Now and Forever: An Arranged Marriage Mafia/Cartel Romance

Brutal Vows #1

by Aleatha Romig

Arranged marriage. Age-gap romance. Kansas City Mafia × Roríguez Cartel

Peace has a price.
Mine is marriage.

As heir to the Luciano Famiglia, I was raised to become Capo. Loyalty was beaten into me. Mercy was not. My father made sure I understood that power belongs to the ruthless.

Now our enemies are growing stronger, and I've proposed the unthinkable—an alliance with the Roríguez Cartel.

The treaty requires blood.
Or, in this case, vows.

To unite two criminal empires, I'm ordered to marry Catalina Ruiz, the beautiful eldest daughter of one of the cartel's most powerful lieutenants. She believes she knows the sacrifice she's making.

She has no idea who she's marrying.

I became a made man at thirteen. Violence shaped me long before I became a leader. Love has never been part of my world, and I have no intention of letting it become my weakness.

This marriage isn't about romance.

It's about power.
It's about survival.
It's about creating an alliance strong enough to stop a war.

But when duty begins to blur with desire, the vows meant to unite two families may become the very thing that tears them apart.

From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes NOW AND FOREVER, the first interconnected stand-alone in the Brutal Vows series—a dark mafia romance featuring an arranged marriage, an age-gap romance, dangerous family loyalties, explosive chemistry, and the brutal cost of choosing love over power.

Have you been Aleatha'd?

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Mafia Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance

382 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2024

About the author

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis, Indiana. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren.
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over seventy novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, psychological thrillers, and romantic comedy.
The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.
Aleatha is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.

Books by Aleatha:
Consequences Series (Anthony Rawlings / Tony Rawlings and Claire Nichols) : Consequences, Truth, Convicted, Revealed, Beyond the Consequences - A Dark Wealth and Power Romance

The Infidelity series (Lennox Demetri/ Nox Demetri and Alexandria Collins / Charli Collins) Betrayal, Cunning, Deception, Entrapment, Fidelity. - A Wealth and Power Steamy Romance

The Price of Honor- A Mafia novel - Oren Demetri and Angelina Demetri - An Epic Mafia Love Story

The Web of Sin trilogy - SECRETS, LIES, PROMISES - Sterling Sparrow and Araneae McCrie (Sparrow Webs) A Dark Mafia Romance

Tangled Web trilogy - TWISTED, OBSESSED, BOUND - A dark mafia romance

Web of Desire trilogy - SPARK, FLAME, ASHES - A dark mafia romance

Dangerous Web trilogy - "Danger's First Kiss," DARK, DUSK, DAWN - A dark marriage Mafia romance

LIGHT DARK - Psychological Cult Thriller

INSIDIOUS - Domestic Thriller

FEAR OF FLAMES - Small-town, psychological thriller, family secrets

RISING WATERS - Dark, small-town psychological thriller

Indulgence Series: Unconventional, Unexpected, Unforgettable, and Undeniable - sexy BDSM novellas

Plus One, One Night, Another One, My Always One, Quintessentially the One, One Kiss, and One String - Aleatha's Lighter Ones - Contemporary romances

Fate's Demand - dark romance - prequel to DEVIL'S DEAL - Everett Ramses and Emma North - A Dark Mafia Romantic Suspense Duet prequel
DEVIL'S DEAL and ANGEL'S PROMISE - A Dark Mafia Romantic Suspense Duet

Sin Series: RED SIN, GREEN ENVY, GOLD LUST, and BLACK KNIGHT - A steamy age-gap romantic suspense

Royal Reflections: RUTHLESS REIGN, RESILIENT REIGN, RAVISHING REIGN, and RELEVANT REIGN - A Royal Romantic Suspense - A man hired to impersonate a prince falls in love with the princess who can never discover his true identity.

Brutal Vows: Mafia/cartel arranged marriages - NOW AND FOREVER, TILL DEATH DO US PART, BOUND BY A PROMISE, QUEENS AND MONSTERS, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, and NAUGHTY AND NICE - Mafia Romantic Suspense

The Coopers- INTERCEPTED, RUSHED, SACKED, and SCORED - Professional Football Dynasty Romantic Suspense series

The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.

Aleatha is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.

Reviews

[Myla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now and Forever is utterly compelling from beginning to end. The writing flowed easily and effortlessly and the story holds your interest. The characters were well-developed. This book has intense family drama, intrigue, suspense, secrets, lies, betrayal, angst, and romance.

Once I read a few pages I was invested in Dario and Catalina's story. Dario is such a breath of fresh air from your typical mafia heroes. There's something about his character that is captivating and dangerous at the same time. Even though Catalina does as her father commands, she is a strong independent woman. I like how the relationship between Dario and Catalina develops after they get married.

This is the start of a great series for any reader who appreciates a well-written and exciting mafia tale. Highly recommended.

[Dora Koutsoukou]

Part 1

Congratulations to the readers with the 4 and 5⭐️s reviews, who were the real heroes for loving this story.

I found everything flat and boring.

Dnf @ 64%

[Terra Drynan-Werder · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful start to a new series. This is a new to me author, and I cannot fathom why I have not read her books sooner. I was hooked right from page one and devoured this book in a day. I loved Dario and Catalina from the start and felt this would be a slightly different mafia book and I was not wrong. It had all the elements you would expect, however Catalina was strong and independent as much as she could be. Dario wanted to change things up and was very respectful of women. I enjoyed watching their relationship take shape, through the numerous struggles they faced. I always love suspense in my books and this one had it, I was shocked when I put it all together. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Beeg Panda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I knew it was too good to be true, his constant encouragement and requests for communication and honesty and transparency between them:
30%:
“I believe in honesty in a relationship. It’s the most important quality.”
…
“but we need to be open and honest with one another.”
…
Etc
…
Etc


27%:
“This is Jasmine.”
She appeared young, with pale skin, vibrant blue eyes, and curly hair. “Hello,” I offered. She smiled in return, but her eyes were on my husband.

45%:
“…the mysterious Josie. Who was she?…Will I be sharing my new husband with a ghost?…”

64%:
“Will you tell me about Josie?” He spun my direction, looking as if I’d just slapped him. “Why would you ask about her?”
He shook his head. “Catalina, this isn’t a conversation I’m ready to have with you. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.” Sighing, I nodded. “When you’re ready, I’ll listen.”
A few minutes later, he asked, “How did you find out about her? I made sure her things were gone before you arrived.”
“Before she moved in here, Josie was a bookkeeper and a dancer at a club called Minx.
Josie was a part of my life for almost nine years.”
“I don’t care about anyone before her. After her, until you, doesn’t count.”
“How did she die?”
Bringing her information out into the open would keep her ghost out of our marriage. I hoped it would anyway.

78%:
“Jasmine is Josie’s sister.”
…
“I couldn’t let her stay at the club. And I couldn’t send her away. She’s upstairs with Contessa.” “May I meet her?” “This is your home. You have a say in who stays here.”
…
I was trying to make sense out of what didn’t make sense. “Josie’s sister.”
“When Josie moved into this apartment, she brought her little sister.” He shook his head. “They had a shitty childhood to put it mildly. When Josie turned nineteen, she applied for and was granted custody of Jasmine. At the time, Jasmine was only five. She tried to raise her the best she could.”
He looked down. “Jasmine was seven when they moved in here,” he went on. “When Josie was killed…” I saw the pain the sentence invoked. “…when she died…I kept Jasmine. She was a minor. I called in a few favors with court officials and became her guardian. She was still in high school. This was the only real home she knew.”
“She’s an adult now—eighteen. I’m no longer legally responsible for her.”
“She’s a child...”


So this heroine - one of the more levelheaded ones who doesn't ditch her bodyguard, for example, & who doesn’t make ridiculous assumptions - is quite okay with the fact that this hero, who, for all his talk about honesty and openness - doesn’t open up to her about his past, which is actually very much his present:
First, she has to drag the Josie info from him. THEN he brings home Josie’s sister, whom for all intents and purposes he raised as his own child for the past 10 years. A child he never told the h about.
The fuck.

Now back to this h’s levelheadedness:
Does she get upset at this new development in her brand new marriage? No, of course not. She’s too level headed for that.
Does Miss Levelheaded get upset when he apologises for not telling her about Jasmine’s presence in his life because it meant Jasmine wouldn’t have gotten hurt? See, he’s not sorry for not being open and for possibly hurting the heroine. No, no, he’s sorry that him not telling the h meant that Jasmine got physically hurt while she wasn’t living with him because he sent Jasmine off to college when the h came to live with him. The fuck.
But no, she’s either a martyr or just good ole too stupid to live because she’s not one iota upset with him and his lies. None of the above is his fault, after all. The fuck.

Then these 3 live happily ever after.
Him and Jasmine with their Josie memories.
The h with Josie’s Romance books, in the library he built for Josie.
The fuck.

[elara · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m actually so easy to entertain. just give me a mafia romance book with arranged marriage trope and i’m automatically sold

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her dark romance novels are always the perfect blend between light and dark. Good and evil. Awesome characters! Great story! So hot

[Jessie ツ]

SELF NOTE- ❌dead ex trope, was with ow for 9 yrs. Not reading, not for me.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟
This was an interesting arranged marriage story.
Catalina is the daughter of a cartel under boss, who is forced to marry a mafia bosses son.
Lot of twists and turns in this story. Which kept my interest all the way through reading it.
Nice characters with hurdles to overcome. In a world of traitors.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fab book, finished in a few hours as I couldn’t put it down. This is an arranged marriage between the cartel and mafia, bring the two families together. Dario appears to exceed Cat’s expectations and they work well together. Family problems arise. Wish I could read more about them, as really enjoyed this couple.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

Tropes : Arranged marriage, mafia romance, J/P H, age gap (11 years)
Ending : HEA (pregnant)
Triggers : abuse, violence, gore, mention of SA
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : OW(H’s deceased ex)
Celibate while separated: yes
Intimacy details: virgin h, rough sex, oral, a little hair pulling, no condom
Standalone/Series : part of an interconnected series

Hero : Dario Luciano (35)
Heroine: Catalina Ruiz (24/25)

I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would like hence the 3,5 stars. Although it’s pretty tame compared to some of Aleatha’s books that I’ve read previously, it kinda lack the punch that I yearned for.

I’ve never been a fan of a plot where the MCs was in love with OW/OM before and moreover in a committed relationships for years. Especially the hero. In this book Dario was in a relationship with Josie, the ex for 9 years and pretty much in love with her I believed. Yes by the time Dario and Cat got married he wasn’t in love with Josie anymore but still… I can say I’m a possessive bitch lol so I only want the hero to ever be in love with the heroine but well I’m just have to suck it up I guess.

Other than that the whole book was okay. Cat have this urge to please Dario even though the whole marriage was arranged and she didn’t want to be married to him at first, she still tried to make it work and was surprisingly accepting after they got married.

Dario wasn’t a disgusting jackass like most mafia man, unlikr Alejandro that would be in the next book ad the MMC and Mia ad the FMC. I won’t read that for sure, not a fan of both of them tbh.

Overall an okay book to pass time. The ending was okay, would love to see more, like the baby was born or Cat was further along but beggars can’t be choosers.

[Cheryl Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catalina and Dario have an arranged marriage. An alliance between the cartel and the mafia is at the heart of this.
This book offers cruelty, corruption, power, intrigue, surprise twists and a HEA.

Catalina didn't want to leave Mexico or marry a stranger, but she is loyal and obedient and is nevertheless intent on making the best of the restrictions imposed upon her.

"I believe in honesty in a relationship. It's the most important quality" says Dario and with him it works both ways which makes it easier for Catalina when she is determined to make the marriage work.

Aleatha is the master of making the reader love morally grey characters and she certainly doesn't disappoint with this book. I very much look forward to returning to this world in future books.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catalina is raised immersed in the Mexican cartel. She knows what her family does. Her marriage is arranged to help the family.
Dario is born into the Italian mafia and raised under his father’s brutal hand to one day take over. Hoping to gain the title of capo he makes a deal with the cartel that includes marrying Catalina.
Neither Dario nor Cat expect love to be a part of marriage. He’s a brutal man and she an inexperienced woman. However, Dario chose Cat and when he shows her unexpected kindness, she willingly chooses him too.
A great age-gap, mafia/cartel story with a possessive MMC.

[Cristina]

H was in love with OW for 9 years.

[Neelz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably just me, but it wasn’t the dark story I’m used to reading from Aleatha.
There was no real tension between the two leads, everything just seemed to work out.

[Kerry Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story brings a fresh perspective to the Mafia genre, balancing hopefulness with the harsh realities of violence. The arranged marriage and age difference between the characters add depth and complexity to the plot, making it more interesting.

Right from the beginning, I was hooked on the story of Dario and Catalina. Dario's character breaks away from the typical Mafia hero mold, with his intriguing and risky personality. Watching how Dario and Catalina's relationship develops over time is really enjoyable.

Aleatha's storytelling skills are impressive, drawing readers into the lives of her characters effortlessly. Her writing style grips you from the start, making it hard to put the book down. It had been a while since I'd read anything by Aleatha, and this new series didn't disappoint. I highly recommend it, especially if you're into Mafia stories, arranged marriages, and age differences—it's got it all!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anything this author writes that I don't love? In a word, NO! Once again, Aleatha Romig brings her A-game to her newest novel, Now and Forever, a standalone Mafia/Cartel Romance. This one has an age-gap, arranged marriage with a smoldering Italian Capo-to-be and a beautiful, bright, young Hispanic woman. I was hooked from the beginning!

I've read many Mafia stories, but this one was somewhat different. For me, it gave off a more genteel feel, which is not to say that there was no violence. There was. However, the violence wasn't the in-your-face, non-stop type. The arranged marriage/age-gap was more at the core of the story.

When Dario and Catalina married, this story really took off. The interaction between them was steamy, intelligent, believable and beautifully written. I loved that the story offered up two fascinating characters with developing romantic emotions amidst the backdrop of darkness and violence that comes with a life in the Mafia/Cartel realm. I kept turning the pages wanting more, more, more!

Now and Forever was an easy-to-read, completely captivating story from this incredibly talented author. I'll be anxiously awaitng her next book in this realm. Grab your copy and enjoy!

[Yas · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF… 67%. It’s good, really good but it just looked like a pale copy of Born By Honor by Cora Reilly. So if you haven’t read it go for it but if you did it will just keep reminding you of it from de characters, the personalities, the story the way it unfolds. It’s still well writing and I wish the similarity with one of my favorite books didn’t bother me that much.

[Allia Reads (semi hiatus)]

Self note:

There is dead ex trope in this book and he has been with her for 9 years before she died…

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Hind · Rating 1 out of 5]

that's like copy paste book from bound by honor by (CORA REILLY) the same words the same storyline the same mafia world, and the romance, even the motto 😐 but in a lower bad version 🙂

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

For an Aletha Romig book this is really really tame. No angst at all. Little bit of infighting and loyalty issues in the family. These two were basically 100% in and committed to each from the beginning of their marriage. So it just kind of felt a bit beige. Not what I was expecting at all.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winning tale from the vibrant imagination of Aleatha Romig, kicking off a new, exciting series. Set in the complex and dangerous world of rival, criminal organisations, it focuses less on the actual methods by which their wealth is accumulated, than on the family relationships and the role of women whose lives are restricted by misogyny and a severely restricted view of women's worth.
Catalonia is so strong. She is aware of the restraints on self advancement that her life offers, but is also loyal and brave, accepting her fate. In Dario, we have a multidimensional man. He is capable of loyalty and cruelty in the line of 'duty', but also of growth into a better man.
I loved this book. As always, Aleatha Romig delivers a compelling, well written story which I could not put down. 💖💖💖💖💖

[Keza Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

And....wham, that's a wrap on my ARC read of Aleatha's first book in the brand new series Brutal Vows.
I kid you not she is the queen.
I have not felt so intimate with my screen as I did today. Dario and Catalina's story will leave you wanting more and more.

In the world of arranged marriages with cartels and mafia's, I'm a sucker for them. But Catalina has been promised by her father and cartel to Dario Luciano of the Kansas city mafia, and she must oblige. Dario. Who, omg. I fell head over heels for is to take over being capo once he takes a wife. He is formidable and as dangerous as the rumours. He also has morals and respects women.


Gah, I loveeeeeeed this book. The suspense and heat were off the charts. It was absolutely an unputdownable story. Aleatha is a master at her craft. She has weaved such a fabulous tale that I was literally hooked on. I can absolutely say I am looking forward to TILL DEATH DO US PART!

This is a must, MUST read! 📚

[Jen | jenreadsx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very soft and gentle mafia read, it was predictable but super easy to binge and hit all the right spots. Just what I wanted

[Liliana Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 🌟 Such an easy Mafia romance read, and a good pallet cleanser. Finished it within the same 24 hours I read it, and throughly enjoyed it.

[jaedin · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @65%. So I have read my fare share of dark mafia books and even some on the lighter side of dark, but I feel like this book was just plain soft. I’m not sure how else to explain expect to say it was soft in my opinion and not at all what I expected. I guess in a mafia book I expect more tension? It was more on the flat side. I do wish there was an equal side of both their povs and not just mainly hers. Anyways this was not my cup of tea.

[Codi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was definitely entertained by this book and it was a quick read. I’m a sucker for a Made Man who’s “soft for her” and this definitely checked that box as well. However, overall I just couldn’t find myself falling in love with the characters quite like I’d hoped.

[mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

my husband asked me to recount the first few chapters to him when i made my first "ugh that's cringe" comment (kitchen scene at night where he said they're gonna have one of many kisses at their wedding the day after), so i did, and then we cringed together ♡

[lady d ⚡️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much potential but so pain numbingly boring 🤯

[Jennifer Grey Devine · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. I love Aleatha’s books but this one missed the mark. I was waiting for something to happened, to show some sort of plot, but it remained pretty flat throughout.

[Nicole Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book/Story: ⭐⭐.5 (rounded down)
Book Cover: ⭐⭐

Trigger Warning(s): Murder, Abortion (Mentioned, Off Page), Death Of Partner (Girlfriend), Rape (Mentioned, Off Page), Domestic Abuse (Off Page)
POV: Dual (Barely), First Person
Series/Standalone/Duet: Series (Interconnected)
First In Series: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Trope(s): Mafia/Cartel Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Age Gap (Approximately 11 Years), Forced Proximity, Dead Ex, Virgin FMC, Alpha MMC
Content Warning(s)/Kink(s): PIV Sex, Fingering, Oral Sex
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.25 ️️️️
Genre: Romance
Subgenre: Dark Romance
Burn: 🔥🔥.75
Safe or Dark: Safe ️

Quick Take Review💥:

Be warned that this is very fluffy and lovey-dovey for something that’s supposed to be a dark mafia romance. There’s barely any violence or real tension, so it never delivers the intensity you’d expect from the genre. The FMC was incredibly annoying and immature, which made it hard to stay invested in the relationship or the story itself. Unfortunately, the story was boring as hell and just completely fell flat for me.


In Depth Review 👇


Summary 📖: 

Being Capo of the Luciano famiglia was never a choice; it was in my blood. 

From the time I was a boy, the cruelty required to survive in this life was carved into me. My father, Vincent Luciano, taught me through example and the back of his hand. But I didn’t follow his path exactly. There’s something in me he never had: a streak of independence that’s led me into places he never would have gone. 

Now our enemies are growing stronger, and it falls to me to do what must be done, even if it means forging an alliance with the last people we’d ever trust. 

The Roriguez Cartel. 

No one would have imagined the Luciano famiglia and the Cartel standing side by side. Not even Vincent can ignore the advantages. But alliances like these aren’t sealed with handshakes. To make it real, I have to marry Catalina Ruiz, the eldest daughter of Andres Ruiz. 

Catalina is young. Beautiful. And dangerously naïve if she thinks she understands what she’s stepping into. She has no idea what I am. What I had to become. You don’t earn your place as a made man at thirteen by holding onto something as fragile as love. That part of me doesn’t exist anymore. 

My only goal is to save the famiglia. 

And when this alliance is sealed, our wedding vows will be just the first of many brutal promises to come. 

Writing 📝: 

Aleatha Roming’s writing style is easy to follow, with a clear, straightforward approach that makes the story flow naturally. There’s nothing overly complicated about it, which makes it really easy to get into the story.


Thoughts 💭: 

Just a heads up for future readers, this isn’t your typical mafia romance. It’s really more of a sweet, lovey-dovey romance with a mafia backdrop… a pretty light one, but it’s there. 

This was also boring as hell. I’m not even sure anything actually happened in the plot. Dario and Catalina got married, and that was it. 

I’ve never read a book where the mafia and the Mexican cartel form an alliance, so that was a nice change. It made things more interesting for me. 

Sure, that felt new and fresh to me, but unfortunately the overall plot didn’t. It follows a pretty predictable path we’ve seen many times before: boy meets girl, boy and girl are forced to get married, boy and girl eventually fall in love and live happily ever after. 

Whatever. That's fine. I always know what kind of story I’m getting when I pick up a book like this. The ride from point A to point B is always the same. So, I can't complain too much. Actually, yes, I can, and I will. 

Oh wait, I can’t leave out the fact that Dario’s been out here throwing ass while Catalina is an innocent little virgin. I’d be absolutely remiss to leave out that highly predictable trope/plot point. If I have to read one more book where the woman is some innocent little pure flower while the man has been sticking his dick in anything and everything on God’s green earth, I’m going to pluck my eyeballs out with salad tongs. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic; I won’t do that...maybe I’ll just scream. 

Also, the plot is thin in this one, but it’s there. You just really have to look for it. 

Anyway, let’s get on with it. 

This book has short chapters and a straightforward writing style, making it a great palate cleanser. This would be good to pick up in between heavier, more complex reads. 

The prologue drops us right into Catalina and Dario’s wedding day, giving us a glimpse into Catalina’s thoughts as she prepares to marry a man she sees as a violent monster. It doesn’t last long though, because chapter one jumps back six months, allowing the story to unfold and reveal how everything led to that moment. I thought it was a nice little teaser that hints at what’s coming without giving too much away. 

For a marriage of convenience arranged to unite two crime families, Dario and Catalina accept it easily, almost too easily. There’s barely any pushback, and they seem fully committed to each other from the start. Where’s the tension? Where’s the annoyance of being stuck in this situation? The hesitation, the trust issues, the awkward distance? It just all feels too damn smooth for something that should be messy and complicated. 

You know what irked my damn nerves? The fact that Dario was always going on about being open and honest, constantly preaching that communication is key, but he was hesitant to talk to Catalina about his girlfriend that passed away. That’s not exactly how being open and honest works, babes. 

You need to let your wife know that there are three people in your marriage, and one of them is dead. I’m not saying that you should forget about a significant other that has passed (especially in a tragic way), but come on, my guy. 

However, I’m willing to let that slide since WE LOVE A MORALLY GRAY MAN! 



Dario was out here killing bitches as a made man but was always kind, sweet, and respectful towards Catalina. And for that I thank him. I really think I could be a mafia wife, because if my husband were out here killing dudes for me, I’d be like, “Bring me his head in a bag, babe, or it didn’t happen.” I’M JUST KIDDING! Me and my anxiety wouldn’t survive two days in that world.

On second thought, I could never be a mafia wife; I hardly ever do what I’m told. I’ll talk back and go toe-to-toe with a man without thinking twice. 

One thing’s for sure: while I didn’t love either character, I liked Dario a hell of a lot more than his wife. 

To be honest, I found Catalina to be rather annoying. She was just a bit too understanding about everything. She didn’t really question things or push back at all. She accepted it all at face value. Especially when she learned about who Josie and Jasmine were, not to mention that Jasmine was going to be living with them. I probably would’ve flipped a table if my husband hid something like that from me for so long. I just didn’t see the backbone in her that other readers did.

The fact that she wanted to be friends with every Tom, Dick, and Harry she met just irritated the hell out of me. “I hope we can be friends." Girl, shut the hell up. Catalina honestly felt way too immature for someone in her twenties. Every time I read her dialogue or got her inner thoughts, she came across more like an eighteen-year-old. Her voice and behavior made her seem much younger than the age she was supposed to be. 

Oh, lord, did I get tired of hearing about the knife strapped to Catalina’s thigh. She told us it was there every damn chance she got. We get it, baby; you’ve got a holster and are packing. I promise you that we know you’re armed. Go slice some shit up and stop reminding us. 

If I’m being honest. I liked Dante’s character the most, and if I’d had the motivation to continue the series, or if his story had been the next one, I might’ve considered reading it. I’m just not willing to schlep through another horrifically mediocre book to get to it. 

I wish we’d gotten more of Dario’s POV. He was by far the more interesting of the two characters, and I wanted to spend more time inside his head and seeing his world. Every time he went off to “work,” we were stuck with Catalina, who was a complete bore. Then, when Dario returned, we’d only get a brief conversation about what he had to take care of before moving on. I just wanted a better balance between their perspectives and more of the story through Dario’s eyes. 

The sex in this one is blander than a slice of white bread. Which is fine; sex isn’t always amazing, but come on now, give us something here! I enjoyed the first night Dario and Catalina spent together because it was realistic; losing your virginity usually isn’t some magical experience for a lot of people. But after that? It was lame. The lot of it. The steam wasn’t even a simmer between these two. When I pick up a smutty read, I’m expecting SMUT! Not whatever this pile of crap sex acts was. Where the hell was the chemistry and heat between Catalina and Dario? Because it definitely wasn’t on the pages. 

I have more tension with my favorite sports teams than these two had with each other. 

Can we talk about that kitchen scene for a moment, the one that took place the night before the wedding? Because holy hell, that shit was cringey as fuck. I just busted out laughing the entire time I was reading it. I don’t think it came off as sexy as Romig intended; it was just straight-up comical. The fact that I have free will and will never have to relive that moment makes me happier than I can express. 

For a mafia romance, there’s virtually no real conflict in this paper-thin plot. The most excitement comes from a bit of betrayal within the famiglia and cartel. There are also no meaningful issues centered around the fact that Dario clearly still isn’t over Josie’s death. We hear her name throughout the entirety of the story, and nothing comes out of it. And if you’re hoping for a plot twist with a shock factor, just forget about it. I guess the author decided that we didn’t deserve one. So, when you pick up this book, I hope you’re hungry for NOTHING because that’s what you’re going to get. 

This definitely wasn’t the dark romance I was looking for. This leaned more on the soft side of things. Which isn’t necessarily bad; it’s just not my usual cup of tea. I like my darkness with a side of romance, not the other way around. This was almost too fluffy for my cold, dead heart. 

While this book was a good enough read, I was left wanting more. More steam, more brutality, more tension, just more. I just needed more of SOMETHING! That was just so disappointing to me.

Was this the best mafia romance I’ve ever read? No. Was it at least entertaining? Eh. Was it ass? More or less. 

I’m beyond happy that I got this free on Kindle. 

I really need to stop doing this to myself. 

Final Verdict ⚖️

[ ] You NEED to read this book! DO IT!

[ ] You won’t regret picking up this book but also won’t regret it if you don’t.

[✅] Don’t make the same mistake that I did. DO NOT read this book!

Just a reminder: reading is totally subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. What speaks to one person might not to another, and that’s okay. There's never a reason to put someone down for loving a book you didn’t vibe with or vice versa. Be kind, the world is already cruel enough.😊