Mahina (A Hawaiian Mafia Romance Book 1) by Nalani Titcomb

 

Two families – One follows the letter of the law, and the other… doesn’t. But somehow, they’ve made it work. Neighbors and friends. Bound by past generations of honor, trust, and even love.
~~~
As children, Mahina Tillman and Zeb Lehua were inseparable. Zeb was a protector. Her protector. Her best friend.
But then one day, he wasn’t.

Mahina had loved Zeb more than she ever thought was possible. But when he left, she was forced to move on with her life. And she did.

But now he’s back and things are… complicated.

Zeb walked away from Mahina, but she’d never been far from his thoughts. Or his heart. He’s finally returned home—after being gone for nearly two decades—and things aren’t always what they seem.

What do you do when the love of your life has moved on?

What happens if she needs you, when there’s literally no one else she can turn to?

Zeb Lehua would burn the world down for Mahina Tillman. And this is only the beginning.

~~

Mahina is the first book in the Hawaiian Mafia Romance series and ends on a cliffhanger. The books should be read in order for the best experience. All books are full length novels.

Mahina is predominantly a family drama about a marriage breakdown that spirals into domestic abuse. The slow-burn romance between Mahina and Zeb is the simmering undercurrent running through the story. I liked the dual point of view as it gave some insight into their relationship, but I felt that either their backstory or their renewed friendship could have been developed more.
My favourite relationship in this book is the one between Mahina and her son Ben, who is growing up to be a fine and respectful young man despite having a father who practically ignores him. I liked how Zeb and Ben interacted and bonded through surfing, developing their own friendship independent of Mahina.
There were a few instances when Mahina annoyed me a little. She made a couple of risky decisions, putting her in precarious situations.
The book is labelled as a mafia romance, but it is surprisingly light on mafia-related activities, concentrating instead on Mahina's family life. The twist at the end was a nice touch, making the story end on a cliffhanger and intriguing me enough to want to find out what happens next.

Available in paperback and ebook Amazon UK 

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Buy direct from the author's website https://www.nalanititcomb.com/shop