Zoe Delaney is the dark romantic suspense pen name of USA Today bestselling author, Jen Katemi. Zoe's books are dark, push boundaries and include material that some readers may find triggering. Zoe lives in Melbourne, Australia. She loves her daughters, coffee, wine and her two very needy cats (not necessarily in that order!).
Disclosure: I received an ARC of "Ruthless Enemy" for free from Books and Bitches on behalf of the author. I have been with the Dark Enemies series since book one, Ruthless Possession. As soon as I had the chance to read it, I jumped on it. I've loved Rio and Bianca's books from the beginning. The emotions this whole series gives you is wild , its been dark and light but devoured the book in a day
What can i say expect the fact that Zoe has done it once again!
Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of "Ruthless Enemy" for free from Books and Bitches on behalf of the author, and I am providing this review voluntarily.
Zoe Delaney's "Ruthless Enemy" is a gripping conclusion to the Dark Enemies trilogy, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions and adrenaline-pumping action from start to finish. Published by Flourish Books on January 30, 2024, this installment lives up to its predecessors' standards and doesn't disappoint.
In this heart-pounding tale, Delaney takes readers on a journey into the dark underbelly of the Mafia world, where innocence is a luxury few can afford. The protagonist, Bianca Carlotti, finds herself thrust into a perilous situation when she's kidnapped by Rio Agosti, a powerful Mafia crime lord, and forced into marriage. As the plot unfolds, Bianca grapples with her newfound reality, navigating a treacherous path of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Delaney's writing is as electrifying as ever, expertly weaving together suspense, romance, and intrigue. The narrative is fast-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. The chemistry between Bianca and Rio crackles with intensity, adding depth to their complex relationship amidst the chaos surrounding them.
One of the most commendable aspects of "Ruthless Enemy" is Delaney's ability to flesh out her characters, making them feel authentic and multidimensional. Bianca's evolution from innocence to resilience is particularly compelling, showcasing her strength in the face of adversity. Rio's character is equally captivating, walking a fine line between ruthless Mafia boss and compassionate protector.
However, while Delaney promises "no cliffhanger" in this installment, readers may find themselves disagreeing. The conclusion leaves much to be desired, hinting at future challenges and unresolved conflicts that leave a lingering sense of anticipation. Despite this minor quibble, "Ruthless Enemy" delivers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, leaving readers hungry for more of Delaney's captivating storytelling.
As a longstanding member of the ARC team, I have had the privilege of witnessing Delaney's talent evolve with each installment of the Dark Enemies series. "Ruthless Enemy" solidifies her place as a masterful storyteller in the romantic suspense genre, and I eagerly await her future works.
In conclusion, "Ruthless Enemy" is a must-read for fans of thrilling romantic suspense, offering a tantalizing blend of danger, passion, and intrigue. Zoe Delaney has crafted a captivating finale that will leave readers breathless and craving more.
4.25stars--RUTHLESS ENEMY is the third and final instalment in Zoe Delaney’s contemporary, adult DARK ENEMIES dark, erotic, Mafia romance trilogy focusing on twenty-five year old, heir to the Carlotti empire Bianca Carlotti, and Gregorio ‘Rio’ Agosti, head of the Carlotti-Agosti Crime syndicate. RUTHLESS ENEMY should not be read as a stand alone as if picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book two RUTHLESS BETRAYAL,
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
If you have not read book two RUTHLESS BETRAYAL, there may be spoilers in my review.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Bianca and Rio) RUTHLESS ENEMY picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of RUTHLESS BETRAYAL where Rio and Bianca’s six month old daughter is a pawn in a war between former rivals. An old enemy has resurfaced, and with it, the threats against Rio are directed at his wife and child. Desperate to protect his young family, Rio goes on the offensive only to discover there may be more within his ranks. As Rio and Bianca devise a plan to protect their daughter, someone else is, once again, working behind the scenes, setting another plan into motion.
The world building focuses on the growing love between our story line couple, and on an old enemy who will take credit for many sins of the past. As Rio’s demons come to life, Bianca will walk into the proverbial lion’s den to save them all.
The relationship between Bianca and Rio is now one of love and support. Month earlier, as a bride forced to hand over everything to the man she once hated, Bianca is now her former captor’s sole source of support when the world begins to spiral out of control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.
All of the former secondary and supporting characters return, some of whom are not as they appear to be. Rio’s brother Nicky’s story line is next.
RUTHLESS ENEMY is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and intense; the romance is passionate and desperate; the characters are determined and powerful.
Ruthless Enemy (Book 3, Dark Enemies) - Zoe Delaney
I was given an ARC copy of this story so I could provide an honest review.
Zoe Delaney is an Australian author, Zoe Delaney not being her actual name and rather a pen name the Melbournian uses. When she isn’t writing, Zoe runs a proof reading and editing service and loves to pamper her cats.
The unthinkable has happened Bianca and Rio have had their precious Emilia taken away from them and by the one person they never would have expected.
It seems Bianca’s mother may not be dead after all, and she has been in league with Rio’s enemy all along – Rossi.
Now Bianca is fully committing herself to the life she now leads and who her husband is – she won't stop at anything to get her precious Emilia back.
And get her back they do yet the nightmare isn’t over for them just yet. There is a mole deep in Rio’s organisation – one set on bringing him down from the inside and determined to help Bianca’s mother achieve her goal of destroying Rio and everything he holds dear – even Bianca and little Emilia.
“Ruthless Enemy” is the thrilling end to the Dark Enemies trilogy. I absolutely devoured this book – it was great to see Bianca finally accept Rio and herself for who they truly are and accept the world that she is now a part of. The twist involving Bianca’s mother and the truth of her father’s death as well as the death’s of Rio's parents. And as always there was Rio and Bianca finding time to get steamy and spicey amongst all the drama and danger. It really was the ending that this series deserved.
I was so excited to get my hands on the third and final book in the Dark Enemies Series, that I read it as soon as it downloaded on my Kindle – ignoring everyone and everything around me until it was finished.
I loved the first two books but this third one? If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I felt this was the best of the trilogy and will absolutely be getting all three for my shelves.
We left book two on a cliffhanger. Someone took Rio and Bianca’s baby girl and they will pay dearly. The Mafia Queen blood coursing through Bianca’s system ignites and she will hand down the justice deserved by those who took her baby girl, even if it kills her. Rio will do everything to get their daughter back and protect both her and his wife with everything he has. They are his life, his love, his everything.
This book is intense, it has trigger warnings galore, it has twists and turns, and it’s absolutely 100% wonderful!
If you haven’t grabbed this trilogy, then you are missing out!
Trigger warnings include:
Kidnapping, death, use of guns, betrayal, threats and more.
All the stars for this one.... 5/5 ⭐
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Why do you love me Rio?” ‘I’ve seen your darkness”
* We are each other’s salvation if we survive”
Is Rio a Monster? What has/had driven him to this expectation?
What a climatic ending to the trilogy. What a way to complete the trilogy. Both Rio & Bianca suffered through a lot, simply because they were born into a life of crime. For domination of a Mafia/Don title. So much was clarified here, including prior questions. Wiil they appear in any further reads, only time will tell, but I sense Rio will make an a-pea ranch in the ‘Dark Vows Duet’
It had been quite a roller coaster following Bianca’s growth from an adoptee perspective to her heritage. I’m not sure who of the 2 had to adjust most. Each had their own personal struggles but faith and a connection kept them together. In every corner though there was always someone to betray them. An exhilarating read, must be read in order, and if you are new to the trilogy the honour of reading consecutively will be a better advantage.
Additionally, Rio though was a vigorous and stealth character, still and always will carry the weight of the Agosti Family.
I have been destroyed and rebuilt by this book/series and I would gladly do it again. I mean that with every fiber of my being.
Please note that this is a dark romance and not all content will be for everyone - please check the tw and make sure this is a safe read for you!
I have to say that each book has only been read faster and left me in a lull wishing for more. Rio and Biana have their trials but the tension and steam are worth it. After the cliffy in the 2nd, I was so scared and you've wrapped this up so beautifully and fully with no crumbs left to spare.
Rio our broken, monstrous king. Congratulations on replacing my longest-standing book BF! :')
For those who know what I like to read, this series has my #ElApproved stamp!
Steamy. Dangerous. Provocative. Passionate. All the things you want in your next read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have been with the Dark Enemies series since book one, Ruthless Possession. I have been hooked ever since. How Rio and Bianca came together was not at all traditional, but the ending of their story was a beautiful HEA.
Book number two, Ruthless Betrayal, ended with Rio and Bianca's daughter Emilia being kidnapped. For those who have read and enjoyed the series, you will know who by and for those who have not. i don't want to give anything away, but it's a must-read trilogy, so get on it.
Ruthless Enemies, Rio, and Bianca do all they can to find their daughter. United as a family!
This series has been fantastic. As soon as I had the chance to read it, I jumped on it. I've loved Rio and Bianca's books from the beginning. It hasn't been flowers and rainbows. It's been dark, dangerous, and also sexy, heartfelt with a splash of angst and hate. I've loved every bit of it.
I had high hopes for this ending as I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 book but for me it missed the mark a bit. Maybe if I had of reread the first 2 books before reading this I may have felt differently.
It was a perfectly fine read but I was just hoping for more. It also felt like this book was just dragged out a bit with not as much action as the previous books.
There were some twists that I didn't see coming that came out of nowhere.
I did like how it set up the Dark Vows duet & I am interested to see Nick's story develop. I also hope that Angel gets her own books at some point as she had been a great side character.
Some of the themes/tropes in this book are:
*Mafia *Unaliving People *Betrayal *Kidnapping *Duel POV'S
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
We pick up right where we left Bianca and Rio in book 2 - with their daughter gone, their world in chaos, the betrayal and rage oozing from the pages!
Book one and Book two were good, but they were just the set up for the fast paced climax of the story - hell hath no fury like a mother missing their child, and Bianca has the bonus of generations of mafia in her veins which she must embrace to fully immerse herself into the search with Rio and their loyal crew.
Rio doesn't hold back on the darkness either, and if I was missing I would 100% want him looking for me too!
Its a great read, however being a mafia book there are triggers, violence and this one does involve the abduction of a baby, so its worth checking these before diving it.
I was gifted this book for free as an ARC read through Books and Bitches courtesy of the author, and I could not be more happier with the ending of this series!!
A few warnings to be aware of; - Death, kidnapping
I was unable to put the book down, but was hard to finish it sooner to due my busy life schedule. I’m super glad I did get to finish it though. Meeting a few new characters throughout the book was amazing. And shocking with some of the twists the author has put in there. I would definitely recommend this series to absolutely anyone who has interest in dark romance!
I fell in love with Bianca and Rio in book 1 and 2 - with their struggles, the darkness they combat, and their search for each other. This final book has it all for a thrilling conclusion to their story.
With their child abducted, there is no stopping the excitement, drama and twists in the hunt for who is behind such a terrible deed.
A fabulous read but a warning - it is a dark Mafia romance so there is violence and the abduction of a child might be a trigger for some readers - but overall a thrilling conclusion to a trilogy that kept me enthralled from the start.
The final instalment to the series it STARTED WITH A BANG !
I thoroughly have enjoyed this series the last book was good , I thought there were bits that could have slowed down at times but that’s just my own opinion and interpretation of the book.
I would have liked to see a bit more softness and romance happen come towards the ending but I’m saying that the way it has ended it was appropriate for the Male character.
I loved the story of Rio and biannual.how she goes from being kidnapped and hating him to loving him unconditionally. She truly is a mafia princess even though she didn't know the mafia blood was in her. The story unfolds over 3 books with each one being more exciting than the last. The writer manages to make you feel part of the story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I fell in love with this series from book one but became obsessed with it until the end! This last book had it all: spice, strong main characters, twists and turns and a HEA. There are so many action packed moments that you really can’t figure out who the true betrayer is until the end. If you love a good mafia book then you must read this one because from beginning to end it was great!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The final installment starts off with the same intensity as we hoped. One clear mission in our midst. Make no mistake there are more obstacles and twists that will jump out and halt what you believe you know. The anticipation will have you gripped from beginning to end. This series is immaculately satisfying and I couldn't
In book three of the series Dark Enemies, Rio and Bianca search for their baby daughter Emilia who has been kidnapped. The twists and turns continue, as does the steam. This dark mafia romance is full of action and danger. Awesome series!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the final chapter of Rio and Bianca's story, and ties up all the loose ends and answers all those questions. We find out who kidnapped Emilia and who is betraying who.
A good story with characters that I hope we'll read more about in future books.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved it, so full of action, twisted and turns and I could not put it down, the journy of Rio and Bianca's love story was intense and so packed with exciting scenes. I loved the ending and the characters were so strong along with the writing just amazing.
This is book three in the Dark Enemies trilogy and I absolutely loved this series. Bianca may think her husband Rio has a scary inner monster but sometimes that's what it takes to keep his family safe!!
I love the trilogy !! I had so much fun reading three books. I really enjoyed how they finally broke through their traumas and opened their hearts fully. Happy they slayed their enemies and together they will be a force to be reckoned!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my own opinion and was not influenced by anyone.
Ruthless Enemy is the conclusion of the Dark Enemies trilogy by Zoe Delaney. This trilogy held me attention and each time I got one of the books I read it straight through eagerly awaiting the next. This last book was the crown on the series. When the Rio Agosti and Bianca Carlotti's daughter is kidnapped, they would move heaven and earth to get her back.
Ruthless Enemy, as well as this whole series, is written well, has well developed characters that you care about, steamy romance and page turning action.
This book is intense and intriguing from start to finish. The twists and turns only make you want more. There's so much character to this story. I want more!