finding out who her father is. After they hear that she’s a Mafia princess, she’s never looked at or treated the same way again. She definitely wasn’t looking for someone to date, having just ended a bad relationship. But when Michael comes to Terra’s rescue, she can’t let him walk away. So if she doesn’t come clean about who her family is, just while they’re getting to know each other, what could it hurt? Especially since Michael wants to begin with a ‘no big deal relationship’ and then see where it will lead. Before she realizes, though, Terra is head over heels for the guy and wondering what will happen when he learns the truth.

‘Not opening up to Michael was making me sick, and one way or another, I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer. I felt like the lies were building up, and soon they’d explode, making my life a complete mess.’

What a thrilling story! The Gun Runner was an exciting blend of erotica, suspense, and straight-up romance. From the can’t-keep-their-hands-off-each-other chemistry between our hero and heroine and the secrets they were both hiding, I didn’t want to put this book down for even a second.

‘At that moment, nothing mattered. Not my father, my heritage or my religious beliefs. Love has no boundaries, and at that instant, for the first time, I felt that whatever connection anyone on earth might have, we certainly had.’

Right off the bat this book had two things going for it as the storyline centered around the Mafia and ex-military members. Seeing those two very volatile worlds collide proved to be every bit as interesting as it sounds. Of course I also knew right away that there would be some kickass action scenes–and there were–but honestly, even as electrifying as those were, it was the growing relationship between ex-Marine Michael and Mafia princess Terra that stole the show for me.

I have to say that even though Michael may not have been a squeaky clean guy (he *was* a gun runner after all) I thought he made a great hero. He was the type of man who had strong personal convictions and would always try to do what he thought was right, as well as be loyal to his loved ones. And boy did he love Terra. Watching Michael open up and accept love into his life was something wonderful. I truly enjoyed his time spent with her, and knowing that this was written from a male perspective, I thought that only made Michael’s passionate, almost sweet, inner thoughts and devotion to Terra that much more meaningful.

I grew to like Terra over the course of the story although I was a bit perturbed with her for keeping secrets like she did. I will caution readers sensitive to abusive relationships that the opening of the book might be difficult as her previous boyfriend made it known he wasn’t happy that they broke up. Aside from that, Terra was kind of a hoot to get to know. She was Italian through and through and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was pretty much an equal to Michael in their relationship even though he was an alpha guy. And their attraction was off the charts so the love scenes between them were intense and super sexy. Being an erotic romance, those moments were written in a graphic manner but it was done in a way that fit both the characters and the situation perfectly.

With moments that had me holding my breath with worry over what would happen, to moments that nearly brought tears to my eyes with the power and depth of Michael and Terra’s love, The Gun Runner was a terrific beginning to the Mafia Made series. I have very high hopes for the next installment.

Book Info:

Publication: August 8th 2016 | Carina Press | Mafia Made #1

The first book in a seductive new series from #1 Amazon bestselling author Scott Hildreth

Tripp

Once, I took down terrorists on the front lines as a marine.
Now I’m in the business of bad.
I’ve sold guns to people others might not approve of.
I’ve eliminated the criminals, the lowlifes and the thugs who’ve tread on my turf.
And I looked the Sicilian Mafia boss in the eye and told him to f*** off.
No one tells me no, unless it’s their last word.
I didn’t just act the part of bad—I lived it. Then she stumbled into my life.
I tried to stay away from her. Tried focusing on moving my merchandise. But one smile from Terra was like a shot to the heart.
She’s mine now. And no one threatens what’s mine.

Terra

I’ve seen a lot of terrible things in my life.
I grew up around lies and deception, and I ran away from all of them.
Until I met him.
I knew he was corrupt. I knew he was dangerous.
I should have stayed away, but my attraction to him, my need for him, overrode my logic.
Now I love him.
If he finds out who I am, we’re done and I’ll be nothing.
I never wanted to be the Mafia princess they tried to make me, but mia familia had other plans. And what mia familia wants…it gets.
Only Michael Tripp can save me.