The Gunrunner Princess series is connected to Elizabeth Knight’s prior mafia why-choose romance series, Caprioni Queen, by way of the feral, unhinged smuggler (that’s the best way I can describe it, really) Von, also known as The Wolf. The Wolf and her mute companion, Bear, helped Astin and her men complete her takedown and takeover of the Five Families. In the process, Von finally gave up her vow of neutrality and swore a blood oath to Astin. At the end of the last book in the Caprioni Queen series, Von was last seen going off on the task she was set to: tracking down and killing the last two remaining Accardi heis, who have been in hiding for years. One for the Money starts with not only seeing the beginnings of the fallout from Von’s vow to Astin, but the story arc also follows Von’s quest to find those heirs and their awful stepmother, Serena Accardi. 

I fell in love with Von during the Caprioni Queen series. I have a serious weakness for feral FMCs and the characters who love her, especially when the characters love her because she’s absolutely feral. Von is, unquestionably, unhinged. Personally, I wouldn’t have her any other way. Von is fun to read, as are her paramours. Her paramours in this book are Bear (of course), her longtime bodyguard and companion; and Erik, a veterinarian of dubious providence whom Von and Bear kidnap after an emergency that has them breaking into his vet office in the middle of the night. 

This book does a terrific job of setting up the rest of the series without sacrificing character building, spice, relationship blocking (by which I mean building the connections between Von and her paramours as well as teasing about who else Von may be interested in), and letting us have insight into Von’s past. We also get to hear from Astin and Ivy from the Caprioni Queen series, even if Von doesn’t see them in the flesh. 

There is no mm action in this installment, but it is suggested that in future installments there will be such a dynamic. This is always a plus for me, but I know it’s a no for some readers. I’m really looking forward to the next book, Two for the Show, because I absolutely need to know where Von’s search for the Accardi heirs is going and how they plan to take Serena Accardi down. 

I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.