I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Very Merry Hitman by Katie ReusA Very Merry Hitman by Katie Reus
Series: Holiday With a Hitman #2
Published by KR Press on October 22, 2025
Genres: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary RS
Pages: 152
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
five-stars

She’s surrounded by killers…

Aileen’s parents, brother and all her neighbors have unconventional jobs to say the least. So she’s surrounded by hitmen. Is it a little strange? Sure, but so is she. And lately she finds herself looking at one of her neighbors in a new light. When the single mom asks him for a teeny tiny favor—to help her after years of being celibate—he shuts down. So she decides to throw herself back out there and start dating again.

And he’s the most intimidating of them all…

Dante has wanted Aileen for as long as he can remember, but because of her past trauma, he’s always considered her off-limits. When two different Santas try to rob her in a matter of days, then all bets are off. Something weird is going on, so he does what any good hitman would do—he takes over her protection detail. He’ll keep her under his roof, in his arms, and hopefully in his bed, while ending any and all threats to her. Too bad her nosy family keeps getting in his way. It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but danger is about to find them all.

I really love this author. She makes me love hitmen lol

So in this second in her Holiday With a Hitman series, she’s got the cutest friends to lovers with a great cast of characters, and the tie-ins to one of her other series (Red Stone Security). I just love little cameos like that.

So Aileen lives in a neighborhood of hitmen/retired hitmen. Her parents are retired. She is an ASMRtist who is in love with the guy across the street, Dante. Dante is a hitman, and he’s in love with Aileen, but they’re both such good friends that they just leave it at that. Until Aileen decides she’s ready to jump back into the dating pool after something traumatic happened to her years ago. And she wants Dante to be the someone she jumps. Er, the someone she asks to help her jump start her dating life? Okay I’m done with the jokes, but she takes his shock as rejection and goes on a blind date with someone else, instead.

But she’s mugged and suddenly things turn dangerous. Dante and the family rally around Aileen, and even through the danger, Dante and Aileen can’t keep the sparks from flying. They’re a solid couple and I love how everything was handled. The twist at the end definitely surprised me, and here I am now loving a hitman hero yet again because Katie Reus wrote him.

She’s an excellent writer and if you can have a Cozy Romantic Suspense, this would be it. It’s fun, dangerous, and sexy all at the same time. I recommend reading both of the Holiday With A Hitman series. You’ll enjoy it.

***ARC courtesy of the author via Netgalley

five-stars