Ruthless Beast

by Lydia Hall

The death of my brother brought me face to face with a commanding mafia leader.

Lucas had all my attention from the moment our eyes met.

He saw the sadness in mine and embraced me.

I felt protected.

But Lucas is way older… and dangerous.

Still, he’s not the one I have to be afraid of.

My brother’s death was, in fact, murder.

And my own life is in the hands of the rival gang.

Lucas has always felt like a protector.

But his mystery sends shivers down my spine.

He’s anything but innocent.

And he would go to any lengths to ensure my safety.

Even if that means taking me in without my will.

But there’s one thing that even Lucas has no control over.

A secret – a baby that’s growing inside my belly who would call him daddy.

Genres: Mafia Romance

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2023

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of The Wounded Hearts series each can be read as a standalone with ruthless beast and the one who captures his attention. so please make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Emily is so sweet, talented artist just finishing up college usually going where her art takes her loves her brother who was to her daddy/big brother, her only family since their parents passed away and when she gets the news that he has been murdered her world falls apart she isn’t sure where to go, what to do, how to handle anything by herself all she knew was that her brother was a successful business man he was her only family, her world. Luca sexy as all get out mafia boss who rules with an iron fist keeps his inner circle small, ruthless most days, deadly every day, when his businessman was murdered due to a hit on the family, he took that personally knowing he needed to take care of his little sister and deciding to extend protection for her although, she doesn’t make it easy for him. The attraction is instant, it is intense, the magnetic pull can’t be ignored and the more she fights him the stronger the pull grows between them she is an artist going where her art leads her not understanding being in one place out of the name of protection. Try as he might in protecting her someone within his camp has betrayed him, betrayed the family because his girl was taken who took her, why did they take her, who betrayed him, will they catch the ones that betrayed the family, will they save her or will she end up like her brother, and can they find happiness somewhere in all the madness?

[E Oygard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly edited and constant errors.

My irritation grew at the constant errors. What was 2 weeks in one sentence changed to two months in the next. Slip ups with names were throughout the story. Damon became Damine, and at one point Lucas was speaking when he wasn't even there. I won't go on as you will get my drift.
The events in the storyline were off the charts ridiculous. I cannot express them as it would spoil the storyline for those who would read the story. Sufficient to say that Emily becomes mixed up with a Mafia boss who tries to protect her. Yet there is barely a hint of Mafia activity throughout the book. I will be giving this author a miss in future.

[Caz · Rating 1 out of 5]

The mistakes in this book seriously took away any enjoyment in this book. First chapter can’t even get the characters names right (and it didn’t get any better). The editing is terrible. Things/timelines don’t match up.

While the H and h are sweet to each other the mafia boss is a bit pathetic really. Definitely no “Ruthless Beast” in this book.

Story was a little boring.. I think the bad editing really put me off and I found it hard to like the book.

It took all I had to finish this one. The only reason I did is that it’s a quick read and I seriously was wondering how much worse it would get.

It’s possible this author might end up in my “not my cup of tea” author list.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Beast by Lydia Hall. This is Book 1 in The Wounded Hearts Series. This is Lucas Lucchese and Emily Thornton's story. Emily is an artist/art major working at a art gallery and her brother David works as an accountant. Their parents died when Emily was twelve and David was twenty. So for the last twelve years David was taking care of Emily as best as he could. Emily and her best friend Daniella Freeman share an apartment together. They attend classes and are soon to graduate. Lucas now thirty-six has been promoted to Boss of the mob organization and Andreas is his right-hand. David Thornton works for the organization and he has always kept it from Emily. Emily doesn't meet Lucas until her brother David's funeral. He was murdered, and Emily is so heart broken along with her bestfriend Daniella. Lucas feels that it's his place to keep Emily safe and watch over her.
This is a wonderful age-gap story full of danger, secrets, action, and steamy scenes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC provided via Booksprout and I'm leaving an honest review*

✓Contemporary romance
✓Romantic suspense
✓Dark romance
✓Mafia
✓Enemies to lovers
✓Forbidden
✓Age gap
✓Older man/younger woman
✓Secret pregnancy
✓Fun cast of supporting – secondary characters that add to the story and development
✓Enough emotional baggage to fill a room
✓Gripping/gritty/raw
✓Page turner / suspenseful / fast paced
✓Unpredictable twists and turns
✓Off – the- charts chemistry

Ruthless Beast is the first book in The Wounded Hearts series. One of my favorite 5 star reads this year. Ruthless Beast is an emotion-charged read with depth and edge. Thrilling, compelling, gripping, raw, edge of the seat page turner with a wild ride and age gap, mafia goodness that I enjoyed from the beginning to the end.

Emily, the talented artist ready to move on to the next chapter of her life, loses her brother which brought her face to face with a commanding mafia leader, Lucas. Lucas felt the responsibility for Emily and started acting like her protector ensuring her safety because she might be in danger. They were drawn to each other from the very beginning. Lucas and Emily's story is heartachingly beautiful, a bit angsty, quirky, flirty, captivating and intense. Both need to overcome a lot while they are surrounded by danger and betrayal.

Fantastic, suspenseful and wonderful story.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great addition to The Wounded Hearts Series along with being a standalone.
Emily is a talented artist ready to move on from college and she where her art takes her. David her older brother has been her only family since their parents passed away years ago. Emily knows David has successfully raised her with also becoming a successful businessman so when she discovers he’s been killed in a mob hit her world is turned upside down with no remaining family. Lucas the mob boss David worked for realizes his responsibility for Emily and makes decisions to ensure her safety. Emily doesn’t take her current situation as easy as Lucas thought she would and you gotta love her for the fight in her. If falling for her captor weren’t so easy Emily’s not sure where she be without him when trouble comes their way. These two come a long way and take their life decisions down a road not many even think about doing, true love gives them a chance Lucas never thought possible! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible—not worth the time

I almost quit this thing several times. The story is very bland. The author couldn’t seem to keep track of the timeline also—it’s been six months, then it’s three weeks, then it’s middle of the night and also 3pm in the same time zone on the same day?? And there are several typos and misnaming of characters. Damon is also sometimes Damone, Damin, Damine. Joanna is Loanna in a few places. And Lucas who becomes Luke and also Luka—so inconsistent and sloppy. There are many punctuation errors, using a semi colon instead of an apostrophe (don;t, isn;t etc.) it’s as if this book was typed on a phone and never proofread, even spellcheck would’ve improved this. The writing is very shallow and juvenile, don’t waste your time, the story isn’t even good.

[Angela Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of The wounded hearts series. It is a stand-alone and is also a Mafia Romance and sort of a enemies to lovers-ish Romance
Emily an artist loses her brother David in a homicide. Not knowing how or what happened, she is stunned to find out that it was a mob hit that killed her brother.
David worked for Lucas. Lucas believes that Emily maybe in danger, he approaches her at the funeral, not telling her who he is.
Later he ends up kidnapping her to bring her somewhere safe.
The sparks fly between them.
There is a roller-coaster ride to this book with deceit, action,some delicious steaminess and a HEA that will give you all the feels.
Fabulous Read! I recommend this one!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Áine Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I've read by Lydia Hall and I will definitely be checking out her other work. Though this is a mafia romance, the main female character Emily isn't willing to fall into that lifestyle, which makes a nice change from female characters who unquestioningly accept their male interest's criminal activities. I have to say I don't think Lucas is quite the ruthless beast that the title would lead us to believe. I really liked this book, and I would rate it 4.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

- umělkyně / šéf mafie
- sestra zaměstnance hrdiny
- okamžitá přitažlivost
- uvězvění hrdinky
- postupné rozvinutí citů a vztahu
- překvapivé těhotenství
- únos
- Mexiko, stryptýz
- po měsíci konečně záchrana
- "musíš si vybrat buď mě a dítě nebo mafii" a tak se hrdina pouští do nebezpečného pokusu zfalšovat vlastní smrt, přesunout se do Afriky a odříznout všechny své známé


Konec a neústupnost (nevysvětlení jak funguje mafie) hrdinky mě docela naštvala, faktické chyby co mě trochu mátly (jako dva týdny byli o stránku dál dva měsíce)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every word of this book will set you on fire. This is a book that has some suspense, romance and a dangerous older man. I found myself falling in love with the characters and the storyline which will have your heart racing. Lydia did wonderful in writing this book and I must say it's a must-read book with 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emily loses her brother David she's shocked to find it was a mafia hit. When Lucas approaches her at David's funeral he only wants to protect her but when she learns it's her brothers connection to Lucas that got him killed where will it leave them? Well written steamy opposites attract desires and more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily and Lucas meet when her brother is killed. She learns that he had ties to the mafia and wonders if she is next. Lucas takes her in for protection but someone within his organization is a traitor which gets Emily taken. Lucas is furious and wants answers. Will he get his Emily back before she is lost to him. This action-packed story kept me glued to the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily and Lucas’ story has them meeting when her brother is murdered by the mafia and he was working for Lucas. A mysterious and dangerous older man. He thinks she’s in danger so he takes her against her will for safety. Sparks fly and smexy time happens and now she’s expecting but can they get over the deceit, violence, action and of course their hea.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K Webz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with betrayal, suspense and passion. Emily and Luca are amazing characters. When Emily loses her brother, the only family she has, she is devastated. She also learns he was not just a business man like she believed him to be when his boss Luca shows up to offer her protection.

These two have an instant attraction but protecting her gets tricky, as someone in his organization is a traitor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read, liked the characters, was a bit sad with her brother, but enjoyed their relationship developing, thought the Maria line could’ve been a little more considering how she helped, and was a bit disappointed in how she got demanding and held the baby over him and he caved immediately but lovely ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice!….4 Stars!

Lucas Lucchette, a gorgeous Mafia boss falls in love with his employee’s beautiful sister Emily Thornton. When her brother was murdered and she found out that he is the accountant for the mob boss she’s falling in love with, complications in their relationship becomes a big problem. It was more so when she found out she is now pregnant with Lucas’ child and his enemy is targeting her.

[shanda johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruthless Beast

I can't keep reading this book. This is the second book I have read from this author. This books are not realistic. Why do you want me to believe that a Don of a mafia would give up this way life like he could for a female and a baby. When all he has to do is take the baby, or make her stay or kill her. Make it Make sense. I give this three stars for the beginning of this story.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Beast is my first read by this author and it's quite a story. I'm a sucker for a good age gap read and this definitely fits the bill. Lucas and Emily's story is an intense enemy to lovers kinda read that keeps your attention from start to finish. The characters and the storyline are consuming and keeps you in anticipation for what's next. I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Susan The Trucker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope

The writing in this book is terrible and goes from bad to worse. The icing on the cake was when the use of apostrophes was replaced by semi-colons. Words like "don;t" and "wasn;t" began to appear in sentences.

This was a DNF for me.

The author needs an editor and a rewrite.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a heart pounding older man/younger woman story that pulls us into the lives of Lucas and Emily. The story keeps us turning the pages with suspense, danger, connection and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Emily Thornton loved her brother , but when he is murdered she is cast into a world she had no clue he was apart of. this story was Awsome I enjoy the characters and the strength Emily has.

[Chubby Romance Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent read

Ruthless Beast was an ok read. For being a Mob boss, Lucas was pretty weak, in my opinion, and not at all what I would imagine a mob boss to be. The plot was decent, and the spicy scenes were pretty meh.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think sometimes that this trope is overused and doused with stories that had little thought in creating. I started to read and then got bored and started to skip pages - a lot of pages. I feel I did not miss out on much.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really???

It started off good, but to make a mafia leader fake his death and leave the mafia for you? Get real. You either accept the man or you don't. This book missed on many points. I didn't even finish it. It was just too nauseating.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Beast

I was sad about Dom. I knew something was off about the new driver, too many questions for someone a part of the Mob. I'm glad Emily was saved in time, although she gave Lucas unltimatums, he would do anything to make her happy.

[Laurie hammarstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

I liked the story line but the lack of editing is bad. There are misspelled words throughout the book which I found irritating and the fact that every time Lukas addressed Emily he called her my love, it was constant in the second half of the book.

[Kamryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible

Had such a strong start but it was like you have up in the middle and why would he leave her for the mafia he just inherited. Plus the cringy sex scenes and the rushed ending I would not recommend.

[Sherry Stewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 20% Boring heroine dull story boring hero. And her best friend kept calling her "Ems" instead of Emily. Not sure what happened to Lydia here...

[Bobbie Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deals with many different emotions.

Really enjoyed this book. It deals with loss, friendship and finding love. Has to deal with emotions. Teaches how to be strong.