Naughty and Nice (Brutal Vows) by Aleatha Romig-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 17, 2025

Cartel romance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, protective hero, unexpected love, independent heroine, he falls first, age-gap, organized crime, morally gray hero, widow heroine, trauma recovery, dangerous romance

As a newly declared lieutenant in the Roríguez cartel, I’m told I need a wife. The cartel allegiance with the Luciano family has mandated multiple matrimonial mergers. However, I’m not looking for a wife in the true sense of the word. Liliana Ruiz has been in my life for years. I’d never before looked at her as a woman to pursue. When I first met her, she was damaged and timid.

Time allowed Liliana to grow into not only a beautiful woman, but an independent soul. She doesn’t want to marry, yet the time will come when it isn’t her choice. Maybe I can convince her to a mutually agreeable solution: marriage in name only.
Everything changes when danger threatens the Roríguez cartel.

••••••••

REVIEW: NAUGHTY AND NICE is a contemporary, adult, erotic, holiday novella found in Aleatha Romig’s BRUTAL VOWS Mafia romance series. This is Roriguez cartel lieutenant Nick Ruiz, and Liliana Ruiz’s story line. NAUGHTY AND NICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nick and Liliana) NAUGHTY AND NICE focuses on the upcoming marriage of our story line couple. As a new lieutenant in the Roriguez Cartel, Nick Ruiz is expected to marry, and his heart is set on Liliana Ruiz, a member of the Luciano Family, and a woman who believes she is not worthy of love but the Luciano Family and the Roriguez Cartel are on the verge of a war with the Cabezon Cartel, and our heroine is about to get caught in the middle.

The world building follows several pathways including the preparation for war, a wedding, and the dysfunctional family values that will eventually lead to betrayal and vengeance.

The relationship between Nick and Liliana begins as a marriage of convenience. Liliana needs protection in the wake of the upcoming war, and our hero is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but betrayal will come from within, and the Cartel will have to deal. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters including several members of the Luciano Family who are protective of our story line heroine.

NAUGHTY AND NICE is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and edgy; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are numerous , determined and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Now and Forever
Til Death Do Us Part
Bound By A Promise
Queens and Monsters
To Have and To Hold

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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