Bulletproof Bride

Married To The Enemy #3

by Rose K. Kelly

A wedding where 'till death do us part' might just come sooner than you think. I'm walking down the aisle, but instead of rose petals, there's a trail of secrets and lies. And at the end of it? Mr. 'I've got more shadows than a haunted house' himself.

I'm just your average girl-next-door, if your next-door neighbor happens to be a Mafia princess. I've got a dress that's too tight, a family that's too loud, and now a fiancé who's... well, let's just say he's hotter than a Sicilian summer but with a mood darker than my Nonna's espresso.

Enter Rafael – Mr. Tall, Dark, and Scary. He's got the whole brooding Mafia boss vibe down to an art. The kind of guy who speaks more with his glares than with words. And guess what? I'm about to marry him! Talk about a meet-cute, huh?

I mean, sure, I expected to marry some Mafia prince someday – it's kind of a family tradition, along with secret recipes and, you know, casual vendettas. But Rafael is something else. He's got this whole 'soulless guy with a crown of thorns' act going on. And everyone whispers about him like he's the boogeyman with a bank account.

But hey, I'm not just any damsel in distress. I'm a damsel who causes distress. And I've decided that if I'm going to do this whole 'marriage for the sake of an alliance' thing, I might as well have some fun. So, I'm making it my mission to unravel the mystery that is Rafael. Who knows, maybe under that grumpy exterior, there's a heart of gold waiting to be found. Or, at least, a slightly less grumpy exterior.

As the wedding approaches, it's like a soap opera on steroids. Drama, secrets, those weird uncles who drink too much at family gatherings. And let's not forget the lurking danger – because nothing says romance like a bunch of people trying to kill you, right?

Join me in this heart-pounding adventure where I try to find true love without getting whacked. Will Rafael and I find our happily ever after? Or will we end up sleeping with the fishes?

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Grinning Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

MMC/FMC- Rafael and Valentina
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Mafia Romance
Heat- 1/5. Not so hot. The one zex scene has awkward language (the clinical V word is used in the middle of the action). Also, there’s a grammar error which is extremely distracting. It fizzled rather than sizzled.
Series? Y
Safety? Y. No cheating or S.A.
Triggers- zex and violence
Trope- Forced/Arranged Marriage. The bride’s mother engages in a nice spot of emotional blackmail with a side of guilt.
What I thought- the main characters take themselves very seriously. For the first few chapters, every time they meet, it goes like this:
MMC- I feel like a pawn in the game of life.
FMC- I have no choice about this marriage and I long for choices.
MMC- you know, since we both feel this way, maybe we have something in common. Maybe we can make something more of this marriage than just an arrangement.
FMC- Suddenly, I feel optimistic.
***They have this conversation at least three times ***
And neither one says, “Yeah we covered this, let’s go grab some nachos.” They seem to at least have a tendency to rehash conversations in common. That being said, I do think they are a good match. They are going to Save Sicily and Change the Mafia together. He’s the heir, not the chief, but I don’t know where his father is for most of the story. And the big battle sequence is very vague in practical detail- is it a gunfight or is there just the occasional gun? How do they manage to take down the bad guys if they aren’t armed?
The comic relief comes in the form of Peppe, whose slapstick grates, but whose talent for reading the room is unparalleled. He manages to defuse hot tempers and to break tension. He also has such a good heart and is so lovable that I honestly thought he’d be offed before the end of the book (spoiler: he lives).
I would have given this book only two stars if it hadn’t been for Peppe. He’s a delight. And there is a sweetness and earnestness at the heart of this book that I was willing to give it that extra star. The story could have benefited from the services of a capable editor, not to mention a beta reader and a couple more rewrites. But there are promising seeds to this story. I think that the author does have a point of view that they should be encouraged to explore.

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

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose K. Kelly has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Valentina and Rafael. Rafael has been the mob boss since his father Vitale retired. Vitale has arranged a marriage between Rafael and Valentina to get peace between the Vitales and Romanos. Rafael and Valentina do not know each other and both feel their freedom has been taken away. When Rafael meets Valentine, he finds out that they both feel the same way about the marriage. They talk and they both promise to be honest with each other. They make arrangements to meet in secret to discuss how their lives will be and how he wants to change the family business as far as the mafia goes. Peepe, Rafael's friend is there to keep Rafael straight as far as being strong on what he is trying to do. Rafael is in a meeting and he gets word that Emilio is recruiting men so that he can take Rafael down. Rafael is with the family elders and they make a plan to see what Emilio is doing. Valentina and Rafael have gone to the market to just be normal people. They are enjoying their day until they are attacked. Peepe, Rafael's friend comes in so that Valentina and Rafael could slip away. Valentina and Rafael work on their plans every chance they get. It is time for Valentina and Rafael's engagement party and things are going fine until Emilio's men come and set the place on fire. Valentina and Rafael stick together to get everyone out and the ones hurt taken care of. Valentina and Rafael set up a move on Emilio and things don't go right. Matteo, Valentina's father is mad at her for giving the okay for the move. Rafael is there to back her up with her father. Valentina thinks that what they are doing is for nothing. Rafael tells her that in the end things will work out. After the mess from Emilio, the elders decide to change the date of the wedding. Valentina and Rafael talk and tell each other that they have each other's backs in whatever they do.
Will things for Valentina and Rafael work out the way they want?
Will Rafael get the backing he wants from the elders so he can move forward the way he wants?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

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

[Tzippy Sheffi Elgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafael and Valentina are members of rival mafia families in Italy whose parents concoct a peace agreement in the shape of a marriage between their children. The rivalry between the families and the fact that the setting is in Italy, made me think of Romeo and Juliet, and their tragic romance. The attraction and understanding between them is immediate and they fall in love quite quickly, but they have to face others who are not so happy with the union and try to sabotage it. The plot is realistic, suspenseful and action-packed. Valentina and Rafael are complex characters making the reader want them to have their HEA.

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

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the blurb, what I expected and what I got were two completely different things. The synopsis of the book seemed to be a current day marriage between two rivaling mafia families. I expected a story filled with humor on the part of the bride and stoicism and hardness on the part of the groom. In actuality, I'm not sure what time frame is involved, but it is older Sicily. The story reads more like a fairy tale marriage with Valentina and Rafael banding together to change the old ways and meeting betrayal and resistance. It was an okay read, but historical stories are not my thing and a lot of it didn't ring true for the time period.

[Brier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mafia and arrianged marriage. What can can go wrong?.

Or can it go right?

Valentina and Rafael are members of two waring families that have been fighting for years.

So, when the Don's of each family determined they had enough, what better way to end a war than marry their children to each other?

None really.

I enjoyed reading this story and enjoyed watching the characters grow into their new roles and what that means for each other.

Can't wait for the next book!.

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

[M Hurford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Modern Romance…Mafia Style!
He, Rafael, is the Heir Apparent and she, Valentina, is a Mafia Princess. Together they will strive to change how their families have operated for over a century. Will they turn their forced marriage into one built on nobility of hopes, dreams and even love? Recommend.
PEACE.

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

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentina knew her fate was to be married for an aliance, what she didn't expect was dark and brooding Rafael. Together they embark on a life filled with twists suspense and change to the old ways, but can they survive the dangers coming their way? Well written engaging story. The characters draw you in from the start.

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

[Chris06 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected. I thought this was taking place in the present day but it is more like past Sicily.

Several times I got lost as we were in one home or the other hearing about a prophecy of finding a relic of past battles.

It is an arranged marriage but they aren’t supposed to spend time together? They have to sneak off and hide to be alone?.

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

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafael and Valentina seek to change how their families' run things and as a united front attempt to do just that. This story is filled with intriguing twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages cheering on this couple to get their chance to finish what they started.

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

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts out as a typically arraigned marriage between two rival families, they know that this is what has to be done. However the more they learn about each other and what they are really like, they discover that they can make it work.

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

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Rafael and Valentina’s story. It was an intriguing and engaging read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Lvsmyfmly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Rafael and Valentina and an arranged marriage to unit two mafia families who have been at war with eachother for decades.