Romano

Miami Mafia Family #3

by Ava Summers

It was supposed to be a hot hookup.

Only my hot mafia guy doesn't appreciate being ghosted...

I don't do dating or relationships. I have a son and a sick mom to care for. Sometimes, though, a girl's gotta have fun.
Miami’s most infamous Lothario, Romano Faugno, a man with mafia blood in his veins and the owner of the best club in the city, rescues me from a creep.

He invites me to the VIP lounge as an apology for my poor experience in his club. I could have said 'no', but I’m five tequilas in and the man’s hot as Hades.

One drink turns into ... a few. He takes me to a swanky hotel, we have … fun.

Lots of fun. Hours of fun. So much fun I can barely string two words together.

In a different life, this could be the start of ... something. But I gave Romano a fake name and left before he woke up.

No complications.

No drama.

Six months pass. Romano is in my past, just a beautiful memory to keep me warm at night.

Until I’m forced to audition as a dancer at Club Venom because I desperately need the cash.

I get the job. Under different circumstances, I’d be celebrating, but before I can high-five my good fortune, I realize my hot fling is now my new boss.

And he's seriously p*ssed.

He’s not going to let me go until he has me locked down, in his bed, forever.

The problem is, Romano has no clue about the challenges I’m facing, or who I’m running from.

---
This is book 3 in the Miami Mafia Family series. While Romano can be read as a standalone, it follows a broadly similar timeline to the first two books, so for a better experience and understanding of the characters, start with book 1, Salvatore.

See the content note at the beginning of the book for trigger warnings.

falls firstAge gapSingle momWorkplace/Boss RomanceOne night stand

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2024

About the author

Ava Summers is a dark romance author who loves reading about feisty females and morally gray alpha males. She prefers books with a healthy dose of spice. If the heroine doesn't have to choose between her guys, even better! When Ava's not reading and writing, she likes to paint and occasionally run 10ks. She also spends way too much time keeping her rescue cat entertained.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romano
Miami Mafia Family book 3
Ava Summers
Stars:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Burn level:🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Time to read: 2 hours
HEA
My review may contain spoilers
Read Trigger Warnings

Tropes:
mafia
One night stand
Boss
He falls first
Single mom
small age gap (7 years)

Rory, 23, single mom, dancer, on the run from ex, paying for moms medical bills

Ramano Faugno, 30, owner of Club Venom,

The Plot: On a rare night out, Rory finds herself at Club Venom to hang loose. When she is cornered by a stranger, Romano comes to her rescue and then invites her to hang out with him in the VIP lounge. Rory and Romano hit it off and end up back at his hotel room. Due to Rory’s past, she dips out in the morning before Romano wakes up. Fast forward six months and we have Romano who is still desperately searching for his red headed beauty, only to find out she applied for a dancing gig at his club. As the story progresses, feelings start to develop and secrets get revealed.

Another great story brought to us by Ava Summers! I again wish this book was longer, but I don’t feel like it was rushed through.

This is a voluntary arc review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Miami Mafia Family series each can be read as a standalone with an overprotective sexy and the one who captures his undivided attention so make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Rory is so sweetheart a single mom just trying to stay above water taking care of her sick mother, her three year old boy one night she gives herself with friends a time to breath heading to the popular Miami club where a guy refuses to take no for an answer, and when the sexy club owner (she didn’t know it at the time) steps in stopping the guy offering to a fun time in VIP add to that a few drinks ending up with one night of fun slipping out before he wakes. Fast Forward six months needing a job, so she applies at his club as a dancer just to keep the bill collectors at bay. Romano sexy as all get out owner of one of the most successful clubs, part of the Miami crime family runs the club with an air fist do not like men who get aggressive with women and the night he notices a beautiful woman getting man handled he steps in with the night being one of the best, but she leaves before he wakes. Six months later she walks in wanting a job, but he wants her for her the magnetic pull is too strong to ignore but will she allow him to help her, will he give her a job, can they find a way to balance her need to work, and find some form of peace from all her struggles with a little happiness?

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romano is book 3 of the Miami Mafia family series. It's a steamy, instalust, slow-burn love, age-gap, OTT, opposites-attract, single mom gets her mafia man romance. Rory is a 23 year old, sassy, single mom on the run from her ex. She has a heart of gold and is also taking care of her sick mother. Romano is a 30 year old hunky, alpha, mafia man, and owner of Club Venom. Rory and Romano meet at his club one night after he sees her being harassed. He steps in to rescue her and invites her to hang out with him in the VIP lounge. Let's just say it gets hot 🔥 and S-T-E-A-M-Y, and they end up in bed, not sleeping 😉🔥🥵. Rory then sneaks out before Romano wakes up, knowing she has obligations and can't have an actual relationship. Romano is upset that she has disappeared and can't stop thinking about her. Fast forward 6 months, and she is desperate for money and applies to be a dancer at a club... Only to find out he's the owner and he's not letting her get away again. Will she let him in? Can he protect her? This story had it all... love, drama, suspense, and steam. There are also some dark mafia elements. But the chemistry between these two was pure fire, and after some angst, we got our happy ending. This was another hot read by Ava Summers.

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

[Yarlene ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Miami mafia family series, Romano and Rory’s story.

Rory and Romano met at his club where after spending some time together talking, things took a turn and they ended the night together, she gave him a fake name and left but he wasn’t having any of it and didn’t forget about her.

6 months later they see each other again when Rory is hired as a dancer in his club because she needs the money to help pay her mother medical bills and avoid the collectors knocking on their door. And Romano is determined to protect her from everything and making her his gf.

I’m not sure why but i didn’t liked this one as much. Rory was an independent single mom who at times was sassy, working 2 jobs so she can help her son and mom. Her kid was seriously precarious, and her mom despite being sick was a great character as well. I also liked Romano’s character and how protective, supportive and attentive he was despite being what he was.

But this one didn’t showed more of his brother/family like the other two did and I think that’s why I it didn’t convince me.

3.5 ✨

❤️‍🔥 instalust/instalove
❤️‍🔥 he falls first
❤️‍🔥 age gap
❤️‍🔥 slow burn
❤️‍🔥 opposite attracts
❤️‍🔥 single mom
❤️‍🔥 3rd Italian mafia novella

[Danielle Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although relatively short and quick to read, I feel like Romano still had plenty of substance to make it an enjoyable read.

Romano is part of the mafia, and usually he is a one-night-stand kind of guy but one night with Rory has him changing his mind about all that. Rory isn't quite as forthcoming though and it isn't until 6 months later that their paths cross again and Romano starts to learn more about Rory.

Romano manages to combine soft and caring, with protective and possessive and he allows his mafia side to come out when it's for the sake of Rory and her family. Rory is so used to being the one who has to take care of everything that she is reluctant to let Romeo in but he gradually works his way into her heart.

I liked that he had to work for it, it's not something he is used to, there is also the fact that a woman from his past who was simply occasional sex tries to stake claim to Romano but despite her soft appearance, Rory has a firecracker personality and stands up for herself especially when it's for her family or if a man gets too handsy with her.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMC/FMC- Romano and Rory
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Mafia Romance Lite
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋 they do the thing and name the parts
Series? Y
Safety? N. There’s no cheating, but there are memories/discussion of past S.A.
Other Triggers- Explicit Erotic Content, Violence, Language
Tropes- One Night Stand, Single Mom, Workplace/Boss Romance, Do-Si-Do With the Mafioso, Adorable Moppet
Thoughts- this book was enjoyable and the zexytime, though not plentiful, was pretty hot. I did like the characters, even when Rory was (understandably) prickly. Romano was priceless with the cat. I liked it all up until the last couple of pages, when the ending got too cute and coincidental beyond reasonable suspension of disbelief. But until that point, it was enjoyable.

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

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite of the trilogy. Was it exceptionally challenging for me to get past the MMC fuckboy ways, especially seeing how he throws himself at other women in the previous 2 books? absolutely. Was it slightly disappointing to hear he threw himself at book 2's girl in the 6 months after the current FMC and his ONS? Of course. I also know he couldn't find her anywhere because she never gave a real name.

The FMC expresses qualities that I think are very relatable to the modern woman in this modern age. Also the fear of men and men touches? I feel that, girl. She is also very proud of herself, which, can be construed as being a stubborn brat, but I didn't feel that as much with this novel as I have in ones in the past. She very much seems NORMAL. Thank you to Ava Summers for that.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romano is book 3 in the Miami Mafia Family series and is another great, fast-paced, quick, one sitting read. This one is Romano and Rory's story and it's just as steamy as the previous books. After a brief interlude and a parting that wasn't mutual, Club Venom brings them in each other's path again and Romano is not happy.

"Romano has no clue about the challenges I’m facing, or who I’m running from."

Rory is fiery and passionate and is over the top protective of her family. Romano is possessive, obsessive domineering and completely over the top protective of those he loves and that happens to be Rory. Romano is a fantastic addition to the Miami series!

[Nicole Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome 5 star read

Awesome work from the author with Romano & Rory's story. I honestly didn't want their story to end. Romano has mafia blood running through his veins & has a reputation with the ladies. Rory is a single mum whose also looking after her sick mum. She gets a rare night to let loose & there she meets Romano. Their chemistry is hot but she leaves before he wakes. When they run into each other next those sparks are still there but he's now her boss. How long will she keep him at arms length?.

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

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

They meet when he comes to her aide with an unwanted admirer. Romano had spotted Rory sitting at the bar and was mesmerized by her red hair and was about to make his own play when the unwanted admirer wouldn't take no for an answer. That connection led them along one intriguing path that is filled with intriguing twists and turns. Rory doesn't want a man in her life especially after what happened to her and when her past makes a reappearance will Romano be able to keep her safe. This story kept me glued to the pages.

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

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

( ARC Review )
I’m hooked. I want more, right now.

It took me probably a couple of hours max to read this. It was everything.

Adored how Rory was an absolutely feisty but independent single mother, she had gone through so much in her life and the constant battles and she was still the most amazing human.
Loved Romano ‘ the man with the watch ‘ he was everything. Serve me that man up on a plate and I’ll be pleased.
Loved the plot, the progression of the characters relationship!
Really touching too.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this incredible series, and this is Romano and Rory’s story.
This is a well written story, which has family, drama, angst, danger, suspense, intrigue, betrayal, secrets, violence, forgiveness, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and steamy addictive page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sophia Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

👏🔥❤😘 Mafia amazing!!!!

Romano the one who said he wouldn't settle down he had rules! Oh my! Love it! Bad sexy Romano finally met someone that was worth rule breaking. Rory a single mom working hard and taking care of her mom decides to go out one night. She goes out with her friends to club Venom which is own by Romano and they both fall hard for each other. I loved the ending! Brilliant story!! Amazing!! It's a must read!!!❤❤🔥🔥🔥💗💗

[sheine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️ my fav in the series

this was a bit longer than the first two and it had more plot. again, an insta love so vvv fast paced. i would’ve given this a 3.5/4 if this was more longer, but i can’t justify it if it was this short. but it doesn’t mean this series is bad!

i would still reco this series if you want a quick series to binge with less than 200 pages lol.

Romano and Rory’s dynamics are good.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romano is a quick read, but absolutely awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Romano's story. After reading the previous two books, I was really excited for Romano to fall for his perfect woman. Steamy and wonderful characters.

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

[Frani Zumwalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great series. I love Romano and Rory. They met at his club and he is smitten. After a fun night she figures that’s it. Never to see him again
Her moms got cancer and the bills start piling up up she needs to earn additional money to pay bills
Her return to the club as a dancer where Romano is the owner only heightens his resolve to hire her

[Sarah Spillar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Ends Abruptly

The book was good overall; however, it ends abruptly. It’s like the author had a page limit and decided to stop writing. The female character Rory is questioning his philandering past one moment and then is telling him she loves him within a couple of paragraphs. It just seems like the author didn’t know how to continue through that part

[Mylene Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romano saves Rory from unwanted attention and gains her attention in the process. But Romano has his own fan club and his fans are not happy about the new comer. A good quick read.

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

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is surprisingly well-balanced.
Advertised as mafia romance with a possessive lover is in fact a make-believe story about a young single mother who finds a rich man who wants to take care of her and her family...
Entertaining and soothing.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

single mother Rory finally lets her hair down at the club only to hae an unwated admira one Romano sees off, and offers to rectify her bad expeiance with one of his own! well written steamy desire and more

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Romano and Rory’s story. It was an intriguing read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Florence Archbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Oh yes loved this book so much... But it ended too soon... Is there a next book about the two lovers??

[atbibineshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

[Lolita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series. Although short I found it had everything for a great read!

[maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short reads

Good wee short story has loads going on but not rushed ,read all 3 of series and they flow perfectly together

[Raluca Nicoleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Acestă carte a fost un deliciu pentru mine. Dintre cele trei cărți care alcătuiesc această serie, Miami Mafia Family, “Romano” este preferata mea. E mult mai lungă ca și număr de pagini decât primele două, dar în două ore a fost gata citită. 🤭 Această poveste are de toate: iubire, dramă, suspans, elemente dark mafia și momente spicy. Toate cele trei cărți din serie se pot citi și independent. Nu e musai să fie citite în ordine, însă mie îmi place ca atunci când încep o serie să o și termin. 🤭 Oi fi defectă oare?! 🖤
.
🖤 Rory este o mamă singură, în vârstă de 23 de ani, care își crește singură fiul și are grijă de mama sa bolnavă. Datorită greutăților pe care le are de înfruntat este nevoită să își caute o a doua slujbă ca dansatoare în Clubul Venom. Ceea ce nu știe este că viitorul ei șef este chiar bărbatul cu care își petrece o noapte nebună în urmă cu șase luni. Romano este un mafia man, chipeș, care nu are de gând să se așeze la casa lui prea curând. Ei bine, asta se schimbă în momentul în care o noapte îi schimbă percepția asupra relațiilor. Când cei doi se întâlnesc la interviul de angajare, artificiile se detonează. 🖤
.
🖤 Chimia dintre cele două personaje a fost foc pur.🔥 Romano a reușit să combine perfect intențiile sale fine si grijulii cu cele de posesivitate și protecție, astfel partea aceea dark, de mafiot italian, a fost scoasă la iveală atunci când a fost necesar fără a exagera. Oricât de multe reguli și-a setat de lungul vieții, acestea vor dispărea în momentul în care, în viața lui apare Rory - un personaj feminin extrem de puternic care a fost nevoită să se lupte în viața pentru tot ceea ce are. Felul în care relația dintre cei doi evoluează pe parcursul cărții m-a făcut să prind mare drag de ei. 🖤

Full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHvV-97oY...

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was a fairly quick read that packed an awful lot in. I enjoyed the plot and I really liked how the characters relationship grew and moved the plot along with it. Rory's sass was hilarious alongside Romano just not understanding why she wasn't falling down at his feet.
I do wish there had been a bit more interaction and development of the side characters but with it being a novella I can understand the crunch.
Sometimes I felt like the order in which I received new information confused me for a moment and occasionally felt a bit blocky but that being said I always knew what was going on and I didn't feel like I was suddenly reading a different book.
The ending was lovely and I really liked that there were two time jump snippets at the end as it feels like a much more resolved book.
Overall, a nice and quick read from an author I still very much enjoy.
Favourite Quote - We own this city and he's a tiny minnow in a piranha-infested lake.
Favourite Character - Shay