
She’s His One Weakness—And He’ll Burn the World to Save Her.
Niall Black
Loyal right-hand to Finn O’Reilly.
Cousin and trusted friend.
He lives for the life he’s created.
Filled with business, both day-to-day and dangerous. Not interested in a relationship of any kind outside of his comfort zone.
Until fate brings her to him. Annabelle Lewis.
She awakens something inside him. A need. A desire.
A new set of feelings he wasn’t prepared for.
When she is taken from him, how far will he go to get her back?
To the ends of the earth.
And anyone in his way will be removed.
Permanently.

Title: | Niall |
Author: | Melanie Moreland |
Narrator(s): | Maxine Mitchell John Lane |
Series: | The Irishmen (Book 2) |
Length / Pages: | 244 |
Genre(s): | Contemporary Audiobook |
Trope(s): | Mafia Romance Insta-love Opposites Attract |
Point of View: | First Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
Narration Type: | Dual |
Location: | Toronto, Canada (and briefly in Ireland) |
HEA: | ✔ |
Release Date: | 19 June, 2025 |


Niall gets his girl in audio

We’re back to Melanie Moreland’s Irishmen duo – this time for the story of second-in-command, Niall. We got to know Niall in the first book in the duo, Finn, and got a glimpse of who would ultimately become the object of his passion / obsession. Do you need to have read or listened to Finn to ultimately understand and enjoy this story? Technically, no – as it’s a story in its own right with its own HEA – but I really think you might be confused as to the back story if you don’t read / listen to that book before this one.
Niall Black is a stoic, strong and somber character. A real man’s man. And someone who doesn’t think himself capable of giving or receiving love. Which makes it so much more satisfying to see him absolutely laid low by Anna, a small slip of a woman. He is absolutely gone for her – while trying to convince himself he’s just trying to keep her safe until she’s back on her feet. I really liked him and loved how he looked after – and adored – Anna. Niall is narrated by John Lane.
Anna has gone through a terrible ordeal and is in a delicate and fragile state. She relies on Niall and wants him by her side – but is unsure whether her feelings are real or as a result of the trauma she’s suffered that he saved her from. She’s a likeable heroine and I was rooting for her. I liked to see her grow in confidence and finally go after what she wanted. And what she wanted was Niall. Maxine Mitchell portrays Anna.
“Mafia books are never my favourite trope but with Melanie Moreland’s magic – I’m all in.”
The book is in dual narration – so each narrator reads his or her own chapter – and all the voices contained in that chapter be they male or female. Both our narrators are absolute pros at doing this – and making you forget that you’re not listening to a conversation. I was probably a bit mean and grumpy in my review of the Irish accents when reviewing the audiobook of Finn. Perhaps I’ve mellowed some, but this time, I was more inclined to imagine that Niall (and Finn), having lived in Canada for so long, had fusion accents melding the Irish and Canadian twangs together. That explained some of the vowels and made me much happier. But kudos to all involved as it can’t be easy to even attempt to narrate a book in an accent not native to you.
There was obviously an instant connection between Niall and Anna; they meet for the first time when Niall (and crew) rescue Anna (and Una) from human traffickers. From that moment, they are inseparable. But owing to Anna’s injuries and Niall’s complete denial of his feelings, from there, there’s something of a slow burn for our couple. But that’s not to say that they don’t have sizzling chemistry – they absolutely do. And when the time comes, it’s delicious. And we get lots of touching, kissing and such, as they both give in what’s between them.
I really enjoyed this book which rounded off what has been a delightful duo of books. Mafia books are never my favourite trope but with Melanie Moreland’s magic – I’m all in. Of the two, Finn was my favourite but Niall comes a close second. And we’re treated to the delight of an overarching epilogue that rounds everything off with a cherry on the top. Another winner from Melanie Moreland that cements why she’s one of my favourite romance authors. And at this stage, if she used anyone other than John Lane and Maxine Mitchell for her narrators, I think there would be riot. 5 stars.

* I received this book in exchange for my honest review



New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

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