Mafia Target

The Kings of Italy #4

by Mila Finelli

GIULIO I've renounced my birthright as the heir to an Italian mafia empire, but no one leaves the brotherhood without paying a price. To evade my enemies, I stay on the move.
Now a new man is stalking me, watching me. But there's something else in his eyes, a hunger that sets me on fire. He's rough and dangerous, all the things I crave in the dark.
Except he's been hired to kill me.
I shouldn't want him. But I do.
They say to keep your enemies close. So that's exactly what I'm planning. Beware the hunted who becomes the hunter...
ALESSIO I live in the shadows, the assassin they never see coming. I'm the best, but Giulio is my weakness. I need him in ways I can't begin to explain.
He might run, but I'll follow him to the ends of the earth. And if others try to hurt him, I'll protect him with my last breath.
Except I'm hiding a secret, one that will cost me everything. I should walk away, but I can't.
Even if it's my undoing.
Mafia Target is the fourth book in the Kings of Italy series. It's a stand-alone male/male romance, complete with two hot and dangerous Italian men. HEA and no cliffhangers guaranteed!

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Audiobook, LGBT

314 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2023

About the author

Mila finally decided to write the filthy mafia kings she's been dreaming about for years.

She's addicted to coffee, travel and books with bad men in them.

Newsletter: bit.ly/mila_newsletter
IG: instagram.com/mila_finelli_author
FB: facebook.com/milafinelliauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mila-...

Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge)]

This was edgy, steamy, and full of excitement. Another great entry to the Kings of Italy!

I was so curious to see where Giulio would go next after what we've seen of him before. He's been living an interesting, dangerous life since Mafia Darling. It was cool to see the man he has become. He has hardened and also grown into a leader in his own right, even if he has been a Lone Wolf for now.

Alessio was quite a trip! This Assassin needs to get his man, but when his target is the only man to make him miss before, he can't but be intrigued.

These two circle each other and the tension rises and when it cracks... boom! It explosive in all the best ways. I loved this couple together.

My tiny quibble is that... the conflict seemed out of place to me. How could Giulio REALLY be surprised by a certain revelation. Like, what else did he think was going on? But it did lead to a great grovel!

4.5 stars
4 on the spice scale

[Renae Reads]

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.***

Mafia Target is the fourth entry in the Kings of Italy Series. This story focuses on the complicated relationship between assassin Alessio and his target Giulio, a mafia prince. I really enjoyed this story and how it has many elements that I enjoy in a love story including:

Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and possessive/obsession. These two characters do not have an easy go of it, which is always something I enjoy in a romance. I like when the main characters fight for their relationship when it appears impossible.

Together Alessio and Giulio play a fun cat-and-mouse game for the first half of the story and after that point, they are forced to work together after sharing a common enemy. Overall this entry is a ton of fun and I loved getting to see all of the characters interact together. Cannot wait for the next entry after that cliffhanger.

[glavreads]

UGH THIS SERIES JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

what’s better than one hot mafia man? two hot mafia men.

giulio left his father’s crime family to be able to live his life free and out as a gay man. he’s never truly free though so his encounters are usually anonymous in nightclubs and unremarkable until one man blows him away (literally 🤪). things get a little complicated when said man turns out to be the sniper trying to kill him.

i cannot get enough of this series. if you are a mafia romance lover, you must check this series out. each couple has its own forbidden aspect and these are true, true enemies to lovers stories.

i loved giulio and alessio SO much. the spice was top tier as always and their chemistry was soooo hot. the banter was so good and for all that they were strong mafia men, they also went so soft for each other. 1000000/10.

[Carla]

This book has everything I like: mafia, angst, love and a lot of action 🔥 .
This story was well written and the characters were well built! Perfect.
It’s worth the reading.

[GigiReads]

Can Mila Finelli top the boinking in a cage unhinged energy of Mafia Madman? Yes, yes she can. Mafia Target is an equally wild and steamy but oh-so-romantic ride and I am OBSESSED with Giulessio.

Giulio is the mafia Prince who abdicated and gave up his crown. He's the gay son of Fausto (from Mafia Mistress, Mafia Darling) who left the very homophobic mafia world and went on the run basically to save his life and keep his family safe after his long-term boyfriend was unalived by a car bomb meant for him.

Alessio is an assassin. He's the best money can buy and money is something that Enzo (yes the cage-loving psycho from Mafia Madman) has loads of. Enough to hire Alessio to kill the son of his greatest enemy and his now family member Fausto 🤣
Alessio goes after his target and lo! It's the son of the only target he missed, Giulio's daddy and my Daddy, Fausto.

So you can see where this is going. Enemies to lovers, a stoic assassin who falls hard and becomes a loyal bodyguard and protector. I loved my baby angel Giulio from the first moment he walked onto the page in Mafia Mistress and I was so excited to see more of him. My baby angel is a model hot mafia prince on the street and a filthy talking bossy beast in the sheets 💀but it was Alessio who stole my heart here. I am slutty for a stoic monosyllabic assassin who falls for his target 🔥 And reader, he falls hard. There's pining, there's angst, there's steam that will singe your eyelashes off and there is romance and swoony moments. The plot is a well-paced globe-trotting sometimes bloody and violent romp, a great blend of mafia shenanigans, relationship development, and romance. We get cameos from our faves from the previous books and Daddy Fausto steals the show for a bit 🥹 There's a third-act breakup that sent me into a decline but I can't complain because the angst broke my angst-o-meter. It hurt so good.

Also, no spoilers but THAT EPILOGUE! 💀

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥🔥/5

Tropes
Assassin/target
Enemies to Lovers
Pining
Only one island 😆
Grump/ dark sunshine 🤔

CW: this is a mafia romance and the themes are dark so YMMV. Homophobia, graphic violence, drug trafficking, etc.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[babygyalreadit]

4.5/5 RTC closer to release
________________________________________________

Here we are:

I had a blast diving back into this world and with a STAR such a Giulio. Watching him fall in love and grow into his own man after stepping out of his fathers shadow. I loved every minute of it. It was so fun!

These two were fire and ice lots of spice, angst and banter. How does one make a top of the line sniper fall in love with a witty, uncaring, charming and charismatic mafia prince?!

I enjoyed reading the complexity of their relationship bc ultimately they had to come to a cross roads and get through the obstacles standing in their way. No spoiler here, it was fast paced and a very good read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to VPR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kelly]

No one writes mafia like miss Mila, SHE NEVER FAILS ME! I loved this MM mafia story and we need even more in this genre because this was hot af. So entertaining and sexy. G & A made the perfect pair, my babies 🥹 A true enemies to lovers tale, I was obsessed with them literally fist fighting one second and getting it on the next.

also loved all the Frankie & Fausto family time we got in the end there and I’m just head over heels in love with this crazy mafia crew.




**thank you Valentine PR & Mila for the ARC copy

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included)]

Tropes: enemies to lovers, assassin/target
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: rough sex, sex in public places, choking
Angst: medium
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: third act break up, murder, torture, drug dealing, rejection by family, homophobia
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Alessio gives Giulio an anonymous b****** at a club when they are strangers slash while he's stalking Giulio. Giulio gets a few more anonymous BJ's from other men after, before Alessio and he meet more "formally". After that, there are no references to either of them with other people. They both are intent on each other, and then heartbroken during a brief break up. There are references to Giulio loving and losing his first love Paolo, who was murdered.

4 stars

Alessio is an elite assassin, who used to be in the military. He is bisexual. He first spotted Giulio 4 years ago when he was contracted to kill Giulio's father. He was distracted by his attraction to Giulio and missed, he failed to kill his target for the first and only time. 4 years later, Alessio has been hired to assassinate Giulio. He stalks him for weeks, too attracted to him to actually kill him. He meets him "formally" and they parry back and forth for a while threatening to kill each other, Giulio is really no match for Alessio and the only reason he is alive is because Alessio is too enamored to kill him. They call a truce for a month to indulge their attraction, and then Alessio will give Giulio a head start to run. But s*** goes sideways and feelings develop, and next thing you know they want to protect each other. But Giulio doesn't know that it was Alessio who almost killed his father, and when it comes out he feels betrayed and lied to. But there are so many threats still, and feelings, and staying apart just isn't going to work.

This was a really vibrant story. There was a lot of tension both sexual and otherwise. I liked the battle between them, and I liked how Alessio was such an impenetrable force but such a simp for Giulio, willing to do whatever for him. These men will rule the mafia world together.

I wasn't a huge fan of the breakup, I felt like Giulio shouldn't have taken it so personally, he knew Alessio was an assassin and just the hired gun, not the one who wanted his father dead. He shouldn't have been surprised that Alessio was silent, it really wasn't the betrayal he thought it was. Alessio was always the one making sacrifices, suffering, and it felt like Giulio didn't quite deserve him at times. But then again it was very sweet when Giulio would cook for Alessio even when he was mad at him.

It was also unpleasant that Giulio hooked up with others after Alessio blew him, but they really didn't know each other at that point. Poor Alessio stalking him and watching though, ouch.


Some notable moments:

"Mouth dry with nerves, I licked my lips. “If I kiss you, will you punch me again?” “Honestly, I’m not sure.” “Then I’ll just have to risk it.” I dropped my rifle on the ground and moved in to cup his jaw with my good hand. My injured hand rested on his hip. He was warm and solid and right here. Fuck, I’d missed him. I moved my face closer, giving him plenty of time to stop me. He didn’t. My stomach was in my throat, nerves popping and fizzing in my veins, as I gently brushed my mouth over his. He didn’t move, but his breath gusted over my skin. I couldn’t decipher the swirling emotion in his gaze, so I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the joy of kissing him once again. I increased the pressure, molding our lips together. I went carefully, slowly, needing to soak in every moment. Every second. If this was truly the last time, then I wanted to make this kiss a memorable one."

"“If I am cooking for you, then open a bottle of wine.” I scratched my jaw and wondered how to break the news. When I didn’t move, he stopped what he was doing. His expression turned wary. “Are you telling me there is no wine in this house?” “Whoever came in . . . .” “Took all my good wine? Ma dai, these Scots. Go.” He waved me away. “Go and find some wine, assassino. And tell Mrs. Campbell I want Italian wine, not French.”"

"Alessio’s fingers wrapped loosely around my throat as he leaned into my face. “Hear me now, Giulio. I. Am. Coming. With. You.” My heart kicked in my chest at his deep growl. I wished I had time for us to work all this anger out in the bedroom, but I didn’t. And I wasn’t sure bringing him with me was wise. “Why?” “I’m not letting you out of my sight, not until we figure out whatever is happening between us.” He released me and stalked across the floor toward the hall. “And I won’t allow you to get hurt in Málaga. So wherever you go, I go.”"


*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.

[Alexandra]

wow...wow..wow. incredible MM Mafia romance that everyone must read! Mafia Target was everything i was hoping it would be and phenomenal. I loved Alessio and Giulio's love so much - the tension, compatibility, tenderness, overportectiveness was perfect.

If you loved Fausto - you will be obsessed over Giulio because he is legit Fausto 2.0! They do say kinks are hereditary..Im just saying!!! Giulio's praising, degrading and sheer dominance was too fucking good!

I loved their little nick names for each other - Bel Principe - SO FREAKING CUTE.

You don't have to read the other books but I highly ENCOURAGE you to do so because so much plot is built up to this book!!

I love them and miss them

ARC REVIEW

[maura]

an assassin and his target romance ? yes please!!

since book 1 i have been excited for guilio's romance and it did not disappoint!! so much angst and tension while still having enough pay off. great installment in the series!

i simply cannot wait for book 5 to come out.

[Syndi]

I am not entirely sold on Mafia Target. I still enjoy the writing from Miss Finelli but not the characters chemistry. The chemistry is lacking. More like insta lust or attraction.

Overall not too had but lacking on the chemistry.

3 stars

[Cath]

5/5 ⭐️

I’m DESCENDING INTO MADNESS. Do y’all want anything? Perhaps “AN ASSASSIN FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIS TARGET”?

OF COURSE, MY FKING TREAT. *SLAMS IT ON THE TABLE*



So on today’s menu:
- Two hot, dangerous Italian men trying to kill each other but failing FKING miserably because they’re too busy being attracted to each other and can’t keep their hands to themselves
- Sexual tension that TENSIONS VERY SEXUALLY
- Italian dirty talk. I REPEAT, Italian dirty talk. 🤌
- "I’m a tough guy 😠... but I have a soft spot for you 🥺" energy
- Emotional third act that made me build a pool so I could swim in my tears (....THANK YOU VERY FKING MUCH, MILA FINELLI)
- HEA



.....I will take the whole menu, thank you, kind sir.

UP THE FAVORITE SHELF YOU GO. THIS WAS A 10/10 EXPERIENCE. ABSOLUTELY ICONIC. I WAS GAGGED. OMFG.

READING ABOUT ALESSIO AND GUILIO IS NOT ENOUGH, I NEED THEM INJECTED INTO MY VEINS.



…My apologies, I have been left unsupervised and this review is the result 🙈 Goodnight 💗

[Diana :*]

Omg I already know I will love this book!! Ahh can’t wait

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS]

Audio - 4.25 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars

[Sarah]

My first Mila Finelli book and it was really good!

Assassin and his target fall in love.
Mafia
MM Romance
Amazing Steam
Suspense

It really just hit all the points for me. I’ll be reading more of this world for sure.

[mm_smut_reader]

I absolutely love it and it's one of my once-every-6-months reads.
The fact it has little Italian is one of the motives of my rating. Less use of Italian in mafia books pls, we Italians don't want to cringe every single time we read dark romances 🫡

[Christi]

Mafia Target is the newest book in the Kings of Italy series, which makes it the 4th installment in this mafia series that has been set in Italy. Both main characters we follow in here, as well as side characters, we have already met in the previous books so I think reading the others will definitely better set you up for this book. I had high expectations for this mm, mafia romance and sadly it didn’t live up to all of them.

Giulio was once heir to the biggest mafia empire in Europe, his father is Fausto (the hero of books 1 and 2) and we saw why and when Giulio fled from his family’s home in the previous books. Giulio has been kind of on the run since, after not being accepted by some of the heads of families in their mafia world because of his sexuality and he’s been wanting to make his own way since. Alessio is a sniper assassin who was hired to take out Giulio but can’t seem to pull the trigger when he has him in his sights. So we see Alessio following his target, Giulio all around Europe and their very lust-filled infatuation with one another. They decide on a temporary truce for one month to enjoy one another!

I was excited for this very hate to love setup of an assassin and his target falling for one another. I’ve read romances like this before where they really work for me! I think my issue with this was that it relied too heavily on their lust and the steamy times between them. Whereas I would have appreciated more plot, more tension, pining, or more of a buildup to them getting together. Instead by like 5% in they’ve already hooked up at a club. 🤷🏼‍♀️ This just felt like it leaned too heavily on all the steamy scenes. Not to say there aren’t things happening with plot here, because there is it just wasn’t enough for me. Someone else had attempted to take out Giulio, so he and Alessio set out to find out who it was with Alessio acting as his bodyguard of sorts instead of would-be assassin. I did enjoy seeing Fausto, Frankie and crew make appearances in this and the epilogue does have me very excited for the next book! While this wasn’t my fav in the series (books 3 and 1 are my favs), this author does really work for me and I’ll be picking up the next book for sure!

[Emma]

Forth time giving this author ago, just because I loved the first book in the series. The others not so much as they didn’t hold my attention at all.

With this book the author definitely held back in my opinion.
This book is not mafia, not dark romance.
MM is basic.

I dnf at 40%
“Im going to kill you… let’s go for a jog together” like LOL 😂 what the hell. This book wasn’t what it says it is.

[Jessen Reads Romance]

4.5 stars

[Jessica]

I love this series and was so excited for this one. An assassin falling for his target in the mafia? Unfortunately, this one was super lusty and I didn't really buy that they had fallen for each other. And I expected more danger and suspense for an assassin/mafia romance.

[Maja (Taylor’s Version)]

First of all, I haven´t read the other three books in the Kings of Italy series, but `Mafia Target` can be read as a standalone and I had no complications in not understanding anything because I didn´t read the prequel books.
This is an MLM mafia dark romance with spice and gore so check Tws before reading!
A quick explanation of the book's plot; Basically there is this really hot assassin who gets a job to eliminate the (former) heir of the Italian mafia, but that heir also happens to be really hot and the assassin, whose name btw is Alessio, just can´t bring himself to assassin the Heir (Guilio). And then they fall in love (but with a lot of complications and even more spice).

All in all, I both loved the idea of the plot and the execution and the characters had great chemistry. The nicknames they gave each other were my favorite little detail about the book and I think it was well written, in case of understanding both characters' points and why they do what they do. I normally despise third-act conflicts/breakups but I totally get why this one was a thing and it was something that had to happen. Though I must say I would´ve wished for more groveling and apologies before the end.
The only thing I thought was missing was, that one of the characters had a very traumatic childhood, which also impacts his present views of himself, and I wish that we could´ve seen him heal from this trauma, or at least see him talk to someone he trusted.
The last tiny thing that I would´ve wished for, which didn´t impact my reading experience that much because I read it on my kindle but might annoy someone who is reading a physical copy, is that the characters use a lot of Italian words, and phrases, and not all of them are translated so that I always had to look them up (which is easy while reading on my kindle, but I can imagine isn´t quite as comfortable with the physical book). So maybe a glossary, in the end, would've been good to just see an overview of all the translations.
Again these things are why it was a four-star book, and not a five, though the most important thing for me, personally, was that I had a fun time reading this, and didn´t get bored.

(Thank you to Valentine PR and Mila Finelli for providing me with a free ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

[Dani]

These two went from definitely going to murder each other to love of their lives so so quickly.

I think I was expecting a bit more back and forth between these two but they definitely got over their initial issues so fast that I felt like I had missed something. Their big fight ended up being later but bless these two fellas for banging their way through Europe.

[Colleen (colleenreads40)]

I can safely say I'm in my dark mafia romance era, and Mila Finelli's Mafia Target was perfect for that! This book was a great mixture of mystery, action, and steamy romance. Watching Alessio and Giulio fall for each other in such an unconventional way was absolutely perfect! This is my first Mila Finelli read, and it's a standalone MM mafia romance with a HEA and two gorgeous, dangerous Italian men!

Someone's trying to kill Giulio and they've taken an anonymous hit out on him. He's been a lone wolf for the last four years, and he longs to start his own empire without his father's help. Alessio is arguably one of the best hired assassins money can buy. For some reason, he can't seem to bring himself to finish the job on Giulio. All of the sudden, instead of killing him, he finds himself wanting to protect him. However, Alessio has a secret, that he's hoping won't come to light. If it does, it'll drive away the one person he's found worth caring for. His one weakness.

"A shiver went through me, a rush of anticipation that settled in my balls. Cristo, this man. Never had anyone affected me like this. And he wanted to know my weakness? All he had to do was look in the mirror."

I loved how this book had copious amounts of action as well as all the steamy romance scenes! When we first meet Alessio and Giulio, I wasn't really sure how Alessio was going to manage knowing that Giulio was a job that he had to complete. But watching Giulio slowly wrap Alessio around his little finger was absolutely priceless. Their dynamic was awesome, too. The assassin with a soft spot, and the mafia prince looking to forge a new path in life and no longer take orders from his father. The action definitely picked up in the second half of the book, and I found I couldn't put it down!

I appreciated the depth of emotion the author built for Alessio in particular. His flashback to what his father used to tell him as a child broke my heart, and I think it's something a lot of us who don't "emote" the way society expects can relate to. There were some great supporting characters too. You can't help but love Alessio's snarky assistant, Sasha, and Giulio's Zia has my whole heart. There was definitely some angst there in the last half of the book, but never fear, because Giulio and Alessio do get their well-deserved happily-ever-after!

[BookishAnya]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶🌶🌶.5
I fall more and more in love with this series after every book. I think it’s one of my favourite mafia series as each book I love so much and all for different reasons.
Mafia target is so unlike any other mafia book I’ve read. I loved each MC but both for different reasons. There’s so many amazing moments in this book that I can’t stop thinking about.
The tension was amazing without being too over the top and I think the relationship was very well paced with great smut.
The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me is that it took me about 15/20% before I really got into it but after that I couldn’t put it down!

MM
Mafia
Enemies to lovers

[j.bee.reads]

Mafia Target by MF ARC Review:

TROPES:
🖤Dark
🖤Mafia
🖤Assassin
🖤Enemies To Lovers

Giulio is the son and heir of Don Fausto Ravazzani. Being gay and in the mafia was dangerous not only for him but his family. So giving up being the mafia heir he leaves Italy. But his fathers enemies are still after him forcing him into hiding.

Alessio is the top assassin known to keep his clients top secret. So who better to accept the job to kill Giulio. That is until he starts following Giulio after days, weeks, and realizing he can’t complete the job. He never expected for Giulio to become an obsession. It’s not until they find themselves on a remote island do they finally give into their desire for each other. And things quickly become heated and very complicated.

I absolutely loved these two men! The instant connection and chemistry between these two was everything I love to read in a couple. The spicy tension in the beginning was so hot! And when they finally gave into each other, the spice between them was off the charts!! Especially the sexy dirty Italian they speak to each other?! 🥵🔥 Giulio and Alessio were just perfect! I absolutely love this series and cannot get enough. And cannot wait for a 5th book! 🖤

[Reading_ Tamishly]

Sorry, no chemistry between the main leads. Wanted to like this one so bad but meh.

[Laura]

Thank you valentinespr and milafinelli for sending me an e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

This is the 4th in the series but this can be read as a standalone. At least I was able to track the story.
Alessio the assassin was so intense with his silent and careful tracking and internal battle with his mark and it was soooo fun to read.
Giulio has stepped down from being the heir to his mafia family's dynasty since he came out and he's been on the run ever since. Their first face to face was 🔥 in that nightclub.
I have read Mafia before and it is always intense with torture and illegal dealings but I wasn't aware of how hot that gets when you add this into their chemistry.
They were complete opposites and that made their chemistry even better.
This book is set in Italy, Greece, and Scotland and all over.

“Your problems are my problems. You’re not getting rid of me, principe. I will fight for you with my dying breath.”

This def fits in the enemies to lovers category especially when you realize the Alessio did or failed to do the first time he saw Giulio.

[RomancewithRachel]

5/5⭐️
4/5🌶️

•MM
•mafia
•assassin

••••
“I can’t get enough of you. I want you all the fucking time.”

“Do you think I want to do this without you? It’s like you took my frozen, dead heart in your big hands and brought it back to life. I was so lonely and lost until you found me.”
••••

The ability that Mila Finelli has to write is insane. This woman writes so fluidly. I get lost in her stories every single time and this was no different.
I loved Giulio and Alessio 🥹🫶

Alessio has accepted a job to kill Giulio. The last thing he thinks is his attraction for him will make it hard for him to complete the job.

[Sheena]

2.5/5 stars

[♥ℳelody]

4.75 stars

“Alessione,” he breathed into my throat. My heart turned over at the pet version of my name, one Italians used in fondness. I swallowed hard, suddenly unable to speak. I kept perfectly still, soaking in his attention like a plant starved of rain.

Well alrighty then. 😳 To think this almost ended up in my DNF pile. This started off on shaky ground where the first 25% was boring and not promising. But the sexual chemistry and emotional connection had me sitting up and finally grabbed my attention. Which honestly took me by surprise considering their first sexual encounter early on in a night club where the hero is giving the other hero a blowjob did absolutely nothing for me. But I'm so glad I hung in there. A hired assassin falling in love with his target is just the kind of forbidden messy love I live for. Alessio Ricci is a famous sniper for hire who never misses his targets. His contract is to kill Italian mob don Fausto ICantRememberHisLastName but he sees his son Giulio through his scope and he's instantly smitten by the gorgeous Mafia prince. I'll be honest, this is one of the reasons why this book put me off at first. Alessio is supposed to be a cold, trained military ruthless assassin but he's instantly obsessed and mooning over a younger man he sees from a rooftop? It just felt out of character for a guy like him. Alessio instantly obsessed and describing an 18 year old as the "most beautiful man on earth" felt a bit much. Which is another thing that bugged me, why we are never told how old Alessio is? I'm assuming Alessio is older given he was 8 years in the military but beyond that no age is ever disclosed and it bugged me. Giulio's age also seems to fluctuate throughout the rest of the story. In the first chapter Giulio is 18 (even though from Alessio's POV he's described as looking "19 or 20 years old"), the next chapter it's 4 years later and his age wavers between 22 to 24 through the rest of the book which covers 6-7 months. So I was confused.

Instantly, gray eyes found mine and his mouth lifted. It was the same every time, like he was relieved to see me again. He closed the distance between us and held my face. “Il bel principe,” he whispered before kissing me. The gentle sweep of his lips sent shivers through me.

Anyways, these two ended up being really sweet, adorable and endearing. And sexy as fuck. Alessio is pretty much smitten from the start but Giulio hates him when he finds out Alessio was hired to kill him and the push and pull is great. Alessio is bisexual but never been in love and Giulio is an out gay man licking his wounds in mourning over losing his boyfriend in a car bomb. Giulio being dominant in the bedroom was another surprise. The sex scenes are el fuego and steamy as hell. I'm a sucker for dirty talk in a foreign language. I mean dirty talk in Italian? 🔥 Wooh. Giulio is the filthiest of talkers and likes to take charge. Scopami forte indeed! 🥵



I read this as a standalone so some of the players in this mafia world were hard to keep up with since the names sounded so similar but other than that it was a fun time. The chemistry was great, the Mafia action was great (FINALLY some Mafia action in a Mafia book! *gasps in shock*), the vendettas, the forbidden love tension, the sexy times. I dug it. I really like Mila Finelli's attention to detail and world building. I especially liked the fact that Italian language and lingo is actually used throughout the dialogue in this book. Big points there. It felt real and authentic. Both Guillio and Alessio are Italian through and through and I see it and felt it. My translate button on my kindle got a work out with all the different words, endearments, phrases and such. I loved all the variation. We even get a Russian character from the Bratva who speaks Russian. And Alessio is multilingual so seeing him speak different languages based on where he's visiting was great. I was very impressed.

What kind of fool fell in love with the man hired to assassinate them?

It’s one thing I cannot stand when authors tell you a character is from another country or bilingual but not one word outside of English is used throughout the book and they are using American slang like they were born and raised there. Especially in a Mafia romance. That drives me crazy. If your hero is Russian, show me. If you heroine is Italian, show me. If he’s Irish I wanna see it and believe it. I’m specifically bringing it up here because there are a handful of Mafia books I’ve tried (and DNF’d) that had this exact problem. Thankfully here that wasn’t the case at all and it was refreshing and much appreciated and my hats off to Finelli for putting the work in. Her characters feel fully fleshed out, lived in and authentic. I also appreciated how the topic of homophobia was handled in this. Giulio being a gay man in the Italian mafia world and how that affected his relationship with his father accepting him and how others viewed him was written in a realistic fashion and with great care. His connection with his Father was really touching and sweet. A traditional old school protective man not understanding his child's sexuality but coming to terms with it and loving him regardless felt full circle and realistic. Fausto's constant fear and worry over his son's safety and life was brought up consistently and shined through the pages. I adored Giulio's whole family and the fact that he loves to cook when he's stressed or wants to fuss over Alessio. Super cute. He's the "playboy" heir but had so much maturity, depth and intelligence. I loved how smart and take charge he was in all aspects of his life, including business. His maturity surprised me the most. Seeing Giulio and Alessio be sweet and domestic and just in love was wonderful. Alessio is very much the lone wolf who soaks up love like a sponge so it was great to see him finally get his HEA with his "principe".