This is an entertaining flashback story about the beginning of Cain and Emma's journey. I read the [b:The Devil Inside|22600|The Devil Inside (Cain Casey, #1)|Ali Vali|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364146902l/22600._SY75_.jpg|23618], [b:The Devil Unleashed|22598|The Devil Unleashed (Cain Casey, #2)|Ali Vali|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364147663l/22598._SY75_.jpg|23616], and [b:Deal with the Devil|2074013|Deal with the Devil (Cain Casey, #3)|Ali Vali|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364146704l/2074013._SY75_.jpg|2079261] beforehand, so it was interesting to read about the influence/roles/beginnings several characters had in the past. Between the two main characters, Cain is my favorite. She is loyal, loves fiercely, and understands how lucky she is to have Emma in her life. Sure, it took a couple of ale baths for her to realize Emma "was this fresh, untouched beauty," but hey, even mobsters can be hardheaded when it comes to love. ( )

So, I've had a run of lesbian fiction books where I was supposed to like the main characters and instead I hated them, and then I get to this book where I should probably not like the main character, Cain Casey, she's a mob boss and a 'bad guy' and yet, Ali Vali somehow takes this woman who I should be rooting against and totally flips it during the story so that I'm rooting for her and Emma. The epitome of a good and fictional story.

This is the prequel to the already existing (six books and a short story or so I think? Perhaps 7?) Cain Casey series, but, I haven't read the rest of the series yet, so, I'm quite looking forward to more with Emma, Cain, and the other characters that we were introduced to in this book.

Cain is the head of a powerful crime family in New Orleans. She gets doused in her own bar by Emma, a new waitress with a semi-hard luck backstory. From there starts a slow burn romance interspersed with the suspense laden story about multiple threats from multiple sides to said family (and then to Emma).

It was a really interesting suspense story with twists and turns I didn't always see coming (and some I did). I liked the romance for the most part too, although the 'problem' in the relationship was a teeny bit thin in places.

Then there were the characters. Because it was a prequel to an established series I have no doubt these characters are scattered throughout the other books. But even with all of them, from Merrick to Lou, to Marie and Muriel, and Ramon, and more being all introduced to me in this one book, even so I never got messed up or confused because they're all so unique. And I can't wait to read more about them in the rest of the series. Awesome.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books. ( )