Little Mouse

New York Mafia aka Lost DeLuca Sisters #1

by Emily Rose

The first book in a brand new series by Best Selling Author Emily Rose.

Nico:
She was never meant to cross my path, but now she's locked in a gilded cage, at my mercy. I don't even know her name, but I know she's mine, and I'll stop at nothing to possess her. As our dangerous games escalate, my obsession grows stronger. My sweet little mouse is clever, and that only fuels my desire for her. I want her in my bed, at my side, and anywhere else I choose. But when secrets unravel, and unexpected enemies threaten her life, my priorities shift. I'll protect what's mine at any cost, even if I must convince her too...

Gia:
It was a simple mistake, a misstep, but now I'm locked away by a man who may appear heroic but is the villain of my story. He calls me his little mouse, thinking I'm timid, but I'm clever, and I won't stop until I escape. Nico Armani surprises me, as he doesn't act as I expected. He doesn't hurt me for trying to flee, and I'm starting to realize he's more complex than I thought. When he discovers my identity and past, he changes, revealing a side that makes my heart race. My body betrays me, craving him when I shouldn't. As my family closes in, I'm faced with choices: escape and leave him as a memory, or stay with the man who ignites forbidden desires within me.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Mafia Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

456 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2023

About the author

I live in New Brunswick, Canada with my husband and our two dogs,
Remi and Sako (pronounced Say-co). When I’m not writing, I’m
playing fetch with the dogs, talking to my parents for endless amounts
of hours, annoying the crap out of my husband, or just enjoying life
with my friends.
Writing has been a part of my life since I was about 12. I started
out just writing short stories or silly knock-offs of my favorite shows
or movies. Soon, though, I realized just how much I loved to write.
How often my mind would wander and think of characters and where
they could go. They became real to me, and I would start to write. I
used to fill up notebooks and pads of paper when I got an idea. It
would be an obsession, almost, to get on paper. Then, when I was old
enough to have a computer, I started there.
Now, I’m 28 years old and I finally hit that button. The one that
I’ve thought about it over and over again for the past 16 years. There is
no greater joy, or fear, at realizing you’ve just accomplished something
that you’ve wanted to do for so very long. That is my greatest accomplishment
and I look forward to hitting that button on many more.

Reviews

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally like this author, but this one didn't work for me. I felt for Gia and how her life was at the start. I thought it might get better once Nico showed up, but she was just as much in prison, just wasn't being beaten. It drove me nuts that Nico wouldn't talk to Gia or let others to talk to her, I ended giving up at 22%. In the end this one wasn't for me.

[CB · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW

Rating: 2.5/5 that I guess i'll round up to a 3
POV: 1st, dual
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Mafia; Virgin FMC; "Mine" Trope; Asshole MMC; Kidnapping
Heat Level: 5+/5
Kinks: Had so much potential for primal chase kink but it didn't really follow through :(

Likes:
* The side characters. They were the glue for this otherwise really bad book
Dislikes:
* The FMC and the MMC - both were pretty insufferable in their own ways
* The author is very redundant and honestly I'm shocked I didn't DNF at page 2 when I first noticed...lol
* Lots of typos/grammatical errors

Conclusion:
Honestly, I think the only reason I completed this book was because a bookstagrammer that I enjoy and we do have similar reading tastes was reading this book and said it was dark and good.
I'm sorry but she's wrong :(.
This was not dark at all - the MMC is all talk no action and wants to be an anti-hero so bad but could not pull it off and our FMC is literally exactly what the title says - a meek little mouse.
I guess I don't like that in my FMC's or at least this one. I was clearly warned with the title, lol. Shame on me for ignoring.
The writing is incredibly redundant and with the amount of typos I'm going to assume the author does not have an editor.
Some may noticed I still added the second book to my TBR and that's because the MMC is one of those side characters in this book that was very intriguing. However I will have to wait for some time so I can forget how much I don't like this authors writing lol.


2.5/5

[Carley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7, Started off strong

Gia 24 and was born the wrong gender in the wrong family and her family let's her know every time they see her. She's been isolated her whole life and sticks to a routine and never deviates. One day she's in the library looking down while walking and bumps into a man not once but twice. The man does not believe in coincidences but does believe in fate.

Gia intrigues Nico for her innocence and her strange routine behavior. Finally he's had enough and decides to just take her and figure out what it is about her that catches him.

Gia must now navigate this new environment she's in and get away as quickly ad possible and Nico must figure out how to keep her and hold on tight. However external forces try and break the pair up.. will Gia's family take her back? Or will someone else come and collect?


I'm sooo disappointed! This book started off sooo good. But unfortunately come 80% I was over it.. the same repetitive phrases.. the same repetitive arguments from 80% to 84% they had the same fight multiple times. I looked past the need for at least one more pass through an editor as there were misspelled words, wrong words used, and missing words, and the lack of contractions that made the reading choppy. But what a lot of authors do who have longer books is the same conflict over and over again.. and that gets tiring especially when we're 80% in and it's still a thing. I really really enjoyed nico he was the best. I also really enjoyed their banter it had me cackling and the escape scene was beautiful. Like I said I really enjoyed the book but if it were 100 pages shorter I think it would have been better by taking out some of the repetitiveness.

[Mel's__journal · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd
There was nothing to like at all about this MMC. Usually, there is something within the MMC that draws you in. Especially in a mafia book. Like his loyalty to his men, the the way he would never hurt a woman, loyalty to his family. Nope, none of these things were present. He was just awful. And what mafia man wears khaki pants😂?

[Bridget Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is basically the story

Abused girl.
Kidnapped.
"I'm not weak. I'm stronk"
"I want my freedom!!
Sex.
"I want my freedom!!!
Sex
"I want to stay here!"
"I want my freedom!!"
Sex


MAKE UP YOUR GODDAMN FUXKING MIND. JEEEZUS CHRIST

Just went in fucking circles

[Valerie Gadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Little mouse is a Dark Mafia Romance please read trigger warnings before reading!
The writing of this book is good. Very detailed which for some may seem a little extra. I loved the attention to detail though! This book includes: Primal Play, Chase Scenes, Violence, Slow Burn, very Possessive Jealous MMC just to name a few things. There were many twists and turns in the book that had my jaw on the floor!! Gia is a strong FMC!! Nico is very possessive and unhinged if you will! And I just love him for it!! You will always get me with the you touch her you ☠️ men!! Because who doesn’t love that?!? If you love a good Mafia Dark romance then definitely give this book a read!!!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gia had rules she had to follow knowing her freedom was limited. She knew that she would be part of an arranged marriage where women's worth was only to breed heirs. She has no clue in accidental bump into a stranger will seal her fate.

Nico is feared in the mafia world, his reputation is ruthless. When he bumps into Gia he is intrigued. A beautiful woman who has no trace of who she is, he has a plan to make her his. A game of cat and mouse, but Gia has claws he never expected. Can Gia learn to trust Nico when he realizes that she may have a chance of freedom with Nico?

Interesting story. I was not sure how this book would unfold. Initially your feelings for Gia is that she is will just cower under Nico, but she is a bit of a loose cannon. Nico you don't really care form him in the beginning but when he starts to really fight for Gia, you see a different side altogether. I am curious to see if there will be more to come around these characters that are introduced.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t finish, way too slow. Inconsistent female main character.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If I catch you before you reach those gates, then you’re mine, Gia"

The little mouse trope is my favorite of all time
This book was very spicy and a little violent, I loved every single page ❤️ 🐀

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this it’s my first book by this author and I found it an easy read that easily kept my attention. It’s a mafia romance and dual POV. Our FMC is Giulia De Luca she’s been abused and mistreated by her family her whole life mainly because of her gender. In her family girls are worth less than nothing only useful for marriage alliances and the obvious. When we first join Gia she is living in an apartment under her family’s control. She has the same routine day in and day out and doesn’t deviate. Her one joy is her visits to the library one of the only places she’s allowed to go. It’s a solitary lonely existence and is all overshadowed by the constant fear of her family.

Nico Armani is a powerful Don in New York, he killed his duplicitous parents to rise to the top and he’s a man who takes what he wants. When he randomly bumps into Gia at the library it’s the start of an obsession. He has no idea of just who she only that he wants her and can’t get her out of his head. So naturally he decides to just take her and when he does discover just who her family is it changes nothing. But as he gets to know Gia her hurts and trauma is something he wants to fix especially when he realises just how they’ve treated her all these years.

This wasn’t a particularly dark read just dark themes it being mafia. The romance despite Gia being kidnapped by Nico also was totally consensual. It was an enjoyable read and Nico and Gia had plenty of red-hot chemistry together. We also had some intrigue and internal mafia strife as Gia’s family are all desperate to retrieve her not because they care but because of her value as a bargaining chip. In fact, Gia’s family were so absolutely awful it was shocking.

Overall this was a good read i would definitely read this author again and I’m more than likely going to pick up the next book in the series which I believe focuses on Gia’s secret sister and I’m assuming one of the male characters we were introduced to here who’s been tasked with retrieving her.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm

[Tashie_LeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spicy content 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

This is a a dark romance that effortlessly combines spice, sass, and high-stakes mafia drama into epic book thay I could not put down and I just wanted more and more!

The book follows a mafia don who, after a fateful encounter with a woman, becomes determined to make her his own. What follows is a whirlwind of tension, passion, and danger, which I dont know about you, but is exactly what you'd expect from a mafia romance.

The chemistry between these two, oh my goodness! I need to get kidnapped by a mafia don!! (Just kidding).
As their relationship develops, the spice and drama escalate, and I never knew what was coming, which I really enjoyed!
Emily is just a wonderful author who knows how to masterfully weave in suspenseful mafia elements while also building emotional depth between the characters, which makes the romance feel grounded even in the midst of the chaotic world these two live in!

What I loved most about this book is how the balance between spice and drama is maintained so well. There’s never a dull moment, yet it never feels overwhelming, either.
Every character has their own complexity, and even the side characters play a significant role in adding to the overall story, which I love so much

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a dark, spicy romance filled with drama, passion, and a healthy dose of mafia intrigue. It's a thrilling, addictive read that I couldn't get enough of.

[Joud · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off strong but lost momentum as it went on. The side characters, though, were a highlight. And nico really kept brainwashing her..

[LaLo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t ever write reviews. But this book was so comically bad it had to be written by a man. This book was written by a man that HATES women. I’ve read countless mafia romance books and I enjoy them immensely but this book is not like those at all. The amount of violence against women, raping them, killing them, it’s astonishing. I get that in these worlds the mafia is very patriarchal and women can’t lead etc but the number of times Gia is described as “just a hole to be fucked and bred”. Jfc just say you hate women and move on. Also he has sex with her for the first time she admits she’s sore and he still has sex with her again, men written by women in books do not do that. They care about if she’s in pain. This whole book was dumb. And I’ve read ALOT of dumb books but they entertained me and that’s all that I really ask for.

Also unrelated to the misogyny but the number of people they kill is just ridiculous even for a mafia romance. Like come on. It’s detrimental to the plot line to just kill your own people for the sake of being a big bad mafia Don. Like if a mafia boss actually just put a bullet in every man who annoys him he would have no mafia.

If this was actually written by Emily I would strongly suggest looking inward as to why you’re so casual about writing about raping and torturing women. Perhaps it’s internalized misogyny that needs to be dealt with. I’m used to the lack of a complex female character, I can overlook that. But quite literally every male character speaks on how women are just vessels that give them children. Like my god it’s 2025 please get your head out of your ass. This is all fictional!! I do not read to observe the thought process of men who hate women, we already have that in the real world.

[Astraycat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a long read. When H was an anti-hero that kidnapped h only because he was obsessed with her, it was hard to decide if he was likable. However, h was abused since she was born, by her father, uncle, brothers and cousins, taken by H was a better option for her. No epilogue. But I'd like to read more if there's other story about other characters.

[Annabelle Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s talk about well-crafted chaos: this book is a masterclass in world-building and emotional layering. The author didn’t just slap together a dark mafia romance; they designed a whole mood. The emotions? Raw. The tension? Palpable. The steamy scenes? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because you’ll have to wait for them. Gia and Nico don’t get down to business until 53% in, and honestly? It makes sense. No woman in Gia's precarious position would be ripping her clothes off any earlier—not unless we’re tossing realism out the window, and this book isn’t here for that.

Now, let’s talk about Nico. He’s the perfect morally grey anti-hero: savage to his enemies but an absolute simp for Gia. (We love a layered king.) Meanwhile, Gia’s family? Oh, don’t get me started. The absolute worst. If karma doesn’t clock in for them in the sequels, I’m personally filing a grievance with the universe.

I’ll admit the pacing drags a bit toward the end. I get it—the author is setting up the next lead character—but it felt like biting off more than I could chew after the emotional rollercoaster of the main story. Still, the overall execution was strong, and the dark mafia vibes were top-tier.

So, to the ladies out there fantasizing about getting kidnapped by the hottest guy on earth, this one’s for you. A slow-burn, ruthlessly romantic, totally addictive tale. Cheers to that.

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Mafia Beauty and Beast

Dark Mafia Romance - kidnapping, possessive and obsessed MMC, inexperienced naive FMC. Gia is the only daughter of a mafia Don. Hidden from the world her entire life, she has never known freedom, always caged, always guarded. Abused my her family, Gia has lost hope that she will ever truly be free. Until one day she accidentally bumps into a stranger - twice. Nico is a ruthless mafia don himself, suddenly stalkerishly obsessed with this meek woman he meets - deciding he has to have her, he of course - kidnaps her. Only to slowly realize who she is, and that it may cause all out war to keep her. So cons for me, the pacing was slow, I believe this book could have been shorter. And also the chemistry between Gia and Nico was just missing a little something. Good, not great. Will definitely read the next because I loved Alessio’s character.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: captive
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: ⭐⭐1\2

This is a new to me author, and I'm so happy to see she has a backlog! The pacing ebbed and flowed a bit, but everything else was spot on! Fantastic story telling, an interesting storyline, and characters that make you want all their stories! I really loved how the heroine got stronger and more secure in her voice as the story went on. There was also some great angst as she reconciled her affection for her captor. A definite recommend and I'm looking forward to finishing this series and reading her other ones.

[rachel. ☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

starting the year off mid!

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[ells · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh could have been better

[Rethika Athukorala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a fun silly little romance. If I was kidnapped by a sexy Italian mafia boss who was obsessed with me I would also fall in love with him 🥵🇮🇹💸🔫

[1000_books_1000_lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great easy read- all the tropes you’d expect from a mafia romance- nothing new- but it was well done. The action flowed but there was good character development and chemistry. Absolutely love Sophia and definitely want her story!

[Georja J-G · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW !!!
Oh my lord I think I’ve found a new favourite mafia series and it’s only one book deep !!!!!
This story is so filled with details and drama and tension of all kinds that I was gripped.
The MMC has an immediate obsession with the FMC and does everything in his power to make her his… but he doesn’t know who she really is.
In a lot of ways this is your typical mafia story - alpha male mafia don meets timid mafia princess with a feisty streak only he sees. Except there are so many aspects of this story that makes it so unique (which I will not divulge bc major spoilers).
I love that the FMC isn’t a fresh adult… she’s 24 and has lived alone for a couple of years. And the MMC isn’t aging into his 40s like others either (but I don’t quite know exactly how old he is either… he’s referred to as 27 when he takes over and ‘young’ by other characters)
Anyway I digress… I was hooked by this book and am so beyond excited to see where this series goes! It’s got the possessive obsessed MMC and the FMC coming into her power and realising her strength. It’s for the typical Emily Rose found family vibes with some amazing side characters I cannot wait to read about!

Overall it’s an honour and a privilege to access this amazing story early and I cannot contain my excitement at the aspect of reading more of this mafia world!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC REVIEW***
Name: Little Mouse​
Author: Emily Rose
Rate: 4.75/5 🌟
Spice: 4/5 🌶️

~Little Mouse a Dark Mafia Romance by Emily Rose, before continuing reading this book please read the TW. This book is well written, it is filled with drama, tension, and it will drag you right in once you start to read it. It’s well detailed that you will not lose focus or interest on reading the book. The plot it’s just how can I say… it’s just freaking Juicy…. There are so many twists & turns with lots of action and spice. Now let’s not forget the tropes we will see here… He falls first, forced proximity, kidnapping, touch her and d!e, possessiveness, virgin FMC. This book will leave you on this crazy WTF Cliffhanger ending since there are going to be so many secrets that are going to be coming up from the shadows.

~ Gia FMC, has been hidden from the mafia world all her life. She was like a ghost. As a child she was neglected by her father and her family because she was a girl!!! Now that she is older she lives alone in an apartment away from her father and brother’s but she is still under strict rules. She is not allowed to talk to no one, she is supposed to be a shadow. Gia is a very smart woman in which she will later surprise you on how smart she is, even though for her to always be alone, not have any friends, she will care for her new found family like no other. One day she bumps into a “bad man” when she was in the library and this is when her life will take this lovely turn without her even knowing it!!!

~Nico MMC, Mafia King we may say, only because people fear him and his name is well known. The day he bumped into his Little Mouse (Gia) he knew that he needed to catch that mouse!!! Now let the hunt begin!! He felt so drawn to her now knowing why he wanted her, and so he got her without knowing who she really was and how she was connected to his rivals. Now this is when the plot starts to get good!!! This man will surprise you though, even though he is all mean, he will have a heart of gold!!!! Once you read it you will c why….

This story is hot & totally worth reading! You will not regret it! So please go check it out!!! Now I have another Dark Mafia Romance obsession on my list!!!

Thank you Emily Rose for letting me join your ARC team and getting the chance to read this book early!

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

Great book and my first mafia plot. Not as spicy as the books I have been reading but still some good spice and great plot.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Ms. Rose. The writing/editing and the plot stood on it's own merit and flowed as the author developed it.

Gia and Nico's story was one I enjoyed from the first page to the last. The characters were not only well developed by the author but continued to develop as the story progressed. This story introduces so many secondary characters that will hopefully continue the series as well as setting the stage for the upcoming war.

Gia is the hidden daughter of the De Lucca's and Nico is the Don of his Mafia organization that rules New York. Gia is a physically/mentally abused daughter of the De Lucca's. Seeing Gia is "lust at first site for Nico" that turns into Nico kidnapping Gia not knowing she is a De Lucca. The De Lucca men see Gia and any woman as dirt on the bottom of their shoe. There only plans were to sell Gia to the highest bidder/alliance/power grab (whatever comes first). There abomination and verbal abuse toward women in general is unnerving in this book so buckle up.

Gia and Nico's story is a love story that must deal with so many obstacles as each character wants something different from the other. They must not only come together sexually, but they must learn to communicate and understand how to unite in a world that is suffocating for Gia and necessary for Nico. They play many mind games back and forth throughout the book until they have a "come to Jesus moment". Each character is forced to communicate their deepest feelings to each other that begins an honest collaboration/love story against the backdrop of war. There are plenty of suspenseful moments as well as action in this book and a introduction to many other characters that will make you laugh.

A well rounded Mafia novel that is unique, interesting and engaging.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ 3 🌶

🥀Kidnapping
🥀Possessive & Obsessive MMC
🥀Virgin FMC
🥀Mafia romance

This story is tension filled, drama filled, and keeps you gripped for most parts.
Nico is the head of the mafia in New York City. He is possessive and will do anything to get what he wants.
Gia is 24 and was born into the wrong family as the wrong gender - females are respected or liked in her family. Her father is a mafia Don.

Gia is controlled by her family, and can only leave her apartment to go to the library or bakery, and is not allowed to talk to anyone. If found to be breaking these rules, she receives beatings from her father, brother, uncle, or cousins.
When Gia accidentally bumps (literally) into Nico at the library, he is taken with her beauty and is intrigued. He does not know who she is, but wants to make her his.

The chaos & drama from being part of a Mafia family isn’t for the faint hearted, & when all the families collide, death and destruction are sure to follow.

The story is filled with great banter and humour, and the side characters are fantastic!
Overall a great dark romance mafia read that is an easy read and will keep you turning those pages.

[Laura Reads Too Much · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emily Rose said she was going for something different this time and entering into he darker mafia genre, I was intrigued to say the least!
I love a dark/darker/darkest book but I also love Emily's humour - I'll not lie, I was unsure of how this would go.

Good grief she smashed it!

There is darkness there, what Gia went through was heart wrenching, I wanted to grab her and never let go until I knew she was safe 🥺

Then we hav Nico, the mafia don who sees what he wants, and takes her. End off. The end. Finito. Goodbye...

Oh boy did he give me shivers 😏🥵

We soon come to see that there is so much more to him, and to to Gia and best of all - the humour is there! For Gias story to be so horrible, yet bring humour, it was excellent and spot on!

Congrats Emily, it was an excellent read and I'm super excited for what comes next I have a feeling Alessio is going to steal my heart!!







*I voluntarily received an arc and this is my honest review.

[dorsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yes. Absolutely no notes - Nico Armani you can do no wrong my good sir 🫦 I love this man so much I KNOW I SAY THAT EVERY TIME but no fr I do love this man. Screaming crying throwing up giggling kicking my feet he made me do all of that. Also fuck yeah I love Gia - she’s the hard headed stubborn fmc that the other mafia books were missing and I fw that heavy.

Alessio - fuckin funny ass man I already knowwwww I’m gonna fall in love with him in book 2 😚 this mafia world is one I am happy to stay in for a while. I will be rereading these 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gusto la química de la pareja, las discusiones; pero me resulto repetitiva en el tema en que discrepan ambos protagonistas; cuestión de gusto.
I liked the chemistry of the couple, the discussions; but I found it repetitive in the issue on which both protagonists disagree; matter of taste.