Fireball

by Nikki Belaire

Addie
Broke, homeless, and all alone in the world, except for my boxer Pete, I don’t think life could get any worse. Then, of course, it does.

At the wrong place at the wrong time, a crime lord kidnaps me, under the mistaken belief I have the information he wants. When I wake up in his torture chamber, I’m terrified as I slowly realize the horrible truth. He doesn’t want to end me – he wants to keep me.

Titan
I love a challenge. Taming the beautiful and feral Addison Scott will be my most enjoyable one yet. When she runs, I chase. I need to see how tough she really is. Imprisoning her in the dungeon, I threaten to let my butchers have at her. Nothing they say or do breaks her except keeping her from her dog.

All she wants is that mutt. All I want is her.

Now I have a prisoner who I’m going to enjoy torturing in a way neither of us ever expected.

** Fireball was originally published as part of the Hell Hath No Fury anthology. The story has been expanded and extended to a full novel. Standalone M/F romance with kidnapping, violence, age gap, possessive hero, and a touch of humor. No cheating. Guaranteed HEA**

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Contemporary, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 19, 2023

About the author

Nikki writes contemporary romantic thrillers and admits to a weakness for bad boys, especially ones who can’t live without the strong women they love.

She spends more time in her characters’ lives than her own. But, when she’s in the real world, her passions include reading, wine appreciating, running, and spending time with her daughter.

Reviews

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ☆☆☆☆
3.5/5 🔥

"Be good, fireball, and I'll reward you later."

safety:
virgin heroine
age gap
touch her and die vibes
no OM/OW
no cheating/sharing
HEA ❤

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably some spoilers ahead, read at your own risk

as always the plot was unrealistic, how can you be in love after a few days? but this is a fast read fiction so what can we expect.

Titan was a manipulative and judgmental assh*le. after knowing that the h hides something from him (but she was just about to tell him anyway when he found out and that's a secret not for her to tell) he started spewing sh*t and accusing the h to be a gold digger and to add more insult he also said that he had better lay than her. what the actual fuck is wrong with him? i get that he's pissed but seriously comparing her to his other conquests??? also knowing she was a virgin before he had her doesn't do it for me, it was such a dick move.

and after that debacle when the h decides to leave him (which i'm really proud of, good for you girl) he realized that he f*cked up big time. he went after her, apologized for the things he said but when she wouldn't come with him, he decided to demolish the house she was staying (her stepbrother's house). another dick move pal, making sure she has nowhere to go.

even after all his manipulative ways i know he cares so much about the h, i guess it's just too much when he steamroll his ways and how he takes over her life. she's no doormat but he's a force you can't fight with and i understand that she really has no power or whatsoever when it comes to him. the guy gets whatever he wants. he's an unapologetic sociopath after all

Addie is such a loving person, patient, head strong and not a spineless heroine. she knows when to hold her ground and doesn't give easily to Titan. even though her life wasn't easy growing up she's a tough nut to crack. i really like her and the way she stands up against Titan when he's being an overbearing assh*le. how i wish some heroines are like her.

overall, the book was fun didn't love it, didn't hate it either. just good enough if you want to have a quick read.

[Tabatha Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really annoying. On the surface of things, this should be at least a 4 star read for me. Mafia dude. Captive h. He’s super possessive with crazy touch her and die vibes. It’s just not though. It’s not good.

I’ve read like 4 other books by this author. Two were 2 stars, two were 3 stars. This author just isn’t for me. She’s got good ideas but lacks the skill to write the story. Her characters actions and reactions fly out of left field. They feel completely inauthentic because we have no idea why they are acting the way they are or what their motivation for behaving the way they do.

Inn the beginning he takes her hostage to get info from her. He wants her think he will torture her but he says he doesn’t intend to hurt her (except a few sentences earlier he’s musing he won’t let them hurt her *too bad*) Her would be torturer tells her her dog is dead and she auto shuts down. (The dog is not dead or injured in any way) Like the light has gone out of her eyes and she’s limp. She’s gives zero reaction to her impending torture. H shuts it down and suddenly she’s engaged in conversation with him. Like how? She was catatonic moments earlier.

H decides almost instantly he’s going to keep her whether she wants to be kept or not. What little inner thoughts we get from her are always 100% adversarial to whatever H wants of her but her emotions flip violently on a dime with barely any effort from H.

She’s completely against cooperating with him until he tells her he’s taking her out for her birthday. Then she’s floating on cloud 9 *until* he has to cancel on her then she’s devastated and angry. She’s big mad at him till he utters one line of explanation. Then she’s INSTANTLY all hearts and rainbows.

He discovers pages later that she didn’t tell him something that she really never had a chance to tell him and instantly he’s done with her and throwing her out calling her a gold digger, even though he’s had to force her take anything from him. As he watches her pack he changed his mind and despite the fact she literally had just walked out the door he doesn’t catch up to her until she’s back at her dead stepbrothers place.

The actions and reactions of these characters all seem completely irrational because we have no clue why they are acting and reacting that way. Nikki Belaire has awesome story ideas but no talent for writing a good believable story.

No cheating, no OW/OM drama, no separation, no cliffhanger. HEA implied.

Safety - it’s a safe read but it’s not worth reading, in my opinion.

[Kathyjacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! I am a sucker for a homeless heroine and poor Addie had it so rough. I wanted to jump into the story and just give her a hug but the best part is I didn’t have to because she found a friend in a quirky, lovable side character that I couldn’t get enough of. Titan was my favorite type of hero because he would not take no for an answer and as soon as he laid eyes in Addie she was his. He was obsessed and never looked at another woman . This book was so good that I read the entire story almost all at once. I couldn’t put it down. Titan was the kind of man that gave touch her and die vibes in spades. He was super possessive which I loved. This book had spice but I also loved the family aspect. I just didn’t want it to end. Now I have to go do rereads of some of this author’s other books because I can’t get enough.

[Hey Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eehhhhhh. I usually love nikki belaire but shes had some amazing ones I loved and some I dnfed. This one? I finished...... But.....is it just me or do these people run around everywhere?!? They run to CVS and run in alleyways and run to the clubs. Their fitbits must have lots of steps!

Anyhoo! The sister gave me a headache from her crazy annoying yammering.

I loved the dog. The dog saved this book.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a new Belaire book. We had to wait a long time for a new OTT J/P H. But Titan was well worth the wait. If you are loving H's who are dominant assholes to everyone except their h, you need to check out this book. Although on the short side, this is a great story about instalove between a down-on-her-luck but independent h and the mafia boss that falls hard for her.
A case of mistaken identity has Titan kidnap our h (and her dog). While he holds her to pressure her for information he falls head over heels and decides to keep her. While she navigates this new relationship, another romance comes to light behind Titan's back. This causes a misunderstanding and betrayal. He throws her out but when he cools off and comes back for her, he goes to extreme measures to ensure she won't escape him again.

[Raquel.Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great idea, dismal execution. I really wanted to love this one because it’s exactly what I look for in a Captivity Mafia romance, unfortunately unrealistic and unexplained actions by both the H and h plus annoying side characters ruined it for me.

[CeCe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great start, but then I got bored. I am not sure what it was. Insta-love for the hero. Heroine had some trust issues. I really enjoyed it but then it became predictable. You may love it. It was not awful, I just need more. I need my heart to feel squeezed. I want to feel the angst and all the emotion. I want it all. This quit at the 60% mark.

[Joy Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! This author is a favorite of mine and I couldn’t wait to read her latest Mafia story! One of my favorites genres is Mafia stories and between that and the wonderful characters, I really enjoyed this story. Addie is a young girl who has had a rough life. Always on her own until one night her life is instantly changed. Titan sees her and knows he wants her and will do anything, even kidnapping to make her his. But Titan isn’t prepared for the fierceness and resilience in Addie. She will fight him until she has nothing left. But what she doesn’t know is that Titan has other plans for her. He is determined to make her his. Can he convince her? Will Addie succumb to him? These two have very steamy chemistry and their interactions at times made me laugh and cry. Yet again this author proves to me why I love her and her stories.

[Terri Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author always brings the OTT j/p alphas and Titan doesn’t disappoint. He saw her and that was it. Addie was strong and had a hard shell from just simply trying to survive but she wasn’t fighting him the entire time and allowed herself to be vulnerable pretty early on. The side characters… LOVE! Add in the adorable pup Pete and we’ve got a winner! Loved this one!

[Sarah DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional reading experience! Titan and Addie's gritty mafia romance is dark and intense, insatiable in hotness and swoony in love. Addie is such an incredibly strong-willed and determined woman, fighting for survival with her dog, Pete, in a cruel and brutal world. She throws Titan, the unwavering and alpha domineering mafia boss, a slap to his face and his senses that he didn't see coming. I loved the story line and the secondary characters were penned brilliantly and added depth to their story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! While pretty much insta-everything the story and characters are great! I loved that she stuck to her guns and made him grovel for a bit when he majorly screwed up.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Titan was delightfully possessive and jealous. 4½ stars (5 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the second half)

[Rossy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again.. good & cute as a novella 🤓

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beginning of the novel with its OTT insta-love and mafia plotline. It was exactly what I was in the mood for. I even appreciated the little bit of angst and groveling thrown in the middle —I’m a sucker for those moments— although it ended all too soon. However, the second part of the book was completely pointless. I didn’t understand the characters’ actions or motivations, and the plotline involving the underground sex dungeon was not my cup of tea. It didn’t add absolutely anything to the plot. The ending was rushed and disappointing. Overall, the first part of the book was enjoyable, the second part was a letdown, unfortunately.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was sadly disappointing. I can’t put my finger on any one thing, except that it was very cliche. Even including two instalove together which just felt like they took away from the other. Too many emotional swings from extreme to another instead of just sitting and talking about things. I get she’s a younger girl but felt more like teenage antics. Don’t get me started on a random sex club, a car bomb, and the dog waking up the comatose sister, all within the last 10% of the book. It just felt like the author just wanted to throw in as many tropes into a book instead of focusing on character development and relationship building.

[netty · Rating 2 out of 5]

What!?!

This book started great - far fetched of course but I liked the heroine and her dog and she seemed sane mostly and the hero was okay. It was good … up until they went to the club, I think. I lost track of the crazy with the sister - then the whole ‘you didn’t tell me about my crazy sister’ misunderstanding and yeah, it just got more dumb from there.

Why do authors do this? Over complicate with zany characters and ridiculous plots and rocket launchers and blah blah. Could not care enough to finish. Sorry because I liked Pete

[Jianna Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. That was kind of a mess, felt like his sisters book more than theirs.

[Dubious Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was okay. 2.5 stars.

Very much insta-love and insta-lust on the part of Titan, the MMC. I wish he had more reasoning for his interest than that the FMC Addie fought back, especially when his sister seems to do that all the time so it's not like Addie is the first strong-willed woman in his world.

For her part, Addie was just too pathetic. I know the author wanted us to feel bad for her but Jesus Christ, it was just one sad mope after another. Did you know that no one has ever complimented her before? Or given her a gift? Or stood up for her? Or been her friend? Or known her birthday? Or bought her flowers?

I was also bothered by how deceptive the blurb is. I was expecting some angst and guilt over Titan mistakenly torturing Addie, which would then make building trust difficult, and Addie standing up to torture to show her strong will. But he never actually let her be tortured. He was so against hurting her because she was a woman, that he was even mad when the interrogator insulted her by calling her a bitch. The interrogator and torturer were only in the room with her for a few minutes before Titan made them leave and released her.

Titan's sister was horribly annoying as a character. She behaved like an obnoxious 5 year old most of the time. Frustratingly, a side story about her basically takes up the entire second half of the book. I feel like it would have been better to chop that all out and make this a novella.

Finally, the ending was ridiculous and over the top. I almost dropped down to 2 stars for that alone.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok, going fine until the dickhead mmc did this at 47%.

A thick stack of hundred-dollar bills sits in his palm. I don’t understand what he’s doing. “You got the clothes, the phone, the car, and now a shit load of money.” He tosses the pile on the desk in front of me and cash flutters from the force, billowing across the smooth black wood. “Not too bad of a haul for a few days’ work.” I’ve led a pretty shitty life and been treated horribly by a lot of terrible people. But no one has ever been as cruel to me as him in this moment. “Fuck you.” He winks and grins his menacing smirk at me. “That one was on the house, baby. I’ve had better, but I hope you enjoyed it.”

All because she didn’t tell him something about his sister and he felt like he looked stupid when he found out from someone else. Mind you she had fucking tried to tell him and he wouldn’t let her get a word in. This was after he had taken her virginity.
She left and he basically bulldozed her back into his home. His apology was crap, she tried to stand her ground a bit but it didn’t take much tbh. I skimmed the rest and I hate him. He said he’s a hateful bastard when he’s pissed and he never talks to her like that again but I would have never even looked at him again never mind go back with him. Such a fuckin shame too since this was a safe read and this ruined it.

Dual PoV
Instalove
No owd/omd
HEA

[Melissa Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot!!

Hello OTT J/P Alpha Crime Lord! Whooo. This book was rolling with how extremely possessive Titan was over Addie. Dark romance readers will drool over his antics to get what he wants.

I rated it 4 stars because the story cuts directly to Titan being infatuated with Addie but it comes from nowhere. There’s not much context, on how he felt or why he felt he had to have her (connection, emotion, attraction), so it was a bit of a harsh introduction to believe how he’s immediately telling her she will be his wife. Huh?!

If there was a chapter towards beginning that added that in to help ease into the attraction, a better development and attachment would form for the reader at the beginning.

However, despite this gap I couldn’t stop reading, the Author does a great job keeping your attention through the story not only with action, but with the inferno heat. And it’s hard to resist Titan being insanely over the hills for Addie.

[Caterina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mafia Cozy? Must Read

I wouldn't have ever pictured a cozy mafia book but this definitely fits that description. There was danger but it didn't feel overwhelming.

I loved how much Titan loves Addie. And I love how he is kind to her from the get. I ADORE Pete. And I want to be Chelsea's friend. I felt just as protective of her as Addie and Titan. I love how Chelsea was so funny and out there and probably kind of annoying but Addie liked her from the start.

This book was unlike any other captive mafia books I've read. If I had known more about the book, I wouldn't have read it. But I am SO glad I did.

This is a new author for me and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

My only irritation was when the phrase "Know that." was used. Using it once would be fine but using a phrase over and over that isn't heard very often in the real world and stands out is cringey. It took me out of the story when I saw it.

[Marcy Barth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Titan & Addie. I had no idea where this story would end up but I fell in love with Addie from the very beginning. Her & Pete were in a rough place and it got even darker because of the mistakes her stepbrother made. Being taken and kept wasn’t what she had planned when that SUV rolled up into the drive but it’s where she needed to be.

Titan had a long road ahead of him in order to gain the trust of an already broken girl. His strength and lifestyle wasn’t easy for that trust to be earned. Slip in a few mistakes and one huge blowout and he nearly lost the one thing he needed.

Nikki has a wonderful way of immediately grabbing your attention and keeping you enthralled. This one did not disappoint. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to read this thrilling and hauntingly beautiful story.

[DemetraP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got bored. Her stepbrother took his drugs. He kidnaps her to find out where he hid them. She doesn't know. He doesn't actually torture her. He just threatens to torture her.

He makes her live in his guest room and buys her clothes and dog food. He doesn't let her leave and pressures her to kiss him.

He promises her a big birthday dinner out and then doesn't show up. He has his men tell her he can't make it. She is very angry and disappointed. So she goes out with the hero's sister to a club. Hero shows up and throws her over his shoulder to take her home.

At this point, I don't like either one of them.

[Hayley Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing 🤩

Loved it. Absolutely adored reading this book and it’s story line. Though it very much does have an instant love/ love at first sight relationship between Addie and Titan. Despite this, it did not take away from the joy in reading it as I laughed and I cried at some points which to me what signifies a great book is how good it is at drawing you into the storyline and makes you experience a range of emotions depending on what’s happening in the story. And this book had me enthralled from the very beginning so I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.

[Jeraca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titan and Addie couldn't be any more different than each other. And yet somehow their relationship works. Well, probably because Titan doesn't give up and Addie was in his sights from the moment he saw her.

But Addie didn't give in without a fight and I love that about her. Also? The love she has for Pete? She's my best friend and soul sister. She loves that pup with all of her heart. I dont think I've seen a deeper connection than these two.

Chelsea is hilarious and naive and a spitfire. I can totally understand why Titan always has a headache!

Glad I read this random book on my kindle!

[Christie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, this author writes a great mafia story. Addie and Titan were no different. Addie came from the opposite side of the tracks and had nothing, her best friend was her dog Pete. Titan was the Mafia Boss and met Addie by pure accident, feeling something for her he hasn't felt before. He decided right then she was his. She was sassy, stubborn and fought with all she had. He learned how to be patient, caring and loving to someone other than his sister. I loved this couple from the start.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short mafia romance about Addie and Titan. Addie has always been on her own except for her boxer dog Pete until one night her life is instantly changed. Titan sees her and he falls hard and fast, he wants her and will do anything, even kidnapping to make her his. Addie did not make this easy for him as she was stubborn and fought with all she had. While Titan has to learn how to be patient, caring and loving to someone other than his sister. Filled with chemistry, steamyness, romance, passion, lust and love. I loved this book and cannot wait for more from this author.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book surprised the heck out of me. my only gripe is we didn't get to see Titan really fall in love, or give a legit reason as to why he initially fell. but he fell, he fell HARD, and he spent the rest of the book convincing Addie. who was a genuine fireball! I really loved her, her determination and independence... and of course PETE. A+ doggo right there. more Pete please.

I hope she makes this into a series, somewhat, focusing on different couples. I'd love that. definitely going to read more by this author!!