Broken Vow by Sophie Lark is the fifth installment of the Brutal Birthright series. We follow Riona Griffin, a tough lawyer from a mafia family who works hard to make an impact in the world and for her family. Life changes suddenly when a hitman attacks Riona, and she barely makes it out alive. Raylan, a rancher turned soldier, is called in to keep Riona safe while the family hunts for the hitman and individual who planned the attacks.

In Broken Vow, Riona and Raylan are not just intelligent and caring but characters with depth and emotional complexity. Their journey together, filled with challenges and growth, makes for a truly immersive read. The book beautifully balances sweet moments of emotional connection with spicy sexual scenes, creating a perfect blend for a romance novel.

Here are a few additional reasons that I loved this book. I have yet to read the first four books, but I was able to enjoy Broken Vow without a ton of background information. I plan on reading the first four now that I have enjoyed this novel so much. Lark nailed all the tropes I love, which may be a turn-off to other readers, but it was perfect for me. I love the mafia and cowboy romances, and having them set together is fabulous. I am also automatically sold on the grumpy x sunshine and he falls first.

The one negative that stood out was that the storyline was predictable. I was able to call everything that happened. While it was a great storyline and plot, I wanted more from Riona’s story.

Overall, I would rate Broken Vow by Sophie Lark a 4 out of 5 stars. If spice, cowboys, and mafia are your favorite things, I highly recommend reading. Thank you to Sophie Lark, Sourcebooks Bloom Books, and NetGalley for a copy of Broken Vow for a voluntary and honest review.