REVIEW: The Vigilante by Mia Monroe (In Love With a Criminal #2)

THE VIGILANTE

In Love With a Criminal - Book Two

by Mia Monroe

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Review

Anyone working with vulnerable people can get tired of feeling like they aren’t doing enough, that they can never ‘fix’ the problem. Vanian has decided to make a definitive difference.

And when he needs time away, it brings him back to his childhood best friend, Nantes.

The rekindling of their friendship turned romance is a great reunion, full of all the things expected. Time spent learning about each other, laughing, and regretting what they’ve missed. Until it turns into something more. Full of fun exploration and tender moments.

The big question - what happens when Nantes learns Van’s secret? It’s a fun story!

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Synopsis

Righting the world’s wrongs was my sole focus, until my childhood friend gave me a new one.

When I decided to become a child therapist, I never imagined it would lead me down the dark and dangerous path I’m on, but after listening to one case after another of children enduring terrible conditions, and worse, I knew I had to do more than comfort those poor souls. I had to stop it.

And that’s exactly what I do. I hunt down abusers, predators, and scum, and I make sure they pay. The first time I took things too far, I should have been appalled, but instead, it reignited my passion for ridding the world of these losers.

It was going great too, until I got a little sloppy. The only reasonable response is to let things cool down and disappear for a while. I didn’t know running into my former best friend would be exactly what I needed.

He’s not at all like the guy I used to know, and there are things about himself he never told me. Now, I’m discovering a new side of Nantes, and in the process, discovering myself. When exploration turns to something more, I have a huge decision to make—continue my mission, or try for an honest life and a chance at love.

Is there a way I can have both?

The Vigilante is Book 2 in the In Love With A Criminal series. In it, you can expect darker themes, a man hell-bent on protecting the vulnerable, some violence, a very unexpected awakening, childhood friends rekindling their friendship (and more!), a lively family with secrets of their own, a touch of forced proximity, steamy nights, and love, sweet love.

About Mia Monroe

Mia has long been an avid romance reader and writer. As someone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community, Mia feels a special connection to these sometimes complicated stories. Once she read her first MM romance, she was hooked, and now wants to bring those stories to you. She’s a hopeless romantic so she guarantees a happy ever after in all her stories, but she does not guarantee they will be without complications.

Mia describes her writing style as angsty, emotional, and kinky and just lets her imagination take her where it wants to go. No filters, no restraint, no apologies. She hopes you enjoy the ride and come back for more.

People will tell you Mia is funny in the most sarcastic of ways, fluent in inappropriate memes, loosely moral’d, a lover of words, and fueled by coffee and tacos- but not at the same time. She has some standards.

Love freely.

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