Refusing the King

The Sovrano Crime Family #12

by Jessa York

As the division between us grows,

I wonder if we'll ever be the same again.

But I don't have to wonder for long.

Because I have to go.

Leave.

Now.

Before my past takes everything away.

I can't let that happen.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2024

Reviews

[Yovonda Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gizell is getting deeper in this situation! Another great hot sexy read by Jessa York! What is Stefan doing?

[Helen King · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very engaging. It’s interesting that the So Ramos decided that since Carlo is the oldest and therefore the new leader of the family, while Carlo and Stephan were sharing Giselle, they decided that Carlo should be first to have a baby with Carlo and he proceeded to try to get her pregnant at every opportunity.

In the meantime, Giselle finds her father who sold her to the crime boss who abused her and made her carry his child while on vacation in Italy and she realizes she is no longer safe and she must flee this new family that she loves because her husband will find her and take her back. She planned that when she is back in Chicago she will go back on the run again because she desperately doesn’t want to be found. La

While I am enjoying this story, I refuse to start another series by this author because no matter how good the story is, I feel cheated because the books are so short, it feels like she is milking it to gain more money. This is the reason I’m rating the books so low.

[Nicole Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️Thoughts❤️

Jessa really knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats with that brutal cliffhanger! I was practically seething and ready to toss my Kindle in frustration.

I hope that we won't face another baby/ baby mama issue keeps me hooked now, especially knowing how Giselle would eventually handle it.

Every book, I'm rooting for her to trust Carlos and Stephen with her secrets, but that cliffhanger has me doubting it'll happen anytime soon. With Giselle on the run and a shattered heart, the suspense is palpable. No spoilers here, but seriously, dive into this series now!

🖤Mafia
🖤Sharing of H(but she approves it)
🖤Breeding Kink
🖤FF parts
🖤OTT MC
🖤Each book is a short story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐
Steamy:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Warning⚠️: Check the TWs.
Type📣: Book 12 of a series. Must start at book 1 before you can read this.
Recommend: Yes!!!

**This book is out early only on the Author's Website**

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Refusing the King is the twelfth book The Sovrano Crime Family series by Jessa York who delivered a heady cocktail of danger, desire, and deliciously dark family drama. Binging the series was oh so easy when each book pulled me deeper into a world where loyalty was currency, love was a gamble, and power came at a price.
The characters were definitely magnetic- somewhat flawed and yet irresistible – all the while the pacing kept me hooked in a late-night binge I kept swearing I would stop after ‘just one more chapter’. #sleepisoverratedanyway
So, if you love your romance with a side of high-stakes intrigue and a dash of mafia heat, then this series delivers in spades. It’s addictive and steamy, with just the right amount of ruthless .… A guilty pleasure you won’t feel guilty about.
Happy Reading…

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. York why must you keep sending your readers over the edge! The twists and turns you gave us throughout the book made my head spin. Refusing the King gives us more insight into Giselle's past when the last person she thought she would ever see shows up at Carlo's place in Italy. Not all questions were answered but we did find out why Giselle was with Sergio. Will she be able to get away and keep her identity? The relationship between Stefan, Carlo, Giselle, Evie and Nick just keeps getting hotter and hotter. The cliffhanger at the end had my mind working overtime as to why and what the outcome just might be. Will the next installment be just as thrilling as this one? I guess we will have to wait and see.

[Janet Taggart Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessa just keeps tossing us tidbits of Giselle's previous life and then twisting us around like a pretzel to make sure we don't digest it comfortably. She likes to keep us in a constant state of vigilance, always looking for the other shoe to drop, much like Giselle herself. When Giselle's father appears in Italy, we learn a lot more about her marriage and the reasons for it. Also the reasons for her leaving. Giselle is still making plans on her own to leave in order to keep everyone safe.

Heat ramps up at the villa when Carlo makes some announcements and Stefan gets perturbed. The cliffhanger at the end was a bit of a surprise that I didn't see coming and I am curious to see where its going to go!

[Stephanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another short and intense segment in the Sovrano series. I had to take a few days to write this one up as in true Jessa York fashion she left me hanging off the proverbial cliff by a single strand that is about to break. I know we are getting close but the intensity and thinking you know what is going to happen just gets thrown in a shredder and you have to start over. The whole Giselle, Stefan and Carlo triangle has just taken a turn and boy am I hear for it! I devour these stories like my favorite salted caramel chocolate candies, and you will not get a sweet tooth one bit! You are left wanting and needing to know more. Now on to the next one and hopefully, just hopefully my kindle will survive until the end. It will either be thrown into a wall or spontaneously combust.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uh. Wow. You may want to read this one in front of a fan. Or on a block of ice. At least, parts of it. The rest? You’ll need that fan to quell your rising anger. Giselle is getting closer to goodbye because she’s terrified. She can’t (or won’t) share her secret. And trust me, it’s one that will infuriate Carlo and company if or when they ever find out. They’ll likely be upset with her for not sharing, but some other folks will likely feel exactly how deep their anger can go.

And Stefan. Really? I’m not convinced that someone isn’t involved in more nefarious things than distracting him, honestly. I want her to meet her dismissal in one way or another also. So so so badly. Now I have to wait to find out what’s next.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Refusing the King kept me hooked with its emotional tension, layered relationships, and steady build of intrigue. Jessa York has a way of writing characters who feel messy and human, and Giselle’s situation adds so much depth and suspense to the story. Watching her navigate loyalty, pressure, and her own heart makes every chapter engaging. The dynamic surrounding Stefan adds another compelling thread, and that final twist involving him definitely left me eager for the next book. This series continues to raise the stakes, and fans of dramatic romance with cliffhangers will find a lot to love here!

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refusing the King👑

This story picks up where it left off with Giselle and everyone in Italy still, but it appears Giselle’s past has finally caught up to her😢 However, even with this and the pressure Giselle is under to leave the family and friends she’s come to love, the author throws another twist at us…it’s another steamy, smexy and anxiety inducing instalment…and I’m dying to know what happens next - jumping in with both feet now😳

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❣️

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The End is Near!!

Giselle has been on the run from a dangerous man, her father basically sold her to. When her father finds her, we know her time hiding is close to an end. She has two men interested in her, and good friends, but she will need to move on to survive.

This is #12 in the series. I found myself a little disconcerted by what would normally be lines drawn in relationships. There are no lines here. The storyline kept me engaged, as things are getting tense!

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

[Patricia H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finally Stefan😮

Stefan, finally found someone else to have sex with. Sophia, the nanny😝😲😮. Goid for him. Giselle is a stupid idiot. Carlo, us stupid too for screwing his own brother over, for this woman, who is worthless. I cannot believe that Giselle, now know the truth about Stefan and Carlo are mafia kings, and she didn't use it to her advantage towards her father. What a waste!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Refusing the King" (The Sovrano Crime Family Book 12) by Jessa York was a great read. I enjoyed this addition to Giselle and Carlo's story. This story had romance, passion, billionaires, family and friends, twists, drama, mafia, and more. This was a fantastic addition to this series. I can't wait to see what happens next. I highly recommend it to all fans of romance, billionaires, mafia, and series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the next chapter in Giselle, Carlo and Stefan’s story. They are still in Italy and things take a new turn. We still don’t know about her past, nor does she know about the guys’ “work”. There’s a lot of sexy times amongst this “extended family”, and new entanglements arise. However, it ends in another cliffhanger that promises a lot of heat next!

[AmyLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refusing the King is book twelve in the Sovrano Crime Family Series. It’s a why choose, mafia story with so many twist and turns you won’t know which end is up. This story is full of heartache, steam, love, deceit. Just all the feels. That cliffy made me loose my mind! I need to know what happens asap!

[Jillian Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refusing the King is like one last hoorah for Giselle with connecting and spicing things with her lumberjack and those she loves before she plans her escape. Her dad is becoming more of a problem and her past catching up with her. Then there was the thing with Stephan at the end...not sure how I feel about that!!

[Tiffany Hannick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 12 of the Sovrano crime family series so make sure to read the previous books first. Giselle’s story is hot and steamy as ever. It’s got a couple surprises that leave you in shock. I can’t wait to see what happens next in her story with her men. Will the triangle be able to continue will she even be able to stay with them since danger is waiting to find her any moment.

[IDGirl1101_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhilarating! Giselle knows that in her life she LOVES her daughter Danielle, her men Carlo and Stefan, and her best friends Nick and Eve and their kids! She just doesn't' know what to do when she knows her past is really coming to find her and her daughter. She wants to escape and protect everyone. But, Giselle just wants to live her life.

[Heather Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! this book had he all up in my feelings. Trying to make the decision of staying or leaving. A father interfering and a glimpse onto Giselles past. But still nothing compared to the ending. What the holy heck.

[Debra (Dragon Nanny) Phiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending though! 👀😱🤯

I just can’t believe what is happening right now with this story!

My thoughts are everywhere!

Wow!

[Brittany Hinton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot has STILL not progressed much, and I’m heartbroken by the cliffhanger.

[SizzlingSpoilers BookReviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

3/5 🌶️

Slight plot movement but not enough but the girls love to share

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild ride for Giselle… and the crew…. We see more of her past and her plans to stay safe.
I love her friendship with Eve. All the chemistry with the guys and seeing her really want to stay. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refusing The King is book twelve in Jessa York's The Sovrano Crime Family series, and the cliffhangers keep coming. Continuing Giselle, Carlos and Stephen's story with the danger of Giselle's past showing up while they are in Italy. This series has certainly kept me on the edge of my seat wait for the next book. I can't for book thirteen.

[Rian · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, I will still write a whole review in the future when I'm back from my state of too-hyped, but for now I will just write "AAAAAAAAAAAAAH".