Covet

by Aleatha Romig

Being born into the Kansas City Famiglia came with expectations. As the eldest son of the capo dei capi, I was raised to conquer, dominate, and prevail at all costs.
I learned my lessons well.
If there was something or someone I wanted, all I had to do was take. My discriminating taste led me toward the exquisite, the unique, and the flawless treasures the world had to offer. I saw the qualities others often missed.
That is why I’m a collector of priceless possessions.
I knew the first time I saw Josie that she was a stunning, shimmering jewel. I should have made my move sooner, but my delay won’t stop me from doing what I desire—covet.

Covet is a novella in the Brutal Vows world-the prequel to NOW AND FOREVER, to be read AFTER NOW AND FOREVER.

60 pages

Published April 15, 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, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis, USA. 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 fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.

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 4 out of 5]

**Review to come

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ahhhh no no no why have I read this.

It somehow ruins Catalina and Darios story for me that I gave 5 stars 🤩

But now there is this dead OW in my head.
I really don’t care about Josie ….sorry Aleatha 🙈🥺I

I thought Cat and Dario’s story was way to short and needed more of the couple together but not of Dario with the dead OW.

Dario is different with dead OW the writing shows more of him and his feelings towards Josie and we don’t get that with Cat so much.

Now it seems pure luck that he somehow likes his wife Cat and cheapens his love for her.
Aghhhh I don’t like Josie

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is Dario Luciano's back story. If you've read Now and Forever, this will take you back a bit before that book. If you're reading this first, then you will get a great introduction to Dario and his life prior to Catalina. Either way, you can't go wrong.

I read Covet after Now and Forever, and I really enjoyed it. It's a fast read with plenty of action, a bit of steaminess, and an ending that leaves you hanging. The characters are multi-dimensional which makes you want to know more about them. As always, Aleatha Romig creates a vivid picture with her words which helps to bring you into the story from the very beginning and keeps you there until you turn the last page. Grab this one, jump in and enjoy!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

****WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILERS****










Covet is a prequel of sorts to Aleatha's new mafia romance Now and Forever, but it comes after. This is Dario's back story with Josie, who we learn the fate of in Now and Forever. Its how Josie and Jasmine, her little sister came to live with Dario.

This book totally tugged at my heartstrings. Josie has not had an easy childhood, and at nineteen is awarded custody of her five year old sister. Working in a club called Minx, as a bookkeeper and sometimes dancer, she has caught the eye of KC Mafia Dario Luciano.

Reading this after reading N&F, gives us more insight into the man Dario really is, not just what he's known for. It made me fall in love with him all over again, and be glad that Josie got to have love, security, and safety in her life.

I think I say it with every new series she releases, but this may be my favorite one yet.

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella, a bit of a background story.

I read Covet after Now and Forever. Dario Luciano is in his 20's in this novella.
Josie is trying to make a living as a bookkeeper and hostess. The club she works at keeps the tips and has been cutting back on what the 'team' earns. Josie tries to take money to pay her rent, a few bills and keep her and her sister safe for another month or so if possible.

Josie tries to not get caught, but her awful boss has other plans. After he roughs her up a bit, Dario finds them. Dario isn't happy that they laid hands on her, even if she took money from the club they shouldn't have laid hands on her at all.

Dario comes to find out that Josie has a young sister that she has been caring for and that she needs to get home to. Once Dario has Josie, & Jasmin safe he takes them to his home. He wants them to feel safe and have a roof over their heads, something his father and family will have an objection to if they find out.

[Cheryl Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a perfect introduction to the Kansas mafia world.

Set prior to Now and Forever, Dario - a mafia don - is a collector of rare and beautiful things.
Josie, a nightclub book keeper is a girl who has had an awful life.
When Josie gets in trouble after stealing from her boss after he stole most of his employees' tips Dario rescues her. "You're the beautiful thief".

You get an insight into the type of person Dario is. Ruthless in his business dealings but kind and fair to the people he cares about. Josie becomes his ultimate collector's item.

I have yet again been Aleatha'd.

[AJ's Book ReMarks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covet by Aleatha Romig is a look back into the past with Dario Luciano's relationship with Josie Renner. Renner was working for Arthur Mink, the owner of Minx, who was shorting his workers' pay and unable to pay out poker winners. Josie was raising her little sister Jasmin when her mother was arrested and put away for years. How can a kid raise a kid to be a better person and not fall into the same situation?
Dario is a collector of priceless possessions, but can he keep his prize possession? Have you been Aleatha'd?

[Jdursi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Per Ms. Romig’s instructions, I read this AFTER Now & Forever and it left me reeling. I loved Josie and Dario. (If you’ve read the blurbs for both books, nothing I say going forward should be a spoiler). I loved seeing this side of Dario and even some of the supporting characters. My love for J&D takes NOTHING away from his present. I am curious as to why the author chose to go the way she did in N&F since these two had so much chemistry together. This was a quick novella that gives you a bit more insight into Dario’s background. I just wish we could’ve gotten more of this couple.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse back at Dario Luciano before he arranged is marriage to Catalina Ruiz.
This tease into Dario was much too brief! It starts too late to really explain his obsession with Josie and ends too soon. I wish this had been a full length novel to truly explain this relationship and how it lead to his decision at 35 to marry Catalina. Some of that explanation does come in Now and Forever but I can never get enough of Aleatha’s characters and stories.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Now and Forever I was so happy to see this prequel, it explains so much about Dario’s relationship with Josie and in part Jasmin. I wish it had started further back, because we still don’t know why he was so obsessed by her but I am glad that it ended when it did and if you read Now and Forever you will understand why.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Novella is a prequel to now and Forever and really sets the scene of the conflicted nature of Dario’s character and the contradiction between work and private life.
It’s great to understand the impact Josie had and to understand Jasmines connection with Contessa.
Great book

[Mary Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short novella on how Dario and Josie got together. He saved her from certain death and after he moved Jasmine and Josie into his penthouse. They also made their way into his heart.
A great way to look at the beginning of Dario and Josie.

[Cindy Fong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great insight into Dario and Josie's relationship pre Catalina. This story just shows more of how Dario can be ruthless but soft when he needs to be.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved getting a little more insight and backstory on Dario and Josie and their relationship before the book, Now and Forever. Fast-paced and intriguing

[Juli Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved seeing what Dario’s life was with Jade. Knowing how much she and Jasmine meant to him shows how he really is a sweetheart hiding behind the bad boy image.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Now and Forever, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read Josie and Dario’s backstory. It took me some time, but I finally decided to read it. I was not disappointed. While not necessary to read, I liked getting to know more about Josie and how she came to be in Dario’s life.

[Andrea Renee Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covet is a novella to the Brutal Vowels series It’s the story of Josie. I’m glad I could read about how she fits into Dario’s life. Thanks Aleatha for sharing

[Susan Staudinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon reading Aleatha Romig's newest release, "Now and Forever," I knew I needed to add this prequel to the top of my TBR list to uncover all of the pertinent details regarding Dario and Josie’s early history/backstory. "Covet" didn't disappoint--it gave me that and then some! For anyone who enjoyed the burgeoning romance between Dario and Catalina, you'll definitely want to check this prequel out.

[Karen Denise Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this as now books three and four are released. I would highly suggest that these books be read in order. They say they are standalones, but they really aren't. Same review, same stars.

This novella is Dario and Josie's story. We get a glimpse of Josie in Now and Forever, as Dario remembers parts of his life with Josie after he was married to Catalina. There is some overlapping scenes between the books, but you can read in either order and you will be fine.

It was nice to get to meet Josie a bit more. She was a pretty complicated character, and one that you could connect to right from the start. I actually wished we had a longer story of Dario, Josie and Jasmine. But what we did get was sweet, with a little bit of action.

4 stars