Made for Her, page 1
Made For Her
Synopsis
Newly-made capo Neal Walsh has devoted her life to protecting the powerful Mancuso crime family, but when a crisis crushes connections within the organization, she must carefully navigate shifting alliances to ensure her loyalty is not misplaced—a task made even more complicated when she begins falling hard for the reclusive wife of her boss’s sworn enemy.
Anastasia Petrov surrendered to her fate as the trophy wife of powerful mob boss Mikhail Petrov long ago, but their marriage of convenience has become increasingly less so since his reckless power grabs have put their fortune in peril. Taking matters into her own hands, she secretly seeks out new allies. But what starts as strictly business turns into a dangerous attraction to the striking younger woman on the other side who awakens a desire she’s long denied and ignites a fire that could either burn them all down or save her soul.
What Reviewers Say About Carsen Taite’s Work
Trial and Error
“Everything I love in Carsen Taite’s books is in this one: the law, the flawed characters, the excitement of the plot.”—Jude in the Stars
“Another good installment in A Courting Danger Romance series. I love when writers bring their expertise in a subject matter into their novels. Carsen Taite is one of them, as a retired criminal defence attorney, her legal thrillers are unique in our genre.”—Lezreviewbooks.com
Trial by Fire
“My favourite Carsen Taite books are the ones in which her background as a criminal defense lawyer shows. This one falls into that category. Everything about the MCs’ jobs was exciting, the inner workings of the courthouse, the atmosphere, the differences between the PD office and Wren’s high profile law firm but also the differences between the PD office and the DA office. The way the philosophies clash yet both offices need the other, two sides of the Justice coin. Taite’s insider knowledge shows in tiny details, and I would happily have read more about cases and untangling facts and lies to reach as much of the truth as possible.”—Jude in the Stars
Her Consigliere
“With this sexy lesbian romance take on the mobster genre, Taite brings savvy, confidence, and glamour to the forefront without leaning into violence. …Taite’s protagonists ooze competence and boldness, with strong female secondary characters. …This is sure to please.”—Publishers Weekly
“…a very enjoyable thriller/romance with intrigue, well-developed characters, and a beautiful love story. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and would love to see more of these characters.”—Rainbow Reflections
Spirit of the Law
“I would definitely recommend this to romance fans and those that like their romance to include lawyers and a little bit of mystery. Due to the slight paranormal elements I think paranormal romance fans would also enjoy this even if they don’t normally read Taite.”—LGBTQ Reader
Best Practice
“I think this could very well be my favourite book in this series. Best Practice is a light and easy opposites-attract age-gap read. It’s well-paced and fun, not overly angsty, with just enough tension to be exciting.”—Jude in the Stars
Drawn
“Drawn by Carsen Taite is a compelling mystery and romantic suspense novel that will keep you glued to your couch or wherever the reading frenzy catches you. …This novel is so much more than a mystery and romance because it deals with family relationships, heartbreaking internal struggles and emotional baggage that many people have to deal with. There’s no doubt about it, Carsen Taite definitely deserves the highest of fives for bringing this story to life for me!”—The Lesbian Review
Out of Practice
“Taite combines legal and relationship drama to create this realistic and deeply enjoyable lesbian romance. …The reliably engaging Taite neatly balances romance and red-hot passion with a plausible legal story line, well-drawn characters, and pitch-perfect pacing that culminates in the requisite heartfelt happily-ever-after.”—Publishers Weekly
Still Not Over You
“Still Not Over You is a wonderful second-chance romance anthology that makes you believe in love again. And you would certainly be missing out if you have not read My Forever Girl because it truly is everything.”—SymRoute
Leading the Witness
“Carsen Taite is a sure bet.”—Jude in the Stars
Practice Makes Perfect
“Absolutely brilliant! …I was hooked reading this story. It was intense, thrilling in that way legal matters get to the nitty gritty and instill tension between parties, fast paced, and laced with angst. …Very slow burn romance, which not only excites me but makes me get so lost in the story.”—LESBIreviewed
“…a fun start to a promising new series, with characters I enjoyed getting to know.”—Lesbian Review
Pursuit of Happiness
“Taite has written a book that draws you in. It had us hooked from the first paragraph to the last. We thoroughly enjoyed this book and would unhesitatingly recommend it.”—Best Lesfic Reviews
“…an entertaining read for anyone interested in American politics and its legal system.”—Lez Review Books
Love’s Verdict
“Well written, cleverly plotted, with a great balance between the slow change from dislike to attraction to love in the romance department while the high profile case works through its phases. The merging of the two plots is subtle and well-crafted seamlessly moving us forward on both fronts. The high profile murder is well played, as always with Ms. Taite’s courtroom dramas, and I liked the way it became a real life thriller as well as a legal case. Overall an excellent read, one of my favourites from this author.”—Lesbian Reading Room
Outside the Law
“This is by far the best book of the series and Ms. Taite has saved the best for last. Each book features a romance and the main characters, Tanner Cohen and Sydney Braswell are well rounded, lovable and their chemistry is sizzling. …The book found the perfect balance between romance and thriller with a surprising twist at the end. Very entertaining read. Overall, a very good end of this series. Recommended for both romance and thriller fans. 4.5 stars.”—Lez Review Books
A More Perfect Union
“Readers looking for a mix of intrigue and romance set against a political backdrop will want to pick up Taite’s latest novel.”—RT Book Reviews
“…an excellent romantic suspense (which should be a surprise to no one, because that’s exactly what Taite does!). …This is a pitch-perfect Carsen Taite story. Everything worked for me!”—Lesbian Review
Sidebar
“Sidebar is a love story with a refreshing twist. It’s a mystery and a bit of a thriller, with an ethical dilemma and some subterfuge thrown in for good measure. The combination gives us a fast-paced read, which includes courtroom and personal drama, an appealing love story, and a more than satisfying ending.”—Lambda Literary Review
Letter of the Law
“If you like romantic suspense novels, stories that involve the law, or anything to do with ranching, you’re not going to want to miss this one.”—Lesbian Review
Without Justice
“Another pretty awesome lesbian mystery thriller by Carsen Taite.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Nevins Memorial Library (MA)
“All in all a fantastic novel…Unequivocally 5 Stars…”—Les Rêveur
Above the Law
“…readers who enjoyed the first installment will find this a worthy second act.”—Publishers Weekly
Reasonable Doubt
“The two main characters are well written and I was into them from the first minute they appeared. It’s a modern thriller which takes place in the world right now.”—Lesfic Tumblr
Lay Down the Law
“Recognized for the pithy realism of her characters and settings drawn from a Texas legal milieu, Taite pays homage to the prime-time soap opera Dallas in pairing a cartel-busting U.S. attorney, Peyton Davis, with a charity-minded oil heiress, Lily Gantry.”—Publishers Weekly
Courtship
“This is one really fine story. I felt as if I were right in the middle of a major political battle to get a relatively unknown woman appointed to the most important court position in the land. Levels upon levels plus twists and turns, including a passionate entanglement adding a spectacular underscore, as the lovers meld and re-meld multiple times. I would have to say this is a classic page-turner and I totally enjoyed the high-spirited elements that may always surround key political battles. Magnificent!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Switchblade
“Dallas’s intrepid female bounty hunter, Luca Bennett, is back in another adventure. Fantastic! Between her many friends and lovers, her interesting family, her fly by the seat of her pants lifestyle, and a whole host of detractors there is rarely a dull moment.”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Rush
“A simply beautiful interplay of police procedural magic, murder, FBI presence, misguided protective cover-ups, and a superheated love affair…a Gold Star from me and major encouragement for all readers to dive right in and consume this story with gusto!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Battle Axe
“Taite breathes life into her characters with elemental finesse. …A great read, told in the vein of a good old detective-type novel filled with criminal elements, thugs, and mobsters that will entertain and amuse.”—Lambda Literary
Slingshot
“The mean streets of lesbian literature finally have the h ard-boiled bounty hunter they deserve. It’s a slingshot of a ride, bad guys and hot women rolled into one page turning package. I’m looking forward to Luca Bennett’s next adventure.”—J. M. Redmann, author of the Micky Knight mystery series
Nothing but the Truth
“As a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, Texas, Carsen Taite knows her way around the courthouse. …Nothing But the Truth is an enjoyable mystery with some hot romance thrown in.”—Just About Write
It Should be a Crime—Lammy Finalist
“This [It Should be a Crime] is just Taite’s second novel…, but it’s as if she has bookshelves full of bestsellers under her belt. In fact, she manages to make the courtroom more exciting than Judge Judy bursting into flames while delivering a verdict. Like this book, that’s something we’d pay to see.”—Gay List Daily
Made for Her
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By the Author
Truelesbianlove.com
It Should be a Crime
Do Not Disturb
Nothing but the Truth
The Best Defense
Beyond Innocence
Rush
Courtship
Reasonable Doubt
Without Justice
Sidebar
A More Perfect Union
Love’s Verdict
Pursuit of Happiness
Leading the Witness
Drawn
Double Jeopardy (novella in Still Not Over You)
Spirit of the Law
Her Consigliere
Perilous Obsession
Made for Her
The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:
Slingshot
Battle Axe
Switchblade
Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)
Lone Star Law Series:
Lay Down the Law
Above the Law
Letter of the Law
Outside the Law
Legal Affairs Romances:
Practice Makes Perfect
Out of Practice
Best Practice
Courting Danger Romances:
Trial by Fire
Trial and Error
Made For Her
© 2023 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-266-8
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: March 2023
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design by Tammy Seidick
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Acknowledgments
I think one of the reasons I’m so attracted to books about the mob is the concept of a chosen family. Setting aside the violence and the defiant breaking of the law, these cohorts in crime pledge their undying allegiance to their self-selected families and I can totally relate to the concept. Molte grazie to my sister in crime, Ali Vali, a dear friend, who shared one of her most treasured characters with me for Her Consigliere and this story.
Thanks to everyone at Bold Strokes Books for giving my stories a home and treating them with such care. Special thanks to my smart, funny, and very patient editor, Cindy Cresap, who I’m lucky to call friend. Tammy, thank you for another fantastic cover.
Writing is fifty percent putting words on paper and fifty percent thinking about, planning for, and talking about putting words on paper—tasks made easier with the help of good friends, and I have the good fortune to have a lot of those. Hugs to Georgia, Melissa, Kris, Elle, and Ruth. Special thanks to Paula for being my ride or die—there’s never been a better pal.
Thanks to my wife, Lainey, for always believing in my dreams. This year has been a wild ride full of change and I love our new adventures.
And most importantly, many thanks to you for reading my work. Whether you’re a first time Carsen Taite reader or a loyal supporter who’s read my work for years, I’m forever grateful for your support. Every story is for you.
Dedication
To Lainey. We are definitely made for each other.
Chapter One
It sucks to be the tall one in a gunfight.
The thought whizzed through Neal’s mind as she ducked to avoid the bullets pounding the wall behind her. She hunched behind the staircase railing, slammed a new clip into her weapon, and glanced over to her right where Don Mancuso’s bodyguard, Michael, was defending his former boss’s office door with his huge, broad body which had already taken a hit. They needed reinforcements and they needed them fast.
Keeping her eyes trained on the landing, she reached for her phone and speed-dialed Robert Valentino, one of the Mancuso capos who was supposed to have followed them upstairs. The minute the line connected, she whispered, “Get everyone to the front of the house. Take no prisoners.” She hung up before Robert could question her logic or authority since she didn’t feel like explaining the former and she wasn’t sure about the latter. Don Mancuso had been in the ground less than a week before his enemies had begun this assault, and with his consigliere, Siobhan Collins, having fled the country within hours of his death, none of the foot soldiers left behind was certain who was in charge. Their enemies were taking advantage.
She crawled toward Michael and motioned for him to get down. As she drew closer, she pointed to the door behind him. He nodded and fired another round toward the first floor before joining her as she dove into the Don’s private office.
“Grab everything from the desk,” she whispered, as she surveyed their options for escape. “The key’s in there. Book of Acts,” she added, pointing to the worn King James Bible sitting on the surface. Siobhan had alluded to the hiding spot on her most recent call, saying the only way to salvation was through the verses urging action. She hoped she hadn’t misread the clue.
“Got it,” Michael said, holding up the key in triumph before using it to open the Don’s desk. A moment later, his arms stuffed with papers, he stood and inclined his head toward the door. “They’ll be here any minute. You have a plan?”
She should. There’d been plenty of opportunities to practice the skills she’d learned over the years as a loyal soldier and protector of the Don’s consigliere, but nothing truly prepared a person for their world to come crumbling down upon them. She had only her instincts to trust. “Let’s draw them in.”
Michael didn’t hesitate. He picked up a chair and hurled it at the closed office door, instantly drawing fire. If the men downstairs weren’t already on the landing, they would be running toward them now, determined to gun them down. She pointed to the window and ran toward it, throwing open the sash to look out onto the balcony. The drop to the ground was about thirty feet. Survivable, but likely crippling. Even with her natural agility she wasn’t likely to survive a fall like that and Michael would hit the ground like the boulder he was. She glanced up at the roofline, a mere shoulder pull from the balcony railing away.
“Come on,” she yelled to Michael, no longer trying to hide. The intruders knew they were in here and in a minute, they’d be right where she wanted them.
