Crooked by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Narrated in Duet by Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow

Standalone Contemporary Romance

Thank you Hambright PR for the early copy of Crooked. I was under no obligation to review, and all opinions are my own. There are Amazon Affiliate links in this post.

Whenever I pick up a book by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, or the two of them together, I always wonder why I haven’t been obsessively reading them for the last 10–15 years. I’ve loved every book I’ve read by them, and Crooked is no exception.

I don’t read a ton of mafia romance, but I do know most lean darker than this one. I’d call Crooked mafia light, which totally works for me. Juliette is the daughter of a New York City mafia don, but she’s built a life for herself in LA as a screenwriter, even using an assumed last name to stay under the radar. When trouble starts brewing and her family is threatened, her father sends a bodyguard to live with her and keep her safe…while also making it very clear what will happen if he so much as touches her.

The attraction between Juliette and Wes is immediate, and the banter between them was so much fun. There were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, which kept things interesting. When the danger gets a little too close, they head to Italy and pretend to be a couple, which only pulls them closer together. But her father is not someone to mess with, and Wes knows keeping his distance might be the only way to stay alive.

Bodyguard romances often lean heavier on action and suspense, and this one was more focused on the relationship. I was fully engaged the whole time, but I do think a little more danger could have added an extra layer. Still, Crooked by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward is an easy, fun, sexy, and low-stress listen.

Likes:

I loved both main characters.
There was never a lull. It kept my interest the entire time.
The banter was great.
Fantastic chemistry.
Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, even though I wouldn’t call it a romcom.
A couple of twists I didn’t expect.
Definitely spicy, but it never overwhelmed the story.

Dislikes:

Not really a dislike, but I would have liked a bit more suspense.

The Narration:

The duet narration by Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow was fantastic. Sometimes duet style can feel a little awkward with pauses, but this one flowed perfectly. Both narrators brought so much emotion to the story and really elevated the listening experience.

The Down & Dirty:

Crooked by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward is a sweet, swoony romance packed with familiar tropes, but it never felt cookie-cutter. There’s something about the way these authors write that elevates even a simple premise into something special. Add in the fantastic narration, and it hits on every level. Crooked was a light, easy, feel-good listen with just the right amount of steam, and another win for Vi and Pen.