Blood in the Water

The Shadows Syndicate #1

by R.E. May

First, he adorned me in diamonds. Then, he killed my father.
Now, I’ll make him pay.

I’ve waited my whole life for Maximiliano Volpe to propose. But on my twenty-first birthday, his sparkling gift offers no such promise — probably because he’s been too busy preparing the ultimate betrayal. What’s a mafia princess to do?

Take revenge, of course.

It helps to have a brooding powerhouse of a bodyguard by your side — but even my devoted Caspian needs reinforcements. So, I turn my pursuit to the four Shadows: reclusive killers who belong to the highest bidder.

And there’s the catch. My inheritance is currently lining Max’s pockets.

If I want the Shadows on my side, I’m going to need to convince them I’m worth their while. But the mere sight of them has my body rebelling against every sensible thought in my head. And I find myself wanting them all.

Payback is going to be a thrill.

Blood in the Wateris a multi-first person POV mafia romance, with heart-pumping action and a heroine who doesn’t have to choose. It's the first book in The Shadows Syndicate series.

Genres: Why Choose, Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Found Family

455 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2024

About the author

RE May (also known as Rachel May) loves mac n’ cheese, staying up way too late to read, laughing with her husband, and being a mom to her beloved daughter. She’s always on the lookout for her new favorite hot wings, and she’s never met a pup she didn’t want to pet. She writes books filled with strong women on journeys of self-discovery as they grow into their full badassery and ultimate power.

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

holy shit the ending!!

besides the insta love, I enjoyed this!

I can't wait for book 2!

rtc

❥Mafia
❥Reverse Harem (MMFMMM)
❥Forced Proximity
❥Grumpy x Sunshine
❥Found Family
❥Badass FMC
❥Assassins MMC
❥Bodyguard MMC
❥Jaw-dropping twists

Thank you for the ARC R.E. May & NGC!

_________________________________
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[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all the women destined to be queens. Love makes you fucking powerful.

At the mafia's princess 21st birthday, her entire life is uprooted and takes a turn for the worst. The man she was in love with, her best friend and wanted to marry shocks her with the ultimate betrayal. As Leona is fighting for her life alongside her bodyguard, she comes across many challenges and questions. How will she survive? Will she run and hide? Or will she stay and take revenge for the life she lost? In her quest for revenge, she seeks help from the notorious assassins known as The Shadows. But as she juggles how she will pay for their assistance, connections are formed and lines are blurred.

I absolutely loved this book, this was easily the best mafia romance I’ve ever read. The plot instantly hooked me, the dynamics in the RH were perfect 😘🤌, and the plot twists and cliffhanger had me on my toes and wanting more. Each MMC had perfectly varying personalities and their instant connection with the FMC had me giggling and kicking my feet. I cannot wait to see how their connection dynamic with Leona will evolve as well as Leona’s journey!!

If you enjoy or are in the mood for a why choose mafia romance with assassins, grumpy x sunshine, banter, hurt/comfort and found family, then highly recommend this book 🥰🫶.

*i received this as an e-arc, all thoughts and opinions are 100% honest*

release day on 4/8, full rtc

[a · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Marie-Hélène · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. I went into this book on solely a recommendation by a friend, no idea what it was about, and I have zero regrets. The way Leona grows into herself, the general character growth, the tension, the chemistry: consider me hooked. I loved her sass and the Shadows, and I'm looking forward to book two after that ending!

[ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you fucking kidding me?? 😱😱😱

This book has hooked from the first page and I literally couldn't stop reading. The plot twists were insane and makes me want to bang my head on the wall.

Leona, the beautiful mafia princess, was ready to defy her father and marry her best friend Max, whom she had loved her entire life. But fate took a cruel turn when Max ultimately betrayed her on twenty first birthday. Desperate to escape his cruelty, Leona fled with her loyal bodyguard, Caspian, and they've been on the run since then.

As Leona grapples with the truths and lies surrounding the ruling Five Families, she becomes determined to take back everything Max stole from her. Her initial plan is to hire the enigmatic Shadows to eliminate Max, but there's a problem: she has no money to pay them. Fate intervenes when she coincidentally crosses paths with a member of the Shadows, who takes her and Caspian under their wing. Together, they work to dismantle Max's empire through unconventional means.

Leona finds herself drawn to each member of the Shadows, their unique personalities and banter creating a bond that feels like pieces of a puzzle finally fitting into place. As more secrets unravel, Leona remains unbroken, her determination to bring Max down stronger than ever. The Shadows devise a plan to trap Max in a club, but he proves to be ten steps ahead, leading to a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

The characters' complexity and their interactions are captivating and It's a thrilling ride of betrayal, revenge, and unexpected alliances—a story where shadows hold both danger and salvation.

I must say that I almost lost my shit in the end because it was fucking absurd and all I ask the author is, Why?? How could she do this to me?!! It was soo worst cliffhanger of the year.

I'd give anything to get the sequel in my hands asap!!!

[readwithmariaxoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you the author for proving the e-arc of the book, the opinion expressed is my own *
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: mafia, why choose, found family, bodyguard, syndicate men

Have I read the best mafia why chose in a very long while? After I have DNFfed the last two months more than 50 books? Yes, YES I DID!

Have I done it in less than 24 hours? Yes, I just couldn't stop myself from reading.

Our FMC Leona is Mafia princess, and she behaves and its being treated like one. But everything has changed at one moment. Everything she believes is not true, everybody whom she believed have betrayed her. She tends to help to four Shadows (the most famous killers):

5 scorching hot MMCs? "Yes, yes it is"

Cassian, have you liked Rhys Larsen from Twisted Games, Cassian is better. WAY better. Rhys have never had the plank so high. 10/10.......🥵 He puts his whole life to protect Leona.

Obi, the head of the head of the Shadows Syndicate, we don't see him much, but the scenes we do. I loved him, I would chose him every time. His scheming is next level.....

Wynn, the combat god? Who is cruel but wants to change all the wrongs into rights of this world? Yes, oh YES!

Ciel, shy at first and next level geeky clever Shadow? Yes, please

Ryuji, the one who can't connect with people and prefers to be left with himself. The one who grew on me for the whole book with his broodiness and touch her and DIE? Oh, yes

Plot? I couldn't stop, everything is changing so drastically from the beginning to the end. The characters grow immensely as well as the lot develops really fast.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series! It was bloody utterly amazing!!!!!

[peachyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5. A friend suggested this book for a buddy read because we needed something that would fall into the “trashy” category. Admittedly, my expectations were quite low. To my surprise, however, this book was NOT “trashy” at all. It honestly caught me off guard and it took me on a completely unexpected, and fantastic, journey.

This was such a FUN read. I’ve always had a soft spot for darker mafia reverse harem romances, and this book definitely delivered on that front. The combination of suspense, romance, and the relationships among the characters made it hard to put down. In fact, the last time a mafia romance had me this captivated was with the mafia university series by Evelyn Flood.

"Blood in the Water" was incredibly addicting – the dynamic between Wynn, Ciel, Ryu, and Cas with Leona was perfect for me. Each character added layers into the relationships. Also the different POVs were fantastic.

( I am trying so hard not to spoiler too much)

After finishing this book, I couldn't resist diving directly into Book 2

[alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Blood in the Water☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 “You betrayed me. And I know that you'll never feel sorry. For the way I hurt, yeah” 🎶

Leona (h) has spent her life waiting for Maximiliano Volpe to make her his, but on her twenty-first birthday his betrayal shatters everything. With her inheritance in his hands and revenge burning in her heart, she turns to the Shadows, four lethal assassins who tempt her as much as they promise power. To claim justice and take back what is hers, Leona must prove she is worth following, even as passion and vengeance threaten to consume her.

— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆• THOUGHTS⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ⋆—

Logically, I don’t know how I would ever move on if I grew up with my childhood best friend, thought I was in love with him, and was about to confess my feelings because I assumed we would be in an arranged marriage - only for him to kill my father. That is a level of betrayal I cannot even wrap my head around. Max is a whole other level of evil. No redemption arc. Just pure evil. And I keep trying to fathom what went wrong or how he ended up the way he did, but there are no answers that make sense.

[Ciel]

“Do you… want to sleep here?”

“I’d love to, Ciel.”

“I’m not talking about sex. Just… if you want to sleep. You can sleep here. With me.”

All it took was one glance, and Ciel thought she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. From then on, he started calling her angel 💗💖🤍💌💘. He has such a calm presence, and he truly believes in her intelligence. Their connection feels natural because they understand each other. She sees right through his hesitancy and knows he is not the type to go after what he wants. She is brave enough for both of them, and if she had not spoken up, I doubt anything would have happened between them. Ciel stays in his shell 😭💓💌❤️. He feels like nobody would ever want him and carries a sense of inferiority, even though he is smart, talented, and has a unique gift for working behind the scenes and getting things done. I love that she saw through that self-doubt from the very start. Their bond began as a calm and steady friendship. He did not want anything from her - yes, he was attracted to her, but he was willing to just be her friend and a steady, reassuring presence if that was all she wanted 💌💖❤️💓🤍. That is part of what made their relationship so meaningful. He saw her for more than her looks, and even though there was attraction, he never acted on it. Honestly, he probably never would have if she had not said something first.

[Obi]

“The Shadows belong to Leona, and she belongs to us. We have claimed her.”

He seems to be the mastermind behind all of this. He knew about her existence beforehand and took on the role of matchmaker, moving the pieces like a chess game so that they would all eventually interact. He knew who she was the entire time, and deep down, he has been rooting for her. He wants her to succeed, to be powerful, and to be proud of what she is doing. At the same time, he does not want her to get hurt. He refuses to hand her everything - he wants her to learn on her own, to grow as a woman, and to find that strength within herself. That is why he has been working in the shadows as the mastermind. What makes it more interesting is that nobody knows. Everyone else thought he was the one who would need convincing to allow her to stay, when in reality, he was the main one who wanted her there from the start. He was probably the first to know of her existence, and it is funny because none of the others have realized it yet. I cannot wait to see when that reveal finally comes out, because for now, he is her secret number one cheerleader behind the scenes - and nobody even knows it.

[Ryuji]

“Ryuji likes you. I think I understand why.”

“Tell that fucker to mind his own business,” Ryuji said into my earpiece.

“Ryuji said he’s the president of my fan club.”

I understand him entirely because he has trust issues. For his whole life, he has never had the freedom to do anything he truly wanted. For the first time, the Shadow Brotherhood is his, giving him a sense of freedom - though not completely, since he still has to share that power and income with the others. The fact that Lenora read him so perfectly, understood him to a T, and offered exactly what he needed in her deal was what made their dynamic click 🤍💓💌💗. From the start, their connection was tension-filled, especially when they first met at the club. Neither knew what to make of the other, but they were drawn to each other regardless. Later, when he found her in his home, he felt betrayed by his brothers for allowing her in, for letting her learn their code without him being present. But that moment also revealed how fractured and disconnected the Brotherhood had become if he didn’t even know about her presence, even though he already knew of her existence. The turning point came when she saved him. He had been ready to take a bullet for her, assuming she was just a selfish mafia princess. But when she risked herself to protect him, even after knowing him for such a short time, he realized she was so much more than what he believed. That changed everything between them 💖💌💗.

[Caspian]

“Before we talk about this, you need to know that you and me? We’re forever, Cas. Always.” She squeezed my hand. “According to me, nothing can change that. Okay?”

“You’re my ride or die, baby,” she said with a crooked smile.

Caspian is a sweetheart 💌💖❤️💓🤍. He has loved her since the moment she rescued him. From then on, he carried this infatuation and genuine care for her, even though she never reciprocated those feelings at first. She was so wrapped up in Max that she didn’t see what was right in front of her. There was always tension and a lingering attraction between them, but she never understood it or initiated anything. It wasn’t until Caspian dropped everything to protect her and stand by her side that she finally realized there was more between them. When they shared their kiss, it was such a cute connection to watch develop - especially because Caspian is such a golden retriever boy 😭. He’s a secret softie underneath the grumpy exterior he tries to put on. He feared that if she was with the shadows, she would no longer want him. But he was so wrong. He’s her grounding person, the one she will always want no matter what. Their bond is unbreakable because of their history. She went to great lengths to find him, and she would do anything to keep him 💌🤍. She realized that while she thought she was in love with Max, it was always Caspian who truly protected her and stood by her side as a kid. That sudden realization changed everything. Once he finally confessed his love, she admitted she felt the same way 🥺🤍. She was honest about having feelings for the others as well, and he worried that might mean he wasn’t enough for her. But she reassured him - she treats them all equally, and her love for Caspian is just as strong. Their bond is special, unique, and something only the two of them can understand 💌❤️.

[Wynn]

“Mine,” I breathed when I collapsed beside him, finally spent.

“Yours,” he whispered in return.

He is someone who doesn’t know what it means to truly feel, but for the first time, she makes him want to be affectionate and physical with someone - and I love that about him. He calls her darling, so let’s just say I was already hooked from the moment he told his backstory. He reminded me a bit of Finnick from The Hunger Games - so angelically beautiful that he was sold to the market alongside his sister - and he had to overcome so much. What I loved about him is that he was very transparent from the start. He genuinely likes her, but he has never imagined himself wanting to be with someone physically or to show softness toward anyone because of the trauma he’s endured. With her, it’s different. She’s patient, she’s understanding, she doesn’t push, and she wants him for more than his looks. She truly wants to know him. At the same time, she really did try to know all of them emotionally, not just physically. She asked questions, she listened, she wanted to understand him. That emotional building was so important, because often in harems, it’s skipped. Here, it was done perfectly. We got to see so much of each person, and it worked out so well.

— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ OVERALL⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆—

I think it makes sense that she wasn’t able to kill Max. They have so much history together, and they were childhood best friends. It would’ve been hard for anyone in her place to do what she couldn’t, especially because she was given the chance and still couldn’t pull the trigger. That’s completely understandable. She had just discovered that her father had been involved in trafficking the entire time, and Max wanted to take her down by association, calling her a traitor by name—even though she had done nothing. Max was never truly waiting for redemption. It’s a shame, because in another life he could have been part of the harem. But he is definitely not part of her heart anymore, not after chasing her down and trying to murder her again. There is no coming back from that. Still, it is sad to think about how much shared history was lost forever, simply because Max chose to associate her father’s sins with her. MAX CAME PREPARED. That cliffhanger. OOF. That was tough.

[Little Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! this book was just absolutely fantastic. I loved every moment of it. I would definitely say that this is a slower burn, but even as a fast-burn whore - I thought this was so well paced. I adored each of the guys - like I couldn’t pick a favorite if I tried. They each have a certain depth to them that varies in it’s detail but lives within that darkness. The writing was well done. And one of my favorite things in a mafia/underworld romance is a badass woman. Leona is incredibly brave and resilient. I love seeing so many powerful women in important roles in this series. There is also such a good diversity of characters as well. Which can be difficult to find in a why choose. I’ve already started book two and I’m devastated that I’ll have to wait for the next one! I am so thrilled I discovered this author! (big shout out to Emilia Emerson because she’s the reason I downloaded this book!)

[Filu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to like this. And I didn’t.

I *loved* it. Is it great literature? No. Is everything as thought through and fleshed out as it could be? No. Is it even remotely realistic? Also no. But is it FUN? Hell to the fucking yeah.

Leona grew on me. I immediately liked Wynn. Ciel is my shy little nerdy angel. Ryuji was just straight up my favourite from the second he showed up. If I had to choose one it would be him, but thankfully no one has to choose in this novel. Not sure about Obi yet and Cas feels a little unnecessary atp but we‘ll see. Immediately diving head first into book 2 now.

[Cheyyleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 This may be a long review and will have spoilers so skip if ya need to!
Now....this may come off as a rant.....because I am incredibly frustrated with Kindle Unlimited and the state of books these days so please bare with me.

So I have been STRUGGLING to read books on Kindle unlimited and have been walking away more and more frustrated so I did some digging into why the selection and quality are just not hitting like they used to. The answer? one source said Amazons business model pays the author by pages read not just for the download anymore. So authors are encouraged to write longer books and quicker to gain more cash. Now game respects game and all that but the quality that this produces is becoming mediocre and is making books that have potential just drag on for no reason. Case and point? This book. They also are a platform that does Indie authors which is amazing, but with the current business model books are cranked out and there isn't a huge editing and corrections focus like we get with major publications and books that take a year to come to market and again if an editor could look over a book and suggest timeline edits, scene cuts, I think the quality on the site would be better. I am afraid we are all just paying the subscription for Wattpad.


Now this book I believe is in a set of a trilogy, and it is almost 500 pages long. Book one in a mafia story that is 500 pages long? Why? We get the betrayal, the entire story, and a final run in with her nemesis in this book, and it should have been broken into two books with less filler and more substance. Book One: Betrayal, getting in with the shadows, ends right after she meets gets Caspian back. around 300 ish pages, can still end on a cliffhanger of what is next how will she survive etc and then the book could have had more detailed scenes and actual relationship building. Book two: Her pulling it together and making a plan for total domination of the Mafia. Set that plan in motion, show and not tell with the rest of the relationships, still end on that cliffy of the club blowing up but we get to make connections!!!

Instead we barely get intimacy with the main characters, we have rushed scenes of confessing their pasts after make out sessions, we get caspians love declarations. Just mam....show don't tell me the story.

Now speaking of the story....
Am I the only one questioning why an international group of super assassins care at all about the power dynamic of a mafia group in New York City? They deal with the entire world, they mention Africa, Japan, China, etc and we are to believe a family head change in the New York Mafia matters at all to them? Or that somehow running that organization is a step up for them? It just seems to ridiculous and Western centric to believe that this one squabble would matter enough to make them quit their jobs and join her? But you know who would believe this? Our main character......

Before reading this book I went and looked at spoiler free reviews and all everyone said was that they liked the character arch and that the character grew so much etc......I will be the one to say this is not accurate. She starts our tale as a naive woman who is in love with the worst man on the planet but can't see how awful he is. She then essentially throws adult temper tantrums and hurts cas and her choices directly lead to him being tortured.
She then takes this personality and is a bull in a china shop in the relationships with the shadows. Tell me what part of Raju's speech about her using them is wrong? Is she not doing EXACTLY what he is accusing her of? just because you fall for someone doesn't mean the crappy things you say aren't true. The main character relies on the men around her EVERY single step of the way, and when she does something herself it backfires and someone ends up hurt. Case and point her impulsivity to Max messed up their plan at the end of the book. They then BLEW UP THE BUILDING. Who is at fault there?


Overall,
the bones of this book are solid because it's a pretty typical story. The RH shouldn't even really count at this point because as annoying as she already is let's add virgin to that list too. 🙄 So I just felt myself wanting. I wanted more connection, I wanted more dialogue and less show and tell, and I wanted someone to bring up that her "mafia" empire may as well be that diamond necklace for all its usefulness to the cause of the shadows, and I wanted to like our main character even a little bit

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your diamonds, get your revenge playlist ready, because Blood in the Water is a pulse-pounding mafia romance that slaps you with betrayal, betrayal, and… did I mention betrayal?!

Leona, our fierce mafia princess, has had her whole life flipped upside down after being gifted diamonds—not a proposal—by her lifelong love, Maximiliano Volpe. But instead of planning a wedding, she’s planning his downfall. And trust me, you’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.

Leona is done being the good little mafia girl. After Max’s ultimate betrayal (oh, and did I mention he took out her father?!), she’s out for blood. She’s not just angry—she’s on a mission, and revenge never looked this good.

Enter Caspian, her brooding, protective bodyguard who’s been secretly in love with her for years. He’s ready to follow her into the fire, but the girl needs more than one man to take down a mafia kingpin. That’s where the Shadows come in—four elite assassins who can make anyone disappear… for the right price.

But of course, Leona’s pockets are empty. Not a problem, though. She doesn’t just want their help; she wants them. All of them. 😉

Let’s just say, the heat is off the charts as Leona navigates her revenge plot while getting tangled up with each Shadow.

These men? Let’s break it down: they’re dangerous, mysterious, and each brings a different flavor to the table. Their chemistry with Leona will have you screaming, fanning yourself, and then asking, “Can I get the sequel NOW, please?”

The action? Non-stop.
The twists? Buckle up, because you won’t see them coming.

Just when you think Leona’s got everything under control, boom, Max is ten steps ahead, and you’ll be left gasping at the cliffhanger. Yeah, it’s that kind of ending.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate Leona’s journey? She starts off broken, betrayed, and running for her life, but by the end, she’s a full-blown queen. The Shadows may be the deadliest team in town, but it’s Leona who binds them together in a way that makes her one of the fiercest heroines in mafia romance.

If you’re craving a fast-paced, heart-thumping mafia story with a fiery, take-no-prisoners heroine and a scorching hot “why choose” romance, Blood in the Water is the book.

Drama, danger, banter, and a whole lot of steam—this story has everything. It’s a whirlwind of emotions and action that will leave you desperate for the next book.

Perfect for fans of mafia romance with edge, sass, and just the right amount of spice. Leona’s coming for Max, and you won’t want to miss the fireworks. 💎🔥

[carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5
I think I'm back in my mafia era??? This was just too good and an absolute blast to read. I love it when an author really leans into angst and danger in their dark romances (because angst is my fav thing in books). R.E. May kept this book so compelling that I could hardly put it down!! I think you all will be just as obsessed with this book as I was.

This book officially holds the record for the biggest why choose harem I have ever read. It's MFMMMM and that's a lot of cooks in the kitchen!! But Rachel balances each character so well. I genuinely was rooting for each character and they all felt so distinct in looks, characteristics, and mannerisms. And, yes, two out of the 5 Heroes definitely stood out to me (Rachel knows who they are), I loved this big group with my whole heart.

While I initially thought this was a stand-alone, it is actually going to be the first in a series of books and Rachel has already done a really great job at laying the bones for future books. I am super excited and can't wait for book two.

More descriptive reactions and reviews to come after pub date!!

Thank you to R.E. May for the opportunity to read this ARC! Check out Blood in the Water when it comes out April 8th!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I really liked Leona and the dynamic with the Shadows. The premise of the story was great, the action was there and I was genuinely into it. But I read it while I was in a bit of a book slump and I think that affected how much I connected with the story overall.

It’s one of those books where I know I liked it but something just didn’t fully land for me. Might’ve been my mood, might’ve been the pacing … really not sure. Either way, it’s a strong start to the series and I’d still recommend it, especially if you’re into mafia romance with a bit of grit and danger.

[Codi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was soo good! It is a mafia, why-choose romance for sure! I was hooked from the very beginning and became so attached to the characters within just a few chapters. It ended on a cliff hanger, so I am READYYYYY for the second book!

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Mafia Princess to Badass

Mafia Romance
Why Choose
Bodyguard romance
Assassins romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Badass FMC
Hurt/Comfort
Found family
Angst
Delicious banter
Unpredictable plot twists
Plot as good as the romance


Leona is the daughter of one of the 5 Italian families in NY. She starts this epic journey at her 21st birthday party which should be an amazing night where all the families, her friends and her bodyguard are there to celebrate her. She starts the night begging her Dad to let her marry the man she has been in love with since they were kids, Maximiliano Volpe, but he says that he is not for her. Hurt by her fathers decision she heads into the party with her bodyguard Caspian, who has secretly loved her since she saved him so many years ago. This night turns into a shit show of epic prepositions and ends with Leona and Cas on the run from the Italia Mob.

Through a run of bad luck and a need for revenge Leona reaches out the Shadows for help. The Shadows take contracts from anyone with money to pay their fees. Got a bone to pick and the money to back it up and the shadows with assess and decide if they can help you rid yourself of that enemy.

Leona finds herself connecting with each member of the shadows in a different way and decides through a series of events exactly what she wants her life to look like and proposes that she, Cas and the Shadows make their own way as a team. Leona intends to be the Queen and wants to right all the wrongs that she has discovered. But first she needs to deal with Max and the mess left behind after her fathers murder.

There is an amazing cliffhanger at the end of this book and I was left shocked and desperately seeking more. I absolutely need to know what happens next.

I do not typically enjoy or read the Mafia tropes because I do not find them enjoyable. However, this book hooked me right from the dedication "For all the women destined to be queens. love makes you fucking powerful". This is a nonstop ride. I will forever recommend this book and will absolutely be buying everything R.E May decides to write. I was blown away by the fact that this is her debut novel and I absolutely can not wait for more of Leona and her men.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

slapped HARD with the cliffhanger, will be patiently awaiting book two and keeping my fingers crossed for that last thing Wynn said he’d share with everyone else if ya catch my drift 😏

[Catlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to read "spoiled princess" one more time I was going to launch my kindle into a ceiling fan.

[Bárbara ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh how i love mafia romances 🤰

[Sylena Douville · Rating 5 out of 5]

But but but how dare you end it like that …. I’m gunna pull my hair out now while I start the next one.

Seriously a good read ! Could not put it down so much so that I had to 🛑 stop and distract myself for a few days so my book club partner could catch up . Great read , great story so excited to see how they get their empire !!

[Bethany Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um...ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ?!?

Action after like two seconds and never stopped. No complaints from me lol took me less than 24 hours to devour this gem. R.E. May's writing looked at my ADHD brain and said watch me cook!

First off, our FMC Leona is blowing me away. Initially, I was concerned about her naive attitude. however, it seems like she is going to wind up becoming the 𝓠𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷 👑 we all know she has the potential of being.

Secondly, I am not normally a Mafia romance reader, but this book welcomed me to the family with open arms. I was on my toes the entire time and while I could sense when something big was about to go down, the actual what was never easily guessed.

For my why choose besties who enjoy ᑭᒪOT, 𝔸ℂ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ, 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞, and ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴇʏ ᴍᴇɴ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ with their 🇶 🇺 🇪 🇪 🇳  - what are you waiting for? Head to KU and DIVE IN!

[Kelly Hyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revenge books are my favorite and this one did not disappoint. It has dual person pov and I love that. It was fast paced and I loved all the characters. I can't wait to see what happens next in this mafia world.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️ and 4/5🌶️ Blood in the Water is a mafia why-choose romance.
I received this book as an electronic ARC. This does not in any way affect my review- all thoughts and opinions are completely my own! :)
Leona’s (our FMC) life did a complete 180 when her close friend and love interest of many years, Max, murders her father at her 21st birthday party. After Leona and her loyal body guard, Cassian, escape to temporary safety, Leona decides she wants revenge on Max for her father’s death. As Leona is staying under the radar so Max and his people don’t find her and Cassian, she tries to gain the support of “the shadows” (4 of the world’s best assassins) to aid her in her revenge. Through the book, Leona goes through much growth and self discovery from understanding her priorities and goals to exploring her sexuality/love life in ways she never has before. The mafia princess we meet at the beginning of the story quickly turns into an upcoming queen.
If you are in need of an action-packed, spicy, why-choose mafia romance with an FMC that screams female empowerment, this is the perfect book for you! Especially in the last half of the book, I was constantly at the edge of my seat, unable to put down the book. While the action of the book kept me on edge, so did the romance! I loved Leona’s relationship dynamics and I cannot wait to see how they develop in the next book. Sometimes it is hard to find spicy books with a good plot, but you will absolutely not run into that issue here! Even if you took all the romance and spice out of this book, it would still have a captivating plot!
Overall, I absolutely loved Blood in the Water and I highly recommend it to anybody even remotely interested in reading it! Obviously mafia romances aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but if it is your cup of tea, this book is amazing and you HAVE to read it! It is truly hard for me to write this review without spoilers because I just NEED to talk about every little detail!
(Also, I must add that Cassian is overprotective-bodyguard PERFECTION. He would do absolutely anything to keep Leona safe and he makes my heart melt. So if that is also your thing, that is just another reason for you to read this book!)

[Elsa Lohengrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thank the author for the e-ARC copy of Blood in the water and for the opportunity of leaving an honest review of the novel.

It was a captivating read with its fast-paced action scenes and its unpredictable plot twists, and I loved all the characters, even Max, the utter villain. The various male characters are so well developed that there is no possibility of mixing them up, and every one of them attracted me for a different reason.

The two I loved most were Caspian, the proctor, and Wynn, the agile warrior. Being Caspian the one who was always at Leona’s side, I was very sad that he got so little attention in the final part of the book and that he wasn’t Leona’s “first choice”. While in the beginning of the story he is an active decision maker, towards the end he becomes totally passive not only physically due to his wounds but psychologically too, adapting to Leona’s choice of life with hardly any opposition, even if it’s not a way of loving he has ever considered up to then. I find he deserved more, but perhaps he will shine again in the next book of the series!

I appreciated very much the way in which Leona unfolds her full potential in the end and shows all her power by tying all five men to her with a proposal they can’t refuse. If it hadn’t been for Max, though, she would never have embarked on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment, so he too deserves his portion of “reader love”.

The plot is very well structured, and I am eager to see where the author will take us next. I found the choice of ending on such a strong cliffhanger very bold, given that the next book of the series is not yet published, but, as the characters have all completed their development and sorted out their relationships by then, it didn’t disturb me particularly. All the same I hope the next volume will come out soon!

I can’t but recommend this novel to the lovers of the genre!

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️.5

I was hooked on this from the very first page, and could not put the book down. May draws you in with characters that you just want to know more about, want to see succeed, and want to see their growth. I read this in one sitting, and I have no regrets other than not demanding the next book from the author.

Leona, the mafia princess, wants nothing more than to marry her best friend, Max. But her father - Don of one of the five families - is adamantly against this. But on the night of her 21st birthday, Max commits the ultimate act of betrayal, calling into question everything Leona knew about her father and the five families.

Now on the run with her bodyguard (and other childhood best friend) Caspian, Leona seeks out the assistance of The Shadows, a group of mercenaries, to help bring down Max and regain her family's empire.

The characters in this book are all beautifully unique, all serving an integral purpose to the story, and in Leona's life. I feel she definitely cannot do without any of them, and I'm so hopeful to see where their story goes from here. Caspian, Wynn, Ciel, Ryuji and Obi are all beautifully intricate men, and I feel we've only scratched the surface at getting to know them. The relationship building is sweet and not forced, developing naturally and in such a beautiful way. Yes, there is definitely some insta-lust/fast burn, but it suits the narrative well. And the banter between Leona and her men is top notch.

The Shadows all have their own reasons for doing what they do, and I cannot wait to read more about them and their purpose, and how they plan to help Leona and Cas. I definitely have a favourite at this point in time, but who knows what book two might bring for our intrepid group of misfits.

But man, that cliffhanger? Not often do I rage at how a story finishes up, but oh my goodness, that was brutal, and I'm in dire need of book two ASAP.

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my... If I hadn't known before starting this book that "Blood in the Water" is this author's debut, I would have immediately gone over to her socials to check out her backlist. Seriously: this book is bloody awesome! I highly suggest reading this book when you've got the time to devour it, because I dreaded every single thing that made me put it down. I wished me and my family didn't need food, we didn't need sleep and we definitely didn't need to wash and clean because this book was just too adictive to be forced to put it down.

"Blood in the Water" is a mafia why choose, and I love how we start off with a slighly naive and sheltered fmc, who slowly grows into her own and learns she's so much more than the mafia princess her father wanted her to be. Watching her grow into a queen, learn and embrace the power within herself, while also keeping a heart for others was truly beautiful. For me, she's the perfect badass woman, one who manages to surround herself with equally badass men. One thing I truly loved about this book, and most likely the entire series, is that the difference between good and bad blurs a little. There are still a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this book, and I'm really curious to find out what exactly happened in the years before Leona was forced to flee.

On top of all of that, this book is filled with swoonworthy men. Seriously, there is something for everyone, and for those like me who refuse to choose there is a lot to love! I honestly believe I love them all, but I always manage to fall for the broken souls, and even that makes it hard to choose a favorite. Let's stick with: there's a reason I mainly read why choose books. I'm sure the wait for book two will be worth it, but I will be counting the weeks until it's there!

[Cristy Ramadani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like any thrilling roller coaster ride, the plot was fast-paced, filled with action, and plenty of plot twists and drops, not to mention full stops (for my breathing and heart). I screamed, I covered my eyes, I laughed with delight, and got all giddy, I was terrified and all very much breathless and in love. And it was all very well worth it.

I really believed that I needed a support group to process everything I had just experienced. For real, if anyone else is in need, please hit me up!

The FMC Leona is a beautiful Mafia princess with her entire life set out for her on a road of diamonds and roses. On her 21st birthday, she feels more sure of her future and alive than ever – until her entire world is flipped around and she is quickly fighting for her life, alongside her loyal bodyguard and a group of very alluring assassins.

The characters had their own intense and unique personalities that all fit together like a glove. They were each complex and filled with color despite most of them being morally grey. I was drawn to each of them for their reasons and like Leona, found that I couldn’t choose.

Leona’s hero journey of being princess turned queen is a powerful transformation of growth. She is just one of the female characters in the book that smashes the stereotypes of women in male-dominant worlds and makes everyone fall to their knees (quite literally).

This debut novel features grumpy x sunshine, banter, found family and demonstrates how when a woman learns and embraces who she is, she can be the most powerful person in the room.

May is an author to keep on your radar and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

[tash.bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️

I haven't read a Mafia or Why Choose in awhile and R.E. May did not disappoint with Blood in the Water!

This book had so many great characters (FMC + her 5 guys!), tropes, and plot twists that really kept me hooked in.

Leona is the Mafia princess of one of the Five Families of New York. She's gone through life with rose coloured glasses on, and when they're ripped off her world is turned upside down. Her longtime bodyguard vows to keep protecting her, and then she gets connected with a whole crew of assassins.

What drew me in:
•The grumpy bodyguard - Caspian is over protective and their flirty teasing is hiding the fact that he's secretly pining for her.
•The Shadows - these 4 assassins serve up SO much 🔥🔥🔥 through their individual personalities. Wynn is a sweet pretty boy who calls her darling. Ciel is the shy + quiet tech nerd. Ryuji is a dirty talking little shit who likes to rile people up (DISCLAIMER: he is my fave). And Obi is their calculated and reserved leader.
•The sexual tension - I was dying for more! Kind of slow burn, and we'd get a touch of 🌶️ at so many different parts that created a delicious build up.
•The action and plot twists - something was literally always happening, and my jaw literally dropped when we learn the truth.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat in both the Mafia and Romance departments. FYI: I'm still on the edge of my seat because it ended on a cliffhanger!!!!

I'll definitely be reading the second book in the Shadows Syndicate series this fall!

[ꜱᴀᴍ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝚃𝙸𝚃𝙻𝙴: Blood in the Water (ARC)
𝙰𝚄𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚁: RE May
𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚁𝙴: Dark Mafia Romance
𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝚂𝙿𝙸𝙲𝙴: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
•
❝𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 ❞

❝𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬❞
•
Firstly thank you to RE May for the opportunity to read this ARC 🖤

This book was amazing!
Leona our FMC is the daughter of the head of the Italian mafia. She follows her father’s orders, and stays out of the business. But on her 21st birthday, her world comes crashing down around her, and she is brought into the reality that the life she thought she knew, isn’t so at all
Her bodyguard Caspian, takes her under his wing, and they go on the run from the people they thought they could trust the most
They reach out to the Four Shadows, sexy bad ass assassins, to help get revenge against the people that have wronged them.

Caspian, was everything 🥵 something about a sexy spicy bodyguard that always gets me hooked

Wynn, the hot assassin that wants to make all the wrongs in the world right 🔥

Obi, he’s the head of the Shadows. We don’t see his character much, but you can just tell he’s a bad ass, and totally in control.

Ceil, the brains behind the Shadows. He’s very quiet, but once he came out of his shell, ouuuuf 🥵

Ryuji, the dragon assassin! He has a mouth on him, and a don’t give a fck attitude. He was also 🥵 I loved him and his personality

The way all their relationships unfolded, and grew, ugh it was perfect!!!! AND THAT ENDING UGHHHH!!

If you love mafia dark romance, this book is for you! I highly recommend, as the storyline left me wanting MORE

[Paige Ridler · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩸Blood In The Water by R. E. May💎

“This little vixen was going to get us all killed. And then Obi would have to avenge us by himself, and I hated being left out”

“Sharing doesn’t mean you have to take turns”🫣

So I saw a bunch of R. E. May’s TikTok’s and that drew me in initially, then I read it and was skeptical at first because well it’s “another mafia book”. OMG was I wrong?! 😱 This was so good, it was from typical spoilt brat mafia Princess, to omg wait what just happened?!. The 0-100 turn around was so quick it gave me head spins, easily in my top books of this year!

You’re slowly teased as each character gets introduced, each completely different from each-other but every👏single👏one👏 is just as drool worthy 😍. I was immediately in R. E. May’s DMs screaming (nicely obviously) about how much I love her book, THEN! She did me dirty with that cliffhanger, and life happened so I couldn’t sprint to the second book of the series for almost 24hrs 😭😭.

You have all the good things, mafia, secret society, assassins, near death experience, broody, traumatised, sunshine/grumpy, just everything the list legit goes on..OH AND!!! Why choose. An author after my own heart. Anyway I’m off to book two, and like maybe you should join me because book three and four are not even released so someone join me while we wait not so patiently 🥹🥹.

Tropes:
🩸Why Choose - MFMMMM
💎Mafia
🩸Secret Society
💎Grumpy/Sunshine
🩸Assassin’s
💎Banter 🤤
🩸 Trauma (obviously said in that singsong voice)
And like so much more🫠

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/out of 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/out of 5

Have I convinced you yet? If not go check out her TikTok cuz I know sometimes we just need to see it in that form 🤫