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A Love Most Brutal by Kath Richards Series: Morelli Family #2
Published by August Books on September 4, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Romance / General
Format: ARC
ISBN: 9798990370487Maxim Orlov is running out of time. At 38 years old, he's spent the last decade trying to turn the Orlovs into a respectable crime family, but if he doesn't make an heir, and quick, his horrid cousin is the next in line. With two failed engagements under his belt, Maxim is starting to feel desperate. Meanwhile, Mary Morelli is floundering. As the youngest daughter and top enforcer of the Morelli crime family, Mary is a force to be reckoned with, but she's beginning to crumble under the weight of trying to keep her sisters' growing families safe. In a fit of anxiety, Mary comes up with the perfect solution: marry the Russian. The calculated union will be mutually beneficial, offering protection and power both ways, and conveniently passionless. To cement the deal, she vows to him that she will never, ever fall in love with him. Maxim has been watching Mary for months, both fascinated and thrilled by her. A no-feelings-attached marriage to Mary Morelli is like a dream, but keeping his heart neutral proves harder than he expected as she worms her way under his skin and into his life. Can their marriage remain a business deal without feelings getting in the way?
Gosh! Can I just be a part of the Morelli family? Please! I also just want book after book from this universe. I want books with Maxim’s sisters, one for Leo, and one for Sasha….ohoh, Leo and Sasha falling in love. Just all the mafia family romance books from Kath Richards!
I was so excited to read A Love Most Brutal after finishing A Love Most Fatal! I loved the idea of a woman run mafia and Mary just felt so relatable to me. Emotions are very embarrassing! Mary as a character felt so fascinating of not wanting to be close to anyone in fear that they’ll be hurt and she can’t stop it. It definitely reminded me of Zoya from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books (this is a high compliment because Zoya is my favorite character in literature). Her doing this marriage of convenience as a way to have more people keep an eye on her loved ones made so much sense. I also love the fact that Maxim was totally in love with her for ages (even though he didn’t realize it til later in the novel) before Mary fell in love with him. I’m always here for a he falls first trope!
I really appreciate how the rest of the Morelli family interacted with Mary and Maxim during this novel. I always want interactions between past characters in interconnected, stand alone series, but this one actually delivered. Mary and Nate’s friendship/siblingship is the stuff of dreams. Plus her telling Nate that he’s her best friend and they’d go play pickle ball together as the signal she’s in trouble was absolute perfection. Maxim was an adorable little bean who acts all gruff but is a cinnamon roll with those he loves. I really love how he’s so determined to not be like his father. Not just in his marriage to Mary but with the business as well of not trafficking humans. Also, his interactions between the Morelli family is adorable, especially the scenes with Artie and Angel. To say I’m obsessed would be an understatement.
I really appreciate the OCD representation with Mary in this novel. I had a feeling there was something going on in that aspect with Mary in the first novel when Vanessa has the off-hand comment about Mary needing being the enforcer as a way to get the wiggles out. I was thinking it would be ADHD, but OCD totally fits and makes sense! I also love that in the end Mary does go to therapy, which shows that even the most badass people need a little extra help sometimes.
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