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ARC Review of 'A Love Most Brutal' by Kath Richards
A mafia arranged marriage that was never supposed to be about love, but of course love crashes in anyway. (ARC REVIEW)
Kath Richards has done it again. A Love Most Brutal is the perfect sequel to A Love Most Fatal and honestly, while reading book 1, I already knew I needed more of Maxim. And rest be assured, Richards gave us everything we didn't even know we wanted.
Maxim Orlov absolutely shines in this book. At thirty-eight, desperate for an heir and weighed down by his family's legacy, his vulnerability comes through so beautifully. Mary Morelli, on the other hand, truly comes into her own here. In the first book, she was a fierce and sharp enforcer but in 'A Love Most Brutal' we see the cracks beneath that steel.
Watching her balance her role as protector with her own need for connection made her feel more real than ever. Together, their dynamic is perfect, an arranged marriage that was never supposed to be about love but of course love crashes in anyway.
This sequel doesn't lean too heavily into the mafia storyline either but instead pulls us a bit into the Russian side of things through Maxim's world. It's unexpected since at its heart this series is a rom-com, but it works so well. Richards balances it all with humor, warmth and romance, and also one important thing that 's worth noting is that every moment so far in the series feels so purposeful and seamless. One has to give it to Richards for that.
And speaking of humor... oh my god, the family group chat had me giggling constantly. Seeing more of Nate was also such a joy; so was seeing moments of the Morelli family warmth that reminded me why I loved this cast of characters from the start. The way Richards paces the romance, slowly unraveling the walls Maxim and Mary built around themselves, was handled perfectly.
A Love Most Brutal is romantic, funny, tender and surprising in the best ways. Maxim and Mary’s story adds depth to the Morelli world while still keeping the rom-com heart that makes these books so addictive. Thank you so much to Kath Richards for the ARC. This sequel was everything I hoped for and more.
ISBN: 979-8990370463
Pub Date: September 4, 2025