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Perfectly Imperfect #4
Secretos destruidos
Isabella
Longing,
I’ve wanted him most of my life,
Since the day he saved me from drowning when I was a kid.
But he’s never noticed me,
Never given me a second thought.
To him, I’m just a child.
And now, he’s ordered to marry me.
He doesn't want me,
Not in his heart or in his bed.
But everything is allowed in war and love,
And I am ready to do whatever it takes,
Even lie to a man who doesn't remember his past.
Luca
As beautiful
As she is cunning,
My young wife masterfully guides me,
Through La Cosa Nostra waters,
Making sure no one suspects,
That I’ve had no memory since the accident.
Now, I’m falling hard for a woman I don’t even remember,
The woman who's been lying to me,
Since the moment I opened my eyes,
And I intend to unravel her secrets.
*Ruined Secrets is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
This is the fourth book in Perfectly Imperfect mafia series. Each book in this series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, follow the recommended reading order.
Longing,
I’ve wanted him most of my life,
Since the day he saved me from drowning when I was a kid.
But he’s never noticed me,
Never given me a second thought.
To him, I’m just a child.
And now, he’s ordered to marry me.
He doesn't want me,
Not in his heart or in his bed.
But everything is allowed in war and love,
And I am ready to do whatever it takes,
Even lie to a man who doesn't remember his past.
Luca
As beautiful
As she is cunning,
My young wife masterfully guides me,
Through La Cosa Nostra waters,
Making sure no one suspects,
That I’ve had no memory since the accident.
Now, I’m falling hard for a woman I don’t even remember,
The woman who's been lying to me,
Since the moment I opened my eyes,
And I intend to unravel her secrets.
*Ruined Secrets is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
This is the fourth book in Perfectly Imperfect mafia series. Each book in this series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, follow the recommended reading order.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2022
3796 people are currently reading
27764 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,238 reviews
December 15, 2023
i can’t lie the amnesia plot line made me laugh😭
June 19, 2023
I really don’t like how he kept saying that “he can’t be with a teenager” but then proceeds to end up with her???
January 12, 2025
I will rate it in negative if there would have been an option.
Smut is okay, I am all in.
Hell, BDSM is okay
But this??
You don't sleep without my finger inside you, like really???
They take their daughter and her friends to the movies and he has her finger inside her all the damn time!!!!
I accept we are reading smut but there should be a story, a semblance of one at least. This was Porn, simple in one word, nothing else.
The novel has no story, no character development, nothing. Just a lot of sex scenes.
And when I say a lot I mean it, whenever they are together they are indulged in some kind of sexual activity.
They make pacts like she will be giving him hand jobs every time they drive together and she will wear p**sy plugs whenever he can't have his finger inside her🙄🙄
Insane!!!
Smut is okay, I am all in.
Hell, BDSM is okay
But this??
You don't sleep without my finger inside you, like really???
They take their daughter and her friends to the movies and he has her finger inside her all the damn time!!!!
I accept we are reading smut but there should be a story, a semblance of one at least. This was Porn, simple in one word, nothing else.
The novel has no story, no character development, nothing. Just a lot of sex scenes.
And when I say a lot I mean it, whenever they are together they are indulged in some kind of sexual activity.
They make pacts like she will be giving him hand jobs every time they drive together and she will wear p**sy plugs whenever he can't have his finger inside her🙄🙄
Insane!!!
January 26, 2023
im being generous fr. i hated this book which was so disappointing because i loved the three before this. i think to start off, the age gap actually was weird. 19 and 35?!? okay brah. second there was absolutely no plot to this book just pure smut. and don’t get me wrong i love me some smut but this was like weird. “you don’t sleep without my finger in your pussy” get the fuck out of my face. weird ass hoes. k bye 😊
June 5, 2024
Five "touch her and die" stars ☆☆☆☆☆
this book wasn’t the one that was plagiarized!!!
edit: some of y'all need lives. I'm a grown ass woman & I can read whatever book I want lmaoo. Don't come at me for reading and rating this- if you don't like it, don't read my reviews. Grow the fuck up and mind your own damn business. :) <3
This book was amazing and I'm so surprised by it!! It has several things I don't usually like- hero was married before (but didn't love her), man buns, amnesia, OW drama, and cheating (not between main characters). But damn, I loved it.
Isabella is the granddaughter of the don of the Chicago Family of Cosa Nostra. She's been infatuated (which turns to love) with Luca, the capo of the Family, since she was six years old. He saved her when she was drowning and since then he's been the only man for her.
Fast forward to the present- Luca is married to OW with a seven year old daughter. It was mentioned that the woman trapped him with the baby so he was forced to marry her, but he has no lost love for her. His wife cheats on him with his bodyguard and he kills the man and throws her out- subsequently divorcing her and trying to move on with his life.
Isabella's grandfather is dying. Luca is the capo of the Family and is told he's taking over as Don when the grandfather passes... under one condition, he has to marry 19-year-old Isabella.
They get married and things are super tense. He doesn't want a sexual relationship with her, or really anything to do with her. They live in separate bedrooms. Isabella forms a relationship with his daughter, Rosa, and that helps. She doesn't tell him that she's been in love with him since she was six.
I finally married a man whom I’ve secretly loved for years, and I’ll be damned if I let him sweep me under the carpet. Luca may not care about me now, but I will make him fall in love with me, or I’ll die trying.
There's lots of secrets that are let out eventually. Isabella and Luca have an amazing push-and-pull relationship, it was so amusing and the sexual chemistry between them was off the charts. Isabella tortures him by having "alone time" right in front of him every night. Eventually he gives in and they have amazing sex.
Soon after, someone tries to kill Luca. He's in a car wreck and has head trauma and second-degree burns. He has amnesia and doesn't remember his wife or daughter. Isabella slowly works with him to memorize everything he needs to do- with his daughter, with the Family, and with her. She tells him that they love each other (first mistake lol). They slowly drift into a loving relationship with looots of hot sex.
I'm not going to spoil the rest of it- but damn, Luca is OTT, possessive, controlling, and loving as hell. Isabella is fierce and stands up for herself at every opportunity. They're a match made in heaven. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in Neva Altaj's series.
Length: 277 pages
safety:
virgin heroine (surprise!)
arranged marrage/touch her and die vibes/forced proximity/slow burn
exhibitionism/voyeurism/bdsm/dirty talk/rough sex/bdsm/KINKY
OW drama- ex wife
no cheating/sharing
HEA ♡
this book wasn’t the one that was plagiarized!!!
edit: some of y'all need lives. I'm a grown ass woman & I can read whatever book I want lmaoo. Don't come at me for reading and rating this- if you don't like it, don't read my reviews. Grow the fuck up and mind your own damn business. :) <3
This book was amazing and I'm so surprised by it!! It has several things I don't usually like- hero was married before (but didn't love her), man buns, amnesia, OW drama, and cheating (not between main characters). But damn, I loved it.
Isabella is the granddaughter of the don of the Chicago Family of Cosa Nostra. She's been infatuated (which turns to love) with Luca, the capo of the Family, since she was six years old. He saved her when she was drowning and since then he's been the only man for her.
Fast forward to the present- Luca is married to OW with a seven year old daughter. It was mentioned that the woman trapped him with the baby so he was forced to marry her, but he has no lost love for her. His wife cheats on him with his bodyguard and he kills the man and throws her out- subsequently divorcing her and trying to move on with his life.
Isabella's grandfather is dying. Luca is the capo of the Family and is told he's taking over as Don when the grandfather passes... under one condition, he has to marry 19-year-old Isabella.
They get married and things are super tense. He doesn't want a sexual relationship with her, or really anything to do with her. They live in separate bedrooms. Isabella forms a relationship with his daughter, Rosa, and that helps. She doesn't tell him that she's been in love with him since she was six.
I finally married a man whom I’ve secretly loved for years, and I’ll be damned if I let him sweep me under the carpet. Luca may not care about me now, but I will make him fall in love with me, or I’ll die trying.
There's lots of secrets that are let out eventually. Isabella and Luca have an amazing push-and-pull relationship, it was so amusing and the sexual chemistry between them was off the charts. Isabella tortures him by having "alone time" right in front of him every night. Eventually he gives in and they have amazing sex.
Soon after, someone tries to kill Luca. He's in a car wreck and has head trauma and second-degree burns. He has amnesia and doesn't remember his wife or daughter. Isabella slowly works with him to memorize everything he needs to do- with his daughter, with the Family, and with her. She tells him that they love each other (first mistake lol). They slowly drift into a loving relationship with looots of hot sex.
I'm not going to spoil the rest of it- but damn, Luca is OTT, possessive, controlling, and loving as hell. Isabella is fierce and stands up for herself at every opportunity. They're a match made in heaven. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in Neva Altaj's series.
Length: 277 pages
safety:
virgin heroine (surprise!)
arranged marrage/touch her and die vibes/forced proximity/slow burn
exhibitionism/voyeurism/bdsm/dirty talk/rough sex/bdsm/KINKY
OW drama- ex wife
no cheating/sharing
HEA ♡
May 6, 2025
Neva Altaj is literally curing my marriage of convenience romances starvation 🙏🏼
February 18, 2025
I was gonna give this 3 stars but I simply can’t due to the fact that he called her his “teenage wife” 10 too many times and the second half was just pure smut and I felt like we lost the plot entirely. First half was so good though so there’s that. Listen I love an age gap romance but when he focuses on her youth THAT much I get so creeped out and it’s an instant no for me. Also something about her being in love with him since she was 6 years old also rubs me the wrong way.
First one in the series that was truly a no for me.
First one in the series that was truly a no for me.
November 1, 2022
4 Stella Mia Stars ⭐
Even as a young girl, Isabella has adored Luca Rossi. The man that would always be too old and completely unattainable. But as a young woman, when alliances are required in the Cosa Nostra, Luca will marry Isabella.
My self-pity party ends here. I finally married a man whom I’ve secretly loved for years, and I’ll be damned if I let him sweep me under the carpet.
With a big age gap, Luca is hellbent on a marriage in writing only. However, he underestimated his young bride. Behind the innocence, is intelligence, maturity and a nymphomaniac just waiting to pounce on her husband. And everyone has a duty and role to play.
“If I see any other man touch you, he will die. It will be a very unpleasant death.” He adjusts the blanket around my shoulders. “And you won’t be satisfying your own pussy anymore. When you need your problem, as you called it, taken care of, you come to me. You got that, tesoro?”
As Isabella finally feels like she has levelled the playing field, a death threat leaves Luca with no memory. Just when she had hoped to know her husband, a new side is revealed. One that's carnal and loving. What happens when things return to normal?
Hand on heart each book in this Perfectly Imperfect series gets better with every release. Ruined Secrets was wonderfully balanced with the right mix of mafia drama and the spicy dynamics between Luca and Isabella. This is great contemporary mafia romance here!
Even as a young girl, Isabella has adored Luca Rossi. The man that would always be too old and completely unattainable. But as a young woman, when alliances are required in the Cosa Nostra, Luca will marry Isabella.
My self-pity party ends here. I finally married a man whom I’ve secretly loved for years, and I’ll be damned if I let him sweep me under the carpet.
With a big age gap, Luca is hellbent on a marriage in writing only. However, he underestimated his young bride. Behind the innocence, is intelligence, maturity and a nymphomaniac just waiting to pounce on her husband. And everyone has a duty and role to play.
“If I see any other man touch you, he will die. It will be a very unpleasant death.” He adjusts the blanket around my shoulders. “And you won’t be satisfying your own pussy anymore. When you need your problem, as you called it, taken care of, you come to me. You got that, tesoro?”
As Isabella finally feels like she has levelled the playing field, a death threat leaves Luca with no memory. Just when she had hoped to know her husband, a new side is revealed. One that's carnal and loving. What happens when things return to normal?
Hand on heart each book in this Perfectly Imperfect series gets better with every release. Ruined Secrets was wonderfully balanced with the right mix of mafia drama and the spicy dynamics between Luca and Isabella. This is great contemporary mafia romance here!
July 14, 2025
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ "my teenage wife" 🤡
0.05/5!! Help, I think I'm in a slump.
I'm not one to age shame, but if your significant other is at an age where you could be considered their parent, then you might want to take a step back and evaluate your life choices. However, at the end of the day, it's your personal choice and I can do nothing but judge you.
Also, in my opinion, age gap is only hot when the female is not a literal teenager (19). She has a 35 year old husband and cherry on top, he literally knew her since she was a child. I'm going to barf. 🌚 Oh, and I wish there was a warning for when there's the single parent trope in these books. I only knew about it before because I saw some of the reviews.
We just gotta talk about the fact that Luca pretended he had morals for a while and was like "she's too young" and then proceeds to do whatever he was like no for. Why even bother with all that at this point? If you're going to do it anyways, at least own it.
---------
pre-read: I'm in the mood for a mafia book, but I've seen the reviews and they are scaring me. I guess we'll see how it goes. 😮
0.05/5!! Help, I think I'm in a slump.
I'm not one to age shame, but if your significant other is at an age where you could be considered their parent, then you might want to take a step back and evaluate your life choices. However, at the end of the day, it's your personal choice and I can do nothing but judge you.
Also, in my opinion, age gap is only hot when the female is not a literal teenager (19). She has a 35 year old husband and cherry on top, he literally knew her since she was a child. I'm going to barf. 🌚 Oh, and I wish there was a warning for when there's the single parent trope in these books. I only knew about it before because I saw some of the reviews.
We just gotta talk about the fact that Luca pretended he had morals for a while and was like "she's too young" and then proceeds to do whatever he was like no for. Why even bother with all that at this point? If you're going to do it anyways, at least own it.
---------
pre-read: I'm in the mood for a mafia book, but I've seen the reviews and they are scaring me. I guess we'll see how it goes. 😮
December 4, 2025
1.5 stars
This was just pure smut. And the fact that he thought of her as his teenage wife and young wife? Nope. Never. Please never do it again.
I love age-gap romances and I have no problem with 15 or 20 years age-gap between the main characters as long as the mmc didn't knew fmc as a kid because please we have to draw a line somewhere. Luca knew her since she was a baby, he saved her once when she fell in a pool and she was just a six years old girl at that time and she said that she fell in love with a 22 year old man because he saved her and he looked hot? And then she started falling for him over the years basically knowing not a single thing about him. She was in love with the idea of Luca Rossi for over a decade. Luca used to visit her house a lot in the past and he would somehow pick her up and swing her around and treat her like a normal kid, but once she turned 13 years old he even stopped looking at her? Just a little pet on her head? Like he knew that it's bad to even look at a teenager and it's just speaks a lot about his guilty conscience! Because if he didn't had any weird feelings for her then why did he just stop treating her like a kid? It just made me so frustrating. I would've liked this book more had they never knew each other growing up.
The romance was not really romantic. It was just sexual tension and smut scenes which I am fine with but it was overshadowing their emotional intimacy and also the plot of the story.
I kind of liked Isabella in the start but then she just annoyed me with how she behaved. She was mature but behaved so childishly in front of Luca. Atleast she wasn't a doormat but that's never a issue in this series so far. The only thing I liked about her was how she developed her relationship with Luca's daughter.
Luca? We are living in 2024 right? So why the hell this man is trying to control what her wife wears? And she let him do that because that means he's jealous, he cares? Luca and Isabella both need therapy.
I don't really write about the quality of smut scenes in my reviews but I have to for this one. Why is there no talk about safe sex in this book? That's one of my major issues in mafia romances these days. Another one was how she liked to sleep with his fingers in her V? Or how he controlled her with toys for hours? I am sorry what-? That's so weird and let's not forget about hygiene and vaginal health! I like reading about dominant men in books but Luca was weird about all that.
I am so excited for Milene's story though and I only ever heard positive things about that one so let's just keep my fingers crossed.
This was just pure smut. And the fact that he thought of her as his teenage wife and young wife? Nope. Never. Please never do it again.
I love age-gap romances and I have no problem with 15 or 20 years age-gap between the main characters as long as the mmc didn't knew fmc as a kid because please we have to draw a line somewhere. Luca knew her since she was a baby, he saved her once when she fell in a pool and she was just a six years old girl at that time and she said that she fell in love with a 22 year old man because he saved her and he looked hot? And then she started falling for him over the years basically knowing not a single thing about him. She was in love with the idea of Luca Rossi for over a decade. Luca used to visit her house a lot in the past and he would somehow pick her up and swing her around and treat her like a normal kid, but once she turned 13 years old he even stopped looking at her? Just a little pet on her head? Like he knew that it's bad to even look at a teenager and it's just speaks a lot about his guilty conscience! Because if he didn't had any weird feelings for her then why did he just stop treating her like a kid? It just made me so frustrating. I would've liked this book more had they never knew each other growing up.
The romance was not really romantic. It was just sexual tension and smut scenes which I am fine with but it was overshadowing their emotional intimacy and also the plot of the story.
I kind of liked Isabella in the start but then she just annoyed me with how she behaved. She was mature but behaved so childishly in front of Luca. Atleast she wasn't a doormat but that's never a issue in this series so far. The only thing I liked about her was how she developed her relationship with Luca's daughter.
Luca? We are living in 2024 right? So why the hell this man is trying to control what her wife wears? And she let him do that because that means he's jealous, he cares? Luca and Isabella both need therapy.
I don't really write about the quality of smut scenes in my reviews but I have to for this one. Why is there no talk about safe sex in this book? That's one of my major issues in mafia romances these days. Another one was how she liked to sleep with his fingers in her V? Or how he controlled her with toys for hours? I am sorry what-? That's so weird and let's not forget about hygiene and vaginal health! I like reading about dominant men in books but Luca was weird about all that.
I am so excited for Milene's story though and I only ever heard positive things about that one so let's just keep my fingers crossed.
May 20, 2025
“You can never anticipate when knowing someone’s dirty laundry may come in handy”🧺🤫
💍🖤🔥🕵️♀️
✨ Arranged marriage
✨ 16-year age gap
✨ She falls first
✨ Mafia (Cosa Nostra)
✨ Slow burn & push-pull tension
✨ Mystery plot twist
✨ Past & present POVs
Luca 🖤 — taking over as the new Don. He’s older, gruff, powerful, and trying so hard to resist her because he watched her grow up and feels like he’s too old for her (sir… stop lying to yourself).
Isabella ❤️ — the Don’s granddaughter. Fierce, intelligent, strategic… and has been pining for Luca for years 🥺💋
They marry to keep power within reach, but ohhh the angst. That cat and mouse tension between them?? CHEF’S KISS 💥
The past & present chapters were everything — I loved getting to see Isa’s long-standing obsession with Luca unfold slowly. The layers of emotion and tension? Immaculate.
There’s a suspenseful mystery subplot woven into this one too, and it just amped up the drama and stakes like crazy 🕵️♀️🔫
And when something MAJOR goes down 👀😱— Isa steps up in a way that made me want to scream. She’s giving mastermind, calculating queen energy 👑🧠
🖤🔥 This was definitely the smuttiest of the series too…it was over the top, some scenes had me clutching my Kindle like wtf is this……but I digress😳🙈🔥
This whole series is binge-worthy, and I’m here for the vibes
🖤♟️💋💣📜🥵🕷️
💍🖤🔥🕵️♀️
✨ Arranged marriage
✨ 16-year age gap
✨ She falls first
✨ Mafia (Cosa Nostra)
✨ Slow burn & push-pull tension
✨ Mystery plot twist
✨ Past & present POVs
Luca 🖤 — taking over as the new Don. He’s older, gruff, powerful, and trying so hard to resist her because he watched her grow up and feels like he’s too old for her (sir… stop lying to yourself).
Isabella ❤️ — the Don’s granddaughter. Fierce, intelligent, strategic… and has been pining for Luca for years 🥺💋
They marry to keep power within reach, but ohhh the angst. That cat and mouse tension between them?? CHEF’S KISS 💥
The past & present chapters were everything — I loved getting to see Isa’s long-standing obsession with Luca unfold slowly. The layers of emotion and tension? Immaculate.
There’s a suspenseful mystery subplot woven into this one too, and it just amped up the drama and stakes like crazy 🕵️♀️🔫
And when something MAJOR goes down 👀😱— Isa steps up in a way that made me want to scream. She’s giving mastermind, calculating queen energy 👑🧠
🖤🔥 This was definitely the smuttiest of the series too…it was over the top, some scenes had me clutching my Kindle like wtf is this……but I digress😳🙈🔥
This whole series is binge-worthy, and I’m here for the vibes
🖤♟️💋💣📜🥵🕷️
November 2, 2025
“my teenage wife” 🤨 wrap it up🥴
October 17, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC review)
Safety warnings:
- Age gap H 35/h 19
- No cheating (between MCs)
- Mention of cheating
- D*ath/Violence
- No OM/OW drama
- HEA
I loved the push and pull. Luca was so stubborn and could not let go of it while Isabella was consistent in her attempts at making her marriage work and having him fall in love with her.
Isabella shocked everyone with the knowledge she possesses and how she gets them. I was so proud of her for showing Luca how immature she wasn't. She could stand against all the men around her without cowering away and that is who he needed after he takes over.
Without her he wouldn't have been able to navigate the world they are a part of. She was able to stand by his side and help him make sure nobody found out about his little memory problem. The dedication was so wonderful.
I loved watching her try and try again to get him out of his shell and with his memories gone he was able to truly show how much he wanted her without the fears or issues he had with it before.
This one had a bit more steam than previous books and I'm not one to complain about it.
Also LOVED the little cameo we got during the club scene.
We were also introduced to the next MMC and I cannot wait for his story as we got a glimpse into the FMC too and this is going to be explosive!
Safety warnings:
- Age gap H 35/h 19
- No cheating (between MCs)
- Mention of cheating
- D*ath/Violence
- No OM/OW drama
- HEA
I loved the push and pull. Luca was so stubborn and could not let go of it while Isabella was consistent in her attempts at making her marriage work and having him fall in love with her.
Isabella shocked everyone with the knowledge she possesses and how she gets them. I was so proud of her for showing Luca how immature she wasn't. She could stand against all the men around her without cowering away and that is who he needed after he takes over.
Without her he wouldn't have been able to navigate the world they are a part of. She was able to stand by his side and help him make sure nobody found out about his little memory problem. The dedication was so wonderful.
I loved watching her try and try again to get him out of his shell and with his memories gone he was able to truly show how much he wanted her without the fears or issues he had with it before.
This one had a bit more steam than previous books and I'm not one to complain about it.
Also LOVED the little cameo we got during the club scene.
We were also introduced to the next MMC and I cannot wait for his story as we got a glimpse into the FMC too and this is going to be explosive!
December 2, 2024
IM FREEEEEE!!!!!!!! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY FUCKING LIFE
May 22, 2024
3.5 Stars.
In the case of mafia romances 'age gap' and 'arranged marriage' make the perfect stories, and this instalment has both.
In the case of mafia romances 'age gap' and 'arranged marriage' make the perfect stories, and this instalment has both.
October 24, 2025
Reread for Patreon 2025
.
.
.
.
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
This series just keeps getting better and better for me. I have been continually impressed and this was no different. I love how quickly I get sucked in and how much I come to care for the characters so quickly.
When a romance has a pining heroine, I get really nervous. I just don't love reading a book where the woman has so much on the line like that. Yet, Isabella may have a childlike hero worship for Luca, but when she gets her chance to marry him, she stakes her claim and demands what she wants from her older, more experienced husband. She was a force of nature and I honestly have a girl crush on her.
Luca has a lot on his plate. He catches his wife cheating, and is immediately ordered to marry the don's granddaughter before the ink is dry on his divorce papers. She is WAY too young for him and he plans to keep her far, far away from him. Then, just as he is softening to her want for him.. he loses every part of himself.
I did not expect how this book played out. The Age Gap, Arranged Marriage, and even amnesia tropes were done to perfection. This book also upped the spice factor quite a bit and has some smink-iness that I absolutely LOVED. It made me so happy.
I just adore how Neva Altaj makes these mafia men fall for their women. I can't wait for many more stories to come.
5 stars
4.5 on the spice scale
TW: violence, BDSM, Dynamics, Death of a family member
.
.
.
.
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
This series just keeps getting better and better for me. I have been continually impressed and this was no different. I love how quickly I get sucked in and how much I come to care for the characters so quickly.
When a romance has a pining heroine, I get really nervous. I just don't love reading a book where the woman has so much on the line like that. Yet, Isabella may have a childlike hero worship for Luca, but when she gets her chance to marry him, she stakes her claim and demands what she wants from her older, more experienced husband. She was a force of nature and I honestly have a girl crush on her.
Luca has a lot on his plate. He catches his wife cheating, and is immediately ordered to marry the don's granddaughter before the ink is dry on his divorce papers. She is WAY too young for him and he plans to keep her far, far away from him. Then, just as he is softening to her want for him.. he loses every part of himself.
I did not expect how this book played out. The Age Gap, Arranged Marriage, and even amnesia tropes were done to perfection. This book also upped the spice factor quite a bit and has some smink-iness that I absolutely LOVED. It made me so happy.
I just adore how Neva Altaj makes these mafia men fall for their women. I can't wait for many more stories to come.
5 stars
4.5 on the spice scale
TW: violence, BDSM, Dynamics, Death of a family member
October 2, 2025
Rating: 2 stars.
Ohhh! This book was… rough.
Normally, I’m a big fan of the age-gap trope, the first three books pulled it off really well, and I never once felt weird about it. But with Ruined Secrets, I kept stopping to ask myself: Do I even like this trope anymore?
The age gap here 19/35 was handled in such an unsettling way. Luca constantly reminded himself,“She’s a teenager, I can’t sleep with her,”
and then, surprise, ends up with her anyway. It just felt icky.
As for Isabella… she drove me absolutely insane. She wouldn’t stop complaining, always going, “Why does he treat me like I’m a kid?” Well, maybe because you actually are one?? like gurl are serious right now? STOP ALREADY! Her immaturity was exhausting, and I couldn’t connect with her at all.
What really made me uncomfortable, though, was when she said she’d been in love with him since she was six years old, while he was twenty-four. Like, absolutely not.
Like how are we supposed to buy into a six-year-old child being “in love” with a grown man?? At that age you barely know the difference between liking your favorite stuffed animal and liking a person, you’re not out here developing romantic love. It just doesn’t make sense, and honestly it crosses into really icky territory. A little girl that young might admire someone, look up to them, or feel safe around them, but love in the way the book is trying to frame it? Absolutely not. It’s unrealistic, unsettling, and makes the whole dynamic feel way creepier than it ever needed to be.
I was leaning toward giving this 3 stars, but honestly, I just can’t. The constant “teenage wife” comments (he said it about ten too many times) completely killed the vibe for me.
Unfortunately, this was the first book in the series that was a solid “no” for me.
💬 pre-view:
“Between war and love the world loosens its rules; I will bend them all, whispering falsehoods to the man whose past has been stolen, if that saves us.”
↦ I decided not to dive into the third book of the Boys of Tommen series just yet because today’s the last day of September, and honestly, I wanted something lighter and quicker to close out the month with. This one seems like the perfect choice to give me exactly that, a nice breather, something easy to fly through and enjoy without the emotional commitment of a chunky series installment.
Ohhh! This book was… rough.
Normally, I’m a big fan of the age-gap trope, the first three books pulled it off really well, and I never once felt weird about it. But with Ruined Secrets, I kept stopping to ask myself: Do I even like this trope anymore?
The age gap here 19/35 was handled in such an unsettling way. Luca constantly reminded himself,
As for Isabella… she drove me absolutely insane. She wouldn’t stop complaining, always going, “Why does he treat me like I’m a kid?” Well, maybe because you actually are one?? like gurl are serious right now? STOP ALREADY! Her immaturity was exhausting, and I couldn’t connect with her at all.
What really made me uncomfortable, though, was when she said she’d been in love with him since she was six years old, while he was twenty-four. Like, absolutely not.
Like how are we supposed to buy into a six-year-old child being “in love” with a grown man?? At that age you barely know the difference between liking your favorite stuffed animal and liking a person, you’re not out here developing romantic love. It just doesn’t make sense, and honestly it crosses into really icky territory. A little girl that young might admire someone, look up to them, or feel safe around them, but love in the way the book is trying to frame it? Absolutely not. It’s unrealistic, unsettling, and makes the whole dynamic feel way creepier than it ever needed to be.
I was leaning toward giving this 3 stars, but honestly, I just can’t. The constant “teenage wife” comments (he said it about ten too many times) completely killed the vibe for me.
Unfortunately, this was the first book in the series that was a solid “no” for me.
💬 pre-view:
“Between war and love the world loosens its rules; I will bend them all, whispering falsehoods to the man whose past has been stolen, if that saves us.”
↦ I decided not to dive into the third book of the Boys of Tommen series just yet because today’s the last day of September, and honestly, I wanted something lighter and quicker to close out the month with. This one seems like the perfect choice to give me exactly that, a nice breather, something easy to fly through and enjoy without the emotional commitment of a chunky series installment.
November 4, 2023
2,5??? I don’t know
Este libro fue una gran decepción para mí. Y es que hasta el momento todos los libros de la serie me habían generado por lo menos cierto entretenimiento a la hora de leerlos. Pero con este libro la autora sí me falló un poco. (Ojo, eso no quiere decir que no vaya a leer los otros).
Simplemente no pude. Ni con los personajes. Ni con la historia. Con nada. Y sinceramente desde las primeras páginas ya sabía que eso iba a ocurrir. Soy consciente de que en los libros de esta serie ha habido cierto age gap, pero el hecho de que en este quisieran resaltarlo cada cinco líneas ya lo convertía en algo incómodo. Sin contar los pensamientos de Isabella al inicio del libro, tipo wtf??? Simplemente no me imagino a una nena pensando así, just no.
Por otro lado, siempre voy a ser hater de que en un libro me pongan un personaje si no van a hacer uso de él. Te juro que cada 30 páginas se me olvidaba que el hombre tenía una hija, o sea???? JAJAJA :|
Y no puedo creer que vaya a decir esto, pero disfrutaba más las intervenciones de Damian QUE NI SIQUIERA ERA UN PERSONAJE PRINCIPAL.
Hubo varias cosas a las que se les pudo sacar potencial, but not.
0 química, les brotó el amor de no sé dónde porque era s3x* por aquí y por allá. Al punto que las escenas ya hasta me las saltaba.
Lo más rescatable para mí fue la segunda parte, porque por lo menos me mantuvo un poco más enganchada. Pero este libro simplemente no fue para mí. Me sigo quedando con Bianca y Mikhail.
Este libro fue una gran decepción para mí. Y es que hasta el momento todos los libros de la serie me habían generado por lo menos cierto entretenimiento a la hora de leerlos. Pero con este libro la autora sí me falló un poco. (Ojo, eso no quiere decir que no vaya a leer los otros).
Simplemente no pude. Ni con los personajes. Ni con la historia. Con nada. Y sinceramente desde las primeras páginas ya sabía que eso iba a ocurrir. Soy consciente de que en los libros de esta serie ha habido cierto age gap, pero el hecho de que en este quisieran resaltarlo cada cinco líneas ya lo convertía en algo incómodo. Sin contar los pensamientos de Isabella al inicio del libro, tipo wtf??? Simplemente no me imagino a una nena pensando así, just no.
Por otro lado, siempre voy a ser hater de que en un libro me pongan un personaje si no van a hacer uso de él. Te juro que cada 30 páginas se me olvidaba que el hombre tenía una hija, o sea???? JAJAJA :|
Y no puedo creer que vaya a decir esto, pero disfrutaba más las intervenciones de Damian QUE NI SIQUIERA ERA UN PERSONAJE PRINCIPAL.
Hubo varias cosas a las que se les pudo sacar potencial, but not.
0 química, les brotó el amor de no sé dónde porque era s3x* por aquí y por allá. Al punto que las escenas ya hasta me las saltaba.
Lo más rescatable para mí fue la segunda parte, porque por lo menos me mantuvo un poco más enganchada. Pero este libro simplemente no fue para mí. Me sigo quedando con Bianca y Mikhail.
November 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — 5/5 🙂↕️🦋🦋🔥
I got completely swept up in Ruined Secrets by Neva Altaj 🖤 The secrets, the chaos, and the raw intensity gripped me so tightly I couldn’t look away. Even after finishing, the heartbreak and obsession stayed with me, making this story impossible to forget 🔥
I got completely swept up in Ruined Secrets by Neva Altaj 🖤 The secrets, the chaos, and the raw intensity gripped me so tightly I couldn’t look away. Even after finishing, the heartbreak and obsession stayed with me, making this story impossible to forget 🔥
July 31, 2023
All books had some questionable and extra jealousy moments but this? oh this was just bad 😭 Idk if it only me but I didn't feel no connection, no chemistry or whatsoever between the couple, because this man wouldn't stop saying "she is a teenager" and acting like he's in his 80s not 35! She was 19 and this was age gap so it is what it is, but second half after he lost his memories? just got bad and weird... This man told her she will only sleep with his finger inside her and my last straw was when they took his daughter and her friends to cinema and he had his finger inside her the whole time 💀 I get the whole controlling what she wears and does part, as she wanted it and they both were into It! But the whole kink in this book felt forced, it was done just so he will stop saying "I can't sleep with my teenage wife"!
November 15, 2024
3 ⭐
I think it was the worst book Neva has ever written, however, as always, her books are addictive and very enjoyable so I never got bored, even though I felt that in some chapters there were only spicy scenes to fill in (in fact I think there were too many spicy scenes, in my opinion)
I thought I wasn't going to like Isabella's character but I thought she was a pretty intelligent MFC and not so childish despite her age. I also liked Luca and I thought that I wasn't going to like this whole amnesia trope and that was what I liked most about the book.
I think it was the worst book Neva has ever written, however, as always, her books are addictive and very enjoyable so I never got bored, even though I felt that in some chapters there were only spicy scenes to fill in (in fact I think there were too many spicy scenes, in my opinion)
I thought I wasn't going to like Isabella's character but I thought she was a pretty intelligent MFC and not so childish despite her age. I also liked Luca and I thought that I wasn't going to like this whole amnesia trope and that was what I liked most about the book.
May 25, 2024
If u were to take a shot every time he said “my teenage wife/ young wife” You’d be hammered.
September 20, 2025
Surprised surprise i enjoyed an amnesia storyline. I found it very entertaining and its so far the smuttest book in the series(still side eyeing that finger thing).
April 4, 2025
4/5🌶️
Nevas books always bring me a fun time. A must-read for all mafia lovers.
I have to say that I was a bit scared in the beginning since the MMC always emphasized their age gap but I loved their dynamic as a couple.
Really liked the storyline, plot twist and there was a looooot of spice in here. Holy moly🥵 there’s one spicy thing that gave me a bit of a ick but besides that: HOT🔥
Nevas books always bring me a fun time. A must-read for all mafia lovers.
I have to say that I was a bit scared in the beginning since the MMC always emphasized their age gap but I loved their dynamic as a couple.
Really liked the storyline, plot twist and there was a looooot of spice in here. Holy moly🥵 there’s one spicy thing that gave me a bit of a ick but besides that: HOT🔥
November 26, 2023
Ciertamente se me acabó la diversión con esta serie porque este libro definitivamente fue espantoso por donde se mire y ahora perdí la fe que tenía a los demás libros.
A ver, los age gap son mi debilidad, pero detesto cuando me ponen a una chica de 18/19 años con un tipo de más de 30 años. No es mi dinámica predilecta para leer, y menos cuando el MMC está todo el rato refiriéndose a la chica como una adolescente pero al mismo tiempo teniendo todo tipo de fantasías con ella, es contradictorio e incómodo.
Además, ¿Cuál se supone que es la personalidad de estos personajes?
Luca me pareció cualquier cosa, para ser el líder de una organización mafiosa, la falta un poco más de presencia. Y la elección de nombre no fue la mejor, justamente existen demasiados Luca en el mundillo de los mafia romance, así que ya por ahí el personaje no resaltaría mucho ni muchos menos sería memorable.
Por otra parte, Isabella me gustó al principio, más cuando estaba haciendo malabares para mantener toda una mentira al mismo tiempo que manejaba a su esposo, ya que este no era capaz de hacer nada sin su ayuda; pero a la mitad del libro me fastidió que todos sus POVs giraran alrededor de su necesidad de tener algo dentro de ella (y esa ridiculez de que no pudiese dormir sin tener el dedo de Luca dentro de ella me pareció la mayor idiotez de todos los tiempos).
En fin, qué ganas de olvidar que leí este libro; y en cuanto a mi top, es obvio quienes estarán de último lugar:
1. Bianca / Mikhail
2. Sergei / Angelina
3. Roman / Nina
4. Isabella / Luca
A ver, los age gap son mi debilidad, pero detesto cuando me ponen a una chica de 18/19 años con un tipo de más de 30 años. No es mi dinámica predilecta para leer, y menos cuando el MMC está todo el rato refiriéndose a la chica como una adolescente pero al mismo tiempo teniendo todo tipo de fantasías con ella, es contradictorio e incómodo.
Además, ¿Cuál se supone que es la personalidad de estos personajes?
Luca me pareció cualquier cosa, para ser el líder de una organización mafiosa, la falta un poco más de presencia. Y la elección de nombre no fue la mejor, justamente existen demasiados Luca en el mundillo de los mafia romance, así que ya por ahí el personaje no resaltaría mucho ni muchos menos sería memorable.
Por otra parte, Isabella me gustó al principio, más cuando estaba haciendo malabares para mantener toda una mentira al mismo tiempo que manejaba a su esposo, ya que este no era capaz de hacer nada sin su ayuda; pero a la mitad del libro me fastidió que todos sus POVs giraran alrededor de su necesidad de tener algo dentro de ella (y esa ridiculez de que no pudiese dormir sin tener el dedo de Luca dentro de ella me pareció la mayor idiotez de todos los tiempos).
En fin, qué ganas de olvidar que leí este libro; y en cuanto a mi top, es obvio quienes estarán de último lugar:
1. Bianca / Mikhail
2. Sergei / Angelina
3. Roman / Nina
4. Isabella / Luca
December 1, 2022
“A low, moaning sound reaches me from the direction of Isabella’s room and I look up, staring at the door connecting our rooms.”
Please choose another kind of turn on to the characters this line is getting old. 🤦🏻♀️
Only this was annoying 🤷🏻♀️. I liked everything!
It’s worth the reading.
Please choose another kind of turn on to the characters this line is getting old. 🤦🏻♀️
Only this was annoying 🤷🏻♀️. I liked everything!
It’s worth the reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: arranged marriage
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Absolutely fantastic read! Neva Altaj just seems to tick all of my boxes when it comes to my favorite types of mafia read. We have a great storyline that is well written and moves well. GREAT banter between the two MCs. It's a "dark" read without being too dark. There is just so much push and pull between them and I love the fact that even though Isa is much younger than him, she's a bit of a steamroller and knows how to get what she wants from Luca. The chemistry between them is just super hot and I love how she manages to manipulate him into acting on his attraction with some laugh out loud results. Just another great, entertaining read in what's been a really awesome series.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Trope: arranged marriage
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Absolutely fantastic read! Neva Altaj just seems to tick all of my boxes when it comes to my favorite types of mafia read. We have a great storyline that is well written and moves well. GREAT banter between the two MCs. It's a "dark" read without being too dark. There is just so much push and pull between them and I love the fact that even though Isa is much younger than him, she's a bit of a steamroller and knows how to get what she wants from Luca. The chemistry between them is just super hot and I love how she manages to manipulate him into acting on his attraction with some laugh out loud results. Just another great, entertaining read in what's been a really awesome series.
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
March 21, 2024
Ruined Secrets is a fun read. Miss Altaj put so much needed sassiness into her story. I like Isabella. She is wicked and cunning. In a good way. And Luca is just delicious.
My only complain is the ending is too short.
4 stars
My only complain is the ending is too short.
4 stars
November 16, 2022
3.5 Stars rounded up.
So I am loving this series of Bratva and Mafia men who have handicaps and the women who love and support them. But this one had a couple missteps for me. I love the concept of Luca losing his memory and not knowing the standing His and Isabella's relationship really is in. I love smart, calculating, and beautiful Isabella. Like they say, behind every great man is good woman. I really loved both Isabella and Luca. They were both so stubborn and watching them in this game of who was gonna break first was so entertaining. But...why did there have to be some weird thing about having to have Luca's finger in her pussy all night to sleep and can't handle not having his finger or cock in her pussy throughout the day. It just got weird. Isa would be sleeping and Luca is read business papers but always has his hand between her legs with a finger in her pussy. Like, huh?!! Then Luca had to buy her a pussy plug, like a butt plug but for her pussy so Isa could get through her day. It just got weird and unbelievable. It kinda ruined this a little for me.
Then, I can't believe I'm saying this lol, but there was too many sex scenes. One after another. It just got repetitive. Okay Luca has to have his finger in her, but then they're turned on and have quick sex, then sex while they clean up, but then he's got to put his finger in Isa so she can sleep. Then in the morning they have sex before he can put the pussy plug in, then she drops by his office to have sex because she's turned on by wearing the plug. It got annoying instead of sexy. It affected my rating.
I really liked story. I love this series so far. This one had some issues that I wish weren't there because it was really good and could of been a five star easily. It is what it is. I am very excited to see what's going down with Salvatore and Milene in the upcoming book. There's been so much mystery around him and we'll finally get some answers.
So I am loving this series of Bratva and Mafia men who have handicaps and the women who love and support them. But this one had a couple missteps for me. I love the concept of Luca losing his memory and not knowing the standing His and Isabella's relationship really is in. I love smart, calculating, and beautiful Isabella. Like they say, behind every great man is good woman. I really loved both Isabella and Luca. They were both so stubborn and watching them in this game of who was gonna break first was so entertaining. But...why did there have to be some weird thing about having to have Luca's finger in her pussy all night to sleep and can't handle not having his finger or cock in her pussy throughout the day. It just got weird. Isa would be sleeping and Luca is read business papers but always has his hand between her legs with a finger in her pussy. Like, huh?!! Then Luca had to buy her a pussy plug, like a butt plug but for her pussy so Isa could get through her day. It just got weird and unbelievable. It kinda ruined this a little for me.
Then, I can't believe I'm saying this lol, but there was too many sex scenes. One after another. It just got repetitive. Okay Luca has to have his finger in her, but then they're turned on and have quick sex, then sex while they clean up, but then he's got to put his finger in Isa so she can sleep. Then in the morning they have sex before he can put the pussy plug in, then she drops by his office to have sex because she's turned on by wearing the plug. It got annoying instead of sexy. It affected my rating.
I really liked story. I love this series so far. This one had some issues that I wish weren't there because it was really good and could of been a five star easily. It is what it is. I am very excited to see what's going down with Salvatore and Milene in the upcoming book. There's been so much mystery around him and we'll finally get some answers.
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