A rival mafia family means danger for René and her loved ones in Melverna McFarlane’s new mafia romance, Inevitable (Oliveri Mafia Book Two). Although she promised herself she would never seek him out, René approaches her ex for protection, but will he demand more than she can give for keeping her safe?

Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Let’s play Is It True with today’s guest, Melverna McFarlane. This is a game with yes and no questions. Writers can elaborate on answers as much as they choose.

Inevitable (Oliveri Mafia Book Two) by Melverna McFarlane

Genre: Mafia Romance

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

Nico

Four years ago, I made one mistake, and she left. I couldn’t convince her to stay no matter how much I loved her. Still love her. But one day she turns up at my door asking for my protection. A rival family is threatening her life and the business she busted her ass for. No matter what unresolved issues lie between us, the heartache I’ve carried, or the dreams I wish were reality, I won’t let anyone threaten her or the family I had always wanted to be mine. I will always protect her. But I am more than just a temporary bodyguard. I have a second chance to show her my love is worth fighting for, and I will claim her completely. With this new chance, she can’t escape the inevitable.

René

Asking Nico for help is the last thing I want to do. After breaking up with him four years ago, I am not ready to be reminded of all the reasons I fell in love with him, to begin with. Avoiding him becomes impossible when he is still the only man I trust to protect me and my family from a rival mafia boss intent on ruining our lives. His every touch reignites my passions. Though I fight it, and will never admit it, my feelings for my ex had never died. As the heat between us flames to new heights, he tempts me with the possibility of a second chance at love.

Is it true:

this is your first book?

No. This is my second book.

this book is part of a series?

Yes. It is the second book within my Oliveri Mafia series and it can be read as a standalone.

you lost sleep while writing this book?

Yes! For a number of reasons, starting with the hero. Writing a cinnamon roll in a mafia roll was a challenge because it goes against so many expectations within the genre. In addition, I wanted to showcase a family with a mixed Caribbean heritage which included the language. Making Jamaican patois consumable and easy to understand for someone who doesn’t speak it or had never heard it was another challenge for me. Whereas I can see the similarities with English and patois, it wouldn’t be easily recognizable to a non-native speaker.

you did research for this book?

Yes. My hero is practices shibari. As a practitioner, he needed to show he was conscious of the ways to do it safely. The research was fun and I loved the patterns and, really, the artwork in the craft.

some characters in this book are not human? (pets for example)

Yes. As people who follow me know, I love cats. How could I not feature cats whenever possible? In Inevitable, Nico has a cat named Padronello (little boss in Italian) and he ends up being a little hero himself.

this book has more than one genre?

No. This is a romance novel, but it does meet a few sub-genre expectations. It is contemporary romance, mafia romance, and interracial romance.

you speak more than one language?

Yes. Not fluently, but I can converse in Spanish and of course there is English. I understand patois but am too shy to speak it with my relatives because I sound ridiculous doing so with my American accent.

you grew up where you live now?

No. I grew up in various states along the East coast, spending most of my years in Philadelphia. I grew tired of the extreme winters and summers so when an opportunity fell in my lap I relocated to Hawaii.

you love to read?

Yes. My favorite is obviously romance. I read most of the sub genres and go through cycles where I binge certain ones. I also love epic fantasy, young adult and adult. Whenever I have a bit of writer’s block, immersing myself in the intense world building of a fantasy world seems to be the key to unblock my imagination and allow me to continue writing my stories, even if what I write is nothing like what I’m reading.

you are never late?

No. I am a procrastinator and will always be late.

you love pizza?

Yes. I would seriously reconsider my friendship to anyone who doesn’t.

you love sushi?

Yes. Cooked, uncooked, vegetable…love them, though I will stop short at eating uni sushi.

you have a pet?

No. Sadly my landlord will not allow me to have a cat, though I really wish I had one.

Where to buy Inevitable (Oliveri Mafia Book Two)

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WH5LTPM

Melverna McFarlane Social Media

Melverna McFarlane loves stories with Happily Ever Afters. After years of characters taunting her imagination with their potential, she decided it was time to write her own scorching hot romances. She moved to America from Jamaica at a young age, and has lived up and down the east coast most of her life. The bitterly cold winter of 2013 was the last straw, driving her back to island life—this time to Hawaii. When not writing, she is reading romance, YA, and Fantasy, country hopping, or vicariously obsessing over other people’s cats (she awaits the day her landlords succumb to the truth: feline domination should be everyone’s goal in life).
Website https://www.melvernamcfarlane.com
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