Reckless Obsession
by Deborah Garland
(Astoria Royals, Book 6)
⭐ Rating: 3.5 / 5
🌶️ Spice: 4.5 / 5. Explicit, frequent, and very enthusiastic
👩❤️👨 Main Characters: Eoghan & Jillian
🎭 Genre: Dark Mafia Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Plus-Size FMC, BDSM
📜 Format Read: eBook
📖 Length: 437 pages
🔗 Series: Book 6 in the Astoria Royals series (can be read out of order, but expect some FOMO)
Quick Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Reckless Obsession follows Jillian Diamond, a sharp, curvy Las Vegas prosecutor who finds herself entangled legally and very much otherwise with Eoghan O’Rourke, the Irish mob lawyer who derails her courtroom plans. Their one impulsive night turns into something far darker and more consuming than Jillian expects, especially when Eoghan’s obsession decides it doesn’t believe in boundaries…or masks.
The book blends legal tension, mafia chaos, and an unhinged but oddly romantic MMC whose intensity becomes both the threat and the hook.
Is This For You? (Tropes & Vibes)
- Anti-hero MMC
- Plus-size, independent FMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Morally Grey / OTT possessive hero
- V Heroine
- Forced Proximity
- He Falls First
- Workplace Romance
- Stalker-ish obsession (handled with dark-romance framing)
- Mask Play
- Primal / Chase dynamics
- Age Gap
- Jealous, unhinged MMC energy
- Mafia family drama
- Las Vegas courtroom and criminal underworld setting
- No cheating. HEA guaranteed. No cliffhanger.
My Thoughts
I picked this up earlier in the week and found myself slipping back into it every spare moment until I finished it on Sunday morning. For a book I chose on a whim, it surprised me more than once. This was my first entry into Deborah Garland’s Astoria Royals world, and yes, jumping into book six comes with its own version of chaos. There were definitely moments where I felt like I’d gate-crashed a family reunion without knowing anyone’s name. Still, the core dynamic between Eoghan and Jillian was strong enough to keep me anchored.
What stood out most was Eoghan’s particular brand of intensity. He’s jealous, unhinged, obsessive in that dark-romance way where you’re constantly asking yourself, “Sir… are you okay?” But the book doesn’t pretend otherwise; it fully commits to the kind of morally grey madness that defines this subgenre. And honestly? The man’s dirty talk could power a small city. Jillian, on the other hand, is confident, capable, and wonderfully stubborn, which keeps their dynamic from ever feeling one-sided.
The pacing had its dips. The opening and all the high-drama, “what is he doing now?” moments were fun, but the middle slowed down just enough that I caught myself skimming. And without the earlier books, some of the character cameos felt more confusing than enriching. That said, the emotional throughline between Eoghan and Jillian, the push-pull, the obsession, the reluctant tenderness, held the story together.
What stayed with me afterward was Eoghan’s mix of devotion and unravelling. He is a lot, but he’s also oddly romantic in his own off-kilter way. And clearly something hit, because I immediately ordered Shattered Veil (Book 7) and am already considering starting the series from the beginning just to fill in the gaps I could feel while reading this one.
Favourite Moments / Quotes
Trigger Warnings
(This book contains dark romance themes. Listed respectfully for reader safety.)
- Stalker behaviour
- Breaking and entering
- Dubious consent dynamics (CNC context)
- Mask play
- Violence and threats
- Mafia criminal activity
- Kidnapping elements
- Somnophilia elements
- Power imbalance (legal and criminal)
- Explicit sexual content
Always check full triggers if these themes are sensitive for you.
Final Thoughts
Reckless Obsession is messy, intense, and wildly unhinged in a way that dark romance readers will recognise and enjoy. If you’re into obsessive MMCs, curvy heroines who don’t dim themselves, and morally grey chaos wrapped in heat, this is a solid pick. Not perfect, but compelling enough that I’m continuing the series. And sometimes that’s the best review a book can get.
Links & Further Reading
Where to Find the Book
- Amazon: Reckless Obsession by Deborah Garland
https://www.amazon.com/ - Goodreads: Reckless Obsession by Deborah Garland
https://www.goodreads.com/
