Thank you so much to Good Girls PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

City of Salvation is a RIDEEE. The twists and turns that pop in this book, mixed with so much action and steamy romantic tension between Dex and Nikki delivered one banger of a novel. Marie Maravilla already broke the mold of mafia/syndicate crime/cartel romances by featuring a badass arms dealer as the FMC in Skeletons of Society, and did it again in City of Salvation.

Our FMC, Nikki, is a talented dancer and incapacitate a man as quickly as she can complete a turn. I admired her strength and resilience throughout this book so much as she tries to protect her friends and family while being on the run from her past.

On the other hand, Dex, our MMC, puts up this f-boy front to all of the brothers in his club, but inside he's really just a golden retriever trying his best to protect his brother and Nikki without falling in love with her. I loved watching him act as her bodyguard-turned fake boyfriend-turned actual boyfriend. Seeing him become more in tune to his emotions as he and Nikki bond over their shared trauma of parental abandonment and losing their loved ones was very special. I loved their relationship and how fiercely protective they are of each other! I'd rate this book 4.25 stars rounded up.

I'm definitely super excited to see if Marie Maravilla has more planned in the Toxic Paradise universe, and also very excited to dive into her contemporary sports romance world next!

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