Val wants one thing in life: to belong. Her father was a cheat, and her mother an abuser. Her half-sister is indifferent, and her half-brother—leader of The Alliance—makes sure she’s protected, but is just as distant as everyone else. No one knows her, and no one loves her, but a chance meeting at the airport that crackles with intense chemistry gives her hope that her lonely existence is about to change. She doesn’t know that her mystery man is in the middle of a war. He needs The Alliance, and intends to become a member—by any means necessary.

Full of angst and action, this was a great addition to the series. I felt a solid connection to Valentine, and her emotional journey was especially poignant. I was also pleasantly surprised by the romance; even though I didn’t vibe with some aspects, it had a lot of heart. I especially loved seeing all the characters from the three novels so far come together. Having all of the MMCs —Nero, King, and Dom—interact made for epic banter and some seriously funny moments.