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Ruthless Mafia Kings #2
Mafia Heir's Secret Baby
I’ve been hiding from the grumpy mafia heir for six years to protect our son.
When our feuding dads discovered my pregnancy, I was exiled to italy.
I didn’t mind it, I wanted a chance to raise our baby away from the violent world.
I was soothing my heart with pasta and gelato when I learned my new fate.
Moving back to Chicago and marrying him to unite and protect our families.
He’s the only man I’ve known.
And he calls me his sunshine, but he hasn’t forgiven me for leaving.
I’m determined to keep it strictly business.
But when he whispered I can’t wait to make you beg for me…
Muscles I haven’t used in years clenched.
My eyes traced his fading sun tattoos…one for each year I’ve been gone.
I surrendered to his command begging with every whimper.
Contract signed, I have to move into his place…with our son.
But when we’re snatched by his enemies.
Bound up, I pray he’ll stop at nothing to save us because I'm also expecting his twins.
When our feuding dads discovered my pregnancy, I was exiled to italy.
I didn’t mind it, I wanted a chance to raise our baby away from the violent world.
I was soothing my heart with pasta and gelato when I learned my new fate.
Moving back to Chicago and marrying him to unite and protect our families.
He’s the only man I’ve known.
And he calls me his sunshine, but he hasn’t forgiven me for leaving.
I’m determined to keep it strictly business.
But when he whispered I can’t wait to make you beg for me…
Muscles I haven’t used in years clenched.
My eyes traced his fading sun tattoos…one for each year I’ve been gone.
I surrendered to his command begging with every whimper.
Contract signed, I have to move into his place…with our son.
But when we’re snatched by his enemies.
Bound up, I pray he’ll stop at nothing to save us because I'm also expecting his twins.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2024
2374 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
June 2, 2025
This is an author to avoid if you want a decent story. I read about 40% of the book trying to find a good mafia story. I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. More sex than story. So lots of pages to be skipped . I gave up in the end and went to the epilogue.
If you want sex then she the author for you. I am more interested in a good plot and an interesting dialogue. So this author goes on my never again list.
If you want sex then she the author for you. I am more interested in a good plot and an interesting dialogue. So this author goes on my never again list.
March 20, 2024
The title is the trope. The story has the details and the details…well, they’re spotty. At about the 10% mark I had to stop and double check that this wasn’t book 2 of a series. There are a lot of details and character development that are missing and the author assumes we know, but we really don’t.
Mel and Xander got together six years ago and when she found out she was pregnant, she left. Everyone protected her and no one told Xander. But then She comes back because their families need to “unite”. No real explanation provided for how this unity is going to carry out. Which makes the rest of the tale hard to understand when Xander is worried about the Russian mafia. I mean, presumably Mel’s family would help?? Nope. Ultimately, I never understood what was the draw for Mel’s family to join forces with Amory.
Then the cast of characters:
a) A nanny that goes missing at the 75% mark and no one questions it.
b) A fierce as fire sister that comes back and then becomes meek as a lamb.
c) A cast of (Xander’s) brothers where details and some tidbits are provided but they seems superficial at best.
d) A bodyguard who has a bleeding head wound and seems stiff but the doctor still gets called (house calls for head wounds where the subject is still and unconscious are completely plausible) and presumably he lives…?
e) A brother who is a lawyer at, perhaps, a reputable law firm (no snickers, please) who doesn’t want to get involved in his family’s business because he wants to be legitimate, yet still accompanies his sister into all manner of clearly mafia related events. Not to mention how he finds time to pick up and look after his nephew all the time. Clearly he works at an understanding law firm where his case load is not crippling and there is no expectation that he work 80 hours a week. (Maybe I’m projecting with that last part).
f) Two bodyguards who sense an ambush but still leave their protected subjects in the car while they go out and explore… when they sense that something is wrong… good grief.
The lack of that character development makes certain parts seem rushed or conveniently added. At times, the characters are caricatures of themselves, the lines drawn and shaded haphazardly to almost be abstract. Then there’s also segments where the author beautifully captures sentiments… but quickly progresses to the next scene, almost like the characters need to hit the finish line to win a bonus prize. I’d love to see a rewrite of this book with better developed characters. Two stars for effort.
Mel and Xander got together six years ago and when she found out she was pregnant, she left. Everyone protected her and no one told Xander. But then She comes back because their families need to “unite”. No real explanation provided for how this unity is going to carry out. Which makes the rest of the tale hard to understand when Xander is worried about the Russian mafia. I mean, presumably Mel’s family would help?? Nope. Ultimately, I never understood what was the draw for Mel’s family to join forces with Amory.
Then the cast of characters:
a) A nanny that goes missing at the 75% mark and no one questions it.
b) A fierce as fire sister that comes back and then becomes meek as a lamb.
c) A cast of (Xander’s) brothers where details and some tidbits are provided but they seems superficial at best.
d) A bodyguard who has a bleeding head wound and seems stiff but the doctor still gets called (house calls for head wounds where the subject is still and unconscious are completely plausible) and presumably he lives…?
e) A brother who is a lawyer at, perhaps, a reputable law firm (no snickers, please) who doesn’t want to get involved in his family’s business because he wants to be legitimate, yet still accompanies his sister into all manner of clearly mafia related events. Not to mention how he finds time to pick up and look after his nephew all the time. Clearly he works at an understanding law firm where his case load is not crippling and there is no expectation that he work 80 hours a week. (Maybe I’m projecting with that last part).
f) Two bodyguards who sense an ambush but still leave their protected subjects in the car while they go out and explore… when they sense that something is wrong… good grief.
The lack of that character development makes certain parts seem rushed or conveniently added. At times, the characters are caricatures of themselves, the lines drawn and shaded haphazardly to almost be abstract. Then there’s also segments where the author beautifully captures sentiments… but quickly progresses to the next scene, almost like the characters need to hit the finish line to win a bonus prize. I’d love to see a rewrite of this book with better developed characters. Two stars for effort.
September 26, 2024
not safe, but still liked it
I went into this one since i had read the prequel “claimed by the mafia prince.”
I would have liked this a whole lot more if the hero had been faithful to the heroine during separation. Unfortunately he hadnt, although its not explicitly gone over, and no details are given. He thought he hated the heroine for leaving him, believing she had betrayed him.
But still, its always gross and upsetting when the hero cant keep his dick in his pants.
I love secret baby trope, which is why i pushed thru and without the hero’s unfaithfulness, this would’ve been a really solid read for me. There were some plot holes—(like how his entire family colluded together to make sure he never knew about his baby)—but nothing i couldn’t suspend my disbelief over.
Not safe. Hero is unfaithful during separation. Heroine remains faithful and in the prequel, was a virgin, belongs only to her hero. No sharing, no cheating once theyre back together, no abuse. HEA but no real epilogue, its just a few weeks/months out
I went into this one since i had read the prequel “claimed by the mafia prince.”
I would have liked this a whole lot more if the hero had been faithful to the heroine during separation. Unfortunately he hadnt, although its not explicitly gone over, and no details are given. He thought he hated the heroine for leaving him, believing she had betrayed him.
But still, its always gross and upsetting when the hero cant keep his dick in his pants.
I love secret baby trope, which is why i pushed thru and without the hero’s unfaithfulness, this would’ve been a really solid read for me. There were some plot holes—(like how his entire family colluded together to make sure he never knew about his baby)—but nothing i couldn’t suspend my disbelief over.
Not safe. Hero is unfaithful during separation. Heroine remains faithful and in the prequel, was a virgin, belongs only to her hero. No sharing, no cheating once theyre back together, no abuse. HEA but no real epilogue, its just a few weeks/months out
June 8, 2025
There are soooo many gaps in this story. I can't DNF at 25%.
March 1, 2024
Healing From the Family Secrets -
Xander never expected to see Mel again after she disappeared without a trace, but seeing her again years later and discovering the truth about what happened nearly sent him into a spiral. Xander’s love for Mel never went away, which led him down a rabbit hole, as his anger was conflicting with his feelings of love towards her. However, Xander had to put his feelings aside to deal with the dangerous situation brewing around them, whilst he navigated the new changes in his life. Unfortunately, just as they managed to settle into their new life, a family death upended their lives, which led to a series of events that nearly cost Xander his family.
Luckily, Xander’s love for his family lit a fire under him to resolve the issue, whilst ensuring lessons were learned and a message was sent to everyone that that his family shouldn’t be touched. This is a truly amazing second chance romance with a mafia twist, where the storyline is filled with drama, unpredictably emotional instances, steamy encounters, action-packed moment and d family loyalties, that lead to an awesome happily ever after. There is a lot going in the book to keep you totally engrossed from the first page and you won’t be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Xander never expected to see Mel again after she disappeared without a trace, but seeing her again years later and discovering the truth about what happened nearly sent him into a spiral. Xander’s love for Mel never went away, which led him down a rabbit hole, as his anger was conflicting with his feelings of love towards her. However, Xander had to put his feelings aside to deal with the dangerous situation brewing around them, whilst he navigated the new changes in his life. Unfortunately, just as they managed to settle into their new life, a family death upended their lives, which led to a series of events that nearly cost Xander his family.
Luckily, Xander’s love for his family lit a fire under him to resolve the issue, whilst ensuring lessons were learned and a message was sent to everyone that that his family shouldn’t be touched. This is a truly amazing second chance romance with a mafia twist, where the storyline is filled with drama, unpredictably emotional instances, steamy encounters, action-packed moment and d family loyalties, that lead to an awesome happily ever after. There is a lot going in the book to keep you totally engrossed from the first page and you won’t be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2024
So Many Secrets
Melissa is betrothed to Xander and now is the time. But will secrets from their past bring them together or will anger consume them?
Melissa is betrothed to Xander and now is the time. But will secrets from their past bring them together or will anger consume them?
March 27, 2024
She has his baby, and his entire family keeps it a secret from him for six years because ... reasons? Because they think he's not emotionally stable enough to handle it, even though he's the Mafia heir and mostly in charge of what happens day to day?
Then she comes back, and he handles her and his people in a highly emotional, unstable way? Like shooting an ally in the knee, and running by himself into a house full of enemies because his keen skills will keep him from getting shot?
Oh, and while her safety/security is super important, the kid, on the other hand, gets taken off alone with various people for school and outings because nobody is going to notice he looks just like dad and is coming and going from their house?
Not to mention the h and H both ruminating extensively about how they shouldn't be together because ... being in love is bad for them/bad for business/they might have to compromise/cooperate with each other?
Eyes rolling.
Then she comes back, and he handles her and his people in a highly emotional, unstable way? Like shooting an ally in the knee, and running by himself into a house full of enemies because his keen skills will keep him from getting shot?
Oh, and while her safety/security is super important, the kid, on the other hand, gets taken off alone with various people for school and outings because nobody is going to notice he looks just like dad and is coming and going from their house?
Not to mention the h and H both ruminating extensively about how they shouldn't be together because ... being in love is bad for them/bad for business/they might have to compromise/cooperate with each other?
Eyes rolling.
March 14, 2024
Intriguing couple. Xander an alpha Mafia Capo that shows another complete different side as the story evolves. Melissa hiding a secret from only him that could destroy her. Well written with a good back story for both of them. A definite must read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2024
A wonderfully written mafia romance story that’s a page turner which has amazing characters. This story has suspense, intrigue, action and steamy spicy romance with a happily ever after ending to bring it all together.
A mafia story about two old flames that get drawn back together by a marriage agreement between their families. The soon to be mafia don’s father has cancer and the doctors don’t think he will last very long. The mafia princess left the soon to be mafia don when she found out that she was pregnant six years ago, the mafia princess didn’t want the soon to be mafia don to have to pick between her and their child over his duty to his family even though his family knew about her pregnancy and help to hide her away from the soon to be mafia don. When the mafia princess returned though their families came together to make the agreement even though the soon to be mafia don didn’t like it since he was still angry with the mafia princess for leaving.
The soon to be mafia don and the mafia princess are trying to get to know one another again. They have sex before the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess move in with him. When the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess move in he finds out that he has a son and that both families knew about his son. The soon to be mafia son is angry and hurt about this but soon he forgives the mafia princess.
During this time the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess start work at his family’s legitimate business dealing with the charities that they help and manage. The soon to be mafia don also deals with his brother the illegal parts of the business, that part of the business one of his brother’s find a guy to help deal shipping their drugs and weapons so that the rivals the Russians can’t get them. The soon to be mafia don really doesn’t trust the guy but his brother brought him in so he lets his thoughts about the guy slide.
It’s only been about three months since the mafia princess has been back and the two are getting closer but one morning they get into an argument and they think she may be pregnant. The soon to be mafia don leaves that morning and most of the day the mafia princess is not feeling well, it’s the weekend so she can’t be sick because she needs to tend to their son. When the soon to be mafia don comes back he has yellow roses and a pregnancy test with him, the mafia princess is in the tub in the bathroom of their bedroom. The pregnancy test indicates that she is pregnant so they make plans on bringing both families together to tell them and they have dinner at his family’s home to tell them all.
During this time the Russians are going after the mafia family’s shipments and the guy has lost men due to this fact. At a meeting with the guy the soon to be mafia don shoots the guy in the knee and the guy is livid about it.
The soon to be mafia don takes the mafia princess and their son on vacation. Soon though the soon to be mafia don finds out that his father has passed due to his cancer and he goes back to his family’s home but he leaves the mafia princess and his son there on vacation hoping that it will keep them safe so he can do his business. After the soon to be mafia don is at the family’s home for a while he and his brothers leave to tend a meeting with the famiglia to make him the new mafia don. When they get back to the family’s home he finds out that the mafia princess is there and his son. The mafia don takes the mafia princess to his father’s old study where he has her stay until he comes back, he has the mafia princess’s brother go to stay with her. When the mafia don comes back she informs him that she loves him and he has her go with him to meet the guests who are coming.
They have a funeral for the father and the mafia princess notices the guy who works with the mafia don even though she doesn’t know who he is. When they get to the family’s home she notices him again watching her and as soon as he walks out the door everyone is in a panic. The mafia don goes to her, having her go with her guard back to their home. Before she goes he promises her that he will come back to her. The bodyguard and the head of security take the mafia princess and their son back to their home. When they get to the home they notice that the guards are gone, the bodyguard and the head of security get out and the bodyguard has the mafia princess get on the floor of the car. When the car door opens the guy is there telling her to get out and when she is holding her sleeping son she notices the head of security on the ground next to the car bleeding. The guy wants the son but she won’t give her son to the guy. They go into the home where she notices the bodyguard tied up bleeding from the head, and the guy winds up getting the son once the son wakes up.
The mafia don and his second go to the warehouse where the shipment is to be at, they have some of their men with them. Once they get out they are in a gunfight but they make it to the warehouse where they start picking off the Russians one at a time. The second is about to have the mafia don leave when they both get a message with a picture of the mafia princess tied up. The two go to the mafia don’s home with some men. They get inside only to find the living room door locked. After banging on the door and some shots going off the guy opens the door. The guy is furious and the mafia don but by the end the mafia don killed the guy and they find the son watching television and they find the mafia princess tied in their bedroom. The mafia don’s brothers get there and help. That night they have sex and telling each other that they love one another.
The next day the mafia don is in the kitchen when the mafia princess comes down getting some coffee. He gets on one knee in front of the mafia princess and has her to marry him, he brings out a ring box with a canary yellow diamond in it. The mafia princess tells him yes.
Five months later the priest is wedding them and after they kiss she’s getting changed into something that’s not too big when her husband comes to the door to get her so they can go to their reception. The couple are kissing and are touching one another but soon they are walking toward the reception and she winds up informing her husband that she’s pregnant with twins. The second comes to find them to get them to the reception and when they walk into their reception they see everyone. Their son comes to them and she holds him. The mafia princess’s family is right there, her husband and her son in her arms as well as their twins in her.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A mafia story about two old flames that get drawn back together by a marriage agreement between their families. The soon to be mafia don’s father has cancer and the doctors don’t think he will last very long. The mafia princess left the soon to be mafia don when she found out that she was pregnant six years ago, the mafia princess didn’t want the soon to be mafia don to have to pick between her and their child over his duty to his family even though his family knew about her pregnancy and help to hide her away from the soon to be mafia don. When the mafia princess returned though their families came together to make the agreement even though the soon to be mafia don didn’t like it since he was still angry with the mafia princess for leaving.
The soon to be mafia don and the mafia princess are trying to get to know one another again. They have sex before the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess move in with him. When the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess move in he finds out that he has a son and that both families knew about his son. The soon to be mafia son is angry and hurt about this but soon he forgives the mafia princess.
During this time the soon to be mafia don has the mafia princess start work at his family’s legitimate business dealing with the charities that they help and manage. The soon to be mafia don also deals with his brother the illegal parts of the business, that part of the business one of his brother’s find a guy to help deal shipping their drugs and weapons so that the rivals the Russians can’t get them. The soon to be mafia don really doesn’t trust the guy but his brother brought him in so he lets his thoughts about the guy slide.
It’s only been about three months since the mafia princess has been back and the two are getting closer but one morning they get into an argument and they think she may be pregnant. The soon to be mafia don leaves that morning and most of the day the mafia princess is not feeling well, it’s the weekend so she can’t be sick because she needs to tend to their son. When the soon to be mafia don comes back he has yellow roses and a pregnancy test with him, the mafia princess is in the tub in the bathroom of their bedroom. The pregnancy test indicates that she is pregnant so they make plans on bringing both families together to tell them and they have dinner at his family’s home to tell them all.
During this time the Russians are going after the mafia family’s shipments and the guy has lost men due to this fact. At a meeting with the guy the soon to be mafia don shoots the guy in the knee and the guy is livid about it.
The soon to be mafia don takes the mafia princess and their son on vacation. Soon though the soon to be mafia don finds out that his father has passed due to his cancer and he goes back to his family’s home but he leaves the mafia princess and his son there on vacation hoping that it will keep them safe so he can do his business. After the soon to be mafia don is at the family’s home for a while he and his brothers leave to tend a meeting with the famiglia to make him the new mafia don. When they get back to the family’s home he finds out that the mafia princess is there and his son. The mafia don takes the mafia princess to his father’s old study where he has her stay until he comes back, he has the mafia princess’s brother go to stay with her. When the mafia don comes back she informs him that she loves him and he has her go with him to meet the guests who are coming.
They have a funeral for the father and the mafia princess notices the guy who works with the mafia don even though she doesn’t know who he is. When they get to the family’s home she notices him again watching her and as soon as he walks out the door everyone is in a panic. The mafia don goes to her, having her go with her guard back to their home. Before she goes he promises her that he will come back to her. The bodyguard and the head of security take the mafia princess and their son back to their home. When they get to the home they notice that the guards are gone, the bodyguard and the head of security get out and the bodyguard has the mafia princess get on the floor of the car. When the car door opens the guy is there telling her to get out and when she is holding her sleeping son she notices the head of security on the ground next to the car bleeding. The guy wants the son but she won’t give her son to the guy. They go into the home where she notices the bodyguard tied up bleeding from the head, and the guy winds up getting the son once the son wakes up.
The mafia don and his second go to the warehouse where the shipment is to be at, they have some of their men with them. Once they get out they are in a gunfight but they make it to the warehouse where they start picking off the Russians one at a time. The second is about to have the mafia don leave when they both get a message with a picture of the mafia princess tied up. The two go to the mafia don’s home with some men. They get inside only to find the living room door locked. After banging on the door and some shots going off the guy opens the door. The guy is furious and the mafia don but by the end the mafia don killed the guy and they find the son watching television and they find the mafia princess tied in their bedroom. The mafia don’s brothers get there and help. That night they have sex and telling each other that they love one another.
The next day the mafia don is in the kitchen when the mafia princess comes down getting some coffee. He gets on one knee in front of the mafia princess and has her to marry him, he brings out a ring box with a canary yellow diamond in it. The mafia princess tells him yes.
Five months later the priest is wedding them and after they kiss she’s getting changed into something that’s not too big when her husband comes to the door to get her so they can go to their reception. The couple are kissing and are touching one another but soon they are walking toward the reception and she winds up informing her husband that she’s pregnant with twins. The second comes to find them to get them to the reception and when they walk into their reception they see everyone. Their son comes to them and she holds him. The mafia princess’s family is right there, her husband and her son in her arms as well as their twins in her.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2024
DNFed - how does this have a four star rating? The writing is awful.
April 4, 2024
Painful…
The un-creative title is the trope and tells you all you need to know. That should have told me what I was in for- if there wasn’t a lot of thought out into the title, I shouldn’t have expected much from the story I guess 🤷🏻♀️ It had good bones, but the execution was definitely a miss.
Oof. Lots of editing errors. Alec is Alex, wrong words, etc. In chapter 13 the formatting and font change, and it was very distracting. Why are there capitals everywhere? And then it suddenly stopped. Many times the wording didn’t sound right. Like asking why someone never “takes up the phone” instead of picking up the phone, and they’re always “jerking the phone away from their ears” (instead of just one ear). If English isn’t the primary language, I could underrated that maybe, but it was weird at times.
This story starts out with Xander and Mel being forced into an arranged marriage that will somehow benefit both their families. Though we never really know exactly how it’s going to benefit them, just that their fathers are enemies and his father is dying from cancer and in order for him to step up as the next mafia leader he needs to be married. I spent most of the book wondering why this wedding was absolutely necessary to save both families, yet they scheduled it for 5 months out. Why would they not do it asap? Oh, because then there would be no room for unnecessary drama!
He had no idea that five years ago when Mel suddenly left him, she was pregnant with his baby. Oh, and both their families knew and have hidden her and the son for years. His family felt he was not mature enough to step up and that having a child would steal his focus. She wanted a safe normal life for her baby, and felt that if forced to choose he would choose the famaglia. So they disappeared until it became necessary for him to marry.
This girl was a mafia princess. She grew up in this life… she literally fled to keep her son safe from this life… so WHY is she acting clueless now? 🙄🙄 “Is he in danger?” She knows they’re being married to strengthen the families, she knows there’s something going on and has been told about the extra security, but she can’t put the details together to figure out there’s trouble? 🙄🤦🏻♀️
"Will this always happen? Will his life always be disrupted like this?"
There is zero way she is the daughter of one of the Mafia leaders and actually asked this question. Are you serious? Are we really to believe that her father somehow managed to shelter her and her siblings so completely from all the mafia life that she was never touched by any of it at all during her childhood? And if that is so, then it nullifies her entire reasoning for running when she discovered she was pregnant. If her father was able to do so for her and her siblings, it should prove it to be possible for her son as well, right? 🙄🙄
Overall- this was a hot mess. He was very immature, definitely not a leader. But then had moments of being more. I don’t know. They had an annoying and probably toxic relationship, and from the sounds of their past it was always that way. But they know how to have sex, so it’s ok. 🙄 The mood swings were bipolar. I couldn’t keep up. They had a conversation about not using condoms and even about making a baby… but when she says she’s pregnant he gets angry and they argue, and he has an inner monologue where he talks about the possibility of her getting pregnant deliberately. What now?
She has a nanny for her son and a number of family members that apparently have jobs that don’t mind them always being available to drop everything and care for her kid. In fact, for all she waxed on about providing him with the best childhood, she didn’t spend much time with him.
This felt like maybe a beginning draft… like it could be reworked into something if someone put time into it. But it didn’t come out that way, and that’s too bad.
The un-creative title is the trope and tells you all you need to know. That should have told me what I was in for- if there wasn’t a lot of thought out into the title, I shouldn’t have expected much from the story I guess 🤷🏻♀️ It had good bones, but the execution was definitely a miss.
Oof. Lots of editing errors. Alec is Alex, wrong words, etc. In chapter 13 the formatting and font change, and it was very distracting. Why are there capitals everywhere? And then it suddenly stopped. Many times the wording didn’t sound right. Like asking why someone never “takes up the phone” instead of picking up the phone, and they’re always “jerking the phone away from their ears” (instead of just one ear). If English isn’t the primary language, I could underrated that maybe, but it was weird at times.
This story starts out with Xander and Mel being forced into an arranged marriage that will somehow benefit both their families. Though we never really know exactly how it’s going to benefit them, just that their fathers are enemies and his father is dying from cancer and in order for him to step up as the next mafia leader he needs to be married. I spent most of the book wondering why this wedding was absolutely necessary to save both families, yet they scheduled it for 5 months out. Why would they not do it asap? Oh, because then there would be no room for unnecessary drama!
He had no idea that five years ago when Mel suddenly left him, she was pregnant with his baby. Oh, and both their families knew and have hidden her and the son for years. His family felt he was not mature enough to step up and that having a child would steal his focus. She wanted a safe normal life for her baby, and felt that if forced to choose he would choose the famaglia. So they disappeared until it became necessary for him to marry.
This girl was a mafia princess. She grew up in this life… she literally fled to keep her son safe from this life… so WHY is she acting clueless now? 🙄🙄 “Is he in danger?” She knows they’re being married to strengthen the families, she knows there’s something going on and has been told about the extra security, but she can’t put the details together to figure out there’s trouble? 🙄🤦🏻♀️
"Will this always happen? Will his life always be disrupted like this?"
There is zero way she is the daughter of one of the Mafia leaders and actually asked this question. Are you serious? Are we really to believe that her father somehow managed to shelter her and her siblings so completely from all the mafia life that she was never touched by any of it at all during her childhood? And if that is so, then it nullifies her entire reasoning for running when she discovered she was pregnant. If her father was able to do so for her and her siblings, it should prove it to be possible for her son as well, right? 🙄🙄
Overall- this was a hot mess. He was very immature, definitely not a leader. But then had moments of being more. I don’t know. They had an annoying and probably toxic relationship, and from the sounds of their past it was always that way. But they know how to have sex, so it’s ok. 🙄 The mood swings were bipolar. I couldn’t keep up. They had a conversation about not using condoms and even about making a baby… but when she says she’s pregnant he gets angry and they argue, and he has an inner monologue where he talks about the possibility of her getting pregnant deliberately. What now?
She has a nanny for her son and a number of family members that apparently have jobs that don’t mind them always being available to drop everything and care for her kid. In fact, for all she waxed on about providing him with the best childhood, she didn’t spend much time with him.
This felt like maybe a beginning draft… like it could be reworked into something if someone put time into it. But it didn’t come out that way, and that’s too bad.
March 27, 2025
I don’t understand why this book has such a good rating. It shouldn’t.
This entire book reads almost like those terrible online stories that are all basically the same and have terrible grammar and syntax because ai writes them or at least a large number of them. It’s slightly better but it still reads like a 16 year old wrote it on wattpad without using Microsoft Word.
At times it feels like the author just went through the story and picked random words to change with a thesaurus which almost changes the entire meaning within the sentence and it reads really, really weird. A lot of the conversations switch back and forth between oddly formal and more casual and it doesn’t feel like a conversation at all then.
Did ai proofread this? Or anyone for that matter? If the author paid someone to proofread this they should fire them immediately and if they used ai then they should rethink their life choices.
There’s odd continuity errors like Xander saying he has the whole day free and then a few paragraphs later he was in a meeting and now at his brother’s club. What happened to the free day that you were going to spend taking your son to the park? Then Lucian asks to watch Paw Patrol instead of the made up tv show that had been previously mentioned that was just a rip-off of Paw Patrol. Time skips seem to happen when they shouldn’t. Alec is sometimes Alex. Word tenses don’t match or are just wrong. Punctuation is often wrong. There are things that should have been fact checked but weren’t. There’s a lot of smut just for the sake of smut. Literally every interaction between the two main characters ends with sex. It’s weird and off putting.
The book seems to drag on forever and I really wanted to dnf it but I pushed through and now know 100% I do not want to read another book by this author. This was enough for me. Not an author I would recommend.
This entire book reads almost like those terrible online stories that are all basically the same and have terrible grammar and syntax because ai writes them or at least a large number of them. It’s slightly better but it still reads like a 16 year old wrote it on wattpad without using Microsoft Word.
At times it feels like the author just went through the story and picked random words to change with a thesaurus which almost changes the entire meaning within the sentence and it reads really, really weird. A lot of the conversations switch back and forth between oddly formal and more casual and it doesn’t feel like a conversation at all then.
Did ai proofread this? Or anyone for that matter? If the author paid someone to proofread this they should fire them immediately and if they used ai then they should rethink their life choices.
There’s odd continuity errors like Xander saying he has the whole day free and then a few paragraphs later he was in a meeting and now at his brother’s club. What happened to the free day that you were going to spend taking your son to the park? Then Lucian asks to watch Paw Patrol instead of the made up tv show that had been previously mentioned that was just a rip-off of Paw Patrol. Time skips seem to happen when they shouldn’t. Alec is sometimes Alex. Word tenses don’t match or are just wrong. Punctuation is often wrong. There are things that should have been fact checked but weren’t. There’s a lot of smut just for the sake of smut. Literally every interaction between the two main characters ends with sex. It’s weird and off putting.
The book seems to drag on forever and I really wanted to dnf it but I pushed through and now know 100% I do not want to read another book by this author. This was enough for me. Not an author I would recommend.
March 18, 2024
Arc Review
Mel : Red is not my colour. Red everything including the Rubies.
Zander : she broke my heart 6 years ago. The woman he loved and lost.
Mafia expectations but most of all - protecting what’s his. Lucian and Mel, his siblings and respected parents. The Famiglia are the priority.
The transcendency of becoming Capo weighs on all, especially Xander who was born to lead.
Overall, you have the usual Mafia read but each storyline has something different. Yes, there is the stereotypical - Territory, Ownerships, Dos/Capo, death, crime etc. Here, we are not only maintaining all expectations, but a huge secret of 6 yrs too. As the title states - Secret Baby. Not too much spoiling, Xander, next in line to be Capo is also in a proxy marriage for allegiance concocted by the Fathers. Fear, questions, uncertainty for Mel leads her to disappearing for a while. 6 yrs apart from each other a secret almost everyone else knows - Suprise for Xander - Fatherhood and the story goes on…..
Mel : Red is not my colour. Red everything including the Rubies.
Zander : she broke my heart 6 years ago. The woman he loved and lost.
Mafia expectations but most of all - protecting what’s his. Lucian and Mel, his siblings and respected parents. The Famiglia are the priority.
The transcendency of becoming Capo weighs on all, especially Xander who was born to lead.
Overall, you have the usual Mafia read but each storyline has something different. Yes, there is the stereotypical - Territory, Ownerships, Dos/Capo, death, crime etc. Here, we are not only maintaining all expectations, but a huge secret of 6 yrs too. As the title states - Secret Baby. Not too much spoiling, Xander, next in line to be Capo is also in a proxy marriage for allegiance concocted by the Fathers. Fear, questions, uncertainty for Mel leads her to disappearing for a while. 6 yrs apart from each other a secret almost everyone else knows - Suprise for Xander - Fatherhood and the story goes on…..
September 6, 2024
Wait so let me get this straight
Y’all were together 6 years ago ( confusing if they were married back then) but she left bc she wanted to raise her son without violence ( have you thought about asking him to keep him a secret without him missing out on being a father?) but also at the same time she had to leave and hide because he wasn’t emotionally stable to have a child and run a mafia?
What in the actual fuck?
I’m not a super big fan of intentionally hiding of children from their own parents bc it just never done well. Every single reason they had to keep Lucian away was so selfish.
And if Xander is really that emotionally unstable - why tf is he going up to head? You can’t be groomed to be head with that level of instability.
His whole family and hers all knew about this child but it was just fucking weird. Put one of the other brothers in power if this is how it’s gonna be and make him stay as an underboss??
Also like girl you were raised as mafia princess - you know exactly how it goes?
Y’all were together 6 years ago ( confusing if they were married back then) but she left bc she wanted to raise her son without violence ( have you thought about asking him to keep him a secret without him missing out on being a father?) but also at the same time she had to leave and hide because he wasn’t emotionally stable to have a child and run a mafia?
What in the actual fuck?
I’m not a super big fan of intentionally hiding of children from their own parents bc it just never done well. Every single reason they had to keep Lucian away was so selfish.
And if Xander is really that emotionally unstable - why tf is he going up to head? You can’t be groomed to be head with that level of instability.
His whole family and hers all knew about this child but it was just fucking weird. Put one of the other brothers in power if this is how it’s gonna be and make him stay as an underboss??
Also like girl you were raised as mafia princess - you know exactly how it goes?
June 27, 2024
Mafia Heir’s Secret Baby
🖤 secret baby
🌹 Mafia Romance
🖤 look at her and 💀 touch her and 💀
🌹 he never stopped loving her
🖤 arranged marriage
🌹 age gap
🖤 my wife
This is Xander’s & Melissa’s story and overall it was good.
I had the opportunity to read the prequel to this story as an ARC and I was immediately hooked, wanting to know how their story continued.
After 6 years apart (and a hidden child), business forces them back together. Xander had no idea where Melissa was or that they had a child. Worse yet, his whole family knew and never told him. They kept them hidden to protect her and the child as they were walking targets and to protect Xander as he needed to secure his place in the Mafia as future capo.
Once they were back together, despite some feelings of anger, resentment and pride, it was obvious they both never stopped loving each other. .
This does not end on a cliffhanger. Enjoy!
🖤 secret baby
🌹 Mafia Romance
🖤 look at her and 💀 touch her and 💀
🌹 he never stopped loving her
🖤 arranged marriage
🌹 age gap
🖤 my wife
This is Xander’s & Melissa’s story and overall it was good.
I had the opportunity to read the prequel to this story as an ARC and I was immediately hooked, wanting to know how their story continued.
After 6 years apart (and a hidden child), business forces them back together. Xander had no idea where Melissa was or that they had a child. Worse yet, his whole family knew and never told him. They kept them hidden to protect her and the child as they were walking targets and to protect Xander as he needed to secure his place in the Mafia as future capo.
Once they were back together, despite some feelings of anger, resentment and pride, it was obvious they both never stopped loving each other. .
This does not end on a cliffhanger. Enjoy!
May 24, 2024
The Mafia series by Vivy Skys are a series with a little dark undertone (more gray than black) and a small taste of spice.
Mafia Heirs Secret Baby is the story of Xander and Mel.
Xander is the heir to the famiglia. With his father ill with cancer, he must make the move to concrete his family to another Mafia family in order to show strength. When his father and the father of his 1st love, Mel, decide that it's time for them to marry. He has no choice but to accept his fate.
Mel doesn't want to marry Xander. She ran away 6 years earlier, knowing she was carrying his child and knowing she couldn't handle it is he picked the famiglia over her. Now she must face him, and he'll soon find out about the son she (and both their families) have kept from him.
Unexpectedly, both Xander and Mel are still fighting those feelings all these years later.
Mafia Heirs Secret Baby is the story of Xander and Mel.
Xander is the heir to the famiglia. With his father ill with cancer, he must make the move to concrete his family to another Mafia family in order to show strength. When his father and the father of his 1st love, Mel, decide that it's time for them to marry. He has no choice but to accept his fate.
Mel doesn't want to marry Xander. She ran away 6 years earlier, knowing she was carrying his child and knowing she couldn't handle it is he picked the famiglia over her. Now she must face him, and he'll soon find out about the son she (and both their families) have kept from him.
Unexpectedly, both Xander and Mel are still fighting those feelings all these years later.
July 5, 2024
LGJ
I have enjoyed reading this authors book and look forward to the next book in the series. When you think of Mafia Men some may see the negative but there are a lot of positives such as family first; leaders in the family businesses, protector of the community, and they ensures the safety of all those under their watch. Rekindling a love lost, finding you already have an heir, lost of your father/mentor, and dealing with the Russians and other striving to take over your territory at your father’s repast is a lot to deal with but making a promise to your soon to be wife is just as important. All ends well in the end. Territory saved, family witnesses the marriage ceremony go over well and ones finds out twins are on the way a boy and girl. Everyone lives to see another day to see the new beginnings.
I have enjoyed reading this authors book and look forward to the next book in the series. When you think of Mafia Men some may see the negative but there are a lot of positives such as family first; leaders in the family businesses, protector of the community, and they ensures the safety of all those under their watch. Rekindling a love lost, finding you already have an heir, lost of your father/mentor, and dealing with the Russians and other striving to take over your territory at your father’s repast is a lot to deal with but making a promise to your soon to be wife is just as important. All ends well in the end. Territory saved, family witnesses the marriage ceremony go over well and ones finds out twins are on the way a boy and girl. Everyone lives to see another day to see the new beginnings.
August 24, 2025
Very Interesting?
Melissa disappeared from Xander, 6 years ago and pregnant. It seems they had feelings for each other; Mel had no choice but to leave.
Xander can not believe that Mel us back, where had she been? They are now in a arranged marriage contract and Xander is not making it easy on Mel.
Mel can tell that Xander is upset from her abrupt disappearance 6 years ago. Now, she needs to find how to tell him about his son, Lucian! Can he forgive her? Will he try to take Lucian away?
Xander tries to keep Mel at a distance, she is his weakness and the enemies are circling. He will soon take over, his father is ill, cancer is taking over his body. The illness has been kept quiet but for how long? How will Xander react when he finds out his family knew of Lucian and kept it from him?
Melissa disappeared from Xander, 6 years ago and pregnant. It seems they had feelings for each other; Mel had no choice but to leave.
Xander can not believe that Mel us back, where had she been? They are now in a arranged marriage contract and Xander is not making it easy on Mel.
Mel can tell that Xander is upset from her abrupt disappearance 6 years ago. Now, she needs to find how to tell him about his son, Lucian! Can he forgive her? Will he try to take Lucian away?
Xander tries to keep Mel at a distance, she is his weakness and the enemies are circling. He will soon take over, his father is ill, cancer is taking over his body. The illness has been kept quiet but for how long? How will Xander react when he finds out his family knew of Lucian and kept it from him?
May 1, 2024
Great idea but needs work.
I read this book in full although there were definitely certain parts that made me confused or had me questioning if certain fact checking was done. Many places in the book could use dividers to differentiate when we’re moving to a different point in time within the same chapter as there were a few times where I had to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything to explain the time jump. A bit of fact checking in pregnancy would be good too as I found some of the information was off in timeframes or were things a woman who had already experienced should know. I gave it three stars because the story itself wasn’t bad it just needs more editing.
I read this book in full although there were definitely certain parts that made me confused or had me questioning if certain fact checking was done. Many places in the book could use dividers to differentiate when we’re moving to a different point in time within the same chapter as there were a few times where I had to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything to explain the time jump. A bit of fact checking in pregnancy would be good too as I found some of the information was off in timeframes or were things a woman who had already experienced should know. I gave it three stars because the story itself wasn’t bad it just needs more editing.
May 2, 2025
Loved the book, great storyline.
I loved how their love always remained even though she hurt Xander when she left without saying the was pregnant and was gone six years when she was brought back in an arranged marriage proposal. Melissa love for Xander never wavered but she knew that he had to make some changes for the family. He had been groomed all his life to take over from the father. His entire family knew and protected Mel and Lucian and when he found out he had a son he was hurt. Melissa did everything to show him that she never stopped loving him. Beautiful love story. Never a dull moment and kept me reading from the beginning until the end. I recommend reading this book and the other books in the Ruthless Mafia Kings series.
I loved how their love always remained even though she hurt Xander when she left without saying the was pregnant and was gone six years when she was brought back in an arranged marriage proposal. Melissa love for Xander never wavered but she knew that he had to make some changes for the family. He had been groomed all his life to take over from the father. His entire family knew and protected Mel and Lucian and when he found out he had a son he was hurt. Melissa did everything to show him that she never stopped loving him. Beautiful love story. Never a dull moment and kept me reading from the beginning until the end. I recommend reading this book and the other books in the Ruthless Mafia Kings series.
March 6, 2024
HOLY FR@AKING COW is this Mafia romance book one HOT TAMALE. The cover is very very eye catching, and the way Vivy writes will BLOW you away. I really loved how Mel is strong and determined to protect her son at all costs. Xander is a very determined man and gets what he wants, and Mel is who he wants. Can he forgive her for the secrets she has kept from him. This plus so much more that transpires in this book will keep you turning the pages and having beads of sweat on your forehead waiting to see what happens next. Oh, and by the way the ending is TOTALLY AWESOME.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 13, 2024
Must read! OMG 😱 this was fantastic and it was a hot steamy page turner. And the suspense was absolutely incredible and intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t put it down.
Xander and Mel romance was heartwarming as the chemistry between and physical attraction was sizzling and spicy of tension. They were falling in love with each other all over again but how would the mafia feel about them rekindling their bond again. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
Xander and Mel romance was heartwarming as the chemistry between and physical attraction was sizzling and spicy of tension. They were falling in love with each other all over again but how would the mafia feel about them rekindling their bond again. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
March 15, 2024
Xander and Mel were together forever, or so he thought, and then, for no apparent reason, she left him.
Six years later she's forced to come back and marry him to unite their families against the Russians. Xander is so conflicted, he wants Mel, but can't forgive her, especially when he finds out the reason why she left and that he was the only one that didn't know.
Hurt, betrayal, suppressed emotions run through this book; will these two find their way to forgiveness and unite their families?
A easy read that kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Six years later she's forced to come back and marry him to unite their families against the Russians. Xander is so conflicted, he wants Mel, but can't forgive her, especially when he finds out the reason why she left and that he was the only one that didn't know.
Hurt, betrayal, suppressed emotions run through this book; will these two find their way to forgiveness and unite their families?
A easy read that kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 17, 2024
This book is a emotional read full of fear, secrets, sadness, happiness and joy. The highs and lows in this book will keep your head spinning. It is hard enough to have time when you first meet but to have your families be the center of your relationship will certainly make or destroy you. This is a second chance story with an amazing back story. Character development is detailed and exacting. This author knows how to keep your heart beating and you gasping as she entices you to turn page after page. A true love story set against the Mafia in a way I have not connected to before. If you haven't read this author you are truly missing out. Highly recommend!
April 3, 2024
Strong Story Line
Book was super well written and developed all the way up until the conclusion. Loved the development of each character and plot line. I was 88% the way through the book and had no idea how the author could conclude the book with the number of pages left. Then everything was rushed and the major plot line finally hit and it was done and over in less than four pages. Author could have written out that plot point with more details and strung it out a bit and added another 100 plus pages. Instead the author wrapped it up hurriedly in less than 10 and it was a let down. Still a nice read but left me feeling like I should have had more at the end.
Book was super well written and developed all the way up until the conclusion. Loved the development of each character and plot line. I was 88% the way through the book and had no idea how the author could conclude the book with the number of pages left. Then everything was rushed and the major plot line finally hit and it was done and over in less than four pages. Author could have written out that plot point with more details and strung it out a bit and added another 100 plus pages. Instead the author wrapped it up hurriedly in less than 10 and it was a let down. Still a nice read but left me feeling like I should have had more at the end.
April 7, 2024
I did really enjoy this book, I loved the storyline and the characters. Xander and Mel were perfect for each other, then and now. They fell in love 6 years ago and Xander was gutted when Mel left, only he doesn’t know that Mel was just as upset about it as he was. When they have to meet again due to family commitments, Xander is so upset that she just comes back and he’s even more angry with his family that they kept a secret for the last 6 years. I just don’t get that Xander is that cross and then forgives Mel really quickly. Great book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 15, 2024
✨what the fuck did I even read✨
genuinely a difficult book to follow. it’s like plot point after plot point kept getting introduced with seemingly no desire to follow through with it. the glaring grammatical and spelling errors also added another layer of frustration that I was almost convinced this book was machine translated to English.
some of the dialogue was also incredibly jarring to read. genuinely I think if I was mid-blowie on my husband and I hit him with the
𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓸𝓯𝓯 𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓭
he’d fucking laugh in my face and think I was joking. because that’s exactly what I thought upon reading it. holy shit.
genuinely a difficult book to follow. it’s like plot point after plot point kept getting introduced with seemingly no desire to follow through with it. the glaring grammatical and spelling errors also added another layer of frustration that I was almost convinced this book was machine translated to English.
some of the dialogue was also incredibly jarring to read. genuinely I think if I was mid-blowie on my husband and I hit him with the
𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓸𝓯𝓯 𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓭
he’d fucking laugh in my face and think I was joking. because that’s exactly what I thought upon reading it. holy shit.
July 29, 2024
The book was ok until Xander began to get obsessive with Melissa and Lucian's safety. I mean I get it, but also it was so distracting from the rest of the story. He's supposed to be the new head of the mafia and doesn't want to come off as weak for having his family. Once again the "rivalry" didn't make sense at all. Xander's dad hid Lucian from him, protected Melissa and Lucian while they were away, but supposedly hates Melissa's family. If he really hated them then why did he do everything he did for them. Xander's whole family knew but no one told Xander. Lucian was absolutely adorable. He was the highlight of the story because the rest of it didn't do it for me overall.
March 14, 2024
Amazing book I absolutely loved it. A second change love more powerful than hate is what you get between Xander and Melissa (Mel). The chemistry between them is explosive, they’re right for each other. You’ll find passion, possessiveness, danger, forgiveness, betrayal and lots of love. I felt in love with Xander and the relationship he has with his brothers and his parents as well as Mel and her father and siblings how they all support each other and have each other’s backs.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 14, 2024
A wonderful story with a mafia twist. Melissa and Zander were once lovers until things changed in her environment, including her father. When she is sent away, she disappears with a secret. When she is called back by her father because he thinks it is time to unite both families through marriage. Will they have a chance and can Zander forgive her for leaving and what happens when he finds out the reason and also her secret? Highly recommended to read.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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