Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Sin & Innocence: A dark anti-hero romance

Rate this book
“Were you running away from me, mi luna?”
There was no better answer than the truth. “Yes.”
His answering chuckle was low and filled with more than just amusement. Keeping her gaze locked in an iron shackle, the next words out of his mouth were more than a statement. They were a promise and a threat, all wrapped up in the silky rope of darkness dripping from his voice.
“I will always find you, no matter how much distance you put between us.”


Innocence is not forever and sin corrupts even the purest of souls.

Mia Nilsson learns the most import lesson life has to give her the hard way. What is supposed to be a relaxing summer spent in the sunny and exotic land of Colombia takes a turn for the worse shortly after her arrival.

No one ever told her that bad men sinned in broad daylight with the world looking in from the sidelines. With her sanity hanging in the balance, she is forced to make a decision. Fight to the last breath or survive by any means.

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2024

12 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

About the author

Dea Verdi

5 books14 followers
Dea Verdi is an author of romance novels with a twist of suspense and darkness. She started writing fanfiction when she was in college. During the pandemic, she decided to try her hand at creating her own original characters.

When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with friends and reading too many romance novels.

Connect with her:

Email → DeaVerdi.Author@gmail.com

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dea.verdi/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
33 (62%)
4 stars
16 (30%)
3 stars
3 (5%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Magic book club.
617 reviews71 followers
April 28, 2024
5 stars

“I will give you what you need, mi luna. Even if it fucking kills me.”

This was a very good book and I enjoyed it. I hope that Dea Verdi will release something more soon because I like her writing style. While reading the story, you can relate to the characters, places, and events. I just feel bad when I get to the end of the book because I would like to read more.

Thank you for this opportunity.

---

“One day, I was minding my fucking business, leading the Cartel, making
it prosperous, and not giving a fuck about the women warming my bed. Next
thing I know, you’re trying to bulldoze over me in the dead of night, too
preoccupied by your expensive phone to pay attention to your surroundings.”
He let out a soft chuckle and a shake of his head as he replayed the memory
in his mind. “I was gone the moment I looked into those beautiful blue eyes,
and I knew right away that I wanted to possess that exquisite body. But you
see, one night became a week, and then that week became a month, and now I
don’t know how to fucking stop wanting you. I don’t want to stop, Mia.”
He sighed, running a rough hand over his jaw. “I know what you need,
and it makes me angry. It makes me furious that you need to be away from me,
when what I need is to have you tied up to our bed so you can’t ever leave
me.”

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Nelsharry Baerga.
67 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2024
Im a dark romance girlie and this book had it. The spice top, the drama was there and the development of the relationship was top tier! Loved this possessive man. It was an easy read and enjoyable. This took me 48 hours top to read couldn’t put it down. Rafa got my heart too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
6 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2024
Sin and Innocence" is simply epic. It's like a whirlwind of emotions that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go until the end. The way Dea Verdi weaves the plot is so absorbing that you find yourself devouring each chapter eagerly.

The characters, wow! They're like real people you could meet on the street. Mia is strong and determined, but she also has that vulnerability that makes her so human. And Rafael, well, he's complicated, but in the best way. It's like he has layers upon layers to unravel, and every time you think you know him, he surprises you once more.

The chemistry between Mia and Rafael is like a burning flame. From the moment they meet, there's this spark between them that you simply can't ignore. It's like they're destined for each other, despite all the obstacles that stand in their way.

And the setting in Colombia, it's so vivid! You feel like you're there, on the streets of Bogotá, surrounded by luxury and danger. It's like the city is another character in the story, adding an extra layer of intrigue and excitement.

I give it five stars because the story captivated me from the beginning and I couldn't stop reading. The characters are very well developed and the plot is exciting and full of unexpected twists. Additionally, the writing is fluid and immersive, making it a very pleasant reading experience.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,201 reviews
October 18, 2024
This is an entertaining mafia romance book that grabs your attention from the beginning and holds it to the very end. The storyline is intriguing and dramatic. The characters are well written with depth to their personalities. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Krys.
288 reviews12 followers
September 20, 2024
Omg I loved this story so much! I couldn't put this book down to save my life! I will surely be recommending this book to all my friends!
Profile Image for Michelle Frater.
1,717 reviews18 followers
April 19, 2024
This was one of those books where you don’t know whether love the hero or hate him. I apologize to all the Columbians out there in advance, but the mention of certain countries simply evokes a feeling of danger that doesn’t bode well for a blonde, blue-eyed heroine looking for a relaxing holiday. Equally, I have to say that walking on the street in a strange, foreign city late at night (no matter how short the distance) dressed in a provocative dress is also asking for trouble. When Mia accidentally bumps into Rafael, she has no idea of the drama about to unfold. Kidnapped off the street in broad daylight, Mia soon realizes no one’s coming to rescue her, so when she’s offered an impossible deal in return for her freedom, she has no choice but to accept. With her holiday in tatters, she decides to return home, only to be grabbed AGAIN on the way to the airport. Now, does this girl have bad luck or what! While Rafael has never given woman more than a quick roll in the hay, he can’t understand his immediate obsession with Mia. Certain that one night will be enough, he manipulates her into his bed, but the deal backfires when he finds that one night is not enough. Mia is all spit and fire; I loved the way she stood up to Rafael despite his deadly reputation. Yet, no matter how long Mia spends with Rafael – a day, a week, a month – there’s something more between them than a captor and his prey. But when demons from Rafael’s past rear their ugly head, Mia is suddenly in way over her head.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Isabel.
56 reviews
March 12, 2024
I love Mafia Romance books. They are one of my all-time favorite reads, so when I came across this one I knew I had to read it. This book did not disappoint I still think about it. Normally all mafia romances have a similar kind of storyline but this one was a good pallet cleanser with a similar but different storyline. Not only is it a Mafia romance but its a dark mafia romance and the two combined is chefs kiss.

Rafael meets Mia and is instantly in love with her. To the point that he ends up kidnapping her to have her for one night. But that is not enough for Rafael because he finds himself thinking about her and wanting her more. So he decides to kidnap her a few times more to have her. When he kidnaps her for a week they realize it's not enough time and they start to create a relationship between the two. But is it more than what either one wanted? Will it last or was this just a one-night stand passion? Mia was a little off in the story because she was so back and forth with her feelings however Rafael character I enjoyed reading. I also loved all the other characters in the story as well. It all blended nicely and started to create a really nice storyline from friends to family from both characters. I also enjoyed that it was a Colombian Cartel and not an Italian or other average cartel that is in the majority of Mafia books.

This book has it all and it is one you will not regret reading.
Profile Image for Xratedreads .
270 reviews14 followers
April 10, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶 🌶

I recently delved into my first book by this author, and being a fan of mafia/cartel dark romances, I was eagerly anticipating the experience. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The narrative gripped me tightly, weaving a tale that was both thrilling and captivating. The characters, especially Mia and Rafael, practically leapt off the pages with their palpable chemistry and intriguing interactions.

Rafael Montoya, a formidable figure in his own right, finds himself ensnared by the enigmatic allure of a woman who rebuffs his advances outside his club. Unable to shake her from his mind, he resorts to drastic measures, ordering his men to bring her to him. Thus begins a tumultuous journey of power dynamics and forbidden desire, transforming the narrative into a gripping mafia-captive romance.

While my overall enjoyment was high, a few minor critiques prevented me from awarding a perfect score. As a personal preference, I tend to favour books written in the first person, and I found the initial chapters somewhat lacking in depth. Additionally, I yearned for more substantial interaction between the main characters during the initial kidnapping sequence.

Despite these minor reservations, I eagerly anticipate delving into more works by this author.

Tropes

mafia/cartel
Crime lord
Captive
anti-hero
age gap (10 years)
possessive & obsessed mmc

ARC REVIEW
509 reviews9 followers
February 29, 2024
Sin & Innocence is a dark romance about Rafael and Mia.
Rafael Montoya is the Columbian Cartel boss and Mia Nilsson is a twenty-four year old from Washington, DC. Mia usually takes a three-month vacation every summer. Part of it to see her grandma in Uppsala, Sweden. This year she is going to Bogata, Colombia to visit her friend Raquel. She lives in a small one-bedroom apartment with her chubby cat named Leon. One night while out at a club, Mia was waiting for Diego Raquel's cousin who happens to drive a taxi. Mia unexpectedly bumps into someone, she apologizes and gets in the car and leaves. There is a moment of interest and Rafael finds out who she is. Mia is kidnapped about a week later and taken to a mansion. This is where Mia meets Rafael the guy she bumped into. Mia doesn't give Rafael what he wants, so at first he treats her as a prisoner. She does get to leave, but then is kidnapped again, because Rafael can't stop thinking about Mia. As they spend more and more time together their feelings and chemistry is so intense. Who ever thought feelings would come into play between the two ? This book is an enjoyable read with kidnapping, steamy scenes, danger, and drama.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Carmella.
670 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2024
Mia goes to Columbia to visit her friend for the summer and one night they go out clubbing. Mia decides to leave and go home early, tired from traveling. Looking at her phone, she accidentally bumps into a man…

Rafael is the leader of a Columbian Cartel. He thinks Mia is beautiful and he wants her so a few days later he has her kidnapped and brought to him.

Mia is angry, yet afraid. He bargains with her… one night and she can go home. Mia is attracted to him so she agrees. She spends the night with him and he lets her go the next day. Rafael figures one night with her will satisfy his craving for her but it doesn't.

Will Mia keep giving in to Rafael's demands? Will he allow her to? Can he keep her safe from his enemies?

Rafael is the most intense man! He is downright scary. If he says no, there is no changing his mind but he doesn't make decisions blindly. He is smart and thinks issues through. He is also a very dangerous man.

Their attraction towards one another is also intense. Even they don't realize how connected they are, they think they can both walk away.

I really liked this book and it pushes what we find acceptable in life, such as kidnapping. In a way, it just proves that love wins.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Cheryl Carpenter.
318 reviews12 followers
March 12, 2024
Rafaël and Mia are products of their upbringing. He, a cartel boss in Columbia and she a spoilt only child, daughter of a publisher, American with a Swedish background. While holidaying in Bogota they literally bump into each other. What follows is a tale of the struggle between love and morality. ”Innocence is not forever and sin corrupts even the purest of souls".

Mia wrestles with her feelings toward Rafaël. He's the most powerful man in Columbia and a criminal. Rafaël in turn struggles with his upbringing and the fact that he can't forget Mia and wants her at all costs.

We learn during the narrative what it means to be affiliated with such a man. It doesn't look good for Mia.

This is the first time I have read anything written by Dea Verdi and I was pleasantly surprised. Despite tribulations along the way, this book has a HEA and is ultimately fulfilling.
Profile Image for C Crane.
26 reviews
February 26, 2024
The author claims that the MMC is a anti-hero, and that he does some things that may be classified as dark or in this case a dark romance i found neither to be true.

The MMC is neither dark nor an antihero he was mostly boring and gave me nothing.

The FMC was boring for lack of better words. In the course of the book we learn nothing personal about her except of the fact that she is blond and is part swedish wich was very annoying.

The book had no real story, wich in some cases doesn't bother me.
But when both characters are bland and have nothing to offer thats when it becomes boring and repetitive.



Anyways the book was nothing for me but if you love bland books, give it a read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
87 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2024
OMG!!! Really a fantastic read!!

Mia and Rafael story was so passionate, full of mafios, daddy love, divorced parents, controlling boss.

Mia comes to Colombia for summer holidays, collides with the cartel boss handsome hunk dark king. Next blink she is kidnapped, had a super sex with the hot god 😍 later one week of stay extend to a month and forever.

HEA guaranteed with dark action and alot of passion sex. Dark romance readers hurry upa nd grab this hunk! He is a treat never to be missed.

Value of good friendship, dark romance and love with limits and no limits, kidnaps,gunshot are mixed in this book. Fab read!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🫡.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sarah.
706 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2024
I enjoyed the first kidnapping and then she turned into a dumb girl. After the first kidnapping she should have run away home if she really wanted to escape him she could have. If she was poor that is one thing but no she is rich and decides to stay in close proximity of him she was just asking for bad things to happen.

Also after first kidnapping she tells her friend she liked being with him which was just way too soon for her to have Stockholm syndrome and made the book drop major stars!

This is a brand new author so I’m going to be generous and give it 3 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Christina.
145 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2024
I am a sucker for mafia/cartel dark romances, and I absolutely loved this story. Now, mind you, I was screaming at the FMC for most of the book for being idiotic and making dumb choices, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Is it advisable to go to Columbia on vacation and walk down alleys alone, not paying attention to her surroundings at all? No. Did it work out in the end? Definitely! I loved the character development of the FMC and MMC and how they both grew as individuals and as a couple. If you love a romance where the MMC fights his demons for the love of a good woman and doesn't take no for an answer, you are going to love this story as much as I did.
(ARC REVIEW)
19 reviews
February 26, 2024
The characters are very realistic, all things considered. They have flaws that aren’t glossed over. The author does such a good job of describing thoughts and feelings for the characters. Recently, I DNF’d a book with a k!dnapping plot because the dynamic between characters wasn’t up to par. The fact that I continued reading this book says a lot about how well constructed the author designed the story. Overall, good story. I’m not into cartel/mafia stories, but I have no complaints about this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Stefanie McLain.
241 reviews
March 15, 2024
Wow!!! Once I was able to get into the book, about chapter 3-4, it was a good book. There was a few places that I felt were repetitive but overall the book was good. There is a slow start to the spice. The little bit of spice that is in the book is few and far between with little detail. The detail that is there in the spice is hot. While I did enjoy the book, I did find myself scamming over parts of the book. Now, please remember to check the trigger warnings.

Overall this is a gray read with 4 stars and 2 peppers.
Profile Image for Angie M Bond.
184 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2024
Rafael meets Mia and immediately wants her; so much so that he kidnaps her for one night of pleasure. He can’t keep away from her afterward so he kidnaps her again, but this time he wants a week instead. That of course isn’t enough time either and their relationship starts developing into more than what they bargained for. I thought Rafael and Mia had good chemistry and their romance was exciting and sweet. I just wanted more of their intense passion. Also, Mia was back n forth in her feelings and it became frustrating sometimes, this was a good book and I enjoyed it.
2 reviews
February 8, 2025
The kidnapped trope done right is always good. I liked the dynamic between her and Rafael I would’ve liked her to fight back a bit more but overall it was pretty good. The sentence structure flowed and grammar and punctuation was properly done. I don’t think this story was a dark mob romance. Other than some violence and the initial coercion when he “persuaded” Mia to sleep with him. Overall I’d say it was a good book and I would definitely read another book by the author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
218 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2025
Mia and Rafael's story is about his first sight if her he was obsessed and she was quite unaware of him
Until he has her kidnapped.
After learning Rafael was a Cartel boss and ruled over Bogotá where she had been visiting her friend.
Rafael was used to women saying no, he told her he wanted just one night of sex and she would be free.
After one night back with her friend Rafael knew his obsession with Mia had not gone away and kidnapped her again.
This is just the start of this very steamy story with danger everywhere for her with her association with Rafael.


5,934 reviews29 followers
February 27, 2024
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wow, I absolutely loved reading this book it was awesome, the story was written well and the characters were really captivating. Mia and Rafael were brought to life throughout the story their interactions and chemistry was electric. This book is one I will definitely read again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for SBee Reviews.
2,666 reviews81 followers
March 20, 2024
★ “at the mercy of Colombia’s most dangerous criminal,” ★

The apple certainly did not fall far from the tree…Rafael Montoya experiences a rare brush-off from a captivating woman outside his club, and she was the one woman he couldn’t seem to forget. So he sent his men to kidnap her, and from there, a lot of push-pull dynamics turns this read into an engaging mafia-captive romance! Looking forward to reading more of this author’s stories!
Profile Image for Between The Covers .
468 reviews13 followers
March 25, 2024
📖Sin & Innocence by Dea Verdi📖

Book 4⭐️
Spice 2.5🌶

This is an amazing read that will leave you on the edge of your seat, wanting more and guessing what's coming next. I love the way it is written. The plot, the characters, and chemistry are perfect! Now that MMC is such a pain at first, he grows on you at the end.
#billionaire #darkromance #agegap #antihero #possesive #secondchance #mafia
Profile Image for Frozen F Struggle .
60 reviews
April 3, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the steamy scenes and the passion between the two lead characters. While I understand the best friend wanting different for her friend and her concerns she was a bit judgmental and annoying. Diego was adorable. The cast of characters that made you fall in love with the story and want to know more about everything within the world.
5,573 reviews
May 10, 2024
Suspense and darkness, my kind of author! Ms. Verdi is new to me too!

"Sin & Innocence" has roped me in! I love mafia romance! I love dark anti-heroes!

Ms. Verdi delivered a captivating story with everything I've come to enjoy with the tropes associated with this romance type!

Rafael has quite the way to satisfy his lust! Or, could it be more than lust?

Does Mia feel the same after what Rafael has done?

Loved my introduction to this new to me author!
Profile Image for Sheila.
1,168 reviews11 followers
June 8, 2025
4 Stars for Sin & Innocence by (new for me) author Dea Verdi

What I loved :

Pretty cover and book blurb that got my attention
Mafia Columbia cartel
Age gap aprx 10 yrs
Sizzling chemistry
Great characters

A first I didn’t like Rafe so much making his & Mia’s relationship seem only physical… when he feels like he wants to change for her I was hooked !

Good read !

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Maria Hernandez.
76 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2025
“As much as she wanted to let logic dictate, her heart won the match and the whole damn game.”

“In essence, life really was just an amalgam of strangely-shaped puzzle pieces that didn’t seemed to fit, but when looked at from a different angle, the whole picture became a little clearer.”

alright so i didn’t loveeeeee this one because the back and forth over the same issue was killing me and the whole start to the relationship was icky BUT i still wanted them to be together so i liked it enough
1,210 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2024
I enjoy dark romance books and this one is wonderful. I enjoyed the drama and the connection between the characters. Once I started reading this book I had a hard time putting it down. I would recommend reading this book!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
8,829 reviews63 followers
February 29, 2024
Mia takes a vacation to Columbianto visit her friend when she bumps into Rafael on a night out, its not until he kidnaps her, wanting her that she learns who he is a cartel boss and she's his obsession, Rafael is drawn to Mia and what he wants he gets but Mia won't give in so easily. Well written steamy desires, age gap, captive, cartel romance.
Profile Image for Happyscribe.
940 reviews9 followers
March 17, 2024
OMG I almost didn’t read this! I ALMOST missed this utter world-shifting, epically inundating, and sensually entertaining story! I am so impressed! This story has everything - fresh settings, new twists and so much, SO MUCH smexiness that it should be illegal!!
Loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.