Illicit Temptation

An Irish Mafia Bodyguard Romance (Astoria Royals Standalone, Book 3)

De: Deborah Garland

Narrado por: Michelle Sparks, Joe Arden

Shea-Lynne O’Rourke is no innocent princess.
But she is off-limits.
Older. Strong-Willed. Mouthy AF.

That doesn’t stop me from wanting to possess this feisty Irish Rose and make the only woman I can’t have mine.

She's my last bodyguard gig before I take my place in Quinlan Empire.

I'm riddled with scars and past sins, too filthy for an angel.
Who surprises me with a savage taste for the forbidden.

My restraint gives way to temptation that I tell myself is temporary.

But that only holds until a dangerous man from my past attempts to claim her as his.

©2023 Deborah Garland (P)2025 Deborah Garland

This duo! ❤️

Joe and Michelle are an amazing pair of narrators for this steamy dark mafia romance. They voiced all the characters flawlessly. Deb writes a fierce mafia world and this story is no different! The storyline was great and you can tell even without listening to the others that this world is very deep and interconnected, but stands very strong alone without listening to the others.

Spicy Mafia Story

Michelle Sparks and Joe Arden really bring this story to life with duet narration. The story is well-written and engaging, there were a few plot points that I would have liked to see wrapped up in the end that weren't. Overall, a great listen, especially for Mafia romance lovers.

Good storyline

This was a pretty entertaining book! The story line grabbed my attention and had me wondering what was coming next. It literally made my jaw drop at certain points lol

Trace & Shea were great characters and I lovedddd the spice. 🤭

The voice accents were also great!

Finally got Shea's story!

If author Deborah Garland decides to write one Mafia romance a day, I will adjust my schedule to read one Mafia romance a day. They are such great reads: fun, scary, steamy, and very, very, very satisfying.

Illicit Temptation is the bridge from the Irish Mafia Astoria Royals O’Rourke family to Garland’s new series Quinlan Empire featuring the Quinlan brothers and cousins who have been like family and worked for, fought for, and guarded the O’Rourkes for many years. And one of those Quinlans has been in love with one of those O’Rourkes for a long time. This is Trace and Shea-Lynne’s story. And what a terrific story it is, watching another one of those big, fierce, fearless, violent warriors fall and fall hard. Suddenly become cinnamon roll-sweet with a protective possessive streak a mile wide. Or see an independent, strong-willed, determined, stubborn, successful woman realize being wrapped in a warm hug and surrounded by TLC maybe isn’t such a bad thing after all.

When Trace and Shea-Lynne meet again in Las Vegas they haven’t seen each other in eighteen years, when she was sixteen and he was twelve, staying at her grandparents’ farm in Waterford, Ireland where he was born and grew up. They had a connection, but they were young and life went on, she the Mafia Princess and he the soldier, fighter, bodyguard. As a Mafia Princess – and only sister to seven brothers – her husband would be vetted and approved by the family, and it probably wouldn’t be someone who worked for them. That’s all irrelevant though, really, since after she left Waterford they didn’t see each other again. Until now. When that childhood connection is now a full-blown, unwelcome (at least to Shea), adult attraction. It’s instant and it’s strong – and smoldering.

Trace has served his country in the military, fought, killed, been captured and tortured, has tortured prisoners himself; he’s big and rough and scary. Shea-Lynne isn’t scared, though. At thirty-seven she’s an often-lonely woman, not a wide-eyed little princess, who runs her own event-planning business and does whatever she can get away with considering the constraints of being an O’Rourke. But she’s got a sad secret that affects every aspect of her life. She can’t have children, can’t provide the heir most men want, so she’s tied herself for years to Archer, a married man who already has children, who’s more criminal and vicious than she realizes, and who promises to leave his wife but somehow never quite gets around to it. When the wedding Shea-Lynne has planned is suddenly cancelled and Archer stands her up and she’s suddenly without the bodyguard a Mafia Princess must have, one of her brothers asks Trace to look out for her. He probably didn’t have in mind what happened: instead of Trace escorting Shea-Lynne back to her room, they wandered through the casino, drank, drank, and drank some more, got married, and spent the night together.

Shea-Lynne is appalled in the morning – this is so forbidden, dangerous to Trace, her brothers will kill him, and even more important, she can’t tie this young, handsome, virile man who makes her feel so alive to a woman almost forty years old who can’t give him what he surely needs and wants: children, a family. Trace isn’t appalled or afraid of what her family might do. Seeing Shea again was like a flame rising up or a light shining. She’s HIS. This is going to be a real marriage. But before they can discuss it, he receives an emergency order to return to Ireland. He’s undercover, without ID or a phone for three years, so Shea’s initial messages to him to ask what on earth did they do go unanswered. And even though she doesn’t want to stay in the marriage, she’s confused, hurt and then bitter.

From this point on author Garland does her magic and Illicit Temptation is one wild ride of miscommunication, misunderstanding, danger. Family secrets and true selves revealed. Kidnapping, betrayal, attempted murder, escape. And beyond the violence and chaos is certainty. Shea-Lynne is Trace’s wife and that’s all there is to it. He’s sweet and unselfish and caring, and the way he shows it, like five-alarm-fire hot wings – you’ll need ice water for those scenes and tissues for the heartwarming bits. Shea-Lynne begins to soften and melt and trust that someone may actually love her and want her for who she is. It’s non-stop action right up until the very end. You think that HEA is coming and the path to it is amazingly enjoyable and satisfying, but there are some very dangerous dark, scary moments that make you doubt. And there is a bonus epilogue that will have you reaching for those tissues again. I can’t recommend this book or this series or anything Garland writes highly enough, and I cannot wait for the Quinlan Empire to start. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Superbly Impressive Story, Narration & Listen🎧

Deborah Garland never ceases to amaze with me with her brilliant and creative mind, bringing me into her stories, taking me into the incredible world she creates right alongside her amazing characters. There is never a dull moment in her books and once I start, nothing else around me matters except what is going to happen next in the book, escapism at its best. This third standalone of the “Astoria Royals” series is the mafia princess of the O’Rourke empire Shea-Lynne O’Rourke’s and her bodyguard Trace Quinlan’s story and I loved every moment of their journey and catching up with the O’Rourke family and being introduced to the Quinlan family. The O’Rourke’s let Shea do her own thing and was not involved in any of the family’s businesses, but they never left her unprotected. After some drama with her former guard, they assigned Trace to cover her, knowing they could trust him to keep her protected. Trace wanted to do more than protect her, he wanted her and not just in his bed, which would be a big no-no in their mafia world, where marriages are mergers and business deals, though her family left her alone so far. Shea’s boyfriend gives excuses why he hasn’t divorced his ex-wife yet, but she remains independent and continues to focus on her career and growing business. A drunken night in Vegas was what it took for Shea to let her guard down and let Trace have her, except she doesn’t remember what happened and Trace had to leave on family business, and reappears three years, wanting Shea more than ever. Feisty Shea gives him a run for his money and it was great to watch the chase. I loved all the layers to this story and how it all played out, with non-stop drama, angst, twists and turns, thrilling and suspenseful moment, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. I can not get enough of these O’Rourke’s and am looking forward to what comes next for them, the Quinlan's and the incredible mafia world. Deborah Garland, thank you for another amazing story and wild ride.

🎧📚🎧  Michelle Sparks and Joe Arden were amazing at voicing the characters and performing an accurate portrayal of each. I loved how they owned their roles, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound, accents and all. Arden’s Irish is a treat to the ears and so was his take on Trace’s role, showcasing all sides of his personality and demeanor perfectly, from his possessive alpha, touch her and die, to his caring and loving side with Shea. Sparks was just as fabulous in Shea’s role, also showcasing her personality perfectly, from her insecurities to her strength and determination, also nailing her feisty wit. Both were fantastic performing the roles of the secondary characters too. Their tone and pacing were just right for the story and they captured all the characters’ emotions, having you feel them all. These versatile voice artists are passionate and entertaining storytellers who keep you glued to the story from start to end.

yes!

Just, wow! it was great! I will hear it again . yup, yes. Just yup.

Michelle & Joe sound amazing together!!

This was such a fun listen! The story was interesting and kept my attention. Joe and michelle sound amazing together we need more books with this duo!!

An Irish Mafia Bodyguard Romance

Illicit Temptation by Deborah Garland is an Irish mafia bodyguard romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Joe Arden and Michelle Sparks. This is the third book in the Astoria Royals Standalone series.

I love Deborah's books. She does a great job pulling me into the story. I can't help but binge them in one sitting. I really enjoyed the relationship between Trace and Shea. Their banter kept me hooked until the very end. I liked getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

Joe and Michelle did an amazing job on the narration. They both really know how to bring a story to life. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a mafia romance, bodyguard romance, forced proximity romance, or a forbidden romance.

Chefs kiss!

This was really good. Joe & Michelle knocked it out of the park! It’s definitely spicy and a pretty good story.

Dirty Talk

I was not a fan, at all, of "Shea's" character's voice. character was good but the way the book was read made me want to stop listening. Hard to describe but it was like she was whispering with attitude, the whole time (not when she was speaking to people but her inner narration)